Chapter 39

Ｒｅa‍d ​ｏn ̃K&a;țＲeaɗｉnｇḈà​ｆe

The sky was filled with dark clouds.

It was so gloomy that it felt like rain could pour down at any moment.

Ed thought it seemed to reflect his own mood.

“Sigh…”

As Ed let out a sigh, Theodore spoke up beside him.

“Is something wrong?”

Even as he asked, Theodore had a feeling he knew what it was.

It must be about that girl, Lucy.

Otherwise, Ed, who was always so lively, wouldn’t be sighing like this.

Theodore’s guess was spot on.

“I gave Lucy flowers early this morning…”

Ed said in a gloomy voice.

“But she didn’t seem to like them much…”

“Hmm.”

Theodore nodded.

That seemed about right.

From what Theodore had seen of Lucy, she didn’t seem like the type to be thrilled about receiving flowers.

Even when they were looking at flowers in the garden before, Lucy had just had a blank expression.

“I thought all girls would love flowers…”

“Most girls do like flowers. But that girl…”

Theodore trailed off and scratched his head.

He, too, found it hard to guess what Lucy might like.

Did she even have anything she liked in the first place?

“When Ron gave her the necklace yesterday, she seemed to like it. She smiled.”

“Oh. Then maybe she likes material things?”

“Maybe. If that’s the case, what should I give her?”

“If she likes material things, then money might be better. Filling her hands with silver coins… or no, that might be a bit strange…”

Ed clutched his head.

“Ahh, I can’t beat Ron. Ron reads a lot, so he’s way smarter than me. He’ll definitely give her something she likes next time too. And he’ll win her heart. They’ll eventually get married, kiss, and have a baby…”

“Young Master.”

Theodore called out to Ed.

“Ron is over there…”

“Huh?”

Ed lifted his head.

Ron was visible up ahead.

He was walking alone, grinning to himself.

In his hand was a bouquet of flowers.

Roses, no less.

“Ah.”

Ed let out a relieved smile.

Just then.

“!”

Suddenly, Theodore drew his sword and stepped in front of Ed.

“Halt!”

Someone was approaching without making a sound.

It was an elderly man with graying hair.

“If you come any closer, I’ll use force.”

As Theodore issued the warning, the old man stopped.

Whether intentional or not, the old man had stopped just outside Theodore’s attack range.

Theodore, slightly tense, spoke up.

“I don’t recognize you. What’s your reason for approaching the Young Master?”

The old man said nothing.

He simply stared at something in his hand.

It looked like a compass.

After a moment, the old man nodded briefly and turned away.

He began to walk off.

Theodore shouted.

“Hey, identify yourself!”

The old man glanced back at Theodore.

His grayish-blue eyes.

For a moment, Theodore flinched.

A chill ran down his spine.

It felt like his body had frozen under that gaze.

Like prey facing a hunter, he couldn’t move.

The old man’s eyes fell on Theodore’s sword.

“…That’s a fine sword.”

His voice was rough, with a metallic edge.

That was all.

The old man walked away, and Theodore let out the breath he had been holding.

“…”

Sweat was already dripping down Theodore’s neck.

◈

“Ah. Thanks.”

Lucy said as she accepted the bouquet from Ron.

This was already the second one today. She had already received a bouquet from Ed earlier.

“I-I thought it would suit you…”

Ron stammered, but Lucy was already turning away.

She stepped into Ellie’s room and closed the door with a thud.

Ellie came running over.

“Did Ron give you this one?”

“Yeah…”

Lucy plopped the bouquet onto the table.

Almost like she was throwing it.

Ellie picked it up and carefully arranged the flowers in a vase.

“Hehe, they’re pretty. More roses.”

Ellie seemed to like flowers, but Lucy didn’t.

After all, you couldn’t eat flowers.

“Lucy, so who do you like?”

Ellie sidled up and asked.

“Between Ed and Ron.”

“Not really…”

In terms of looks, neither was bad.

Ed had a cute face, and Ron had a sharp one.

If they grew up like this, they’d both be quite handsome.

But that meant nothing to Lucy.

“But if you had to choose, whose baby would you want to have?”

“Baby…?”

For a moment, Lucy’s face darkened.

She knew all too well what it took to have a baby.

She didn’t want to imagine it.

Lucy decided to change the subject.

“Ellie, what about you?”

“Huh? Me?”

Ellie furrowed her brows slightly and pondered.

“I like guys like Amon or Darcan.”

“Those guys…”

For a moment, Lucy imagined it.

Ellie between a demon and an undead.

She didn’t want to imagine that either.

“Hey, Lucy…”

At that moment, Ellie grabbed Lucy’s hand.

“I… I need to go to the bathroom… Can you come with me?”

Ellie asked, fidgeting.

“Usually, the maids go with me, but now I want to go with you…”

“…”

Lucy hesitated for a moment but then nodded, thinking, ‘Why not?’

“Let’s go.”

“Thanks.”

Holding hands, they left the room and headed to the bathroom.

While Ellie took care of her business in the bathroom, Lucy glanced out the window.

The weather was overcast.

It looked like it was going to rain.

A lot.

“…It’ll be refreshing.”

Lucy muttered, and Ellie, blushing, softly replied, “Yeah.”

A short while later, Lucy and Ellie, still holding hands, stepped out of the bathroom.

But there was a bit of a commotion outside.

Guards were surrounding an old man.

“Who are you? Identify yourself.”

But the old man paid no attention to the guards and was staring straight at Lucy.

He was holding something in his hand.

Lucy glanced at what the old man was holding.

A compass.

Its surface was bright red, and the needle was trembling, pointing directly at Lucy.

“Found you…!”

The old man’s eyes gleamed as he spoke.

At the same time, the corners of his mouth stretched into a wide grin.

As if he were overjoyed.

“…?”

Lucy turned her head to look behind her.

Behind her was the bathroom.

“Ah.”

Lucy nodded as if she understood and quickly stepped aside.

It seemed the old man had been looking for the bathroom.

But even after Lucy moved aside, the old man continued to stare straight at her.

Thud—

He even took a step closer.

“Halt!”

The guards quickly drew their swords and blocked the old man.

Just then.

“What’s going on here?”

A commanding voice came from down the hallway.

Turning their heads, they saw Lord Leyton approaching with a group of knights.

“M-My Lord!”

The guards quickly saluted.

Lord Leyton nodded and asked again.

“What’s happening?”

“Well, a suspicious old man appeared…”

“A suspicious old man?”

“Yes, this old man right here… Huh?”

The guards tilted their heads in confusion.

“Where did he go?”

The old man, who had been right there a moment ago, had suddenly disappeared.

“He was definitely here just now…”

“Is that true, Ellie?”

Lord Leyton asked Ellie.

Ellie nodded.

“When we came out of the bathroom, there was someone here. A scary-looking old man, and he tried to approach Lucy.”

“Hmm.”

Lord Leyton looked at the knights.

“Find him immediately. We can’t let a suspicious person wander around the castle.”

“Understood.”

A few knights hurried off.

Lord Leyton crouched down in front of Ellie and asked,

“Ellie, is there anything you want to do for your father?”

“…?”

Ellie tilted her head, looking puzzled.

Lord Leyton’s expression turned slightly disappointed.

“You know, there’s something you always used to do for me…”

“Ah.”

Ellie seemed to realize something and giggled.

“I’m not going to do that anymore.”

“…Why?”

“I’m only going to do that with Lucy now.”

“Wh-what…?”

Lord Leyton looked at Lucy, shocked.

Feeling awkward, Lucy averted her gaze.

“B-but you always said you’d only do it with me…”

“Well, I’ll make an exception just for today.”

Ellie stood on her tiptoes and kissed Lord Leyton on the cheek.

A happy smile spread across Lord Leyton’s face.

“Hoho.”

Lord Leyton hugged Ellie tightly and rubbed his cheek against hers.

Ellie giggled and squirmed.

After a while, Lord Leyton let her go and said,

“Ellie, do you know what day it is today?”

“What day is it?”

“Today’s the day you get to see your mother.”

“Ah, really!”

A bright smile spread across Ellie’s face.

Lord Leyton’s expression turned slightly bittersweet as he looked at her.

“…Go and get ready. You should look your best since it’s been so long. Your brothers are already preparing.”

“Okay! Let’s go, Lucy!”

Ellie grabbed Lucy’s hand and dashed back to her room.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
He is not helping his allegations…