CH 53

“It was because I was wary of the princess.”

“Pardon?”

His blue eyes were filled with obvious embarrassment as he looked at her. He clicked his tongue and hastily averted his gaze from her.

“At first, I was curious about you, Princess.”

“Yes?”

Psychke was startled.

Verndia didn’t even think of breathing and continued his words.

“I never thought of you as stupid, but why are you acting like a fool? I was curious about you, but—”

He looked into a far distance and frowned at his own words.

“I think you’re smart, but you act like an idiot! And because of that, I doubt approaching you, since those factions kept on colliding. But I am wary because they still gain my attention.”

(TN: Bruh, just say ‘I like you!!!’ Verndia, do your mouth better, grr!)

“I’m sorry.”

“I am not seeking any apology from you. Haa, oh well, I tried not stepping the boundary—”

Verndia met his gaze with hers.

“I was worried about how the Princess would react.”

“…?”

“At this current time, I am even weary, unable to predict your actions. Why are you distancing yourself from others?”

In fact, it was because of Psychke, who always feels depressed.

Not to mention, he prevented himself from saying those things because he was concerned she would really put a barrier between them.

And at the same time, he felt contradictory because of two conflicted thought; the desire to distance himself, or the desire to embrace his desire.

“So, that was why. I always prepare myself to predict your behavior rather than be surprised by the impossible.”

After hearing his story, Psychke bowed her head.

That was why, he didn’t do anything to look good to the emperor but because he was wary of her, who was said to be stupid. Vigilance is only for those who deserve it.

Even though his words weren’t particularly good, his words made his heart thump. Silently, he grumbled.

“I didn’t expect you to have such a misunderstanding.”

“Sorry. But anyone would have thought the same thing.”

“Then ask after I said my piece. Why did you do that?”

It was embarrassing, but there was no reason to hide it. Psychke explained her actions at that time. She said that he did that because she was afraid after breaking up with him, she’d be useless.

“Haaa…”

He had expected her answer, but after hearing it, he could only sigh. That made him wonder how much he had put his heart on the line. But, whatever she says, he wanted to comfort her. He wanted to tell her that she has nothing to worry about being abandoned in the future. Perhaps, that was why he said something unlike him.

“I’ve never hated you. If I hated the princess, would we have ended like this?”

It was a lie, but it wasn’t a lie. In the past, he hated Psychke, but now no. In the past, his feelings toward the princess were mixed with doubt, curiosity, wariness, and rejection. If he had genuinely hated her, he would have cut her off like Lillian. Even Psychke, who had a dazed look on her face because she knew that, nodded as she felt her heart beating softly.

“That, makes… sense.”

“Right now, I like you more than I hate you-”

(TN: Oofff…. *looks around* No worries, Verndia, I got you under covered! *In a salute position*)

At the words that sprung out naturally, Verndia bit his tongue immediately. He hastily put Psychke in his pocket and blocked the entrance to prevent her from coming up. Inside his pocket, where only darkness was there, she could only stare at the closed entrance blankly.

Just right now, what did I hear?

***

After quite a while, Verndia opened the entrance. His face still looked the same as usual. He seemed calm with his languid expression. Even more so, he couldn’t bring himself of bringing up the topic they had earlier.

While comforting her bizarrely beating heart, Psychke deliberately focused on watching the festival. So, how long has it been? On one side, she saw people standing in line holding a newborn baby. They must have come to receive a blessing from the temple.

There was a priest on the white stairs handing a freesia that was said to have grown up using only the holy water. Psychke hid her body in his pocket.

“I hope there will be no mischief in the duke’s fate.”

Along with the greeting, a yellow freesia burst in. Suddenly covered in pollen, Psychke sneezed several times. Verndia whispered as he put his hand in his pocket to prevent others from looking at his pocket which was moving on its own.

“Did you catch a cold?”

If he puts Freesia inside his pocket and she stands…

Psychke felt displeased and gazed intently at Verndia’s fingers. The clamor of the festival had subsided and the sound of sacred hymns had risen. As she realized that they had arrived at the temple, the conversation with Aiden she had seen a few hours ago lingered in her ears. Instead of turning a blind eye to going to the auction house, he promised to go to the temple together, and he tried to keep that promise.

‘It’s done now.’

Aiden shook his head.

He confirmed what he wanted to check, so he said he wouldn’t have to go.

‘What was he trying to check?’

Psychke couldn’t bear to ask because the man’s eyes were stained red as if he would cry at any moment.

‘Did they fight?’

Considering that Verndia and Aiden were not on good terms, the two went fast as they could, but they realized they were late because of the conflict. A simple hello and thank you for meeting Stella was the only conversation.

‘By the way, Duke, please stop.’

Verndia was happily playing her hair with his thumb and forefinger, perhaps because he liked how silky her hair is. That was already embarrassing but his warm fingers that kept on brushing with her face makes it even worse.

(TN: Ugh, just kiss it already!!)

It seemed that he quite adores that she tapped his finger to motion him to stop. He did stop only to continue again. He likes to fiddle with her hair.

‘It seems like he does this on purpose.’

Every time his finger accidentally brushed her face, he will poke her cheek intentionally, which rose up somehow this unique feeling. Psychke wrapped her blushing cheeks tightly so that he couldn’t touch them anymore. (TN: Eyy, stawp!)

She was on the verge of running away from his hand when,

“There’s a way to determine one’s ability?”

“Ah, sister. You really didn’t know?”

The harsh voices in her ears suddenly caught her nerves. The regular movement stopped, as if Verndia became aware of them.

“Yes, not at all. Why didn’t father tell me about that?”

“He must have forgotten because of that d*mn bitch Psychke.”

“Right, lady. Since it has come to this, why don’t you try it now? Sir, didn’t the high priest say he was free earlier?”

“He is free, but it’s difficult to have him here now. There must be at least two witnesses of at least a marquis in the discriminant.”

Psychke and Verndia arrived earlier than the planned time with the high priest. So it seemed that it was time for a discriminant ceremony.

“Invit—Ah!”

With a slight exclamation, they heard someone approaching them. The sound of the heels ringing low and the sound of the hem of the dress brushing together.

Eventually, the other person greeted them cheerfully.

“Silisia’s eldest daughter, Lillian Silkisia, is greeting Duke Lestir. Have you been, Duke?”

“The eldest daughter?”

Verndia repeated and laughed.

“I guess the Princess doesn’t know the meaning of eldest daughter. Are you the eldest?”

“Ah, the duke doesn’t know yet. Psychke will go to another country sooner or later. Are you here alone?”

Just listening to her so-called cute voice drew the attention of others. It became her habit to twist her hair and pretends to be weak every time. Psychke stuck her tongue out.

She must have known at least that the Duke was the one who took her after she had run away from home. It was a wonder where such audacity came from. Verndia answered dryly.

“As you see.”

“May I ask what brings you here?”

“I’m here to play.”

“Well, then can I ask for an escort for the day?”

“Oh, that’s a bit.”

Perhaps Lillian got too much of herself that she even approached him, which made him step back a little. At the same time, a soft hand reached out to stroke Psychke’s hair inside his pocket. It felt more affectionate than when he was joking with her a moment ago.

“I don’t have time to spend on the princess.”

Lillian became quiet in the embarrassment of rejecting her publicly. But Psychke could only vaguely picture her.

She must be trembling with her face flushed red. Although she may be boiling inside, she pretends to be shy on the outside. Indeed, it wasn’t long before she heard a fawning voice. Although she was more downtrodden than before.

“Well then, could you join us? I was going to have an ability test, but they said I needed a witness.”

“That wouldn’t be too much.”

He agreed without hesitation. It’s Lillian Silkisia’s discriminant. She already knew what the outcome would be, so there was nothing wrong watch. Thinking of the change in Princess Lillian’s expression, he thought it would be fun.

“Then we need one more person besides me- um? What’s he doing here?”

As Verndia pondered, he headed for someone and spoke to him sarcastically.

“I thought that even if the empire collapsed, you would be stuck in the eastern part, but what happened that you came here to the capital?”

“Ah. Verndia.”

A slow, heartless, impersonal voice replied.

“Isn’t it because of your authority?”

“What?”

Verndia was dumbfounded at the sudden answer. Psychke looked up, where the light leaked in solid lines. She was a bit familiar with the voice, but she couldn’t remember the owner so it became an unfamiliar voice for her.

‘Who is it?’

Lillian’s delighted voice immediately revealed who it was.

“Duke Evergreen! I’m trying to do an ability discriminant. If you have time, could you join us as a witness?”

After a moment of silence, Widnix softly agreed.

“All right.”

“Thank you, Duke!”

Lillian’s delighted voice disappeared along with the priest’s footsteps. The voices of Lenox and Melissa followed suit.

After some time.

The two of them, Verndia and Widnix, also moved along with the low-ranking priest who had come to pick up the initiates. Against the background of the regular sound of shoes, Verndia asked as if tossing.

“Because of my authority. What do you mean?”

“It’s useless even if I tell you.”

“Shall I make it useful?”

Verndia fired sparks as a threat. Widnix replied quietly.

“I was told not to use the authority this time.”

“What do you mean by that? What about this time?”

“Don’t forget the promise you made back then that you would never use your authority again.”

Widnix closed his mouth at the end of the incomprehensible words. Soon, the two footsteps stopped. They arrived at the place where the ability test would take place.

“Tsk.”

Verndia, who was chewing on Widnix’s words, clicked his tongue. To not use authority this time. Don’t forget the promise he made back then?

‘He mean I use it again after that?’

It was embarrassing, but he couldn’t tell because he didn’t tell him in detail.

Shaking off his doubts, he pulled Psychke up from his pocket to the edge.