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chapter 60
Avolant barely managed to escape with his life (?) and was thrown out of the villa.
“Young master, can we talk for a moment?”
Actually, Grace knew very well that Livanu liked me the most and was very devoted to me.
I had even let it slide intentionally a few times because I liked that.
But today, when he spoke of killing someone, that was something I couldn’t overlook so easily.
“…Sorry.”
Perhaps sensing what Grace wanted to say, Livanu slumped his shoulders and apologized.
“Were you really planning to kill him?”
Livanu thought about how he could get out of this situation and tried to mumble something vague.
“I hate lies.”
But at Grace’s next words, Livanu shut his mouth completely.
“You were serious.”
The silent Livanu asked softly.
“Was I wrong?”
“Do you think it was wrong?”
“I don’t know. But I was really angry at that moment.”
Livanu really didn’t know how to express his feelings either.
“If I said I’d leave you for someone better, would you let me go?”
Then he asked the question he was most curious about, the one he wanted to know.
Was he the only one feeling this way, or did Grace feel the same?
“You’d leave me?”
As soon as he asked, Grace’s expression hardened coldly.
It was a scary expression Livanu had never seen before, but for some reason his heart began to pound.
Because he realized her reaction wasn’t different from his own.
“I’m not saying I would really do that, just if… if, hypothetically.”
“Someone better than me? Then I wouldn’t even matter?”
Even though it was a simple question, the idea of Grace being irrelevant in his eyes was unimaginable and felt like something that would never happen, so answering was difficult.
Hesitating, Grace spoke with an even firmer expression.
“I wouldn’t like that.”
“…You wouldn’t?”
“Yes. Others might see me as just a maid taking care of the young master, but I don’t think our relationship is that simple. You are the most precious to me, and I’d do anything for you. But if you left me… I’d be too sad.”
Hearing the answer she wanted, Livanu’s cheeks turned red.
But from Grace’s perspective, letting go of Livanu, who was like a child she had raised (?) and had been indulging, was not something she could do easily.
“…Really?”
“Yes. Please don’t.”
“…Understood.”
“By the way, why did the topic jump like this? I wanted to talk about what happened earlier,”
“I was wrong. I got too worked up, just like you said.”
“…You’re reflecting on it?”
“Yes. If you want, I’ll also apologize separately to that guy—no, the merchant.”
Livanu was momentarily confused by the sudden change in attitude, but she seemed genuinely remorseful in tone and expression.
“Alright.”
It seemed that today’s matter was finally settled.
Grace knew the episode of how Avolant would succeed.
This Albata territory was a lucky opportunity for him.
Before meeting Avolant, Grace also thought this was just another underdeveloped region, but Avolant would meet a genius here.
“Grace.”
“Yes, I’m here.”
But who was this genius, really?
Was there such a clever person in this town?
“Mr. Livanu.”
“Yes, why?”
“I want the young master to become friends with Avolant.”
So she came up with a plan.
“…Why did you suddenly think of that?”
Originally, she just wanted to have a casual friendship, but because of Avolant’s ridiculous actions, Livanu became more cautious. So she thought it would be better for Avolant to become friends with Livanu instead—a plan that must have seemed absurd from Livanu’s perspective.
“I thought it would be nice if they became friends.”
“…That’s it?”
“As I said before, I want the young master’s world to expand…”
“It already has.”
“It’s still far from enough.”
“You know this is forced, right?”
She knew it.
But the funny thing was, even if she acted like this, she knew Livanu would yield.
“Is that so.”
“What do you like about him?”
“Excuse me?”
“You never want to be close to just anyone. There must be something about him that appealed to you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. You’re subtly sharp, you know.”
Really?
Grace tilted her head.
“You have your standards without realizing it. You let Esina, Ahin, and Reto get close, but not Sophien or the other maids.”
Actually, those standards were strictly divided based on whether it would be helpful to her, but Livanu didn’t seem to think that way.
“Ah.”
“Why Avolant, though?”
“…He seems a bit clueless but kind. Since he’s a merchant, if he succeeds later, he could be useful.”
“You think he’ll succeed?”
“Mm, yes. So are you willing to become friends?”
Livanu’s expression was reluctant.
“You haven’t even met him yet, though you said you’d apologize.”
“…Ah.”
“Meet him. And if you feel uncomfortable becoming friends, you don’t have to. But at least know him.”
Since the first meeting had already gone badly, it was natural for him to resist becoming friends.
“…I really don’t have to become friends?”
“Yes. I’m not forcing it.”
“…Then I’ll do that.”
So after setting a reasonable boundary, Livanu accepted it.
Avolant exchanged apologies and moderately restored their relationship.
Outgoing and seemingly unreserved, Avolant immediately began approaching Livanu once the ice was broken.
“Young master! I’m here!”
“…You’re here again.”
Livanu’s gaze looked as if he was watching an annoying leech.
But Avolant smiled innocently as if nothing happened.
“Ahin, hello.”
“Yes. You came to visit again today.”
“Livanu’s appearance isn’t much, but his swordsmanship is amazing. Even I, an outsider, can see he’s better than most palace knights. So I want to keep watching him.”
“Our young master is a bit impressive, isn’t he?”
Surprisingly, Avolant got along well with Ahin.
“But I’ve wondered—why do you call Livanu ‘young master’?”
“Huh? Because he is the young master?”
“Wasn’t Ahin the older brother?”
“No.”
Ahin answered, confused.
“Not really?”
“Yes. We may both be blonde, but our eye colors are different.”
“Where do you see him and me as brothers?”
Livanu glared at Avolant angrily.
“Uh, um. Sorry. Of course, you don’t resemble him at all, but since the three of you are blonde, I thought you were brothers.”
Avolant quickly apologized.
“You must have misunderstood. I’m Livanu’s swordsmanship teacher.”
“I see!”
“I wondered why you said ‘-nim’ to me. From now on, just call me Ahin.”
“Oh, understood. Ahin. Then is Reto Ahin’s younger sibling?”
“This brat…”
Livanu, who had never swore before, muttered “brat.”
Because he was the older brother of Reto and felt irritated that someone else was being wrongly connected.
“Did you misunderstand again?”
“Yes… Reto is Livanu’s younger sibling.”
“…They don’t resemble each other at all.”
“That’s true, but if you look closely, they do. Eye color, behavior, and so on.”
Although she set them up to become friends, Avolant, clueless, just built walls.
Of course, Ahin wasn’t much different.
“Both of you, get out of my sight.”
Eventually, Livanu, unable to endure any longer, growled a warning.
“Suddenly?”
“It seems he thinks you insulted him by saying he’s ugly.”
Ahin laughed while Avolant turned pale and defended himself.
“That’s not it at all. Though his appearance is a bit lacking, he’s still impressive. A person’s heart matters more than looks.”
Both of them openly provoked Livanu.
Ahin said it on purpose, but Avolant truly meant it innocently.
“My looks are bad and my heart’s bad too, so die.”
Livanu coldly drew his sword.
And he placed the two of them on the same level in his mind—at the very bottom, untouchable.
“Die!”
“Eek!”
Avolant screamed in terror and ran, with Livanu chasing after him, sending deadly sword energy.
“Please spare me! I didn’t mean he’s ugly!”
“Shut up!”
Ever since Avolant started visiting this villa, this scene had become frequent. Avolant always left in tatters but returned the next day as if nothing happened.
Anyone witnessing this commotion would surely expect the same to happen today.
