MLT l CH 10

Episode 10

“Ella!”

That familiar nickname rang sharply in Ayla’s ears.

She whipped her head toward the portal leading deeper into the Magic Tower—
and there he was.

The very person she had been dying to see: Deinhart, his ebony hair brushing his shoulders as he strode quickly toward her.

“Dein!”

Ayla called out his name with pure joy.

When he stopped in front of her, his breathing was slightly uneven.
Meeting his clear green eyes—eyes that reflected only her—made her heart swell painfully.

Perhaps it was because she had just come from a tense encounter with Licht,
but seeing Deinhart now felt even more overwhelming.

Whenever she saw him, the same ridiculous thought always filled her head—
and this time was no exception.

“…I just want to run away with him right now.”

But that sweet daydream didn’t last long, because Deinhart spoke in a worried voice.

“Did something happen?”
“Huh?”
“You showed up without sending word… I thought something was wrong.”

Now that he mentioned it, she realized he had every reason to worry.
She had never just dropped by like this before.

“Oh—sorry! I didn’t mean to surprise you. It’s not because of anything serious.”
“No, Ella, you can come anytime you want! It’s just that…”

Deinhart trailed off.

Ayla frowned slightly.

“…‘It’s just that’? Why does it sound like you’re holding something back?”

She wanted to ask, but decided to wait.

“If you’d told me in advance, I would’ve come out to greet you. I’m just a little disappointed I couldn’t.”

A smile spread across Ayla’s face before she could stop it.

‘How can someone be this adorable?’

Suppressing the warmth in her chest, she replied,
“Okay. Next time I’ll make sure to call ahead so you won’t be disappointed.”

When Deinhart nodded, she glanced around, then covered her mouth slightly and whispered,

“Hey, Dein… can we go somewhere quiet?”
“Hmm? Somewhere quiet? Why—ah.”

He caught on quickly this time.
The security guards nearby were pretending not to look, but they were obviously listening in.

“Then let’s go to the garden. No one should be there right now.”
“The garden?”
“Yeah, the tower’s kind of a mess inside today.”

Ayla couldn’t hide her mild disappointment.
She hadn’t come just to sightsee, but still—she’d wanted to take a look inside.

She was about to accept it when she noticed something odd in his expression—
for a brief second, it looked like he didn’t want her to come in.

Maybe she was imagining it… but the uneasy feeling lingered.

“Let’s go.”

She pushed the thought away and walked ahead first.

Halfway down the corridor, she stopped, realizing she might’ve taken the wrong turn.
When she looked back, Deinhart was quietly laughing behind his hand.

“Ella, it’s the other way.”

Now he took the lead, and she followed him.

They stepped through another portal beside the entrance—and suddenly, the garden unfolded before her eyes.

When someone says “Magic Tower,” what image comes to mind?

‘For people of the Nia Empire, probably exhausted, gloomy mages buried in work.’

Having lived in this world for three years, Ayla thought the same.
So she hadn’t expected much from the garden—maybe a few trees, some wilted flowers, that was it.

But what greeted her was beyond anything she’d imagined.

“Oh…”

A genuine gasp escaped her lips.

“There’ve been a lot of requests to improve workplace welfare lately,” Deinhart explained,
“so we officially hired a gardener.”

He must’ve guessed what she was thinking from her expression.

Ayla nodded, taking in the scene.

Sunlight streamed through the glass ceiling; a small stream curved gracefully through the garden.
A cool breeze brushed her cheek, carrying the sweet scent of blooming flowers.

It was beautiful—peaceful.
A perfect place to confess her feelings.

“…It’s so pretty.”
“I knew you’d like it.”

Lost in admiration, Ayla blinked as a familiar scent drew close.
When she looked up, Deinhart was standing right in front of her.

Her violet eyes widened slightly as she looked at his flawless face—
his smile soft and teasing.

He reached up and gently tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
His hand was calloused but careful, as if he were touching something precious.

Ayla blinked slowly.
It wasn’t the first time he’d done this, but somehow, this moment felt completely different.

“…Perfect,” she murmured without thinking.

She hadn’t meant to say it aloud, but she didn’t regret it.
It was the spark that set off her courage.

“Huh? What is?”

Completely oblivious, Deinhart tilted his head.

“I like you, Dein.”

“…What?”

His green eyes went wide.
Even now, he didn’t seem to realize what she meant.

Seeing her chance, Ayla grabbed the hand that hovered near her face—
and pressed it gently against her cheek.

He flinched at the sudden contact,
but she smiled brightly, like a girl drunk on love.

“You probably never noticed, but I’ve liked you for a really long time.”
“……”
“I’m serious. I really, really like you.”

Every word was true.
Her feelings went all the way back to when she’d first known him as a reader.

So she looked at him with expectant eyes, certain he would return her feelings—
that they’d finally be on the same page.

‘He must be happy. He has to be… right?’

But instead, Deinhart’s bright green eyes trembled violently.

“……”
“……”

Before long, he averted his gaze—unable to look at her.

A chill crept over her heart.

“…I’m sorry, Ayla.”

And then the words she’d dreaded came.

She tried to stop him, to call his name—
“Dein.”

But he only shook his head.

“I… can’t accept your feelings.”

His voice was firm, final.

A cold wind swept between them, as if drawing a line.

While Ayla stood frozen, Deinhart gently pulled his hand away from her grasp.

“Ha…”

A laugh escaped her—thin and hollow.
None of this made sense.

‘Everything was perfect. So why? Why is this happening?’

He liked her. Everyone around them knew it.
Her plan couldn’t have gone wrong—yet somehow, it had.

“Why?” she asked quietly.
“……”
“What’s the reason?”
“……”

No answer.

Her frustration grew.
If she at least knew the problem, she could fix it—but there was nothing.

And Deinhart looked just as lost as she felt.

“…I don’t know,” he muttered.
“You don’t know?”
“Rejecting you… feels like the right thing to do.”

That ridiculous answer made her want to scream.

‘What do you mean it’s right?! You don’t have a fiancée, you’re not taken—there’s no reason at all!’

She thumped her chest in frustration, like she could shake the irritation loose.

“You do like me!”
“…Huh?”
“You like me—so why are you rejecting me?”
“Oh, you knew?”

That did it.
Ayla’s temper snapped.

‘Knew?! That’s what you have to say right now?!’

Her mind spun, but she forced herself to stay calm.

“Of course I knew! You make it so obvious!”
“…Was it that obvious?”
“Ha…”

She exhaled sharply.

‘Don’t lose control. Think logically.’

She took a deep breath, collecting herself.

‘The elders always said—if you keep trying, even the hardest heart will give in eventually.’

She’d never liked that saying,
but right now, she was willing to test it.

“You like me, and I like you. So let’s date.”
“W-wait, that’s so sudden—”
“What’s so sudden about two people liking each other?”
“……”

Deinhart’s conflicted expression said it all.
She already knew what his answer would be—
but she wasn’t ready to back down.

‘I really didn’t want to use this, but…’

Ayla bit her lip and said quietly,

“Is it because I’m not good enough?”
“…What?”
“You’re rejecting me because I’m not good enough to be your girlfriend, right?”
“That’s not it! Ella, you’re… you’re way too good for me.”
“Then why are you rejecting me?!”
“Because…”