Chapter 64
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Chapter 64
'How can I reveal the truth to Claude and Amelia?'
I'd been so focused on Lucian that I'd completely forgotten. The fact that Desmond Baron had killed the previous Marquis and Marquise.
Claude didn't even know that the carriage accident involving the previous Marquis and Marquise had been orchestrated by someone.
'It needs to come to light as soon as possible.'
Even if it would shock him, he had to know that there was a traitor within the leadership of Agris.
"Sister."
How could I possibly bring this up naturally...?
"Sister!"
"Hmm?"
At the clear, bright voice coming from right beside me, I snapped my head up abruptly.
"What are you thinking so hard about?"
Amelia, sitting beside me, was tugging at my sleeve.
"Oh..."
I glanced around hastily.
Coming to my senses, I realized I was already inside the Glass Greenhouse.
There was even a teacup sitting in front of me.
"I just remembered something I'd forgotten."
"Did you hear what we were talking about?"
"I'm sorry. Could you tell me again?"
"We're asking if you'll come watch the lacrosse match with us!"
"Lacrosse?"
Amelia's eyes sparkled as she nodded. Lucian, sitting across from us, looked equally excited.
"You did say you enjoyed it before, did you not?"
Claude joined our conversation.
"The opening ceremony is the day after tomorrow, so I thought it would be wonderful if we all went together."
"Has it come around already?"
The Empire's lacrosse season opened as winter was drawing to a close.
"Are you perhaps busy?"
"No."
I shook my head at Claude's question.
"Besides going to the Temple the day after tomorrow, I don't have any particular schedule. Edwin should be able to go as well."
"Then I shall secure the best seats for us in advance."
"But you said the opening is the day after tomorrow. The good seats must already be taken."
"Sister."
As I shook my head, Amelia tugged at my sleeve again.
"Our uncle can do anything."
"Hmm?"
"It means there's nothing to worry about."
Amelia broke into a grin, her front teeth showing.
* * *
On the day of the opening ceremony as promised, I descended from the carriage with Lucian and Edwin.
"We've been waiting for you."
The moment I stepped down, people dressed in formal suits approached me. Instinctively, I drew the children behind me.
"Marquis Agris and the young lady are waiting for you inside the stadium."
"Ah."
So these must be the people Claude sent.
I nodded and followed them into the stadium.
They led me not to the crowded public entrance, but to a separate passage at the rear.
This looked like a staff corridor.
Just as I began to wonder if we were heading the right way, light flooded in, and the vast expanse of the stadium came into view.
"Sister!"
"Young lady!"
I turned toward the voices. There stood Claude and Amelia in lighter attire than usual, waving their hands.
I took Lucian and Edwin by the hand and made my way toward where they sat.
"Wow, this seating area is incredibly spacious, isn't it? And there aren't many people here."
I gazed at the opposite stands, teeming with spectators. From the first to second floor of the stadium, people in colorful uniforms were packed densely together.
In contrast, where Claude and Amelia were seated was relatively quiet. The seats themselves were also quite spacious.
"It's the special seating section."
"Special seating?"
"Yes. Uncle asked the team owner if we could watch together with Sister. Isn't that right?"
"You really do talk too much about unnecessary things."
Claude cast a disapproving glance at Amelia, but she simply smiled, revealing her neat teeth.
"Sister, don't just stand there—come sit down quickly. Lucian and Edwin too!"
Lucian and Edwin released my hand and scampered toward Amelia.
The two children sat on either side of Amelia, flanking her.
Naturally, this left the seat beside Claude for me.
"This is my first time watching lacrosse!"
"Mine too. But what is lacrosse anyway?"
"Lucian, you're going to watch it without even knowing what it is?"
"Yes!"
I took my seat beside Claude, leaving the children to their chatter.
"Would you like something to drink?"
"What options do you have?"
"Quite a variety."
Claude lifted a beverage holder that had been placed beside his seat. It was stocked with an assortment of drinks—water, fruit juices, and carbonated beverages.
"Are you perhaps running a secret beverage business?"
"No. I simply enjoy having options for what to drink."
"I see."
So that's how it is.
"Then I'll have orange juice."
"Of course."
Claude retrieved a cup of orange juice from the holder and handed it to me.
"Would you care for any snacks?"
A box of snacks emerged from the back seat.
"We have popcorn, nachos, chocolate, and butter cookies."
"Marquis Agris, you're not actually running a business here, are you?"
"Ha ha."
Claude chuckled at my remark.
I wasn't joking, though.
"I'm fine, so please take care of the children first."
"The children are already eating."
At Claude's words, I glanced at the children sitting in the front seats.
Lucian and Edwin's cheeks were already puffed out from the snacks Amelia had distributed.
"You two, don't eat too much. You won't be able to eat dinner. Understood?"
"Yes!"
The three children answered in unison.
Meanwhile, the bustling lacrosse stadium began to quiet down. The match was about to start.
"Do you have a particular team you're rooting for?"
"I'm supporting Team Warrior. Most people from Rilprey Territory cheer for them."
"I see."
Claude nodded and rummaged through a box on the floor.
"Would you like this?"
Claude handed me something.
It was a cheering slogan for my favorite team.
"Don't tell me you bought every type of fan merchandise?"
"...."
Instead of answering, Claude quietly averted his gaze.
Whee!
The whistle blew and the match began. Soon, players wielding sticks were dashing across the lacrosse stadium with intensity.
"They're all wearing helmets?"
"Their shoulders are really broad!"
"They wear protective gear because collisions cause injuries. Lacrosse is a rougher sport than you'd think."
I cheered on the match alongside the wide-eyed children.
"Go! Our team, win!"
"Score, score, score!"
Each time a goal was scored, sighs erupted from one side and cheers from the other.
After a brief moment of surprise at the intense physical contact, the children's eyes gleamed as they became absorbed in the match.
"Seeing it in person, the match is rougher than I expected."
"Pardon? What did you say?"
Claude said something, but the roar of the crowd drowned out his words. I leaned in closer toward him.
Claude hesitated for a moment before bringing his lips to my ear.
"It's rough, and that's what makes it fun."
"That's the charm of lacrosse."
"I can't hear you."
This time, I brought my mouth to Claude's ear.
"That's the charm of lacrosse!"
"I agree."
Claude turned his head to speak to me. But I still hadn't pulled my mouth away from his ear.
"Oh!"
Suddenly finding ourselves face-to-face, our noses nearly touching, we both hastily pulled back.
We'd almost kissed.
"I'm, I'm sorry."
"No, it's not... I should have..."
I turned away from Claude and covered my face with my hands.
Our lips hadn't even touched, yet my face burned as if they had.
I glanced sideways at Claude.
It seemed the awkwardness wasn't mine alone—Claude's cheeks were flushed as well.
"Wow! Another goal!"
"We're winning!"
The children shouted something, but I couldn't hear a word. Whether from the lingering heat or something else, my ears rang with a persistent hum.
I came to my senses only when the whistle signaling the end of the match sounded.
The players removed their helmets and protective gear. Soon they began peeling off their uniforms and wiping away sweat.
"Look at those muscles rippling! So defined!"
At Amelia's words, I lifted my head, which I'd kept bowed until then.
I didn't notice how three pairs of eyes suddenly sharpened.
My gaze instinctively followed the bronze-toned movements.
Just as Amelia said, the players' bodies without their shirts were impressively muscular.
With each movement of their arms, tightly woven muscles flexed freely. It was quite a sight.
"Wow... that's really cool."
"Right... oh."
I was lost in admiration when a sharp gaze from beside me snapped me back to reality.
Claude was staring at me with a distinctly displeased expression.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org