Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Embarrassing Romance Novel
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"I read it in a romance novel titled 'Please Don't Eat Me, Mr. Wolf.'"
The words tumbled out of my mouth before I clapped a hand over it in shock. But the bomb had already detonated.
"......I cast a spell to force the truth out of you, but I never expected this kind of answer. A romance novel, of all things."
"So...... you enjoy romance novels, do you, Lady Lami."
Watching the two wolves react with what seemed like genuine bewilderment, my face flushed hot. That's when Nick cleared his throat and posed another question.
"Ahem. Where did you read that romance novel?"
He'd said there was urgent Magic Tower business, but his questions were relentless. My heart pounded with anxiety—what if I ended up blurting out that I'd possessed this body?
"At home."
Contrary to my fears, a simple answer emerged. And it was the truth. I'd read the novel cover to cover in my own home.
Unhappy with the response, Nick rephrased his question.
"Where did you get the novel from?"
He'd tweaked the wording slightly from before, eyeing me with open curiosity. Once again, my lips parted on their own.
"From the library."
The truth again. Before possessing this body, I'd stumbled upon the book at the local library near my house, borrowed it, and devoured it right away.
Back then, I never could have imagined I'd end up living inside that "randomly discovered novel."
"We've got the info we need. Release the spell."
Billy noticed my tense gaze fixed on them and nudged Nick's arm, delivering the good news.
Nick apparently agreed, withdrawing his intense stare. In that moment, I felt the control over my mouth lift, setting my tongue free.
"Using magic out of nowhere like that! ......Where do you get off......"
The moment the spell broke, I glared at Nick and snapped. But as soon as I met his gleaming golden eyes, my gaze dropped lower and lower.
"Sorry about that. I didn't expect you'd gotten the info from a novel with that title."
Having obtained what he wanted, Nick's expression had softened. His lips twitched as if holding back laughter, and he added in a faintly quivering voice,
"You seemed to be hiding something, so I made it so you could only tell the truth. And yeah, it was definitely worth hiding."
Billy, who had been sitting beside Nick watching our exchange, bit his lip hard and stared off into the distance.
Why did the title have to be that, landing me in this nightmare? I inwardly cursed the author for coming up with such a ridiculous name while clutching my burning ears in embarrassment.
Nick, having dropped that massive bombshell, excused himself to return to the Magic Tower and search for the book I'd mentioned.
Left alone with Billy, I sat across from him, sipping tea in awkward silence. The brew tasted unusually bitter today.
He gazed at me steadily before speaking up.
"Sorry about today. We had to know the source of your information—I couldn't stop Nick."
"Y-yeah......"
I mumbled a dazed reply, then a sudden curiosity struck me.
"Now that you know the source, what's your plan?"
"First, we find that book you mentioned. But how did you know the novel's contents were real? Most people would dismiss it as fiction and not bother hunting down an actual magic circle."
His question hit the nail on the head. I forced a calm expression, avoiding Billy's eyes as I answered.
"It was urgent. I checked for the magic circle just in case, and there it was."
It had been urgent. I was this close to marrying that sleazy zebra. Recalling Jeb Horse's first visit to the Morton estate made my face twist involuntarily.
Just thinking about him stirred up disgust.
Billy, aware of my circumstances, nodded in understanding.
"But......"
He fiddled with his teacup handle, lightening the serious mood a bit as he continued.
"What was the novel about?"
He'd been leaning back against the sofa, but now his upper body tilted forward slightly. I found myself hyper-aware of him and scooted back against the cushions.
I'd die before spilling the plot!
As I racked my brain for an excuse to escape, I suddenly remembered Ed bolting to his room earlier with a shocked look on his face.
We'd been in the middle of something important, so I hadn't followed right away, but I'd meant to check on him later. I'd completely forgotten amid my one-on-one with Billy.
I shot up from the sofa. Fixing my gaze on Billy, I sidled crab-like toward the door.
"Oh, y'know, just your typical romance novel. Ah! I should go see Ed. I'm worried about how he stormed off earlier."
With that, I cracked the door open and slipped through the narrow gap.
Bam!
Before it shut, I caught Billy's lips curving upward, and in my mortification, I slammed it harder than intended.
Startled by the noise, I glanced around the empty hallway, muttering needlessly as if servants might overhear.
"Man, why's there such a strong draft?"
I thought I heard laughter leaking from Billy's office, but I hurried away before I could be sure.
I dashed to Ed's room like I was fleeing, schooled my expression, and knocked.
But a passing servant informed me Ed had gone to the classroom, so I trudged back to my room, dejected.
"Mimo, I think I've totally botched life here."
With no one else to vent to, I grabbed Mimo mid-meal and made a pitiful face.
But Mimo shoved me away, demanding no interruptions, and I ended up sprawled on the floor.
"Ruined...... totally ruined......"
I stared blankly at the ever-opulent ceiling, murmuring to myself.
Meanwhile, while Billy, Nick, and Lami were deep in discussion about the magic circle...
Ed burst into his room, caught his breath, and replayed what he'd witnessed.
He'd gone to Billy's office for something when he heard Nick and Lami's voices inside. He'd flung the door open.
What met his eyes was Nick laughing merrily—and Lami sitting across from him, chatting away.
Seeing the two beastkin conversing so amiably filled Ed with an inexplicable sense of crisis.
I thought Uncle was safe enough.
A powerful rival had appeared. The Magic Tower Lord, no less!
Does Nick like Lami?
With no clue what they were talking about or why Nick was laughing, Ed jumped to conclusions on his own.
In his mind's eye, Lami's wedding was already underway at the Magic Tower.
"No!"
Yelling impulsively, Ed reflected on his own negligence. But before he could sort out his thoughts, it was time for his tutor.
He headed to the classroom to attend the lesson.
Karen was already there, waiting.
She looked more worn out than when they'd first met as she greeted him.
"Today, we'll cover the war between Wolf Territory and the Snow Leopard Territory..."
"Karen."
"Yes, Young Master?"
"Are you married, Karen?"
"......Pardon?"
Karen broke into a sweat, sensing today's lesson was doomed.
Regardless of her thoughts, Ed bombarded her with questions without hesitation.
How did you meet your husband? How did you confirm your feelings? What steps are needed for a man and woman to marry? The queries poured out.
Before long, the lesson was forgotten entirely. Karen figured the young master just didn't feel like studying and was stalling.
He's already ahead of his peers in learning, so skipping a day should be fine, right?
She rationalized it away. Her mother, who had also tutored Rub family heirs, would have been horrified and tried to stop her.
But her mother's warning—that getting dragged into a Rub young master's whims led to endless trouble—was long forgotten.
For the usually diligent young master, Karen earnestly shared her story, pitching it at his level.
Ed's eyes burned with more passion than ever.
Nick began plotting a full-scale search for a book titled Please Don't Eat Me, Mr. Wolf, based on Lami's account.
His reason was simple: Were there other beastkin who knew about the magic circle besides her?
The Magic Tower had originally planned to destroy it.
The founding Tower Lord might have had good intentions, but a magic circle linked to the Tower was nothing but trouble.
Any beastkin who knew about it could come and go freely— a headache for the Tower.
We should wipe that magic circle off the continent entirely.
Nick had been lounging with his feet propped on the office desk, but he suddenly bolted upright.
His abrupt movement made his secretary, Philip, look up from beside him.
Nick eyed the puzzled Philip, who had stood as well, and declared,
"I'm heading to the Morton estate in Sheep Territory."
"Suddenly?"
Despite his startled question, Philip swiftly prepared for the outing and fell in step beside Nick.
"I need to check their library."
Moments later, the Tower Lord's office held only unfinished paperwork—the figures of Nick and Philip had vanished without a trace.