CHAPTER 32…………………………………………….
At the cold answer that it couldn’t be fixed, Zennia’s eyes just widened. Even seeing her expression, Bif didn’t stop talking.
“Been dating for how long, and your true nature is already showing.”
“True nature?” Zennia felt a sudden surge of emotion she couldn’t control.
“What are you talking about? He’s so kind. Really, very much.”
Lumiere, a hero, having a bad nature? That was the most absurd thing in the world.
Bif scoffed at Zennia’s words.
“Must have been pretending to be nice. You only see the real thing once you get close.”
“Everyone would say he’s kind, ten out of ten.”
All the humans he had saved so far would praise him and show their gratitude. If you can’t call a person like that kind, who could you call kind?
But again, Zennia’s words didn’t get through.
“Good at acting, I see.”
“Ugh.”
Today, Bif was unusually cynical. Normally, even if a servant was disobedient, he would laugh it off and give multiple chances unless it was a worst-case scenario.
So, Bif clearly disapproved of Zennia’s lover.
‘I feel like Lumiere’s image has been completely trashed.’
She couldn’t understand why Bif had come to dislike Lumiere so much.
But at the same time, Bif couldn’t exactly claim he was innocent—his behavior today had been truly terrible. A brat who knows how much he’s needed but treats his own body recklessly.
Recalling the moment when Lumiere had said he was glad to be with her despite feeling like he might throw up blood, Zennia made a strange face. Bif clicked his tongue.
“You have to be careful even when breaking up with guys like that. You never know what they might do if things don’t go their way.”
It was already hard to say that things hadn’t gone his way yet.
“They might spread bad rumors about you. Or, on the other hand, they might threaten you.”
Well, unlike today, it didn’t seem like he would threaten Zennia directly, even if he touched his own body recklessly.
“Or they might play the victim and try to stir your sympathy.”
Right, like that.
Zennia swallowed the words that almost slipped out and bit her tongue.
“But whatever happens, as long as you set your mind, you can solve it all.”
Bif clenched his fists, as if encouraging her.
“If it leans toward threatening you, just ask His Majesty or the steward for help. If they play the victim, cut them off ruthlessly.”
Ignoring the first part of his words, Zennia frowned.
Could she really cut him off ruthlessly? Setting aside her personal feelings, she also had expectations for Lumiere. Honestly, if it weren’t for today, she would have been the one clinging in their relationship.
Hesitant, Zennia asked,
“…What if I can’t cut him off ruthlessly?”
“Can’t cut him off?”
After a quiet pause, Bif let out a sigh as if the world had collapsed.
Then, with a face showing he really didn’t want to say it but had no choice, he forced the words out.
“Then you just keep seeing him. What choice do you have?”
Muttering that he hated saying that, Bif looked Zennia straight in the eye.
“But if something happens that shocks you like today, think about it again then.”
He emphasized repeatedly that it was a serious matter that needed reconsideration at that point.
“If it’s completely unbearable, break up.”
Bif shook his head.
“Zennia, blindly enduring isn’t a good thing.”
Then, as always, he gently comforted her.
“You don’t have to keep giving in. Just be smart as usual.”
“…Yes.”
Zennia nodded slowly, showing she understood, and Bif finally smiled in relief.
“If anything happens, come to me like today. You did really well coming. Thank you.”
Zennia quietly accepted his hand patting her head and wondered why he was thankful that she had come.
Scratching her neck, she bowed her head deeply.
And she stayed by Bif’s side until the time she had promised Lumiere was over.
Having calmed herself enough beside Bif, Zennia returned to her room and decided to try talking.
From the moment she returned to her room, Zennia sat in front of Lumiere, who hadn’t once taken his eyes off her, carefully choosing her words.
If she said this, it might provoke him; if she said that, he might misunderstand.
But staying silent wasn’t an option—the events of today were too significant.
“Lumiere, we need to talk.”
Lumiere looked at her silently. Today, that silence was welcome. Opening his mouth could have led to something crazy.
Zennia asked, cautiously,
“So why have you been asking about the Demon Lord or Eligos all this time?”
Her carefully chosen question was answered surprisingly quickly by Lumiere.
“I wondered if you were close to them.”
It was as if he had prepared the answer in advance.
“To check how attractive my rival is…”
Zennia quickly cut him off.
“Alright. I got the gist.”
She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again.
“Just to be clear… when you say you like me, you mean that…”
“Zennia, I like you.”
Of course. She had expected that.
Hiding her face in her hands, she asked,
“Why do you like me?”
“Because it’s you.”
She wanted to cover her ears at the blunt answer. But if she covered her ears, she couldn’t hide her face. Carefully, she lifted her head to protect herself.
“No, I mean… how did you end up liking me?”
“Because you’re warm?”
Her body temperature wasn’t particularly high, but she swallowed the words.
“Any other reason?”
No answer came.
‘So high body temperature is all it takes?’
Frowning at the ridiculous answer, Lumiere naturally touched the corner of her eye.
Should she stop him? But he didn’t seem to have any ill intent.
Since Zennia didn’t push his hand away, Lumiere cupped one side of her face completely and grinned.
Even after seeing him like that just hours ago, his smile still looked innocent—was it all because of that smug face?
She hadn’t realized she could be so affected visually. Sighing, she tried to push his hand away, but Lumiere said,
“Zennia, I like you.”
She pressed her lips tight and gently lowered his hand.
It was as innocent a confession as his smile. No “let’s date,” no “please like me back.” Just a confession of his feelings.
All he wanted was one thing: to be by her side.
‘Not interested in dating?’
Zennia quickly erased the thought from her mind. If he had answered yes, that would have been problematic.
“…No.”
“Pardon?”
“No, it’s not.”
She needed a moment of delay. She thought she was ready to talk, but she wasn’t mentally prepared at all.
She didn’t like running away. She knew this wasn’t something that would just end if ignored.
But it was too much to handle in just one day.
Zennia decided to turn her head away from everything, just for a moment.
She glanced at Lumiere. Oblivious, he gave her a sweet smile. Zennia bit her inner cheek and buried her head.
Perhaps exhausted, she began to breathe softly beside him. Lumiere opened his eyes and looked at the deeply sleeping Zennia.
Looking at her neat and tidy face naturally brought back memories of a girl he had once met.
‘Astria.’
A name he had repeated to himself many times so as not to forget since that day. Her face and voice were fading, but he clung to the name.
Even without much education, one could immediately sense how precious she was.
A girl wearing a gorgeous dress he had never seen before, just as beautiful as the dress itself.
In the memory of the first kindness he ever received, she was there.
Because he didn’t know who he was, the warmth was given without prejudice—it followed him for a long time. The memory brought back the day as vividly as if it were happening now.
Did he instinctively recognize her then? Now he knew why those violet eyes never left his mind.
‘Because it’s you.’
Her glossy black hair, pale skin, and gentle touch hadn’t changed at all.
Though she hadn’t smiled or promised anything, the touch that came casually felt strange—but not if the owner was that girl. She had always been like that.
Lumiere gently reached out and held her small hand resting on the bed. Thankfully, the deeply sleeping Zennia didn’t pull away.
Soft and pliant. Her neatly trimmed pink nails reflected her character.
Carefully touching her hand, he pressed the only hardened callus on her finger.
He wanted to nibble it, but knew he couldn’t restrain himself if he did. Just like today.
“Well, there’s no such name.”
“…The temple was attacked…”
“You said no one survived?”
The warmth he thought was lost was breathing beside him.
The hand that always reached out to him in his worst moments.
Not wanting to lose it again, he acted impulsively, which had startled Zennia and almost made her cry.
Her worried gaze and complete focus on him were welcome, but he didn’t want to see her on the verge of tears. Yet, if that was the only way to be by her side…?
He liked her gaze watching his every move, fully concentrated on him. It was endearing.
‘So those things… are the last resort.’
Lumiere didn’t want to do what Zennia disliked. If she didn’t push him away like today, he probably wouldn’t repeat such actions.
Probably.
