[CHAPTER 143]
“The biggest problem is how to make the Mage Tower Master come to the magic stone cave on his own.”
Sylvia muttered with a troubled expression.
“Outside the magic stone cave, there’s no way to deal with him by force.”
A brief silence fell, and I hid a sigh before opening my mouth.
“Then someone can act as bait.”
The air instantly grew heavy.
In the midst of it, Ian scratched his head and spoke in a playful tone.
“Is there even bait the Mage Tower Master would want?”
“He already has just about everything.”
“I’ll do it.”
At my answer, Vincent clenched his hand tightly and glared at me.
“You?”
I nodded without avoiding his gaze.
Sylvia panicked and tried to stop me.
“That’s too dangerous.”
“The Mage Tower Master isn’t just an ordinary mage.”
“He doesn’t even follow the rules, so he won’t hesitate to kill—!”
“The Mage Tower Master won’t kill me.”
It was only a guess, but it was close to certainty.
Ian, who had been listening, tilted his head and soon nodded in understanding.
“So being bait and not getting killed are part of the same logic?”
“Yes.”
“The Mage Tower Master is very interested in me.”
“Why?”
“I don’t really know.”
I brushed off the question about the reason.
There was no way I could say here that he wanted to hear stories about another world and the future.
Even then, Vincent did not take his eyes off me as he spoke firmly.
“No.”
“It’s dangerous.”
“Absolutely not.”
His tone was low and resolute.
It was not concern alone, but a clear refusal that allowed no room for compromise.
“Your Highness, this is necessary.”
“Why does it have to be you?”
“There must be another way—”
“If there were another way, we would have done it already.”
“But you know it too.”
“The Mage Tower Master wants me, and now that we’ve found the magic stone cave, this is the perfect opportunity.”
“Getting rid of him is what you want most, Your Highness.”
“It’s not something I want badly enough to use you as bait.”
“If you keep opposing me—”
I stopped mid-sentence, trying to add a condition, but nothing convincing came to mind.
Still, seeing the tension in his eyes, I felt like I had to say something.
“I’ll hate you.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, embarrassment surged up.
Hate him, and then what?
What would it even matter to Vincent if I hated him?
Even if he treats me kindly… huh?
Vincent’s emerald eyes visibly wavered and dropped downward.
“That’s cruel.”
“Y-Your Highness.”
“I’m stopping you because I’m worried about you.”
“I know, I know.”
“But I’m doing this because I care about you too.”
Vincent slowly lifted his gaze.
“You… care about me?”
“Your Highness, if I’m going to return safely and live in peace, the Mage Tower Master has to be gone.”
“And my father, who trusts him and treats the imperial family carelessly…”
“He needs to stop now too.”
“Even if all of that is true, if something happens to you, it’s all meaningless.”
At that moment, Derek, who had been standing quietly, cautiously joined in.
“Young Lady, I would like to support your opinion if possible, but this is undoubtedly dangerous.”
“The Mage Tower Master is a dangerous man.”
I answered Derek clearly as well.
“That’s why we need a more meticulous plan.”
“He must never be able to touch me.”
“I’m not throwing my life away.”
“I don’t want to get hurt even a hair’s breadth.”
“I really hate pain.”
Perhaps my persuasion, backed by both emotion and reason, had worked.
Vincent still looked displeased, but he no longer voiced strong opposition.
Instead, he leaned back against the sofa as if to say, let’s hear how you plan to do this, and looked at the mages.
Once Vincent’s resistance settled, Sylvia carefully looked at me and asked.
“Then… how do you plan to draw him in?”
“Ahem, I should go take a hot bath for the first time in a while.”
Linnen and Ian stretched and left the room.
Derek bowed politely and followed after them.
Sylvia exchanged a glance with me, then quietly closed the door as she left.
Watching her go stirred complicated feelings in me once again.
Is this really okay…?
Still, Vincent had not let go of my hand.
I turned to look at him.
Vincent was staring intently at my profile with his sharp emerald eyes.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing.”
“But why did you suddenly send everyone out?”
“Well, if they were here…”
Vincent suddenly leaned closer and rested his head on my shoulder.
“I couldn’t do things like this.”
Startled by the pleasant scent rushing toward me and the soft blond hair brushing my neck, my body stiffened.
His natural behavior, like that of a lover, felt awkward yet not unpleasant.
I looked down, only wiggling my toes, when Vincent briefly released my hand and then intertwined our fingers again.
“Amelia.”
“Yes.”
“Please don’t do anything dangerous.”
“Unless you want to see me lose my mind.”
“…Alright.”
“I’ll be as careful as possible.”
“But I do have to go, right?”
Vincent nodded while still resting his head on me.
“Mm.”
“I came without saying anything.”
His slow nod made it obvious he didn’t want to leave, and I smiled.
I patted the back of his hand with my free hand.
“Go back now.”
“There’ll be chaos if they realize the Crown Prince has disappeared.”
Vincent slowly straightened up and looked at me.
His emerald eyes were filled with regret.
“Would it be too selfish if I said, don’t go?”
At those words, Vincent gave a small laugh.
His gaze toward me was warm.
“No.”
“I was hesitating because I wanted to hear you say that.”
His face drew closer.
Vincent’s gaze briefly touched my lips before lifting slightly, and he pressed his lips to my forehead.
