Chapter 47
The Season of Farm Work
Back at the duke’s mansion, I kept banging my head.
I lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, then screamed and kicked the blanket and the wall. I only calmed down when Deriksha, tired of my noise, threw a pillow at me.
But when I tried to sleep, the thoughts circling my mind made my heart even heavier.
In the end, I got up and left the room. Maybe a walk would help me clear my mind.
A cold wind blew through the slightly open window. Feeling it hit me directly seemed to wake me up a little.
Yeah, I must have just been a little off. Tomorrow, I’ll be fine.
I’ll talk normally, face everyone, tease like always…
“Lily?”
The voice from behind startled me.
I calmed myself and looked toward it, then immediately frowned. The face I least wanted to see was right in front of me.
“……What’s wrong?”
Lu looked at me curiously as I pouted. I couldn’t speak, just pulled at my hair, then shut my eyes tightly and shouted,
“Why are you here!”
“……Because it’s in front of my room?”
Ah, damn it. I must have wandered here by habit.
I ended up squatting down. Seeing me sit down suddenly, Lu stepped closer, his voice filled with worry.
“Is something wrong?”
“Yes. Very. Seriously wrong.”
Even though Lu asked worriedly, I didn’t want to hear his voice. I covered my ears with both hands. All I heard was a muffled buzzing.
“What’s wrong?”
My hands were removed by someone. Squatting beside me, Lu’s purple eyes came into view. He gently brushed my messy hair.
“I’ll listen. Come to my room. Come on, get up.”
He held out his hand. I glared at him, feeling resentful.
His face was full of concern. Just a few days ago, I would have looked at him normally. Why did he suddenly look terrifyingly handsome?
I took his hand. The touch felt painfully warm.
“……I really hate you, Master.”
“I know.”
Lu smiled as if used to my insults and opened the door, still holding my hand.
He pulled out a chair at the tea table and poured warm tea into my cup.
“So, what’s the matter?”
I scowled and glared at him. Do you know how many times I’ve banged my head against the wall because of you?
Even as I glared, it was painful to meet his gaze, so I looked down. This is driving me crazy.
“I… want to quit.”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
Of course, he didn’t take me seriously. I buried my face in my hands.
“You’re handsome, Master…”
“……Thanks?”
Lu looked stunned but thanked me anyway. I shot him a glare through my fingers. Just seeing his violet eyes made me feel like I couldn’t breathe.
“Ugh…….”
I slammed my head on the table.
“……Lily?”
“Don’t call my name……”
Lu let out a nervous laugh. The more I buried my head, the more frustrated I felt.
Why do I have to go through this? I looked up at him in irritation. But meeting his face again made my anger fade, leaving only my pounding heart. I buried my head again.
“What’s wrong with you……”
He asked genuinely, worried, maybe even a little scared.
As I kept my head down, I felt warmth on my forehead. Lu had placed his hand between my head and the table.
The warmth made my face heat up immediately. I grabbed his hand with both of mine, then moved it to my cheek.
Lu flinched, looking embarrassed. I couldn’t help but laugh at the way he tried to cover his face.
“Please, you…”
He tried to speak but pressed his lips shut. He hurriedly pulled his hand away and hid his face.
“This is driving me crazy……”
Wow, I was just thinking the same thing.
Lu’s face was bright red. Seeing him more embarrassed than me calmed my heart a little.
“I’m a bit calmer now. Thanks.”
“Calmer? That’s all?”
He muttered, teasing me, and I shrugged.
“Master, I’m quick to realize things about myself.”
“You noticed?”
He teased as usual, and I smiled casually and nodded.
“Master.”
“Again?”
“Can I hold your hand?”
He looked at me blankly but held out his hand obediently. I laughed and took it.
I interlaced our fingers and looked at him.
“This feeling… isn’t so bad.”
He smiled softly and held my hand tighter.
“Not just me, huh?”
I didn’t understand, but it made me laugh.
Last night, there had been a strange atmosphere between us, but the next day, everything returned to normal.
I helped Lu get ready for school, as usual. The only difference was the uniform he was wearing.
“Why are you training at the palace all of a sudden?”
I asked while buttoning his coat. Lu wore the same knight uniform that Ria had worn when she became emperor.
“Because the emperor said so.”
Even he didn’t seem to know why.
Now that Lu had to take the third-year course at the academy, he was ordered by Ria to commute to the palace.
It was early graduation, which was good in some ways.
But putting a 16-year-old student in the knights? I had no idea what Ria was thinking.
“Ah, it’s misaligned.”
Lu’s hands paused while buttoning up the coat.
How can someone who can’t even button his uniform properly be trained? I muttered to myself and stepped closer.
I flicked his hands away and buttoned the coat for him.
After fastening the top button, I looked at his face. We’d never been this close before.
Last year, he was about my height, but now he had grown so much I had to look up to meet his eyes.
I stared at him, fascinated.
Lu noticed my gaze, turned his head, and stepped back. Then he grabbed the coat hanging on the bed and put it on.
“Why are you avoiding me?”
“What do you mean? I’m not avoiding you.”
Sure… His ears were red as usual. He continued getting dressed.
Watching him put on black gloves, I remembered a question I had forgotten. It was important, but I had been distracted by my feelings.
“Master, can I ask you a question?”
“When did you ask permission before?”
I asked politely. Having his permission, I felt safe to speak.
“Is it true that you have someone you like?”
Instead of an answer, the coat on his arm fell to the floor. Lu turned to me, eyes wide.
“……Huh?”
“You said it on the terrace. You met someone you like.”
His pupils shook violently. He had told me, but why was he acting surprised now?
I watched Lu’s confused expression without a word.
“No, Lily. I mean… uh,”
He tried to speak, but no proper sentence came out.
Seeing that proper conversation wouldn’t happen, I spoke first.
“I thought about it. Even thinking back on our conversation, I don’t understand…”
I crossed my arms and tilted my head. Lu’s expression stiffened.
“What don’t you understand?”
“Well, at first I understood literally. I asked you to meet a good person, right? So I thought friends or teachers could also count as a good person.”
“……What?”
Seeing him confused, I explained carefully.
“When I said to meet a good person, you answered that you had someone you liked. I didn’t know if the ‘someone you like’ meant love, or just a good person literally.”
At first, I thought Lu meant someone he had romantic feelings for. But after returning to the duke’s mansion, I kept thinking it over.
He had spent years clumsily clinging to me, blushing even when touching a girl. I couldn’t imagine him actually liking someone.
“……So, the conclusion?”
I smiled and answered,
“‘A good person’ doesn’t have to mean romantic feelings.”
“……I didn’t think you’d get it wrong, but I never imagined you’d interpret it that way.”
Lu glared at me with a deadpan expression. Really? I thought I had it right. His reaction made me doubt myself.
“Not right?”
“……Yeah, you’re correct, so figure it out yourself……”
He gave up talking to me. So I was right?
Relief replaced my earlier worry. I had been scared he actually liked someone else.
Dressed in the coat, Lu looked more mature than in the academy uniform.
While observing him, he glanced at me again.
He repeated my name, quietly serious:
“Lily.”
“Yes?”
“The someone I like… is you.”
“Oh, that’s a bit embarrassing.”
Well, I am a good person. I smiled proudly and scratched my cheek. Lu smiled along, then let out a deep sigh.
“What else could I hope for from you……”
Why was he teasing me again? He shook his head and teleported away. I stood alone in the empty room, tilting my head.
