Chapter 30

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: Chapter 37

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“What do you mean by that?”

Luciana hesitated for some reason at his pressing tone, and the more she did, the more impatient Richt felt.

‘Why am I chattering away to Richt like he’s my best friend?’

She glanced at him cautiously for a moment before awkwardly scratching her cheek and opening her mouth.

“I already promised to go with a partner...”

“What?!”

“Eek!”

No, was having a partner such a shocking thing?

‘And why’s his face like that...?’

His deeply furrowed brow suggested he was about to grill her like a newspaper reporter, which was as bizarre as the sun rising in the west.

‘He’s completely unpredictable. Best to slip away in times like these.’

Today’s Richt was like a time bomb that could go off at any moment.

Drained of the energy to deal with him, Luciana slowly rose from her seat.

“Anyway, that’s how it is. I appreciate the offer, but... I don’t think we can attend together.”

“Wait...!”

Flash!

Richt reached out too late, but Luciana had already vanished into thin air.

“Ha.”

She already had a partner she’d promised to go with?

‘Who the hell...?’

Intense confusion washed over him, his heart plummeting wildly.

Still reeling from the shock, Richt stared blankly at the empty space she’d left behind.

Whoosh! Swish!

The blunt wooden sword sliced through the air with a menacing sound.

“Hey, who pissed off the captain this early in the morning?”

“You go ask him what’s up.”

“Ugh, no way! I’ll just get chewed out for nothing.”

The three knights, stretching sluggishly, sensed Richt’s terrifying aura and fled like scared rabbits.

‘Man, even for the captain, his stamina is monstrous.’

He’d stormed into the training grounds and grabbed a wooden sword two hours ago.

They clicked their tongues watching him train relentlessly without a single break.

Even his smallest movements revealed just how foul his mood was. He swung mercilessly, as if ready to cleave anyone who got in his way.

Because of that, no one dared approach him, leaving the area eerily deserted.

“Haa, huff.”

Another thirty minutes passed.

Finally done with what looked like stress relief, Richt tossed the wooden sword to the ground, wiped the sweat from his brow, and grumbled.

“I already promised to go with a partner...”

The words that had struck him like lightning days ago resurfaced.

‘A partner? Does she have someone she’s set her sights on?’

It had started as simple curiosity, but as time passed, the sprouting anxiety grew uncontrollably.

Richt chewed his lip, feeling an irritating itch gnaw at his nerves.

‘Damn it. Who the hell is it?’

Whenever he caught his breath, he went mad wondering who the guy sitting next to Luciana might be.

Even if he kept his distance from high society, he knew a “partner” wasn’t just someone to walk in with.

They’d have to dance at least once, with all the subtle touches and glances that came with it.

Even if Luciana had just found someone to escort her into the Spring Festival, spending time together could lead to sparks flying...

His face drained of color, turning ashen like charred ruins.

“...”

When he’d checked the invitation, his resolve not to attend had been firm.

But jealousy toward Luciana’s partner and the fear that her heart might turn elsewhere coiled deep in his chest, refusing to let go.

‘Spring Festival... You need a partner to attend, right?’

Ironically, the only noble lady he’d been acquainted with lately was Luciana.

Of course, no one but someone with a fiancé would refuse his request to be partners.

If he wanted to go, he could send an invitation to a suitable family right now, but the thought of escorting some stranger made his toes curl in disgust.

To keep an eye on whatever scum might reveal their dark intentions to Luciana, he needed to be there himself.

Damn his instincts that only craved his mate and recoiled from any other woman.

‘Nothing’s going my way.’

As Richt, his emotions tangled once more, bent down to pick up the wooden sword rolling on the dirt...

“Captain?”

Even, who had just finished sparring, approached him with a puzzled look.

“!”

His red eyes flashed the moment he spotted her.

‘Wait, Even could...’

Biologically female, but more comrade than woman, and Even harbored no feelings for him beyond loyalty.

In other words, she was the perfect candidate for his Spring Festival partner right now.

“Got a moment?”

Without hesitation, Richt beckoned her over.

“What’s the matter, sir?”

“Are you planning to attend the upcoming Spring Festival?”

Even had avoided high society since her official knighting, but her count family was well-known enough that she’d likely received an invitation.

“Pardon? No. Like always, I’m skipping it. A hunting festival, maybe, but the Spring Festival doesn’t interest me.”

“So you did get an invitation.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Richt’s expression softened at Even’s bland affirmation.

‘Is he happy I got an invitation...? His mood shifted suddenly.’

Her lord’s eased demeanor was good for her too, but Even couldn’t shake an uneasy feeling.

“I have one favor to ask.”

“Your command?”

“Be my partner for the Spring Festival.”

“...Pardon?!”

Why did her ominous premonitions never miss?

Even waved her hands frantically, a beat too late.

“Partner? I, I haven’t been to those events in ages. I don’t even have a proper dress.”

Even for a loyal subordinate, joining the Spring Festival was a different matter entirely. Her usually calm face flushed with rare embarrassment.

“I’ll handle all the details, so no need to worry.”

“But...”

“It’s just to meet the attendance requirements. No need to feel burdened.”

Why would someone who despised high society suddenly want to go to such a frivolous event?

“You’re the only one I can ask.”

“Captain.”

She knew well how narrow his circle of acquaintances was when it came to the opposite sex.

“Forgive me, but... is this important?”

Unable to connect the Spring Festival to her lord no matter how she thought, Even voiced a reasonable question.

“...Yes.”

He paused briefly before affirming it, and it seemed his decision was final.

“...Understood.”

With Richt insisting that much, it was hard to refuse, so Even let out a quiet sigh and nodded.

‘No helping it. Seems pretty important to the captain. But why the Spring Festival of all things?’

Was it related to that somehow?

Doubts piled up, but he wouldn’t answer if asked, so she had no choice but to follow quietly.

Time flew by like an arrow, and April had arrived before they knew it.

Sunlight streamed through the curtains, the cozy duvet’s touch, the chirping of unknown birds.

Bang!

“Miss Luciana!”

“Mmm...”

If only Mary hadn’t charged in like a knight before battle, it would have been a perfectly peaceful morning.

“Miss, you have to get up! We’ll be late!”

“Five more minutes...”

Luciana wriggled deeper under the covers, but her whining was no match for Mary’s battle-hardened resolve.

“Get up and wash your face already!”

“Ugh.”

She was strong, too.

In an instant, Mary yanked off the duvet and beamed, pointing to the washbasin.

‘Feels like I barely slept, and it’s already morning...’

Luciana reluctantly sat up and slipped on her slippers.

Still, splashing her face with the lukewarm water slowly washed away the heavy drowsiness.

“Wow, the weather’s amazing today!”

Mary, having finished making the bed, pulled back the curtains in awe. The sky, dotted with fluffy clouds, was so bright it begged for an outing.

“The season made just for you has finally arrived, Miss.”

“What are you talking about?”