Finally, Penelope collapsed onto the sofa with a heavy thud.
Ahwin picked up a newspaper, frowning deeply as he spoke.
“This newspaper only has detailed articles about Rianel?”
“Is that important right now?”
“What else matters once the article is already published? Oh? Look, Rianel’s name comes up first here too.”
Ahwin stared intently at the name of the journalist who wrote the article, then set the newspaper aside, as if preparing to summon the reporters responsible and reprimand them for prioritizing him as an afterthought.
Watching him, Penelope pressed her forehead and groaned.
“There are reporters standing outside. What in the world is going on here?”
Lucas and the treasurer, having rushed over after hearing the news, froze in shock as they took in the scene in the drawing room.
“My lord...?”
Lucas quickly checked the newspapers spread out on the table and turned pale. Every front-page article was about Penelope.
The treasurer, regaining his composure, spoke swiftly.
“Regardless of whether these articles are true or not, it would be best to avoid going outside for the time being.”
Lucas nodded and added, “I think staying in this house for too long might not be the best idea.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Ahwin cut in abruptly. His sharp tone startled Lucas, who glanced at Penelope for help before stammering out a reply.
“W-well, since my lady is staying in the Tower Master’s residence as the subject of a scandal... it could harm her reputation.”
Translated plainly, the implication was clear: for a noblewoman to reside in the home of an unmarried man was a potential scandal that could ruin her standing.
Ahwin, clearly anticipating this reasoning, replied nonchalantly, “This isn’t a house under my name. I pay rent for it, just like anyone else. On paper, your lord’s reputation won’t be affected.”
“Oh...”
Lucas finally understood why reporters were brazenly camped outside. Normally, no journalist would dare approach if they knew the Tower Master lived here. After all, no one in the Empire was bold enough to provoke him.
The fact that they were present meant they didn’t yet realize the Tower Master was staying here.
‘Should I consider this a relief or a problem...?’
Either way, Lucas decided to count it as a stroke of luck. If this house had been officially recorded as belonging to the Tower Master, the repercussions would have been far more severe.
“My sincerest apologies, but I must request that you, too, refrain from going outside for the time being, Tower Master. With the reporters watching...”
“Do you really think they’d write an article just because they saw me? Do these newspapers even dare to...”
Ahwin stopped mid-sentence, narrowing his eyes and letting out a short laugh.
‘Ah, so that’s their move? This is how they’re playing it?’
The unusual presence of the Grand Duke’s article on the front page suddenly made sense. The person who had allowed the article to be published was none other than Rianel himself. Of course, it made perfect sense. The Rahinsel Duchy owned two of the Empire’s most prominent newspapers.
‘So why would that bastard Rianel allow this? What does he stand to gain by making himself tabloid fodder?’
Ahwin glanced out the window, and for a moment, his eyes shimmered with a golden light.
“Oh, I see. He’s deliberately throwing me to the wolves?”
His voice was low and growling, like that of a predator.
The sharpness of his tone made Lucas gasp quietly, while the treasurer couldn’t hide his unease.
Lucas, pale-faced, hesitated before speaking.
“Is something wrong...?”
“Nothing of concern. And there won’t be, going forward.”
Ahwin replied with a bright smile, though his eyes now blazed fiercely.
***
The next day.
Penelope didn’t leave her bedroom. The curtains were all tightly drawn, and she was still in her pajamas.
At the moment, Penelope was in a half-dazed state. The shock of seeing herself on the front page of a newspaper had been overwhelming.
“Front pages are for hardcore criminals or celebrities involved in major scandals, aren’t they?”
She hesitantly peeked through the curtains but immediately shut them tightly again, startled. Perhaps it was just her imagination, but it seemed like there were even more reporters outside than yesterday.
Penelope nervously chewed on her thumbnail, pacing around her room.
“I never wanted this kind of attention...”
It was the first time in both her past and current lives that she’d ever garnered so much attention. The thought of so many people gossiping about her was dizzying.
More than anything, she was worried about her romantic prospects.
“Is it okay to leave my love life like this?”
With the most sought-after men in the Empire vying for her attention, the possibility of dating anyone else had shrunk to nearly zero.
Who would dare approach Penelope, risking the scrutiny of the Tower Master and the Northern Grand Duke? It would be akin to declaring oneself brainless.
‘Wait, isn’t one of the Empire’s major newspapers owned by the Grand Duke?’
Just then, Penelope froze. She thought she saw something beyond the curtain.
‘Who was that? Did someone just climb over the wall? Am I imagining things?’
She swallowed dryly and carefully opened the curtain again. A large hand suddenly stopped her.
It was Ahwin.
“Gah! You scared me! When did you get here?!”
“Since you started seriously worrying about whether your love life is doomed.”
He’d been listening?!
Penelope wanted to protest, but now wasn’t the time for idle banter.
“Someone just climbed over the wall outside!”
“I saw it too.”
“And you’re just going to let it be?”
“Who said I’m leaving it alone?”
Ahwin shrugged.
At that moment, a loud scream came from outside the window.
“Ahhhh! Please, spare me!”
A series of crashes followed as the intruder who had climbed over the wall fled in a panic.
“What... what just happened?” Penelope asked, stunned.
“Nothing special. Just a simple anti-intrusion spell. Even ordinary households have those.”
Ahwin smiled coolly. Penelope squinted, her lips twitching with the urge to argue.
‘What kind of "ordinary household" installs anti-intrusion magic?’
The commotion outside had escalated. Peeking through the curtain, Penelope saw reporters scattering in every direction. Their reaction to witnessing magic in broad daylight was typical.
Finally, the street in front of the house fell silent.
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Penelope let out a sigh. “But was that magic always installed?”
“Yeah. It’s harmless if you come through the front door.”
“Oh...”
Penelope decided she didn’t want to hear any more explanations.
‘Wait...?’
Something outside the window caught her eye again. She leaned closer for a better look.
She thought everyone had left, but there were three people still standing in front of Ahwin’s house. And oddly, they all looked timid and utterly miserable.
“They don’t seem like reporters,” Penelope said.
“Don’t pay them any mind. They’re like dust or air.”
“They’re obviously people.”
“Not to me.”
Ahwin curtly shut the curtains, his cold indifference unmatched.
Penelope tilted her head in confusion. One of the people outside looked suspiciously like Rector, the head of the Northern Tower Branch.
‘Could I have been mistaken?’
Just then, a voice called out from behind the door.
“I know you’re in there! Ahwin, please, I’m begging you, let me in!”
“...”
“These lunatics are clinging to me like leeches, and they’ll hound me to death! Remember when you got dumped by Lady Betty and I hid you? Isn’t it time you repaid that favor?”
Ahwin ground his teeth audibly.
“Who... who was whimpering like that?”
At that moment, another voice called out from beyond the door.
“Rector, is that you? Are you here to see Ahwin?”
“Professor Olan! It’s been so long! How have you been?”
“I’ve been well, thank you. I was just on my way to see Ahwin. Why don’t you come in with me instead of standing out here?”
“Of course!”
Seizing the golden opportunity, Rector clung to Olan like glue. Behind him, the two wizards latched on as if afraid of being left behind.
Olan observed the scene for a moment, then shook his head in exasperation.