The Possessor Mistook the Genre for 20 Years

56 – The Wizard Was Accidentally Hit by the Tail.

Hehehmm-.

Arian, who was in a very, very good mood, hummed a tune.

It was because she was going out with Franz.

Of course, she had gone out with him before.

They often went out together to purchase supplies needed for the Magic Tower.

But the situation now was completely different from back then.

In the past, she had to ask and ask again to barely manage to go out together, but this time, Franz himself had suggested going out!

Moreover, the reason for going out was not for official business but for a very personal matter.

‘He said he wanted to buy a robe.’

In other words, it was no different from saying, ‘Pick out a robe that suits your taste.’

So how could she not be excited?

Of course, all of this was just Arian’s very personal thoughts.

Her love for Franz had distorted her thinking.

But as a result, Arian was extremely happy, so she could say her heart had done well.

‘Did my makeup turn out well today…?’

Arian took out a small hand mirror from her pocket.

Her reflection in the mirror was not much different from usual, so it could be said that it was quite a good result considering she hadn’t slept well.

Showing such a sight last night for no reason….

The reason Arian hadn’t slept well was because she had shown her underwear to Franz.

Just thinking about that moment made her feel a strange excitement, making it impossible to sleep.

His gaze at the underwear on the floor felt as if he was looking at her body.

But.

‘This is not the time for that.’

Arian had entered the Magic Tower at the same age and time as Franz.

In other words, she was the same age as him, already 27 years old.

But unlike men, a woman’s time flows a little faster.

For a 27-year-old woman, the evidence was that the word “old” was starting to be attached to “maid.”

Old maid.

Just one more letter added in front of “maid,” but it had become a truly dreadful word.

‘How did it come to this…?’

In fact, when she first entered the Magic Tower, she had no particular worries.

She had the social status of being the daughter of the Duke of Freesia and the promising title of an elite magician.

She thought she could marry any man she liked whenever she wanted.

And surprisingly, not long after, a man she liked appeared.

Franz Gilbert, the current master of the Magic Tower.

Yes, it was still fine back then.

He was a man from a baronial family, and even the youngest who didn’t need to inherit the family.

As the daughter of a duke, if she courted him, he should have been grateful and bowed to her.

But now?

“Sigh-.”

Arian sighed.

Reality was this bleak.

Time was passing, and her family was urging her to choose a man to marry quickly.

It was only natural. It would drive the family crazy to have a healthy daughter remain an old maid at this age.

In fact, the reason she had invited Franz to the party this time was because of that.

She thought that if she attended the party and showed her face in advance, her family might understand.

They would think she was putting in the effort to catch a proper big shot.

“…”

Arian looked at Franz, who was walking silently beside her.

Handsome.

Handsome enough to turn all the men in the world into frogs.

At that moment, Franz, feeling Arian’s gaze, turned his head.

Their eyes naturally met in midair.

“Huh? Arian, what? Do you have something to say?”

“Well, you’re just so handsome… Ah, never mind.”

Arian, flustered, ended up revealing her true feelings.

He belatedly said it wasn’t true, but most of the words had already spilled out.

Arian decided to hope for the best since things had come to this.

Maybe, just maybe, he might give an unexpected answer.

Franz smiled awkwardly and then opened his mouth.

* * * * *

“If I had a handsome face, I wouldn’t have any wishes left… And you, don’t tease people by calling them pretty. I get hurt too.”

Contrary to his calm words, Franz was in a state of great confusion.

First of all, he was flustered because he wasn’t used to receiving compliments.

If it had been about magic, he would have laughed it off.

But a compliment about his appearance was something he had never heard before, except from his parents, so he didn’t know how to react.

However, even in his confusion, Franz read Arian’s intention.

He had heard somewhere that when a woman compliments someone, she wants to be complimented on that part herself.

Like when you want to show off a new bag, you first compliment the other person’s bag.

So if Arian complimented his appearance, she must want to be complimented on her appearance too.

And that seemed to be the right answer.

“Th-thank you…”

Arian bowed her head to express her gratitude.

But for some reason, her lowered head showed no sign of coming back up.

Was she embarrassed by the compliment?

Franz could fully understand that feeling.

He was happy too, but he was too shy to respond properly.

It was then.

Someone was approaching from the opposite side of Arian, holding a large box in their arms.

But Arian still had her head deeply bowed.

“Arian.”

Franz called her name and pulled her shoulder from afar as if to embrace her.

“Huh, huh…?”

Arian looked up in surprise.

Since he had pulled her outer shoulder, their bodies were almost touching.

Exaggerating a bit more, they were close enough to feel each other’s breath, and their eyes met.

“Arian, you should watch where you’re going.”

“S-sorry…”

Arian quickly turned her head and moved away from Franz.

Her ears, peeking out from her hair, were turning red as if they were about to burst, but Franz didn’t notice.

However, Franz wasn’t completely unaffected either.

‘This is awkward…’

He had moved too boldly without thinking.

It was an action that wouldn’t matter if done to a man, but it was different with a woman, and he should have been more careful, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so.

Of course, if he were officially dating Arian, it wouldn’t matter, but their relationship was just that of a tower master and his secretary, albeit a bit closer than usual.

“Arian.”

“…Yes?”

Arian’s response was oddly delayed.

It seemed she was pondering the same issue.

“Sorry if I startled you earlier.”

“Oh, no. It’s actually my fault.”

Arian showed a gentle smile.

It was the happiest expression Franz had seen on her recently, and he felt a bit relieved.

However, he couldn’t understand why she was smiling so happily.

A small doubt sprouted in Franz’s mind without him realizing it.

Soon, Franz and Arian arrived at a clothing store.

It was a place Arian had recommended, and at a glance, it looked so expensive that only a noble could afford to step inside.

If one were to ask why such a store was near the tower, it was because most of the people working at the tower were nobles.

Occasionally, there were talented individuals among the commoners, like a crane among chickens, but since magic was largely an innate talent, it couldn’t be helped.

It would also be strange for the meritocratic tower to promote something like a commoner quota.

“Oh my, we have esteemed guests. Welcome, Tower Master, Lady. I am Ruby Fran of the Fran Count family.”

A young woman, who appeared to be the store owner, greeted them politely.

Franz nodded lightly in return.

“Nice to meet you. I am Franz Gilbert, the Tower Master.”

“Thank you for visiting. If you need anything, please let me know.”

At the store owner’s words, Franz’s gaze turned to Arian.

For a 21st-century black-haired Korean, having a store clerk approach them was a truly dreadful ordeal they couldn’t handle on their own.

If he had come alone, he would have pretended to browse around and then left.

Fortunately, Arian noticed Franz’s gaze.

“Ah, I’m here to buy a robe. Not for me, but for the Tower Master.”

“Yes, then would you come this way?”

The store owner guided them somewhere, and the two began to follow her.

By the way, Ruby Fran was the wife of Count Fran.

Who would have thought she would be running a clothing store here?

It might be better to take a little more interest in the territory.

At that moment, the store owner suddenly spoke.

“By the way, does the fact that the Lady came with the Tower Master mean that the wish you always spoke of has come true?”

“W-When did I ever say that…? I-I don’t remember…?!”

Arian seemed to be quite close with the store owner, though Franz didn’t know what they were talking about.

Come to think of it, Arian was not only close with this place.

She was well-acquainted with the stores in the territory and even had a thick friendship with the residents.

As his secretary, she took care of the parts that the Tower Master himself couldn’t pay attention to.

‘Should I give her a gift?’

He always thought he was grateful but had never expressed it.

Maybe she would like an accessory before going to the party.