Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Candy for the Tower Master
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A man with long silver hair casually tied up into a single ponytail, dressed in simple attire. Dark circles shadowed heavily under his eyes.
This guy, who clearly reeked of being buried in research day and night, was none other than the Tower Master, Shane.
‘The imperial genes don’t go anywhere.’
Incredibly handsome—jaw-droppingly so—but his fatigued appearance was downright pitiful. He was one of the top ten powerhouses in the empire.
If you rattled off Shane’s basic specs—the youngest son of the late Emperor Decard X:
‘First off, he’s a gold spoon.’
A quasi-duke, a title granted only to imperial family members, ruling over Millen Territory; the youngest Tower Master ever at nineteen;
“I needed something anyway, and I suddenly missed our uncle’s face. So, killing two birds with one stone.”
He was the Crown Prince Lark’s peer uncle.
“You don’t need to tack on the bullshit excuses. What do you need?”
“The list of buyers for video stones over the past year or so.”
Shane’s face twisted in a scowl.
“Why come all the way to me, the busy one, for that? The Trade Management Department would hand it over in a minute.”
“Don’t be so touchy. I came to see your face, too.”
Lark shrugged with exaggerated nonchalance.
Shane, who had been quietly watching him, leaned over the low table, propping his chin, and turned his gaze to me.
“You must be the one with business for me, miss. Rubettria Duchess, was it?”
“Yes, a pleasure to meet you. I’m Rubettria Diorus.”
“Lark doesn’t usually budge for trivial matters that aren’t his business. What’s your relationship?”
“Oh, you’re mistaken. We’re not close or anything. His Highness the Crown Prince happened to have business with you, so I asked if I could tag along, and he graciously allowed it.”
“Fine. Let’s say that’s true. So, the duchess’s business is...”
“Yes, it’s just that—”
“...I’ve already heard from the sales division manager, so no need to repeat it.”
Shane flashed a bright smile and pointed toward the distant door.
“It’s absurd, so just leave the way you came.”
“Pfft.”
Lark, who’d been listening, burst out laughing.
A quick glare sideways showed him biting his lip hard, stifling more laughter.
‘What the hell. Not only won’t he help...!’
One leg casually propped on his knee, he was engrossed in fiddling with a metronome-like magic tool.
Lark seemed utterly uninterested in my affairs.
‘He brought me as far as the Tower Master, so now it’s up to me, huh.’
Think I can’t handle it?
I cleared my throat and spoke.
“Tower Master, before you flat-out reject it, could you at least hear me out?”
“Sure. Go ahead.”
“I know the Tower only permits production of Grade 2 magic tools for public benefit, but it’s not strictly codified in law, so it’s within your discretion to approve production, right?”
“And?”
“Grade 2 tools are restricted due to their risks, which is perfectly reasonable. But the video board I’m requesting today is a bit different from other Grade 2 tools.”
“You want permission for personal use since it’s not dangerous?”
“Yes. I believe that if video boards become widely commercialized, they could bring massive progress to the empire. One device can display to many, making it efficient, and as a visual tool, it minimizes information distortion.”
“Why commercialize it?”
“Huh?”
“What do I gain from commercializing video boards?”
“Gain? Well...”
My words caught in my throat for a moment.
“Uh... you could sell them at a high price for financial gain?”
“I don’t need money. I’ve got plenty.”
“...”
“Pfft!”
I shot another glare at Lark beside me as his stifled laugh escaped.
‘Ugh, this is not easy.’
Shane’s uncooperative attitude was starting to grate, but I had no choice but to hold it in.
‘Without this man’s abilities, no one can make video magic tools.’
Shane van Rashma Decard.
Like every Tower Master before him, he was a Light Spirit User contracted with the spirit ‘Lumiere.’
In a world where scientific progress was minimal, compensated by spirit magic, Light Spirit Users held immense value.
Take video magic tools that could capture and store moving scenes, for example.
If science had advanced, cameras based on light principles would fill that role.
‘Unfortunately, here, only Light Spirit Users who freely manipulate light can wield that skill.’
In simple terms, Shane monopolized the right to produce scientific inventions like cameras or TV screens.
‘So unfair. Sharing wouldn’t hurt.’
I forced a smile and said,
“If you were born a Spirit User in this empire with immense power, you should have the benevolence to use it for the empire’s progress. Our—”
I politely gestured toward Lark beside me with both hands.
“His Highness the Crown Prince works tirelessly day and night for the empire’s development and its people’s welfare. He doesn’t hesitate to use Spirit User abilities for a more convenient, comfortable life for the citizens.”
“Ah. In other words, practice noblesse oblige—the moral duty of the privileged?”
“Exactly. If you make video tools easily commercializable, countless citizens could live more convenient, higher-quality lives.”
“Sigh.”
Shane sighed, fell silent for a moment, then stood up.
“See, that’s what rubs me the wrong way.”
“Huh?”
“Born a powerful Spirit User, born into the ruling imperial class, so fulfill your duties? Contribute your abilities as a public good if it helps the people’s welfare?”
Pacing back and forth as he muttered, Shane suddenly bent down in front of me.
He smiled brightly, tapped the tip of my nose lightly, and added,
“Then who looks after my welfare, you bold miss?”
“...”
“Locked in the Tower 24/7, constantly summoning spirits without rest, cranking out magic tools—this poor man’s ‘high-quality life’—who guarantees that?”
I was speechless.
‘Hmm, hearing it, he does seem a bit pitiful.’
Thudding back into his seat, Shane tilted his head back wearily and continued.
“See, in my nineteen years, I’ve never chosen anything of my own will. I didn’t choose to be born imperial, or to contract with Lumiere. I never wanted this damn Tower, but I got it anyway.”
His weary voice finally evoked my sympathy.
‘No icon as sacrificial as a Light Spirit User.’
Light Spirit Users must keep Lumiere summoned 24/7, 365 days a year, to maintain light-based magic tools.
That means no brief gap when the Spirit User dies and Lumiere returns to the Spirit Spring to await the next contractor.
Thus, Lumiere has been an exception since the empire’s founding.
‘Lumiere contracts with the next predetermined candidate the moment it senses the current one’s life end.’
That predetermined contractor is the youngest imperial of the next generation.
Shane, the late emperor’s youngest son, became a Light Spirit User without choice.
“Of course, I could bend the rules for your convenience right now. But then guests like you would double, triple—it’s only a matter of time.”
“...You’re right.”
I nodded readily.
“Grade 2 and above only for public benefit—that rule was made to give me some breathing room.”
Shane looked straight at me and added,
“I don’t want to pile more onto my already crushing workload. No interest in sacrificing for ruling-class duties or damn citizen welfare.”
I agreed inwardly.
Charity looks beautiful, but whether to give is ultimately up to the giver’s discretion.
Of course, I was the type to give proportionally, but I could understand Shane’s feelings.
‘I went through this in my Juliet Karena days. Entitled jerks who take kindness for granted.’
I was generous with donations, so requests poured in.
Overwhelmed by hundreds, I auto-approved until one day I reviewed them with my manager...
“What? Goldspoon College? Isn’t that the school that cherry-picks rich kids? Everyone knows they cut poor students even with top grades. No scholarships, yet they beg me for them?”
“It’s just for show; they won’t use it as scholarships...”
“Ridiculous. And this? Sponsoring clothes and bags for Palace Company’s staff party? People on tens-of-millions salaries too stingy to buy their own?”
“Well, you OK’d every request without checking...”
Appalled, I started managing my donations personally to stop the blind spending.
‘Yeah, the entitled can be worse. Some shameless types think ongoing favors are rights.’
From Shane’s perspective, I might look like one of those entitled guests now.
“Ahem. Um...”
Feeling awkward, I smiled apologetically.
“...Sorry. You’re right on all counts. I made an unreasonable request. My thinking was shortsighted.”
At my straightforward apology, Shane stared blankly before crossing his arms and turning his head away with a huff.
Tick, tick.
In the heavy silence, only Lark’s fiddling sounds lingered.
Embarrassed, I started to stand but hesitated, feeling sorry for Shane.
“Um, here...”
I rummaged in my handbag, pulled out a candy, and carefully placed it on the table.
The kind I popped when my blood sugar dropped during workouts.
“...?”
Shane raised an eyebrow in bewilderment at the cute pink-wrapped candy.
“You seem overworked. Have it if your sugar drops while working.”
“Hah?”
“Ahem. If you don’t want it...”
Embarrassed, I reached for it again, but Shane was faster.
He snatched it, unwrapped it, tossed it in his mouth, and crunched: crunch, crunch.
“Pffft!”
“...”
“...”
Lark burst into laughter again.
This time, Shane and I glared at him simultaneously.
Lark tilted his head slightly, pointed at me, and said to Shane,
“Cute, right?”
“What?”