Chapter 151
“But…”
“But?”
“…No. Forget it.”
“You can’t just stop mid-sentence!”
That was practically a crime. Eki shook Cassius hard, telling him to hurry up and say it before she reported him to the guards.
In the end, he licked his parched lips and spoke slowly.
“Ever since I realized how many people you have around you… I started to feel small.”
“…What?”
Eki was a bright and lovable person. Around her were family, friends, and people who were fond of her as a person.
In contrast, Cassius might have been perfect on the outside, but inside he was incomplete. The more he learned about the rumors circulating in the Association, the more unbelievable it felt that Eki had stayed under him for seven whole years.
Cassius felt uneasy. He grew anxious. Coming outside had brought good things, but it had also brought bad ones.
“Eki, are you really okay with someone like me?”
A dragon hundreds of years older than her. A personality with no flexibility, only prickly edges. A master who had done nothing but work his disciple hard for years.
As Cassius reflected on himself, there were plenty of reasons to feel intimidated. In the end, the words spilled out of his mouth.
“Master, then was that why you’d been feeling down for a while?”
“……”
“You thought I might leave you?”
“…That you might no longer want me. That’s all.”
“My goodness.”
Eki stared blankly with her mouth open.
She had always prided herself on knowing her master’s heart better than anyone. It seemed that was no longer true. Or maybe her instincts had dulled because her attention had strayed elsewhere.
As if organizing her thoughts, Eki shook her head, then firmly clasped Cassius’s hand.
“Of everyone I’ve ever met, I like you the most, Master.”
“…Because of my face?”
“No, that’s, well, of course, um…”
Cassius’s eyes narrowed. Eki hurriedly waved her hand.
“Sure, at first I liked you because you were handsome. But now I like other things too.”
“……”
“Ugh, I’m serious here.”
“I understand.”
“I’m telling it to you straight.”
For some reason, moisture welled in the grass colored eyes of Cassius as he looked down past the railing. Startled, Eki quickly intertwined their fingers and blurted out.
“I-I’ve actually liked you for a long time now!”
“…What?”
“Did you know? Back when we were working together at the Thousand Tower. I actually got scouted several times.”
Eki explained why she had turned them down. At first she thought it was about money, then she thought it was because it felt like a waste to leave after all those years working under Cassius. But in the end, she realized it was because he stayed on her mind.
“But I wanted to stay by your side.”
And it wasn’t simply because of his looks. Eki explained in a serious, firm tone.
“I didn’t want to leave you alone. By your side, always, constantly. I wanted to be there with you.”
“…Eki.”
“You understand how I feel, right? So stop digging weird tunnels by yourself. Why compare yourself to other people?”
“…I won’t.”
“Good. That’s a good boy.”
Eki rose onto her tiptoes and gently stroked Cassius’s smooth white hair.
“And if you’re really that anxious, you could just go ahead and take me completely.”
Cassius’s green eyes filled with confusion. Eki continued with a slightly mischievous smile.
“Why, if we’re legally tied together, it’s harder to break up.”
“…What. Don’t tell me you’re saying we should get married?”
“Yes. Is that bad?”
“No, that can’t be.”
Marrying Eki. Marrying the woman who said she would always stay by his side.
Of course it sounded good. But Eki had been his only disciple. She was also his adjutant now.
“But Eki, what would other people say…”
“I don’t care about that.”
“I do.”
“Then how about we get married in about five years?”
Five years. By then, he would have stepped down from being the acting Association Head, so the timing wasn’t bad.
He could settle down in some rural village and focus on magical research, and Eki could live on, gaining fame as a mage. How perfect was that.
Still, it felt sudden.
“What if your parents oppose it?”
“They’ll probably like it. They’ve been wanting me to get married soon.”
Cassius rubbed his face over and over, then turned sharply toward Eki.
“Let’s say that didn’t count.”
“Huh?”
“…Later, I’ll come to you properly prepared.”
“Ah.”
So it was a proposal.
Eki broke into a bright smile. She nodded and leaned into her master’s chest, and Cassius wrapped his arms tightly around her.
All the emotions that had been tormenting him settled down. It was strange. Just a few gentle words, and his noisy heart had calmed this much.
But Cassius knew. It was possible because she was his disciple, because she was Eki.
Cassius slowly closed his eyes and felt Eki’s warmth. She was warm. And precious.
“I love you.”
Eki laughed briefly, as if tickled, then answered.
“I love you too.”
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