“I intend to designate Arasila as my successor.”

The name everyone had anticipated flowed from Philip’s lips. In fact, Arasila’s heart, which had half-expected this, began to beat rapidly.

Thump, thump, thump.

The moment she had dreamed of since childhood had now come to her.

Her heart was so full that she felt like she might vomit up everything she had eaten for lunch. Overwhelmed by the rising tension, Arasila clenched her fist tightly under the table.

Philip, who had briefly glanced at her, continued in a gentle voice.

“But I can’t decide the next head of the magic tower solely on my own will.”

Arasila’s hand trembled slightly. Philip casually suggested to the magicians.

“How about deciding by a vote for or against?”

“Sounds good.”

The executives agreed. Just as when Arasila was expelled from the magic tower, this time a vote would be held to designate the successor.

Thus, the voting of the five executives, excluding Arasila, proceeded.

Arasila side-eyed the magicians coming and going to cast their votes. At the time of her expulsion, only three had voted against. The other two who had been swayed by public opinion to vote in favor were still here.

What choice would they make this time?

Without someone like Fernando actively leading public opinion, everyone was quietly casting their own vote, making it impossible to predict.

Arasila herself wasn’t sure exactly how the remaining people thought of her. She would probably find out properly through this opportunity.

“The voting has ended.”

Philip’s assistant declared as he placed the ballot box on the table.

“We will now begin counting the votes.”

Arasila watched the assistant reach into the box, swallowing dryly.

As he took out the first ballot, he opened his mouth.

“One vote in favor.”

Fortunately, it was a good start. Arasila silently inhaled.

Even she, who was always calm, was trembling madly now. If two more votes out of the remaining ones were in favor, it would pass by a majority.

Her throat felt parched as if she had been thrown into the middle of a desert. The assistant took out the next ballot and unfolded it.

“Two votes in favor.”

He continued counting the votes in a low and precise voice.

By the time he opened the last ballot, Arasila’s palms were moist with sweat. For someone who rarely sweated, this showed how nervous she was.

The assistant, who had gathered and organized the ballots, announced the final result in a solemn voice.

“Five votes in favor. Zero votes against. The motion to ‘designate Arasila Vandermir as the successor of the magic tower’ has been approved.”

The proposal passed unanimously. For a moment, Arasila, whose entire body went limp, blinked slowly. She was so happy that she couldn’t react immediately.

The magicians smiled and offered words of congratulations and encouragement to Arasila, who sat quietly.

“Congratulations, Arasila. You deserve this result.”

“Yes, think of all the contributions you’ve made to the magic tower so far. There’s no other magician whose future is as promising as yours!”

“I believe you will write a new history in the magic tower.”

“Ho ho ho, I hope you’ll lead the magic tower well, following Master Philip.”

“We’ll support you firmly, so feel free to ask for help whenever you need it.”

It was the first time since joining the magic tower that she had received support from people other than Philip. Those who once judged Arasila’s limitations with prejudiced eyes were no longer there.

They had come to objectively judge that among the young magicians, no one had the talent and capacity to lead the magic tower as well as Arasila.

Belatedly coming to her senses, Arasila stood up abruptly and bowed to everyone with a face flushed like a balsam leaf.

“I look forward to working with you all.”

The brief but determined greeting from the future head of the magic tower warmed the atmosphere of the conference room. The magicians looked at her with pleased smiles.

Unlike before, their eyes now clearly held expectations for Arasila.

After the meeting ended and people left, only Philip and Arasila remained in the conference room. Master and disciple slowly stood facing each other.

They had always waited for this moment to come.

The master passing on the future to the disciple, and the disciple receiving glory from the master.

Philip examined Arasila’s face, still flushed and with eyes twinkling like the Milky Way, and said in a voice tinged with laughter.

“Do you feel like crying?”

“…No. My parents told me not to cry on good days if I can help it.”

“Ho ho ho. That’s right, it’s better to smile on good days if possible.”

Arasila, who had been quietly looking at her master deliberately laughing cheerfully, straightened her posture. Then, bowing politely, she said.

“Thank you for believing in me and watching over me until now, Master.”

Without Philip’s support, it would have taken Arasila much longer to get this far.

Because he had the discerning eye to see people for who they were, Arasila was able to walk a difficult but meaningful path.

She wanted to repay him for this. Arasila added in a voice filled with determination.

“I’ll work hard not to betray the trust of you and the others.”

“You are truly reliable.”

Philip responded sincerely. His disciple was always a competent and wise person who exceeded expectations.

Floating up into the air, he matched Arasila’s eye level and placed his hand on her shoulder.

“Arasila, I think you will be the new guide and hope for the magic tower that has long been stagnant.”

Philip, who had been the leader of the magic tower for decades, felt limited at some point. He got the impression that the magic tower and the magicians inside were not progressing and kept going around in circles.

The single-minded tendency to focus deeply on one thing was a common characteristic and strength of magicians, and also a weakness.

Philip was wary of the gradually narrowing world of magicians.

Moreover, his talent was certainly among the best. However, he did not bring innovation to the magic tower and realized that he would not be able to do so in the future.

As the magic tower and its head remained the same, so did the people. That shouldn’t be the case. Without the will to move forward, there is no future.

With this mindset, Philip set out to find a new figure and met Arasila.

Accepting her as his last disciple was one of the top five best things he had done in his life as a magician.

His small, wrinkled hand gently stroked Arasila’s shoulder.

“I have no doubt that the light I saw in you will soon become the light of the magic tower.”

“I will make sure that happens.”

Arasila replied with determination. She wanted to actually prove the potential her master had glimpsed in her. So that no one would regret today’s choice.

Philip burst into hearty laughter and stroked his beard.

“Ho ho ho, you’re a child who always does what you say you’ll do, so I’m not too worried.”

“Of course, whose disciple am I?”

Despite her confident reply, Arasila’s heart swelled. Who knew that receiving someone’s complete expectation would be such a proud and joyous thing.

She tried not to get too excited, but she couldn’t help her lips from curling up.

At least until she heard Philip’s next words.

“If there’s one thing I’m concerned about though.”

“…?”

“It’s when your fake marriage will end.”

Arasila’s expression suddenly stiffened.

Philip was the only outsider who knew about the contract marriage with Demian. Until now, he had never pressed or rushed Arasila about it, so she had forgotten.

With Arasila showing a faint sign of agitation before him, Philip continued in a calm voice.

“Didn’t you say you would part ways after getting what you wanted through marriage? If you’re going to divorce anyway, wouldn’t it be easier to separate before becoming the head of the magic tower?”

It was a kind question, but Arasila couldn’t say anything. Her lips were stuck together as if someone had cast a silencing spell.

The words she had uttered in the past came to constrict her current feelings. Philip had reminded her of the fact she had forgotten, caught up in the reality before her eyes.

“I remember you saying you wouldn’t ruin your future over insignificant emotions. That’s also why I designated you as my successor.”

“……”

“So, Arasila, to create the best future for yourself, remove the things that could hinder you from your life in advance.”

That gentle advice to resolve her relationship with Demian before becoming the head of the magic tower shook Arasila and choked her.

She clearly remembered the words she had said to Philip before getting married.

‘It’s not a serious marriage. We agreed to marry because we both have something we want, and we’ll divorce once we achieve it.’

‘With that annoying knight? I’m too good for that.’

‘Work is more important to me than love. I have no intention of ruining my future over insignificant emotions.’

She had meant every word at the time. She never dreamed she would come to like Demian this much, beyond just becoming close.

‘What would happen if my feelings were exposed? Would the contract end immediately, and would my position as the future head of the magic tower be in jeopardy?’

Judging from Philip’s words, he seemed to have supported her as the next head of the magic tower believing that she would cleanly end the contract marriage someday.

Betraying such trust from her master… was too terrible for Arasila to even imagine.

She suddenly became afraid of her feelings for Demian. The thought that those feelings might destroy the dream she had long cherished made her even more fearful.

‘…No, get a grip. No one has found out yet, so I can just get rid of it.’

Arasila urged herself. She still had plenty of opportunities left. An opportunity to keep the words she had said in front of Philip.

If she erased her feelings for Demian, she could keep everything without losing anything. At least the very last thing she had said to Philip was still valid.

Arasila still wanted to achieve her dream more than love.

Hiding her slightly trembling hands behind her back, she nodded with a faint smile.

“Don’t worry. I’ll wrap things up at an appropriate time so it won’t be a hindrance.”

“Yes, yes. You’re a child who does well without being nagged, so I’m not too worried either.”

Arasila just smiled at Philip’s words, packed with trust in her. She kept smiling until she left after politely saying goodbye.

It was right to smile as much as possible on the day she finally achieved her dream. That was correct.

Then maybe her heart would be filled with pure joy again. Maybe this discomfort of sitting on pins and needles would disappear.

But even until she returned home, Arasila couldn’t shake off the heavy feeling in her heart.

Because it was the weight of her emotions for Demian.

Arasila finally decided to hide those feelings deep inside her heart that she simply couldn’t shake off, and entered the mansion.