Chapter 29

Chapter 29

“What the, brother!”

But before Lestia could even say anything, Mathias had already stood in front of her and faced Gerard.

“Why did you come all the way here just to pick a fight with Liti?”

Gerard’s forehead creased as if he was exhausted at Mathias’ appearance.

“Mathias, I’m not talking to you.”

“Still, do you want me to stay still and listen to what brother has to rudely say?”

The atmosphere quickly became tense.

“You’re the one who’s rude, Mathias.”

“Brother is the rude one.”

Mathias was ready to come at Gerard at any moment. Lestia was shocked to see this. She immediately grabbed Mathias’ collar.

“B, brother Mathias! Don’t fight! I’m fine.”

Mathias gritted his teeth. He only turned around in shock when he realized that Lestia’s hand that was holding on to him was trembling. Lestia was frightened while she fixed her big eyes on Mathias.

“Huh… Liti, were you surprised? I didn’t mean to surprise you.”

However, Lestia, who was just very nervous, looked frightened in the eyes of everybody else.

Lysian immediately walked forward and hugged Lestia into his arms.

“Come here. You don’t have to be involved in a war of nerves between idiots.”

Then, he strode towards the cabin in the ship.

“Ly, Lysian-nim?”

Lestia was flustered by the sudden turn of events so she unknowingly grabbed the robe that Lysian was wearing. Because of that, the robe that covered Lysian’s face fell down which revealed his handsome face.

Lestia and Lysian looked at each other.

“……”

Lestia couldn’t help but look at Lysian’s golden eyes silently for a moment. As she looked closely, they seemed to sparkle more mysteriously.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?”

Lestia’s gaze faltered at Lysian’s words. She felt embarrassed after openly being caught gazing at his pretty face.

“N, nothing. I… You can put me down now. I’m not hurt anymore and I can walk just fine.”

However, Lysian just tightened his grip on Lestia and hurried his steps.

“It’s fine. It’s frustrating to walk at your own pace. Can we even walk when you’re like a rock?”

“Ah.”

When she realized it, her muscles that turned stiff earlier were still stiff. However, it still bothered her that she left Mathias and Gerard behind.

“Lysian-nim, I think we should go back. The duke said that I was unpleasant so I’m sure I did something wrong. I have to apologize…”

But Lysian spoke bluntly.

“No. It’s not your fault. Gerard is the one who said something weird. But, he’s not mad at you so don’t worry.”

“Yes?”

“If he was really angry, the ship wouldn’t stay still like this. There’s water everywhere so it would react to Gerard’s feelings.”

Lestia understood his words at once.

When the mansion burned, rain fell down the skies. From what she heard, it was because of Gerard’s magic. However, she recalled the vague anger that she felt in his magic.

“Attribute magic often responds to the mage’s emotions. This case is particularly severe for Gerard. Since nothing happened, you don’t have to worry.”

“But brother Mathias and the duke quarrelled because of me.”

Lysian sighed briefly.

“You better get used to it.”

“Yes?”

“Gerard and Mathias always fight whenever they meet. One is too quiet and the other is too loud. So, when they run into each other, they always have unnecessary problems with each other.”

“Then…”

“Then, you don’t need to care. Leave them be. They won’t kill each other. There’s no problem at all.”

It was okay since they wouldn’t kill each other.

Those words sounded extremely brutal.

Do brothers usually say this?

Lestia did not have any brothers for the most of her life so it was hard for her to understand.

However, Lysian just took Lestia into the room and placed her down on the bed as if they did not matter at all.

Then, he spat more brutal words.

“But, if you don’t like it, tell me. I’ll burn everything if you want. Without leaving any trace.”

“Lysian-nim! What are you even saying! You can’t do that!”

“Well, I thought you’d say that. It’s because you’re too nice.”

“No, no way. Did you just make fun of me?”

“You noticed? I thought you were a bit dull.”

“Lysian-nim!”

Lysian’s mouth curled up as Lestia floundered in shock.

“We will arrive in Verchester territory in about half a day. You can rest here in the meantime. Let me know if you get seasick. If someone bothers you, you can tell me. No, tell me.”

“But you’ll just burn them!”

“Oh! You know me so well.”

Lysian smiled as he stood up.

“That’s why, you should just relax and rest.”

Only then did Lestia notice that Lysian made a joke to make her feel comfortable. So, she expressed her gratitude.

“…Thank you, Lysian-nim.”

“What do you mean by thanks.”

Lysian paused for a moment at Lestia’s thanks and looked at his hands. He could see the neutral mana stone ring in his hands. The very same ring that Lestia delivered to him after walking through the fire.

“…Come to think of it, I haven’t said my thanks to you yet.”

“Yes?”

Lysian hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth once again.

“This ring. I’m really thankful.”

Lestia’s cheeks heated up at his words. Somehow, she felt embarrassed since she did not expect to hear a word of thanks from him.

“Ah… It, it wasn’t much. What happened was because of me in the first place.”

“No, I wouldn’t be here right now if you did not come then. You’re my savior. But…”

Lysian golden eyes stared at Lestia. His eyes were suddenly filled with firmness.

“Don’t do anything dangerous like that again. There’s no reason for you to risk your life because of me.”

“Yes?”

Lestia was furious at Lysian’s words. No matter how much Lysian tried to deny it, Lestia did it on her own will. The moment when she realized that she would fall in the darkness at the thought of losing Lysian was still vivid to her. How could she even forget the sensation of desperation because she was afraid of losing someone? She felt that her heart was denied in vain.

So…

“I don’t want to. If that happens again, then I’m still going to save you.”

She rebelled with her small but confident voice.

Lysian sighed briefly.

“Stop being stubborn.”

“I’m not being stubborn!”

“You are stubborn.”

Lestia spoke out to stop him and say that she was not stubborn.

“Lysian-nim is a precious person to me. How can I just stand still in that situation?”

Lysian paused when he heard the words precious person.

Then he approached Lestia once again as he bent forward.

“…You.”

He looked like he was threatening her but Lestia just looked at him with her big eyes.

“Why?”

Lysian’s expression was stiff, something that was completely different from before. However, Lestia was ready to respond to whatever Lysian would tell her. She looked like she had a lot of guts. It seemed like she was agitated because her feelings were denied.

However, what Lysian told her was not a positive or negative statement.

“I’m precious to you? Why?”

Lestia turned speechless at Lysian’s question.

Why are you precious…

Should she explain the feelings that she felt at the thought of losing him? Should she tell him all the details now?

That…

She felt ashamed since it was an unfamiliar feeling. She couldn’t say it.

“Why, why?”

So, she chose her most comfortable words.

“Lysian-nim and I are both Verchesters, right? That’s why. It’s because we’re family. You should be precious to each other if you’re family, right? If something dangerous happens, shouldn’t we help each other?”

Because we’re Vercehsters.

Because we’re family.

It was only natural to be precious if they were family. It was the most comfortable and most casual relationship. But at that moment, Lysian stepped back from her.

“Haha. Verchester. Right. So… That’s all the more reason that you can’t do that.”

His tone was calm. However, Lestia thought that his tone was dark.

“You should remember this. You can use your outstanding talent and courageous heart to your heart’s content towards Joel, Mathias and Gerard. But not to me.”

“Yes? What do you mean…”

“And don’t put a ring on a guy’s finger from now on.”

Lysian turned coldly and went out of the room. Lestia lay on the bed as she felt the unfamiliar coldness from Lysian.

“Strange. Lysian-nim… I always thought that he’s warm…”

But he could make a face that was colder than that of the duke’s. And he also had that dark expression that she could not interpret. The expression on his face, which had always been elegant, kept on bothering her.

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