CHAPTER 033
"Really? But... how did you know?"
"Do you still have anything with you that you had back then?"
"Hmm... it was a week ago."
Nick scrunched up his face, struggling to remember.
"If you can't remember, go to the Magic Tower. Write a will and lie on the experiment table, and I'll find it for you."
"No, I remember now!"
Nick shouted quickly. Is his sudden recall thanks to his desperation to avoid becoming an experimental subject?
What he pulled out was a ring he was wearing on his index finger.
"I bought this at a shop that day."
Nick handed the ring to Lewis respectfully.
Lewis looked at it and said to me, "It's a magic stone."
A magic stone? A magic stone ring?
Surprised, I examined it and saw that it was a ring with a gemstone of a different hue than usual. At first glance, it appeared black, but under the light, it shone brown.
"Is this enough...?"
Lewis asked Nick, who was watching anxiously.
"How much did you pay for this?"
"Excuse me?"
"Sell it to me."
And so, the suspicious magic stone ring came into our possession.
Lewis bought it for twice the price, even though Nick was willing to give it for free.
"If I just take it, it feels like I'm robbing you."
After confirming where he bought it, Lewis sent Nick away, grumbling.
Marquis, Nick might already feel robbed. You created such an intimidating atmosphere...
As I remained silent, Lewis frowned while looking at the ring.
"This is it. It's really annoying me."
"Then give it to me."
I took the ring from Lewis' hand.
"Why?"
"It's bad for you."
"What's the difference if you have it or I have it?"
It made sense when he put it that way...
"Still, it's better than you holding it directly."
Seeing that I was willing to hold onto it, Lewis didn't insist on taking it back. Instead, he examined it closely from the side.
"It's a peculiar magic stone. I don't recall seeing one like this before..."
Lewis, who must have seen countless magic stones, had never seen this one before.
"We'll figure it out gradually. We have it now anyway."
Lewis' determination to solve this mystery was evident in his words.
* * *
The day after the unexpected discovery at the ball, I met with Lewis again in town. We planned to visit the shop where Nick bought the ring.
"This is completely the opposite direction from where we were last time."
Though Lewis took me to several jewelry stores last time to buy gifts, the shop that sold the ring wasn't one we visited.
I entered a shoe store in the middle of our jewelry tour.
"It looks like an ordinary jewelry store."
I expected a shady place, but it was a regular jewelry shop.
The atmosphere and the staff's attitude were all very normal.
"Is there something specific you're looking for?"
"I'm looking for one just like this."
When Lewis showed the ring, the owner immediately recognized it.
"Ah, we have it here. Please take a look."
The owner led us to a place where there were rings identical to the one we had.
"It's a color that noblemen seek for its understated yet elegant glow."
While listening to the owner's sales pitch, Lewis carefully examined the display case.
Is it really the same? Lewis, with an inscrutable expression, finally spoke.
"I don't think what I'm looking for is here."
Lewis took me out of the jewelry store.
"It's different."
"Different?"
"They look identical, but they lack the energy this ring has. They feel empty."
Empty?
Lewis fiddled with the ring obtained from Nick and spoke.
"I think it's been artificially imbued with magic. Magic that works against me, causing noises I shouldn't hear."
"Not many people know you're troubled by noises, do they?"
Aside from the Croft household, probably no one?
"They don't need to know about the noise. As long as it functions to provoke me, it's not impossible."
"Is it like a curse?"
"Something like that. Many people hate me."
Lewis gave a bitter smile.
...How can he smile while saying that?
"If it's a curse, isn't it a big deal?"
Lewis seemed unconcerned.
"It's nothing to worry about. It's just annoying, not lethal."
"Still, if the noise is the same intensity when I'm with you, what's the point of me being here?"
"Is that really important?"
Huh? Then what is?
Lewis gave me an intense look and spoke.
"We're friends now. Whether you can stop the noise or not, you'll always be my friend. Isn't that enough?"
Wait...
I found myself speechless.
"And the ring doesn't matter if it's away from me. Your ability hasn't disappeared completely, has it?"
I couldn't hear Lewis' words. His earlier statement had hit me hard.
"So I mean that much to you? Even if I can't help with the noise, being friends is enough?"
Since when did he see me so fondly?
I had always been the one emphasizing our friendship.
I even wrote a friendship certificate to get a definitive answer from Lewis.
He doesn't care if I can't stop the noise?
"Wow... We've really become close."
I was moved that Lewis said such a thing. Lewis chuckled softly.
"We should be close since we decided to be friends."
Right? Wasn't it weird that I kept worrying about our friendship before?
Lewis looked at me intently and spoke.
"I don't get close to just anyone. Apart from my twin, you're the first friend I've made."
"I know. You're quite particular!"
"So let's stay together forever."
Lewis gave a beautiful smile.
"You were the one who wanted to be friends first, remember?"
Lewis' sincerity was evident in his voice, making it hard to dismiss his words.
I quietly looked at Lewis.
Breathing felt a bit heavier.
A bit overwhelming...
'Lewis is persistent about things he's interested in. His idea of friendship might be different from yours.'
The Duke's words echoed in my mind again.
* * *
No matter how ruthless a person is, being friends with them should be fine, right? Or so I thought.
It seems quite different.
Lewis's idea of friendship and mine might be worlds apart.
How did it come to this?
Isn't he becoming more obsessive, like in the original story?
The only difference is that Lewis used to be sweet to Charlotte, but with me, it seems he's enjoying teasing me...
"What is happening?"
I grabbed my head in frustration while trying to organize my thoughts in my room. What on earth?
One thing I realized today is that Lewis might be displaying Croft's obsessive nature more strongly than anyone else.
Is this kind of friendship safe?
Feeling overwhelmed, I decided to go to the garden for some fresh air.
As I stepped out, I saw Michael walking towards me from the opposite side of the corridor.
"Selina, is something wrong?"
I guess my face showed my worries.
Michael asked, seeing my troubled expression.
"It's nothing. I'm just... full. I ate too much dinner."
"Really? It doesn't seem like it."
Trying to feign being full didn't work...
"Is it about Lewis? Did something happen today?"
How did he guess?
"Bella was angry because she wanted to go shopping, but Lewis took you away instead and cursed Lewis a lot."
That's why!
I had talked to Michael about my concerns a few times before, so it wasn't difficult to bring up Lewis.
"Actually, I'm a bit troubled."
"What's bothering you?"
I found myself following Michael as we talked, though I intended to sort my thoughts in the garden.
Was he taking me to his room? I've never been there before.
As Michael reached for the doorknob, he suddenly stopped.
"Oh. Should we go to the drawing room instead?"
"I don't mind going in."
Michael smiled awkwardly.
"You might be surprised."
"Is it messy?"
"...Sort of."
Don't maids clean it? How can Michael's usually neat room be messy...
Anyway, I followed Michael down to the first-floor drawing room.
I started pouring out my troubles in earnest.
"Lewis really decided to think of me as a friend."
"Yes."
"Actually, the Duke had talked to me about it before-"
I recounted the Duke's advice about Lewis to Michael.
"So Mother said that."
Michael muttered, surprised.
His expression remained serious throughout, clearly not taking my worries lightly.
"I'm not trying to scare you."
Why did his voice drop? Michael's words startled me.
"Mother's words have merit. Lewis is like that."
Oh no...
"I just want to be normal friends with the Marquis. Like our friendship."
Laughing, talking, and sharing worries. Isn't that what friends do?
Fortunately, Michael reassured me.
"Don't worry. It will be okay soon."
"Really?"
Not convinced...
Michael's narrowed eyes seemed to reflect his thinking before he spoke again.
"Mother's advice has merit. Lewis is like that."
Oh no...
"I just want to be normal friends with the Marquis. Like our friendship."
Laughing, talking, and sharing worries. Isn't that what friends do?
Fortunately, Michael reassured me.
"Don't worry. It will be okay soon."
"Really?"
Not convinced...
Seeing my narrow eyes, Michael pondered briefly before speaking again.
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