Chapter 134
“Gideon, your face’s gotten really pale, hasn’t it?”
“Well, I haven’t seen sunlight for over a week now.”
It had already been a week since we arrived at the mansion of House Balmuth.
After spending several days inside a massive cave, my skin had indeed turned paler, just as Lisa said.
“So that’s why everyone in your family has such white faces.”
“Well, it can’t be helped. Everyone has a natural aversion to sunlight. Because of that, they rarely go outside the cave… Eventually, like an old tale, their skin becos pale as a vampire’s.”
“So if I marry you, will I end up like that too?”
“Probably?”
Lisa touched my pale face thoughtfully.
“If I beco the head of the house, I’ll be the owner of this mansion… but if you don’t like it, we could live sowhere else. Our family doesn’t just have this one mansion.”
“You an the one in the capital, right? I heard about it from Lady Kafka the other day.”
“Yeah, it’s the mansion provided by the Imperial Family. I heard the heads of noble families stay there often when the Imperial Palace assigns them work that lasts several days.”
I thought I’d heard sothing about that before.
A grand mansion built on one of the best plots in the Empire’s capital—a place where sunlight stread in and luxury abounded.
But the part about sunlight made
wonder…
“Would that be fine, though? You don’t really like sunlight either, do you?”
“It’s fine. I don’t particularly dislike sunlight. Actually, sotis I want to go outside and feel it.”
“I see. Now that you ntion it, your skin does look a bit more tanned compared to the others in your family.”
The people of House Balmuth had skin as white as porcelain.
It was almost as if they’d never once seen the sun in their entire lives.
Lisa’s complexion was pale too, but less so than the others.
“Yeah, that’s right. My mother and I have always been fairly active outdoors. Well, to be precise, every head of the house and heir has tended to be a bit more tanned than the rest.”
“Because they train outside to strengthen their combat ability?”
“Hmm… not exactly, but that’s roughly the reason. To beco the head of House Balmuth, one needs various abilities, but combat prowess is valued the most.”
After saying that, Lisa suddenly looked up at
curiously.
“What do you prefer? Skin that’s a little tanned? Or skin that’s completely pale like Lily’s?”
“Well…”
I glanced at Lisa for a mont.
As ntioned earlier, compared to the others in House Balmuth, she was more tanned—but objectively speaking, her skin was still very pale.
I tried to picture Lisa with slightly darker skin.
Honestly, that would be pretty in its own way, but…
“I think I like you just the way you are now.”
“So you prefer fair skin, huh? Then should I make mine even paler?”
“No need. Rather than being too white, you look best as you are now.”
“If you say so… I was actually thinking of tanning a bit when we go to the beach.”
“Why go that far?”
I chuckled softly and brushed Lisa’s hair.
Speaking of the beach… we were planning to go soon.
But before that, there was sowhere we had to visit first.
“We’re visiting Lady Nia tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah. We’ll leave slowly after lunch. We should arrive at Nia’s house around evening.”
The Varbellos Family.
At last, we’d be visiting the family of that magician.
“And we’ll spend two days there, then head straight to the beach?”
“Right. I’ve already booked a place to stay near the beach, so we can go without worry.”
“You already got everything ready?”
“I asked the butler to take care of it. He was quick with the arrangents. Ah, but the preparations aren’t quite done yet.”
As she said that, Lisa looked
over from head to toe.
Her expression clearly said she had plenty to comnt on.
“Let’s buy you so clothes in the capital.”
“My clothes? That’s not really necessary…”
“I’ll buy them for you, so just accept them. I know you don’t really care about appearances as a noble, but I care. You’re always wearing the sa worn-out clothes.”
“…Has it been bothering you that much?”
“Yeah. Every ti I see your clothes, I can’t help thinking I’ve been neglecting you.”
At her words, I glanced down at my pajamas again.
They were, admittedly, quite worn out.
Not only this one, but most of my clothes were on the old side.
It was true that, for soone dating the daughter of a ducal family, my wardrobe didn’t quite fit the image.
“Then I’ll just buy them myself.”
“No, let’s go together. I’ll buy them for you, and you’ll wear what I pick.”
“I don’t really…”
“Honestly, I think my choices would be much better than yours.”
“….”
She wasn’t wrong, so I couldn’t argue.
Amused by my silence, Lisa chuckled.
“In return, you’ll pick sothing for
too.”
“Huh? Clothes?”
“No, not clothes. Since we’re going to the beach, I need a new swimsuit.”
“…You an, you want
to pick your swimsuit?”
“Yup. You’ll pick it for , won’t you?”
“That’s…”
“You will, right?”
“…Yeah.”
Satisfied with my answer, Lisa nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitent.
“You said you’ll be back in about a week, Lisa?”
“Yes. We’ll spend three days at Nia’s and the rest at the beach.”
Ti passed, and soon it was the day we were leaving for Nia Varbellos’s mansion.
After lunch, everyone gathered in the central hallway of the House Balmuth mansion.
Before Lisa and I departed, we exchanged brief farewells.
“Can’t I co too? I’m sure I could have fun at the beach.”
“Mother, you have work to do.”
Lisa replied firmly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“It’d be troubleso if a duchess left her post so casually.”
“Che. Well, I suppose you’re right. I played plenty when I was your age anyway. Enjoy yourself while you can. Once you beco the head of the house, you won’t have ti for that, you know?”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Lisa nodded with a surprisingly serious expression.
She pulled
closer.
“You heard that, Gideon? Once I beco the Head of the House, we won’t have much ti to make mories together.”
“So, you’re saying we should make as many as we can now?”
“Yeah. Of course, even after I beco the Head, I’d never neglect you.”
“No matter what you do, Nuna, I’ll always stay by your side.”
As I smiled and said that, Lisa’s eyes suddenly burned with sothing fierce.
As if to prove it, Lisa brought her lips toward my neck…
“Unnie. Stop. Anything lewd is forbidden. Forbidden. I’m still a kid.”
…Only to be stopped by Lily, who was nearby.
Lisa turned toward her younger sister, looking utterly dumbfounded.
“Why would drinking Gideon’s blood be considered lewd…?”
“You’re not just going to quietly drink his blood, are you? You’ll probably start touching weird places with your hands, groping and stuff.”
“……”
With nothing to say, Lisa scratched her head and stepped away from .
Then Lily, wearing a foxlike smile, clung to my side.
“Oppa, have a safe trip… and think carefully about my proposal, okay?”
“Proposal? What kind of proposal do you an?”
“Taking
as your second wife. I don’t mind being the second; I just want to be with you too…”
“Hey, Lily.”
Pulling her sister away from , Lisa wrapped her arms around .
“I told you before—don’t cross the line.”
“Ah, co on. Isn’t this much okay?”
Caught between the two sisters and being pulled back and forth, their father appeared in the hallway.
He wasn’t alone—he was holding his youngest son in his arms.
“My daughters really seem to like you, Gideon. I’m almost jealous.”
“Ah, I-I’m sorry?”
“What’s there to apologize for? I should be thanking you. You’re an upright man who makes my eldest daughter happy.”
Kale smiled as he walked up to .
“Co on, Natsu. Gideon hyung is leaving—say goodbye.”
“Hyung, ha-have a good trip!”
“Yes, I will. I’ll be careful and return safely.”
After greeting Lisa’s adorable little brother with a smile, I turned my head again.
“Nuna, you said the carriage was already called, right?”
“Yeah, it should be waiting outside the cave. If you’re ready, shall we go?”
“Then, let’s head out.”
After saying goodbye to the mbers of House Balmuth,
Lisa and I stepped out of the cave for the first ti in a while.
When we arrived at Nia’s mansion, I once again realized just how high Lisa’s standing was.
“Greetings to the Lady of House Balmuth.”
House Varbellos.
A noble family of renowned magicians in the Empire.
Though they were a prestigious lineage that had produced many talented magicians, even they couldn’t ignore rank.
When Lisa arrived, the Head of House Varbellos, along with the key figures of the family,
and even the nurous servants of the mansion—
they all greeted Lisa and
with utmost formality.
“Wow. Every ti I see this, it really hits —you really are the daughter of a ducal house.”
While everyone bowed their heads, Nia awkwardly scratched her cheek as she approached Lisa.
“I an, everyone’s bowing so politely, and I’m the only one standing here like this. Should I bow too?”
“Don’t. Seeing you bow and talk formally to
feels too weird.”
After replying to Nia, Lisa turned toward the Head of House Varbellos—Nia’s father.
“Please, raise your head, Lord Varbellos. I’m rely here as your daughter’s guest. You’re making
feel sorry.”
“Not at all, Lady Lisa. On the contrary, it’s an honor for us that you would grace our ho. I heard my daughter invited you before the break—is that right?”
“Yes. Nia unnie invited
over, so I ca. But you really don’t have to trouble yourselves over us. We’re just staying for a short while.”
The Lord of House Varbellos shook his head.
“That would be unacceptable. You’re the daughter of a Duke—more than that, the next Head of House Balmuth. How could we treat you carelessly?”
“I suppose refusing any further would be impolite.”
Lisa nodded with a helpless smile.
“Then, I’ll be in your care for the next three days, Lord Varbellos.”
“It will be our honor to serve you, Lady.”
Once again, the Lord of House Varbellos bowed deeply.
Then, he turned his gaze toward .
“Lady Lisa, may I ask who the gentleman beside you is?”
“Hm? Ah, he’s… um, I’m Gideon Kyrgram. A Baron overseeing the Serenus Region in the Empire’s south.”
“A Baron of Serenus… Serenus—that’s where the Protected Zone for Other Races is, correct?”
I nodded and continued.
“Yes, that’s right. But please, you don’t need to pay
any special attention. I’m rely accompanying Lady Lisa—”
“He’s my fiancé.”
“…Pardon?”
“Eh?”
At Lisa’s words, both the Lord and I blinked.
I quickly turned to her.
“Nuna, calling
your fiancé is still a bit—”
“Oh, right. We haven’t held the engagent ceremony yet. Then… he’s my future fiancé, and my current lover.”
“Ah… I see. Well then, I’ll make sure both of you are as comfortable as possible during your stay. Please leave your luggage to us. We’ll guide you inside.”
“Yes, thank you.”
At the Lord’s signal, the servants moved in perfect order.
anwhile, Nia smirked and spoke to us.
“So, you two really decided to get engaged? Did your families approve?”
“Yeah. We talked about everything while Gideon was staying at our ho.”
“When’s the ceremony?”
“Probably this winter.”
At the ntion of winter, Nia let out a small laugh.
“Wow, so it’ll happen before my graduation. Wait—before I even graduate, you’re getting engaged? That’s kind of unfair.”
“If you’re jealous, unnie, you should hurry up and get yourself a boyfriend.”
“…If my dad weren’t right here, I’d seriously hit you.”
“You’re being all polite in front of your father, huh?”
“My father’s a bit strict about this sort of thing. Anyway… Gideon.”
Nia turned to .
“You said you wanted to et Roy, right?”
“Yes, if possible, I’d like to speak with him—”
“I’ll take you to him right away. He was around here just a mont ago… Ah, there he is. Hey, Roy! Co here!”
At Nia’s shout, a male student who was quietly walking into the mansion turned around.
Then, he quietly approached us.
“Gideon wanted to see you.”
“It’s been a while, Roy.”
“…Yeah, it’s been a while.”
Roy greeted
in his usual calm, quiet tone.
Then, he fell silent again, simply watching .
His eyes seed to ask, why did you call ?
So I answered directly.
“I had so questions about the Ancient Beings. If you have ti, perhaps we could—”
“Follow .”
“…Pardon?”
“Follow
to my room. We’ll talk there.”
Just a mont ago, Roy had seed quiet and composed, just like always.
But suddenly, that calm deanor vanished entirely—replaced by a burning curiosity as he grabbed my arm and pulled
along.
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