Sovereign of the Ashes

Sein had braced himself for a dramatic reaction from Natalya.

He anticipated that she might beat him up, perhaps leave, or even demand that he sever ties with Leena.

Yet, he had not expected Natalya—a seemingly impulsive and rough female knight—to be so "tolerant" toward him.

Natalya neither resorted to violence nor hurled harsh words at him.

She remained calm and composed as she listened to Sein.

Sein, closely monitoring her expression, detected a sense of relief in her for some reason.

To Natalya, Leena, being a female black mage, posed no threat to her position as Sein's legal wife.

Sia might have questionable ways of handling matters, but she had indeed helped Sein by mentally preparing Natalya for this revelation.

However, Natalya was unaware that Sein actually considered her as his second wife.

If she knew his true thoughts, Sein was uncertain whether this female knight would end him on the spot.

Although relieved internally, Natalya maintained a displeased facade.

Guided by her wise mother's counsel, she knew the importance of asserting herself in her relationship with Sein.

"I can tolerate your affections for another, but you must agree to one condition," Natalya stated, her gaze firm.

"What condition?" Sein asked.

"I'll need time to think about it first," Natalya replied, shaking her head.

Her response allowed Sein a quiet sigh of relief.

He had no desire to fight with Natalya over this, so this was the best outcome he could have hoped for.

Sein resolved to meet whatever demand Natalya might have, as long as it was reasonable.

The honest conversation seemed to have brought them a lot closer together now.

Intrigued by Sein's experiences at the underground Black Magic Academy experiences, Natalya snuggled closer to him and began asking questions about his past.

To soothe Natalya, Sein even shared tales of his ordeal in the Yellow Sand World.

Despite his encounters with many women, Sein was not a seasoned romantic. True to a mage's straightforward nature, he recounted his life experiences honestly, without sugarcoating anything.

When he spoke of his determination to give Leena a chance at survival in the Yellow Sand World, Natalya fell silent.

However, she was not upset by Sein's decision, as he had shared stories from the decade he spent under Leena's protection and care during his days as a magic initiate.

This conversation was one of the deepest and most intimate they had ever had.

Natalya even admitted to understanding Sein's feelings, marveling at the genuine affection between him and Leena.

Indeed, she was too inexperienced in love.

If Sia were in her shoes, she would never have made such a concession.

A mature woman, she believed, should not discount her own standing in marriage, even if she internally accepted Sein and Leena's relationship.

At the end of the conversation, Sein could not help but ask Natalya a question that had long puzzled him.

"Why do you like me? And... why risk your life for me so many times?"

Though Sein could master the secrets of his grandmaster's verdant flame magic, pioneer the Thunder Body Tempering technique, and even develop the Everburning Violet Flame, he was at a loss when it came to understanding feelings, particularly Natalya's.

Sein simply could not comprehend this female knight.

He could not imagine risking his life for someone not directly related to him.

Perhaps this was a fundamental difference between men and women, or between mages and knights.

Sein was too analytical, while Natalya was more intuitive.

Resting her chin on her fingers in reflection, Natalya replied honestly, "I first liked you because you could beat me and you were strong. Then, as I got to know you better, I realized you were also handsome and capable."

"That's it?" Sein asked, clearly taken aback.

To him, the simplicity of her reasons was baffling.

However, much like a man who was drawn to a woman's beauty, a woman's attraction to a man often required no profound reason either.

Sein and Leena's relationship was considered an anomaly in the Magus World, where marriages among the nobility typically amounted to strategic alliances, often with the bride and groom meeting for the first time at the altar.

Natalya was simply being a normal woman by pursuing Sein boldly just because she was attracted to him.

On the contrary, Sein often overthought things due to his complex past experiences and the intricate thought processes typical of a spellcaster.

This tendency sometimes dulled his emotional responses.

Interestingly, when Natalya explained her attraction to Sein, she never mentioned his prestigious background as a tower master's apprentice.

This indicated that her interest in him was genuine, not motivated by House Ernst's desire to form an alliance through marriage.

Natalya was captivated by his personal qualities, suggesting she would love him regardless of his status or power.

Sein's head was bowed in contemplation as he struggled to reconcile this valiant female knight's straightforward expressions of affection.

Observing Sein's thoughtful demeanor, Natalya smiled intoxicatingly and said, "You know, I found another important reason for liking you—your sentimental side!"

Sein looked up in surprise.

She then added playfully, "Did you know you look really handsome when you're deep in thought?"

"Well, someone has mentioned that before," Sein nodded, recalling a similar comment from Selina, though he had not paid it much mind at the time.

***

Perhaps it was because he had finally resolved his deepest concerns, or maybe it was because his most pressing worry had been alleviated—either way, Sein's recovery speed had accelerated significantly since his relationship with Natalya improved.

However, the improvement in his condition did not lead him to rejoin the battlefield immediately.

Instead, he had someone exaggerate his injuries so that he could return to the Magus World and rally additional support.

"See that person? He's the tower master's apprentice. I heard his injuries are so severe that he has to go back to the Magus World to recuperate."

Wrapped in thick bandages, Sein lay on a stretcher as he was being transported to the spatial gate.

The sight caught the attention of many mages from the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, stirring whispers among them.

Sein's conspicuous injuries undeniably spread the word about the fairness and impartiality of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

The commitment of a tower master's apprentice to undertake such perilous missions was rarely seen in other divine towers.