Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Romance Fantasy Heroine - [1]
-Go! Pouch-mon! Trip his legs!
-Guh…!
-Insane. This actually works? Never thought I'd see the pouch tripping someone….
Lucian rolled across the ground, and Aiman managed to catch up to him.
The pouch floated up proudly, as if its job was done, and slipped back into Aiman's arms.
"If anyone messes with me, should I just chuck you at them? You've even got homing… Hey, Pouch, do you understand stories too?"
Surprisingly, the pouch wriggled out and rubbed itself against Aiman's cheek.
"What the—?"
Aiman couldn't help but freeze in shock.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
I grabbed Lucian by the scruff of the neck and dragged him back home.
He thrashed like a beast headed to the slaughterhouse, but he was already so exhausted that he barely put up a fight.
"Quiet down a bit. You'll wake the whole neighborhood. It'll be fine. Really."
I tossed him inside through the front door. When I turned around, the scene in the house had changed slightly.
The odd one out in this spot-the-difference game was Red Beard. His mouth was completely sealed shut—probably Rozina's doing.
"Hah… hngh!"
Lucian's face drained of color at the sight of Red Beard, and he kept stealing glances at the dwarf in the corner.
"Don't worry about him."
What should I say? Hmm… After some thought, I decided to just wing it.
"Just gave him a little discipline."
"Di-discipline…?"
Lucian's jaw started trembling at my words.
"That's your idea of discipline…?"
Maybe I should've been honest. Told him Rozina had personally healed him. Of course, even if I explained her healing skill, he probably wouldn't believe it.
Who'd buy that I cauterized the wound with fire to stop the bleeding? I let out a sigh and ran a hand through my hair.
"Seems like the misunderstanding runs deep. Calm down and have a seat first. Want some tea? You dragged your heavy feet here to talk music with me, right?"
Lucian didn't drop his guard. I had to admit, in his shoes, I wouldn't either.
I'd be the same.
That was when it happened.
"Sir Lucian."
Rozina approached him with a sigh. Incredibly, her outfit had changed in that short time.
She was wearing a maid dress now. No idea where that came from. She'd been in a dress just moments ago….
Only then did Lucian seem to properly recognize her.
"Ro-Rozina?!"
His eyes went wide.
"What are you doing here? That maid outfit…? No way?"
Lucian's gaze darted rapidly between Rozina's maid dress and my face.
What was going through his head? Unimaginable. A baron's daughter, dressed as a maid in a commoner's house….
"No way. You can't be waiting on a murderer…? Nah, that can't be right. Yeah, no way. Haha."
He mumbled with a dazed expression. I agreed. Yeah, no way.
I knew full well how bizarre this situation was!
Rozina simply replied in a nonchalant tone to his words.
"No need to explain, I think. Sir Lucian."
She shrugged.
"I'm merely carrying out my master's orders right now."
The word "master" from Rozina's lips must've been a critical hit. Lucian's face began to twitch.
He seemed to lose his reason to jealousy and rage.
Flap~.
And then the pouch suddenly burst from my pocket, flapping as it took to the air.
The moment Lucian saw it, he snapped back to his senses.
"Very well. Aiman. A duel."
Lucian unslung the lute from his back and gripped it.
"Artists like us don't resort to blades, right?"
He was even being polite.
"How about we settle it with music?"
His tone had softened too. Almost respectful, like he was honoring me.
...What a transparent guy. It was so on-the-nose that it threw me off—this was a new type of character for me.
"You on piano. A music duel against me."
"…."
"If I lose… I'll give up on Rozina cleanly."
A sigh nearly escaped, but I swallowed it and responded.
"Lucian. Is Lady Rozina some object? Something to bet?"
"…!"
Lucian looked shocked at my words.
In noble society, treating fiancées or women as family property or trophies was commonplace, so maybe that's why.
To him, wagering a woman might've sounded like a romantic line.
Not from my perspective, though.
"The most important thing is Lady Rozina's opinion, isn't it?"
I nodded toward her.
"If she wants to go with you, she goes. If not, she doesn't."
"Th-that…."
"That's why there's no reason for you and me to duel. Just head home."
"…."
"Oh, and for reference, that dwarf with the striking red beard attacked me first."
Perfect. Situation neatly resolved. Lucian looked like he didn't want to believe it, but with Rozina vouching, he seemed to accept it.
"Understood. My mistake. If I asked why Rozina's with you…."
"I wouldn't answer."
I'd considered telling him but decided there was no need. If she wanted to say, Rozina would do it herself, right?
A glance sideways—Rozina was watching me with an odd look. Something soft and fuzzy rising in her eyes, maybe….
A chilling gaze, I'd call it.
A brief silence fell.
Lucian struck a thoughtful pose as he mulled my words, and it started to grate on me.
Because he was ridiculously handsome. I'd never heard anyone call me ugly either, mind you.
As I wallowed in self-consciousness, Rozina stepped closer and lightly tugged my sleeve.
"Sir Aiman."
She whispered right in my ear. No clue why she had to whisper—could've just said it.
"How about just dueling him in music?"
Her voice against my ear made me shudder, and I took a step back.
I shot Rozina a look: Why the hell should I?
"Hate to admit it, but Sir Lucian's lute playing is among the best in the empire."
She looked amused. Rozina's expression, that is.
"You've got time before the Imperial Arts Institute… Think of it as practice?"
"…Feels like there's more to it."
Rozina gave a faint smile at my words.
"I guarantee it—he'll come hounding you again. Demanding a duel next time too. Better get it over with now, no?"
"…Persistent type, huh? That true, Lucian?"
Lucian looked up at my question and nodded slowly.
"Probably… yes."
Mulling his words, yeah. What did I have to lose?
Serika had told me to perform at the Imperial Academy too. Probably meant beating Lucian.
Had to head to the Institute anyway… If I had the chance for something like this beforehand, might as well.
"Alright. Let's do it. Duel calls for stakes, though… What should we bet? Hm—."
Before I could finish, Rozina stepped forward boldly.
"How about a date? Precious time for tea, just the two of us."
I glanced at her. Meaningless to me… but apparently not to him.
He was burning with fighting spirit.
"…Fine. That it is."
Something felt off about this. Like Lucian and I were rivals fighting over Rozina!
Whatever. Too lazy to think. Let's just do it.
"…Got it. Let's begin."
I peeked outside. Darkness had already settled, and I wondered if it'd be too noisy for a duel right now.
Just then, Rozina stepped up again. She elegantly snapped her fingers.
Pop—
A transparent barrier enveloped the room.
"Sounds from inside won't leak out… or rather, won't be audible outside."
"…I'll go first. Lady Rozina. If you would."
"I look forward to it. Sir Lucian."
Lucian took position first, as if claiming first strike, and that's when I remembered something I'd overlooked.
Wasn't there one more person in this room…?
-Mmgh. Ngh…!
Something kept making noise from the corner, but muffled enough to ignore.
If Lucian could play piano, he might've recreated that unspeakable secret. What a shame.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Rozina watched Aiman and Lucian staring each other down. Fighting a duel for a chance to meet her.
'This situation…?'
It felt familiar, like something from a novel.
'No way?'
Rozina mainly read romance-focused novels, and she'd seen scenes like this a few times.
Men clashing over the heroine. And now she was playing the heroine in real life!
Could she be the romance fantasy heroine? Yeah, it had to be. This was exactly that scenario!
Rozina snapped open her fan and declared,
"Then I shall be the judge."
Her speech suddenly turned archaic.
"Best to start quickly, for the sake of our meeting!"
Aiman shot Lucian a look asking why Rozina was acting like that.
Of course, Lucian didn't catch on.