CHAPTER 087
Lewis frowned.
"If you have a problem, you should come to me directly. Why are you lurking around like this?"
Philip must have been quite annoying to him.
"Aren't you worried about the Crown Prince?"
"The Tower Lord doesn't have to obey the Emperor. Besides, Madin is far less capable than I am."
Hearing that there was nothing to be seriously concerned about made me feel a bit deflated.
"You must be really worried about me."
Lewis nodded at those words.
"I don't worry about what happens to others. It's you that I care about."
"Aren't you worried about your family, Marquis?"
"Those people can take care of themselves. I'm not even worried about Michael."
Oh, Michael.
Come to think of it, Michael is working at the royal palace. Madin, who must be aware of the mana stones, is his superior.
"He's a Yaniels too. He's going to be the next Duke of Yaniels."
That's true.
It seemed like Lewis trusted Michael to handle things well.
"I should increase your security. Have you talked to your aunt about what happened today?"
"Oh, I haven't told her yet, but I plan to."
My bodyguard must have already informed the Duke.
I met the Crown Prince and had an unexpected tea time.
"But you could have talked about this through the communication sphere. Isn't it cumbersome to come and go?"
"It's your matter. I don't find it cumbersome."
"..."
He didn't find it cumbersome because it was about me.
Hearing that, I looked at him silently, feeling his care.
Lewis always cared deeply for me and expressed it without hesitation.
He wasn't originally like that.
It wasn't burdensome or off-putting.
Rather... it was a feeling that filled my heart, making it swell.
A feeling completely opposite to discomfort.
Even in a situation where the Crown Prince and the head of the court wizards were together, he wasn't worried, but he cared that I was surprised.
Why does Lewis care so much for me?
Because I'm powerless, unlike the Yaniels family?
Because I was his first friend?
Or... is it really that?
* * *
After Lewis left, I was alone in my room.
"Come to think of it, Lewis said that to me."
Suddenly, it came to mind.
The day Lewis spent the night at the Duke's residence.
There was something I overlooked because I was so distracted...
Lewis, standing in the pouring rain. I sheltered him with an umbrella.
At that time, Lewis told me he was avoiding noise by being in the rain.
I noticed that the situation was similar to a scene from the original story.
I had forgotten it for a while, but as things between Lewis and me became ambiguous, I remembered it again.
Why did Lewis say the lines meant for Charlotte to me?
It's not that I think he should have said it to Charlotte.
I've long realized that he and Charlotte wouldn't end up together.
In the original story, that scene marks the beginning of Charlotte realizing that Marquis Bloomberg is different from ordinary people.
His personality and power were already extraordinary, but she didn't know about his sensitivity to noise.
On the other hand, I knew about Lewis's sensitivity to noise.
But through that rainy day, I understood his situation better.
That rainy day progressed our relationship, just like it did in the original story with Charlotte.
Thinking about Lewis's actions towards me, I couldn't help but wonder.
Could it be?
Does Lewis really like me?
While I was pondering, there was a knock on the door.
When I opened it, it was a maid from the Duke's household.
"Lady Selina, the Duke wishes to see you."
I had already informed the Duke that I had something to discuss with him after Lewis left.
It seems he had finished his work and had time now.
"I met the Crown Prince earlier."
I told the Duke about what happened with Philip.
"Yes, I heard from your bodyguard. We should increase your security detail."
The Duke's face rarely showed displeasure.
"I didn't know the Crown Prince could be so disrespectful."
Philip was indeed a bit much...
Maybe he overstepped because he was caught off guard.
"But even if we increase the security, what if something like that happens again?"
"The likelihood of danger will decrease."
I guess so.
We couldn't help the direct encounter with the Crown Prince, but having more guards might help against any emissaries he might send.
The conversation with the Duke concluded with the decision to increase the security.
However, I hesitated before standing up.
The Duke immediately noticed and asked.
"Do you have something else to say?"
"Yes, it's about the Marquis."
"Why? Is Lewis bothering you?"
"No! He's been so kind to me."
The Duke's face softened into a smile, easing the displeasure caused by Philip's actions.
"Tell me. What's going on with Lewis?"
It was the Duke who first explained the Yaniels family's obsession to me.
Being a woman as well, I thought she might understand my concerns.
"It's about the Marquis..."
I shared my worries with the Duke.
That Lewis's kindness seemed more than just friendly.
"I have suspected for a while that the Marquis sees me as more than a friend."
"Lewis is indeed possessive. He has a lot of desires."
As expected, someone who raised Lewis personally knew his character well.
"So, how do you feel?"
The Duke asked me.
"How do you feel about Lewis approaching you as more than a friend?"
"I don't dislike it!"
I could answer that clearly.
I didn't dislike it, but why me?
Lewis and I were friends. I was the one who first suggested being friends, and he accepted.
We even made a certificate to prove our friendship.
I'm not sure if Lewis remembers the certificate.
"If you don't dislike it, then there's nothing to worry about."
"Really?"
"Yes. Whether you remain friends or not, time will resolve it. There's no need to worry if you don't dislike it."
"That's true..."
I nodded, and the Duke added.
"There's another way to handle it."
"What is it?"
"Get rid of the worry quickly."
"Make the worry disappear?"
"Yes! Otherwise, it will keep bothering you."
The Duke laughed joyfully.
Ah, that was a very straightforward method, typical of the Duke.
Lewis came to see me the next day.
As usual, we were alone in the parlor of the Duke's residence.
"Did you talk to your aunt?"
Lewis naturally took my hand. It was a familiar gesture. It felt normal to me, too.
"Yes. She said she would increase the number of guards."
"Good. If she hadn't, I would have."
He seemed relieved.
I quietly watched him and slowly withdrew my hand.
"Marquis."
"Yes?"
"I have a question."
Lewis tilted his head slightly, indicating I should go on.
"You're the closest person to me, right?"
"That's right."
"But isn't that closeness based on friendship?"
I showed him the silver ring we bought at the street stall.
The ring of friendship!
I had put it back in my jewelry box after getting a new ring with Lewis, but I took it out for this moment.
I wanted to know Lewis's feelings.
Was I just confused, or did he really see me that way?
Lewis raised one eyebrow at the sight of the silver ring.
"That was indeed made as a symbol of friendship."
His expression wasn't very pleased, but he affirmed my words.
What was that ambiguous reaction?
"Right? We even wrote a friendship certificate..."
As I tried to move on, Lewis's eyes widened.
"You still remember that?"
"Huh? What?"
"That certificate."
His voice sounded surprised. It seemed Lewis had completely forgotten.
"Of course. Did you forget it, Marquis?"
Even though we sealed it with our blood!
Lewis frowned, trying to recall.
His answer would reveal his feelings. I waited quietly.
Then, Lewis said something shocking.
"I think I lost it."
"What? You lost it?"
"Yeah. I don't have it."
Oh my. I never imagined he would lose it.
Given how we made the certificate, it wasn't surprising he didn't keep it carefully.
But to actually lose it!
"Do you still have yours?"
"Yes. It's our promise."
"A promise that we're friends?"
Lewis's smile looked eerie.
Yeah, that wasn't a genuine smile.
"A promise to prove we're friends, not a contract."
What's the big deal if it's lost? His attitude seemed to say. What's the problem?
"Do we still need it?"
"Well... it was made when we weren't close, so it's useless now."
Lewis spoke with no regret.
"Then it's null and void."
"Is that so? We're not making a new one?"
Lewis frowned.
"Do we need a document to prove we're friends? Are we that kind of relationship?"
When he put it like that, it did seem unnecessary.
"We don't need a document to prove it."
"Right? So, don't worry about it."
"So, our friendship certificate is null and void?"
"Yes. It's null and void."
With those words, Lewis smiled.
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