Let’s Make Saving a Habit - Chapter 144

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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 1
Side Story: The Reason I Came to Believe You Loved Me
Elysion visited Tania’s office as he always did.
To grow closer to her, who showed him not the slightest interest, he had no choice but to be the one to make the effort.
Or rather, it seemed she did have some interest in me, but she refused to draw near—which puzzled me.
I had forced her to drop the formal speech, thinking that continued formality would only widen the distance between us, but even so, growing closer to her proved extraordinarily difficult.
Click—
“Tania, I’m here.”
“What brings you by today?”
The moment I knocked and entered her office, Tania spoke without sparing me a single glance, her attention fixed on the documents before her. She appeared busy reviewing paperwork.
Though her demeanor bordered on dismissive, a smile played at the corners of Elysion’s lips.
Since becoming the young master of Duke Papiope’s Household, he had never been treated this way, and each encounter felt refreshingly novel.
There was good reason for this—across the vast Empire, the name Duke Papiope’s Household signified immense influence and authority.
Under ordinary circumstances, everyone would have scrambled desperately to cultivate a connection with Elysion.
Add to that his exceptional personal abilities and striking appearance, and the fact that he was of marriageable age with no betrothed or family alliance promised—
He was precisely the sort of coveted prize that noble families with daughters could not help but covet. A desirable son-in-law!
Yet for him, whose every interest was fixed solely on Tania, the opinions of others mattered not at all.
Elysion approached the desk where Tania worked, his smile never wavering.
He then propped his face up on the desk with his chin, his eyes narrowing with a playful gaze.
“Won’t you look at me? I’ve brought what you asked for last time.”
Only then did Tania, whose gaze had been fixed on the documents, suddenly lift her head and look at Elysion. Her eyes shone with a mixture of surprise and anticipation.
“You’ve already made it?”
“Yes. Because you asked for it.”
“It wasn’t a request—it was a commission. A legitimate transaction with money exchanging hands.”
“…Do we really have to draw the line so stiffly?”
Tania swallowed a sigh as she watched Elysion gaze up at her with wounded eyes, like a kitten abandoned by its mother.
She resented herself for being unable to retort against that face, even knowing the expression was little more than an act.
Why did he have to be so handsome?
From the moment Tania first met Elysion until now, she had never once harbored a desire to grow closer to him.
If anything, she had only tried harder to distance herself.
Of course, she was not blind to his appearance. Nor was she so peculiar in taste as to be indifferent to such things.
In other words, being human, Tania could not help but feel some attraction toward him.
The problem was that Tania was currently maintaining distance from everyone in the world.
Since she planned to return to around seven years old—the only point in time when Aiden was still alive—she could not afford to harbor any lingering attachments to this present moment.
To form bonds with someone in a time she would abandon would be foolish.
When she turned back time, she would lose all her memories anyway.
That was why Elysion’s persistent approach, despite all her coldness, felt like a burden she could not bear.
At first, she had made various requests of him, thinking she could make use of a talented mage, but as she saw him day after day, it felt as though her business arrangement was gradually crumbling.
Tania deliberately composed her expression into something stern and extended her hand.
“Stop acting. Show me what you’ve made.”
This time, what I’d asked for was a temperature-regulating mug.
It was something I’d requested so I could enjoy cool tea or coffee even in the height of summer.
As my cheeks flushed like peaches with anticipation, Elysion suddenly felt a mischievous impulse stir within him.
He leaned his face toward my outstretched hand.
“Praise me.”
“Are you insane?”
Unable to hold back, I let out a curse and wiped my face dry, my thoughts churning.
‘Does he actually like me?’
Otherwise, there was no explaining why he sought me out every day despite my cold demeanor.
Or perhaps he was in need of money?
The wealth I’d accumulated through save-load was staggering—enough to rank among the Empire’s most affluent individuals.
If he needed money, that would at least make sense.
But surely Duke Papiope’s Household wouldn’t be in financial straits?
Besides, if he’d approached me for money, I would have noticed it immediately.
A young heiress.
It was the perfect title for someone looking to exploit me.
I’d witnessed countless people approach me with designs on my fortune.
Yet Elysion was different from all the rest.
When we first met, I’d bluntly asked why someone like him would seek me out, and he simply said he wanted to become close.
Thinking it was a pathetic excuse, I pressed further, and Elysion claimed he’d noticed me because we shared similar circumstances—both orphans of commoner birth.
What could his true purpose possibly be?
I narrowed my eyes.
If I uncovered his objective and found foul intent, I planned to exploit him to the bone and use him thoroughly.
Of course, I was already using him quite profitably as the one called the next Master of the Magic Tower!
Having decided to take action to reach a definitive conclusion, I didn’t forget to save.
[Overlaying current viewpoint onto Viewpoint 1.]
I withdrew my hand that had been supporting his face and rose from my seat.
“Sorry, did I upset you?”
Seeing me about to storm out of the office, Elysion panicked and quickly apologized.
His mind was swirling with complicated thoughts.
‘Was I too clingy?’
I’d thought that since Tania was susceptible to my appearance, this much should be fine—a miscalculation.
Just as Elysion was reproaching himself with a crestfallen expression.
Tania, who had suddenly appeared beside him, said something he could never have imagined.
“Sion, can I hug you just once?”
“What…?”
In that instant, his mind went blank and all thought ceased.
Elysion wanted to ask if he’d heard her correctly, if he’d really understood what she’d just said.
As he retraced his memory like chewing cud and realized what he’d heard was real, his heart began to race wildly.
Every day she called me handsome, wondering how fortunate the young lady I’d marry someday would be.
After spouting nothing but such words, he shifted his gaze as though the matter were already settled.
So he was finally showing his true colors!
He had always been uncertain whether Tania harbored any affection for him, but now it was crystal clear.
She did care for him.
She simply hadn’t been able to express those feelings properly because of her overwhelming shyness…!
Though his chest swelled with an almost bursting sensation, he barely managed to control his expression to avoid appearing foolish.
Fearing he might look like a beast if he smiled with raised lips or acted hastily in this moment, he nodded slowly.
“There’s… no… problem.”
Meanwhile, Tania, who had just dropped a bombshell on Elysion, observed his reaction with meticulous care.
At first, seeing his expression stiffen rigidly, she thought he was displeased with embracing her.
But then, creaking like a broken wind-up doll, he nodded and opened his arms as if inviting her into an embrace!
His ears weren’t merely flushed—they burned with an intensity that seemed ready to ignite.
Seeing Elysion, who always appeared composed, now visibly tense, Tania found herself equally on edge.
Regret washed over her for suggesting the embrace, yet she couldn’t think of a more reliable way to confirm her suspicions.
His outward reaction certainly seemed embarrassed.
But that was something easily feigned, so she intended to listen to his heartbeat instead.
When one embraces someone they harbor unrequited feelings for, their heart naturally races, doesn’t it?
Tania swallowed hard and carefully wrapped her arms around Elysion’s waist.
As warmth touched her skin, an indescribable sensation stirred within her.
She deliberately calmed her emotions and pressed her ear against his chest.
Fortunately, the height difference made leaning against him appear quite natural.
Without needing to strain or concentrate intently, she could hear his heartbeat—loud and thunderous.
Thump, thump, thump-thump.
The excessively rapid rhythm, as though all control had been lost, spoke volumes about his true feelings.
Tania’s eyelids trembled.
…Good heavens, he really does care for me!
Tania flushed with embarrassment at herself for doubting Elysion’s sincerity and even testing him.
“That was an unreasonable request, but thank you for agreeing to it.”
Seeing her shy demeanor, it was only natural that Elysion gained even greater certainty once more.
Thus, their mutual misunderstanding—which was no misunderstanding at all—deepened between them.

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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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