It’s Trouble Because Unrequited Love Is So Fun - Chapter 54

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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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However, Raphael didn’t wake her up. Nor did he pass by indifferently as usual.

 

Instead, after doing just one thing.

 

“My hand brushed against hers slightly.”

 

…At the end of that action, he went up to his room and made a rational decision.

 

‘A cold shower.’

 

Unbecoming of a newlywed groom, he took a cold shower for about an hour.

 

Precisely, exactly one hour as planned.

 

***

 

The next morning.

 

I opened my eyes in the design studio and blinked at the jacket draped over my shoulders.

 

‘What is this?’

 

I never slept with a jacket on my shoulders…

 

Judging by Raphael’s scent coming from the jacket, it seems he came and went.

 

“C-could it be…!”

 

Clutching the jacket tightly in my hands, I made an expression full of anticipation and excitement.

 

Of course, I wanted to run my hopeful circuits at full blast, but thinking about it…

 

‘…Ah, this is probably like that thing.’

 

You know, they say King Sejong used to cover the shoulders of Jiphyeonjeon scholars with his royal robe when they worked hard.

 

Though it’s somewhat bitter, this is something!

 

“Hehe…”

 

I recalled Squirrel’s comment.

 

[Death awaits if you don’t kiss.

 

D-3]

 

‘Three days left, but if I fail here, it’s usually death.’

 

After quickly finishing my mental victory, I entered the project room holding small blueprints in my arms.

 

Today was the design competition day to confirm the major concept.

 

After exchanging greetings with Baron Porfena, my competitor in this project, we looked toward the client’s seat.

 

Sitting there were Grand Duke Raphael Kairozen and Knight Commander Bonide Declei.

 

‘Ah, my hands are shaking.’

 

Recalling Raphael’s hand kiss made my heart flutter, but somehow…

 

‘It’s fun, building structures.’

 

…I felt strangely excited, as if I had received Raphael’s encouragement.

 

‘I’ll win this competition and definitely make my wish come true!’

 

Hand kiss, let’s go!

 

***

 

‘Look at those trembling hands. She’s definitely nervous.’

 

Baron Porfena handed Serenthia a handkerchief.

 

“You seem nervous. Cheer up.”

 

“Ah, thank you!”

 

There would clearly be a difference between himself with numerous experiences and her.

 

But Serenthia, holding the handkerchief Baron Porfena gave her, wiped the oil from her forehead.

 

‘What, what is…?’

 

Just as he was about to express his bewilderment by moving his lips, it happened.

 

“Well then, let’s begin.”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

In front of everyone, the briefing by Ran, the chief architect of Porfena Architecture Firm, began.

 

“The main theme is 【Comfortable yet Sturdy Military Barracks】.”

 

Ran’s briefing continued smoothly.

 

Everyone began focusing on the contents of the report Ran had written personally and the blueprints.

 

[Military Barracks Blueprint for Iron-Blood Fortress]

 

Ran’s briefing was perfect.

 

It was a standard military barracks itself, considering armories, dining halls, and even traffic flow.

 

However, Serenthia, consisting of a single architect, was not intimidated at all, absolutely not.

 

“As you well know, I didn’t have enough time to make a model.”

 

Instead, in front of her lay a single unusual brick she had never seen before. Raphael pointed it out dryly.

 

“What’s that brick?”

 

Unlike 【Porfena Architecture Firm】 that overwhelmed with a splendid model, Serenthia’s seemed quite lacking and shabby.

 

Moreover, the absurdity intensified as she stood up.

 

She looked at them intently and smiled brightly.

 

“The sun happens to be setting. I’d like to show you under the place where the sunset glows. I’ll move the presentation location. To the military barracks where castle wall debris is piled high.”

 

“It would be sufficient to do it here, why go to that dust pit?”

 

“Yes, I specifically want to give the presentation while covered in dust.”

 

Since Serenthia said so, there was nothing to say.

 

The group soon stopped at ruins where traces of the demon war remained intact.

 

Fragments of collapsed castle walls were scattered carelessly on the ground.

 

As soon as the dry northern wind moved, stone dust made their eyes sting painfully.

 

“Good day. I’ll begin the presentation.”

 

Serenthia stood up and handed each of them a document folder.

 

“Before the presentation, I’d like to properly show you this blueprint.”

 

Baron Porfena looked at the blueprint with a bored expression.

 

‘As expected, it’s similar.’

 

But there was one problematic section.

 

It was the central square used as a training ground. The center of the square was completely empty.

 

“Why is the square empty?”

 

Serenthia didn’t answer that question.

 

Instead, she picked up a stone that had turned black due to demon magic, rolling around at her feet.

 

Then she showed the stone to everyone and said.

 

“Now, would everyone please touch this stone once?”

 

Baron Porfena, Raphael, Tein, Bonide – everyone touched the stone.

 

“What kind of feeling do you get?”

 

“Cold?”

 

“Unpleasant.”

 

“Since it’s traces of demons, it gives a somewhat unsettling impression.”

 

“It’s a very unpleasant texture. Many of you probably think all these debris should disappear. But…”

 

Serenthia took a short deep breath.

 

“These are traces of the military barracks building that collapsed here. I heard three knights died in the battle at that time.”

 

“…”

 

“In other words, these building debris are symbols of those who protected this land. So I thought about it. What if we use these stones?”

 

Baron Porfena moved his lips to add a word, but no words came out.

 

He took out his magnifying glass and hurriedly checked the blueprint she submitted again.

 

The detailed drawing showed an opinion to build a small 【Memorial Tower】 in front of the .

 

At that moment.

 

Bonide Declei’s lips, which always curved smoothly upward, hardened firmly.

 

Serenthia didn’t miss the change in expressions of Bonide and Baron Porfena.

 

“With that meaning in mind, the plan I conceived is to make bricks using these debris and build a tower with those bricks.”

 

Baron Porfena stared at Serenthia with a trembling expression.

 

“You’re going to use the debris as aggregate?”

 

“Yes!”

 

“Then surely, eating the soil was also…”

 

“You ate soil?”

 

Serenthia made an expression that said ‘Oh my, my image’ and turned her gaze away.

 

“…Um, yes. Along with geological surveying.”

 

However, Baron Porfena’s eyes were still sharp.

 

“Have you calculated the strength, Your Highness?”

 

“According to the formula verified overnight by the magical engineer ‘Jacob Kairozen’, the strength is 1.2 times higher than the stone walls designed by the Baron.”

 

Bonide Declei muttered in a sunken voice.

 

“But putting debris and such inside bricks… How is that supposed to be commemorative? I still don’t understand.”

 

Serenthia smiled flexibly as if she had expected that question too. She pointed toward the sun and grinned.

 

“At noon, the sun will fall at this angle. Over this empty plaza I designed, tentatively called the 【Plaza of Memory】.”

 

At that moment, Baron Porfena’s eyes narrowed.

 

This is…

 

“These regenerative bricks look like ordinary bricks normally. But when light touches the bricks, you’ll see the names carved on them.”

 

“Names, carved, on the bricks?”

 

“Yes, the names of soldiers who didn’t return from war.”

 

Baron Porfena scanned through the papers, then touched the regenerative brick Serenthia had shown him with his fingertips.

 

A name was written on it.

 

[Royce Declei]

 

“Ha, haha. Hahaha…”

 

Baron Porfena, Bonide Declei, their eyes were blinking.

 

Serenthia nodded and whispered softly.

 

“I thought about how we could build a meaningful structure on this land they protected, so that the survivors could long remember those who departed first.”

 

“…I see.”

 

Baron Porfena roughly shoved the pen he was holding into his pocket. His lips were trembling.

 

After being unable to speak for a while, he slowly opened his mouth.

 

“I thought life had no meaning. What’s the point of building structures? They all crumble. Like my son.”

 

“Royce will live forever on the land he protected, in everyone’s hearts. And…”

 

Serenthia quietly assumed a respectful posture. Then she bowed her head ninety degrees.

 

“Thank you. For protecting us, for protecting the people of the future.”

 

Her words brought long silence to countless people, and faint tears to Baron Porfena.

 

Raphael quietly murmured.

 

“Honestly, it seems perfect.”

 

“…Normally I would risk my life to give Raphael advice about being blinded by love for his wife, but this time I was truly moved.”

 

“No, there’s no ‘being blinded by love.’ Don’t make such remarks even normally.”

 

As the back-and-forth between Raphael and Tein continued, the person who spoke after a brief silence was unexpectedly Bonide Declei.

 

Serenthia looked at him.

 

Bonide had a deeply impressed expression.

 

Then he too, like Baron Porfena, would shed the shell of flattery and say something truly moving…

 

“Lady Serenthia, you’ve really hit the nail on the head.”

 

…Huh, wait a minute.

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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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