Chapter 90
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 90
“Lisian.”
I looked around and asked, “Why isn’t Leon here? Do you know?”
“Leon?”
“Yeah.”
I had been so momentarily captivated by Lisian’s angelic appearance that I’d completely forgotten about Leon and the quest.
Lisian’s expression darkened slightly.
“Leon, well, his shoulder is hurt, you see.”
“Ah… right.”
“So earlier, he said it was t-too hard to keep standing and it was a-annoying, so he w-went back to his room.”
“What?”
My expression turned serious as well.
“It’s that bad?”
He wasn’t the type to leave a banquet early if he could help it. Even if he acted like a reckless loose cannon in private, Leon Frezier was the type to strictly observe etiquette in public settings.
“The chief physician r-recommended rest.”
“It’s that serious…?”
For a moment, I was genuinely worried.
Wait, this guy…
He’s not going to die, is he?
Or end up crippled?
In The Milk Bread, even the male leads weren't guaranteed to survive. Since there was an event where even the heroine, Corico, died, the male leads died even more frequently.
Of course, none of them could compare to Tulia, who died if you so much as blinked…
Furthermore.
If his shoulder hurts…
He won’t be able to dance.
Then ten thousand coins will vanish into thin air.
And my quest will end in failure…
At that moment.
Ding!
[System] Sub Quest: <Ruler of the Banquet>
[System] 30 minutes remaining until the expiration of the <Ruler of the Banquet> quest.
[System] 30:00
Gasp!
The seconds began to tick down like a time bomb.
No!
I bolted upright from my seat.
* * *
Bang!
Bang, bang!
Bang, bang, bang!
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!
“Ah, you’re going to break the door!”
An irritable voice drifted from inside, and the door swung open with a jerk.
“Which crazy bastard… Huh?”
I stood there, huffing and puffing, staring at Leon Frezier.
It’s true.
The first thing I noticed was the bandage on his shoulder, which had clearly been freshly changed.
I marched inside. Leon Frezier, who had frozen for a moment, hurriedly followed me in.
“Hey, why are you here? Why aren’t you in the hall? Where’s Brother?”
“Where’s the chief physician?”
“No, what’s going on? Why do you look like that…?”
I barely managed to take a deep breath at his uncomfortable expression, as if he were looking at a terrifying monster. It seemed I had come charging in a bit too wildly.
“Sorry. I was startled.”
Having finally regained my composure, I apologized first.
“Why are you startled all of a sudden?”
“Leon Frezier, I heard you’re in so much pain you can’t even dance.”
Leon Frezier scratched his cheek sheepishly.
“I said it was hard to stand, not that I couldn’t dance.”
“That’s even worse! Where did the chief physician go?”
“He went to brew some medicine. Why?”
Leon Frezier, who had been questioning me, suddenly furrowed his brow.
“What’s that basket you’ve got tucked under your arm?”
“Medicinal herbs I have.”
“What?”
“I literally swept up everything I owned.”
This time, I had even scraped together the ones the chief physician had been secretly hoarding.
“What did you say?”
Leon Frezier’s eyes widened instantly as he shouted.
“Hey, take them back right now! I really don’t have any money left!”
It seemed he realized the moment he saw them that these were incredible herbs that would make the chief physician’s head spin. Was the doctor really that scary?
With a fed-up look, Leon Frezier tried to kick me out.
However.
Nothing in this world can stop a Tulia who is obsessed with coins.
Why? Because I decided so. Anyway, it doesn't exist.
I pushed past Leon Frezier, who was trying to evict me, and walked inside with an air of majesty.
I came to a stop in the drawing room. Leon followed me in a panic, weakly repeating that he had no money and that I should take them back.
“Leon.”
I didn’t listen.
I simply opened my mouth.
“One hundred and twenty million gold.”
“Are you insane?! I told you I don’t have any money!”
“It’s all free.”
“What?”
Clatter.
…I couldn't bring myself to actually dump the herbs out.
Instead, thud.
I simply placed the basket on the drawing room table.
“I’ll give you all of this.”
Leon Frezier took a hesitant step back.
“Why again? What do you want?”
Quick-witted fellow.
He seemed to have already realized that I wanted something in exchange for giving him the herbs for free. Well, considering our usual relationship, it was a natural deduction, but in my eyes, I could only see ‘Quest Complete.’
“Dance with me.”
“What?”
“Is this not enough? Then I’ll give you money! Let’s dance!”
Leon Frezier muttered with his large frame, “Has she really gone mad…?”
“I said I’ll give you money!”
“How much can you give me?!”
“Ten thousand gold!”
“Are you joking? That wouldn’t even cover the cost of a single meal at the Academy!”
“Then how much do you want?!”
“Ten million gold!”
“Are you crazy?”
My eyes immediately flared with indignation.
“Your dancing isn't worth that much. Could you please get a grip?”
“Wow, now you finally sound like the Tulia Frezier I know.”
Leon Frezier let out a hollow laugh as if he were dumbfounded, then walked toward the table. He poured some cooled tea from a ceramic teapot embossed with a neat floral pattern and held the cup out to me.
“Drink some of this.”
I took the cup and drank. Only then did I feel myself calming down.
“Hey, just sit down for a second. Seriously. I thought a wild beast was charging into my room.”
“Leon Frezier.”
I sat down obediently on the sofa and spoke in a serious voice.
“A wild beast this beautiful doesn't exist in this world.”
“…Right, right. You’re the prettiest. Happy now?”
“Anyway, let’s dance. Does your shoulder hurt that much? To the point it’ll dislocate immediately if you dance with me? To the point you’ll die?”
“…I’m not going to die right this second, but why on earth?”
Leon Frezier looked at the pile of herbs with an expression that said he couldn't understand at all.
“Why are you so determined to dance with me that you’re even trying to shove money at me?”
“Think about it, Leon.”
I held the teacup in my hands and squared my shoulders.
“Today is the first time I’ve hosted Grandfather’s birthday banquet.”
“And?”
“I’ll lose face. It only looks right if I take turns dancing with each of my brothers.”
“Hey. Am I just a tool to you?”
“A tool?”
Ha.
I replied with a look of utter disbelief.
“You’re just my accessory. What do you mean, ‘tool’?”
“Wow…”
Leon Frezier shook his head as if he didn't know how many more times he would have to be left speechless.
“Fine, let’s go. Let’s go.”
“Really?”
My eyes went wide. I hadn't expected him to agree so easily.
He said he was in pain; was he really okay?
Was it truly just hard to walk, but fine to dance?
Even I was starting to get confused.
“Yeah, let’s go and dance. Good grief. Is there some ghost attached to you that’ll die if you don’t dance with me?”
There’s no ghost, but there is a quest!
I stood up, my heart pounding with excitement.
“Wait here. I just need to put my coat back on.”
“Okay!”
Leon Frezier let out several long sighs.
But why were the corners of his mouth twitching upward like that?