The Innocent Mage's Spellbinding Nights - Chapter 27
“Is it that fun to tease your one and only junior sister?”
“Of course. Teasing you and Vine is the joy of my life.”
Only after seeing Irina’s pouty lips did Scarlet smile broadly.
“I just like seeing you like this. Whether it’s a handsome man or a racy red book, this senior welcomes it all. If it brings a bit of joy to your heavy-laden shoulders, that’s enough.”
“…I told you it’s not like that.”
But Scarlet wasn’t the only one saying that Irina had changed.
“Irina, have you been feeling more at ease lately?”
“No, Senior! What’s that wound on your shoulder? Come here, let me heal it right away.”
Vine, who returned to the White Tower after a few days with a huge wound on his shoulder from some unknown training, also remarked on her different demeanor as he patted her head with his calloused hand.
“You seem more lively, no matter what might’ve happened. That’s a relief.”
Even Celsia, her somewhat distant but direct assistant, echoed Scarlet’s sentiment.
“Tower Master, you seem to be getting more beautiful these days. Do you have some special secret?”
‘Changed?’
Irina stared hard into the mirror but couldn’t see it herself.
‘Maybe… getting some good exercise in bed and having even a short but deep sleep is making me look better?’
She was amazed that despite having nightly relations with Hesed for over ten days now, instead of getting worn out, she looked more vibrant.
If she wasn’t the White Tower Master who had to care about her public image, she would have labeled this failed concoction as a ‘vitality enhancer’ and sold it. She would’ve quickly become the richest person in the western region, or even the entire Ratio continent.
Irina knew that many mages, besides her familiar seniors and assistant whom she saw often, had been making various comments about her recently.
‘Why is everyone so interested in my face?’
Was it because she was a rare female head of the White Tower in a western region where men’s power was generally stronger? Or was it due to her delicate appearance and demeanor?
‘Meanwhile, Black Tower Master Loretta…’
Despite being another female tower master, Loretta received a vastly different public perception from Irina.
The mysterious archmage of the frozen lands.
The strongest Black Tower Master in history.
The great witch of the harsh winter.
Loretta, the oldest of the four famous tower masters, looked remarkably young despite her age. But anyone who had ever faced her directly would never dare to underestimate or disregard her. She possessed a commanding presence and a robust spirit that surpassed her youthful appearance.
‘Even the arrogant Hisran and Siord tend to avoid conflicts with Loretta.’
Maybe if Irina reduced unnecessary words and actions and only spoke firmly when needed, like Loretta, she would seem more dignified as the head of the White Tower.
While internally lamenting her sensitive and fragile nature, Irina worked through about a quarter of the documents piled on her desk, and the morning flew by quickly.
Lunchtime had arrived. Standing up, Celsia asked Irina,
“Tower Master, are you having a quick lunch at your desk again today?”
“…Yes, enjoy your meal.”
“I heard it’s better to separate work and meals. The documents aren’t that backlogged, so try to take it easy during lunch.”
With a rare note of concern, Celsia disappeared, leaving Irina feeling somewhat guilty.
Less than five minutes after she was left alone in her office, an uninvited guest arrived.
“Senior, you need to eat lunch.”
“Aren’t you busy? Why are you here?”
Hesed, who brought a lunch box to her office again today. Irina had anticipated his arrival around this time, so she hurried Celsia out, but the words that came out of her mouth were more of a reprimand.
“I’m worried about your stamina since you don’t eat properly.”
The saying that you can’t spit on a smiling face proved false, as his presence was quite irksome.
If he was really concerned about Irina’s stamina, he would have been gentler in bed last night.
‘Hmph. He’s a man, after all, sometimes getting more excited than necessary and pushing too hard.’
While Irina glared at him, Hesed set out the lunch box on the round table usually used for tea.
As the table filled with beautifully presented food and delicious aromas wafted through the room, Irina put down the documents she had been reading and approached the table.
Most of the food was finger food, but it included rare seafood and expensive ingredients, making it close to a gourmet meal.
“Go ahead, enjoy your meal, Senior.”
“…Thanks. I will.”
Since the day after she accepted his proposal to use him as she wished, Hesed had been visiting her office every lunchtime with a lunch box, claiming he wanted to replenish the energy he had drained the previous night.
‘Instead of giving and taking, he could just take it easy…’
Ten days ago, Irina might have avoided him after the first surprise visit, indirectly rejecting his offer, but feeling guilty for deceiving him recently, she played along.
And strangely enough, she now found that spending time with him felt comfortable, like the days when they were simply close senior and junior. Eating together was no longer awkward.
‘Maybe it’s because we’re spending more time together.’
After all, every evening, she spent time with him at her quarters.
