Let’s Make Saving a Habit - Chapter 118

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 118
Ilina rose abruptly from her seat.
Her eyes blazed with fierce intensity as she glared at me.
I realized instinctively that my attempt to appease her with a smile had also failed.
Perhaps I shouldn’t have offered that final piece of advice?
But wasn’t that trivial compared to the insult I’d endured?
Besides, my counsel had been entirely sincere.
If she disliked everything I did—this way or that way—what exactly was I supposed to do to please her?
I was contemplating whether I should give her a genuine reason to hate me, since she seemed to despise me without one.
“I’ve shown myself in an embarrassing light. I won’t forget your advice, New Maid.”
Ilina looked as though she might lash out at me at any moment.
Yet her face flushed crimson like a ripe peach, and she averted her eyes from mine.
People who recognize their mistakes and admit them quickly are rare.
Moreover, that embarrassed expression was certainly—even from a woman’s perspective—
“Adorable.”
The words tumbled out before I could stop them, a genuine impression I hadn’t meant to voice aloud.
Damn. I’d misspoken.
I was about to redirect the conversation hastily.
Ilina, her face even redder than before, murmured softly.
“Thank you.”
Was this… actually working?
They say praise makes even whales dance, but I hadn’t realized it could be this effective.
She cleared her throat awkwardly and asked carefully.
“Ahem, would it be possible for you to attend the next tea time as well? I’d like to make up for today’s mistake.”
I responded with a practiced smile, caught off guard by her sudden transformation.
“Of course. If my schedule permits, I’ll make sure to attend.”
But I knew I would never see these people again.
Today was merely a casual outing to gauge Bilbergia’s reaction.
From now on, I’d be too busy meeting only those I genuinely liked.

✦ ✦ ✦
“Tania, what exactly are you doing running around outside all the time?”
I gazed at Elysion, who had thrust his face toward me with an exasperated expression.
He’d suddenly appeared in my office—what kind of nonsensical question was this?
As I tilted my head in confusion, Elysion continued, frustration evident in his tone.
“Fine, the young nobles are always like that. But why are the young ladies so infatuated with you?”
I pressed my index finger against Elysion’s nose and pushed him back to create distance.
“Well, it’s because of Bilbergia’s dresses and accessories. I told you I was aiming for that from the start, didn’t I?”
“They keep sending you invitations, so I don’t have time to spend with you.”
“Then what? I can’t exactly take you to the young ladies’ tea parties.”
“Take me anyway.”
Was he serious?
I’d be gawked at like a monkey in a zoo.
Of course, the young ladies’ tea parties weren’t entirely off-limits to men.
However, the most men typically did was show their faces when picking up their courtship partners as the tea party was ending.
But looking at Elysion, he seemed intent on staying attached to my side throughout the entire event.
“Elysion, you have your own work to do. Why are you acting like an idle nobleman?”
“Fine. I’ll concede that you meeting with young ladies is acceptable, even if it’s a stretch.”
Elysion casually ignored my comment about working and pointed his index finger at someone.
“But why have you been inseparable from him lately?”
It was Raspi, standing behind me without a single hint of wavering.
He was simply fulfilling his duties as a protective knight.
But it was true that I hadn’t been separated from Raspi recently.
Ever since my birthday, it was a precaution I’d taken in case the Assassins appeared again.
On the day the Department Store opened, Elysion had been beside me, so I’d been apart briefly, but Raspi had always been watching over me.
I waved my hand dismissively at Elysion, as if he were exaggerating.
“Come on, all day? Raspi’s only one person—he needs sleep and food too, doesn’t he?”
But Elysion’s expression hardened at my words.
“That’s the problem.”
“What…?”
“How can he be glued to your side every moment except when sleeping and eating? And staring at you with such an intense gaze the whole time.”
Without considering Raspi’s profession, it sounded remarkably suggestive.
“Well, he’s my protective knight, so of course he does.”
“He didn’t seem to be this attached before.”
One of Elysion’s eyebrows arched skeptically.
“And Father is your protective knight too. But lately you’ve only been with that dark-haired one?”
He certainly was perceptive.
That was true. Lately, I’d only kept Raspi as my protective knight.
When Father and I were together, it was impossible to tell whether the Assassins were targeting me or him.
And Father had been feeling quite hurt about this lately…
I shrugged my shoulders, feigning indifference.
“Not Blackie—Raspi. And not Father, but Aiden.”
Elysion then replied with shameless audacity.
“He’ll be my father soon enough, so what’s the problem?”
As if that were your decision to make.
In any case, Elysion was the Empire’s most shameless schemer.
“Tania, I’ve been thinking about when exactly I became like this.”
“You actually deduced it?”
“Ever since your Birthday Party Venue.”
It was an eerily accurate deduction.
Elysion narrowed his eyes and fixed me with an interrogating stare.
“In other words, you’ve been getting close to Blackie ever since I started officially courting you.”
As I rolled my eyes, searching for an excuse, his expression grew increasingly serious.
Then, with the look of someone reaching a conclusion, he said:
“Tania, are you afraid I’ll devour you?”
It was a ridiculous thing to say.
I was confident I could drag Elysion to the Bedroom and have my way with him right then and there.
“Sion. I’ve told you—even if your mouth is crooked, your words should be straight. Given the anatomical differences between men and women, the one doing the devouring would be me, not—mmph!”
“I understand what you’re trying to say, so stop!”
Elysion’s face flushed crimson as he urgently covered my mouth with his hand.
I rolled my eyes playfully and licked his palm lightly.
“…You really are something!”
In that instant, he trembled as if struck by lightning and jerked his hand away.
He was adorable in moments like this, yet so different when we kissed.
I laughed softly, savoring the sight of him.
“Anyway, I hadn’t given that any thought, so thanks for adding another reason.”
Elysion’s face fell with deep chagrin—clearly regretting his words.
Just then, Raspi, who had been quietly standing guard behind me all along, spoke up.
“I serve solely for the sake of your wellbeing, Lady Tania. Unlike Lord Elysion, I am not swayed by personal feelings, so I hope you need not worry.”
“Yet it’s clear you harbor personal feelings more than anyone else.”
Elysion regarded him with a sinister smile.
The air between them crackled with tension.
I was considering whether I should smooth things over when:
“Tania!”
The Office door burst open and Ron rushed in with an urgent expression.
Everyone’s attention turned toward him.
Ron glanced at Elysion, then immediately shifted his demeanor and spoke formally.
“Lady Tania, I have something urgent to report. It is a matter of great importance.”
“What is it?”
Ron’s gaze quietly shifted toward Elysion.
It seemed like something he shouldn’t hear.
For instance, if I’d discovered something from the Assassin’s corpse….
Elysion, receiving my gaze, shook his head as though displeased.
“Am I a stranger? I don’t leak information, so just tell me.”
No. There were secrets that even Elysion, who knew my truth, could not be told.
“I’m sorry, Sion. Could you step out for a moment?”
“Huh?”
Elysion stood motionless as though struck by a thunderbolt, his eyes blinking slowly.
“Um… yes. Okay, if you say so, I’ll go.”
He left the Office with a dazed expression, as though unable to believe I had just cast him out.
Or so I thought.
Before closing the door, he poked his face back through and pointed at Raspi.
“…But he doesn’t have to leave?”
Ah.
Truthfully, there was no reason for Raspi to leave.
He already knew I’d been attacked by Assassins, and he was aware of the Information Guild I operated in secret.
But if I didn’t send Raspi out, he’d genuinely sulk, wouldn’t he?
“Raspi, you wait outside as well.”
Raspi nodded without protest at my command.
“…Understood.”
Once I’d dismissed Raspi too, Elysion finally left the doorway with a somewhat relieved expression.
Click.
After the door closed.
Ron looked at me with eyes full of things he wanted to say.
Eyes that said I was being difficult because of Elysion.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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