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nActually, my dear Empress, you don't have to introduce him because I already know.

nUgh. What else can I do? It would be disrespectful if I didn't answer her summon. But I'm a little scared!

nYou guys might find it silly that I am acting like this. You're all might be thinking that I'm being stupidly anxious when I have not done any evil deeds like what novel Nadia had done right? So, therefore, I shouldn't be even afraid right now.

nYou're wrong! I'm still a little scared alright! This is the most powerful magician in existence, drinking tea with the Empress. He could snap my neck if he wants to!

nSo even if I did nothing to earn his ire, just being in the presence of someone this powerful, you would seriously be anxious!

n'Nadia! Wake up! You're fine okay! You're not misbehaving or anything, he won't cast some voodoo ** on you!'

nUgh… Damn it…

nRight. Right.. I did nothing wrong. I did not hurt somebody. I'm a new person!

nAfter calming myself down, I started walking forward again with steady steps. I masked my nervousness with fake confidence and approached them.

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"Greetings, Your Majesty,

" I uttered in a curtsy.

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"I told you to call me Aunt! Why are you being like this again? Come and sit down,

" she said and gestured to her right.

nThat means that I would have Janus on my right as well.

n'Oh dear me….'

nI lightly cleared my throat before sitting down with my back rigid straight. I'm too afraid to even think of my posture at this point.

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"Nadia, this is the current master of the Tower of Magic, Janus Cromwell,

" the Empress then said and referred to the smiling person beside me.

nA forced smile was painted on my lips as I looked at him. Janus stared at me, his eyes twinkling like two suns. Just looking at it, you could already feel the immense power he holds.

nIt was apparent from the way he moves, and the heavy energy that I could feel around him.

n'He's pretty big deal, you know! This is the strongest magician in the empire!'

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"Nice to meet you, I'm Nadia Herman,

" I said with utmost formality and respect.

nIn retrospect, Janus is seen as the messenger of the Gods. The crown respects him, and the church idolizes him. So sharing the same table as him is already an honor. Everyone is vying for it and would gladly pay a fortune just to shake hands with him. He's that unreachable. Like a lone pillar at the peak of a very tall mountain.

nWhat can I say? The citizens of Rosenthal love him.

nAnd now I'm here, sharing a table with him and reachable as heck. I could just extend my arm and poke him. But I won't do that, of course.

nJanus hummed as he drank his tea. The golden ring in his finger glinted in the light, almost blinding me.

n

"Nice to meet you, Nadia,

" he declared and flashed a smile that shows his pearly white teeth.

n'Yep. He truly is a beautiful man.'

nYou know what. I'll probably lose my eyesight, not from the ring, but from how white his teeth are.

nAnd from the way he said my name, it brought shivers on my back. It's an unpleasant shiver y'all! I'm practically losing my nerve because it sounded scary and threatening to my ears.

nI blinked the spell away and awkwardly looked down, mentally castigating myself. What am I even thinking…

nI'm still not sure why he's having tea with the Empress.

nNormally, he would be locked up in his tower and would only appear at the night of the Founding Ball. I have no clue when it was, but I feel like it's near.

n'So why is he here?'

nI mean, if he doesn't feel like it, he won't answer to the summons of their majesties.

nHe has always been like that, which is why seeing him here is kind of making me wonder what brought him out of that tower.

nThe lady from the side then moved to pour me tea and returned to her position afterward.

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"I'm happy that you accepted my invitation Lord Janus,

" the Empress then says while beaming at him.

n'See? He actually came to one of their many invitations, it's so unlike him.'

nHis identity is above that of the royalty that even the mother of this nation refers to him with respect.

n'That crazy novel Nadia truly was doomed when she had angered this man…'

nThe magician smiled and gazed at the pond below.

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"It's nice to see other scenery aside from the tower walls and bookshelves, don't you think?

" Was his response.

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"Yes. I think so too,

" The Empress agreed.

nThere was a long silence after that. Only the sounds of leaves being ruffled by the wind and the faraway chirping of some birds can be heard.

nContrary to what I thought would be an uncomfortable tea party, the atmosphere was actually quite pleasant. When I had gradually calmed down from my panic earlier, I noticed how serene this all was.

n'Hmm… Now that I'm thinking about it, this is really nice…?'

nI'm not that scared of him more than I thought I would be. I'm just overthinking things, that's all.

nI peeked at the man beside me. His blonde hair curled beneath his nape and accentuated the sharp lines of his jaw. Even just his side profile is enough to make a noblewoman squeal.

nJanus is called the most beautiful man in all of Rosenthal for a reason. It's because of his bright golden eyes that shine with wisdom.

nNow, if I compared all the male leads one by one…

nIn my eyes, honestly, they all look the same to me.

nAhem. I mean, if I placed all four of them side by side, they're all going to stand out individually.

nSo it's strange how he has a moniker like that.

nBetween him and Ezekiel, they both have the same level of charisma though? Or I might be just playing favorite… I don't know…

nAmong those four people, Lukas is the only one who has dark hair and the rest all have light hair.

n'Hmmm… But yeah… I can't pick one…'

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"Are you going to attend the Founding Ball, Lord Janus?

" The Empress suddenly inquired and had snapped me out of my reverie.

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"Founding Ball? Is it already around the corner?

" I uttered in confusion.

nThe Empress and Janus both look at me.

nOh, dear. I must have said that out loud without thinking. Who in Rosenthal would forget the Empire's founding?

nI'm dumb, I'm sorry.

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"It's on the seventh of the Rozen Calendar, right?

" Janus uttered.

nWait… seventh? That means it's in two weeks? Oh my…

nWas that the reason why Adele kept pestering me about new designs? Ah… I'm too preoccupied these days.

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"It will be the 100th year since the Empire was built,

" the Empress added.

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"And the day when magic was sealed…

" I whispered in a trance.

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