Chapter 67 : If You Ask About Me
However, when he actually opened the door, the office was dark and empty.
Damian hesitated at the threshold, his gaze naturally shifting to Aracila’s desk, which had been neatly tidied.
“…Ah.”
She had truly cleared out of his space. The desk was still there, but the pens and glasses she used to leave on top of it were gone.
Even without a word from her, Damian grasped and understood the situation.
In truth, returning to their individual spaces, just as they had before their partnership, was only natural. Even if the business had succeeded, things would have ended up this way once their work was completed.
Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes.
Perhaps because the business venture he had been so confident in was now falling apart, he felt oddly empty and bitter.
‘We worked together surprisingly well…’
‘Somehow, it feels strangely disappointing.’
Unaware that they were both having similar thoughts, the two lay in their respective rooms, unable to sleep until late into the night.
***
Within the Magic Tower, Aracila’s research lab was among the most distinguished, boasting outstanding achievements.
Whether in research or external missions, they consistently delivered excellent results.
Many resented the fact that her lab was dominated by commoner-born magicians and led by a female magician.
Due to the highly competitive, performance-driven nature of the Magic Tower, her team—standing out with its remarkable accomplishments—was particularly subject to hostility.
Against this backdrop, the controversy surrounding the magic airship business dealt a significant blow to Aracila’s research lab.
With the commercial use of the airship essentially deemed a failure, even the previously valuable research on floating stones was now at risk of losing its worth.
Of course, since nothing was conclusively decided yet, no one dared to mock Aracila to her face.
They feared provoking her sharp tongue and getting burned.
Instead, people began subtly targeting Sally and Ludi. Unlike Aracila, those two weren’t particularly intimidating, making them easier targets.
During lunchtime, Sally stormed back from the Magic Tower’s cafeteria, seething with rage.
“Billy, that bastard! He’s driving me insane!”
Ludi tried to calm her down as he reached for the doorknob of the research lab.
He was relieved that Aracila had gone out on business. If she had been with them in the cafeteria—or if she were inside the lab now—it would have been a very uncomfortable situation.
Fortunately, she had said she wouldn’t be back until after lunch, so the two entered the lab without hesitation, continuing their conversation in loud voices.
“Just let it go. You know he’s always had a complex about us.”
“But what does he even know to be running his mouth like that?! Seriously, that guy is the worst!”
“Who’s the worst?”
A voice they shouldn’t have heard rang out from inside the lab, and both Sally and Ludi froze on the spot.
Their eyes rolled toward Aracila’s desk—there she was, sitting with her legs crossed.
“Se-Senior! Didn’t you say you’d be back late because of work…?”
“Yes, I did. But things wrapped up faster than expected, so I came back early. Is that a problem?”
The two juniors quickly shook their heads, but their nervous glances betrayed them.
If they had known Aracila was present, they would have been more careful with their words.
She gestured for them to come closer.
“So, who’s the bastard? Billy?”
“Uh… W-Well…”
“The name sounds familiar. Is he from another research lab?”
“…Yes. He’s one of our peers from Travis’s lab.”
Sally hesitantly answered as she approached with Ludi.
Aracila, who never paid much attention to other labs, merely nodded. The name must have stuck in her memory because he was affiliated with Travis’s research team.
“So, what exactly did Billy do to make you both so angry?”
“……”
“Tell me. If someone messed with my juniors, I should go and set them straight.”
Both Ludi and Sally were generally calm and composed individuals. If they had gotten angry enough to curse, there had to be a good reason.
After hesitating for a while, they finally spoke when Aracila urged them again.
“Billy… called Bluebird a ‘failed bird.’ He doesn’t even know what he’s talking about.”
“They’re struggling with their own food storage box issues, yet they have no sense of camaraderie. And it’s not like we’ve failed at anything before!”
“So we couldn’t hold back and ended up arguing in front of everyone. We’re sorry, Senior.”
“We apologize. We might have tarnished your reputation.”
The two bowed their heads in apology.
Any trouble they caused would reflect on Aracila and become her responsibility to clean up.
Aracila listened in silence, interlocking her fingers and resting her chin on them. Then, with a serious expression, she asked:
“Did you win or lose?”
“…What?”
“You fought, right? Did you win or lose?”
“Uh… We won.”
Ludi recalled Billy storming off, red-faced, after losing the argument, and he responded with certainty.
Hearing that, Aracila’s expression brightened.
“Then it’s fine. If you won, you didn’t tarnish my reputation.”
“But… we’re worried you might hear bad things because of us.”
“It’s fine. I never hear anything good anyway.”
With a remark that was more blunt than comforting, Aracila patted her juniors on the shoulders.
Meanwhile, in her mind, she was already planning to pay Travis a visit and ensure he kept his subordinates in check.
“And besides, we’re not done yet. It’s too early to console ourselves by calling this our ‘first failure,’ Ludi.”
The business had only been paused, not shut down. Aracila made sure to clarify that fact.
Ludi blinked, then quickly bowed his head, realizing his slip of the tongue.
“So what’s the plan now, Senior? Are we just going to wait until public opinion settles?”
“And once things calm down, how do we advertise Bluebird in a way that will win people back?”
At her two juniors’ concerned questions, Aracila had no immediate answer. In truth, she had yet to decide what to do next.
As the head of the research lab, she couldn’t afford to show weakness, but she was just as deeply worried about the future.
‘If this really ends up being my first failure…’
The lab’s reputation would crumble, her own dignity would suffer, and Damian’s investment would be lost.
Imagining nothing but ruin ahead, Aracila pressed her forehead with her interlocked fingers.
She sat still like that for a long time until Sally lightly tapped her shoulder.
“Um, Senior. You have a visitor.”
“…A visitor?”
Lost in thought, Aracila hadn’t even noticed someone knocking at the lab’s door. She belatedly lifted her head.
Sally, looking unusually tense, stepped aside.
As a man appeared from the doorway, Aracila tilted her head.
“Damian? What brings you here?”
“I have something to discuss. And I didn’t come alone…”
“Ta-da! I’m here too.”
Cutting off Damian’s words, Lucas suddenly popped up from behind him, grinning as he waved.
At the sight of this truly unexpected guest, Aracila’s eyes widened.
She quickly led the two to the sofa, while Sally and Ludi hurriedly brought refreshments.
Seated next to Damian with Lucas in front of them, Aracila nudged her husband’s elbow, signaling for an explanation.
Damian then spoke.
“His Highness, the First Prince, approached me saying he wanted to support the magic airship business. After hearing his proposal, I thought it was a very promising one, so I came to see you with him.”
Considering Damian’s cautious nature, the fact that he had come straight over without even waiting until after work suggested the offer was indeed worth listening to.
Still, Aracila maintained a calm and objective demeanor. She took a sip of tea before responding.
“What kind of proposal did His Highness offer?”
“I’ll explain that myself.”
Lucas lifted a hand to stop Damian from speaking, smiling brightly.
“By any chance, Lady Vandemir, are you aware that I recently concluded a peace treaty with the Kingdom of Silin?”
Lucas’s explanation, which started with a light question, could be summarized as follows:
To commemorate the peace agreement between the Setron Empire and the Kingdom of Silin, the two nations had decided to exchange valuable treasures. For this transport, Lucas wanted to use the magic airship.
As he had once again been appointed as the Empire’s envoy to Silin, he had the authority to incorporate the airship into the mission.
‘No wonder Damian rushed over to see me.’
Lucas’s proposal wasn’t just good—it was a golden opportunity to turn the situation around.
Aracila glanced at Lucas, who was now leisurely sipping his tea.
It was clearly a great deal for her and Damian, but she couldn’t understand what he stood to gain from it.
Considering it was an important diplomatic mission that would solidify his achievements, he should have wanted to avoid controversy at all costs.
“Are you sure it’s okay to use our magic airship? Of course, there are no safety concerns, but if anything were to happen, Your Highness might face trouble.”
“Haha, Lady Vandemir, you’re just as kind as you are beautiful. But don’t worry—I have a debt to repay to Lord Vandemir.”
Lucas set down his teacup with a hearty laugh, the corners of his mouth curling mischievously.
“Yes, if you ask about me… I’m simply settling a debt from a night I spent with Lord Vandemir.”
At those words, Aracila instinctively turned to look at Damian.
Just how intense and passionate had that one night been for the prince to call it a debt?
Curious beyond measure, she quietly placed a hand on Damian’s arm and said,
“Damian, I don’t judge.”
“…What are you talking about?”
“Who you dated before we got married doesn’t matter. You can be honest.”
Aracila spoke with complete sincerity.
She truly didn’t care about Damian’s past relationships or how many people he had been with. She only wanted him to be honest and at ease.
Realizing that she was making a completely ridiculous misunderstanding, Damian’s expression twisted in frustration.
“That’s not what happened.”
“Then what did happen? Just be honest—”
Worried that Aracila might say something even more absurd, Damian hurriedly raised a hand to cut her off and explained in an urgent tone.
“I once saved His Highness’s life. The one night he keeps mentioning refers to that incident.”
To confirm, Aracila turned to Lucas.
Still grinning, the prince finally nodded.
“Well, Lord Vandemir, you have no sense of romance. Saying it so bluntly makes our relationship sound so… businesslike.”
“Your Highness.”
“Alright, alright. Lady Vandemir, your husband is right. One night, I happened to be in mortal danger, and he saved me, staying by my side until morning.”
Sensing the low warning in Damian’s voice, Lucas finally dropped his playful tone and told the truth.
Because he owed Damian his life, he had decided to step in upon hearing the rumors.
“As a man, it’s only right to repay what I owe. Especially if I want to maintain a friendship with someone as stiff and no-nonsense as Lord Vandemir.”
Lucas winked at Damian before turning to Aracila and giving her the same playful gesture.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ✧: *. ꕥ .* :✧ﾟ. ───
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