Chapter 1
Thanks for the kofi Puppynado85! (15/32) done
—
Translator: Yui
—
I hadn’t seen him for a while. When did he show up?
As if he didn’t like it at all, Izek approached his father with an unpleasant expression on his face. They were almost the same height.
I couldn’t see Izek’s expression because he turned his back on this side, but it was easy to understand that the atmosphere was far from good. He always looked upset when he met him.
Ever since his mother died, Izek had been…
“My lady.”
I quickly picked up Andymion’s glass. The sparkling pink drink looked refreshing.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. More than that, my lady, your dance was good. No, it was amazing! I’m surprised that Lord Izek danced, but you were the star. I couldn’t take my eyes off you even for a moment.”
“I’m embarrassed. It’s nothing much. I was worried that it was too much.”
“Not at all. My Lord seemed completely mesmerized, too. I honestly thought you two would kiss.”
No matter how hard I looked at it, it was clear that some screws were missing in his head because he’d been beaten too badly by Izek.
There was no way he didn’t know how Izek was. Kisses don’t make you freeze to death!
I hadn’t even done such a bold move like that!
Well, except when I kissed him on the cheek the other day.
“Ahaha, did it look like that?”
“I’m sure everyone thought so, not just me.”
I admit that he had a strange look in his eyes.
But that was not it!
He was not the type to do that even if he was mesmerised by music and dance for a while.
“Strawberry?”
I almost dropped the glass I was holding. No wonder the floor suddenly vibrated.
“Oh, no. It seems like grapefruit.”
Did he say his name was Galar?
Anyway, Andymion’s brother stomped away again with my answer as always.
Why did he always…….
Andymion let out a sigh, scratching his head at seeing my bewildered look.
“It seems that his intelligence is deteriorating more and more.”
“Well, he looks like a nice brother.”
“Not at all. Hoo, I’d rather have someone like Lord Izek be my brother.”
You have a weird taste. Your brother is one of a kind, but you’re also very unique.
Anyway, Lord Galar was one of those who, like Andymion, found out my secret in the frost forest that day.
Sir Ivan and everyone were too unwavering to be anxious or relieved.
Were they so proud of themselves that they didn’t blink even if I was a witch?
Or maybe they were trying to reassure me and then secretly get me to help them with their work.…?
What should I do if that was the case?
What if they didn’t want me to just send back monsters that attacked them, but try to make the monsters cooperate with me, only to wipe them out? Or try to catch the ice dragon and Popo by using me as bait?
I was a human being who wanted nothing but to live my life.
Nevertheless, whenever my family came to mind, I felt sick.
Funnily enough, I felt more curious about how Izek would react when I refused, rather than what I should do if such a moment came.
If I didn’t do what he told me to do…
“Wow, that looks delicious.”
Yes?
I stared blankly along the way Andymion was gazing at. I was astonished.
What was that? Pudding? Wasn’t that a giant pudding?
The servants were carrying it to the middle of the shiny buffet table.
In a decorative bowl was a giant chocolate pudding that was familiar to me these days.
Pudding was pudding, but this was as big as a three-tier cake!
“We should go have a taste… ugh!”
“Stop chattering. Why are you pestering her?”
Sir Ivan, who appeared after dancing with Ellenia, grabbed Andymion’s ear at lightning speed and pulled it hard.
It hurt to see that. Stop picking on him!
“Ha, but as Lord Izek’s trainee, I am obliged to bring the pudding to my lady….”
“You were going to eat it for yourself, you liar.”
“I’ll just have a bite.…Ahh!”
Poor Andymion.
The pudding was huge. I’d love it if he could eat it all.
“By the way, my lady, I was really surprised earlier.”
“It was amazing that he didn’t step on Ruby’s feet, but I didn’t know Ruby had such talent. I wanted to learn, too.”
Oh! I must have done a pretty good job to get this generous compliment from Ellenia. My husband should have heard this!
“But where’s brother again?”
“Over there with your father..”
I soon realized that my father-in-law, who had been exuding a dark aura, had disappeared from the spot.
Where’d Izek go in the meantime?
“Was father here?”
“Yes, he was over there a while ago.….”
Ellenia’s expression was a little stiff.
Sir Ivan, who had just let go of Andymion’s ear, also suddenly had a serious look.
What’s wrong with them? Something I don’t know about? Or is it simply because the two had met?
At the last meeting…
“I see. It’s good that they moved. My brother must be paying attention.”
Attention to what?
“D-Did something happen? Father-in-law seemed to be a little angry..”
“Everything’s fine. It just seems that my brother’s time has come.”
Sir Ivan and Andymion were struggling to hold their breath and a rattle sounded.
Yes, I see. It’s hard to understand, but I understand, sister-in-law. I can tell that he didn’t like the banquet itself, but it would be even worse when he saw Izek dancing with me.
The closer his son got to me, the more it would ruin his plan…. damn it, what a pain.
“Whoa, it’s hot. Everyone’s so energetic.”
I was tense again when Freya approached for a drink just in time. However, this time, it was not because of Freya, but because of the pale-haired Paladin escorting Freya.
Another person who knew my secret.
This paladin, with a stern and cold impression, gave a weird look, and soon bowed his head politely and turned away.
Ugh, I’m nervous for no reason.
“Ivan.”
“What is it, Camu?”
“Let me talk to you for a second. Where did Izek go?”
Meanwhile, Freya was being friendly, accepting the drink that Ellenia gave her.
“I can’t see him.”
“He’s having a talk with his father.”
“Again? Haa… by the way, you seem to be growing tall every time I see you, Sir Andymion.”
“Oh, yes. Thank you.….”
What?
Andymion, who left suddenly, muttered greetings in an awkward manner while touching his earlobes.
I was naturally surprised because it wasn’t like him, but Freya, who wasn’t greeted, didn’t seem to be too bothered by it either.
Even Sir Ivan, whose hobby was beating up trainees, seemed to be reluctant.
“I guess he’s still awkward with me. You don’t have to reprimand him.”
“My Lady, please understand. He’s such a shy guy.”
“But he fought with my brother, not with me.”
Whoa, this is some kind of unexpected news. Andymion fought Lorenzo?
“Huh, what do you mean fight?”
“Oh, you don’t know. There was a group fight some time back, though they let go of each other eventually when I came by. It turned out that the two of them started it and others got caught up in the atmosphere while watching them. I can’t believe it. Kids these days, haa.”
I could imagine how Lord Ivan would have separated them up.
“Why did they…?”
“Well, I guess they were competing to see who was good at it. They all shut their mouths and refused to talk. Have you heard anything from Young Lady?”
“I don’t think Lauren said anything at all…”
“Oh, let’s go talk somewhere else.” Lord Camu, who had waited patiently and silently, became irritated. At the same time, Freya, who pretended to shake her head, suddenly grabbed my hand.
“My lady, don’t be like this and come with us.”
Can’t you let go of my hand?
At this moment, I hesitated about what to say, but to make matters worse, even Ellenia joined.
“Frey is right. Ruby should get acquainted with this opportunity. That’s what my brother wanted me to do anyway.”
That cold-hearted man couldn’t have thrown a banquet to make friends, but I couldn’t say that, and was taken away by Ellenia and Freya to a place where the other women gathered.
Guys, what kind of a prisoner am I?
—
T/N: there you go, mass release of 10 chaps xD was going to do it yesterday cos it was my birthday- but got delayed due to internet issues T_T
Hope y’all enjoyed it! Thank you for reading~
Ah, also, I’m now using raws from ridibooks, which don’t have equal-length separations like in kakaopage, but I’m trying to stick to 1.5k+ word length and at the same time make each chapter end naturally [ridibooks has astericks(***) to segregate parts, I’m tryna follow that.]