Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 184
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 184
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The front of the Academy was bustling with students pouring out after morning classes and the carriages that had come to pick them up.
Though the Academy road was chaotic with carriages sent from various noble families, Leo could always easily spot the Blanche Family’s carriage without difficulty.
It was only natural, since the Blanche Family was the only one using a dazzlingly splendid four-wheeled carriage pulled by four jet-black horses for their children’s school commute.
“Isn’t that a carriage from the Royal Palace?”
“Idiot, the family crest isn’t the royal one. Maybe it’s supposed to go to the Royal Palace but came to the wrong place.”
“Hehe, I can tell you’re freshmen since you don’t know the Academy’s famous sight. Listen well. That’s the famous Blanche Family’s…”
Leo quickly jumped into the carriage, avoiding the boastful words of upperclassmen showing off to the freshmen.
“You should be getting used to it by now, shouldn’t you?”
Asillia, who triumphantly climbed into the carriage following Leo, waved her hand to the freshmen looking up at the carriage with envious eyes.
“Do they think you’re Leo?”
Ian, who boarded the carriage next, immediately opened his book and scolded her.
It had been almost three years since Leo had been living by Belinda’s side.
However, Leo still sometimes felt intimidated by such luxurious culture and lifestyle.
‘I probably won’t get used to it for the rest of my life.’
Leo smiled awkwardly while pulling at his short bangs that seemed to have no intention of growing.
How long had it been since the carriage carrying the Academy trio had been heading toward the Blanche Estate as usual?
“Leo, you said Lady Belinda is going to the Delman Sea in a week, right?”
“Yeah. She has to go check on a new business. She’s been busy with that lately.”
A new business.
Ian’s eyes narrowed as he kept his head buried in his book.
The Delman Sea, surrounded by various countries, had developed maritime trade, and naturally, maritime trade was not one of the Blanche Family’s main businesses.
With hotels and finance centered around the Red House casino, plus various entertainment businesses providing more than enough income, there was no need to deliberately extend their reach into trade.
‘She might not be going because of a new business.’
Though his thoughts reached that point, Ian didn’t bother to voice his opinion.
Just then, Asillia, who had been gazing out the window and pondering something, turned to her friends with a serious expression and declared.
“Alright, I’ve decided. I’m going to confess to Terry before this spring ends!”
Having finally drawn Ian’s attention away from his book, Asillia confidently explained her confession plan.
“I’ll cheer you on, Asillia!”
Leo clapped and encouraged Asillia, but Ian couldn’t understand it at all.
‘Is she in her right mind?’
Despite how she appeared, Asillia was a child of a ducal house.
No matter how much of a thoughtless monkey she was, confessing to a commoner, someone older, and without even confirming the other person’s feelings first?
‘She was always simple-minded, but I didn’t think she’d ignore class differences to this extent.’
Asillia had really changed a lot from spending time with Leo. The rudeness and arrogance typical of high nobility had disappeared, one could say.
Well, Ian had changed too.
If he had told his three-year-ago self that he’d be hanging around with sword-wielding monkeys, he would have definitely received looks of contempt.
“Confession is about striking first!”
“I think I know! The Knight said the same thing.”
“As expected, I knew it!”
Listening from the side, it was confusing whether she was planning to confess or launch an attack.
Ian shook his head watching his well-matched friends.
Just when he thought they had matured a bit, their rudeness of not considering others’ circumstances remained the same.
Afterward, Asillia had to pay quite dearly for her rudeness.
* * *
Unlike her boldly declared ambition, Asillia hesitated for a long time, hovering around Terry. Then, as soon as Terry headed toward the deserted backyard, she blocked her path like a bandit blocking a merchant’s way.
“Young Master Asillia?”
Asillia had a solemn expression as if applying for a duel.
She thought she was hiding, but Terry could clearly see Ian and Leo’s heads poking out from between the distant thicket.
Though Terry was quick-witted, she couldn’t even guess what this situation was about.
Suddenly, Asillia got down on one knee and held up a ring she had bought by saving her allowance with both hands, shouting.
“I’ve never seen a woman with muscles as perfect as yours, Terry! I like you. Please date me with marriage in mind!”
Terry’s eyes widened at the sudden confession attack.
She never expected such a direct display of feelings. She had thought it was just a passing puppy love.
Feeling troubled, Terry decided to reject this young master’s feelings as gently as possible.
“How cute, Young Master. But, could you think about it this way?”
Click.
Despite her gentle tone, her gesture of closing the ring case was cold.
“I don’t want to say my exact age, but when you were wearing diapers, I had already had my coming-of-age ceremony.”
“…Then how old are you?”
“Don’t calculate it in your head.”
Noticing Asillia’s wavering eyes, Terry quickly added and cleared her throat with a cough.
Then she put her hands under the kneeling Asillia’s armpits, easily lifted her up, brushed the grass off her knees, and continued.
“Anyway, what I mean is, no matter how much you grow, you’ll only look like a walking diaper to me.”
“…!”
Thunder and lightning crashed down over Asillia’s head.
It was such a cruel attack that even Leo, who was watching everything, unconsciously covered his mouth.
“That’s a bit… harsh.”
Even Ian added those words, which showed how bad it was.
Of course, there was nothing wrong with Terry’s words, but calling someone a walking diaper. That was truly hammering a nail into a man’s (12 years old) heart.
Asillia, whose complexion had turned pale, couldn’t say anything and trudged away.
The price for daring to aim for the heart of the slum’s greatest assassin was devastating.
Asillia, who had maintained a dignified expression until the end, opened her mouth with teary eyes as soon as she stood before Ian and Leo.
“Sob, what’s the big deal about that age difference! I loved! It was spring!”
“Ugh… That idiot.”
Despite her friends’ comfort, the aftereffects of her two-year crush being crushed lasted quite a while.
Five days later. Asillia, who had finally recovered from the pain of heartbreak, gulped down orange juice and said dejectedly.
“I wanted to get along lovingly with Terry, join the Royal Knight Order at nineteen, become the Royal Knight Commander at twenty-three, and marry around twenty-five.”
“…”
“Since I’m the third son, I wanted to have only as many children as Terry wanted… Sniff.”
Leo, who had been listening to Asillia’s nonsense, looked amazed and impressed.
“You were already thinking about when you’d become an adult.”
“Leo, that’s not a proper life plan.”
“Why! Is only your plan to create a trading company a real plan?”
“Someone whose first step of their life plan got shattered a week ago shouldn’t be saying that.”
“You, you really are…!”
Leo looked back and forth between Asillia, who was trembling and couldn’t even finish her words, and Ian, then asked carefully.
“Do you both already have things you want to become?”
At Leo’s question, Asillia and Ian answered without hesitation.
Asillia’s future goal was to become the Royal Knight Commander, and Ian’s was to build his own trading company instead of becoming a high-ranking civil servant.
On the other hand, Leo still hadn’t moved beyond becoming Belinda’s servant.
No, to be precise, it would be correct to say that after becoming Belinda’s servant became impossible, he still hadn’t found what he should do.
“You’re all so grown up.”
I still haven’t decided what my future self should do.
“Grown up, my foot. Asillia here is free from the duties of an heir since she’s the third child, and I’m just taking care of a tiny estate. Compared to you, it’s simple.”
At Ian’s words, Leo tilted his head as if asking what he was talking about.
Seeing Leo’s expression, which seemed to have no clue, Ian realized his mistake.
But there was no way to take back words already spoken.
“What I mean is… won’t you inherit the Blanche Family later?”
Since he had never heard such words from Belinda, Leo couldn’t give a definitive answer.
However, he could understand this much: if he wanted the Blanche Family, Belinda would pass everything she had to him without a moment’s hesitation.
“I’m not sure.”
Leo trailed off and fidgeted with the ends of his bangs, twisting them.
Someday, the day would probably come when he would have to choose one path from the many crossroads laid out before him.
That’s what becoming an adult meant.
But right now, rather than thinking about the future and preparing to become an adult like his friends… embarrassingly, he wanted to remain a child by Belinda’s side.
* * *
“Don’t cause any trouble, understand?”
“Yes. Please be careful on your trip, Lady Belinda.”
Perhaps it was because I had told him a week in advance where I was going, when I was leaving, and when I would return. Leo’s face as he saw me off was nothing but brave.
After briefly kissing Leo’s forehead, I asked Cheri, who was standing beside Leo, in a joking tone.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
Cheri, who would nod at anything I said, stubbornly refused to answer this time. I suspected he was quite displeased that I was leaving him behind.
But it couldn’t be helped.
I had not the slightest intention of taking Leo on this journey.
So I decided to leave Leo in the Royal Capital, but then I became worried about the child’s safety.
Normally I would have left him with Terry, but…
‘If Mikhail, or rather, someone from the Royal Court who knows about the First King’s prophecy targets Leo, only Cheri would be able to protect him.’
There would be no safer haven than the House of Baluashten.
Cheri, who alone knew everything including the purpose of this trip and the First King’s prophecy, also knew this was the best method, but…
“I can’t make any promises.”
That didn’t mean he would happily agree to it.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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