Chapter 39: Receiving Blessings? Me?
"Well, it's a relationship where she looks at me like I'm some circus monkey, but anyway."
"The reason you shouldn't be unhappy and must be happy is because you're an exceptional person."
"What do you mean by that?"
"If you get angry or fall apart, even a single sharp glance from you could be a bolt from the blue—or straight-up hell—for someone else."
Ah. Elisia had a faint inkling of what Kasian del Parne was getting at.
"On the flip side, if you're happy, a casual compliment from you could genuinely make someone else's day."
Someone came to mind. Lately, the maid who'd been accompanying her in the carriage, her face blooming with smiles the whole time. Grateful as she was, and as adorable as that was, it was baffling—how could she be that happy just doing her job?
He'd just explained it to Elisia.
Yeah. It was obvious, really. But she'd forgotten that obvious truth.
"I hope you've grasped your own influence and noble position properly, and from now on, you'll think wisely about how to manage your stress."
"Did I really look that wrecked?"
"Hm. Can I be straight with you?"
"Go ahead."
He opened his mouth, closed it. Kasian mulled over his words, lips flapping like a fish, before finally speaking.
"You're this close to grabbing the Crown Prince by the hair. I didn't even realize the guy was His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Pfft."
"And that's not all. In Intro to Herbalism lately, seeing a woman with a fiancé cozy up to a barbarian like me in front of everyone? Makes me wonder if her sense of values is glitching out a bit."
"Ahaha."
It was hilarious. Not that she wanted to deny his words. Maybe every blunt bit was spot-on, but hearing it didn't annoy her—it was a relief.
"So yeah. Manage that stress, okay? Don't go hurting innocent bystanders. Like me. Or me. Or, y'know, me."
Pretending to be selfish again. Got it. This guy had seen right through her again today. Just like at the banquet hall last time.
But how? That day, she'd blatantly shown him the argument. Today, there'd been zero clues.
Clop, clop.
In the distance, a carriage bearing the Rosenberg ducal crest was approaching.
Kasian turned his head.
"That's your ride, right, milady?"
"……Yeah."
"Then I'm out. Get home safe."
He turned without a backward glance, sauntering into the shadows with that signature lazy swagger.
Elisia started toward the carriage amid her maid's fretting concern, then paused.
And realized.
"……You said you weren't escorting me."
He'd stuck around until the carriage arrived, ensuring she was safely under the coachman's watch. Then he'd left.
He'd flout noble etiquette and besmirch the Parne name over something as trivial as annoyance.
But when it mattered, he quietly held his post.
"Really……."
Elisia clutched her shopping bag to her chest.
Kasian's retreating back. That broad set of shoulders looked wider and warmer than ever tonight.
"A man who tries his hardest to play it cool."
The smile lingering on her lips wouldn't fade.
This hollow day had turned out just as she'd hoped. Thanks to Kasian del Parne, she prayed it'd be remembered as time spent with him.
And it had come true.
Inside the carriage.
Elisia pulled a small lip balm from her shopping bag and held it in her hand. Smooth to the touch.
"Shame and boundaries."
She murmured softly. The line he'd drawn was cruel, yet it brought a paradoxical sense of security.
Elisia smirked at her reflection in the carriage window. Her makeup was smudged compared to when she'd left home, her hair tousled by the night breeze.
But her eyes sparkled brighter than ever.
Somehow, she wanted to repay him.
'……His lab?'
Oh, right. He'd mentioned getting his own private research lab.
An idea flashed through Elisia's mind.
"I said I'd leave a reward, didn't I?"
Perfect excuse, too.
"What would make a good gift?"
"Pardon? A gift?"
"Something like that."
The maid tilted her head at the cryptic words but smiled along with her lady's serene expression.
The carriage pierced the darkness toward Rosenberg Manor.
But Elisia's heart had already veered off course, racing toward a certain rundown lab at the Imperial Academy.
That night, in the Parne mansion's kitchen.
A subtle smoky aroma filled the air.
I twirled the tongs like a pro in front of the grill, humming a little tune.
"Yep, yep, life's all about the meat, from meat we come."
Sizzle.
The smoking chips burned away, infusing the jerky with deep flavor. Art? Piece of cake. Crafting bribes for my comfy retirement future—this was investment and art.
That's when it happened.
"Young master."
A voice from behind. Normally, it'd be "Messing up the kitchen again!" with a solid whack on the back. But tonight, her tone dripped honey.
I grinned and turned.
"Oh, Aunt Marie. What's up?"
"My goodness, young master. The smell's wafting all the way here."
Marie approached with a shy smile. Her face was glowing—guess that brown bottle essence suited her.
"Nice. Pricey stuff really delivers. Money's the best, huh? Thrilling."
I gave her a thumbs-up.
"No matter how I think about it, the real noble vibe comes from you, not me. You're looking rejuvenated today."
"Oh, young master! If the master hears that, we're in trouble."
Marie waved it off, but her mouth-grin was already cheekbone-high, ascending to heaven. Capitalism therapy: proven effective.
"How could I sit idle when my young master's slaving away at school, feeding his hungry friends? Shall I pack some lunchboxes?"
"Nah, nah. They'll go nuts for jerky. Simple tastes."
Hungry friends. Factually true.
But my ulterior motive was twisted as hell.
'Friends my ass.'
Customers. Lily's gotta eat well and grow big for my 300 billion to deposit safely. If this fortune got out, the house would flip.
Dad finds out? Yeah. Gotta keep it airtight.
"Alright, all done."
I was peacefully pulling the jerky to cool when—
"Young master……."
"Gah! You scared me!"
A heavy voice from the kitchen entrance. Alfred the butler, arrived without a sound.
I fumbled but caught the tongs.
"What? What's up now?"
"You should go to the family head right away."
"……Now? Middle of the night?"
"Yes."
Phew. Good. Alfred's face wasn't that grave.
"The eldest young master is here too."
"……Huh?"
Brother? My bro, Haron del Parne. The workaholic who'd been pulling all-nighters at Intelligence HQ for months, supposedly too buried to come home?
"What's Brother doing here? Looked urgent?"
I wanted to finish this batch first.
"Yes. But I don't know if it's serious. Seems the eldest just needs to head back soon, so he called for you urgently."
Sigh. This workaholic. Not staying over—just dropping by.
"Auntie, watch the jerky for me. Be right back."
Ugh. Creepy. Air's so heavy. Like gravity's cranked up in here.
Behind a mountain of documents, Dad flipped papers without glancing my way.
And at the desk's guest sofa sat my brother, the family pride, Haron del Parne, ramrod straight.
"The report's done, so he had me fetch you. Sit."
Brother's voice was calm, but dark circles ringed his eyes. Months of Intelligence HQ all-nighters—rumors confirmed. Guy probably runs on coffee, not blood.
I awkwardly perched on the sofa's edge, feeling like a delinquent kid hauled to the principal's office.
Clack.
Dad set down his pen. That tiny sound boomed like thunder.
"No issues with your recent conduct, I trust?"
Question's too broad. Classic fishing expedition. 'Spill if you've got dirt.' Psychological warfare pro.
But I'm confident today. Nothing major.
Got a private lab, saintess crashed it. Victim? Me.
Met Muller Viscountess. Contract? No harm done. Meeting prof? Not a crime.
Recapping like that, it hit me.
'Oh, wait. Shit, I did.'
Nothing big, so I blanked. Just went on a nighttime street date—er, stroll—with the Crown Prince's fiancée?
Hiss. Jerky fumes must've smoked my brain too. Deep down innocent, so it slipped my mind entirely. Damn.
As I sweated bullets, eyes darting, Brother chimed in softly.
"Father. Even so, shouldn't we praise the good? There were some unsavory incidents right after arriving in the capital, but he earned the professors' trust and took responsibility. Kasian's an adult now."
Oh, Brother. Educated as hell.
Dad stroked his chin silently at the defense.
Sorry, bro. Useless. I actually did something.
'Sigh.'
Gotta fess up. I'd spin tales in front of Dad all day to slack off guilt-free, but one rule: no hiding major screw-ups from him.
I took a deep breath and dropped the bomb.
"Dunno about the rest…… but yeah, I've been hanging out with Elisia von Rosenberg lately."
"……Lady Elisia, of Rosenberg?"
Dad's eyebrow twitched.
"Yeah. Well, it's a relationship where she looks at me like I'm some circus monkey, but anyway."
"What kind of vulgar metaphor is 'circus monkey'?"
Brother frowned, pointing it out.
"And you're friends with the lady? You?"
"Not my choice. Prof randomly paired us. Farming class, y'know? Partners."
Brother's brow furrowed slightly. "Randomly? Mind your words."
"Ah, okay. The prof did it himself. Anyway, we got our hands dirty together."
Fair enough. Academy class. Mandatory.
But Dad probed deeper.
"Outside of class?"
Yup. Can't dodge.
"Ran into her today too. By chance."
"By chance?"
"After seeing Prof Muller, someone's perception-block spell hits me—peeped on. Shook 'em down, turned out to be Lady Elisia."
"……."
The office temperature plunged below freezing.