Why would he depart his personal home and change into a knight in ours? It was an incomprehensible stream of thought.

“I wish to be with Lucy once I develop up.”

We may nonetheless be collectively even when it wasn’t this manner.

Actually, the best way I felt proper now, I felt that I used to be going to be associates with Liel for the remainder of my life, so long as he didn’t flip evil and attempt to kill me.

“I’m stunned you’re so excessive.”

“Actually?”

Liel was nonetheless nonchalant.

“However are you able to try this? Received’t the Duke object?”

“Why? He has no cause to object.”

M, possibly.

Come to think about it, possibly he would. There have been already Knights within the Duke’s family, and there have been sufficient of them.

Usually, Imperial legislation restricted the variety of personal troopers every noble may have.

However since Liel was a member of the Ducal Home, it will be troublesome for Home Marsen to create any extra knights.

Nonetheless, making a knighthood in our close-knit household could be useful in some ways, together with empowering Dioleta when she turns into a duchess.

It was a little bit of a cop-out, to be sincere, however there have been fairly just a few households I knew who had connections to a number of knighthoods on this means.

“Liel, you’re utilizing your head, aren’t you?!”

This fashion, when Liel graduates from the academy and returns to the ducal residence, he gained’t be below the scrutiny of the duchess.

Intelligent.

I heartily applaud Liel’s sensible plan.

“I’m certain unnie can be delighted, she’ll be so pleased with you.”

“……? Lucy, I believe you’re misunderstanding one thing.”

“Huh? What?”

“I’m not utilizing your loved ones to please noona.”

He stated with a puzzled look on his face.

The best way I stated it made his honest intentions sound very cowardly.

“I do know. I don’t assume you’re utilizing my household both.”

I patted him on the shoulder to reassure him to not fear. Nonetheless, Liel’s face confirmed no signal of stress-free.

He even threw the bread he’d been holding down onto the desk. Bread crumbs scattered haphazardly round.

Taking part in with meals will get you punished, you punk.

“I advised you I solely wished to do it as a result of I wished to be with you.”

“Huh? Yeah. I do know that.”

He stated it earlier.

I blinked, picked up the bread mendacity in a heap on the desk, and introduced it again to his mouth. He opened his mouth with a sullen expression and took a chew.

Gulp—

Liel swallowed the bread in his mouth.

“I’m going to ……stick by your aspect till I die.”

I may see the sincerity in his eyes.

Why was he so excessive earlier?

It was an depth that frightened me to listen to.

(T/N: Lucy, it’s since you’re dense ಥ_ಥ)

*** 

Opposite to my worries, Liel didn’t comply with his teacher this trip.

Not solely that, however he took a break from coaching and got here house with me.

For the primary time since he enrolled, he was given a break.

“Grandma!”

As quickly as I acquired again to the mansion, the very first thing I did was run to my grandmother’s workplace.

“Lucy, are you house?”

“Sure, Grandma, and he’s right here with me at present!”

“Actually? The one who precipitated my grandchild a lot hassle got here on his personal initiative?”

Grandma’s voice was stuffed with mischief. Though she didn’t say it, I may inform that she was very frightened about Liel.

Till then, Liel hadn’t come out of behind the wall.

“…….”

I walked as much as him and tugged at his hand as if to inform him to return out. Then, as if he didn’t wish to come out, he strained his physique and stated.

“……Marquis, are you mad?”

Liel’s voice trembled barely, as if he had been fooled by the outdated lady’s prank.

“Liel, if you wish to ease my anger, don’t you assume the very first thing it’s best to do is change that stiff title and guarantee me that you’re protected?”

Earlier than I may reply, my grandmother spoke up and scolded Liel.

At first I assumed she was simply joking, however this time she sounded actually emotional.

Was she actually indignant?

I clamped my mouth shut and seemed between Grandma and Liel.

“G, Grandma…….”

Liel leaned ahead. He shortly modified her title. Grandma checked out him with a stern look.

‘I assumed she was joking, however is she actually indignant……? In any case, her arms are nonetheless bending inward*…….. If I had identified, I’d have been secretly frightened…….’

(T/N: *To aspect with somebody who’s near oneself or favor one thing that’s associated to oneself to at least one’s personal benefit)

I swallowed laborious and regretted my habits previously, worrying about Liel greater than crucial.

“I haven’t seen you in so lengthy I virtually forgot your face. It’s been virtually two years, come right here.”

She gestured for him to return nearer. I all of the sudden realized that the wrinkles on her palms have been darker and thicker than earlier than.

“I’m sorry…….”

Liel lengthened his phrases.

Liel, who had been so brazen with me, was scared to loss of life of being scolded by my grandmother.

I don’t know why, however I’m fairly certain I used to be shocked.

“If you happen to’re sorry, may you please give this outdated girl a hug?”

Grandma opened her arms as if to ask him to return nearer. Her stern expression was gone, changed by an affectionate smile.

“…….”

Liel glanced at me. I nodded as a substitute of answering. Then Liel slowly approached my grandmother and bent all the way down to her peak.

His actions have been unnatural, as if he was uncomfortable hugging an grownup.

I watched them embrace, after which I stamped my foot and bounced up and down.

“Grandma, I’m subsequent!”

I need a hug too!

I threw my palms up within the air, and Grandma laughed out loud.

Trip had solely simply begun, however this one felt a lot happier than the final one.

***

This winter was notably snowy. As I used to be staggering alongside, my hat fell on the snow.

I picked up my hat and shook off the snow. I exhaled, and a white puff of breath scattered within the air.

It was the center of winter, and it was chilly.

The scarf round my shoulders was no match for the coolness.

If I had identified it will be like this, I’d have worn a shawl and earmuffs.

“Is it chilly?”

Liel, strolling forward of me, requested, seemingly unaffected by the chilly.

His footprints have been deeply rutted on the trail.

So I picked out his footprints and stepped into them. That means, my ft didn’t fall into the snow as I walked on the snow-covered floor.

“No, I’m okay.”

I’d solely stated 5 syllables, however my breath was coming in ragged gasps, so I wiped with the again of my hand my nostril, questioning if it was runny.

“Only a few steps additional.”

At the same time as he stated that, he didn’t transfer to my aspect, simply overlaying my hand along with his massive one, sharing his heat.

“Shouldn’t you’ve gotten introduced some flowers? It’s winter, I ought to have introduced some synthetic flowers.”

Not lengthy after the beginning of the holiday, Liel all of the sudden introduced that he wished to go to the home the place he lived along with his mom earlier than coming to the ducal residence.

To be sincere, I used to be slightly stunned.

He hadn’t seemed for any hint of his mom, or to be extra exact, he hadn’t thought to convey up any reminiscences of her.

So when he talked about his mom for the primary time in a very long time, I couldn’t assist however ask if I may go along with him.

After all, I used to be prepared to surrender if he stated no.

Luckily, he didn’t appear to thoughts my firm. He truly thanked me for the supply.

Thank goodness. I didn’t barge in tactlessly.

“Overlook it, she* doesn’t like flowers.”

(T/N: *This half is difficult, since Liel stated: “됐어. 꽃 싫어하잖아.” there isn’t a pronoun used, I simply put a ‘she’ alone right here to finish the sentence. Liel didn’t say if it’s him (Liel) or his mom who doesn’t like flowers)

Who? His mom?*

(T/N: *Making Lucy ask one thing like this in her head.)

(PS: That’s why translating Korean might be complicated for me, who’s not native nor proficient but ಥ_ಥ)

“We’re right here.”

Earlier than I may ask, Liel introduced their arrival.

I lifted my gaze from the ground, trying to find footprints, and seemed straight forward.

A small mansion that seemed prefer it may have fallen down at any second was buried within the snow.

Any extra snow and the roof would collapse below the load.

“That is the final place my mom and I lived.”

He stated, reaching for the doorknob.

I puzzled if the door would ever open.

Quack—

On the similar time, I heard the sound of skinny picket planks breaking. To be exact, it was the sound of the doorknob breaking.

I seemed up at Liel with a questioning look on my face. However, the one who pulled the doorknob off didn’t look stunned in any respect.

He seemed so nonchalant that you just’d assume I used to be the one who broke the door.

“C, can we do that?”

“Nobody lives right here, so it’s okay.”

No, greater than that, this can be a place of reminiscences, the place he and his mom used to stay collectively.

“It’s actually okay, we’re solely coming at present and by no means coming again.”

“…….”

What the hell had occurred to him?

After coming back from his extermination mission, he would generally get misplaced in thought with out warning. After I requested him what was incorrect, he would simply snigger at me. Subsequently, I needed to ask a few times then surrender.

Solely at present did I notice why he was appearing so unusual.

Perhaps he had been eager about whether or not he ought to come right here or not.

My selfishness led me to attract conclusions concerning the ideas in his head.

In fact, Liel’s temper was too subdued to ask him for particulars, so I had no alternative however to invest.