TMLLT 78

Chapter 78

“There’s Someone Else in Your Heart”

She had a gentle smile, but her eyes weren’t smiling.

As expected, the conversation was going exactly the way I thought it would.

“I think he’s a good senior.”

But Elessa had completely misunderstood!

I gave my answer like a model job interview, but she just made a doubtful expression.

Then, Elessa suddenly looked into the distance and clapped twice.

A servant who had been far away came over carrying something—an album.

She opened it on the table and showed it to me right away. It was filled with pictures of an adorable child.

“This was when he was seven years old. Oh, and this was when Roitz first learned Velkyrente’s swordsmanship…”

“Huh? This is Senior Roitz?”

Now that I looked closely—the pitch-black hair, the round, deep blue eyes without double lids, and that confident look—it was definitely him.

Even as a kid, his sharp nose looked the same. And those slightly curly locks were so cute.

“Wow, when was this?”

“This was when we went to Alet Beach for summer vacation. That was the first time Roitz saw fireworks.”

Before I knew it, I had forgotten my earlier thoughts and was listening to her talk about Roitz’s childhood.

It was so cute and interesting that I lost track of time.

Seeing how much I enjoyed it, Elessa happily told me more.

“Cute, isn’t he, Sir Vivi?”

“Me? Oh—”

She chuckled, then kept turning the album pages, explaining each one.

‘But… how does she know all this?’

When I looked at her questioningly, she leaned her chin on her hand and smiled.

“I told you, Sir Vivi. I know Roitz very well.”

There was confidence in her tone that came from fact.

Finding out Roitz had a childhood friend who knew him this well shocked me a bit.

I’d always thought she was just one of the many people who admired him. But after seeing this album full of private memories, I knew she wasn’t.

This… was a strong rival.

Not to me, but to Lucike.

I was still processing this unexpected rival when Elessa asked me again:

“Sir Vivi, I want to ask you one more thing.”

“What is it?”

She looked sharply at me.

“Is Roitz really just a senior to you? Truly?”

“…”

“Really?”

Right then, I suddenly stood up and raised my arm.

Elessa blinked in surprise, looking toward where my hand was pointing.

“Sir Vivi?”

My hand was pointing behind her—where a drunk man was stumbling toward her.

I grabbed his wrist and pulled him away. He cursed under his breath, struggling.

“Save your drunkenness for your dreams.”

I handed him over to a nearby patrol guard, then turned back to Elessa.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t warn you first. Are you okay?”

She stared at me for a moment, then suddenly stood up, grabbed my hand, and smiled brightly.

“You’re growing on me.”

“…Huh?”

“I like you.”

“…?”

Her hand was soft and smooth, untouched by water or hard work. I couldn’t tell what she meant by holding my hand.

“What are you doing?!”

A familiar voice came from behind.

I turned and saw Roitz running toward us.

Wait—wasn’t he supposed to be eating with Lucike? Why was he here alone?

I stared at him in confusion.

“Roitz! You’re here,” Elessa greeted warmly.

He didn’t look pleased at all. He grabbed me and pulled me to his side.

Elessa’s face dimmed, but he stayed firm.

It didn’t feel like the cozy reunion of childhood friends at all.

Then Roitz spoke to her in a tense voice:

“What are you doing, Grand-aunt?”

…Huh?

Did he just say grand-aunt?

“What?”

Elessa smiled slyly at me and stepped closer, but Roitz pulled me behind him.

“You… you’re his grand-aunt?” I asked from behind his back.

Elessa glared at him but nodded.

“I’m Roitz’s grandaunt. We’re not that far apart in age, though.”

Her expression softened with grandmotherly concern.

“Roitz, I was so worried that I came all the way here.”

“I told you, there’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“How could I not worry when it’s a family matter?”

Then she spoke like an elder during a holiday gathering:

“When are you getting married?”

It didn’t match her young face, but her tone was serious.

“You’re getting older… I can’t sleep well these days, worrying about it.”

“I’ll take care of it myself.”

“Stubborn boy.”

Elessa turned to me with a gentle smile.

“Sir Vivi, are you sure there’s nothing between you two?”

“Stop it!”

Roitz pulled me further behind him.

“There’s absolutely nothing, Grand-aunt.”

“Really?”

“Yes. So don’t bring it up with her again.”

He firmly shut down even the slightest possibility.

With his broad shoulders blocking my view, I heard Elessa’s voice from beyond.

“At least meet someone, then. I’ve found a good family for you.”

…What? A matchmaking proposal?

That wasn’t in my plan! I was trying to get him closer to Lucike, not throw new obstacles in.

“No! That’s not okay!” I blurted before I could stop myself.

Elessa brushed aside Roitz’s arm to look at me. Her smile was unreadable.

Roitz’s gaze flickered in mild surprise.

“Please go, Grand-aunt.”

Still holding my shoulder, he tried to escort her to her carriage. But she shook off his arm and came back to me.

“Grand-aunt?”

“Sir Vivi,” she whispered quickly, “If Roitz ever treats you badly, contact me.”

Roitz’s expression tightened, and he hurried her away.

Before leaving, he turned back to me.

“Don’t go anywhere. Wait here.”

Both of them telling me things before leaving… yep, definitely family.

“Why?”

“…I have something to tell you.”

While he saw her off, I waited. We had to return to the knights’ building together anyway.

It seemed his grandaunt’s sudden arrival had rattled him, or maybe what he wanted to say was very important.

“Let’s walk back to the knights’ building.”

We walked slowly down Melrn Street.

“Where’s the bishop?”

“The bishop? You mean Lucike?”

“Of course.”

“She went back.”

“Already?”

“Yes.”

“You finished eating, right?”

He gave me a puzzled look, as if to say “Of course.”

‘So the meal ended that quickly?’

Maybe Lucike was shy, or maybe the meal wasn’t fun.

Roitz isn’t the most exciting person, but if you talk to him, he can talk endlessly.

Lucike must not have seen that side yet.

‘Guess you can’t have everything right away.’

Even with those obsessed eyes when he first saw her, he still let the chance slip by.

He’s usually calm, but sometimes he turns stiff like a brick. Maybe he did that in front of her.

“So, what did you want to tell me?”

“What?”

“You told me to wait because you had something to say.”

He hadn’t forgotten, but he hesitated.

Near the knights’ building, he finally asked:

“That… why did you say no earlier?”

“No to what?”

“When my grandaunt said she’d find me a match, you said it wasn’t okay.”

So he remembered that.

If he got engaged to someone, it would ruin my plan to tie him to Lucike. Plus, it wouldn’t be fair to the other person.

Whoever they were, Roitz couldn’t be theirs.

Sure, the future could change—after all, I hadn’t died. But still…

Unless something extreme happened, I couldn’t imagine the main characters changing.

Now that Roitz had met Lucike, he should understand.

Because in the original story To Your Sword, My Kiss, Lucike was that kind of person.

“You already have someone else in your heart.”

I said it calmly.

The moment my words reached him, Roitz froze like a stone statue.