The Innocent Mage's Spellbinding Nights - Chapter 37
A kiss beyond established boundaries
In the serious space where work is done, it was as if they had let go of everything and followed only desire that night.
After the night where Irina had chased only after her desires, as if letting go of everything in the serious space where work was done, she felt the strange heat that had tormented her for about four weeks after taking the wrongly concocted potion disappear, both during the day and at night.
‘What’s this? Did I have to do it until I’m completely exhausted to detoxify it?’
The more she thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed.
“Senior, sit down here. I’ll massage your shoulders.”
But she still didn’t send Hesed away when he visited her quarters every night. She didn’t refuse when he used the excuse of massaging her shoulders or combing her hair to initiate skinship, followed by sweet kisses and then thrusting his large, weapon-like member inside her.
Is it because she had just awakened to s*x and found it hard to resist a man who deliberately seduced her? Or was it…
‘Celsia.’
‘Yes, Tower Master.’
‘Hesed and I are senior and junior colleagues who are working to restore a relationship that had become distant. —For now.’
‘…!’
‘So, as my aide, please clarify the facts to the members of the White Tower. Considering it’s almost lunchtime and someone might soon come by, you may leave now.’
The day she dealt with Celsia in a way that was unlike her usual self. Was it related to the subtle feelings she felt at that moment?
Irina instinctively knew that if she started to delve into those feelings, her daily life would change significantly.
‘…I can’t afford to have useless thoughts at such a busy time like now.’
Accustomed to suppressing and burying her feelings, Irina chose to avoid them without realizing it. And that choice seemed justified given how busy she actually was.
The biggest summer festival in the western region was right around the corner, and the investigation into the back-alley disappearances was facing difficulties due to the lack of an appropriate shaman.
Celsia, who had blushed and raised her voice that day, resigned from her position as an aide.
Irina accepted her resignation at lightning speed, leaving the aide position vacant. She planned to fill it after the festival, as hiring a new aide now would not be helpful immediately and would take more time for the handover process.
Fortunately, she had Hesed, her competent vice tower master and junior, and thanks to Hesed and his aide Orca, they managed to complete the preparations for the festival’s tournament.
***
On the day of the festival, the weather was clear, ensuring that everyone’s preparations and efforts were not in vain.
The festival would last for three days, featuring various events such as the White Tower trainees’ tournament, a camel racing competition similar to horse racing, an archery competition open to the general public, a grand eagle contest and hunting competition that attracted nobles from other regions, and a spectacular fireworks display every evening.
With the western region already buzzing with activity a few days before the festival, it became even more lively. Tourists increased, street vendors thrived, and the streets were crowded with people. Merchants beamed with joy at the special occasion.
As the Master of the White Tower, Irina made sure to make an appearance at the tournament for a few hours each day.
“Wow!”
“Is that beautiful lady the Master of the White Tower?”
“She’s the youngest Tower Master in history.”
“Her talent is so outstanding that the previous Tower Master appointed her as his successor despite her being a woman.”
“Wow, she has both beauty and ability.”
The people of the western region, unaware of the complicated circumstances within the White Tower, cheered for the beautiful and young Tower Master, Irina.
Of course, she found such attention quite burdensome.
“I’ve learned a lot, ma’am.”
“Seeing you makes me feel that I need to work even harder.”
Irina showed a faint smile as she watched the young trainees of the White Tower display the magic they had learned and mastered.
For the rest of the time, she secluded herself in her private quarters. She was quite exhausted from the forced march of the past one to two weeks.
She had no interest in how much the people of the western region, tourists, and other magicians of the White Tower enjoyed the festival. Irina just wanted to rest. So she declined Hesed’s nighttime visits and refused Scarlet’s invitations to go out.
She spent her days mostly sleeping, eating only one meal a day, as if paying off a delayed debt.
However, she couldn’t get a good night’s sleep due to her unfinished parting with Celsia and her ambiguous relationship with Hesed. She kept having dreams that embodied her anxieties.
“I have waited and waited, silently working by your side. I hoped you would correct the wrong outcome yourself after seeing my efforts.”
“I thought this was the best way for you, me, and all the members of the White Tower. It’s the gentle and peaceful method you so prefer.”
“But let me ask you. How much longer do I have to wait and endure? You speak of the greater good, but aren’t you just as greedy for that position?”
Hesed, expressing his true feelings with a blank face, devoid of his usual gentle laughter or sociable smile.
“We aren’t close, but as your aide, I have watched over you for a long time. You are gravely mistaken about something. You’re not kind and gentle by nature—you’re just a coward.”
“Tower Master, because of you, the White Tower is now divided into two factions. The one who should lead everyone is the cause of the division. Does this make sense?”
“Tower Master, how long will you ignore this situation?”
“You’re not sacrificing for the greater good. You’re being greedy. Even though there is someone far more capable and resolute than you, you use the will of the previous Tower Master, your mentor, as an excuse.”
It was a nightmare where Celsia and other White Tower mages threw harsh words at her.
