Chapter 18
After a brief silence, Lu seemed to quickly understand the situation. Then, with a voice full of disbelief and irritation, he shouted at Chris.
“What are you doing! Bringing someone along while I’m preparing for the ball!”
“You can skip one day of the ball, can’t you?”
Chris said casually. Unlike someone who just dragged Lu along, he seemed shamelessly bold.
Lu’s words were true—he was already dressed in a tuxedo. His hair, usually covering his forehead, was a messy tangle, probably from being pulled here while having it styled.
Wow… at least he got ready before bringing him…
I gave Lu a sympathetic glance.
“The maids are going to be surprised! How could you bring someone without any explanation?!”
“Eh, they’ll probably just think it’s a kidnapping~ Don’t worry too much!”
“That’s exactly the problem!”
Lu, still angry, suddenly looked around, realizing something.
Ah, right, this is the street.
Luckily, there wasn’t even an ant in sight. Lu finally relaxed and sighed.
“I don’t know… For now, at least give me a hood to cover my face.”
“Here!”
Chris handed Lu a hood as if he had been waiting for this moment. I wondered where he pulled it out from—it was almost magical.
Grumbling, Lu pulled the hood over his head. Watching him, I suddenly realized something.
Ah, thank goodness. My neck always hurt from trying to meet the gaze of taller people, but Lu was much shorter than Demian and Chris, so it was easy to meet his eyes.
Feeling comforted by the easier sightline, I quietly spoke to Lu.
“Young master, I’ve missed you.”
It was surprising how reassuring it was to have someone shorter than me.
Lu lifted his head sharply. His expression was hidden under the hood, but he seemed surprised. He moved his lips slightly, then pressed them together while rubbing the back of his neck.
“Alright… Well, since you’re here, I’ll take you to a few places.”
Lu suddenly spoke with a completely different attitude.
Why did his mood suddenly change?
Chris, hearing Lu, smiled and gave me a thumbs-up. I ignored Chris, not understanding him, and followed Lu.
“Um, Lily…”
From behind came Demian’s slightly somber voice. I stopped and looked at him. He looked down and spoke quietly.
“Can I… also wear a hood…?”
He looked tired somehow. Honestly, I’d feel the same if I were the only one showing my face among hooded people. I patted Demian’s back.
You’ve had a hard time being with these strange people…
After Demian also received a hood from Chris, the four of us headed to a restaurant recommended by Lu.
“W-Welcome…!”
The waiter, who tried to greet us cheerfully, flinched. Seeing a group of hooded people walk in, it was understandable.
I nodded, understanding their surprise.
The waiter led us to a secluded corner. From there, we could see the whole restaurant.
The restaurant had the feel of a family restaurant from modern times, with neat wooden tables and red sofas.
Lu, studying the menu, picked the dishes skillfully.
“A lunch set, beef stew, and two beef cutlets… Will that be enough? Do you want more?”
Watching Lu order so smoothly, I shook my head in admiration. Since we’d eaten at the mansion beforehand, we wouldn’t need much.
After the waiter left, I looked around. People were chatting and sharing food, and it made me strangely cheerful.
“It’s amazing. Mercenaries at wooden tables, not just huge meat dishes like I imagined.”
“Right. Every commoner restaurant I’ve been to was like that!”
Demian nodded vigorously. Lu smiled at us and explained.
“The area near the duke’s estate is well developed, second only to the capital. Even commoner restaurants are usually this nice.”
This empire wasn’t at all like the fantasy I imagined. But it wasn’t bad. For me, places like this felt more comfortable. That even commoner restaurants were this luxurious showed how rich this empire was.
“Your lands must be really rural too. I thought places like that were mostly gone.”
Lu said to Demian, who laughed awkwardly.
“Our lands are very poor.”
“Oh, so Demian is a noble too?”
Chris asked in surprise. I felt shocked, but Demian smiled calmly.
“Yes! A poor baron, but still a noble. As for you… um, what should I call you…?”
Demian looked unsure about how to ask Chris something. Time to hide their status.
Chris cheerfully asked,
“How old are you?”
“14…”
“Then just call me brother!”
Demian, without suspicion, smiled brightly and nodded. Our next gaze turned to Lu. Being near the duke’s estate, Lu would also need a fake name.
I glanced and whispered,
“…Emily?”
“No…”
Demian said quietly.
“Even if they are the same person… in my memory, they remain someone else…”
A sad, wistful statement. Lu chuckled awkwardly at Demian. I watched them curiously.
But the reaction came from an unexpected person.
“…What?”
Chris spoke without humor. Only I could hear him from across the table. Demian didn’t hear.
“Lu and Emily are the same person… but even knowing it’s Lu, I don’t want to call them Emily. The Emily I remember is gone…”
“Don’t say creepy things.”
Lu interrupted Demian firmly. Looks like first love lingers stubbornly.
I glanced at Chris. Usually playful, his smile was gone. His serious voice drew everyone’s attention.
“You… seem like we’d get along really well!”
Chris said brightly while holding Demian’s hand tightly.
What? Chris was acting strangely, even for him. I blinked and suddenly realized something, covering my mouth.
“Could it be… His Highness likes Emily too…?”
“Be quiet.”
Lu glared at me. I quietly closed my mouth.
After leaving the restaurant, Chris stayed excitedly close to Demian, talking nonstop.
“I wonder… why is His Highness like that?”
I asked Lu, walking beside him. He shook his head, unsure.
“I’ve known him for years, but I never know what he’s thinking.”
“You’ve known His Highness a long time?”
“Yes, since he was a baby. You can tell by how freely Odin treats him.”
I remembered seeing Odin grab Chris by the collar a few days ago. They were closer than I thought.
In the original story, the male lead and sub-male lead became irreparably hostile. But since they were friends from childhood, Chris must be like a brother to Odin.
Odin, as a minor duke, usually guarded his behavior carefully. Seeing him freely grabbing Chris, it meant Chris could act naturally around him.
I silently resolved again to keep Chris from mixing with Deriksha too much.
“So you must have seen him every year.”
“Yes… except last year.”
Lu paused, remembering something. I looked at him curiously.
“Last year, I never saw him. He didn’t attend the academy… According to Ria, he stayed in his room.”
Lu trailed off, tilting his head as if suddenly curious.
“Brother!”
Lu called out, and Chris, walking far ahead, looked back.
Lu hurried to Chris and asked,
“What did you do, staying in your room all of last year?”
Demian, shoulder-to-shoulder with Chris, looked surprised. Staying in a room almost the whole year? Even I, who dislike going out, couldn’t do that.
Chris suddenly became serious.
“Actually…”
We waited, focused.
“I tried researching dark magic… but I failed.”
“Hmm, I thought it was useless.”
Lu waved his hand, satisfied. Chris laughed mischievously again and pulled Demian forward.
“That’s that kind of guy.”
I nodded. Chris clearly wasn’t entirely sane.
