Chapter 188: The Blazing Hearth (4)

For Lucia, Shiron felt extra like a good friend than a brother.

Over the previous ten years, Lucia had relied closely on Shiron, however she had by no means known as him brother, and Shiron had by no means instantly considered Lucia as his little sister.

Nonetheless, they each thought-about one another household. In contrast to Shiron, Lucia meant to verify with Glen whether or not she was his actual daughter, however even when that wasn’t the case, dwelling and consuming collectively in the identical home made them household, proper?

They nonetheless confronted one another day by day, sharing meals and numerous tales—a way of peaceable satisfaction she couldn’t have felt earlier than her reincarnation. Lucia hoped this relationship would proceed.

So, when Shiron talked about the phrase “engagement,” Lucia was shocked sufficient to doubt if it was acceptable.

“…Engagement?”

Lucia requested, her voice feigning calmness. Luckily, her voice sounded as traditional. She didn’t know why she was fearful, however a deep internal voice screamed to behave regular, and so, Lucia managed to face Shiron with none obvious misery.

“Sure.”

“…Does Siriel know? That woman by no means hinted something to me.”

“Siriel doesn’t know both. Solely you and Woman Eldrina are conscious of this engagement.”

“Mom too… Why?”

Lucia felt a heaviness in her chest. It was turning into more durable to maintain her voice regular, however towards her will, she blurted out.

“Nicely, Woman Eldrina was the one who proposed it first.”

“…”

“After I went to introduce Latera a yr in the past, she was the one who introduced it up first. It appears she had been making ready for a very long time. I’m unsure if Siriel is aware of or not.”

“I see…”

Lucia weakly responded, bowing her head deeply.

If it was true that Eldrina had proposed first, then there was no must carry up Siriel. Lucia knew that Siriel liked Shiron even earlier than Siriel had impulsively kissed him.

Lengthy earlier than that, Siriel had boldly proven uncommon affection in direction of Shiron, which was obvious to anybody not fully oblivious.

She had fearful they could find yourself marrying sometime, however Lucia herself hadn’t anticipated to really feel this choked up when really going through the state of affairs.

Whereas she was deep in thought, Shiron checked out Lucia along with his traditional expression.

“So, do you could have time this week?”

“Time? I’ve loads. Exams are nonetheless far off, and I don’t have plans with anybody else.”

“Good. Then, let’s go someplace collectively.”

“…The place to?”

Lucia requested cautiously, to which Shiron nonchalantly replied,

“Nightreil.”

“Why there?”

“I feel it’s time to settle some money owed. It wouldn’t be proper for somebody engaged to have money owed.”

“You… had money owed?”

“Not a lot.”

He hadn’t checked the invoice, however he was positive it was nicely over 50 million shillings—a staggering quantity even for somebody accustomed to the monetary sensibilities of the higher class.

‘I ought to deal with this quickly.’

Attributable to his father’s recklessness, he had incurred a debt of 500 million in a earlier life… He knew too nicely how disagreeable it was to have undesirable money owed due to household.

“Why? What’s been robust? One other troublesome state of affairs?”

Gracie moved to take a seat beside Lucia. Lucia, who normally by no means complained about difficulties, wasn’t combating with Siriel, so what might be troubling her a lot? Gracie’s curiosity was piqued.

“Sigh…”

Lucia sighed closely, burdened with worries and troubles. Although it felt a bit dramatic, she desperately wanted somebody to speak to, and Gracie was at all times a supportive good friend.

“Gracie, can I ask you one thing?”

“Huh? Ask me something.”

“Have you ever… ever been engaged?”

“Why? Did your loved ones stress you into an engagement? Who’s it? Is he good-looking?”

“Oh, no? You’re actually stirring the pot!”

Lucia’s face turned brilliant crimson, and he or she grimaced.

“I’m simply curious. Simply reply the query.”

“Yeah, I used to be. Simply the same old approach.”

“Actually?”

“Why would I misinform you? I at all times put on my engagement ring.”

Didn’t she discover? Gracie waved her left hand in entrance of Lucia, revealing a easy silver ring, too modest to be thought-about an engagement ring by most.

“That’s your engagement ring?”

“What else would it not be? Should you suppose it’s too plain, you’re asking for hassle.”

Maybe it was Lucia’s flustered expression, however Gracie spoke sternly for as soon as.

“This will look easy, however my love made it for me ten years in the past.”

“…Ten years?”

Wouldn’t that imply she was solely eight years previous?

An engagement at eight appeared like a frightening dedication. She may need barely been studying to write down at that age, not to mention be engaged, but the love had remained unchanged over the previous ten years. Lucia held her tongue.

“Are you aware what he mentioned again then? ‘I can solely provide you with this now, however I’ll ensure your marriage ceremony ring is gorgeous!’”

“I really feel such as you’re turning into a stranger.”

Lucia struggled to reconcile this revelation about her good friend’s personal life, discovering it surprisingly unsettling. Gracie had by no means talked about having a fiancé, particularly one from when she was eight.

‘What was I doing again then?’

It hadn’t been that lengthy. Wasn’t she kidnapped by a red-haired man who all of the sudden appeared, then locked in a fortress stuffed with demons, the place she had punched Shiron within the photo voltaic plexus?

‘…No unusual childhood, certainly.’

Lucia shuddered on the reminiscence of her charmless childhood. Was it then that it occurred?

“Ms. Lucia, Ms. Gracie.”

Each turned in direction of the voice.

“…?”

A neatly dressed man, the assistant of Professor Reynold, who taught “Exploration and Interpretation of Mana Essence,” stood earlier than them.

“May you spare a second?”