Chapter 14
He really does care about me.
Of course, she’d known that—but seeing him try to explain himself felt strangely unfamiliar. It made her think, He really does want to marry me.
‘If a noble died, a formal complaint would’ve already been filed.’
The Tower Master wasn’t someone who often appeared in social circles, but his striking appearance made him hard to miss. Even commoners could recognize him—so how could a noble have failed to?
And of all times, why would someone pick a fight with him then?
Achilles’ explanation matched the situation. He was preparing for a wedding, hadn’t been drinking, and had simply gone out to buy his fiancée a gift. He didn’t seem like someone who would’ve caused serious trouble.
Then Charlize spoke quietly.
“What should we do about Lord Bianchi?”
She had always known the Tower Master was strong, but she hadn’t expected Valter—who was the male lead in the original story—to be so completely outmatched. Unlike the original, Valter’s parents were still alive, and the schemes that should’ve brought him hardship had never happened. He seemed… softer than he was meant to be.
‘Well, that’s not my fault. I couldn’t exactly have his parents killed just to toughen him up.’
In the original story, it was largely Charlize—as the villainess—who caused the deaths of Valter’s parents and all the suffering he went through. But the current her had no such intentions. She hadn’t even touched black magic.
“I’ll handle it. Don’t worry—I won’t hurt him.”
Achilles’ tone was cool, and his face unreadable, but his eyes seemed… calm. And that, more than anything, made it hard for Charlize to bear. Was this how she looked when she had once watched Valter standing next to another noblewoman?
But what should I even do?
As Achilles turned away, Charlize instinctively reached out and caught his hand. As his golden eyes turned down to meet hers, she lowered her gaze.
“Please don’t misunderstand. Just because I was worried about Lord Bianchi’s injuries doesn’t mean I care about him more than I care about you.”
“Then… do you like me more than him?”
It was a natural question, but Charlize still looked up in surprise. Her eyes flicked to the petrified Valter, then back to Achilles.
He looked at her without blinking, clearly waiting for an answer. Though his expression was calm, there was a hint of resignation—until he saw the faint blush blooming across her hesitant face.
This…
His pupils widened. She quickly averted her gaze. Achilles, ever perceptive, understood right away. Then came her trembling reply.
“Uh… well. A… a little?”
“A little what, exactly?”
He stepped closer as he asked, closing the distance between them. Charlize gasped and pulled her hand away—but he took it again, firmly.
“Your Highness.”
As he leaned down, his presence seemed to envelop her completely. He was tall—so tall that just his nearness made her feel surrounded. But there was nothing threatening about it.
“Please tell me. I want to hear it. What would make you say it?”
In her deep blue eyes, he was the only thing reflected. Charlize stared up at him, caught in the moment, as if under a spell. Her lips moved before she could stop herself.
“If you kiss me… I’ll tell you.”
Achilles’ golden eyes flashed with emotion. That alone was already enough of an answer for him.
“…Then I’ll kiss you until you do.”
He leaned in.
She’s completely lost it!
Why did I say something like that?!
Charlize lay in bed, replaying everything in her head. Especially the kiss. Achilles had kissed her without hesitation—deeply, hungrily—and of course, she couldn’t answer with her mouth full…
She had been so swept up in the moment that she ended up in his arms. But that was all.
Then suddenly, he had pulled away, looking into her eyes so intently it made her heart pound. He had gently brushed his fingers against her lips, still wet from his kiss.
“Your Highness… Lize.”
It was the first time he had ever said her name. She’d been stunned, eyes wide.
Then he gave her one last kiss—and stepped away.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. In the afternoon.”
He must have remembered what she said earlier at the balcony window—when she told him to come back during the day. But tomorrow night was the ball. He would be busy. How did he plan to see her?
Well… I’m busy too.
But if she could see him—she wanted to. After all, they were engaged.
She never thought a day would come when the fact that he was her fiancé would make her heart race like this. Charlize smiled faintly and curled under the covers, thinking of the gift she had given him.
She’d chosen sapphire cufflinks.
Not only did the color suit his image—it matched the color of her eyes. She hoped he would think of her whenever he saw them.
I can’t wait for tomorrow.
Achilles already knew about Lord Bianchi’s house arrest.
He had eyes everywhere for the sake of Charlize’s safety—gathering information was part of that. So, naturally, the news had reached him.
That’s why he chose the perfect place to drop Valter off: a merchant building located right across from the royal guard post.
Without hesitation, he tossed Valter onto the rooftop, released his magic in an instant, and disappeared. He teleported near one of the palace’s outer residences without a trace.
Since the rooftop was part of a merchant guild building, the moment Valter hit the ground, the magical alarm was triggered. But Achilles didn’t bother to look back.
“She actually asked me to kiss her.”
The way she closed her eyes—nervous, but waiting—it made his heart jolt. As Achilles recalled the feel of her soft lips, he sighed. There was still over a month left until the wedding. That short time felt painfully long.
“If I just took her to the Tower and kept her there until the wedding… No. That won’t work.”
If she came with him to the Mage Tower, she wouldn’t spend much time at the imperial palace. And she needed to be here. He couldn’t interfere with her duties as the princess.
Would she come back to him willingly?
He imagined himself trying to read her mood, trying to please her—just to stay in the Empire a little longer, to be near her.
“That’s fine. I don’t mind.”
If he was going to study the origin of mana, he’d need her cooperation anyway. As he lightly jumped back over the garden wall toward the annex, Achilles suddenly realized it had been a long time since he’d thought about his original goal.
It surprised him—but he wasn’t angry. In fact, he felt strangely excited.
“This is what I wanted.”
Whatever he set out to do at the beginning didn’t matter anymore. The important thing now was that he loved her. Everything he’d planned—every move—had been about winning her.
And now that he had her, and he loved her even more—what harm was there in that?
“The research can wait.”
What bothered him now was something else.
His original plan involved teaching her magic. But now, he didn’t want to. Not because he didn’t want her to be strong—but because he was afraid.
Afraid that once she had power, once she learned what he truly was… she might leave.
Charlize had the talent to become a greater mage than he was. If she walked away—left him for someone else who loved her better—he didn’t know what he’d do.
His eyes turned toward the rooftop where he’d left Valter Bianchi.
“Should I go back and kill him?”
That fool had acted like he could stand toe-to-toe with him. But Valter wasn’t even close to being a threat.
“No. That’s dangerous. If I harm the heir of the Bianchi family, the wedding could be called off. It’s better to take care of those men I saw earlier instead.”
Besides, Charlize had told him herself—she liked him more than Valter. Even if she couldn’t say it clearly because he kept kissing her, asking for the kiss had been her answer.
She even said not to misunderstand.
As he thought of her closing her eyes under the warm lamplight, blushing softly, all of his fears faded.
She liked him—even if just a little.
That alone made tonight worthwhile.
As the first light of dawn began to rise, Achilles smiled to himself.
“Damn that bastard!!”
Valter groaned as he sat up, his whole-body sore. As soon as he realized where he was, he clenched his teeth in frustration.
Achilles had escaped with magic. Valter, on the other hand, had to deal with the mess.
Thankfully, Achilles hadn’t stripped him of his cloak or hood. Valter hurried to cover his face and escape from the rooftop. But because the building was directly across from a guard station, soldiers were already rushing out.
“There he is!”
“He ran that way!”
When he had left the Bianchi estate earlier that night, he’d used a secret underground passage to avoid the knights stationed outside. That was the route he needed to use again.
But not now—not with guards chasing after him. He couldn’t lead them straight to the tunnel.
“The Crown Prince would love to catch me in the act—I can’t get caught.”
Breaking into the palace tonight had already been reckless. He should’ve stayed hidden. But the thought of Charlize sitting beside another man, listening to her wedding announcement, had been unbearable.
“They were together… at that exact moment?”
Just thinking about them made his chest ache like he’d swallowed a stone. Of all people, he hadn’t expected Charlize to do this to him.
And yet—she had come running to him the moment he was hurt.
“If you grab her like that again, I’ll break every bone in your body.”
Who does he think he is?
Charlize had always been his. Since the beginning.
Yes, he regretted grabbing her arm like that. But being scolded by Achilles—in front of her—had been infuriating.
And now, to be humiliated this badly… Valter knew his life had only been spared because of Charlize. Achilles hadn’t spared him out of kindness.
No—he was sure of it.
“Charlize must’ve begged for my life.”
The thought made his blood run cold.
He hadn’t even managed to speak to her properly. He’d accomplished nothing. And worse, he’d handed Achilles the perfect excuse to play the hero.
He didn’t want to imagine what Charlize might have given up to save him.
Valter bit down on his lip until it bled, escaping through the alleys.
And in his heart, he swore—
He would get his revenge. No matter what it took.
