Who Spent the Night with the Tower Master (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 15
Gibnen arrived in Soboster using a teleporter, but he couldn’t meet Riley right away.
Soboster, despite being a major city, had only one teleportation device. Magical artifacts were nowhere to be found, and carriages or rickshaws served as the main means of transport—an environment far more backward compared to Blesstige.
It was quite a distance from Soboster to Lufra, where Riley lived.
For Gibnen, who had grown accustomed to the conveniences of a civilization built upon magic, this was anything but comfortable.
Although Gibnen could freely cast teleportation magic, the region was simply too vast to traverse in a single spell, and since it was his first time here, he wasn’t familiar enough with the terrain to safely use magic anyway.
“If we take a carriage now, we should reach Lufra in about half a day.”
“…Half a day.”
“If you’re thinking of using magic, you’d need to request permission from the Magic Bureau right away—but even getting a response to that request would probably take half a day.”
“…”
“Alternatively, you could just pull out your control needle. Of course, the moment you do, inspectors from the Magic Bureau will be dispatched immediately… just saying.”
Ordinary mages weren’t implanted with control needles. Though unauthorized magic use was explicitly illegal, most mages casually used simple spells for convenience, and such behavior was generally overlooked.
However, this magical regulation was strictly enforced upon a select few—elite mages capable of casting not just convenience spells, but highly advanced and dangerous magic.
The kingdom used these few as examples to demonstrate control. Since it was impossible to monitor every mage individually, this method was adopted—but those implanted with control needles were subjected to excessive surveillance.
Every time they used magic, their mana data was transmitted directly to the Magic Bureau. While minor convenience spells were occasionally overlooked, exceeding the permitted threshold triggered immediate inspections, aggressive interrogations, and massive fines.
The fines weren’t the issue—it was the stress of being relentlessly grilled by inspectors.
“…Get a carriage.”
Disillusioned by the irony of living in an age where magic’s convenience was maximized yet mages’ magic use was tightly controlled, Gibnen had no choice but to board a carriage.
·
·
·
He arrived at Lufra—Riley’s home—just before dawn.
Sak went ahead to secure the best hotel room in Lufra, while Gibnen headed straight to the Eadallin baronial estate to confirm Riley was safe.
He leapt lightly onto a tree branch and soon cast a scrying spell from outside.
Riley was nowhere to be seen in any room. However, one particular room caught his attention.
‘…Signs of an intruder.’
A disheveled room, a window flung wide open. Dirt and bits of leaves scattered across the floor.
The room’s unnatural state, Count Ermeintz’s movements, Riley’s absence—all aligned perfectly, convincing Gibnen that Riley was in danger.
Gibnen forcefully yanked out the control needle embedded in his ear and expanded his mana to widen the scrying radius.
He then hurried off to find Riley, sending a telepathic message to Sak as he went.
[This is the timeline separator]A dramatic figure appearing at a dramatic moment.
Count Ermeintz, utterly shocked, stumbled backward, his mouth flapping like a goldfish. Ignoring him entirely, Gibnen calmly walked through the floating assassins and stopped right in front of Riley.
His face turned icy cold at the sight of her—bound by ropes, covered in dust and grime. He carefully untied her, brushed off her clothes, and gently gathered her trembling, petite frame into his arms.
“Are you all right?”
“…”
Of course she wasn’t. Riley was too frightened to utter a word.
“Well now, what brings you here?”
Instead of answering, Gibnen held Riley close and looked up at the figures hovering in midair. With a slight flick of his fingers, their bodies instantly shot through the air and slammed into nearby trees.
All the assassins lost consciousness, overwhelmed by the tremendous impact.
“I came all this way from a distant land just to see my wife.”
“…”
“But instead of my beloved wife, all I find are trash who dared to abduct her in the dead of night.”
“…Wife?”
“Didn’t you know? I assumed you did. Weren’t you the one who published that sensational article linking our marriage to some love triangle?”
Count Ermeintz was speechless.
Marriage? Wife?
‘Did he really say he’d marry that girl?’
‘No, of course not. That was just exaggerated for dramatic effect in the report.’
But hadn’t the journalist he’d bribed explicitly said it was fabricated for sensationalism?
“You’re marrying that girl?”
“That’s correct.”
“…Why?”
Count Ermeintz genuinely couldn’t comprehend their marriage.
“What could you possibly lack?”
“I fail to see how my choice of spouse concerns you, sir.”
“…I truly don’t understand. Why would someone like you—who has everything—marry the daughter of some lowly baron? Does Alton even know about this?”
“Since when were we close enough for you to so casually address my father by name?”
“…”
“And what exactly do you lack that drove you to commit such foolishness? Traveling all this way in your frail state—what a disgraceful spectacle.”
“Th-that’s…”
Count Ermeintz stammered in panic. So flustered was he that his previously sallow face flushed bright red, as if about to burst.
“If you’ve lost your wits, just stay quietly at home.”
Gibnen sneered, twisting the corner of his mouth. His usual composed gentlemanly demeanor had vanished completely.
“A man once hailed as a national hero, now hiring professional assassins to take the life of a delicate lady—how utterly pathetic, sir.”
“…”
“At this point, even the public will understand why I ‘had’ to steal someone else’s woman.”
Gibnen gestured somewhere. Sak emerged from hiding, followed by a large group. Most were armed knights; a few held pens, notebooks, and cameras.
Reporters!
Count Ermeintz’s face turned as pale as paper.
‘Oh no.’
A barrage of camera flashes erupted toward him. Gibnen smiled calmly.
“Sir, dirty media tactics aren’t your exclusive specialty.”
“…”
“They’re my forte as well.”
“You… are you really intent on making an enemy of our house?”
“That’s your decision to make.”
“…”
“Either accept this quietly, or declare open hostility. I wonder which option will bleed you more. Isn’t your son still competing for the position of Archmage?”
“…”
“I hear the rivalry among your Archmage candidates is fierce… Do you really think he stands a chance with his current skill?”
Count Ermeintz’s expression twisted into a grimace. But that was all he could do. Given the circumstances, he couldn’t utter a single retort against the young man’s scathing words.
Onlookers even exchanged uneasy glances—surely, even for a rising Archmage, such harsh words toward a former national hero seemed excessive.
“Well then, stop dawdling and take him away.”
At Gibnen’s command, the knights Sak had brought hurriedly hoisted the count to his feet.
Count Ermeintz, struck dumb as if he’d swallowed honey, flailed about in panic. Yet his feeble struggles, hindered by his frail body, looked as pitiful as a butterfly with torn wings.
He finally let out a desperate cry.
“Why are you only taking me?! He used magic against people! That’s clearly illegal—why am I the only one being arrested?!”
The knights hesitated. Gibnen simply shrugged.
“I’ll turn myself in. There are plenty of witnesses here.”
After a brief pause, the knights bound Count Ermeintz’s entire party along with the unconscious assassins and dragged them all away.
Only after they’d left did Gibnen gently pull Riley from his embrace. At that moment, Riley clutched tightly onto his coat collar. Her slender, pale fingers trembled pitifully.
Seeing her utterly terrified state, Gibnen pulled her close and patted her back soothingly.
“You must have been scared.”
“…”
“It’s all right now.”
Covered in dirt and blood, wearing only a thin nightgown on such a cold night, she looked even more fragile and vulnerable. Gibnen removed his coat and wrapped it around her.
“You’ll catch a cold.”
“…”
“Let’s move first.”
He extended his hand, and a blue portal appeared—a portal Sak had hastily linked to the reserved hotel room.
Before stepping through, Gibnen turned and ordered Sak.
“Keep all of them detained.”
“Yes.”
And so, Gibnen vanished into the portal, cradling Riley in his arms.
·
·
·
Still nestled in Gibnen’s embrace, Riley looked around curiously.
“…Where is this?”
“A hotel where I was staying temporarily.”
“…Why here?”
“That house didn’t seem like a comfortable place for you.”
Riley simply gave a small nod. Indeed, the Eadallin estate wasn’t a place where she felt at ease.
“It’s late—I’ll take you home at dawn.”
“…Okay.”
“Drink this first.”
He handed her a warm cup of tea. She didn’t know what it was, but it smelled wonderfully fragrant. The pleasant aroma eased her tension slightly.
“But how did you…?”
“Count Ermeintz showed suspicious activity, so I came to check on the situation—and, while I was at it, see you.”
“…”
“I came just in case, but I never imagined that mad old man would go this far.”
“…Thank you for saving me. I don’t even know how I’ll repay this debt.”
“Debt? Protecting the woman who’ll be my wife is simply my duty as her husband.”
“…”
“Anyway, I’m glad to see you again like this.”
He chuckled softly and tucked a strand of hair behind Riley’s ear.
“How long has it been? Almost a month and a half, I think.”
He was handsome.
Seeing him after so long, he seemed even more handsome than before.
“…Have you lost weight?”
“Have I? I’ve been rather busy lately.”
“…”
“Didn’t you miss me?”
“…”
“How disappointing.”
Uncharacteristically, he pouted slightly, lightening the tense atmosphere.
Riley, who had been staring at him intently, impulsively pulled him close by the neck. Surprised by her sudden action, Gibnen gave a soft chuckle and wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Is this you being clingy?”
“…Just stay beside me.”
Riley buried her face in his neck like a child whining. Gibnen didn’t push her away; instead, he sat quietly, letting her cling to him.
The warmth radiating from their close contact felt intense. Just moments ago, she’d been so cold she thought she’d die—but now, a heat beyond mere warmth enveloped her entire body.
His broad embrace felt as if it had been custom-made for her.
No plush bed or cozy blanket could ever feel as warm and comforting as this.
“…I thought I was going to die.”
“…”
“…I was truly terrified.”
An unprecedented, extreme fear.
Beyond her fading consciousness, her entire life flashed before her eyes like a panorama. That’s when she truly felt death approaching and let go of her will to live—after all, she’d heard that such life panoramas only appear to those on the brink of death.
And in that moment, the last face that came to mind was Gibnen’s.
Not her father’s, nor her uncle’s family with whom she’d spent over ten years—just the face of a man she’d known for merely three days. Only three days.
“In the end, it wasn’t my father’s face but yours that appeared… I missed you desperately.”
“…”
“…I guess I was relying on you without even realizing it. We barely knew each other—had only exchanged kindness once, or maybe twice. Just that much—and yet it was your face, not my father’s, that flickered in my mind. It felt utterly absurd.”
“…”
“…But you really came.”
Her weak murmur sounded almost like a baby’s babble. Whether from exhaustion or disorientation, her words were slurred—but Gibnen carefully savored every syllable.
He gently pulled Riley back to look into her eyes. Seeing her terrified expression, he smiled softly with pity and wiped the blood from her lips with his thumb.
“Poor thing.”
“…”
“You have nowhere else to turn but me.”
For some reason, he looked extremely pleased. His momentarily gleaming eyes felt slightly unsettling, yet his touch on her lips remained incredibly gentle.
“Yes, keep relying on me.”
“…”
“Look only at me.”
“…”
“Trust only me.”
“…”
“Love only me.”
Live only for me.
His voice was soft, like soothing a child—but his words carried the firmness of a decree. At first glance, it sounded like childish petulance, but beneath the surface lay unmistakable selfishness and obsession.
“Then I’ll protect you.”
“…”
“For life.”
Their lips met instantly.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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Ah, nice and clean. I prefer the, “First you will know fear, then you will know pain, then you will die” approach but sometimes one just can’t be bothered.
And this is not going to be a great concern by the magical tracking department? How magic is used in this story is so interesting
This girl is so dumb. Get out before you make an even bugger ass out of yourself.