CHAPTER 088
Lewis, who had just returned from the duke's residence, headed straight to his office.
"Marquis, are you looking for something?"
The butler, who had come to report on the estate's affairs, asked.
Lewis's frantic search through the drawers made him seem quite urgent.
"Where was it?"
"Pardon?"
The question wasn’t directed at the butler. He was talking to himself while searching for some documents.
After a bit more rummaging, he asked the butler, "Have you seen a document with Selina's and my name on it? It’s also stamped."
He couldn’t bring himself to call it a friendship certificate. It was too embarrassing to admit having written such a thing.
The butler thought for a moment before responding with a puzzled expression, "I don't recall seeing such a document, sir."
"Then leave. We’ll discuss your business later."
After sending the butler out, Lewis resumed his search.
However, the document with Selina was nowhere to be found in the office.
"Could it be somewhere else?"
This time he moved to his bedroom. But even there, he couldn’t find the document.
He ended up spending almost an hour searching for it.
Finally, Lewis thought to himself, "Did I really throw it away?"
It was such a long time ago that he couldn’t remember clearly.
Back then, he didn’t have these feelings for Selina, so it wasn’t surprising that he might have put it somewhere and forgotten about it.
A newfound curiosity towards someone he hadn't previously considered.
He had just begun thinking it might be nice to be friends.
Finally, it was found.
A servant of the estate had located it in the bookshelf in the study.
"Marquis, I’ve found it!"
"You found it?"
"Yes!"
The servant’s answer was resolute.
He thought it must be something very important to Lewis.
The document was titled "Friendship Certificate" in large, cute handwriting.
Though it was the first time the servant had seen such a document, he realized it was very important given how eagerly Lewis had been searching for it.
"Give it to me."
The servant respectfully handed the document to Lewis.
He was happy to be of help to the Marquis!
Lewis held the document and then set it aflame.
"…!"
All the servants were shocked.
Had he been so eager to find it just to destroy it?
"That will be all. You may go."
Lewis, now looking relieved, waved his hand dismissively after burning the friendship certificate.
* * *
Lewis seemed to like me, didn’t he?
That was the thought that crossed my mind the day after I was swept up by Lewis’s pace.
"When Lewis speaks, it strangely feels convincing, doesn’t it?"
Was I overwhelmed by his presence?
Because he spoke so confidently, it sounded plausible?
Being alone allowed me to organize my thoughts better than I could yesterday.
"Lewis doesn’t like being called my friend."
His expression always soured whenever I mentioned our friendship.
And he seemed pleased when I suggested the friendship certificate was null.
Even though we had created it while shedding blood, he laughed nonchalantly!
I finally understood.
Lewis sees me as more than a friend.
I realized that my confusion over his behavior wasn’t baseless confidence.
"Does this too…?"
I looked at the self-defense ring on my finger.
Lewis was happy when we decided to get matching rings.
It wasn’t just a token of friendship to him!
"Oh, what a mess."
I rested my chin on my hand, staring at the ring.
Not knowing that I had suggested we get matching rings…
But I didn’t want to take it off now.
It was for self-defense, and I also wanted to have matching rings with him.
But still… the fact that Lewis sees me as a woman!
The more I thought about it, the stranger I felt. It wasn’t unpleasant or repulsive at all.
On the one hand, I had this thought:
'Is Lewis mistaking his feelings?'
He’s someone who has spent most of his time with the Croft family and hardly anyone else.
Once he opens his heart, he becomes incredibly tenacious.
Even the Duke and Michael had noticed Lewis’s persistent behavior towards me.
But is it really love?
Could he be mistaking his desire to be closer to his first friend, who just happens to be the opposite sex, for love?
"Let’s be cautious for now."
We could end up hurting each other if I get my hopes up for nothing.
'Until I’m sure of his feelings, I’ll pretend not to notice.'
I concluded.
* * *
Three days later, in the duke’s parlor.
"The crown prince is quieter than I expected."
It was Lewis who spoke.
Lewis, the Yaniels twins, and I had just started a conversation in the duke's parlor.
"Yeah. Given that Selina caught him manufacturing magic stones and failed to recruit her."
Michael replied.
Michael was aware of what happened with Philip in brief.
Though Bella wasn’t someone Lewis sought help from, she made an appearance.
I had mentioned to Lewis that it might be good for Bella to know about this, to avoid her feeling left out.
"Is Selina's security intact?"
"Yes. Don’t worry about it, Lewis."
Michael answered earnestly.
Even when I was at the count's estate, I didn't receive such devoted protection.
It felt odd that my security detail was more elaborate than Bella’s, who was the lady of the house.
So I whispered to Bella.
"Is it really okay for me to receive such protection? You're the lady of this house."
"It's fine. Besides, I'm stronger than the guards. No one in our family would worry about my safety."
Bella replied nonchalantly.
Is it really okay...?
Lewis asked Michael again.
"Have you seen the crown prince at the palace? How’s he?"
"Same as always. He's still hanging out with the Madden count."
"Even after admitting he made the magic stones himself? How shameless."
Bella and I were mainly listening.
Of course, I joined the conversation here and there.
"The assassins who appeared when we went to the Marquis's hometown. Could the crown prince have sent them?"
"Those guys? No. Assassins have been coming even before I became the tower master."
"Right. They've been around since Lewis lived in the duke's residence."
Michael agreed.
Lewis smirked bitterly.
"I have a personal grudge with them."
How does a mage end up making such enemies...?
Considering he even got into trouble abroad, it must be Lewis's personality.
While I was pondering, Lewis spoke to me.
"Keep that ring on."
"Pardon? Oh, yes, of course."
The conversation continued mainly between Lewis and Michael.
I glanced at Lewis from time to time.
Rather, my gaze unintentionally kept drifting towards him.
It was the first time seeing him since confirming our friendship, knowing he didn't see me as just a friend.
I was conscious of it.
Even when trying not to be!
I tried hard to concentrate on the conversation. I couldn’t keep getting distracted like this!
It was tough...
"Selina, shall we head upstairs-"
"Wait a moment."
When the conversation ended a bit later, Lewis called out to me as I was about to follow Bella.
"Could you make some noise?"
Then he gestured to his head.
Come to think of it, we hadn't had any contact today, right? The Yaniels twins had entered with him.
"Bella, I’ll be right up!"
"Alright, then."
Bella followed Michael out, leaving just Lewis and me in the room.
Lewis held out his palm, and I placed my hand on it.
Today, this ordinary contact felt different.
Considering that someone who I thought of only as a friend liked me was surprising...
"What are you thinking?"
"Huh? Nothing, really."
"Your expression is unusually stiff today."
His keen perception was annoying.
"I slept wrong, so my neck is a bit stiff. It’s hard to move my head."
"Really?"
Lewis looked incredulous.
"You seemed fine moving earlier."
He noticed that?!
Just as much as I had been watching him, Lewis had been observing my condition.
I hadn’t felt it in the group, but now alone, it felt so awkward.
Knowing his feelings was the reason.
But if I became this conscious, wouldn’t Lewis notice everything?
* * *
I decided to change my approach over the last few days.
Even if I knew Lewis's feelings, I wouldn't consciously acknowledge them until I was sure. Acting awkwardly would only make me more suspicious!
I would behave as usual.
That's why I came to the mage tower today.
"The magic stone is still the same."
I tapped it lightly.
Was it okay to touch? Lewis didn’t specifically stop me.
"Shouldn't we get rid of this? We know the crown prince was involved."
Lewis kept this to find the mastermind.
Since the crown prince had admitted to making it, why was Lewis still keeping it?
I turned and asked, puzzled.
"I'm just going to examine it."
Did he plan to research it separately?
I turned my attention back to the magic stone, stroking its smooth, polished surface.
"What are you doing?"
"Oh, just touching it."
I withdrew my hand from the stone.
"This one stone alone nullifies my abilities, so wouldn’t having multiple make it worse?"
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