35 – The Night Before the Storm (3)

Illensia cooled her burning cheeks.

‘Everyone says Cain is bad.’

From nob le mt l dot com

Knowing her own feelings, but pretending not to know.

She always tried to look at me as a child.

It was all Cain’s fault. So, it was Cain’s fault that she had no choice but to be so active.

“Whoops….”

It is still vivid.

Feeling the sound of Cain’s heart just before, her wild and fast beating, Illensia let out a small laugh.

Pound, pound, pound.

She is just like himself.

She wasn’t the only one with her heart beating, thrilling, and hot. That fact alone was enough, so Illensia stepped back.

It’s not too late to cross her line, even when Cain fully realizes her own heart.

With that thought in mind, Illencia, hiding her regret, put her hands on her chest and felt the warmth.

For now, I could be satisfied with just that.

Illensia put her red tongue out and licked her lower lip to soothe her regret.

—— I don’t know how long she can wait.

#

Phew.

Unknowingly, I let out her breath and chased Illensia.

She realized that today, as much as she came to the Grand Duchess, she would lose her way if she lost Illencia.

It was all thanks to Illensia, who was a retard, that she gained sole power over the Archduke of Atrian.

Of course, Illensia wasn’t too reluctant, but she couldn’t bear to refuse my earnest request.

“Sia! Go with me!”

Illencia gradually slowed her pace at my words. She didn’t turn her head, but that was more comfortable for me.

It was because I was embarrassed to see Illencia’s face because of an incident that wasn’t the case just now.

“….”

“… Great.”

There was an awkward silence for a moment.

Illencia hung her head down, she didn’t say anything, and I just looked away from her, coughing at her awkwardness.

‘This bastard’s mansion is really unnecessarily large….’

The grand duke’s mansion was really spacious, as I felt it every time I came.

Of course, they all have their uses, and I know that I shouldn’t compare the grand duke’s mansion with my family’s mansion, but whenever this happens, it’s really embarrassing.

Meanwhile, what was surprising was that Illencia was shy.

It was very unusual for Illencia, who always carried out physical attacks, to be ashamed.

If it’s something that you think is unfamiliar, you shouldn’t do it. Now that she was a grown woman like this, it was just embarrassing.

“… But why did your father say he wanted to meet you?”

“I just have a question?”

I answered Elencia’s question as calmly as possible.

If she knew why she wanted to meet her, she would definitely oppose it. As I turned her words around, she rolled her eyes and put on a suspicious look.

Then I had no choice but to smile awkwardly and pass that gaze.

“… From here on, it is the message from the head of the family to come alone, Bocchan.”

The one who saved me was a knight of the grand duke’s family.

I nodded and stepped forward at his words as he looked at me and Illencia with awkward eyes.

Ilencia, who seemed to be going with me, quietly withdrew for some reason, and I followed the guide’s guidance to the room.

Engraving deep in your heart that crisis is the best opportunity.

#

Ugh….

Thanks to Illencia, it was good that she was able to arrange a place for her, but because of Illencia, the Grand Duke’s glare at me was unbearable.

But, determined to be confident, I straightened my back and stared at the Archduke.

In order to achieve what you want, you must not be intimidated.

For example, in a situation where you have to say, ‘Give me your daughter!’, Who will give permission if you are intimidated?

‘… Of course, that’s not what I meant.’

As I took my seat in front of the Grand Duke, such a thought naturally came to my mind.

In order to hide the bitter smile that appeared on his lips, he held up a teacup and covered his mouth.

“… Yes, he said he wanted to see me.”

I came to my senses at the Grand Duke’s words.

The Grand Duke looked at my expression and frowned. I thought about what rudeness I had committed, but nothing came to mind.

“Yes, it is.”

“I don’t like solicitations based on school ties, regional ties, or blood ties.”

“I know.”

It was fair.

There was no need or reason to question that story. I nodded my head and accepted the Grand Duke’s words.

Grand Duke, Atrian quickly returned with an emotionless expression and opened his mouth.

“So, the reason I accepted this request is not because of my daughter, but because you did not forget the help you gave to our family.”

“I don’t remember being of much help, but… It will be an honor for you to consider it that way.”

“It’s all about putting on a show.”

At the words of Archduke Atrian, I took a slow breath.

It was important from now on.

The Grand Duke’s words completely ended the repayment for the grace that I did not give. Of course, I had no intention of relying on it, and I liked the current situation, but….

Apart from that, my request now was that I had to obtain permission on my own.

“I have a favor to ask you.”

“…… Listen and see.”

I didn’t even think it would be easy to listen to.

I calmly opened my mouth, staring at the red eyes that were clearly similar to Illencia but different.

It was an informal remark without any sarcasm.

“Please put me on the tracking party to be sent to the North.”

Crisis is opportunity.

And I had to seize that opportunity from now on.

It was nothing to think about. A sense of urgency that this should not be the case. And now the training reached its limit.

The sense of crisis could not rise upward in such a peaceful state. As long as I had the desire to go up, I shouldn’t have stopped like this.

Training was endless, and I had to repeat it all the time, but it was clear that practical experience would also be good training.

Therefore, I couldn’t not know that this moment was an opportunity.

“I refuse.”

And the opportunity I had to seize left my hands helplessly.

#

What is the intention?

Underneath the cold and expressionless expression, Atrian’s eyes were shaking violently. However, it didn’t shake enough for Cain to notice.

From Atrian’s point of view, it was only strong, but it was only a small commotion that would not be obvious to others.

And in the agitation disguised as composure, he passed countless thoughts.

What is the intention?

What do you think?

Why are you asking me like that?

Not being able to read the intentions in the straight black eyes looking into his eyes was a strange and unpleasant thing for Atrian.

Nevertheless, what he had to say was decided.

“I refuse.”

It wasn’t because I was afraid of Illencia, or because I had no reason to do the same thing, that I refused.

Before he was the father of a child, he was the Grand Duke of the North, and the Grand Duke of the North prioritizes the safety and interests of the North above all else.

In other words, if sending Cain to the chasing party would have been beneficial, he would have sent him to the chasing party without saying anything.

So, it became clear that his refusal was a reasonable and valid decision.

“I think you know the reason.”

Cain’s expression also seemed to understand his words.

With that expression, Atrian felt relieved without even realizing it.

He knew what would happen if Cain left this place and joined the tracking party.

Illencia’s resentment?

Pity for the ephemeral life of a young man?

Worried about ruining your work?

It wasn’t like that. Atrian was thinking while looking at those straight eyes without even realizing it.

Sorry.

Regret that the possessor of the talent that Berman had been talking about would vanish.

It was a pity that a child who was upright and smarter than anyone I knew would disappear.

And Atrian knew.

Apart from being relieved, someone with eyes like that won’t back down.

Those were the things he had experienced while crossing many battlefields, and the conclusion based on the data he had accumulated so far.

“It will be helpful if you take me with you.”

“…… Why do you think so?”

Clever boy.

The Cain that Atrian saw was such a child.

I’m mature enough to be like my age, take good care of my surroundings, and I’m smart enough to infer the maximum conclusion from the minimum amount of information.

Genius… It’s absurd to say, but it felt like I could feel the age.

It was funny that a boy in his late teens could feel his age, but Atrian tended to believe his eyes.

Except for Elencia’s case, his eyes weren’t wrong.

“Because my brain thinks it might be helpful.”

Yes, in fact, there were definitely benefits that would come from Cain being organized into the tracking team.

However, Atrian knew that those thoughts were still the judgment of a young boy.

“I don’t think so.”

“So….”

“But.”

Interrupting Cain’s words, Atrian spoke firmly.

“There is more to lose than to gain.”

After that, he looked away.

It was an obvious banquet order.

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