Chapter 88
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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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Chapter 88
'Well, he's probably doing fine. At least he doesn't have to bother with escort duties anymore.'
A week had passed without a single word from him.
And yet....
'...I wish he'd at least miss having someone to tease.'
I was curious how he was doing, what he was up to now that he wasn't escorting me, but I had no legitimate reason to reach out.
And contacting him without any real excuse felt somehow... awkward.
Just as I sat there brooding over thoughts of Lahedis, Lindsey suddenly offered a suggestion as if struck by inspiration.
"Why not ask the Knights to help you with your training? Most of them are nobility with excellent combat skills—they'd make perfect sparring partners."
The moment I heard those words, something clicked, and I bolted upright.
"That's it! Why didn't I think of that?"
"M-Miss?"
I swept past Lindsey, who startled at my sudden shift in mood, and made straight for the drawer.
Hehehehe.
An irrepressible smile spread across my lips as I pulled out the stationery.
* * *
"Would you like a newspaper, sir?"
As Lahedis emerged from the Antique Shop Alley onto the main street, a child hawking newspapers approached him and waved one in his face.
He was about to refuse when his eyes caught a large name emblazoned across the front page, and he quietly changed his mind, handing over a silver coin.
"Thank you, sir."
The child, beaming at the silver coin, hurried away.
Lahedis gazed at the name printed on the newspaper's front page.
The legendary hero Dane Lowsweed has returned.
His daughter, too, has been revealed as a hero who saved the nobility at the Hunting Festival....
It had been a week since Dane Lowsweed returned to the Imperial Knights.
Every newspaper in the Empire was abuzz with talk of the hero who had miraculously returned after twenty years.
While most articles celebrated Dane's return, occasional negative pieces slipped through.
Those who had grown tired of that narrative had now begun publishing articles about Vivian as well.
Through it all, perceptions of mixed-blood individuals were subtly shifting for the better.
'It's what Vivian wanted, so it's a good thing, but....'
Yet Lahedis's expression as he read the related articles was far from cheerful.
'If Vivian is the Demon King's daughter, then the person Dane Lowsweed loved must have been the Demon King.'
Which meant Orpen was the enemy who had slain someone Dane loved.
'And yet he's returned to the Imperial Knights... What on earth is he thinking?'
Dane must have infiltrated the Hunting Festival with the intention of assassinating the Emperor.
But then he unexpectedly encountered Vivian, which derailed his plans.
'Did seeing Vivian change his mind?'
But was it even possible to live while tolerating the enemy who had killed someone you loved?
The mere thought of it made my blood run cold.
I couldn't know what he was thinking, but one thing remained certain.
'I would never do anything that would put Vivian in danger.'
However, judging from the Hunting Festival incident, his own safety was clearly not among his priorities.
And such devotion, such actions—they might wound Vivian once more.
'I need to visit Vivian as soon as I gather evidence about the Hunting Festival incident.'
A week had already passed since Vivian went to the Marquis Estate.
Which meant I hadn't seen her in seven days.
I knew roughly how she was doing, what she was up to.
'...But that's only what Rachel knows.'
I hadn't contacted Lahedis even once.
Yet I reached out to Rachel every single night through magical artifacts.
'I thought by now she'd at least be conscious of me.'
Perhaps it was my arrogance.
As I mocked myself for being jealous of my own other self, I arrived at the Duke's Residence.
It was Owen, as always, who greeted me.
"Welcome back, Lahedis."
Before Lahedis could even ask if anything had happened, Owen thrust a letter toward him.
Lahedis's eyes wavered as he accepted the letter in confusion.
The letter bore the seal of the Lowswide Marquess Residence.
* * *
As late autumn deepened and sunsets came earlier, the Clock Tower stood empty despite the hour not being particularly late.
Everyone had gone, and only the autumn wind lingered in the darkness—save for one solitary figure.
Lahedis, gazing at the Capital's night view with dry eyes, sensed approaching footsteps and tensed.
Soft, careful steps.
An awkward presence, despite the attempt at stealth.
His lips curved upward in a subtle smile as he pretended not to notice, eyes downcast.
Soon, the presence reached directly behind him and tapped his back.
"Eek!"
"Be afraid."
He turned with a composed expression that belied his words, and I watched disappointment rapidly flood Vivian's face, which had been brimming with anticipation.
"Ugh, no fun."
Vivian after a week apart remained unchanged.
She was still obsessed with teasing me—though she'd never succeeded once—and wore the same modest, simple dress as before.
"Now that you've become a Marquis's daughter, I thought a proud, dignified noblewoman would appear."
"Are you disappointed that I'm not?"
"No. That's why I like it."
At his offhand response, Vivian flinched in surprise and averted her eyes.
'In context, he probably just means he likes that I haven't changed....'
That single word—'like'—made me creak internally, and I was frustrated that I couldn't control even that reaction.
"Anyway, what brings you here? I thought you'd completely forgotten about me now that you've become a noblewoman."
Lahedis spoke carelessly before suddenly stopping, as if he'd realized something too late.
My resentment toward Vivian—who had never once reached out to Lahedis—spilled out before I could stop it.
'How childish of me.'
I tensed, worried that Vivian might have noticed my displeasure.
Fortunately or unfortunately, she seemed oblivious and answered his words readily enough.
"Do you know how to dance?"
"...Dance?"
"I heard nobility learns to dance from childhood. It's considered a basic accomplishment."
"Well, a little."
"Then could you be my practice partner? I'm planning to make my debut as a debutante at an upcoming Imperial Palace ball."
"Lahedis is around, and there are other knights at the Marquis Estate. Why me specifically?"
His words came out gruff on the surface, yet they carried an unmistakable undercurrent of hope.
But the answer that came back was....
"Father is busy, and the other knights still feel awkward."
...What was I even hoping for?
Lahedis, who had been mocking himself, saw the earnest plea in Vivian's eyes and surrendered, nodding his head.
Finally getting the answer she wanted, Vivian broke into a delighted smile.
As if she'd been waiting for this moment, Vivian trotted away and positioned herself at a distance.
"Then let's start with a proper greeting."
Standing face to face with Lahedis, Vivian bowed with the courtesy she had learned.
Lahedis, amused by her earnestness, soon bowed respectfully in return.
And so an impromptu ball began atop the Clock Tower on an autumn night.
Vivian approached with light steps and placed her hand upon his waiting palm.
Lahedis then grasped that hand with practiced ease and assumed his position.
Vivian stiffened at the contact.
She had held his hand before, but those had been urgent situations(?) where she had no leisure to focus on the physical contact itself.
'His hand... is incredibly large.'
Not only that, but his towering height, and the firm physique she could feel beyond his shoulder where her other hand rested....
Suddenly, the reality that he was a man struck her anew. The moment she became conscious of that fact, her heart began to race rapidly.
Just as it always did whenever she faced him—now it felt entirely natural.
The hand clasped in his, the fingertips resting on his shoulder, tingled with sensation.
As every cell in her body froze in awareness of him, a familiar baritone voice descended from above her head.
"When you begin."
His hand then came beneath her chin and lifted it gently, bringing their gazes into collision.
"It's courtesy to look at your partner."
In his eyes, the usual playfulness had vanished entirely, leaving only earnestness behind.
It was a moment when that familiar gaze felt strangely unfamiliar.
"You need to signal when you're ready."
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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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