SWMD 77

Chapter 77

“Master of Magic”

“Isn’t this the magic teacher?”

Calypso’s voice was low and sarcastic, his gaze locked on Lueri’s hand still holding Diana’s wrist.

Lueri met his eyes squarely but didn’t let go.

Only Diana, caught in the middle, looked awkwardly between the two.

Calypso scowled, then yanked Diana’s wrist forcefully.

“Ah…!”

He pulled so hard that Diana’s body swayed. But before she could stumble, Lueri wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her.

Of course, she wouldn’t have fallen—Calypso was still holding her wrist.

But Lueri’s move was a clear provocation.

Even though Lueri had killed Calypso with fire in a past life, seeing him now still filled him with uncontrollable rage.

That smug grin on Diana’s wedding day…
That sneer in the imperial palace, confident Alicia had finished her off…
That greed for the mine, even to the very end…

They all blurred into one disgusting image.

I want to smash that face.

But he couldn’t—not yet.

Even if Diana had shared her story with him, she didn’t yet know everything about him, nor had she asked for help.

Until the curse of Eclipse is broken and her memories return, I must wait.

Lueri looked longingly at Diana, now steady in his arms.

If only I could break that curse… take her from that scum and love her freely…

Lueri, still holding Diana, glared at Calypso.

This man… started all of this.

If he hadn’t targeted Diana, if he hadn’t killed her, none of this would be happening.

Because of you…!

Murderous rage sparked in Lueri’s blue eyes, and his mana flared within.

He nearly summoned his fire dragon out of sheer fury.

He forced himself to breathe slowly. The revenge wasn’t his to carry out—not until Diana’s memories returned.

His boiling magic slowly calmed.

He straightened Diana and spoke deliberately.

“Aren’t you being too rough… brother-in-law?”

Calypso twitched. Brother-in-law? That wasn’t a respectful term for a Grand Duke.

How crude.

He clicked his tongue in distaste.

He didn’t love Diana, but she was still his wife. He wouldn’t let another man touch her.

“You should let go of my wife, too.”

He sliced Lueri’s hand away with his palm and pulled Diana toward him, wrapping an arm around her waist.

“People might misunderstand, after all. She’s married.”

His voice was laced with mockery, not kindness.

Diana’s face froze.

How dare he say that after everything he’s done…

Lueri opened his mouth again.

“You mean… like adultery?”

He emphasized the word.

Calypso’s hand weakened instantly.

Guilty conscience?

Diana subtly glanced at his face—his jaw was tightening.

“In the Edith Empire, adultery is a filthy crime… right?”

Lueri’s mocking grin deepened.

Calypso flinched.

He knows something. Or at least he acts like he does…

But it didn’t make sense. They’d only met twice.

No… there’s no way he knows.

Still, those contemptuous eyes looking at him—it made his skin crawl.

Calypso opened his mouth to argue but stopped. He pulled Diana closer and said:

“Let’s go, dear.”

He didn’t want to stand here arguing with Lueri any longer. That look in Lueri’s eyes—it wasn’t just protective.

It was the look of a man who wanted a woman.

Calypso glanced at Lueri again. His violet eyes seemed to say:

“You can’t have what’s mine.”

Diana gave a small, bitter laugh.

How ridiculous.
He tried to kill me with Alicia, and now he’s jealous?

She felt a surge of irritation.

“Wait.”

Diana held back. She needed Calypso to keep trusting her for now—for the sake of revenge.

But in front of Lueri?

No. Not him. Not the one who truly helped her.

She gently removed Calypso’s arm from her shoulders and stepped away.

Calypso stared in shock.

“Lueri is a great mage. He helped Aicel.”

Her voice was soft, but her tone almost scolded him.

Calypso hadn’t expected that at all.

As he stammered, she continued calmly:

“He’s my guest. I’ll go with him.”

“Dear…!”

Calypso grabbed her wrist again.

Diana’s eyes turned cold, but she quickly masked it before he noticed.

She leaned in close to his ear and whispered:

“Please understand.
Lueri is one of the judges for the Magic Festival.
If Aicel enters the Tower someday, his help could be useful.”

“Ugh…”

Calypso let out a small grunt, clearly still annoyed.

But he couldn’t argue.

If Aicel really had advanced magical talent,
She might be admitted to the Tower—
Giving him access to both the mine and elite resources.

“Fine.”

He gave in.

The three walked together into the banquet hall—Diana between Lueri and Calypso.

A very mismatched trio.

Around the stage where magic would be performed, golden chairs with red velvet cushions were arranged.

Diana chose the seat with the best view.

As soon as she sat, she gave a small cough.

Calypso, noticing, got up awkwardly.

He looked around and spotted a bar for guests.

“I’ll get you a drink.”

“No need.”

Lueri chuckled.

He casually opened his palm—suddenly, a cool glass of lemonade appeared.

He used magic to bring the drink from the bar to his hand.

“Here you go, Diana.”

He smiled brightly and offered her the glass.

“Thank you, Lueri.”

Diana took it with a quiet smile, secretly pleased.

Lueri knew her situation…
And he was clearly trying to bother Calypso on her behalf.

It might seem childish to some, but not to Diana.

He wasn’t doing it for revenge.
He was doing it—for her.

She took a sip.

The sweet lemon and honey flavor burst in her mouth.

As she drank, her eyes met Lueri’s.

He always looked at her with such genuine warmth.

Her heart skipped a beat.

She blinked quickly, flustered—then choked as the drink went down the wrong way.

“Cough! Cough!”

“Are you okay?!”

Lueri was already patting her back before Calypso even noticed.

Her nose tingled—not just from choking, but from Lueri’s gentle care.

She had always tried to run away from her feelings.

He was like a little brother, helping her selflessly.

She told herself again and again—don’t fall for him.

But she had.

She couldn’t deny it anymore.

And the feelings had grown too large to control.

Diana’s watery eyes looked sadly at Lueri.

Her once-small affection had become an ocean.

No wall could hold it back anymore.

His worried eyes, his tiny acts of kindness—
They shattered the dam she’d built.

But she couldn’t let him know.

He must never find out.

The pain of hiding it was overwhelming.

Diana held back a heavy sigh and closed her eyes.