Chapter 72

The sky was a clear blue, the garden beautiful, the sweets colorful, and the tea fragrant—the setting on the terrace was perfect. Thanks to the excellent servants, even an amateur host could create a wonderful space.

Sitting in a clockwise order were Viela, Director Dressel, Clement, and Lukas, and the tea party began in a warm atmosphere.

"It's so good to see you looking well again, Viela. *sniff*"

Director Dressel quickly slipped a handkerchief between his face and glasses.

Visits by Magic Bureau personnel were prohibited to prevent any collusion, which applied equally to Director Dressel and Clement, who had helped rescue Viela. It had been about a month since they last saw each other.

"I'm sorry for the worry. I heard that Director Dressel made the compass parts. Thank you."

"I was surprised when Clement suddenly said, 'There's someone I really want to stalk.' But it's good that you were found."

"Senior Viela, I didn't say it like that. Director Dressel, let's talk about it later."

Director Dressel, who received Clement's intense smile, said, "No way," and nervously sipped his tea. Both of them were in their usual form, and Viela felt a sense of normalcy returning.

"Thank you, Clement. I heard that you came up with the magic formula. It was a wonderful modification."

"Thanks to my experience helping with your thesis, Senior Viela. The stalking magic is now gone from textbooks. If you hadn't researched it for your 'Most Regrettable Magic Ranking,' I wouldn't have known about it either."

"That's right."

Viela had thought about calling for votes to create the ranking but was short on connections to gather enough data. But with Clement's network, it was a breeze to get a lot of votes.

Viela smiled warmly, feeling nostalgic.

"So, Senior, you knew about the stalking magic and gave Lukas a charm to track him, right? Were you worried he might cheat on you while you were away on the expedition? Poor Lukas, to be so mistrusted."

"―!?"

Viela was stunned to find that her junior magician had such an unexpected image of her.

When she gave him the matching charm, she had only thought of it as a simple gesture, but it could indeed be seen as giving a tracking device to a fiancé. For Lukas, it meant he had unknowingly been given something terrifying.

"Be careful, Lukas, about what's behind you."

"Hey, Clement!"

Clement lowered his eyebrows and sent a concerned look to Lukas.

"So, you were suspicious of me, Viela?"

"Lukas, that's not true!"

Lukas sighed softly and shook his head slightly.

He didn't want to be labeled as a pervert. He didn't doubt Lukas's fidelity at all. But since the action had already been taken, Viela didn't know how to deny it. Then, both Lukas and Clement burst out laughing.

"It's fine. I know Viela doesn't doubt me."

"Haha, no one thinks Viela is the type to stalk."

"..."

It seemed she had been played. Viela felt a bit sulky, but she noticed a change in the atmosphere between Lukas and Clement.

Before, they would exchange cold glances every time they met, and the tension would be palpable. But now, Lukas, though still sharp and professional, was more relaxed, even laughing at Clement's jokes. Clement, who usually had a friendly smile, used to have a confrontational tone with Lukas, but now there was no trace of that. It seemed they had developed a friendlier rapport.

"When did you two become so close?"

Lukas and Clement exchanged glances, blinked a few times, and then chuckled simultaneously.

"It's just that the issues were resolved."

"Be grateful to me."

"Don't get too cocky."

They were definitely closer, but they didn't seem to want to give Viela the details.

Then, Director Dressel told Viela about the Technical Department while she was away.

A mole had been found in the department, and with Viela's kidnapping, the atmosphere had been dark for a while. However, everyone loved magic, and by focusing on their work, they had managed to move on. Viela was happy to hear that they were looking forward to her return.

The criminal who had overlaid a monster-attracting magic formula on the eastern region's barrier stone had been caught, and the investigation team Viela was part of had been disbanded. The need to develop a new barrier magic formula remained, and the project would continue with a reorganized team of trusted magicians. Director Dressel informed her that she wouldn't be part of it.

With the retirement issue resolved, Viela no longer felt she was holding Lukas back.

Lukas had recently decided he could retire in exactly one year.

During this year, he would work with other department heads to reorganize the personnel and command structure to prevent the government from becoming too king-centric. As the leader of the Divine Beast Knights, he would retire after setting up a system to ensure his successor wouldn't face unnecessary difficulties.

"Shall we head back?"

Director Dressel patted his stomach and relaxed, clearly satisfied with the tea and sweets.

The time with close friends had passed quickly, and the tea party was coming to an end. Viela and Lukas walked with Clement and Director Dressel to the carriage.

"See you next week, Viela. I'll be waiting in the West Wing."

"Yes! See you next week at work."

Director Dressel got into the carriage first.

Next was Clement, but he stood silently, staring at Viela with a serious expression.

"Can I just once... Lukas, please let me do this just this once."

Clement gently pulled Viela into a hug.

"Clement!?"

"It's really great that I can still be your respectful junior. Goodbye, Senior Viela."

Clement hugged her tightly for a moment, then raised his hands in surrender and stepped back, looking up at her with a bright smile.

Viela's heart warmed for a moment, but then she felt a chill. When she turned around, Lukas was standing with his arms crossed, radiating coldness. The veins in his hands were clearly visible.

"Hey, Senior Viela. You should cheer up your fiancé instead of saying goodbye to us!"

While Viela was distracted by Lukas, Clement quickly got into the carriage and closed the door, showing a very happy smile through the small window before the carriage left.

(It's not my fault! Why does Clement enjoy making me uncomfortable?!)

She wanted to complain to her junior, but that would have to wait. She needed to deal with Lukas now.

Despite being told to be careful about personal space, she had been easily caught by Clement, right in front of Lukas.

Usually, Lukas would scold her immediately, but his silence was making her more nervous. Silence from a handsome man is scary.

"Would you like a lap pillow, Lukas?"

In a desperate attempt, she used one of the items from the 'List of Things Lovers Would Love to Do' she had heard from Director Dressel.

After that, her fiancé's mood improved.

This is the final chapter. It will be updated at 18:00 today.