EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 121

Chapter 121

 

‘Why? Why is it happening again?’

From the moment Lucio first met Lia, he had felt an emotion he couldn’t understand.

Ever since she came to the guild, he had been gripped by an uneasy feeling, as if she might suddenly disappear one day.

‘But she never actually left, not even once…’

A strange sense of discord sent a chill down his spine, but he didn’t dwell on it.

“I told you not to leave my side without permission.”

Lucio pulled the girl away, his face showing a hint of anger.

She looked up at him with wide, startled eyes.

Running a rough hand over his face, Lucio smoothed back his disheveled hair and straightened the buttons on his sleeve, fixing his appearance.

It was only then, noticing the sweat on his forehead and the slight tremor in his hands, that he realized just how tense he had been.

“I don’t even understand why I’m like this… but it doesn’t matter anymore.”

He muttered under his breath, clenching his fists.

As the heir of a prestigious noble family, Lucio had been born into the weight of expectations. His sole purpose in life was to inherit the family name with honor and protect his kin.

Until now, he had never once strayed from that path, allowing no one past the boundaries he had set—except for the intruder standing before him, who had upended his carefully maintained order.

“When it comes to you, my mind stops working properly. But that’s fine.”

“…Young Master?”

“Just stay here, by my side. Stop thinking about running away.”

As he glared at the large travel bag sitting on the bench, the girl flinched slightly, startled by the intensity in his eyes.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she murmured.

Lucio’s gaze darkened at her feigned ignorance.

“Another lie. You already know who I am. You know exactly how I got here.”

“…”

“Or should I come back in a face you recognize?”

He reached toward the enchanted earring that concealed his true identity, as if ready to transform into the guild master, and the girl quickly shook her head in alarm.

Seeing her reaction, Lucio’s irritation subsided slightly.

And then, his eyes caught on something else… her attire.

White fur earmuffs, a scarf, gloves, and boots adorned with little pompoms.

She was wearing everything he had picked out during their last outing with Diana.

But when he looked closer, he noticed her face was frozen stiff from the cold.

How long had she been waiting out here?

He should have told her it would take a while.

He had rushed over immediately, fearing she might vanish if he delayed. Now he regretted not sending a message first.

Then, suddenly, Lucio’s expression sharpened.

Her face was flushed from the cold, making it difficult to notice at first. But upon closer inspection, her eyes were swollen, faint streaks of tears marking her cheeks.

“Who was it?”

“…What?”

“Who made you cry?”

His voice turned demanding. The girl pressed her lips together tightly before murmuring a small protest.

“I didn’t cry.”

If she was going to lie, she should have at least kept a straight face.

Her reddened eyes and trembling lips made it clear she was on the verge of tears again.

Lucio let out a quiet chuckle before speaking.

 

***

 

“I don’t like people lying to me. Not even you.”

“…”

“I’ll let it slide a few times, but only a few.”

I stared at Lucio, dumbfounded by his shameless words.

‘Says the guy who lies all the time, secretly running a guild behind everyone’s backs.’

And what did he mean by ‘letting it slide’?

Lucio, however, had no intention of explaining himself.

“So tell me, who hurt you?”

“No one did. And I wasn’t crying.”

I spoke defiantly, but my nose stung at the words.

I had been trying to keep myself together, but every time I recalled what had happened earlier, a sharp pain pierced my heart.

“I told you I hate lies. Just tell me. Who made you cry?”

“And what are you going to do if I do?!”

Frustrated by his relentless questioning, I snapped at him.

Lucio’s voice dropped to an eerie murmur.

“I’ll do whatever you want. Just tell me how you want me to handle it.”

Something in his voice felt so sincere that it scared me a little.

Why was he even here, when he was supposed to be in the duchy?

‘It’s like he doesn’t even care about hiding the fact that he’s the head of Darel.’

I glanced at him warily, convinced he wasn’t in his right mind today.

His deep blue eyes locked onto mine, unreadable.

Then, after a long pause, he turned away, his voice calm but firm.

“If you won’t tell me, I’ll find out myself and take care of it.”

“…!”

A chill ran down my spine.

Panicked, I grabbed his arm and clung to him.

“N-no, you can’t.”

If he got involved now, he would find out that the one who had made me cry was the Grand Duchess.

He would also learn what I had said to her.

‘And then I’ll just end up looking like the bad one.’

Even though the situation could easily be seen as my fault, I had a terrible feeling that Lucio wouldn’t blame me.

Instead, I feared he would retaliate against the Grand Duchess.

“Why not?”

Lucio tilted his head slightly, watching me intently.

Unable to answer, I bit my lip before whispering under my breath.

“Why do you even care about someone like me? Why…?”

At the same time, my chest tightened painfully, and before I knew it, my unshed tears spilled over again.

I had just managed to calm down, but Lucio had to go and dig up my wounds all over again.

Seeing my tears, Lucio hesitated for a long moment, his lips parting slightly before he finally spoke.

“…I don’t know either. I just don’t want you to be hurt. I don’t want you to be sad. I just… want you to be warm, safe, and happy.”

I was stunned into silence by his unexpected words.

But I responded coldly.

“Just give me the money. That’s why you came, isn’t it?”

“…”

Lucio didn’t say anything in response to my words.

Wondering if he was upset by my rude tone, I cautiously lifted my head…only to see his eyes wavering slightly.

Sniffling, I stared at him in disbelief.

‘No way… right?’

His pupils trembled even more. Then, biting his lip, Lucio finally spoke.

“I didn’t bring it.”

“Gasp!”

I inhaled sharply in shock.

“No way! My money!”

I trusted him! How could he do this to me?!

“Young Master, this isn’t how business works! You should keep promises even more strictly with people you know!”

I stomped my foot in frustration, and Lucio, looking flustered, raised his hands as if to calm me down.

“I’m not cheating you out of your money. Besides, today wasn’t even the agreed-upon day.”

“That’s why I told you to bring at least some of it!”

“…Why do you suddenly need such a large sum?”

“Because I have things to spend it on, obviously.”

Feeling like I was about to explode, I clutched my chest in frustration.

Lucio averted his gaze, looking a little uncomfortable.

“Just tell me what’s going on. No matter how much you need, I can..”

“I’m not a beggar! I have money too! Why would you—?!”

My sharp retort made Lucio fall silent. He looked down at me quietly for a moment before suddenly rummaging through his coat.

I perked up, hoping he was pulling out money, but instead, he awkwardly took out a handkerchief.

“You have snot. Blow your nose.”

His blunt words made my face burn with embarrassment.

‘It’s only because I was out in the cold crying…’

I turned my head away, pretending not to notice, but Lucio stubbornly held the handkerchief right in front of my nose.

“Hurry up.”

“Ugh, seriously…”

Annoyed, I glared at him, but he looked like he wouldn’t back down.

Left with no choice, I reached out, signaling that I’d do it myself.

But instead of handing it over, he dodged my hand as if he was determined to wipe my nose for me.

Shooting him a resentful look, I finally buried my face into the handkerchief and blew my nose with a loud “Hnnngh!”

Lucio’s eyes widened in surprise before he suddenly chuckled, then carefully wiped around my nose.

Wait… what was this? I wasn’t Diana, why was he treating me like this?

‘He’s really lost it today…’

While I gawked at him in shock, Lucio absentmindedly patted my head.

“I have to return to the duchy right away. So promise me you won’t go anywhere.”

“…”

“When I come back, I’ll listen to your story and figure out a way to solve it. Otherwise, I really won’t give you your money.”

I was about to protest against his ridiculous threat, but instead, I hesitantly asked,

“You know I’m… different. I even went to Darel. Is it really okay for me to stay here?”

Lucio tilted his head slightly, as if wondering why I would even ask such a thing.

“If you weren’t ‘different,’ my mother would be dead.”

“Oh…”

His answer was so logical that I nodded without thinking.

“Then it’s a promise. Now go back. Everyone must be worried about you.”

I hesitated at his words.

‘Worried…’

Worried. Why hadn’t I thought of that?

I had only been focused on not being a burden. It never crossed my mind how much distress I might have caused the duchy’s household by disappearing so suddenly.

Being someone that others worried about… was such an unfamiliar concept to me.

‘But…’

Lucio handed me my travel bag as if urging me to leave. Slowly, I reached out and took it.

With Lucio seeing me off, I made my way out of the maze garden.

My steps felt heavy.

I had resolved to go back, face the situation, and try to fix things.

But the closer I got, the more the reality of what awaited me sank in, filling me with dread.

As the mansion came into view, the once-dark surroundings brightened like daylight, and the distant hum of voices grew louder.

It made me even more hesitant.

‘They really are looking for me…’

Chewing my lip nervously, I had just stepped out of the garden when—

“Lia!”

A deep, low voice called my name.

I had some free time between the two exams, so I decided to make my readers happy 😁