Book 1 Chapter 768

768.

"Marry Chelsea? What are you talking about all of a sudden?"

"It's not sudden."

Abad smiled faintly.

Leo decided to listen to what this handsome friend had to say for now.

"Chelsea has followed you a lot since the day of the Lumerne entrance exam."

Chelsea had been growling at Leo just because he was with Celia at their first meeting, but after the entrance ceremony, she showed great affection for him.

"You're also the one who gave wings to Chelsea, who didn't have a specific goal, Leo."

Abad sipped his coffee.

He smiled faintly at his friend.

"Chelsea's life will shine with you."

"She can shine brightly enough on her own, even without me."

"That's true. But I think a brighter future awaits. Decisively."

Abad said, looking at Leo's indifferent reaction.

"I'm not saying this because she's my sister. Don't you think Chelsea would make an excellent bride?"

Abad put on a serious expression.

"She's beautiful… her abilities are outstanding, and her personality is… well, you can't say it's good, but she's very kind to those she's fond of. That child will definitely become more beautiful."

Abad smiled faintly.

"I don't think it's a bad offer for you?"

"She's too young, so I'm not interested."

"Chelsea is only one year younger than you, isn't she? Are you into older women?"

Abad looked puzzled.

"Now that I think about it, you haven't shown much interest in the senior students either…"

Abad, having thought that far, put on a serious expression.

"Leo. I know you're mature, but… just how far are you thinking ahead?"

"Let's just say for now that I have no intention of dating anyone."

"Why?"

"Don't dig too deep."

Leo stood up from his seat.

"If you truly care for Celia and Celia also has feelings for you, I'll help you as much as I can. So please don't talk about my marriage."

Abad nodded.

"Oh, and I'm warning you."

"Huh?"

"If you start dating Celia, don't cause any trouble before graduation. Even I would have a hard time dealing with that."

"Why are you worrying about that?"

As Abad burst out laughing, Leo said.

"Have you forgotten the trouble Sir Liss caused? Our uncles were tearing their hair out over that. I don't want to add to that. Especially since Celia is the young lady both of them cherish like gold."

Though seemingly strict, Celd Jerdinger cherishes his daughter greatly.

If Leo caused trouble, regardless of whether he was Lewalin's successor or not, Celd would come running, foaming at the mouth and wielding a sword.

"Leo. Celia and I always prioritize the family's prestige. And I hate to say this, but… though not as much as Celia, I'm also an honor student."

Abad smiled.

"Have I ever spread rumors during my time at school?"

Abad had been incredibly popular since admission due to his looks, setting aside his family and skills.

Despite being a handsome man who received confessions regardless of year whenever you least expected it, there had never been any rumors of romance.

That meant he managed himself meticulously.

Leo clicked his tongue at Abad's words.

"Do you think Senior Niel and Senior Machel became a couple because they weren't honor students?"

Niel, Celia's bodyguard knight, and Machel, Abad's closest mage.

As retainers representing the Jerdinger and Lewalin families, they too had spent their school lives as almost perfect honor students to avoid bringing shame to the names of Jerdinger and Lewalin.

"What kind of prize did Machel and Senior Niel… wait."

Abad, who had been chuckling, paused.

"No way…"

"That's right."

It was the result of long-suppressed emotions bursting forth all at once like a breached dam.

"Always remember your age."

"What about our age…"

"It's the perfect age to catch fire."

Once a fire starts, it doesn't go out easily.

That's why playing with fire is scary.

"If the conversation's over, I'll head out first. What are you going to do?"

"Hmm. I'll go back to the dorm."

"Aren't you worried about Celia?"

"I am worried."

Though he maintained a relaxed expression, it seemed he was indeed quite concerned.

"But I'm not in a position to talk about her private life right now, am I?"

"Trying to act nonchalant."

Leo chuckled and left the shop.

*Chime-Chime*

A cold wind blew.

Leo walked *shush-shush* down the main street.

Beside Leo, Lysinus had somehow joined him.

"You're quite good at giving relationship advice. Even though you were clueless about your own love life."

"I told you, that's because you and Luna didn't show it."

Leo grumbled.

Lysinus, who had snorted at Leo, suddenly glanced at the lollipops being sold at a street stall.

At that moment, Leo went to the stall, bought a lollipop, and came back.

"Eat this."

"Oop?!"

And then he put it in Lysinus's mouth and walked away nonchalantly.

Lysinus, with wide eyes, approached Leo, still holding the candy in her mouth.

"Why did you buy it?"

"How many years have you and I been together? Couldn't I tell at a glance that you wanted to eat it?"

'He's really quick-witted in this area.'

Lysinus made a slightly pouty face.

He was so perceptive in this way, yet she felt a little resentful that he hadn't noticed her own feelings.

Deang's streets, which had been chaotic due to the civil war, were now overflowing with a hopeful atmosphere as the civil war showed signs of ending.

The civil war hadn't completely ended yet, but the period just before fighting stops is when people are most hopeful.

Thanks to that, the atmosphere in Deang was generally bright, with night markets even opening up.

Strolling through the night market, Leo and Lysinus browsed and bought various items from street vendors, or played games like dart throwing to win prizes, spending their time.

In the mundane atmosphere, Lysinus felt her heart pound.

"Wow, this feels like a normal date, doesn't it?"

"It is a date."

"What?"

Leo looked at Lysinus with a dumbfounded expression.

"Then what did you think we were doing right now?"

"Hmm…"

Lysinus, initially flustered, soon giggled.

"You're right. It was a date."

Lysinus, feeling good, hummed a tune.

"Did you play like this with Luna too?"

"Yes, we did. Well, he kept drinking, though."

"Typical Luna."

Lysinus burst out laughing.

The sun was setting.

Lysinus, walking alongside Leo, glanced at Leo's face.

Still a youthful face.

But due to his unique aura, he didn't look young.

His red eyes shone even more clearly in the red sunset.

'This is fun.'

The ordinary daily life Lysinus had yearned for so much.

The happiness she was enjoying within it.

'I wish time would stop forever.'

Lysinus, lost in silly thoughts, reached out her hand.

And took Leo's hand.

Leo stopped walking and looked at Lysinus's face.

Lysinus looked at Leo's face, then smiled faintly and linked her arm through his.

Leo sighed.

"If you had done this back then, I would have noticed."

"You must feel quite wronged."

As Lysinus chuckled, Leo frowned.

"Of course I feel wronged. Because of you and Luna, those young juniors call me an idiot or a fool."

"Who?"

"Your successor and Luna's successor."

"Ah."

"The very ones who like Lumerne themselves but couldn't even confess… next time I see them, I'll shave their heads."

"Ahahahahaha!"

Lysinus burst out laughing.

Then, suddenly, her eyes widened.

"Oh, it's Celia."

At her words, Leo also spotted Celia.

Lysinus smiled playfully.

"Shall we watch a little too?"

***

From afar, a group watched the human and elf spending time at the night market.

"Wow, the atmosphere seems good."

"Uh, isn't it kind of a pink atmosphere?"

"It really is. The atmosphere seems so genuine."

"Damn it… this isn't good. I need to see tears pouring from that guy's eyes."

Chen Sia, Ayran, and Lunia gulped nervously.

Aris was stomping her feet.

Even though they were hero candidates and all, as girls at an age when love was still a frozen concept, they became completely engrossed while secretly watching Celia and Garin's date.

Of course, there was someone who couldn't get into it at all.

"Is the atmosphere good? It's just Celia as usual?"

As Chloe tilted her head, Chen Sia gave her a pitiful look.

"Miss Chloe. Don't just read magic books and strange difficult books; read some romance novels too."

"That's right. You have to read a variety of books. If you only read certain books, your head will become strange, like Ayran's."

"You should read some of the books Ayran reads."

"What's wrong with my novels?"

Chloe, feeling exasperated, said as Ayran looked tearful.

"Ayran, do you have a book now?"

"I have one in my spatial pocket."

"Let me see."

"Oh my? It would be quite stimulating for innocent Miss Chloe, wouldn't it?"

Chen Sia playfully teased Chloe with a sweet smile.

Chloe snorted and took the book from Ayran.

And opened it to the part where a bookmark was placed.

Chloe snorted after reading the content on the page.

"What? It's nothing special."

"What's written on that page?"

"The main character and heroine bathing together."

"That's strange? This should be stimulating enough for Miss Chloe, shouldn't it?"

"You're ridiculous. I've even tried it myself!"

Chloe, exasperated, blurted out something she shouldn't have without realizing it.

The girls who had been teasing Chloe were momentarily stunned.

"…Gasp?!"

Chloe, startled, covered her mouth.

"You've tried bathing together? With whom?"

Chen Sia, with a smile on her face, leaned close to Chloe.

"Could the person be Young Master Leo?"

"Th-th-that…"

"What?! What on earth is your relationship?!"

"P-please tell us in detail!"

Lunia and Ayran also rushed forward, shouting.

"Wow… the Lumerne kids are no joke…"

It was when Aris muttered blankly.

"You guys. What are you doing hiding here?"

"We were secretly watching because Garin seemed like he was going to confess to Celia… Gasp?!"

Aris, who had answered without thinking at the cold voice from behind, shrieked and turned around.

There stood Celia, radiating a fierce aura.

***

On the roof overlooking the night market.

"What are those idiots doing? Tsk."

Leo clicked his tongue.

"Hmm?"

At the voice beside him, Leo turned his head.

There, Lysinus was narrowing her eyes.

"Just so you know. It was an accident."

"Hmm? Are you happy? That pretty girls like you?"

"Are you jealous?"

"Jealousy, my foot."

Lysinus snorted and stood up.

Leo clicked his tongue, looking at Lysinus.

"How can I cheer you up?"

"How unusual. You caring about my mood."

Lysinus chuckled, thought for a moment, then smiled faintly.

"Tell me about your past."

"My past?"

"Yes. Like your first love story, for example."

"I don't have one."

"I know, right? Anyway, I've become curious about your past. It'll be hard to do sober, won't it?"

Lysinus grabbed Leo and pulled him up.

"It'll be night soon anyway."

Just as she said, darkness was approaching.

Lysinus smiled faintly.

"Let's have a drink."