Chapter 36

Ｒｅａｄ ｏｎ ​ＫａｔＲｅ​ａｄｉｎ​ｇＣａｆｅ

The moment Ron saw Lucy step out of Ellie’s room, he momentarily stopped breathing.

The sunlight streaming through the window illuminated Lucy brightly.

Her white hair cascaded softly over her delicate shoulders.

The bold yet elegant red dress.

Her translucent skin was so clear it seemed you could see through it.

Her mesmerizing eyes, shining through her lashes, reminded him of rubies.

“…”

Ron’s heart began to beat in a way it never had before.

The word “beautiful” wasn’t enough to describe Lucy now.

She was ethereal.

“Ron, you dropped your book.”

Ellie spoke beside him, but Ron didn’t hear her.

Ron knew exactly what he was feeling.

It was ‘love’.

At least, in Ron’s world, that’s what this emotion was called.

Ron cautiously stepped forward.

Thud—

Like a butterfly drawn to a flower, he moved toward Lucy.

Time seemed to slow down.

“Ron…?”

“Ron…?”

Ed and Ellie called out to him from the side, but Ron didn’t hear them.

No, he chose not to.

All of Ron’s senses were focused solely on Lucy.

“?”

Lucy also tilted her head, looking at Ron with a puzzled expression.

Her face, filled with curiosity, was dazzlingly beautiful.

Like a sweet poison, it paralyzed Ron’s rationality.

At that moment, Ron made a vow.

He would make this witch his.

If he could, he would gladly take the risk.

Ron solemnly moved his lips closer.

And then—

Thud—!

He was knocked unconscious by Lucy’s punch.

◈

“…”

Theodore froze in place.

What just happened?

The moment Lucy stepped out of Ellie’s room, Ron’s expression had gone completely blank.

Ron stared at Lucy with a dazed look, as if he had been enchanted.

Theodore stifled a laugh.

‘…He’s fallen for her.’

It seemed Ron had been captivated by Lucy’s beauty.

Theodore could understand.

Lucy, who had been dressed in plain clothes before, now looked completely different.

The bold, striking red dress dramatically enhanced her beauty, and her white hair tied in twin tails added an extra layer of cuteness.

She was perfect.

If even Theodore felt a pang in his heart, how much more so would it have been for Ron, who was the same age as her?

It wasn’t just Ron—Ed was the same.

Ed, too, seemed frozen in place, unable to take his eyes off Lucy.

Thud—

Then, Ron took a step toward Lucy.

His eyes were still dazed.

Theodore sensed something unusual but remained silent, thinking it couldn’t be anything serious.

Unlike the emotional Ed, Ron was a very rational boy.

Ron knew how to control his emotions and always acted cautiously.

That’s why Theodore let his guard down.

He never expected Ron to suddenly try to kiss Lucy.

However, Ron didn’t succeed.

The moment Ron moved in, Lucy swung her fist.

Thud—!

Lucy’s punch landed squarely on Ron’s chin, and he collapsed, unconscious.

At that moment, Theodore noticed something.

Ed was smiling with relief as he watched Ron fall without achieving his goal.

In any case, Theodore checked Ron’s condition.

Fortunately, Ron didn’t seem seriously hurt. His jaw wasn’t dislocated, and his teeth were intact.

Theodore quickly picked up the unconscious Ron.

He needed to move Ron before anyone saw the scene.

If someone saw, it would be trouble.

A commoner girl knocking out a noble?

If Lord Leyton found out, he wouldn’t let it slide.

There was such a thing as noble authority, and he would surely punish Lucy in some way.

But that wasn’t the only problem.

The moment this incident became known, Ron’s reputation would take a huge hit.

Not only had he tried to kiss a commoner girl without permission, but he had also been knocked out by her punch.

It was disgraceful.

There was no greater shame.

That’s why the most appropriate action now was to quickly move Ron before anyone saw.

◈

“…”

Ron slowly opened his eyes.

He saw a quaintly decorated ceiling.

‘Where am I…?’

It didn’t seem like his room.

Ron sat up and looked around.

The room was entirely decorated in pink, filled with dolls.

‘This is…’

Ellie’s room.

But why had he woken up in Ellie’s room?

As he pondered this, his chin throbbed.

At the same time, Ron realized.

Why he was lying here.

“…”

Ron’s face turned bright red.

‘Wh-what was I thinking…!’

He had fallen for Lucy and tried to kiss her without permission.

Then, he was knocked out by Lucy’s punch.

That was his last memory.

‘I-I’ve lost my mind…’

Ron clenched his fist, trembling slightly.

He was ruined.

How was he supposed to face Lucy now?

What about Ed and Ellie?

He was too embarrassed to lift his head.

“Ron, are you awake?”

A voice called out.

Turning his gaze, Ron saw Ed standing by the window.

“Ed…”

“Are you feeling okay?”

“Yeah… Uh, where’s Lucy…?”

“She went to the garden with Ellie.”

“Ah, I see…”

Silence fell.

Ron spoke again.

“Ed… I… I…”

“It’s okay.”

Ed said.

“It was a mistake.”

Ed’s face wore the same gentle smile as always.

“Just don’t do it again, alright?”

“…”

Ron didn’t answer and just lowered his head.

A mistake.

Was it really a mistake?

Yes, it definitely was.

He shouldn’t have chosen that approach.

He should’ve won Lucy’s heart first.

Kissing her could’ve come later.

It was indeed a mistake.

Ron nodded.

“…I won’t do it again.”

“Good, Ron.”

Ed smiled brightly.

“You’ve made the right decision.”

While Ron was unconscious, Ellie said to Lucy,

“Lucy, let’s go to the garden. There are so many flowers I want to show you.”

“Go ahead, Lucy. I’ll take care of Ron.”

Since Ed said so, Lucy followed Ellie to the garden.

There, she looked at all the flowers Ellie showed her.

Not that Lucy knew much about flowers or was particularly interested, so she didn’t feel much.

Lucy’s hair, which had been tied in twin tails, was now styled into an updo by Ellie.

“Hehe, Lucy, every hairstyle suits you. You were cute earlier, but now you’re beautiful!”

Ellie looked at Lucy with great satisfaction.

“The dress really suits you too. I think I can understand why Ron fell for you.”

At that, Lucy gave an awkward smile.

She remembered how Ron had suddenly tried to kiss her.

At the time, without thinking, Lucy had punched Ron in the chin, and he had fainted.

Lucy felt a little sorry for Ron.

She hadn’t meant to hit him that hard.

She should apologize later.

“Lucy.”

Ellie tapped Lucy.

“Look at me.”

Lucy absentmindedly turned her head, and at that moment, she felt a soft touch on her lips.

Ellie had kissed Lucy.

“…”

Lucy’s eyes widened, and Ellie giggled, her face turning red.

“I did what Ron tried to do.”

“Ellie…”

Lucy reached out and pinched Ellie’s cheek.

She pulled it, stretching Ellie’s cheek.

“If you kiss someone so casually…”

Just then.

“Lucy! Ellie!”

Ed came running from a distance.

“Ron’s awake. He seems fine, thankfully. He went to his room and is coming to the dining hall now. Let’s go eat!”

Come to think of it, it was mealtime.

Lucy nodded immediately.

Now that the flowers were done, she wanted to eat as soon as possible.

That was the main reason she had come to the castle, after all.

A short while later, Lucy arrived at the dining hall.

Ron was already there, waiting.

“?”

Lucy tilted her head when she saw Ron.

Ron looked completely different from before.

He had slicked his hair back with some product and changed into a formal suit-like outfit.

He was dressed up just like Ed.

But that wasn’t all.

“Lucy, take this.”

Ron held something out to Lucy.

It was a small jewelry box.

Lucy took the box and opened it.

Inside was a radiant ruby necklace.

“I’m sorry about earlier.”

Ron said.

“That necklace is an apology gift. I bought it with my allowance back in the capital, but I don’t need it anyway…”

Ron, who had been speaking confidently, gradually hunched his shoulders and lowered his gaze.

“I… I thought about giving it to someone special someday… Lucy, I think it would suit you…”

By the end, his voice was barely audible.

“P-please accept it…”

“Thank you.”

Lucy smiled faintly.

“And I’m sorry about earlier too.”

“…!”

Instantly, Ron’s face turned as red as if it were about to explode.

Ron mumbled, “It’s okay”, and quickly sat down at the table.

Beside him, Ellie pouted.

“Ron, you said no when I asked for this necklace!”

But soon, she smiled as she looked at Lucy.

“But I approve if it’s for Lucy! It’ll really suit her! Lucy, let me put it on you!”

Ellie fastened the necklace around Lucy’s neck, and Ron kept glancing at her.

Just then.

“…Ron, what are you doing?”

A chilling voice came.

Ron turned his head.

“This contradicts what you said earlier…!”

Beside him, Ed was glaring at him with a murderous expression.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
They are all kids.

Please be mindful of what you say…