It’s Trouble Because Unrequited Love Is So Fun - Chapter 19
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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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***
“…So, I’ve decided to take charge of the manor design. Also, I’m planning to adjust this blueprint so that Jacob can participate partially in the structural design. I humbly request your permission.”
“Please grant us permission!”
Inside the reception room of Kairozen Castle.
Raphael, who had been sitting with his legs crossed, elegantly drinking tea, slightly furrowed his brow at the sudden assault from the two people who had burst in.
His gaze turned to Jacob, who was clinging closely to Serenity’s side.
Jacob, who had clearly said in front of him before….
“I dislike stupid people.”
“This blueprint is also mediocre, Uncle.”
He was the same guy who had said such things.
‘How exactly did she win him over?’
Raphael casually stamped the documents and said.
“Do that then. After reviewing the construction feasibility, if there are no problems, I’ll pay the design fee. It’s 10% of the construction cost.”
“Thank you. How generous, as expected! It’s great to earn a lot of money! If I earn a lot, I can give gifts to Raphael too!”
Seeing Serenity’s eyes light up, Raphael gripped his quill pen a bit tighter.
“I have more than enough money and possessions.”
“But receiving gifts has a different meaning!”
No, it’s the same meaning.
What’s so special about gifts.
However, listening to that woman’s nonsensical words somehow made him feel strength entering his hands.
‘I was planning to send that woman away when I returned.’
Soon after, his gaze turned to Jacob, who was tightly gripping Serenity’s hem.
‘I’ll have to postpone that for now. Fortunately, until now….’
…Yes, until now he could still control his death ability.
Then, Serenity spoke with a leisurely and carefree tone.
“But, Raphael! There’s just one thing missing from this design.”
She waved a short memo in front of him.
[【Saint Nicholas Day for Children!】]
“Tomorrow is 【Saint Nicholas Day】! I was hoping Raphael could help me with something.”
“What is 【Saint Nicholas Day】, and what could I possibly help with?”
“【Saint Nicholas Day】 is a day for children. I want to buy a gift for Jacob, who’s a child! How about it?”
Raphael fell silent for a moment.
At that instant, Jacob’s shoulders drooped down to the floor.
At this noticeable change, Raphael gripped his quill pen.
He had an intuition that this was something he absolutely couldn’t refuse.
He quickly checked his schedule minute by minute in his head and then said.
“…I’ll spare one hour.”
Serenity’s eyes sparkled energetically.
“Great! You promise?”
…Why does this feel ominous?
***
Ominous premonitions might never be wrong.
The place where Raphael and Serenity’s steps stopped was in front of a gift shop in the commercial district near Kairozen Castle.
It was one of the few preserved commercial areas in the ruined Kairozen Domain.
There stood the gift shop owner wearing a red hat on his head, frozen stiff as ice, along with the Grand Duke of Kairozen and the prospective Grand Duchess Serenity.
The gift shop owner had stiffened his body completely, thoroughly intimidated by the presence of the two people.
…The problem was that Raphael had no experience giving gifts to anyone.
“So, have you decided what to get Jacob as a gift?”
He had never given one directly, not even once.
Raphael looked at Serenity’s sparkling eyes and answered slowly.
“No. …I don’t know.”
He had knowledge about killing demons or rebuilding territories and such….
But giving his nephew a gift tailored to his personal tastes was about the fifth most difficult thing in the world.
As soon as she heard his honest words, Serenity’s eyes sparkled as she raised her hand with a snap.
“Then let’s go around and check various places! To see what Jacob might like! Since Jacob is a future magical engineer….”
…Up to this point, Raphael had agreed with Serenity’s words.
But after listening to her chattering voice for about an hour.
Raphael finally ended up confronting her.
“Is buying Jacob’s gift really a matter that requires visiting four different gift shops?”
When Raphael asked about the fundamental cause, Serenity answered seriously.
“Actually, we only need to visit one gift shop. Going around to multiple places is obviously just an excuse.”
“…Why make excuses? It’s inefficient.”
“It’s extremely efficient though… Want to hear about it?”
This woman did read Raphael’s mood.
But she was never afraid of him.
Eventually, Raphael recalled the countless people who had kept their distance from him until now.
‘Even Jacob, my own blood relative, wouldn’t come close to me.’
But this woman was different.
“I wanted to use this as an excuse to fulfill my ulterior motives.”
She lightly invaded Raphael’s personal space.
“…But I think I shouldn’t go any further, so I’ll stop here!”
Was she hitting and running?
What exactly is this woman?
A sandpaper-like sensation began to faintly scratch at some nerve that had been sleeping somewhere inside him.
He suddenly remembered.
“Wow… Serenity, you’re really professional. You must be a master at romance!”
‘That makes sense. She’s definitely a master.’
Seeing how she could even touch his lost senses, she must have had a lot of romantic experience.
“Don’t you hear that a lot? That you’re peculiar, strange, and weird.”
“Th-that’s a compliment, right?”
“It’s not a compliment.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Serenity’s face had turned red as she blushed.
‘I should refrain from pointing out that she doesn’t understand the meaning of words.’
When he quietly turned his gaze away, Serenity laughed as if finding it fascinating.
“That’s the first time I’ve heard such a compliment from Raphael!”
…No, I can’t hold back.
“…It’s not a compliment.”
“Yes!”
She’s definitely peculiar.
She’s not in her right mind.
‘…Only until Jacob stabilizes.’
After he’s reasonably stabilized, he would give that woman a substantial amount of money and send her away from this place.
Only until that day….
“…Think whatever you want.”
Not long ago, he had thought that ‘once he regained his numbness, that woman’s actions wouldn’t feel new to him anymore.’
‘I take back that statement.’
This damn variable that appeared in the realm of the uncontrollable.
Then, Serenity opened her mouth.
“Well then, since you’ve given me a date, I’ll buy the gift that ‘Jacob will love most in the world’ right away. How about this?”
***
“Setting aside the contents, what a colorful gift box.”
“Yes. It suits you well too, Raphael!”
Looking down at the gift box covered in hearts, Raphael seriously contemplated.
Jacob or whatever, should he just eliminate the variable now?
But even if he tried to get rid of this woman now, it was already too late.
They had already reached the garden where Jacob was playing.
In front of the small garden so full of flowers that it could be called the only one of its kind in Kairozen Castle.
Jacob was lifting up a flower with a bright smile when he soon faced them.
“Uncle, and Sister Serenity?”
In Raphael’s eyes, his nephew Jacob tilted his head curiously and pointed at his gift box.
“What? Uncle, why are you holding something like that in your hand…?”
Raphael Kairozen himself was a very silent and indifferent man.
Extremely rational, and not swayed by emotions. He was someone equally indifferent to everyone.
So he had no intention of carrying around something like a heart-shaped box.
But at that very moment, Raphael caught a glimpse of anticipation flashing in his nephew’s eyes.
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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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