TPM 05

Chapter : 5

Should I consider myself lucky that my master accepted my suggestion and reduced the number from five to four?

“…There’s nothing wrong at all. Your body is healthy too.”

This was the conclusion of the final doctor after an hour-long examination, yet my master didn’t look convinced.

“Are you sure you’ve checked thoroughly?”

“Master, really, it’s fine.”

At this point, I just wanted it to be over! Meeting with the doctors from ten in the morning until four in the afternoon, over and over, was absolutely exhausting.

I’d had enough of being dragged around.

Had my desperate look worked?

Finally, my master relented.

“Well, if there’s really nothing wrong, that’s fortunate.”

Is it really that surprising that I’m fine…?

Then again, perhaps it was because my master knew me well. I’m not the kind of student who immediately reports being sick or injured. On the contrary, I tend to hide it.

“Next time, I’d like a more thorough examination. Call the priest too.”

…They say “giving up” is only for counting cabbages, and I guess that’s really true.

“Whenever the archmage requests, it’s my pleasure.”

This elderly gentleman is Richard, the doctor who until recently served as the royal palace’s personal physician.

As a recognized expert in his field, he could have been prideful, yet he greeted me with a cheerful smile.

“Even if it’s not about your pupil’s checkup, if there’s ever concern regarding the archmage’s safety, call on me anytime.”

“My body, huh.”

At first, I thought he was just being socially polite, but his true intention was clear.

“You’re living history. I will give my best in attending to you.”

‘No wonder people are envious.’

After all, my master is the only archmage who stabilized his mana core and extended his lifespan. His mana core is incomparably strong.

“If given the chance, I’d even like to listen to your heartbeat…”

…At this rate, it almost seems like he’s eyeing me as a kind of biological experiment.

“Let’s see how Temis’s examination goes first.”

My master wasn’t easy to outmaneuver either.

‘Handing out exactly the kind of bait he knows I’d take.’

He normally shows no interest in people, yet when necessary, he has an uncanny ability to read their hearts. It never fails to amaze me.

Seeing this, I understood why my master is disinterested in worldly matters. After hundreds of years of life and mastering the ability to read people, everything else must feel dull.

The way he calmly manipulates situations to his liking—life must be so simple for him.

I couldn’t help but wonder:

‘What would happen if someone like him fell in love?’

I felt a pang of envy for the princess who would witness the side of my master no one else sees…

‘Focus.’

Why would I envy that? I promised to do my best for my master’s happiness!

‘I’ll do what I can!’

I opened my eyes wide and checked the clock.

It was already half-past four.

‘There’s less than two hours until six.’

I had an evening appointment with Everett today, so finding time to see the dresses was tighter than I’d expected.

‘Until what time are the shops open?’

First, I’d have to check the outskirts of the capital.

As I calmed my impatience, I blinked at the carriage waiting on the road.

“Did Master call?”

“I reserved a shop. Let’s go.”

“A shop?”

It was undoubtedly the first time my master had ever used the word ‘shop.’

“Could it be that the explosion affected you too…?”

Ah, now I finally understood why he brought me to the doctor. Saying something I could never say made me worry—he wanted me to think something might be wrong.

My master gave me a glance that wasn’t harsh at all.

“You’re as fine as anyone. Don’t look at me like that. Rider made the reservation.”

“Ahh…”

Of course, that made sense. Rider, my master’s secretary, had the highest level of social and interpersonal skills. The perfect aide for a master who lacked both!

“But will there be enough time? My dinner appointment with Everett is at six.”

“We just need to get you there before your appointment.”

My master said it as if it were obvious.

“…Are you sure?”

I worried about my master’s schedule. He was so busy that if I saw him once, I wouldn’t be able to see him again for at least two weeks.

“Considering this incident, you must be busier than usual.”

The culprit hasn’t been caught yet, and both the palace and the mage tower were in chaos.

Moreover, since the incident happened at the palace where my master was staying, rumors even circulated that someone had plotted to kill the archmage.

“You’ve also gone through an extraordinary ordeal, so it’s necessary to take some time. And since you’re involved in this incident, we must be careful.”

“I may be a mage, but you don’t need to worry about me.”

Seeing him worry about me after focusing so much on research and work recently made my heart ache.

He really cares about me.

“So, where are we going?”

“We’re meeting at Bonifeti. They’ll check your health at the temple. You don’t have to come along…”

My master smiled brightly—a perfect fake smile for anyone to see—and looked at me.

“Ah, perfect.”

“Eh?”

“I was going to visit the temple today anyway. Later we can meet and go back together. Perfect timing.”

“Well, I’m fine with that…”

Getting the dress, keeping my appointment, and meeting my master later—it wasn’t bad at all.

“All right.”

Why did it feel like I was being tricked?

But my master never broke a promise and had never done me harm, so I chose to trust him.

“Let’s go.”

Standing in front of the carriage, my master held out his hand to escort me, as always.

He treats me like a child, extending his hand as a mother bird would to her chick.

I barely suppressed the strange fluttering in my heart and took his hand.

Sometimes we even walked the streets holding hands like that.

‘After all, there’s no scandal to worry about with me.’

Even though my master was so notable that simply exchanging greetings at a ball could spark rumors, walking hand-in-hand with me on the street caused no stir.

Everyone here thought of me as a chick under my master’s care.

But now that I’ve regained my memories, I hesitated.

‘Who knows what the princess would think?’

I didn’t want to cause trouble for Princess Aria, who might one day become my master’s first love.

I didn’t want to be a burden.

I shook my head with a smile.

“I’m fine.”

I boarded the carriage without holding my master’s hand and said cheerfully:

“Please get in, Master.”

His hand, aimlessly hovering, looked lost. My master blinked and asked:

“…Temis?”

I resisted the urge to grab his hand and kept a composed expression.

“I’m fine, Master. You don’t need to escort me anymore.”

“…Why?”

“Being escorted every time is embarrassing… and maybe someday you’ll have a lover. Then you should give them your attention.”

I felt proud, thinking it was useful advice for him.

Hopefully, he’d show the gentle side that the princess would love.

‘He’s warm if you get to know him, but few people do.’

At first, I had to be careful not to hurt Princess Aria.

I remembered reading it in a book:

“Aria was very pleased that Everett, who welcomed her warmly, was there for her.”

After gaining her position as princess, she had been confused, and Everett treated her kindly.

“By contrast, the archmage Akilan’s secretive attitude only added to her confusion.”

Unlike my master, who never shows emotion unless his interest is piqued.

“Being escorted like this isn’t a one-time thing. And now talking about having a lover? That’s nonsense.”

My master furrowed his brows and frowned.

“Such a thing will not happen.”

He spoke firmly and sat before me.

The carriage departed, leaving an awkward silence.

‘Master, no matter how long you’ve lived, you shouldn’t be so confident about life.’

It was frustrating because I knew he wouldn’t believe me even if I claimed to know the future.

“Don’t waste your imagination on nonsense.”

But in some ways, that felt very much like him.

‘My master doesn’t change overnight.’

I just have to keep doing my best.

‘Thinking this way makes meeting Everett feel even more important.’

For my master and Princess Aria to get closer, they need time together.

Conversely, the time Aria spends with Everett should be reduced.

There’s only one way:

‘I’ll just throw myself at it.’

Everett was my master’s dedicated priest for treatment, so I had encountered him a few times as a pupil.

We were only somewhat acquainted, but now I would muster all my social skills and boldly engage him.

By increasing the time Everett spends with me, I’d reduce the time he spends with the heroine.

That was my plan.