Do Heroes Need Welfare Too? - Chapter 158

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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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Part 2, Chapter 25

 

Iberis moved with valiant steps like a general heading to war.

 

Adam nodded with a smile at her disciplined movements.

 

“Shall we go then?”

 

When Adam extended his hand, Iberis naturally placed her hand on top of his.

 

Adam smiled, feeling a small thrill that she had taken his hand without the slightest hesitation.

 

A brilliant smile spread across Adam’s face as he led her from the darkness into the bright ballroom.

 

Light poured down and enveloped him. Watching this sight, she tightened her grip on their clasped hands.

 

Though Adam had told her not to worry, Iberis couldn’t put her mind at ease until the very last moment.

 

No matter how much the Emperor had disappeared, those were still the nobles.

 

She had been anxious since the night before, wondering if they wouldn’t trust Adam who had suddenly appeared and tear him down.

 

However, as soon as they stepped into the ballroom, Iberis felt the atmosphere of the ballroom change in an instant.

 

People’s gazes turned toward them all at once.

 

The gazes seemed similar to what they had received before, but they were different.

 

‘The meaning of their gazes has changed.’

 

Now the gazes looking at her had changed to those of longing, envy, and jealousy.

 

“Is that person the one who…?”

 

“Hmm, it seems so. The Hero’s, no, His Highness’s…”

 

The nobles who had looked at them like apes in a zoo were now looking at them with different meaning.

 

The more this happened, the more tightly Iberis gripped his arm.

 

Iberis bit her lip.

 

‘Just because one’s status changed…’

 

The more this happened, the greater her disgust toward the nobility grew.

 

Adam hadn’t changed, yet just because the status surrounding him had changed, how could they flip so easily like turning over their palms?

 

Even if Judith had helped with his restoration, still.

 

Those who would normally have fawned to please the Emperor…

 

Rather, she was angry at the nobles’ attitude that was different from her expectations.

 

Even though she should be happy that they were looking favorably upon Adam, she was disgusted by the nobles who changed their attitudes like flipping their palms.

 

Iberis slightly furrowed her brows and asked.

 

“Aren’t you angry, Adam?”

 

Adam shrugged and whispered softly.

 

“Haven’t they always been like this? Since I don’t expect anything, I’m not disappointed either.”

 

“You’re right, in a way they’re consistent people.”

 

Iberis nodded in agreement.

 

“But even if Adam becomes someone with nothing again, I’ll always stay by your side.”

 

At her words, Adam smiled as if satisfied.

 

The bored expression and tone that had appeared when talking about the nobles quickly changed to one of happiness as if he had gained the whole world.

 

Our Hero was with me even when he was penniless, so something like this is nothing.

 

“I knew Eve would say that.”

 

Adam pulled her hand and leaned his cheek against her palm.

 

“That’s why I like you, Eve.”

 

Adam smiled with his eyes gently curved.

 

Adam’s voice was utterly peaceful.

 

However, Iberis flinched at the sudden confession.

 

Her leg that had stepped forward boldly hesitated and stopped, and her mouth opened slightly in disbelief.

 

“What…”

 

Adam, confirming Iberis’s reaction, spoke with curved eyes.

 

Adam didn’t answer her question.

 

After all, the ball had just started and there was plenty of time left.

 

He was just being a little mischievous because Iberis seemed to be thinking of other things even though she was his partner.

 

Adam gently pulled her hand further forward and stepped toward the center.

 

“Even this annoyingly splendid ballroom isn’t bad when I’m with Eve.”

 

Adam smiled with his eyes, looking truly delighted.

 

Adam’s face as he said this resembled an innocent child. It was Adam’s pure smile that she hadn’t seen in a long time.

 

Iberis nodded readily. Even so, she pressed her chest with the hand not holding Adam’s.

 

Even his playful words made her heart skip a beat.

 

She felt that today would be a different day than usual.

 

Perhaps it was because she was seeing Adam with a different expression in a different place than usual.

 

Even so, even mixed among countless people, she could find Adam. At some point, her eyes had begun to follow Adam.

 

Ah, when did this feeling grow so large?

 

“I also think it’s rather nice being with Adam. Even if it weren’t the ballroom.”

 

It seemed like it would be okay to reveal her heart in this place.

 

Iberis spoke calmly.

 

Adam stopped walking and looked back at her.

 

His golden eyes sparkled as he gazed at Iberis and said.

 

“Then what if I really—Eve—”

 

However, he had no choice but to stop speaking at someone’s announcing voice.

 

“His Grace Kyrillos Evant, Duke of House Evant, enters!”

 

He was an old friend.

 

* * *

 

The new duke of House Evant, one of the prestigious ducal houses supporting the Empire, revealed himself.

 

He swept the ballroom, which had become somewhat quiet as people watched him, with a leisurely gaze, then quickly found the person he was looking for and brightened.

 

“Adam!”

 

Calling out a friendly greeting as if calling a close friend, Kyrillos approached Adam.

 

However, his true purpose seemed to be the person beside him, as his gaze immediately shifted.

 

Iberis also spotted the unchanged Kyrillos and smiled slightly.

 

Kyrillos looked her up and down as if he couldn’t believe it.

 

“Miss Maid, you really were alive!”

 

Kyrillos approached without the slightest hesitation toward him, whom no one else could easily get close to.

 

Moving to do what he wanted rather than considering politics and his own position.

 

That appearance was just like three years ago.

 

The difference from the Kyrillos in her memory was that he had matured externally, becoming much more robust and larger than before.

 

Both Adam and Kyrillos.

 

Perhaps it was their growth period, but they had grown so much that it felt a bit unfamiliar.

 

However, seeing Kyrillos running toward her, Iberis thought it had been needless worry.

 

However, Kyrillos had the same thought at the same time.

 

Seeing the noblewoman beside Adam, his steps toward him hesitated for a moment.

 

When the face hidden behind Adam’s body was slowly revealed, Kyrillos finally realized that the rumors were true.

 

Honestly, even until coming to the ballroom, he had been half-believing, half-doubting.

 

It was because of the rumors about Miss Maid that had suddenly spread throughout the Empire as if planned.

 

And he knew that Adam’s attitude had changed at the same time the rumors spread. After all, he was a close friend who had watched his every move from beside him for three years.

 

Everyone was boldly talking about Miss Maid, yet Adam, who should have been worried, was calm. Kyrillos found Adam’s attitude very suspicious while vaguely letting it pass.

 

He had done so because he didn’t want to dig into Adam’s pain.

 

“I thought it couldn’t be, but you really were alive…!”

 

Even when Adam sometimes did the strange thing of calling out to Iberis in empty air, he had pretended not to see. So this time too, he had turned a blind eye.

 

It was because he understood his heart that longed for someone who could never return.

 

Hadn’t he seen the Duke of Evant’s appearance countless times?

 

Because he had seen him call out Lawrence’s name while drinking many times, Kyrillos could understand everything.

 

‘But this isn’t right!’

 

Kyrillos flew toward her like a butterfly and rushed like a bee.

 

However, Adam reached out his hand to stop him.

 

It wasn’t a reunion embrace, only the cold touch of Adam’s gloves reached his face.

 

But after the tearful—no, tearless reunion ended, what washed over Kyrillos was emptiness.

 

‘I’ve been considerate of Adam, yet he didn’t even tell me about something this important!’

 

He had even heard about it through the mouths of mages who had directly encountered Iberis.

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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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