Chapter 68 — Lute's Warning
Chapter 68 — Lute's Warning
Translation: Godtl
After the tea party ended, Lelia was practically dragged by Lute to a quiet place.
It was a small walking path behind the Crystal House.
"What do you think, Sir? If I confess, do you think Princess Julianna would accept me?"
"...."
Lute asked with a flushed expression.
Lelia was exhausted both in body and mind.
Throughout the tea party, the young ladies kept throwing question after question the moment she answered, draining her completely.
"Answer me, Sir Raymond. How is it?"
Lute urged, and Lelia answered while slumped on the bench.
"From what I can see, Princess Julianna seems to like Sir Lute too. Very much so."
"...Really? But isn't that strange? Princess Julianna kept looking only at Sir Raymond and smiling at him... Last time it was that guy Kalix, and this time..."
Lute glared at Lelia as if blaming her.
Lelia answered, now resigned to it.
"From what I can see, she seems to be doing it on purpose. To bring out your jealousy."
"...Jealousy?"
Lute seemed to find it unbelievable.
But Lelia was certain.
Princess Julianna, while smiling at her, kept checking Lute's reaction.
Lute was simply too oblivious to notice.
"...Ha. What should I do?"
Whatever the problem was now, Lute grabbed his head.
"What is there to worry about? Just confess."
Yes, just confess quickly and end the quest.
Lelia pleaded internally.
"But... even if Princess Julianna accepts my confession, what if His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress, and the Princes oppose it?"
"...."
Lelia turned her head away.
She suddenly missed her friends. She needed rest.
There were many things she wanted to say to Lute, but she couldn't. They contained profanity.
After pondering for a moment, Lute hesitated slightly, then scratched his cheek with his index finger and spoke.
"So, Sir. I have one more favor to ask."
"...What is it?"
Something felt unsettling.
Lute's lips twitched, then he quickly spat out his words.
"Please become a comparison for me so that His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress can trust me."
"...What did you say?"
"If you commit an offense against one of the ladies among Princess Julianna's attendants, I will challenge you to a duel. You surrender to me, then apologize to that lady again. How about it?"
"...?"
Lelia was so surprised her mouth fell open.
What kind of nonsense is that?
Seeing that reaction, Lute seemed to realize something and frowned.
"...Is it too difficult?"
Yet he didn't give up and asked again.
Lelia blinked with a sour feeling.
Does he think I'm a pushover because I keep granting requests?
Of course the quest was important, but she didn't want to become Lute's servant acting like a pushover.
"Of course it's difficult. It's a matter of my honor. Also, it would damage Prince Romeo's honor and dignity."
"...I see. My thinking was short. I'm sorry."
She thought he would stubbornly insist, but Lute surprisingly apologized for his mistake easily.
Then after pondering for a moment, he suddenly opened his eyes wide.
"Then how about this method!?"
"...."
It felt unsettling.
Despite Lelia's crumpled expression, Lute explained excitedly.
"This is a method that won't damage Sir Raymond's honor or Prince Romeo's dignity."
"What is it?"
"Sir Raymond, you become a playboy of high society!"
"...."
"Just go on a date once with each of Princess Julianna's attendants. You could have light tea time too! Then naturally a playboy image would form, wouldn't it?"
"Ah."
"Then I, being next to you, will naturally solidify into a serious image that inspires trust."
Lute must really like Princess Julianna.
Seeing that he came up with this kind of idea just to look good to her family.
But become a playboy? Is he telling me to become trash for his sake?
A playboy... absolutely impossible.
Lelia held back the urge to scream and spoke.
"...It might not completely ruin my honor, but there's a saying that you can know a person by looking at their friends—won't you also be suspected of being a playboy?"
"Hmm... If a rumor spreads that Sir Raymond is a playboy, I can just distance myself from you! Wouldn't that actually make me look even more serious and trustworthy?"
"Then what do I get?"
"...."
Hearing the question, Lute thought for a moment.
Of course, Lelia had something to gain. The quest reward.
But if she just went along with everything, it seemed like Lute would ask for even worse things.
Then, having finished thinking, Lute spoke with a confident expression.
"I will become your true friend."
"...What did you say?"
"You're on the smaller side, so if anyone tries to bully you, I'll challenge them to a duel on your behalf. I'm actually quite skilled in swordsmanship."
"...."
Lelia was speechless.
She had no desire to become true friends with Lute.
She already had four friends as precious as life itself.
And to call that a reward.
Lelia was dumbfounded by Lute's confident arrogance.
"That's fine. I may be small, but I don't go around getting beaten up."
"Then..."
"Instead... I'd like you to grant me one thing I want."
"What is it? Just say it! I'll grant everything!"
Lute's face brightened with color.
"I'll tell you that later."
"Alright! It won't be a loss for you either. If you hang out with the princess's attendants, your popularity will go up too!"
"...."
"Being surrounded by beautiful ladies is also a man's romance, isn't it? Of course, I'm not that kind of man... I only need Princess Julianna."
Then am I that kind of man?
Lelia couldn't adapt to Lute's way of speaking at all.
She was so exhausted she just wanted to rest quickly.
Lelia casually said goodbye to Lute and quickly returned to her quarters.
Suddenly she felt pathetic about her situation.
Because of that damn holy artifact, not only did she have to face unpleasant faces, but now she had to become a playboy too.
'But with that holy artifact, I might be able to fix Kalix's eyes...'
It was when she arrived in front of her quarters.
One of the attendants from Prince Romeo's quarters approached her and said.
"Prince Romeo has asked for Sir Raymond. He said he would like to have dinner together."
Lelia nodded at those words and followed the attendant.