Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Seeds of Rivalry
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“My younger sister is a little... unwell.”
At Reiden’s words, Serdian set down his fork.
Reiden continued.
“The doctors don’t know the cause, and even magic couldn’t reveal the reason.”
So, as a last hope, they decided to take her to the temple.
Reiden gave a small smile.
“My father said I didn’t need to go with them and told me to stay at the grand duke’s estate for a while. Perhaps…”
Reiden glanced at Serdian before speaking.
“He likely hoped that the Young Lord and I would become as close as he and His Highness the Grand Duke are.”
“…”
With those words, Lucillea was certain.
*Those two are not close.*
Then again, Serdian’s personality was anything but ordinary.
*No matter how friendly and kind Reiden is, it couldn’t have been easy to approach him.*
And even if he had, Serdian would have immediately put up a wall.
In the original novel, their relationship wasn’t good either.
It was only natural. Two men in love with the same woman could never be friends.
The current awkwardness between them might have been a hint of the fate that was to unfold.
*Seeing things like this makes the original novel’s plot feel quite terrifying. To think these children already see each other as rivals before the story has even begun.*
A flicker of anxiety rose within her, a fear that her own future, destined to end in death, might also be unchangeable.
The meal continued.
Though a fair amount of time passed, Serdian and Reiden didn’t exchange much conversation.
Instead, it was Lucillea and Reiden who shared some conversation.
After chatting a bit about mana, they even agreed to speak informally.
Of course, Lucillea readily agreed.
If she could speak informally with the Young Lord of the Grand Duchy, then the heir to a marquisate was hardly a stretch.
And so, in a slightly awkward atmosphere, the meal came to a timely end.
As the meal finished, before getting up from her chair, Lucillea asked Serdian.
“What’s your next class?”
“Swordsmanship.”
“Can I come watch?”
“I told you no.”
Tch.
Lucillea pouted.
*We barely got to talk today…*
Just then, Reiden rose from his chair and spoke to Lucillea.
“I’ll walk you there.”
“Huh? No, it’s okay. I can go by myself.”
Lucillea declined, thanking him for the thought.
At that, Reiden’s eyes softened, and he looked at her with the wistful gaze of a lost puppy as he asked.
“As a token of our new friendship… can’t I?”
Ugh! This little kid is using his looks as a weapon?!
Lucillea flinched, swallowing dryly without realizing it.
*I mean, there’s nothing wrong with the heir to a marquisate wanting to be friends…*
Besides, he was handsome.
While Lucillea nibbled on her lip, deep in thought, Serdian’s cold voice cut in.
“No.”
Both their gazes snapped to Serdian.
Serdian was still seated. Yet, his upward glance at Reiden was enough to freeze the air around them.
Reiden still wore a gentle smile, but a subtle question flickered in his eyes.
“Why?”
When Reiden asked, Serdian tilted his head slightly and answered nonchalantly.
“Outsiders are not permitted in the West Annex.”
Serdian’s words were true.
As the West Annex housed children with special abilities, it had to be thoroughly shielded from unnecessary outside interference or threats.
Hearing this, Reiden’s smile faded ever so slightly.
“Then how about just to the front of the West Annex?”
“No.”
Again, the answer was immediate and firm.
Then he turned his icy gaze on Lucillea.
“And you.”
“Uh, yes? Me? What about me?”
“You should be able to judge and stop any actions that could cause trouble. Are you planning to bring an outsider all the way to the West Annex?”
His rebuke, implying she hadn’t listened to Mei’s warnings, made the air in the dining hall even colder.
At that moment, Reiden raised a hand, cutting Serdian off. For the first time, the smile was completely gone from his face.
“Stop it. I was the one who made an unreasonable request. It’s not Lucillea’s fault.”
Reiden’s voice had grown cold; it was no longer kind or gentle.
Especially when directed at Serdian.
“Aren’t you holding a child who’s only been at the estate for a few days to an excessively high standard? Surely you’re not trying to assert your authority as the heir this way?”
It was a rather harsh statement, a stark contrast to the demeanor Reiden had shown just moments before.
But Serdian, as if used to it, met Reiden’s gaze calmly and said,
“I wasn’t aware that saying one shouldn’t break the rules for personal reasons was an assertion of authority. Perhaps that’s how it’s done in the House of Marquis Sidrat?”
For a moment, Reiden’s eyes grew cold as he looked at Serdian.
But he quickly put his mask back on, offering a gentle smile.
“Of course not. My family doesn’t teach us to oppress people in the name of rules. We are taught to win people over with trust and tolerance. I’m sure it’s the same for the Young Lord of the Grand Duchy, so why is our Young Lord so authoritarian?”
The barbs in Reiden’s words were sharp.
“Ah, but perhaps you find it more comfortable to control others with rules. It’s a much easier path than trying to win their hearts, after all.”
The words were clearly meant to provoke Serdian. Yet, instead of exploding, Serdian’s expression grew even calmer as he spoke.
“Bear in mind that kindness offered indiscriminately, driven by emotion, can sometimes be poison.”
“…What?”
Kindness offered indiscriminately, driven by emotion…? At those words, the corners of Reiden’s mouth tightened once more.
Reiden clenched his jaw and spoke slowly.
“Don’t you dare judge my sincerity… Then again, you always have. To you, my sincerity has always looked like calculated hypocrisy. Isn’t that right?”
“…”
For some reason, a faint bitterness could be heard in Reiden’s voice.
Lucillea watched them both with narrowed eyes.
*It seems something happened between them…*
If she left them be, it felt like they would come to blows at any moment.
Lucillea hadn’t wanted to get involved, but she decided she couldn’t just stand by and watch the increasingly hostile atmosphere.
*Ugh, these clueless kids. You’re forcing this big sister to step in.*
Lucillea smiled gently and spoke to Serdian in a placating tone.
“Serdian, stop. You’re right, I forgot about the rules for a moment. That was my fault, no excuses.”
“…”
As Lucillea readily admitted her fault, the sharp edge in Serdian’s gaze softened considerably.
But Reiden, displeased by this, spoke up again.
“Lucillea, that’s not something you need to apologize for—”
At that, Lucillea whipped her head around to face Reiden.
*Can’t you just be quiet?! You troublemaker!*
*I was just starting to get closer to Serdian, and you show up out of nowhere and ruin the mood like this?!*
Faced with Lucillea’s sharp glare, Reiden blinked, uncomprehending.
Lucillea said coolly.
“You should stop, too. Friendship is nice, kindness is nice, that’s all well and good, but your approach is only making Serdian angrier. In the end, your kindness toward me just put me in a difficult position.”
“Lucillea…”
A look of dismay clouded Reiden’s pale face.
Seeing that expression, she felt a pang of guilt, as if she were scolding innocent children.
Lucillea let out a short sigh.
“And you, Serdian—”
Hup. Lucillea quickly bit back the nagging words that were about to spill out.
“Say it.”
Serdian said, looking at her. Lucillea shook her head and gave an awkward laugh.
“Ah, it’s nothing. I have nothing more to say.”
Hehe. Lucillea tried to laugh it off harmlessly, but Serdian had just dug his own grave.
“I told you to say it.”
“No, really, it’s nothing important.”
“So say it.”
*This kid, can’t he just let it go…*
Lucillea, watching Serdian’s expression, said,
“You’re the one who told me to, okay?”
“Yes.”
Ahem. Lucillea cleared her throat once and began.
“I’m only saying this because I’m genuinely worried about you.”
“I know.”
Lucillea took a deep breath, then exhaled and spoke.
“Serdian. Rules, principles, that’s all fine. Since I’ve come to the Grand Duchy, it’s only natural that I learn and follow its rules. But Reiden is a guest of the Grand Duchy.”
And not just any person you meet on the street, but the heir to the House of Marquis Sidrat.
“Every word you say and every action you take in front of the marquis’s heir will become the reputation of the ‘House of Grand Duke Descartes’ in the near future. I told you, didn’t I? If you keep acting like this, you’ll end up with no one by your side. Do you want to be remembered in history as a narrow-minded loner?”
“…”
At Lucillea’s pointed words, Serdian’s lips pressed into a firm line. Instead of retorting, he simply stared at her and asked,
“Are you done?”
“Yep!”
Phew! Lucillea replied brightly, looking as if a weight had been lifted from her chest.
Then, she stepped out from behind her chair and gave the two boys a brief farewell.
“I’ve said my piece and I’m full, so I’ll be heading out first!”
Lucillea gathered the hem of her dress slightly, turned her back on them, and scurried away.
“…”
“…”
Left behind, Serdian and Reiden could only stare blankly at Lucillea’s retreating back for a moment.
The tense battle of wills, where they had been sharpening their blades against each other just moments before, had vanished as if it had never been.