Chapter 148: Small Talk

"Well…..That's kind of you to say, but I don't want to overstay my welcome. Besides, there's nothing left for me to do here. I'm moving on."

Valeria's eyes narrowed as she listened. So he was leaving the city. That meant he was done with whatever business had brought him here in the first place—most likely the bandit problem. He had come and dealt with the bandit leader Korvan, and now he was free to go wherever he pleased.

Sadly, she was not that free.

Valeria pushed the door to the inn open, the heavy wood creaking slightly as she stepped inside. She had no desire to listen to any more of Lucavion's carefree banter, and the reminder that he was free to leave while she remained stuck in this situation only soured her mood further. The weight of her responsibilities pressed down on her, making her feel as if she was dragging her feet.

As she entered, her eyes instinctively scanned the room, and sure enough, there he was—Lucavion, standing near the innkeeper, dressed in casual clothes. He looked completely at ease, as if he had no care in the world.

The sight made her jaw tighten, her mood darkening further. How could he be so carefree when she was tangled in a mess of expectations and decisions?

Before she could retreat to her room, hoping to avoid any conversation with him, Lucavion's gaze caught hers. And then, much to her annoyance, he greeted her.

"Well, if it isn't Lady Valeria," he said, a grin spreading across his face. "You're up early again. Training, I assume?"

His tone was casual, almost teasing, but she could see the sharpness behind his words. He always had a way of making everything sound like a joke, as if nothing truly mattered. And that grin—oh, how it grated on her nerves.

"Lucavion," she acknowledged curtly, her voice devoid of the usual pleasantries. "I see you're still here." Her eyes flicked to the bag slung over his shoulder, clearly packed and ready for his departure.

"Not for much longer," he replied with a shrug. "I'm leaving today, as you've probably heard." His eyes twinkled with amusement as if he knew she had overheard his conversation with the innkeeper. "My work here is done."

Valeria forced a thin smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Must be nice," she said, the words more bitter than she intended. She quickly added, "To be free of obligations."

Lucavion raised an eyebrow, clearly catching the tone of her voice. "Hmm?"

He looked as if pondering on something and then his expression shifted instantly, his mischievous grin spreading across his face as he leaned slightly toward her, eyes twinkling with amusement. "Oh? Something's bothering our dear Lady Valeria?" he asked, his tone playfully conspiratorial. "Hohoh, now this I must hear."

Valeria's eyes narrowed dangerously, her irritation spiking as she crossed her arms, glaring at him. "It's nothing that concerns you," she said, her voice clipped and cold. She had no desire to share her thoughts with this smug man, and the last thing she needed was for him to poke fun at her current situation.

But Lucavion, of course, was far from deterred. "Oh, I see," he said, tapping his chin thoughtfully as if he hadn't heard her. "A noblewoman, weighed down by responsibilities. Must be quite the burden, huh?" His teasing voice was laced with false sympathy, the playful glint in his eyes only growing stronger. "Let me guess—family obligations? A pesky political engagement?

Or maybe…" His voice dropped to a low, dramatic whisper. "A secret lover's quarrel?"

Valeria's glare intensified, her cheeks flushing slightly, though not from embarrassment. "You are insufferable," she snapped, taking a step closer to him. "And no, it's none of those ridiculous things you're imagining."

Lucavion only grinned wider, clearly enjoying how easily he could get under her skin. "Oh, but now I'm curious," he said, his tone light and teasing as ever. "What could possibly be bothering Lady Valeria so much that she'd let it slip in conversation?" He tilted his head, studying her with exaggerated intrigue. "Don't tell me it's something serious, like... you're stuck here with no way out?"

Valeria's jaw tightened. She hated how perceptive he could be, even when he was teasing. "It's nothing you need to concern yourself with," she repeated, though her voice lacked the sharpness it had before.

Lucavion raised an eyebrow, catching the shift in her tone. "Ah, so there is something, then," he said with a sly smirk. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. But I'm starting to think you're a little… stuck."

Valeria exhaled sharply, her frustration boiling over as she finally spoke, her words coming out in a rush. "I'm not stuck. It's just—" She paused, realizing she was on the verge of revealing more than she intended, but Lucavion's infuriating grin was all the encouragement she needed to continue. "Fine, I have decisions to make, alright? And I'm not interested in your opinion about it."

Lucavion feigned surprise, placing a hand dramatically over his heart. "Decisions? Well, I'm shocked! Someone as capable as you, struggling with a dilemma? Surely not."

Valeria's glare could have cut through steel. "If you're finished with your games, I'll be on my way."

But Lucavion didn't budge, his gaze still fixed on her, the teasing smile never leaving his face. "Oh, come on," he said, leaning against the wall casually. "You've already said it out loud. It must be something big if it's bothering you this much."

Valeria clenched her fists, her temper flaring. She had been so careful to keep her thoughts private, but somehow, this infuriating man had managed to pry the truth out of her, even if only a little.

"Fine," she snapped, "since you're so curious—what wouldyoudo if you were supposed to face a challenge alone, but you had a group of people who wouldn't leave you no matter what you said?"

Lucavion's expression shifted, his playful demeanor softening as he regarded her with a hint of surprise. "That's it?" he asked, his voice now laced with genuine bewilderment. He blinked at her as though expecting something much more dramatic.

Valeria's irritation flared up instantly. "Yes,that'swhat it is," she snapped, her eyes narrowing. "What, did you think it would be something else?" She could feel her patience slipping, especially with that look on his face. It was as if he was mocking her all over again.

For a second, Lucavion just stood there, staring at her. Then, without warning, he burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the quiet inn. It wasn't a polite chuckle or a teasing giggle—it was a full-blown, hearty laugh that made him double over, clutching his stomach.

Valeria's face turned red with anger, her fists clenching tighter. "What's so funny?" she demanded, her voice sharp, but that only made him laugh harder.

"Oh... oh, this ishilarious," Lucavion managed between laughs, wiping a tear from his eye. "You're really stressing over something likethat?" He let out another chuckle, shaking his head. "I was expecting some grand political scheme or a life-or-death dilemma. But this? This is rich."

Valeria's blood boiled. "And justwhatis so hilarious about it?" she said through gritted teeth, her voice low and dangerous.

Lucavion finally caught his breath, straightening up and grinning at her. "It's just—here I was thinking the great Lady Valeria Olarion had some impossible riddle to solve. And it turns out you're just unable to see through such a simple thing."

Valeria's eyes narrowed dangerously as she shot back, "Simple, you say? Then tell me, how would you deal with it?"

Lucavion stopped laughing, the amusement in his eyes fading slightly as he straightened up, his expression now serious. "Isn't it obvious? I'd just leave on my own."

The casualness with which he said it, as though it was the easiest thing in the world, made Valeria's blood boil even more. She stepped forward, her fists clenched at her sides. "Leave on your own? Just like that? And what about the people you leave behind? Don't you care about them at all?"

Lucavion tilted his head slightly as if genuinely puzzled by her outburst. However, there was something 'faint' in his eyes. Something that did not quite match his demeanor.

"Care about them? If they knew me well, they'd understand my reasons. Surely, if they're loyal, they'd respect my decision, right? If they don't understand, then either they don't really know me, or they don't care about what I want. Either way, it leads to the same conclusion."

Valeria blinked, momentarily taken aback by his response. The sheer simplicity of his logic left her momentarily speechless. She had expected him to say something infuriatingly smug, but this… this was different. He wasn't mocking her, not this time. He was genuinely laying out his philosophy, one that was far removed from her own sense of duty and obligation.

"And what if they don't understand?" she asked, her voice quieter now, though still laced with tension. "What if they feel betrayed?"

"If they were to feel betrayed over such a small thing and you were to care about it all times, wouldn't that mean they are controlling you in some sort of way?"

"That….." It was weirdly hard to refute.

Lucavion shrugged nonchalantly. "If they feel betrayed, then that's on them. I can't live my life constantly worrying about how others feel. I have my own path and my own goals. If people truly care about me, they'll respect that. If not, well, they were never really loyal to begin with."

Valeria stared at him, the weight of his words sinking in. His perspective was completely foreign to her, a stark contrast to the world she had been raised in, where loyalty, duty, and family were everything. To just walk away, to make decisions solely for herself without considering the consequences for others—it was unthinkable. seaʀᴄh thё Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"You really believe that?" she asked, her voice quieter now, more curious than accusatory.

Lucavion met her gaze, his expression steady. "Either you believe this, or you will be forced to in the end."

"Forced?"

"Ah….Forget I said that."

He made a slip.

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