I Put all my Stats into Charm - Chapter 62

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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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I Put All My Stats Into Charm Episode 062

The portrait of a young boy caught my attention.

Despite his young age, the boy’s portrait exuded a sharp and intelligent atmosphere.

One thing that was puzzling.

‘Why is his hair white?’

The Winston ducal family had traditionally had deep black hair for generations.

‘Wait, even his eyes are white?’

The boy in the portrait was painted with not only white hair but white eyes as well.

‘Is he not of ducal bloodline?’

White hair and even white eyes. I had never seen such a person even in the Empire.

‘Is he a foreign adoptee?’

While thinking these rather unprejudiced thoughts, the moment I checked the description next to the frame.

I discovered a familiar name.

‘Jerome Winston?’

When I looked at Jerome with a confused mind, our eyes met.

As if reading my thoughts, he spoke first.

“The person in the picture is indeed me.”

“But Duke, your hair is… and your eyes too…!”

“Like the previous dukes, it’s black now. My eyes are blue too.”

“‘Now’…?”

For me, who still didn’t understand Jerome’s words, he added an explanation.

“Do you remember what I said about being kidnapped as a child?”

“Yes, I remember.”

“This is a portrait from after that incident.”

Jerome’s gaze turned to the portrait.

“When I was kidnapped, my eyes and hair turned white. Whether it was temporary or not, they returned to their original color as time passed.”

I shifted my gaze to Jerome’s portrait once more.

Unable to even imagine what had happened to young Jerome, I carefully asked.

“Could you tell me what happened?”

At my question, Jerome silently stared at me.

His blue eyes were so deep and quiet that I couldn’t read what he was thinking.

I hurriedly added.

“If it’s difficult, you don’t have to tell me. I just…”

Even while choosing my words, he didn’t avert his gaze and quietly watched me.

“…want to get to know you better, Duke.”

So I can analyze you thoroughly and capture you.

He was already like an impregnable fortress, and now even his affection was blocked, so I had to dig in this way.

But it wasn’t just a strategic approach.

In one corner of my heart, pure curiosity arose.

Curiosity about wanting to know more about the man named Jerome Winston.

I wanted to hear and know what kind of story he had grown up with.

But Jerome still said nothing.

Was it too much to ask?

In the lengthening silence, I quietly watched for his reaction.

Just when I thought it might be difficult.

“It happened when I was 8 years old.”

A low, calm voice flowed from Jerome’s lips.

“On the day I was kidnapped. A fire broke out at the Duke’s Palace. While the Duke’s Palace was in chaos, I was abducted.”

He continued speaking in a calm voice as if reciting old records.

“They conducted some kind of experiment on my body. I couldn’t know the exact purpose, but it’s presumed to be related to magic power.”

“…Is that why you dislike other people touching your body?”

“Yes. The moment of contact brings back the sensations from that time.”

Jerome’s tone was calm, but somehow it sounded bitter.

Kidnapping and even undergoing some kind of experiment. Wasn’t that too harsh?

I felt sorry for him, having gone through such terrible things at such a young age.

Wanting to offer a small comfort, I carefully took Jerome’s hand.

The hand I touched was cold, but soon a subtle warmth was transmitted.

“It must have been hard for you…”

Jerome answered in a calm voice.

“It’s in the past.”

“Even so. Just because it’s in the past doesn’t mean it wasn’t difficult.”

While still holding his hand, I smiled carefully.

“I never would have thought you had such circumstances, Duke. You’re so composed.”

Looking down silently at our joined hands, he spoke.

“…Aren’t you afraid of me, Miss Emmerbier?”

“Why should I be afraid of you, Duke?”

“You don’t know what kind of experiment I underwent.”

Eyes deep as an abyss fixed their gaze on me.

“My body has markings like those of a troll. If I were to become similar to that…”

“Duke, sorry for interrupting.”

I carefully continued.

“You said you don’t know what kind of experiment you underwent either. There’s no need to worry about something that isn’t even certain, is there?”

Above all, I wasn’t in a position to judge such things.

I also had the same markings as Jerome.

If he was a fearsome being, then I might be a fearsome being too.

Moreover, Jerome’s situation was better than mine.

At least Jerome knows how he got the markings. I don’t even know how I got mine.

Anyway, weren’t Jerome and I in the same boat?

“Even if that really were to happen.”

I gently squeezed the hand I was holding and added.

“It wouldn’t be your fault, Duke. It’s not like you wanted to go through such things.”

Just as it wasn’t my fault that Aisha’s body had markings, it wasn’t Jerome’s fault either.

If anyone was at fault, it would be those who kidnapped an innocent person and carved such markings on his body.

I looked into his eyes and said.

“Rather, I think it’s amazing that you overcame such experiences and became who you are now.”

Putting strength into my voice, I continued.

“And even if such a situation arose, I believe you would handle it well, Duke. The Duke I know is that kind of person.”

Jerome’s eyes wavered slightly.

It was like ripples forming on the surface of a previously calm lake.

In the quiet cloister. Jerome silently watched me.

That’s when it happened.

“…This is strange.”

As the silence broke, a subtle warmth appeared in the blue eyes that had only been cold and detached.

That gaze made me feel as if even the surrounding air was becoming warmer.

“I’ve never told this story to anyone else.”

Jerome’s low, soft voice spread gently through the air.

I thought his voice, wrapping softly around my ears, was sweet and pleasant to hear.

“Yet I find myself confiding only in you, Miss Emmerbier.”

His gaze slowly moved along my face.

Everywhere his gaze swept over seemed to bloom with heat.

He raised his eyes to fix on mine and took a low breath.

Then he opened his mouth again as if exhaling the breath he had been holding.

“I don’t entirely dislike it.”

In that moment, I unconsciously drew in a breath.

My whole body burned as if intoxicated, and heat spread through our touching hands like fire.

‘He doesn’t dislike it? What does that mean?’

What kind of reaction should I have? My mind went completely blank and I couldn’t think of anything.

So I just blurted out anything.

“Haha! That’s a relief. I don’t dislike you either, Duke!”

I turned my body with creaking movements like a robot in need of oil.

“Th-then would you show me around other places too?”

Just then, my feet got tangled and my body swayed.

Jerome quickly caught my waist.

The musk scent that spread thickly with our shortened distance mixed into my breath. I could feel his hot body temperature where we touched.

Even in the midst of this, Jerome’s gaze remained fixed on me without wavering.

His blue eyes that had been cold as ice now felt warm.

At this distance where our breaths could touch, I gazed at him as if entranced.

“…Are you alright?”

Jerome’s low voice snapped me back to my senses.

Only then did the scene before my eyes register belatedly.

My empty wine glass.

And Jerome’s uniform with red wine dripping down it.

“S-sorry!”

I hurriedly stepped back.

“What should we do? Wine stains don’t come out easily!”

Unlike me who was frantically stamping my feet, Jerome was surprisingly calm.

“It’s fine. Stains can be removed.”

And he continued in a composed voice.

“I’ll go change clothes. Would you wait for me for a moment?”

“Yes, of course…!”

“It would be boring for you to wait here, so how about we meet again at the Western Terrace?”

Is this really the time to be discussing locations?

Jerome Winston, if you wanted, I could even meet you in a bathroom.

Having nothing to say even with ten mouths, I nodded enthusiastically.

“Take your time!”

“Then.”

Jerome bowed politely once more before leaving.

Only after being left alone did I let out the breath I had been holding.

“Whew!”

It’s like a storm passed through.

To let the wine spilling slide like that. Jerome didn’t seem like an ordinary saint either.

I slowly retraced what had just happened.

He had always felt cold and rational.

But his gaze looking at me, the atmosphere he gave off. Today’s Jerome was different from usual.

Moreover…

‘Strangely, I find myself opening up only to Miss Emmerbier.’

‘I don’t entirely dislike it.’

The words he had said also felt different from usual.

Within his restrained way of speaking, I could sense a strange atmosphere.

As if I had become someone special…

Though I’m someone who’s never dated, this time I had a definite feeling.

‘Jerome definitely has feelings for me.’

Even someone as dense as me couldn’t miss signals like these.

Lately everything has been flowing naturally, and our conversations connect well too.

I felt strong conviction.

‘Good.’

I clenched both fists tightly and made up my mind.

‘Today, I’m going to confess to Jerome Winston.’

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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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