Ch.150150. ····This is driving me insane.

“As expected, the Alphonse family’s tea is delicious….”

After returning to the mansion to rest, Casia Spear came running over.

With no other choice, I’m now in the reception room drinking tea with her.

When will the sun set?

Casia Spear said she would go sightseeing at the market with the knights in the evening, so I just need to endure a little longer, right?

I gave her a smile tinged with pretense.

“Haha, thank you.”

“…As I mentioned earlier, I already have someone I like. His name is Levan, a very manly person.”

That was the fifth time she had answered a question I hadn’t even asked.

Why on earth is she acting like this?

She shouldn’t have discovered that I am Levan, so is she trying to get some relationship advice?

I slightly avoided Casia Spear’s gaze as I spoke.

“Ah, congratulations.”

“He’s a wandering mercenary who led the Parseche and Cadrian families to victory in their war. You know how manly he is, right?”

“…Indeed, he sounds like an impressive person, just as you say.”

“Levan could easily handle the Dark Band members too. He would have taught them a lesson much faster than Selden Alphonse, don’t you think?”

This woman…

Why does she keep praising me twice?

Her hands holding the teacup are trembling, so she’s clearly nervous about something.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“Levan has a manly face too. Even though he might seem indifferent when he speaks, he’s actually very considerate.”

Casia Spear gives an irrelevant answer to my question.

I wondered if she might actually have a fever.

I placed my palm on her forehead and tilted my head in confusion.

“You don’t seem to have a fever…”

“W-what are you touching! This is exactly what I was afraid of. I clearly told you that I don’t like Selden Alphonse, but Levan!”

“Who said anything about that?”

“…Pardon?”

“I never thought that Casia Spear liked me, so why are you saying this?”

“W-well… because you’ve been so nice to me…”

What exactly have I done that was nice?

Is it because I beat up the “Dark Band” who tried to forcibly take her away?

I tilted my head repeatedly as I spoke.

“Are you confused because I punished the Dark Band members?”

“No, it’s because you made my heart race.”

“…Excuse me?”

“A-anyway, I don’t like Selden Alphonse romantically. I only have eyes for Levan.”

She seemed to have a screw loose somewhere.

When I was beating up the Dark Band members earlier, did I accidentally hit Casia Spear too?

With this relatively reasonable suspicion in mind, I continued.

“I punished the Dark Band members because they behaved disrespectfully in someone else’s territory.”

“But you said it was for me…?”

“Well, not entirely untrue. I needed your permission to have a legitimate reason.”

At that, Casia Spear’s face turned as red as a tomato.

“Ha! ‘Not entirely untrue,’ you say… No matter what you say, Selden Alphonse, I still like Levan!”

Ah…

She’s just filtering out what she wants to hear?

I took a deep breath to maintain my composure.

“I don’t like you either, Casia Spear.”

“…What?”

“I’m telling you that I have never had romantic feelings for you.”

While she is physically attractive, there’s the anxiety of not knowing what she might do next, and the princess syndrome worsened by men fawning over her since childhood.

Moreover, “Selden Alphonse” is no longer the troublemaker from the edge of the Eastern Continent whom everyone avoids, but a historical figure who stopped the monster wave.

Of course, since I’m not interested in fame, my score as a potential groom might be slightly lower, but I wouldn’t be satisfied with accepting Casia Spear as a bride.

Casia Spear slowly nods at my firm attitude, as if she had expected it.

“I know. I’m a bit confused myself because of my friend Elina and Levan, whom I like.”

“…I don’t understand what you’re saying at all.”

“I’m saying I need time to think. I want to decide after meeting Levan again.”

Casia Spear stands up after making one final incomprehensible statement.

I nodded with a bewildered expression at her polite farewell.

Creeeeak-! Thud-!

Alone in the reception room after she left.

I stared blankly at the closed door before letting out a quiet sigh.

“…Crazy woman.”

*

The next morning.

As soon as I entered the study, Denise, who had been waiting on the sofa, showed an urgent expression.

“Young master!!”

“W-what? How long have you been waiting?”

“I thought it would be impolite to go to your bedroom, so I got permission from Butler Padericks to wait in the study.”

“Since this early in the morning?”

“The early hour isn’t important—we have a serious problem!”

“Is it about Casia Spear?”

“Yes, she’s insisting on following me and causing a huge commotion!”

I sat on the opposite sofa and let out a short sigh.

“What do you mean she wants to follow you?”

“She says she wants to follow me to meet Levan. I tried to stop her, but it’s no use. What should we do?”

I thought she was talking nonsense yesterday, but is she really going to see Levan?

I am Levan!

“Why does she want to meet Levan?”

“She says once she meets him, her feelings will become clear.”

“Sigh…”

“It seems Lady Casia Spear likes Levan.”

“Me?”

“No, Levan.”

“I am Levan!”

Denise flinched in surprise and then continued with an “oops” expression.

“I-I’m sorry. I’ve been mentally separating you and Levan to avoid making mistakes with Casia Spear…”

“Sigh… why are you acting like this too?”

“…I’ll keep my mind straight.”

I looked at Denise with an utterly incomprehensible expression as I continued.

“No, how can she like Levan when she’s only met him once?”

“You mean you?”

“Yes! Me!! I am Levan!! Is this the time for wordplay!?”

“It’s just that you keep talking about Levan as if he’s someone else…”

Oh, my head.

Why does everyone who works under me end up like this…

I pressed my throbbing temples firmly with my fingers.

“Anyway, how are we going to resolve this?”

“That’s what I wanted to consult with you about, which is why I’ve been waiting since morning.”

“There’s a simple solution, so why are you worrying so much?”

“Really?”

With a composed expression, I crossed my arms firmly and raised my voice.

“If you go to the northern defense post, you’ll find a group camping there.”

“A camping group?”

“Didn’t Casia Spear tell you? They’re called the Dark Band.”

“D-do you mean the Dark Band has come to Lake territory?”

“Yeah, and among the Dark Band members, there’s a silly-looking guy named Elkan.”

Denise’s mouth fell open at my words.

“Elkan is… the leader of the Dark Band, isn’t he?”

“He’s the leader? No wonder he was acting so bold. Anyway, bring him here.”

“Bring him here?”

“Ha! Do you want me to repeat everything twice!?”

Denise flinched and left the study.

Shortly after, he returned with Elkan.

“I greet Selden Alphonse…”

“Yeah, did you sleep well? The grounds aren’t bad for sleeping, I suppose.”

“…I slept well, thanks to you.”

“Thanks to me? You sound a bit sarcastic because I beat you up yesterday.”

Denise was horrified at my words.

Of course, Elkan flinched in surprise and straightened his posture.

“N-no! I’m not being sarcastic! I slept comfortably thanks to Selden Alphonse. As the leader of the Dark Band, I express my gratitude on behalf of all members!”

I nodded with a somewhat satisfied expression.

“Good job. Now take Casia Spear with you. If she refuses to go, you may take her by force.”

I thought it was a simple problem.

If I hadn’t stopped the Dark Band yesterday, Casia Spear would have been forcibly taken away by them.

But.

Elkan’s expression was clearly different from yesterday.

“…I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”

“Is it because of yesterday? It’s fine, I promise I won’t interfere.”

“That’s not it. Baron Raden Spear has granted Lady Casia Spear permission to move freely for the time being.”

“W-what did you say!?”

“Our Dark Band has only been ordered to quietly follow Lady Casia Spear from behind.”

I jumped to my feet at Elkan’s words, veins bulging in my neck.

“But she’s someone you value so much! What if something happens to her!”

“…I apologize. We are merely following Baron Raden Spear’s orders. Lady Casia Spear is already aware of this fact.”

It felt like being hit on the back of the head with a sledgehammer.

I had dug my own grave.

I was desperately trying to figure out how to send Casia Spear away when—

Creeeeak-!

Casia Spear entered the study.

Her expression was excited, like a child.

“Denise, let’s hurry and go meet Levan!”

Denise’s face froze.

Then he slowly turned his gaze toward me.

“Would you like to come with us, young master…? Levan is a wonderful person, I’d be happy to introduce you…”

She’s asking me to go meet myself?

…This is driving me insane.