I’m Stuck on a Remote Island With the Male Leads - Side Story 14

***

The day before the fireworks festival, Enoch visited the Floné estate again. He had been coming to our house daily lately, and I had no idea why he had suddenly become so proactive.

‘Isn’t he busy preparing for the coronation?’ I wondered, concerned that everyone at the palace might blame me for keeping him away.

Moreover, tomorrow was the day of the much-anticipated fireworks festival. Ruzef, Arthdal, and Yuanna had all been planning to accompany me.

“Eunji is happy because Enoch visits often!” cried Eunji, who was in his human form, as he ran around the drawing room.

Enoch, who was having tea with me, gestured to Eunji. “Come here,” he called.

“Why?” he asked suspiciously.

“To give you a hug for being so good,” he replied.

“Wha?!” Eunji recoiled, then quickly ran to me and jumped onto my lap. She gave Enoch a very haughty look as he warned him, “Enoch is presumptuous. Eunji only cuddles with Unnie.”

Enoch looked at Eunji, bewildered, but he clung to me tightly, undeterred. “I only like it when Unnie is happy because Enoch comes over. Don’t get the wrong idea, Enoch, or Eunji will be troubled.”

Enoch rested his chin on his hand and watched Eunji, clearly amused. “Didn’t you tell me not to leave you before?”

Eunji flinched at his words and cast him sidelong glances, gauging his mood. Then he slowly approached him, saying, “I’ll give you a shoulder massage. Make up with Eunji.”

He opened and closed his tiny hands, tilting his head thoughtfully. I couldn’t resist pulling his back into my arms and rubbing my face against his. “You’re adorable.”

Eunji giggled gleefully. Meanwhile, Enoch watched us quietly, a faint smile on his lips. Despite sitting with his legs crossed in a casual pose, he exuded an air of elegance and sophistication.

I marveled at how incredible it was that he was sitting in our house like that, looking like a painting. Suddenly, a vivid memory of my younger self following Enoch around came to mind. When I fell for him at first sight, he had been smiling politely, just like that.

“By the way, did you say you wanted to visit the Magic Tower?” Enoch asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I nodded as I turned to face him. “I visit regularly, and since you’re here today, it’d be nice to go together.”

As I spoke, I glanced toward the open terrace, where I could see the old city and the tall magic tower in the distance.

Enoch followed my gaze. He watched the tower for a while before replying, “That sounds like a good idea. Let’s go together.”

He rose from his seat, and I stood up, holding Eunji in my arms. Enoch lifted Eunji, who was kicking his feet and humming a little tune.

“Huh?” Eunji turned his head to look at Enoch, startled, then wriggled around, giving me a pleading look.

“Since Margaret is tired, you can ride with me today,” Enoch said, holding Eunji securely.

Eunji squirmed in his arms, casting Enoch a dissatisfied look before glancing at me with worried eyes. “Unnie is so weak; Eunji’s heart hurts…”

I sighed, unsure where to begin correcting him, so I just patted Eunji’s head gently. “Unnie isn’t tired at all.”

“Still, Eunji will stay with Enoch. Enoch is reliable,” Eunji said, making a fist confidently.

I had no idea where he picked up expressions like that, but it had to be either Rosemary or Arthdal. Enoch’s expression also turned a bit peculiar.

I tousled his hair and laughed. “Thank you, Eunji.”

Eunji smiled happily, and seeing him made me happy too.

***

The Magic Tower was quiet on my return after such a long time. Since it began functioning as the Sage’s Tower, no research could be continued here because Kayden was sealed within. Thus, all the wizards who once filled this place had moved to the new Sage’s Tower, leaving this one empty.

Enoch held Eunji in his arms as he looked around the lobby of the tower.

“What’s that?” Eunji asked, pointing.

“That’s called an eagle. It’s a creature that flies in the sky,” Enoch explained.

“Wow! Eunji can’t do that. It’s amazing!” Eunji marveled as he and Enoch continued their conversation about the eagle statue in the lobby. They looked like a father and daughter, although Eunji appeared as a little boy.

“Huh? But why is this like that?” Eunji questioned, curious.

“That’s…” Enoch trailed off, unable to continue.

Why? I wondered as I approached them. When I saw the front of the eagle statue, I fell silent like Enoch.

I realized what the eagle statue symbolized:

The magic tower’s beloved wizard,

The father of wizards,

<Jenas Igran>

The words were crossed out with red lines, and underneath, in red letters, were scrawled:

Go to hell, demon!

Curse you!

Shame of the wizards!

It seemed like something the wizards had written before they left the tower.

“I forgot to have this removed,” I admitted. Since Kayden had gone into hibernation, I had been preoccupied with other issues every time I visited the tower, leaving no time to check on the statue.

“I’ll send someone tomorrow. It’s best to remove such unpleasant reminders quickly,” Enoch murmured, glancing at me. I nodded in agreement.

‘Did I see that eagle statue when I was young?’ I thought, feeling a vague sense of familiarity. But no matter how hard I tried to remember, nothing specific came to mind. I tilted my head in confusion and turned away. We should indeed remove the statue quickly, as Enoch suggested.

After checking the lobby with Enoch and Eunji, we noted the areas that needed maintenance. We never knew when Kayden would awaken, and he might do so when Enoch and I were not here. I wanted to ensure that whenever he awoke, there would still be traces of warmth from people. I didn’t want him to feel lonely if he woke up alone.

To ensure he would be welcomed by a clean and well-maintained place, I checked everything thoroughly. I infused the tower with my mana to warm it up. The tower, filled with magical formulas created by wizards, naturally adjusted to a comfortable temperature with just a little mana.

Of course, not all magical formulas activated simply by channeling mana. It was peculiar that this was only possible in the tower where Kayden was sleeping.

“I wish this were possible at the Floné estate,” I mused, guessing that it might be due to Kayden. The tower had essentially become an extension of Kayden himself.

We reached the top floor, where Kayden was in hibernation. We couldn’t open the place where he was sleeping. We couldn’t touch it due to the barrier, and I didn’t want to risk affecting Kayden.

Enoch and I sat on the windowsill in the hallway of the top floor, looking at the firmly closed door. The interior of the tower seemed to escape the sweltering summer heat outside, remaining cool and refreshing.

“What if Kayden wakes up from his hibernation after we’re all dead and gone… What should we do then?” I wondered aloud.

“That won’t happen! Hibernation can’t last that long!” Eunji exclaimed, peeking out the window at the old city.

“I know that too! Eunji has to go into hibernation too,” Eunji added.

“You’re going into hibernation as well?” I asked.

“Eunji is a snake,” he replied.

That made sense. Although he wasn’t an ordinary snake, I understood his logic.

“What if later on, only Eunji and Kayden are left? Kayden isn’t fun. Eunji likes Unnie better,” Eunji said, trailing off with a sad expression, his head hanging low.

Even though Eunji was created from my mana, it seemed that he wouldn’t share life and death with me.

Enoch quietly patted Eunji’s head.

“In that case, we can cherish the present,” Enoch said optimistically, and Eunji nodded vigorously in agreement.

“Yes! Eunji is happy now,” he replied.

I smiled and hugged Eunji tightly. “Unnie is happy to be with Eunji right now, too.” I could say this a million times over. I was truly happy because of Eunji.

Eunji giggled sweetly, and Enoch, watching us, gently brushed my hair back. I turned to him and smiled.

Bright sunlight streamed into the tower. Though there was no human warmth, the air inside wasn’t cold.

Thank goodness. May it remain this way when Kayden awakens.

We sat in silence on the windowsill, gazing at the sealed door where Kayden was sleeping. A pleasant breeze wafted through the open window, filling the air with a refreshing coolness.

Then Enoch spoke. “Margaret, I have something to tell you.”

“…Something to tell me?” I echoed.

Enoch reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, square box that fit snugly in his palm.

“Everyone thinks I’ll propose to you during the festival,” Enoch continued.

I suddenly realized what he was about to do.

“It may seem lacking as a royal proposal, but I wanted to give this to you before the festival.”

Eunji, who had transformed back into a snake, slithered onto my shoulder, eyeing the box with curiosity. He wagged his tail as if urging me to open it quickly.

“I feel like I’ve taken a long journey just to realize a single emotion,” Enoch said, his voice catching slightly before falling silent. He gazed intently at the box in his hand, his expression serene.

I said nothing, waiting for him to continue. Knowing his past and understanding how difficult it was for him to open up to others, I knew this was a momentous occasion.

For me, everything in the past was easy. Acting as I wished, speaking my mind, and loving Enoch—all of it came naturally. But for Enoch, nothing was simple. He described it as “just one emotion,” but I now understood how profound that feeling was.

“Sorry for making you wait. Will you marry me?” Enoch finally said, opening the ring box.

Inside was a diamond ring. It felt surreal, and I could only stare at it in a daze.

Enoch wasn’t the only one overwhelmed with emotion. I had waited for this moment for so long—from my childhood when I first met Enoch to this very day. It felt like the years flashed before my eyes like a panorama.

I felt tears welling up as I clasped my hands over my mouth, unable to speak for a moment.

Finally, after a long pause, I answered, “I’ve waited…”

But just then, something unexpected happened.

The door, sealed since Kayden’s hibernation, suddenly exuded an ominous aura.

The door, which had never reacted since Kayden was sealed, began to emit mana, trembling with power.

What on earth is happening?

I had no time to continue my conversation with Enoch.

In the blink of an eye, I found myself in a different place altogether.

“So cold.”

I opened my eyes on a deserted beach, shivering.

There was no one around. I stood up, looking at the frozen sand beneath my feet.

Turning my back to the sea, I saw an island that seemed uninhabitable.

It was a remote island, covered entirely in snow.

This island felt oddly familiar.

“I need to find Enoch and Eunji…” I mumbled to myself before pausing in confusion.

“Why am I suddenly looking for Enoch? Who is Eunji? Where am I?”

I couldn’t remember what I had been doing right before I woke up here.

***

At that moment, Kayden’s unconscious mind awoke. It wasn’t Kayden himself, but another aspect of his being.

Due to an intense impulse, the flow of mana became entirely disrupted as someone entered his unconscious mind.