CHAPTER 95……………………………………
Dominic reached the door to the underground and muttered, “Ah…”
“Now that I think about it, Julian was the only woman whose face he could recognize.”
Hearing the familiar name, Lennox’s eyebrows twitched.
Five years ago, the pink-haired man who had been alone with Clemens in the lab was named Julian Andreas.
For the first time, Lennox, who had been silent for so long, spoke.
“‘Able to recognize faces’… that implies he normally cannot distinguish them, doesn’t it?”
“Oh, you didn’t know? Poor Julian.”
Dominic said, smiling.
“He’s my unfortunate friend with prosopagnosia.”
Click. The underground door opened.
The basement floor rippled with a red light like blood. A magic circle.
Seeing it, Dominic grinned.
“Oh dear, we got so caught up in talking that I forgot to deactivate the attack magic.”
Whoosh!
At those words, red blades poured down on them.
No one here could mistake this for an accident.
On the sea route to Andreas Island, I found myself deeply worried about whether Duke Penelope’s matters were proceeding smoothly.
If the plan failed, not only Mion but even Lennox’s life could be in danger.
“Phew…”
I let out a long sigh under the weight of the burden.
I couldn’t go see things personally, which was frustrating.
Appearing to flee from Yeager’s ambush rather than staying in the capital reduced the emperor’s suspicion.
“I must remain a noble who innocently witnessed the divine beast.”
If it became known that I had exploited the divine beast for my own gain, my game would be over too.
At that moment, Julian, having just read the news, contacted me—apparently worried about my safety.
I received his polite inquiry about visiting my estate, and I replied, asking if it would be okay for me to visit the duchy instead.
The response was quick and, fortunately, positive.
“Good. Things must be going well with Lennox’s side.”
My plan was perfect.
I forced myself to feel triumphant and tried to shake off the uneasy thoughts.
“Unni, I love the smell of the sea!”
Melinne, visiting the ocean for the first time, smiled brightly, clearly enjoying the sea breeze.
“Look! Unni! The seagulls are so cute too!”
Squawk!
“Melinne! Let go of that bird!”
While I was flustered watching her grab a seagull with her bare hands, we arrived at Leas Island.
Julian was waiting at the dock to greet us.
“I should have come in person, but I made you travel so far… I hope contacting you wasn’t a mistake.”
Julian looked flustered, clearly embarrassed. Oddly enough, I was the one caught off guard.
“No, I was actually more anxious being in the capital.”
Hearing that, Julian’s expression hardened.
“I’m truly relieved you are safe.”
“Thank you for your concern.”
His expression softened slightly at my reply, and his gaze eventually shifted to my side.
“This is…?”
“Oh, she’s my younger sister.”
“Ah!”
“Melinne Jacqueline! Haven’t we met before?”
Melinne greeted him cheerfully.
Julian paused, as if recalling something, then smiled warmly, saying, “Ah, yes. You’ve grown so much, I barely recognize you.”
Knowing he had prosopagnosia, I felt a little uncomfortable.
“If you follow this path, you’ll reach the castle directly.”
The roads were well-maintained, as befitted a duchy known for tourism.
The carriage we rode in, side by side with Julian, slowly set off toward the ducal castle.
“When did you two meet?”
“We ran into each other by chance when I went to the academy to see some relics.”
Hmm, I see.
But Melinne’s gaze kept lingering on him, in a way that felt oddly attentive, almost like she was scrutinizing him.
I quickly realized why she was staring so intently.
“They really do look alike.”
Anyone might mistake them for actual siblings rather than my sister and Julian.
“I have a question too, may I ask?”
Melinne suddenly spoke up, looking at him.
“Have you gotten married?”
Flinch.
I was the most surprised by her unexpected question.
It wasn’t like Melinne usually asked things like this, and of all people, the target was Duke Andreas himself.
“Should I apologize quickly for her?”
Still, asking whether someone is married is often treated as casual conversation…
As I hesitated, Julian spoke.
“I’m embarrassed to say, but I’m still unmarried.”
His face turned slightly red. Melinne, wearing a mischievous smile, pressed on.
“Why haven’t you married yet?”
“Melinne…!”
That was truly rude.
I tried to stop her, but Melinne didn’t relent.
“Do you perhaps have a secret crush on someone?”
Wow, like a runaway train.
I was briefly dazed by her bluntness.
“I-It’s not like that!”
Julian’s face turned redder than ever.
“Right.”
Melinne had hit the mark. I marveled at her intuition.
“How did she figure that out?”
People have many reasons for not marrying, yet she singled out the right one.
“Could it be…?”
I swallowed dryly and looked at Julian.
When our eyes met, he looked less like a human and more like a perfectly ripe tomato.
And there was no reason for him to blush that much without having a crush on someone.
“Could he like Melinne?”
If that’s why Melinne was testing him…
“That makes sense.”
I concluded and asked without hesitation.
“Your Grace, how old are you?”
“I-I’m… twenty-six.”
I paused at the age.
“Seven years older than Melinne.”
Quite a gap, I thought.
The scoundrel.
Catching my glare, Julian desperately avoided eye contact. Clearly, he knew his own shame.
Just then, screech—the carriage stopped.
Julian hurriedly got off, a bad feeling rising.
“Wait…!”
People who fumble like that rarely escape unharmed—
Thud!
“Ugh!”
I rushed to catch him, but Julian had already tripped and fallen while stepping down.
“….”
I sighed and got out of the carriage. Seeing me, Julian scrambled upright.
“I-I’ll escort you.”
I was shocked at his state.
“Your knee is bleeding.”
The blood was more noticeable against his white suit.
“I-I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine. We need to disinfect and apply medicine quickly.”
Julian let out a resigned sigh.
“I really feel like I’m only showing the Count embarrassing scenes…”
His puppy-like face made my heart weaken again.
With a face so much like Melinne’s showing that expression, it felt unfair.
“It’s natural. Everyone makes mistakes, right?”
“You’re really kind.”
At my words, Julian’s smile returned, dimples showing.
His smiling face, his simple demeanor—it reminded me so much of Melinne.
“They say people are attracted to those different from themselves.”
I wondered why he felt drawn to someone who looked like himself, like Melinne.
“Hmm…”
Melinne crossed her arms and watched us from beside.
“Motor skills: 30 points…”
She muttered.
“Lennox still has the advantage here…”
What on earth were they talking about?
Melinne met my eyes, then abruptly closed her mouth as if she hadn’t said anything.
