Chapter 8
After silently tying off the handkerchief, Ian retrieved the shoes she had taken off and put them on her feet before rising.
Liria held out both hands for him to help her up.
Clicking his tongue softly, he pulled Liria smoothly to her feet.
All while making sure she didn’t fall or put any weight on her injured foot.
“You like me, don’t you?”
“No.”
“Then are you planning to like me?”
“No.”
“Is there a chance you’ll like me?”
“None.”
Even in the face of his firm answers, Liria wasn’t discouraged.
Perhaps because she had just clearly felt the kindness that seeped through his actions.
Her baseless confidence grew and grew.
“I’m going to make every single thing you just said turn into the exact opposite. Just wait and see!”
“Watch by yourself.”
Ian lightly furrowed his brow, walked past Liria, and strode off the terrace.
Leaving his jacket right where it was, draped over Liria’s shoulders.
* * *
If she had her way, Liria wanted to trail Ian everywhere and actively appeal to him.
But because of the consequences of her past behavior, she had no choice but to work behind the scenes.
‘Did you hear? Ducal Lady Devlin was rejected by His Highness the Crown Prince, so now she’s changed targets to the Imperial Prince!’
The rumor that she had chosen the Imperial Prince in place of the Crown Prince, essentially treating him as a substitute, could disgrace not only Liria but Ian as well.
Because it had become difficult to even meet Ian face-to-face, Liria began sending him letters.
Lots of them. Every single day, without fail.
「 To Your Highness
Hello, this is Liria Devlin.
I was wondering how you’ve been lately, so I thought I’d write and ask how you’re doing.
I’ve been reading every morning. I used to read at night, but I kept falling asleep halfway, so (…)
I also recently picked up a new hobby (…)
Oh, and yesterday I went to my usual dessert place. If I were to tell you all about it (…)
So, what are you doing right now, Your Highness?
I’m wondering whether you’ve eaten, whether you’ve had a snack, how training went, whether you like me, whether you’ve been sleeping well, whether you’re handsome again today (…)
I’m curious about all of it!
If there’s anything you’re curious about regarding me, Your Highness, please ask. I’ll answer everything!
Sincerely,
Liria Devlin 」
Ian’s replies to Liria’s letters, which were packed full without even leaving room in the margins, were always one of two things.
「 Nothing. 」
Or.
「 No. 」
When she pouted and asked him to write something a little longer, she once received the following reply.
「 Is
this
long
enough? 」
…He really isn’t an easy man.
Liria was deep in thought, wondering what she should do now that seducing him through letters seemed impossible and she would probably have to settle things face-to-face, when an unexpected opportunity presented itself.
“Ducal Lady Devlin, heed my command and depart for the East to subjugate the monsters.”
The Emperor had assigned a mission to her and the ducal knights.
And the reason this was an opportunity was because Liria was allowed to designate the Guide who would accompany her on the mission.
“I shall obey your imperial command, Your Majesty. Please permit me to travel with His Highness the Imperial Prince as my Guide.”
“Oh? Very well, I permit it.”
Liria had always carried out missions alone without a Guide, so when she bowed her head and made such a request for the first time, the Emperor found it strange but nevertheless granted it.
By the time Ian learned what had happened and voiced his refusal, the subjugation party had already been assembled.
He had no choice but to join the expedition east as Liria’s Guide.
*
On the morning of their departure, Ian, dressed in the uniform of the subjugation party, strode straight into Liria’s carriage and confronted her.
“Ducal Lady, are you out of your mind? What exactly were you thinking, dragging me along on such a dangerous mission…!”
“Don’t worry, Your Highness. I’ll protect you so not even a single hair on your head is touched by a monster.”
Liria patted herself on the chest and gave him a wink.
Her goal for this mission was to grow undeniably closer to Ian, get him to admit with his own mouth that he liked her, and ultimately convince him to form an imprint with her.
“Haah… Who said I was afraid of that? Did you bring your suppressants?”
“No? They don’t work anyway, and since you’re here, Your Highness, I didn’t see the point.”
She had already developed an immunity several months ago and had stopped taking suppressants entirely.
That was precisely why Liria needed Ian so desperately now.
Ian, unaware of the exact circumstances she was dealing with, stared at her with a complicated expression.
“…Do you really intend to receive guiding from me? Do you know how guiding is performed?”
“Do you think I’m an idiot? I received a thorough Esper education.”
Liria proudly raised her chin.
The fatal catch was that she had no practical experience whatsoever, but she knew the theory fairly well.
“Ducal Lady, you really…”
Ian’s eyes shook violently as he roughly swept back his hair and bit his lip.
It was difficult to read the subdued emotion in his expression. He looked angry, yet somehow resigned at the same time.
“So foolish.”
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