How to End a One-Sided Love – Episode 16 (16/110)
“…What?”
The guest room isn’t ready yet?
Realizing that my voice had come out a bit louder than intended, I hurriedly lowered it.
Hey, what do you mean it’s not ready—what are we supposed to do then?
As I mouthed the words, Rita lowered her eyebrows and signaled with her eyes.
We didn’t expect you to come up this quickly.
“Emily accidentally got soot on the bed, so we’re cleaning it… just until then….”
“Haah.”
Rita whispered with a pitiful expression, and I rubbed my brow with a troubled face.
“Senior, what should we do? They say the guest room isn’t ready yet. Going back to sit down….”
“Ah… not really.”
“You don’t want to, then.”
I nodded as if I understood.
“What now….”
There was no way we could keep someone here when they didn’t want to stay.
As I kept glancing at my senior while thinking, Noah slightly lowered his head and met my eyes.
“Then would it be alright if I stayed in your room for a moment?”
“Pardon?”
He quickly added,
“If it’s not too much trouble.”
I clutched my pounding heart and thought to myself.
Letting an unrelated man into my room felt a bit 부담스러운, but somehow, it felt okay since it was Senior. My father is over there anyway, so hosting guests is my responsibility too.
Right, hosting guests. That’s all this is—nothing else, right?
“…Alright.”
I’ll have Rita prepare things as quickly as possible.
With a glance toward Rita, I led Senior Noah to my room.
“Just a moment.”
Saying that, I stepped inside and hastily tidied up the books scattered around, placing them back on the shelves.
I glanced again at the bed Rita had already arranged, then shoved miscellaneous items into the closet in a hurry before cautiously opening the door again.
“Please come in.”
I quickly scanned the room again. The bed I had touched looked slightly wrinkled, which bothered me, but nothing else stood out.
“I didn’t know someone would be coming, so I couldn’t clean properly… haha.”
As Senior stepped in carefully, I quietly closed the door behind him.
“Please have a seat.”
I offered him the sofa that didn’t look too messy, and quickly sat on the opposite one.
“Your room is nice.”
Senior looked around and said with a faint smile.
…Nice one, Rita!
I smiled awkwardly.
Come to think of it, hadn’t Senior been talking more than usual? Before, he only spoke this much when Flora Senior was around.
Lost in thought, I sat there a bit dazed, when a red hardcover book I had carelessly tossed onto the corner of the sofa caught my eye. The familiar cover stood out.
Looking up, I saw Senior sitting perfectly upright.
“Senior.”
I licked my dry lips.
With slightly trembling hands, I opened the first page where the introduction was written, and slowly raised the book.
“Can you… see this?”
After asking this question to countless people and being treated like a crazy person every time, I was curious about what Noah—the male lead himself—would see.
Even if he could see it, the first page didn’t contain anything important, so it should be fine.
“…There’s nothing written here.”
Blinking, Senior even took off his glasses as he spoke.
Seeing his pure, unadorned appearance without glasses made my heart thump again, and I quickly snapped the book shut.
“Right?”
“Were you expecting a different answer?”
His slightly sharp question made me flinch, but I laughed it off.
“No, I was just joking.”
It was a clumsy answer, but the best I could manage for now.
This confirmed that even the main character couldn’t see it. It was a bit embarrassing, though.
“By the way, what brought you here? I was surprised when I first saw you.”
Forcing the conversation forward was a bit difficult, but better than awkward silence.
“The tower lord was recruiting people to come.”
“Oh, you should be resting during break.”
“I volunteered to come.”
“Oh.”
I raised an eyebrow slightly and hummed.
Traveling here by carriage wasn’t exactly pleasant.
But why did Senior come here? Beyond the surface reason. Our territory is small and not particularly noteworthy—there’s not much to gain by visiting.
“Hey, Senior. When you came here….”
I glanced at his calm face before speaking.
“Did you know this was our territory?”
Even as I asked, I regretted it.
“…”
Noah Senior seemed about to say something, his lips parting slightly.
“Miss, the guest room has been prepared.”
A knock sounded along with Rita’s voice. Perfect timing.
Unable to hide my relief, I sprang up like a spring.
“Let’s go!”
I stood and quickly ushered Senior toward the door.
“Rita will guide you to the room. Please rest comfortably, Senior.”
Taken aback by my sudden energy, Senior hesitated for a moment before obediently leaving the room.
“See you later.”
“Yes…! Yes.”
Senior glanced at me a couple of times before turning and walking away. Through the open door, his silver hair tied neatly swayed.
“Haah….”
Leaning against the closed door, I squatted down and sighed, then irritably picked up the red book that had caught my eye and tossed it aside.
This is such a pain, seriously.
While I was at the academy, our house dog, Roger, gave birth to puppies.
I wanted to stay by her side during the delivery, but oh well.
“Don’t chew on your sister’s clothes.”
Contrary to my worries, Roger and her five puppies were all healthy.
Sitting in the yard, I watched the tiny creatures moving nonstop.
Our father, who was currently talking with Linus, used to enjoy hunting when he was younger.
There was even a room filled with hunting rifles, and the dogs raised at the estate were retrievers, hounds, terriers—typical hunting breeds.
Now, because he’s busy, they’ve just been getting chubbier day by day.
I sighed while scratching the chin of one whining pup.
“I wish everyone in the world were as easy to understand as you guys.”
This was no misunderstanding. Noah Senior had changed.
What on earth was he thinking? Why was he suddenly being so kind? Why was he treating me well?
A certain possibility crossed my mind—but I quickly dismissed it. It made no sense.
“Ugh.”
Since the mages needed time to recover from travel fatigue, the actual subjugation of monsters would begin tomorrow.
Clicking my tongue, I muttered,
“I want to go too.”
It had been scary that day, but it was also my first time actually using offensive magic in practice, so it was fascinating.
Even though it was dangerous, it was also a bit fun.
I already had plenty of magic circles I’d developed that were gathering dust with no use.
If I was aiming for the Magic Tower, gaining this kind of experience wouldn’t be a bad thing.
I scratched Ben’s chin as he wagged his tail furiously and complained.
“I want to go, I want to go….”
“Go where?”
A familiar voice came from behind me. I turned around to see Noah Senior.
“Ah, Senior.”
I almost fell backward onto the dirt.
Holding Ben in my arms, I stood up.
“What brings you here?”
“The viscount asked me to come in for a meal.”
Senior pointed toward the manor and replied.
“Ah, time already.”
I checked the clock while holding the puppies and then looked back at him.
“Please go ahead. I’ll feed them and follow after.”
“Shall I help?”
“I’d appreciate it, but….”
Before I could finish, Senior had already picked up another puppy.
His movements were practiced. Had he handled animals a lot?
Well, since he offered, I shouldn’t be overly sensitive.
I shook my head and gathered the puppies.
Just then, I remembered that Ben had a separate food bowl and turned around.
“Ah, that one goes—”
The puppy in Senior’s arms stuck out its tongue and began licking his face. Sticky saliva smeared across his white cheek.
“Hey….”
That’s something even I haven’t gotten to experience yet.
…No, that’s not the point!
“Looks like he’s excited to meet someone new.”
I pretended to flick Ben on the forehead. He continued panting happily. Good grief.
“Let’s feed you too.”
As I called Ben, Roger, and the others over, a thought suddenly struck me.
Come to think of it, is it okay for a noble young master like him to be doing this? I’m only doing it because I like looking after them, but he’s a guest.
I turned to ask whether guests usually help with things like monster subjugation trips—but my concern quickly vanished.
Leaning against the manor wall, Senior was smiling at the dogs eating their food. His warm golden eyes sparkled in the midday sunlight.
He must really like animals.
…So cute. A cute person next to cute animals.
I found myself staring blankly at him.
“What are their names?”
“That one’s Ben, and those are Roger, Brown, and Paul.”
I quickly added while pointing at each one.
“I didn’t name them.”
“They’re cute.”
“Yeah, you are.”
As I watched Senior gently petting the puppies with a dazed expression, a thought crossed my mind.
He’s close with the tower lord, holds a high status, and his skill goes without saying. Doesn’t that make him kind of a key figure here?
“Senior. I… have a favor to ask.”
After organizing my thoughts, I hesitantly spoke, and Senior turned toward me.
“About the monster subjugation… could I join as well?”
I’ve gone and said it.
Feeling my heart pounding, I clenched my fists. After a moment of hesitation, Noah Senior finally spoke.
“That might be a bit difficult.”
“Pardon?”
He narrowed his brow slightly and looked at me.
“I want to tell you not to go because it’s dangerous, but if I say that, it might sound like I’m underestimating you.”
