CHAPTER 092
Lewis pondered for a moment.
It seemed to work. Selina's face was gradually turning red.
"Marquis, aren't you going to talk to Michael today? He'll be back soon!"
"I have no business with him."
I already finished my business with him.
Lewis replied, resting his chin on his hand as he looked at Selina.
Lewis recalled the conversation he had with Michael the last time they met.
"Have you ever felt like Selina sees you as more than a friend?"
There had been several times when he wondered if she saw him as more than a friend.
At the hotel, by the seaside. Even when she woke up on his bed.
"Yes. If it's not my imagination."
"Then it should be easy."
"Not easy at all."
To a skeptical Lewis, Michael kindly gave advice.
"Selina is weak to your face."
"I knew that, but what's the use? She keeps drawing the line, saying let's just be friends."
"At least it's a relief she likes your face, right?"
"Is that all you have to say?"
Lewis narrowed his eyes at him, but Michael didn't even blink.
He had seen that look on Lewis many times.
Michael's eyes sparkled instead.
It seemed his troubles were amusing to that guy.
"Yeah. Honestly, it seems like there's nothing left if you take away your face!"
"You bastard."
Anyway, Michael's advice was to maximize his charm.
So, Lewis kept a smiling face, which was unusual for him.
"Michael was comfortable from the start."
Her words had helped him come to that conclusion.
"Why Michael?"
"He's always smiling. Even when it seems like he shouldn't be smiling..."
So, it was comfortable dealing with him.
"Even knowing he's from the Croft family, his first impression is very good. Not scary, rather refreshing?"
"What about me?"
When Lewis asked that, what had she said?
"Marquis, you're a bit..."
It felt like the phrase "You know it yourself!" was hidden behind her words.
Lewis often smiled in front of Selina. It was far from Michael's smile, though.
So, this time, he tried smiling like Michael.
Even if it was awkward, he could smile as much as he wanted, right?
He didn't do it because he didn't want to, but he could mimic what others did enough.
Of course, a kind tone was possible too.
"Why? I didn't do anything."
It seemed like a good attempt.
Her face turned all red.
She shyly avoided his gaze.
"I-I'll go call Bella!"
"Why Bella?"
Selina quickly left the reception room instead of answering. It looked like she was running away.
"You don't want to be with me?"
Lewis chuckled.
It was his usual laugh, unlike earlier.
With Selina gone, there was no need to keep smiling.
* * *
They spent some time together in the reception room with Bella after she brought her along.
"See me off to the entrance."
When leaving the reception room, Lewis suddenly said to me.
"Me?"
"Of course. I wouldn't ask Bella to do it, would I?"
"What does it matter? Just go alone."
Bella, who had come out of the reception room with us, scolded Lewis.
Lewis squinted his eyes.
"You're cold."
It wasn't unusual for Bella and Lewis to bicker.
But why did my heart sting?
It couldn't be, but his words felt like they were directed at me.
"Go ahead, Bella."
I decided to do as Lewis said.
The entrance wasn't far, anyway.
When I went outside to the entrance with him, the carriage hadn't arrived yet.
We stood by the entrance for a moment until the carriage arrived.
"I like that you're not cold-hearted."
"I'm a bit kind. Haha..."
We exchanged simple jokes.
Looking at the direction where the carriage should come from, Lewis said in a relaxed tone.
"I didn't originally come to the Duke's residence so often. Since you came, it feels like I practically live here."
"That's true."
I clearly remembered Bella grumbling about why he bothered to live independently.
"I come because you're here. I wouldn't come otherwise."
"Is it that much?"
"Yes. I like coming to see you the most."
Lewis expressed his feelings honestly.
Hearing such words repeatedly felt strange.
Knowing it wasn't just a friend's feeling, I didn't know how to react.
Even though there were no servants around, to say it so directly!
My face was burning.
"But if you didn't come at all, people would be disappointed..."
At that moment, the wind blew.
I squinted for a moment because of the wind.
My hair covered my eyes, so I brushed it aside.
Lewis looked especially clear then.
He was standing with a frown because of the strong wind, his hands in his pockets, in a slouched posture.
Why did he look so cool?
I stared at Lewis for a moment, blankly.
Maybe because his appearance was perfect just standing there?
Honestly, while his smile earlier was charming, I preferred his natural look.
It was just his usual self, but it made my heart flutter a little.
Just then, a carriage approached.
The person getting out of the Duke's carriage was Michael. He must have returned from his outing.
"It's Michael."
I waved at Michael as he got out of the carriage.
It seemed time to end the escorting.
I pressed down my strangely fluttering heart and spoke.
"Marquis, I'll go in now."
See you next time!
I hurriedly said goodbye and went inside.
It was just Lewis, so why did my heart race?
* * *
"Still no news about the Tower Master."
Philip said to Madden.
Why was Lewis still unaffected by the magic stone?
The doubt he had last time grew with time.
If the curse functioned properly, something should have happened by now.
"Is it really effective?"
"Absolutely."
Madden replied firmly to the doubting Philip.
In truth, Madden was going mad.
He had cast a powerful curse on the magic stone.
Although not as strong as the Tower Master, he was still the head of the court wizards.
He had imbued the stone with a curse through his own research, but why was there no effect at all?
Lewis was acting as if nothing was wrong.
He might be hiding the effects, but that didn't seem likely.
Lewis wasn't the type to stay quiet after being attacked.
Catching Alain on Ceylon Island was because he couldn't stand being attacked, wasn't it?
If he had been harmed, Lewis wouldn't have remained silent until now.
"The Marquis is definitely unharmed."
Philip said.
Seeing Madden's face filled with frustration, it seemed there was a reason they didn't know.
Recalling past events, Philip spoke thoughtfully.
"Thinking about it, it's strange."
"What do you mean?"
"When Lady Selina saw us."
Selina had clearly seen the magic stone.
Yet Lewis hadn't confronted or questioned Philip about it afterward.
And a while later, when Philip tried to win Selina over, she refused.
Considering their special relationship, she must have told Lewis about it.
So why was Lewis so quiet?
"I don't know what the Marquis is thinking."
Madden couldn't easily respond.
Philip hadn't asked expecting an answer. He knew Lewis better than Madden did.
Talking any further wouldn't bring immediate conclusions.
Philip stood up.
"I have somewhere to go with you."
Madden silently followed Philip.
Having united with Philip to deal with Lewis, he had become like the crown prince's right-hand man.
Philip headed to the temple.
"I came to see the High Priest. I contacted him in advance."
He had business at the temple.
It wasn't publicly known, but Philip was aware through reports.
He planned to discuss it with the High Priest.
Though he hadn't specified the details to the High Priest yet.
Arriving earlier than scheduled, the High Priest's previous appointment hadn't ended yet.
"He'll be here soon. Could you wait in the reception room?"
Philip spoke to the guiding priest.
"Can I see that magic circle again?"
"Sorry?"
The priest hesitated.
That temple was currently off-limits.
It was decided after a meeting by the priests following the identification of the magic circle.
"Well..."
"It won't harm the temple. I'm just personally curious about mystical things, so there's no need to be wary."
Philip had always been interested in magic.
Even before his enmity with Lewis, he had studied magic-related materials.
He couldn't participate in the magic circle investigation because of another appointment that day.
"Then, follow me."
The hesitant priest guided Philip.
Even as a temple priest, he couldn't outright refuse the crown prince's request.
Following the priest, familiar sights appeared before him.
"What do you think?"
Philip looked at Madden.
At least Lewis knew it resembled the magic circle for summoning demons.
But Madden didn't even know that.
He only knew it was an unexplained magic circle, even Lewis hadn't deciphered it yet.
"It will take considerable time to uncover the truth."
Madden answered cautiously.
But in truth, the magic circle wasn't important to him.
He was too preoccupied with the unsettlingly quiet Lewis to care about such a thing.
"The High Priest has arrived."
While they were silently observing the magic circle, a priest approached to inform them.
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