Sushia threw the romance book aside.
After reading for about five minutes, her head started to throb.
The more she read, the more Sushia felt like she was being cornered.
The absurd notion that she had fallen in love with Ascal Erindale―
“That’s impossible. I’ve always been fine until now. Could it be so kind of magic?”
The pages of the fallen romance book fluttered.
A trigger.
――I’m in love with Ascal.
“Ahhh! It’s coming up again! Get out of my head, please!”
Sushia questioned herself.
What if her heart starts acting strange after seeing soone else confess?
A gust of wind flipped the pages of the book.
The book was reading her mind.
Intrigued, Sushia picked the book back up and turned the pages.
“Gasp!”
Sushia slamd the book shut.
―12 Ways to Steal That Man.
“Why is a book like this in the library?”
It was scandalous. Sushia hid the book in a place where no one would find it.
Casting one last glance at the book, Sushia sighed.
“I should just go on a date.”
She was determined to find a boyfriend, return to the evaluation departnt, and flaunt him in front of Ascal and Lia.
‘Why did you have to show that scene... I’ll get my revenge.’
She was angry.
Though sothing felt out of order, Sushia decided to ignore it.
****
And so, Sushia decided to go on a blind date.
If anyone marries her, they would imdiately beco the Duke of Senestia.
It was like winning the lottery. Naturally, the number of n applying for the blind date was overwhelming.
It was even featured in the Empire’s newspaper.
Of course, Sushia never said such a thing.
Regardless, the news that Sushia was going on a blind date spread so far that even Jax, who ran the local butcher shop, had heard about it.
“If you succeed, it’s a complete life reversal.”
“It’s a once-in-a-lifeti chance to have wealth, honor, and a woman all at once.”
“I heard Lady Sushia almost beca a saintess. She must be beautiful, right?”
The venue for the blind date was the Senestia house in the capital of the empire. With great ambition, all the n headed toward the Senestia mansion.
The era of the grand blind date had begun.
――You have a criminal record, disqualified.
――You’re too short, disqualified.
――You’re balding, disqualified.
――Take care of your current wife, disqualified.
****
However, the wall of reality was high.
Most didn’t even pass the first round and returned ho dejected.
The remaining 611 were granted permission to step foot into the Senestia Duke’s estate.
The vast courtyard of the ducal house.
As expected from the most prestigious noble family in the empire, the courtyard was adorned with extravagant decorations and rare flowers.
“If I pass the test, this entire estate will be mine. Hehe.”
Knight Randeon was full of ambition.
He glanced around at the other n who had passed the first round and was convinced he was the best among them.
After a short while, the head butler stepped up onto the platform.
“Everyone has gathered. We will now begin the second round.”
And then, the servants approached the participants with containers in their hands.
“Please draw a piece of paper from the container.”
Randeon, though puzzled, drew a piece of paper.
It was white.
‘Is this simple thing really the second test?’
Looking to his side, he saw a man with a protruding belly draw a black piece of paper, stroking his chin in confusion.
‘The colors are different. Why?’
Once all the participants had drawn their papers, the butler spoke.
“Those of you who drew black papers may return ho.”
Murmurs filled the air.
Randeon, holding his white paper, sighed in relief.
But he still couldn’t shake off the nagging question. What was the aning behind this paper?
The n who drew black papers turned red with anger and protested.
“We ca all this way, and now you’re sending us back empty-handed? Give us a proper explanation!”
The butler replied with almost eerie simplicity.
“The second test is one of luck. In a way, everything in this world depends on luck. You simply didn’t have any.”
With this test, it seed that around 500 people were about to be eliminated. Naturally, complaints started pouring out from all directions.
Among them were nobles and renowned knights, and a rebellious atmosphere began to form around those who refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of the test.
“We cannot accept this. Bring forth a different test!”
The situation was on the verge of turning the participants into a full-blown mob. The butler coldly scanned them with his eyes.
Then.
“If you’re eliminated, you should just go ho, wash your feet, and sleep. Why are there so many complaints? Got too much energy? If you’re that upset, why don’t you take on?”
A man appeared, casually picking at his ear. In his hand was a white slip of paper.
It was Arthur Debrue.
The champion of the jousting tournant and a prominent candidate to be the next Swordmaster.
There were even rumors that he frequently visited the crown prince’s office.
“Haha. Luck is indeed an important factor. I, Thomas Villane, will accept the result.”
“So will I.”
“Hm.”
Most of the participants slunk away, disappearing quietly. That was how much authority Arthur Debrue’s na now carried in the capital.
“Thank you, Baron Debrue. You’ve saved us so trouble.”
“What’s the third test?”
“A simple one. The remaining participants will compete in a tournant, and only the top four will earn the right to have a direct eting with Lady Sushia.”
A martial arts tournant.
Simple, and exactly to his liking.
Arthur Debrue had no doubt.
No doubt that he would win.
‘Son, soon you’ll have a new stepmother.’
‘Arthur Senestia. ’
‘Not a bad ring to it.’
****
Arthur advanced to the upper rounds in the blink of an eye. Only one match remained to reach the top four.
Standing in the dueling arena, Arthur narrowed his eyes. His next opponent had a familiar face.
More than just familiar—it was like seeing his own reflection in the opponent’s face.
“Son, what are you doing here?”
“...A lot has happened. I just ca to see Sushia, but she wouldn’t listen to .”
Ascal Erindale.
His next opponent was none other than his own son.
“Should I forfeit now?”
“No, let’s have a proper match. My old wound still aches whenever it rains.”
Arthur still hadn’t forgotten the battle by the sea.
Even though he was defeated by a cowardly pincer attack, a loss was a loss.
“Then here I co.”
“Co on.”
Arthur knew his son’s skills had improved significantly lately. But to him, Ascal was still far from his level.
Arthur was confident of his victory.
-Clang!
And in a single clash, that confidence wavered.
“What... happened to you?”
“There are things that are hard to explain.”
Arthur adjusted his grip on his sword.
He couldn’t tolerate anyone stronger than himself.
A cold hostility flickered in his eyes.
“You… you’re stronger than .”
And then, Arthur charged into the gap with hostility. In this mont, the opponent before him was no longer his son, but an enemy he had to defeat.
However.
-Clang―!
Arthur’s sword fell to the ground.
“I’ve lost.”
“It was a good match.”
“No, it was one-sided. Speak properly.”
“Yes. I completely bested you.”
“...”
Arthur bit his lip as he spoke.
“You’ve broken through the wall.”
“It seems that way.”
“Congratulations.”
His son had beco a Swordmaster.
Before him!!
“Go...! Now that it’s co to this, take the House of Senestia in my place. You will beco the duke, Ascal!”
Arthur collapsed to the ground, and Ascal walked past him. Ascal approached the butler and conveyed his decision.
The butler nodded.
“What did you do?”
“I forfeited.”
“Why?”
“I told you, I didn’t co for the blind date. I ca to see Sushia.”
“You can see her in bed, too.”
“If I did that, Lia would lock up. Forever.”
The third test.
The martial tournant was over.
Four contestants advanced, but one withdrew.
Remaining participants― three.
1. The handso redhead― Ignis Chesterfield.
2. The middle-aged man with a mysterious past― Alexis Drummond.
3. The cheerful blond boy― Lone DeMarco.
****
“So these are the finalists, Miss. Do any of them catch your eye?”
Dressed in an elegant gown, with her hair done up, Sushia gazed at the three n in the drawing room.
Ignis caught her eye and smiled charmingly.
Alexis looked at her with a lancholic gaze.
Lone bead brightly.
Which one would Sushia choose?
“They’re all very handso. More than I deserve, really.”
But Sushia’s eyes were indifferent as she spoke.
“But still, I don’t think any of them are right for . I’m sorry for making you co all this way for nothing.”
Correct answer: They’re all rejected.
Sushia rested her chin on her hand and sighed.
“Are you alright, Miss? You had high expectations, didn’t you?”
“Now that I think about it, my only expectation was that once I had the blind date, I could return to the evaluation departnt. It wasn’t about the blind date itself.”
For Sushia, the evaluation departnt was that significant.
“Is there perhaps a particular type you’re drawn to? I can search again.”
“Hmm... soone with black hair, a sharp nose, a bit clumsy like they have a hole in their side, but sotis serious, competent enough, and lucky too... gasp.”
Sushia swallowed her words.
She had just described Ascal.
Her ideal type had been overtaken without her realizing it.
“There was one contestant just like that.”
“Really? Where is he now?”
“He forfeited, but said he wanted to see you. I’ll call him.”
The butler left the room.
Sushia stared expectantly at the door.
‘Finally, my destined man is...’
And then the door opened.
“Huh? Red hair?”
It wasn’t the person Sushia had been hoping for.
One of the earlier disqualified participants, Ignis Chesterfield, stood before her.
“I can’t go back empty-handed. I must take over the Senestia family, even if it ans using force.”
Ignis raised his hand to the eye covered by his eyepatch.
“The wound I received from the Empire still burns. Lady, you must beco my prisoner.”
Ignis, or rather, the “Last Leg of the Spider,” also known as the One-Eyed, slowly walked toward Sushia. She took a step back.
“P-please! Soone help !”
“It’s useless to call for help. I’ve already cast a soundproofing spell.”
Sushia pointed behind him.
“B-behind you!”
“What kind of trick is this? It won’t work on .”
“B-black hair!”
-Thud—!
Ignis collapsed where he stood. Behind him, a man with black hair ca into view.
It was Ascal Erindale.
“Seeing you is always such a hassle, Sushia.”
“Minister..”
Sushia looked at Ascal with eyes full of emotion, but her face quickly turned serious.
“Why haven’t you been coming to the evaluation departnt lately? You’re close to being reported for absenteeism.”
“It’s all because of you.”
“Why?”
Sushia puffed out her cheeks, looking slightly annoyed, and simply said,
“You’re just too handso. I give up.”
Acceptance… it was the only right action.
In the end, Sushia admitted it.
She was, indeed, in love.
****
At the Evaluation Departnt.
“Eek! Who are all these people!?”
“Oh, those are the lion tribe warriors I hired on a temporary contract. If walking gets tough, just ask them to carry you.”
A hundred lion warriors, bare-chested, were wandering around the departnt. They were staying temporarily until they captured the ancient dragon.
“If you ever need anything heavy lifted, just ask them. They’re strong.”
“What in the world happened while I was gone…”
“Nothing much.”
Just pulling out a legendary sword, slaying ancient monsters, watching a pegasus evolve into a golden pegasus, seeing Fer beco a dragon steed, raising a celestial turtle, and hiring the lion tribe for the evaluation departnt.
Nothing out of the ordinary.
“A… a consultation room? When did that show up?”
“Oh, not too long ago. Why don’t you check it out?”
Sushia opened the door to the consultation room. As soon as she did, a beautiful blonde woman greeted her with a smile.
“Welco, dear lamb. What seems to be troubling you?”
“…Saintess?”
“Please call teacher here. Oh, my, look at the ti.”
With a smile, Eileen, the saintess, left the consultation room for the day. Her destination was Haven Academy.
“Uh, is it okay for a witch and a saintess to be in the sa place?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Ugh… never mind.”
Sushia opened the door to the office. It was a familiar place.
“Welco back, Sushia.”
Lia bowed her head politely.
“I’m back.”
Sushia grabbed a cookie from the tray.
“Today’s cookie… 9 out of 10. If it had been just a little sweeter, it would’ve been a perfect score. So close.”
“Did you co back just to critique cookies?”
“I am an evaluation departnt employee, aren’t I?”
Sushia smiled.
As she was laughing, a book fell out of her bag.
“…Wait, since when do you read books?”
“What do you take for? I’m the daughter of a cultured Duke family. Of course, I read books.”
Sushia, who had been speaking so confidently, imdiately crouched down to pick up the book in a panic.
‘No one saw that, right?’
She shoved the book deep into her bag, hiding it from view.
The title of the book read:
―12 Ways to Steal That Man.
Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.
And finally.
It was the ‘Awakening’.
– – – The End of The Chapter – – –
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