Who Spent the Night with the Tower Master (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 5
At the unexpected appearance of an intruder, Count Ermeintz openly displayed his displeasure.
“This is not a place for you to interfere. A mere fledgling who hasn’t even dried the blood from his head, daring to meddle in my affairs? How rude.”
“Why is it not my place? This is my ‘Magic Tower,’ and this is my private resting space.”
“Oh, then would you step aside? We’ll move to another place, not your ‘Magic Tower,’ to continue our conversation.”
Instead of answering, Gibnen glanced at Riley standing behind him.
She was crouched, trembling with fear. Her already pale skin had turned ghostly white, as if she might faint at the slightest touch.
Moreover, she was a stranger. Despite attending countless social events and recognizing most faces, this woman was definitely unfamiliar to Gibnen.
They had no prior acquaintance. Not even a name exchanged.
So, was there really a need to step in? He briefly pondered. On an already exhausting day, with so many things already weighing on his mind, he didn’t want to add another matter outside his duties.
But,
“That would be inconvenient, I’m afraid. I have personal business with this lady.”
“You don’t even know each other—what business could you have? I, on the other hand, am quite close to her. So, if you have business, postpone it and yield to me now.”
“Close? It doesn’t look that way at all.”
To anyone, she looked like a terrified herbivore facing a repulsive beast, didn’t she?
Unfazed, Count Ermeintz twitched his mustache confidently and said,
“That young lady and I are promised to be married.”
Married?
Gibnen, who had been indifferently observing the trembling Riley, let out a small laugh as if he finally understood the situation.
He was well aware of the rumors about Count Ermeintz, having heard them enough to be thoroughly sick of them.
The count’s notorious habit of choosing women younger than his own children as wives, only to replace them shortly after, was a well-known tale across the kingdom.
The families that sent their daughters to marry him were usually those in dire financial straits, of middling status, or with many daughters.
No sane parent would want to send their child to a perverse old man waiting for his death.
It was called marriage, but in truth, it was closer to a transaction, selling daughters for family gain.
“Is what Count Ermeintz says true?”
“…It’s a one-sided engagement.”
“It looks that way.”
If they were truly promised in marriage, there would be no reason for him to intervene further.
However, Gibnen didn’t back down. No, he couldn’t back down. Riley was clinging tightly to his arm, her gesture so desperate that it felt awkward to push her away.
Moreover, his opponent was none other than Count Ermeintz. For some reason, Gibnen had no intention of retreating quietly. The count’s earlier rude remarks had already thoroughly soured his mood.
In that moment, an amusing thought crossed Gibnen’s mind.
“The marriage hasn’t been formally announced yet, so it can’t really be called a promised engagement, can it?”
“The matter is already settled. The announcement is next week.”
“Even a day before, a marriage can fall apart.”
“What?”
“Don’t be so certain. No one knows how things will turn out. Isn’t that what you’ve repeatedly told me, to engrave it in my bones?”
With a cheerful smile, Gibnen turned and gently took Riley’s hand.
“Then let the lady choose for herself.”
“…Pardon?”
“Choose.”
“…Choose what?”
“Who you want to spend tonight with.”
At this bombshell statement, Count Ermeintz shouted, his face flushed with anger.
“What are you trying to do!”
“Can’t you see? I’m formally asking this beautiful lady for an after-party.”
“That woman is my fiancée!”
“A marriage not yet formally announced has no real weight, no matter how much you proclaim it.”
“…You! Where are your manners! To do something so outrageous, you’re nothing but a scoundrel!”
“Asking a beautiful lady for an after-party at a ball is a common custom—what’s so outrageous about it?”
Gibnen was thoroughly toying with the fuming Count Ermeintz.
Riley, watching the situation unfold with bewilderment, felt a thrill of satisfaction seeing the count’s outburst.
Gibnen gave Riley a subtle signal, urging her to choose quickly. Understanding perfectly, Riley extended her hand to Gibnen, who gently kissed the back of it.
“Oh, how unfortunate. The lady has chosen me.”
“…You’ll regret this insult.”
Gibnen merely chuckled.
At his deliberate provocation, Count Ermeintz clutched his neck, breathing heavily.
“Well, it seems my scandal will spread faster than your marriage announcement.”
“You… you scoundrel! I didn’t know you had such a vile hobby.”
“Then consider this a lesson. I have a nasty habit of stealing other men’s women.”
Ignoring the count’s furious shouts, Gibnen cheerfully led Riley away, saying,
“Come, let’s go be scoundrels.”
[This is the timeline separator]How did things end up like this?
The woman who had resolved to die by jumping from the top of the tower and the man who had gone to rest there, only to end up leading an unknown woman by the hand, were both thinking the same thing.
As Riley, led by Gibnen’s hand, grew frustrated, she couldn’t hold back and asked,
“…Um, where are we going?”
Without looking at her face, Gibnen replied indifferently,
“To a hotel.”
“…Pardon?”
“After making such bold claims to Count Ermeintz, wouldn’t it be odd to stay here?”
“That’s true, but the reception isn’t over yet… Is it alright to leave?”
“It’s a good excuse to slip away. Wait here for a moment; I’ll grab some clothes.”
Gibnen left Riley in front of his office, went inside, put on a coat, and grabbed another. He then picked up a quill, wrote something on a piece of paper, and left it on the desk.
It was a message for Sak, who would soon come looking for him in a frenzy.
Emerging from the room, he draped the extra coat over Riley’s bare shoulders.
“It’s cold outside; put this on for now. It’s better than going out exposed.”
Then he approached the teleporter, placed his hand on the mana input, and instantly descended to the central hall on the first floor. He began walking boldly across the hall.
Stunned by his brazen actions, Riley could only stare at the back of his head.
‘What is he thinking?’
With countless eyes fixed on them, his bold move of leading her by the hand was unmistakable.
No fool would miss the implications of the reception’s host openly leaving with an unknown woman.
Overwhelmed by the flood of gazes, Riley lowered her head, staring at the floor. The unfamiliar attention was too much to bear.
If he wanted to make a show for Count Ermeintz, he could have left discreetly instead of drawing everyone’s attention. Yet, he deliberately chose to be seen.
Why?
His confident stride continued as they left the party and boarded a state-of-the-art levistone carriage.
“Where to, Master?”
As they settled into the levistone carriage, the driver asked discreetly. Glancing at the now-chaotic party hall outside, Gibnen calmly said,
“To Ingsinia.”
“Understood.”
This was, by all accounts, a major scandal. One that would make headlines. Yet the man who caused it was impossibly relaxed.
As if it were someone else’s problem, he showed no trace of worry, leaving Riley speechless. Questions piled up in her throat, but she couldn’t voice them.
Was she dumbfounded by the absurdity, or intimidated by the man’s refined yet oddly chilling demeanor? She couldn’t even open her mouth.
The silence persisted until the levistone carriage arrived at the entrance of Ingsinia, the finest hotel in Blestige.
[This is the timeline separator]Hotel Ingsinia.
Built as part of the Magic Tower Horizon’s business expansion, this hotel employed only mages as staff and was equipped with the latest magical devices from Horizon and other developers, making it a state-of-the-art, luxury establishment.
Riley felt dizzy at the sight of the hotel’s imposing grandeur from the entrance.
‘How did I end up here…?’
Just an hour ago, she had been planning to jump from the top of the Magic Tower. How had she ended up at this luxurious hotel, and with the tower’s master, no less?
“Welcome, Master. It’s been a while.”
“Is everything ready?”
“It’s prepared for immediate use. This way, please.”
The middle-aged man leading them wore a badge identifying him as the manager. Behind him, staff lined up to welcome Gibnen.
The ostentatious display was overwhelming, but Gibnen moved with ease, as if accustomed to such treatment.
They took a state-of-the-art teleporter to the top-floor royal suite, where he entered as if it were his own home, shedding his coat.
His discarded coat floated just before hitting the ground, gliding to a hanger where it neatly arranged itself. Simultaneously, a basket with a bathrobe and towel moved to a display near the bathroom, and the sound of water filling the tub echoed.
Riley’s eyes widened at the seamless magic unfolding without Gibnen’s apparent effort, though she tried to mask her astonishment. There was no need to advertise that she came from some backwater.
“Ladies first?”
He gestured toward the bathroom. Realizing his meaning, Riley felt her face flush and quickly shook her head.
“No, no, you go first.”
“Alright.”
He started toward the bathroom but paused, speaking into the air.
“Help our esteemed guest change comfortably.”
Was he talking to himself? Or was someone nearby?
As Riley looked around, a door opened, and staff approached.
“We’ve brought clothes for you to change into, miss. Could you raise your arms for a moment?”
“Oh? Yes…”
There must be a communication device somewhere in the room, or he used magic—either way, he was a skilled mage.
Dresses, whether putting them on or taking them off, required effort. While some dresses could be worn alone, the kind worn at parties typically weren’t.
Thanks to Gibnen’s thoughtfulness, Riley easily shed her dress, received a bathrobe, and changed into temporary clothes.
“We’ll take our leave. Enjoy your time.”
The sound of water filled the air. Being alone, listening to someone else shower, felt stranger than expected. Her body felt oddly heated, and she was inexplicably nervous.
Then, Gibnen emerged, clad only in a bathrobe. Riley stared blankly as he approached.
‘Oh.’
Through the slightly parted bathrobe, his chiseled chest was visible, shattering the stereotype that mages, who often neglected physical activity, were frail and thin.
Most mages focused on mental training over physical, and the convenience of magic distanced them from dynamic movement, resulting in slender, delicate builds.
But Gibnen, despite being a mage, had a physique rivaling a knight’s.
A body honed through long hours of training. Fresh from the shower, his damp skin glistened provocatively.
Staring at the water droplets on his toned chest, Riley unconsciously swallowed, flustered.
“Shower.”
“…Yes.”
As she entered the bathroom, her mind went blank. The situation, and what to do next, vanished from her thoughts.
Her mind shut down. Throughout the shower, she alternated between bristling tension and forced calm, a cycle that continued even after she stepped out.
Upon exiting, she saw a table with wine and accompanying desserts. Gibnen had taken a seat and gestured for her to sit.
Riley hesitantly sat across from him.
An awkward atmosphere lingered. Or rather, it was Riley alone who felt unusually awkward, unlike the relaxed Gibnen.
As the silence grew stifling, Gibnen spoke first.
“Since it’s come to this, stay comfortably until morning.”
“Oh, yes…”
“And it’s best to avoid going out for a while. It’ll be quite noisy.”
The private life of a young tower master was prime gossip material. By tomorrow, speculative articles would likely flood the kingdom.
“Why did you walk through the hall so openly? There must’ve been ways to leave discreetly…”
“Since things have come to this, I had to make it clear. Otherwise, you might cause another suicide scene at my tower.”
“Suicide scene…?”
“Didn’t you say you’d rather die than marry Count Ermeintz?”
“…”
“One death at Horizon is enough—my mentor’s.”
He frowned subtly, recalling his mentor’s death. Riley realized then how much trouble her plan would have caused.
“I’m sorry. And… thank you for helping me.”
“Once the scandal spreads, Count Ermeintz will likely retract the marriage announcement. It’d be awkward to present a woman caught in a scandal as his fiancée, and with his pride, there’s a good chance he’ll call off the engagement. But I can’t handle the aftermath—that’s on you.”
“Thank you, truly… But won’t this put you in a difficult position too?”
“It’s fine. I’m used to such annoyances.”
Dealing with pesky reporters was irritating, but this was a common occurrence for Gibnen.
He’d been entangled in countless scandals—meetings with noblewomen for business, chance encounters, family gatherings, or even brief relationships that ended.
Another scandal with an unknown woman was nothing new.
“I owe you a huge debt. How can I repay it…?”
“No need. I got to witness an entertaining spectacle money couldn’t buy.”
Recalling the count’s enraged face, Gibnen sipped his wine with satisfaction.
Messing with that old man was rewarding enough.
“Besides, anyone would’ve stepped in.”
“…”
“You looked like you were really going to die. If that happened, the bad taste would be mine alone.”
Riley was speechless.
How had things spiraled to this point? Worry crept in. What was her uncle doing now? And Count Ermeintz? The kingdom must be in an uproar.
She feared the consequences, but the man before her left no room for other thoughts.
‘To help me this much…’
He could’ve ignored it.
If he was worried about a suicide at the tower, he could’ve simply expelled her. Instead, he went as far as inviting scandal to help her. His confident demeanor was incredibly impressive.
‘Like a savior… If not for him, I’d be…’
Dead by now.
Her name might’ve graced the front page: *Unknown noblewoman from the provinces dies jumping from Horizon.*
The sound of wine sliding down his throat occasionally broke the silence. Strangers with no prior acquaintance, they had little to talk about.
Perhaps that’s why the wine went down so easily. With nothing but awkwardness to accompany it, drinking was all there was.
So they kept drinking. Sleep didn’t come, and as time passed, the buzz of alcohol lifted their spirits, making it impossible not to reach for another glass.
‘It feels good.’
Was it the reckless drinking to mask the awkwardness?
She was quite drunk.
The heat enveloping her body, her heart beating faster than usual. The bitter taste filling her mouth, the burning in her throat. A hazy sensation, as if she might lose herself.
As the buzz grew, her tension eased.
Could she feel this good? To laugh so freely for no reason.
Whatever happened next, in this moment, she felt it would be alright. Her worries, stress, and burdens melted away.
Caught in this joyful haze, Riley looked at the man before her. His slightly flushed cheeks suggested he, too, was quite drunk.
Blinking, she gazed at him.
Bathed in the room’s soft lighting, his relaxed sipping was as beautiful as a work of art.
Was this the same man? He seemed almost otherworldly.
Clad only in a robe, his pale, veined hand gently swirling the glass was more visually striking than anything else.
Staring entranced, a reckless question rose in Riley’s mind.
“…Um.”
“?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Speak.”
At Gibnen’s prompting, Riley voiced the bold question she’d kept buried.
“…Are you going to sleep with me?”
It was a question she’d never dare ask sober—a reckless query born of drunkenness.
At the bombshell question, Gibnen set down his glass and stared at her.
“Well, what should I do?”
Riley’s alluring figure caught his eye.
Her pale skin peeking through the white bathrobe, her damp hair still glistening. The flush on her cheeks, the faint scent of soap teasing his nose with every movement.
Details he’d normally overlook now struck him vividly, embedding in his mind.
Expensive wine, a hotel room, a tipsy man and woman, the dim moonlight of dawn.
Not exactly—rather, a very bad combination.
He hadn’t brought her here with any intention of doing anything. Just thirty minutes ago, sleeping with her wasn’t even a consideration.
But was it the drunkenness?
If she hadn’t asked such a brazen question…
“Want to?”
It was only natural for a spark to ignite.
Alcohol had killed countless people throughout history, but it had also birthed many. The so-called unexpected accidents, a single mistake leading to new life—common enough, wasn’t it?
Unfortunately, the man and woman in this hotel room were drunk and young, in the prime of their vitality.
For various reasons, an “accident” was about to unfold.
The intoxicating haze whispered to the pair teetering on a precarious edge.
Forget everything complicating your mind. Embrace this joy, this feeling, this instinct, and excitement.
“Alright.”
The urge to escape their stifling reality, even briefly.
Ironically, this impulse moved both Riley and Gibnen. A chance to break free from the suffocating monotony of controlled lives.
An unbridled deviation, a chance to be a wild horse.
Their lips met. Embracing each other, they moved to the plush bed without hesitation. The robe slipped to the floor, revealing Gibnen’s toned chest under the soft light.
As the bed sank, Riley felt the soft sensation at her back and the heavy weight pressing down, gazing at the dazzling face of the man above her.
Every touch of his fingers and lips sent electric jolts through her. A pleasure she’d never known. Thrilling shivers. A comforting warmth.
Her mind clouded with passionate excitement.
Then, her reason snapped.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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Calling her sister while discussing how she will be treated as your wife is so weird
murder and torture, no question or hesitation, But this? This is where you flinch? I hope they all get whats coming to them
yikes girl, these are not good dreams. at this point is the sleep even doing anything?