Chapter 92
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Chapter 92
* * *
After having new clothes tailored for Lucian, who had grown so much, and enjoying a brief respite with picnics alongside Edwin, word arrived that the Temple wished to meet with us. They were curious about Lucian's enhanced abilities following his awakening.
Thus, I brought Lucian to the Temple after quite some time. Upon examination, his power had grown nearly tenfold compared to before the Monster Subjugation Unit's campaign.
With such growth, he would become an ability user second only to the First Pope.
Hearing this, Lucian bounced excitedly in his seat, absolutely delighted by the revelation of his tremendous power.
My own abilities had also grown considerably since the beginning, they told me.
Though not as dramatically as Lucian's, my range of magical perception had expanded as well.
The day after we returned from the Temple with such wonderful news, the Emperor's banquet for the Subjugation Unit commenced.
"I'm sorry, Edwin. It'll just be the two of us."
I wore an apologetic expression as I looked at Edwin, who stood to see Lucian and me off. I simply couldn't find a way to bring him to the Imperial Banquet Hall.
"Please don't worry about it at all. I'm truly fine."
Edwin offered us a forced smile. Seeing that expression only made my heart ache more.
"I'll be back early. And I'll bring something delicious when I return."
"Yes."
I gently stroked Edwin's hair before boarding the carriage with Lucian.
Unlike our swift movements in the past, the carriage crawled along the road at a glacial pace. Most of the Capital's nobility had been invited to the banquet, so the streets were congested. Carriages bearing each house's crests filled the thoroughfare.
Yet despite the sheer number of carriages, the Duke of Bellomen's was nowhere to be seen.
According to the Butler, he was far too occupied with matters to attend this banquet as well.
'Refusing the Emperor's invitation? That takes some nerve.'
What on earth could possibly keep him so busy?
I snorted dismissively toward the Duke of Bellomen, wherever he might be.
As I did, the carriage arrived at our destination—the Imperial Banquet Hall.
Lucian and I descended from the carriage with the attendant's escort.
"Lucian, you can behave yourself, yes?"
"I told you already. I'm not the Lucian from before."
"I know. I'll trust you."
I gently caressed Lucian's pouty, puffed cheeks.
"It's been so long since an Imperial Banquet. Even your aunt is a bit nervous."
Since my parents passed, this was my first time attending a banquet held in the Imperial Capital.
With mysterious abilities and a great achievement like the Monster Subjugation, all eyes would surely be upon me.
"Aunt, is something wrong?"
"No. You look absolutely beautiful."
Lucian gave me a thumbs up.
Today, Lucian and I had coordinated our outfits to match in spirit. I wore a flowing dress with golden tones, while Lucian wore a formal suit in a pale gray, each of us adorned with a yellow brooch on the chest—deliberately chosen to match the color of our eyes.
"Now then, shall we go?"
Lucian gave me a thumbs up.
Today, Lucian and I happened to wear clothes that matched in a similar style.
I wore a full dress with a yellowish tint, while Lucian wore a pale gray suit with a yellow brooch on his chest. We had deliberately chosen colors that matched our eyes.
Come on, let's go now.
"Mm."
When I extended my hand, Lucian grasped it firmly.
It was just as we were about to ascend the stairs leading to the Imperial Banquet Hall.
"Miss Rilprey."
A familiar voice called out to me.
"Ah, Marquis."
The person who had called me was Claude.
"I've only just stepped down from my carriage myself. What a coincidence to meet like this."
He, who had been standing at a distance, approached me with quick strides.
"I didn't hear any hoofbeats."
Lucian narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Claude.
"I didn't take a carriage. I walked here."
"From all the way over there?"
"Yes. Walking is good for one's health."
"That doesn't seem right...."
Lucian's gaze toward Claude was sharp and piercing.
Claude pretended not to notice Lucian's scrutiny and turned to address me.
"In any case, Miss Rilprey. It's been quite some time since we last met."
"It's only been two weeks since we last saw each other."
"Has it?"
At my correction, Claude let out a small, awkward cough.
"When you see someone every day and then don't for just a few days, it feels like ages have passed."
"I suppose that's true."
I nodded in agreement with Claude's words.
We had spent a full two months together in the Monster Forest, sharing every hardship. After living as one for two months, it was only natural that being apart felt strange.
"Since we've met, shall we enter together?"
I was about to nod thoughtlessly at Claude's suggestion when I hesitated.
'Entering together would look... odd, wouldn't it?'
There were only two circumstances in which an unmarried noblewoman would enter a banquet hall with an unmarried man.
'Either as lovers or as an engaged couple.'
By coincidence, Claude and I were both unmarried. If we entered together, rumors might spread that we were romantically involved.
'And somehow, our attire seems similar too.'
Claude wore formal gray robes in a tone similar to Lucian's, with a cravat adorned with a yellow pendant. His cuffs and handkerchief were also yellow. It was remarkable how perfectly the coincidence aligned.
'It looks just like a couple's outfit.'
With Lucian standing between us, we looked almost like a young married couple with their son.
"Miss Rilprey, what are you thinking about so intently? Your face has turned quite red."
"Oh, has it?"
Thanks to Claude fanning my face with his hand fan, I was able to escape from my reverie.
"Are you feeling warm?"
"No, that's not it...."
I opened my mouth to address Claude, whose face bore an expression of concern.
"I'm afraid it would be difficult for us to enter together."
"Why is that?"
"We're all unmarried, aren't we? If we enter together, people will misunderstand."
"What sort of misunderstanding?"
Why was someone so perceptive acting this way?
I uttered a word that brought a hint of embarrassment to my lips.
"For instance, that the Duke and I are lovers."
"What? Lovers?"
It was Lucian who interjected into our conversation.
"Absolutely not! Never! Never! Never!"
Lucian not only widened his eyes sharply but shook his head so vigorously that his carefully styled hair became disheveled.
"Do you even know what lovers means?"
"Of course I do! They kiss all the time, and they embrace whenever they want! That's what lovers do!"
"K-kissing...."
He understood far better than I expected.
My face burned at Lucian's blunt manner of speaking.
"No one will misunderstand us, so there's no need to worry so much."
Claude, placing his hand on Lucian's heaving shoulder, opened his mouth to address me.
"I am the commander of the Monster Subjugation Unit. Miss Rilprey and Lucian are the heroes of this victory. There is nothing strange about the commander and the heroes of victory entering together."
"Is that so?"
"Indeed."
Claude's face as he spoke was quite serious.
There was considerable merit to Claude's words.
When I thought about it, it was merely the commander and a unit member entering together.
"Then let's do it that way."
Having made my decision, I nodded.
However, Lucian seemed unable to accept Claude's proposal.
"I don't like it! Absolutely not lovers!"
Forgetting his promise to behave with dignity, Lucian stamped his feet loudly.
"I absolutely cannot accept the commander and Aunt becoming that kind of couple...."
"Amelia."
"...."
At the mention of that name, Amelia, Lucian's words, which had been pouring forth like a waterfall, ceased.
"I see you had your hair cut recently. Quite short for the summer, refreshingly so."
"...."
"It was so adorable that I took a photograph."
"...."
"And I brought it with me."
"...!"
Lucian's eyes, which had been narrowed to slits, widened into perfect circles. The child's gaze followed the photograph clutched in Claude's hand.
"Lucian."
"Yes!"
"You still won't enter together with me?"
"...."
"Unless you truly object."
Claude made a show of tucking Amelia's photograph away.
Lucian cried out urgently.
"I will! I will!"
"You will what?"
"Enter together! I'm absolutely willing to do it!"
"Truly?"
"Yes!"
"If you change your mind later...."
"I won't!"
"Really?"
"Truly?"
Lucian nodded so vigorously it made a humming sound, then extended both hands respectfully toward Claude.
Claude continued to draw out the moment, as if testing the sincerity of Lucian's heart.
"Then please give it to me."
The photograph...!
Seeing those radiant eyes, Claude finally let out a soft laugh and handed the photograph to Lucian.
"Short-haired Amelia is so beautiful...!"
Lucian gazed at Amelia in the photograph with undisguised admiration. Possessing her photograph brought him such joy.
Claude effortlessly lifted Lucian into the crook of one arm.
"Shall we enter now?"
His other hand remained extended toward me.
I looked down at his calloused hand before reaching out to take it.
"Yes."
Soon, two hands of similar warmth met.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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