CHAPTER 094
It was Rosaline.
The magician from the Kingdom of Tyria whom I had met at the magic tower yesterday!
So she really did come to see Lewis.
Seeing Lewis out on the streets with someone else—could they be really close?
He talks with Charlotte but never goes out for meals with her.
Having someone else close to Lewis should be a good thing.
So why do I feel this way?
‘Why am I not happy…?’
As I mulled over this strange feeling, I missed the moment to call out to Lewis.
While I stood there watching, they entered a nearby restaurant.
I could have just called him. Why did I hesitate?
Even I found my behavior strange. Then I heard Bella’s voice from behind.
“I found the hat!”
“You didn’t have to rush.”
Bella, considerate of my waiting, was holding the wide-brimmed hat in her hand.
As she reached me, she put on the hat and said,
“I’m hungry. Shall we go get lunch?”
“Oh, right.”
“What do you want to eat?”
“Hmm…”
It was an impulsive decision. I pointed to the restaurant Lewis had entered.
“Let’s go there!”
“You already picked a place? Is it good?”
I don’t know. I haven’t been there either!
First, I couldn’t call out to Lewis when I saw him, and now I was following him into the restaurant.
It felt like I was spying on him!
I’m not the type to obsess over someone.
This feels exactly like something Lewis would do...
Anyway, Bella and I went inside the restaurant.
A staff member approached us immediately.
“Do you have a reservation?”
“No. We didn’t make a reservation, but can we dine now?”
While Bella talked to the staff, I instinctively looked for Lewis.
“This way, please.”
We were led to a table by the window.
There he is!
From my seat, I could see Lewis.
He was further inside, past the corner, but visible from our window seat.
Should I tell Bella? I decided not to.
She might say I followed Lewis here, which is true...and I wanted to avoid that.
I claimed I didn’t have romantic feelings for Lewis, so why do I feel so conflicted?
It was truly baffling.
“Selina, what do you want to eat?”
“I’m fine with anything!”
Even as I answered, my eyes kept drifting to them.
I hadn’t planned to watch him from afar like this.
I hadn’t intended to spy on him.
Is it because she’s the first woman I’ve seen who’s close to him?
I had expected he might meet someone, but not someone entirely new, not even Charlotte.
Come to think of it, she looks somewhat like Charlotte…
“Selina, what are you looking at?”
Bella followed my gaze.
“What the...it’s Lewis!”
She soon spotted Lewis and asked,
“Who’s that with him?”
“She’s a magician from the Kingdom of Tyria.”
Now that I think about it, I only knew that much. I didn’t know how they got to know each other.
“That’s unusual. Lewis having lunch with a woman.”
“Right?”
Even Bella found it odd.
So it wasn’t just me!
Their meal finished before ours.
They had to pass by our table to leave, so we naturally met Lewis’s gaze.
His eyes widened slightly in surprise.
“You two are here too?”
“Haha, hello, Marquis.”
I also greeted Rosaline.
“Hello, Lady Hayes?”
“Hello. We meet again.”
Lewis had a brief conversation with Bella.
“Were you out shopping with Selina?”
“Yes. But what about you? Having lunch with a woman.”
Bella asked what I couldn’t. As expected of Bella.
“Oh, we planned to meet when she came to the Empire.”
“I’m traveling in the Empire.”
Rosaline added with a smile.
If it’s just a trip, will she leave soon?
Why am I thinking about this? It’s strange.
I felt unusually restless that day.
The next day, Lewis came to see me.
Normally, we would lounge in the drawing room, but today my mind was stuck on one thing.
Should I ask or not?
About Rosaline.
How they became close, and why she stood out among all the magicians around Lewis.
Could I ask?
As I pondered, Lewis spoke.
“Do you have something to say?”
Oh, he noticed.
Lewis, looking amused, said,
“Stop staring at me so intensely and just say it.”
“No, I wasn’t staring...”
Anyway, since I was curious, I decided to ask.
“Marquis, may I ask about the magician, Rosaline, from yesterday? What’s your relationship with her?”
“Before becoming the Tower Master, I traveled and met her.”
Lewis answered easily.
“There are many magicians around you, though?”
So why is he particularly close with her?
I was curious about that.
“You seem especially close with her.”
“We have a magical connection.”
Lewis answered well but suddenly threw a question at me.
“Why do you ask? You seem very interested in Rosaline.”
“Ah!”
Did I ask too much?
I quickly shook my head.
“No, I was just curious. You’re not usually close with anyone...”
Oh, did I say too much?
I trailed off awkwardly and laughed.
“Bella found it unusual too, so naturally, I was curious! It’s nothing.”
“Really?”
Lewis didn’t seem convinced. He probably noticed I was focusing on this...
Feeling embarrassed, I wanted to hide.
Could we hang out later instead?
“Please, excuse me. I’ll be upstairs!”
“What? Wait-”
Without thinking, I quickly got up and left the drawing room.
I vaguely heard Lewis saying something, but I couldn’t hear it clearly in my rush to leave.
I should at least see him off.
* * *
“What’s going on?”
Lewis looked at the door Selina had rushed out of.
She had just up and left when he came to see her.
He came to visit her, and now she just left him behind.
If he wanted quiet, he wouldn’t have come here.
“Why is she so curious about Rosaline?”
Lewis muttered to himself.
Her unusually anxious expression bothered him.
Did she have a reason to feel uneasy?
When Selina first saw Rosaline, she had asked as if it were a big deal.
“A magician from Tyria, what brings you here?”
“Nothing important.”
It wasn’t a big deal because it wasn’t important.
Rosaline was a magician.
Lewis had met her during a trip to Tyria.
To him, she was just another talented magician.
But if Selina was concerned about her...
A possibility crossed Lewis’s mind.
Was she jealous of Rosaline?
“No way. She was flustered when I said I liked her.”
So Selina wouldn’t be jealous. But her behavior suggested otherwise...
Lewis had thought there might be a possibility between them.
Today, he felt more certain of that possibility.
“She’s been thinking about me.”
With that thought, Lewis smiled.
He needed to clear the misunderstanding.
He followed Selina out the door.
* * *
“You’re back early today?”
In Bella’s room, she remarked with surprise.
“I just came back early today.”
“Really? Then let’s hang out. I’m thinking of making a new doll.”
“A regular doll…right?”
“Of course. I always make dolls I love. Want to see?”
Bella showed me a bunch of papers, saying she was designing a new doll.
This kind of doll looks like something out of a horror movie...
I think I came to the wrong room.
Is Bella trying to make another cursed doll?
“Bella.”
“Yeah?”
“...Never mind.”
It seems you’re not cut out for making dolls. Just like how Michael’s cookies always turn out bizarre!
I couldn’t say it out loud, but then I heard a knock on the door.
“Oh? Selina’s here too. How about some cookies? I baked them.”
It was Michael.
He showed us a tray with cookies that looked like they were screaming to escape.
Is today some kind of special day?
“Aren’t they cute?”
Cute...? These chicks look like they’ve come from hell.
“Want to try? I added a special ingredient today. Frog-”
“No! Thanks, but no!”
Why would he put a frog in cookies!?
The Yaniels twins acting strange simultaneously made me realize again that this is Croft.
“Don’t offer these to anyone outside. Only our family can eat them.”
“Why did you bring that here? I wouldn’t eat it.”
Bella said what needed to be said!
Maybe Michael gets along better outside because he only makes these things at home?
“But I worked hard on these…”
“Then eat them yourself!”
While the twins focused on each other, I quietly slipped out of Bella’s room.
At that moment, I came face-to-face with—
“Gah.”
“Why so surprised?”
It was Lewis, the reason I came upstairs in the first place.
“Is it noisy in there?”
“Bella’s making a cursed doll, and Michael wants us to try his frog cookies…”
“They’re both crazy.”
Lewis clicked his tongue.
Here, Lewis seemed the most normal. Even though he was actually the most dangerous person.
“Did you come to see Bella?”
It would be chaotic inside, but she’s in there.
I tried to leave, but Lewis spoke.
“No, I came to see you.”
“Oh, me?”
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