I Picked Up My Father Who Left Home 53
Jeshuan frowned, wondering if he had misheard, as he looked at Cassian.
Suddenly, covering my face?
What nonsense was this?
But Cassian’s expression was very serious as he uttered those words.
“No matter when you collapse, it might be better to cover that frail and feeble face.”
Lia admired that face, likening it to a delicate smile of a young boy, but to Cassian, it was just a ‘frail and feeble’ face.
So, before Lia strangely developed a liking for that face, it seemed better to clear that visage from her mind.
Nevertheless, as he couldn’t just change the face of a prince, covering it seemed the only option.
“Well, I can’t see any reason why it should be necessary.”
He had no intention to comply with the Grand Duke’s nonsense and didn’t want to cover his face either.
Going to such lengths would make him admit that he was truly a monster who shouldn’t exist in this world.
Therefore, Jeshuan firmly declined Cassian’s suggestion with a smiling face.
“Shouldn’t you be more considerate of those around you? To protect other people’s eyes, I think it would be better to change your… no, to cover them up.”
Jeshuan looked puzzled by Cassian’s words.
The person who lived without considering others the most was telling him to consider others.
At this point, Cassian’s suggestion to cover his face seemed to have another motive.
Otherwise, someone who usually didn’t care about how he carried himself wouldn’t be so interested in his face.
As he thought about it, there was a hint of suspicion.
“Strange. Shulia says my face is handsome.”
As Jeshuan finished speaking, somewhere, there was a faint growling sound. The source of the sound was probably Cassian, who had been silent all along.
“You must have heard the wrong words, she’s might say it looks ugly.”
Even though the person in front of him was a prince, Jeshuan, forcing himself to muster almost nonexistent patience, pretended not to care and said so.
“That can’t be true. How could I forget that she says she liked my face? Especially when it was the first compliment from my ‘first’ friend.”
With a playful smile on his lips, Jeshuan spoke.
In response, there was another growl from Cassian.
He knew it was a childish provocation.
Also, a shallow trick to elicit his reaction.
However, knowing this, he had no choice but to overlook it.
It was about Lia, not anyone else.
For Cassian, Lia was an absolute sanctuary.
“Indeed, the problem is that face.”
So… he had to get rid of it.
Still, despite suggesting politely for the sake of etiquette to cover up, he now felt no need to do so.
Provoked significantly by Cassian himself, this was an expected outcome.
Even though Cassian clearly knew his personality and deliberately provoked him, he had to bear the consequences.
As Cassian was about to intensify his attack, filled with a fierce energy towards Jeshuan, at that moment…
A knocking sound was heard.
“Jeshuan, it’s me.”
Lia’s lively voice, completely out of sync with the atmosphere in the room.
Cassian’s body paused for a moment at Lia’s voice, which had suddenly interjected.
Jeshuan didn’t miss this opportunity.
He had brought up the topic of Lia, almost deliberately provoking Cassian, but his reaction was more intense than expected, making Jeshuan a bit flustered.
Indeed, there was a vitalizing energy emanating from Cassian.
It wasn’t wise to clash with him in this state.
Handling the aftermath wouldn’t be easy either.
Amidst this, Lia’s arrival provided Jeshuan with a favorable opportunity.
“Shulia, come in.”
Terrifyingly, Lia heard permission from Jeshuan and opened the door, entering.
Meanwhile, Cassian had vanished.
In his place, the window he left behind was open.
‘…Lucky.’
Jeshuan, who had narrowly avoided danger thanks to Lia’s timely appearance, displayed a peculiar expression.
Without her intervention, it could have been genuinely perilous.
Unaware of the circumstances, Lia, with her innocent face, lifted the hem of her dress lightly.
“Nice to meet you, Jeshuan. By the way, I heard some noise. Was there a guest?”
She came without any guidance, hesitating a bit, wondering if there was a guest.
However, upon opening the door, there was only Jeshuan in the room.
As if finding it strange, Lia tilted her head.
‘Especially when the voice sounded familiar.’
“No? I’ve been alone all along.”
Jeshuan didn’t bother mentioning Cassian’s visit. Seeing Lia hurriedly opening the window upon entering, it seemed Cassian wanted to keep the fact that he had come to find him hidden.
Already having provoked him enough to anger, there was no need to further agitate him in this situation.
It was also for his own safety.
Anyway, Cassian was the empire’s top esper, and there was no way to defeat him in a direct confrontation.
Moreover, he was Lia’s guardian.
For the sake of his relationship with Lia, it wasn’t ideal to be too at odds with Cassian.
In fact, thinking about it, he shouldn’t have provoked him in the first place.
But why?
Maybe a bit… of jealousy.
The relationship between Cassian and Lia.
The strong bond between the two.
The affectionate way Cassian used Lia’s nickname “Shulia” was enviable.
That’s why.
He engaged in provocation that wouldn’t bring any benefit.
“Is that so? Then maybe I misheard.”
No matter how much I think about it, the voice I heard in the room sounded familiar, but why would Jeshuan lie to me?
More than anything, if there was a guest, they didn’t suddenly vanish or disappear in an instant like that.
“Have you been well?”
In response to Lia’s suspicion, Jeshuan intentionally shifted the topic, asking about her well-being.
He was genuinely curious.
How has she been, and perhaps, has she thought about him a bit?
“Well, you know… the same as always. And you, Jeshuan?”
“Hmm… I haven’t been doing well, to be honest.”
Saying this, Jeshuan’s expression turned slightly somber.
“By any chance… were you unwell again? Is that why you haven’t been doing well?”
Lia asked with a concerned expression.
Jeshuan mentioned that there was no help from any medical treatment.
This made Lia feel even more sorry, especially since Jeshuan, suffering without a known diagnosis, looked visibly distressed and in pain.
Enduring it without anyone’s assistance must have been a painful reality.
“It’s not like that.”
“Then why…?”
While relieved that he wasn’t unwell, questions arose about why he couldn’t cope well.
Concerns grew about whether something else might be bothering him.
Jeshuan silently observed Lia, contemplating what might be on her mind.
Her face clearly reflected genuine worry towards him.
The concern she held for him felt like an oasis discovered in a long journey through the desert.
It was undeniable that she cared for him, her concern shining brightly.
Her worry, like an oasis, was a rare find in the vast desert of his life.
Perhaps that’s why.
Despite trying not to reveal too much emotion, the growing attraction to her was undeniable.
Unfortunately, she was an irresistibly tempting fruit to him.
She was the only person who could fulfill his long-cherished desires.
Even if her attitude towards him was due to ignorance, the exchange with her, a first-time interaction with someone else, made Jeshuan excited and thrilled beyond measure.
Such thoughts were fleeting.
Jeshuan opened his mouth to answer Lia’s question.
“I missed Shulia.”
Lia had a puzzled expression at the unexpected response.
‘This is… too much!’
With that face, saying such things!
It was very harmful to her heart.
Even if it wasn’t an empty statement and he genuinely missed her, Jeshuan’s face held an indescribable subtlety.
Of course, all of this was a deliberate performance.
Jeshuan knew well that his face had an impact on Lia, and he intentionally used it to his advantage.
However, it wasn’t a complete lie.
Indeed, he missed her, and it felt like he hadn’t coped well without her.
“Shulia, did you miss me?”
Jeshuan gazed at Lia with an expression that seemed to crave the owner’s affection.
The lowered eyes and tightly pursed lips looked so pitiful that most people would be enchanted by that face and offer the desired response.
“…Uh, maybe a little?”
Despite saying so, in reality… Jeshuan was too busy with work to pay much attention.
Of course, every time she thought of him, she worried about how he was doing, but she couldn’t afford to dwell on that thought for long.
With numerous family members depending on her for their livelihood, she couldn’t afford to focus solely on Jeshuan.
However, admitting that she didn’t miss him felt impossible, given the fatally captivating look in Jeshuan’s eyes.
“I… missed Shulia a lot, but it seems Shulia missed me just a little.”
Saying this, Jeshuan once again lifted the corners of his eyes into a gentle smile.
Lia couldn’t help but feel somewhat overwhelmed by the pitiful appearance, like a disappointed puppy.
That handsome youth! Making such a face! It must be a trick, a scam!
“Well, I guess there are reasons of my own.”
Lia wasn’t sure why she felt the need to explain this part, but she couldn’t pretend not to notice Jeshuan’s disappointed expression.
“I can understand, I’m just a little… bit sad.”
Saying so, Jeshuan smiled with a touch of bitterness.
He looked like a protagonist of a tragic story with apparent hardships.
Seeing him like that, Lia felt even more at a loss.
“Are you feel sorry to me?”
“Uh, a little… Why?”
In truth, Lia wasn’t sure if she should be the one feeling sorry, but seeing that expression, she couldn’t bring herself to say she wasn’t sorry.
Seizing the moment, Jeshuan promptly spoke up.
“Then, grant one favor for me.”
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