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Chapter 31
“My younger sister is… a little… sick.”
At Raiden’s words, Serdian put down his fork.
Raiden continued speaking.
“The doctors don’t know the cause, and magic couldn’t identify it either.”
So, as a last hope, they decided to take her to the temple. Raiden smiled faintly.
“My father said there’s no need for me to come along and told me to stay at the Grand Duke’s residence for now. Perhaps…”
Raiden glanced at Serdian and said,
“I think he wants me to get along with the young master, just like he and the Grand Duke do.”
“……”
At that moment, Lucilea was certain.
Those two aren’t close.
Well, it made sense—Serdian’s personality isn’t exactly ordinary.
No matter how sociable and kind Raiden is, it probably wasn’t easy for him to approach Serdian.
Even if he had approached, Serdian would have immediately put up a wall. In the original story, their relationship wasn’t good either.
Of course—it was impossible for two men in love with the same woman to be close.
The awkwardness between them now might even be a setup for fate that’s about to unfold.
Seeing this, the original story’s setup feels terrifying. Even before the story begins, these children already see each other as rivals.
A faint unease rose in her chest—the sense that her own future, ending in death, might not ultimately change.
The meal continued.
Though it lasted a while, Serdian and Raiden didn’t converse much.
Instead, Lucilea and Raiden exchanged some dialogue. They talked briefly about magical power and even agreed to speak casually.
Of course, Lucilea eagerly agreed. If she could speak casually with the young master of the Grand Duke’s family, speaking casually with the heir of a marquis family was no problem.
In this slightly awkward atmosphere, the meal concluded at an appropriate time.
Before getting up from her chair, Lucilea asked Serdian,
“What’s the next class?”
“Fencing.”
“Can I watch?”
“I already said no.”
Tch.
Lucilea pouted slightly.
We didn’t get to talk much today…
At that moment, Raiden rose from his chair and said to Lucilea,
“I’ll take you there.”
“Huh? No, I can go alone.”
Lucilea politely declined, thanking him for his consideration.
Raiden lowered the corners of his eyes and, with a forlorn gaze like a lost puppy, asked,
“As a celebration of becoming friends… is that not allowed?”
Ugh! This tiny guy… trying to attack with looks?!
Lucilea flinched, swallowing dryly without realizing it.
Well, there’s nothing wrong with being friends with the heir of a marquis family…
And he’s handsome, too.
As Lucilea chewed her lip in thought, Serdian’s cold voice suddenly cut through the room.
“No.”
Both of them turned their gazes to Serdian.
He remained seated, yet a single look up at Raiden froze the surrounding air.
Raiden still wore his gentle smile, but a subtle question lingered in his eyes.
“Why?”
Raiden asked, and Serdian tilted his head slightly, answering calmly.
“The West Annex is off-limits to outsiders.”
Serdian’s words were true. The West Annex housed children with special abilities and had to be strictly protected from unnecessary interference or threats from outsiders.
Hearing this, Raiden’s smile faintly dimmed.
“Then… up to the front of the West Annex?”
“No.”
Again, an immediate and firm answer.
And he gave Lucilea a frosty glance.
“And you.”
“Huh? Me? Why me?”
“Stop any action that could cause disturbance. Were you planning to bring an outsider to the West Annex?”
The dining room grew colder, as if chastising her for not receiving a warning from Mei.
At that moment, Raiden lightly raised his hand to interrupt Serdian’s words. For the first time, his smile had completely vanished.
“Stop. That was an unreasonable request from me. It’s not Lucilea’s fault.”
Raiden’s voice had turned cold—neither kind nor gentle. His words toward Serdian were especially sharp.
“A few days in the Grand Duke’s residence, and you’re imposing excessive standards? Surely you’re not trying to assert your authority as the heir like this?”
Unlike Raiden’s previously soft demeanor, this was a rather harsh statement.
Serdian, however, looked at him calmly, as if used to it, and said,
“I didn’t realize telling someone they can’t break rules for personal reasons was a way to assert the heir’s authority. Is that how things are done in the Sidrat Marquis family?”
Raiden’s eyes momentarily turned cold, but he quickly restored his gentle mask.
“Of course not. In our family, we don’t suppress people in the name of rules. We teach how to gain trust and respect through confidence and tolerance. The young master of the Grand Duke’s family would think the same, so why must our young master be so authoritarian?”
Raiden’s words carried a sharp edge.
“Oh, perhaps it’s easier for you to control others with rules. It’s much simpler than striving to earn their hearts.”
It was clearly meant to provoke Serdian. Yet Serdian, instead of losing his temper, spoke with an even calmer face.
“Remember that kindness given blindly in the heat of emotion can sometimes be poison.”
“…What?”
Kindness given blindly in emotion…? Raiden’s lips tightened.
Clenching his teeth, he spoke slowly,
“Don’t judge my sincerity at your discretion… though, you always have. My sincerity probably always seemed like calculated hypocrisy to you. Isn’t that right?”
“……”
There was a faint bitterness in Raiden’s voice.
Lucilea’s eyes shifted between the two, narrow and alert.
Something must have happened between them…
If this continued, a fistfight might break out soon.
Lucilea decided she couldn’t just watch the increasingly tense atmosphere.
Ugh, these immature brats. They’re forcing me to step in.
Lucilea smiled gently, speaking to Serdian as if calming him.
“Serdian, stop. You’re right, I forgot about the rules for a moment. That part is completely my fault.”
“……”
As Lucilea admitted her mistake, Serdian’s sharp gaze softened.
But Raiden, displeased with the scene, spoke again.
“Lucilea, that’s not something you need to apologize for—”
Lucilea whipped her head toward Raiden.
Can’t you be quiet?! You troublemaker!
She had just started getting closer to Serdian, and suddenly this guy showed up and ruined the mood?!
Lucilea’s sharp eyes made Raiden blink, confused.
She said coldly,
“Enough from you too. Being friends and showing kindness is fine, but your way only makes Serdian angrier. Your goodwill ended up putting me in a difficult position.”
“Lucilea……”
Raiden’s pale face showed his embarrassment. Seeing it made her feel a bit guilty, like scolding innocent children.
Lucilea exhaled shortly.
“And you too, Serdian—”
She quickly stopped herself from lecturing further.
“Speak.”
Serdian looked at Lucilea and said, prompting her. She shook her head awkwardly and smiled.
“No, I have nothing more to say.”
Heh, Lucilea tried to dismiss it harmlessly, but Serdian dug his own grave.
“I said speak.”
“It’s really nothing.”
“So try.”
This guy… just let it go…
Lucilea glanced at Serdian and asked,
“You want me to speak?”
“Yes.”
Clearing her throat, Lucilea began.
“I’m saying this because I truly care about you.”
“Alright.”
Lucilea took a deep breath and said,
“Serdian. Rules and principles are important. Since I’ve entered the Grand Duke’s household, it’s natural for me to learn and follow their rules. But Raiden is a guest here.”
And not just any guest—he’s the heir of the Sidrat Marquis family.
“Everything you say or do in front of the heir of a marquis family becomes the reputation of the ‘Decart Grand Duke’s House’ in the near future. Didn’t I tell you? If you keep acting like this, no one will stay by your side. Do you want history to judge you as a narrow-minded loner?”
“……”
Lucilea’s words made Serdian shut his lips tightly. He didn’t argue, but stared at her and asked,
“All done?”
“Yes!”
Lucilea answered energetically, looking relieved. She turned and gave the two a short farewell.
“I’ve said everything I needed to and filled my stomach, so I’ll go ahead!”
Lucilea lifted her dress slightly and dashed out, turning her back to the two.
“……”
“……”
Left behind, Serdian and Raiden just stared blankly at her retreating figure.
The tense standoff they had moments ago had disappeared absurdly without a trace.
