Chapter 79 — Letters for Sir Raymond
Chapter 79 — Letters for Sir Raymond
Translation: Godtl
"These are letters addressed to Sir Raymond...."
When she asked again, the servant answered with a troubled look.
Lelia was bewildered.
When she woke up in the morning and sat down to eat, she saw a servant approaching with a basket containing an enormous amount of envelopes.
At a glance, there were dozens of them.
The servant said they amounted to that much because the ones meant to be delivered yesterday but couldn't be, combined with the new ones that arrived today.
The servant placed the bundle of letters on the table in the sitting room of Lelia's quarters and left.
"...."
Left alone, Lelia carefully opened the letters one by one.
The letters contained sentiments such as "I was impressed by your courageous appearance at the ball" or"I would like to build a friendship."
They were all letters from female nobles who had attended the ball.
It seemed they had viewed "Sir Raymond's" approach to Miss Grace, who had been standing alone, in a positive light.
"At this rate, I might look like a playboy...."
She muttered to herself while continuing to open the remaining letters one by one.
Knock knock—a sound came from the door.
Upon granting permission to enter, Romeo walked in.
"What is it?"
Romeo approached with a crooked expression and glanced at the letters Lelia was reading.
Then, as if it were his own room, he sat on the sofa and called a servant to bring tea.
"...Letters arrived. It seems many young ladies viewed me favorably at the ball."
In the past, Romeo would have laughed and mocked, "Wow, looks like you played the playboy role quite well." But now, he couldn't simply laugh.
Because he now knew that Lelia was a 'man.'
That was also thanks to Kalix.
Kalix had grabbed Romeo yesterday, thrust his forearm at him repeatedly, and explained in detail.
Because of that, Romeo naturally accepted that fact as well.
There were other reasons underlying this.
Lelia had no magical power, so she couldn't have used illusion magic, nor could she have used some kind of alchemical potion.
Such things didn't exist in the world.
It might have been conceit, but Romeo never thought for a moment that there existed a great alchemist he didn't know about.
Let's assume for argument's sake that Lelia was truly a mage or alchemist.
Then that would mean she was skilled enough to deceive the Emperor, who could detect magical power, and Kalix—who might look a bit foolish but possessed tremendous martial prowess.
Even if she could deceive the Emperor or Kalix, she couldn't deceive Romeo himself.
Romeo had detected neither traces of magical power use nor signs of alchemy from Lelia.
That was why, just as Kalix had said, he came to believe that Lelia possessed a male 'reproductive organ.'
"Right, you're... right."
Romeo tried to say something, then nodded.
"But what about Lord Kalix?"
"Ah, he went out for some business. Griffith will be arriving in the capital within a few days."
"Really?! Within a few days?"
When Lelia asked brightening, Romeo's gaze turned peculiar. Lelia smiled awkwardly.
"It's just... last time he left too quickly. Leo... my brother told me a lot about him too."
"Ah, really?"
"Yes, he said that outwardly he's cold, but... he has a kind heart."
Hearing Lelia's answer, Romeo smirked and thought to himself.
'Not Leo my brother, but probably his brother.'
He couldn't be certain yet, but if that wasn't the case....
Then you are 'Leo.'
I was having tea with Romeo when someone suddenly came visiting.
At the sound of a knock, Lelia showed a pleased expression, and Romeo asked.
"Waiting for someone?"
"...Yes, I have something to receive from Sir Lute."
"...."
However, when the door opened, it wasn't Lute who entered.
"P-Princess?"
It was Princess Julianna.
Lelia was flustered and took a few steps toward her. Julianna had an expression cold as ice.
Her frigid appearance, as if cold breath might flow from her, somehow also seemed to emit flames.
In fact, anger was surging in her eyes.
Julianna glared at Lelia for a moment, then strode in and immediately slapped Lelia's cheek.
Smack!
It didn't hurt, but the sound was loud.
However, just because it didn't hurt didn't mean it wasn't shocking. Lelia was so bewildered she could only move her lips wordlessly.
Tears welled up in Julianna's eyes.
I'm the one who got hit, so why are you crying?
Lelia wanted to ask, but soon squeezed her eyes shut. Because Julianna's palm was flying toward her other cheek.
Smack!
However, that palm didn't reach Lelia's cheek. Romeo, who had approached within arm's reach, grabbed Julianna's wrist.
"What do you think you're doing right now?"
"How dare you grab a princess's wrist?! Let go!"
"What kind of wild colt behaves like this..."
"Let go! I said let go! Guards!"
When Julianna struggled, Romeo held her arm and lightly pushed her away.
As a result, Julianna stumbled backward and nearly fell.
Perhaps because a dizzying memory surfaced just then, Lelia quickly caught Julianna's arm.
"...."
Thanks to that, Princess Julianna didn't fall, but the situation became a bit ridiculous.
As soon as Julianna straightened her posture, Lelia released her hand.
It wasn't like she was concerned for a cat caught by a mouse. Watching Lelia, who had just been slapped, catch someone so they wouldn't fall, Romeo was dumbfounded.
The words 'what an utter fool' rose to his throat.
"...."
Lelia touched her swelling cheek and took a step back.
She had her own reason.
Because the moment she saw Julianna nearly fall, a terrible memory from the past had resurfaced.
When she was young, Lelia had to make an enormous apology for the sin of pushing Julianna.
The memory of that day remained as trauma, which was why she had grabbed Julianna who was about to fall.
Afraid that day's events might repeat.
Of course, since the one who pushed her was Romeo, such a thing wouldn't happen.
As a prince, there was no way Romeo could receive the same punishment Lelia had received.
But Cedric, Damian, and Emperor Perseus were people who lost their rationality when it came to Julianna's safety.
She wanted to prevent any harm from coming to Romeo.
Because if that happened, she felt she truly wouldn't be able to forgive them.
"How rude!"
Julianna huffed and immediately shouted while looking at Lelia.
Lelia didn't understand. If she only knew the reason why she had to be slapped, it would be less frustrating.
Fortunately, Julianna soon explained the reason.
"As if taking Lady Grace's side to make things difficult for me wasn't enough...!"
Tears dropped from her brimming eyes. Princess Julianna looked as if she was the most wronged person in the world.
"...Did I commit such rudeness that I deserved to be slapped?"
"Not knowing that is even more absurd!"
Princess Julianna clenched her fists tightly.
She had never felt her pride this wounded before.
Actually, when Lelia openly looked after Grace at the ball, she wasn't this angry.
At that time, rather, she found it funny and cute.
Thinking he was doing that to get her attention, it was entertaining.
So she asked her father to consider him as a fiancé candidate so she could see what kind of person he was.
But Sir Raymond reportedly returned after only praising Lute.
Saying to connect Lute and Julianna.
Hearing that story, Julianna was dumbfounded and her pride was deeply wounded.
It was virtually no different from an outright rejection. Moreover, who was he to dare meddle in a princess's marriage?
Originally, Julianna liked Lute.
Even so, she had intended to give him a chance.
Seeing it come to this, Sir Raymond truly had no feelings for her.
As soon as she realized she had been in a misunderstanding all along, Princess Julianna was so ashamed she couldn't lift her head.
Since hearing that news yesterday, she couldn't even talk to her maids and had to suffer alone.
Yet Sir Raymond didn't even come to apologize, let alone send any news.
Because of that, unable to bear it, she came looking for him.
Having grown up being revered as a princess since childhood, she had very strong pride.
"...."
Thinking he had no interest, but seeing him catch her so she wouldn't fall was confusing.
If he truly had no feelings, he wouldn't have caught her even after being slapped.
'Is he hiding his feelings because of his friendship with Lute?'
If so, she disliked it even more.
She absolutely detested cowardly, foolish men.
Princess Julianna huffed for a while longer, then turned around and left.
Lelia and Romeo, who had suffered this indignity, looked at her retreating figure in disbelief, then looked at each other.
Romeo frowned and asked.
"You... you're not actually fond of that princess, are you?"
He asked just in case. Since 'that thing' was attached to him, he wondered if he truly liked Princess Julianna as a woman and had lost his mind.
"...No."
Lelia answered while holding her cheek.
Honestly speaking, she really hated them.
Emperor Perseus, Cedric, Damian, and Princess Julianna too.
She hated them terribly.
That was when it happened.
The door that Princess Julianna had slammed shut burst open.
When Lelia reflexively flinched and shrank back, Romeo stepped forward to block the way.
Fortunately, it was Kalix who opened the door and entered.
Lelia breathed a sigh of relief seeing him. She had flinched thinking Julianna was coming in again...
But the moment her eyes met Kalix's.
Pop! Pop! Firecracker sounds and fanfares rang in Lelia's ears.
Bapabam bam-bam!
[Quest Complete! ✧*.◟(ˊᗨˋ)◞.*✧ Receiving rewards!]
∙ Affection Check Ticket x10
∙ Special Recipe Puzzle Pieces x5
∙ Lv. 3 Random Gift Box[?] x2
∙ Quest Jumping Coin
Lelia was bewildered by the sudden fanfare.
It seemed that during the time she hadn't seen him since yesterday, Kalix's affection had risen enough to complete a quest.
[Make Special Affection Target's affection reach 75 or higher!! (•̀ᴗ•́)و ̑̑]
※ Quest Story Progress: 40%
When the next quest appeared, Lelia mentally commanded to accept the quest.
Meanwhile, Kalix stood there blankly.
"...What? Why are you standing like that?"
His appearance looked so foolish that Romeo furrowed his brow.
"...."
Kalix blinked, then narrowed his eyes. He had discovered Lelia's reddened cheek.
"...What is this? Who did this? What bastard hit you?"
He approached Lelia heavily like an angry bear.
"W-well..."
"Just now, the princess passed by looking like an angry bear. Was it her? Did you get hit by her?"
Lelia, who had thought of 'angry bear' looking at Kalix, flinched and tightly closed her lips.
When Lelia didn't answer, Kalix looked at Romeo. Romeo nodded, confirming it was true.
"How dare she touch my little brother?"
Kalix fumed and tried to pull out the dagger he had tucked in his clothes. It was the large sword that Lelia had helped him resize.
Romeo calmed Kalix down.
Kalix, who was already impulsive by nature, needed to be stopped before he caused a major incident.
Lelia also noticed this and tried to calm Kalix.
"You don't need to worry about it. I acted too much like a playboy at the ball... that's why this happened."
Even though she deliberately said it was her fault, Kalix's eyes were fierce.
"By the way, where's Griffith? Did you handle what he asked for?"
When Romeo changed the subject, only then did Kalix calm down a little.
"...Yeah. I looked into it roughly. Hey, open your mouth. Let me see if the inside is torn or not."
"N-no. I'm fine."
"I said open it."
Kalix eventually made Lelia open her mouth and checked the inside.
Romeo tilted his head watching this.
'Kalix, hasn't that guy figured something out?'
Is there any reason to worry this much and treat someone so well?
It seemed he really thought of Lelia as Leo's younger brother. Kalix was acting exactly like a little kid excited to have a younger brother for the first time.
Like an older brother who steps forward when his sibling comes home after getting beaten up somewhere.
"You kid... getting hit by a woman and running around. That's why you should act like a playboy in moderation, you punk. Don't go around hurting women unnecessarily and just avoid them entirely like me. Huh?"
"...Yes."
"A man shouldn't throw his body around carelessly. You... you... just because you're somewhat confident in that area, you shouldn't act recklessly. The more you have, the more careful you should be. Got it?"
"Yes... big brother."
Lelia answered that way because it seemed like Kalix was hoping for that title. Then Kalix's expression immediately brightened.
'Simple guy.'
Not knowing what Lelia was thinking inside, Kalix spoke without hiding his thoughts.
"If anyone bothers you again, tell me. Your big brother will handle everything. Understand?"
"Yes, yes..."
Romeo rubbed his forehead with a headache as he watched Kalix.