The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 142

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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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Chapter 142 55. The Meaning of a Gift (1)

‘She’s really changed tremendously.’

In the garden bathed in dim moonlight, Lumian thought as he looked at Lili Calaran’s profile.

None of her previously ugly appearance that he had seen before remained.

Even now, he slightly suspected she might be a different person. Nevertheless, he could recognize her at a glance, and paradoxically, it was thanks to her appearance.

‘Unless it’s a succubus’s beauty potion, such a pretty person wouldn’t exist…’

Queen Amelia of Jenas, the Academy’s greatest beauty Leiton Wino.

And sorry, but even his girlfriend Tania Eloise couldn’t compare.

It was as if the goddess of beauty had descended to earth. Lumian gulped.

‘I need to get a grip!’

Feeling his heart beating rapidly, Lumian opened his mouth to say something.

However, Lili Calaran was one step faster.

“I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? What do you mean…?”

“About what happened in the summer. The duel that occurred because of me… Even though I was the root cause, I couldn’t say anything about it, and thus caused you trouble, Young Master…”

“Ah, it’s fine. You don’t need to worry about it. It was already a long time ago, wasn’t it? And it was resolved without any problems.”

“But if you hadn’t possessed outstanding skills, Young Master, what might have happened…”

“What’s the point of thinking about things that didn’t happen? You really don’t need to worry about it so much. Really.”

“Still…”

“It’s really fine.”

Lumian said with a smiling face.

He was sincere. Rather, thanks to that incident, he who had been ignored by his vassals was able to establish his position, so looking at the results alone, it could be called beneficial.

Of course, setting all that aside, he didn’t feel bad because he could sense Lili Calaran’s kind heart.

‘There are so many people without shame or conscience. Compared to them, Lili Calaran is a decent person.’

Lumian’s smile deepened.

Once again, she was a mirror reflecting his past.

Ryan Fromhart, who had been mocked by everyone and had his self-esteem chipped away just because he lacked certain parts.

Lili Calaran, who had been scorned by everyone and hurt just because her appearance was ugly.

The situation where two people with similar wounds had become completely different and were now together in one place felt special.

He even thought it seemed like fate…

‘No, really get a grip!’

Lumian was startled.

No matter how much Lili Calaran’s appearance had become eye-poppingly beautiful, such thoughts weren’t good.

He had a girlfriend.

Moreover, they hadn’t been dating for long. It hadn’t even been a month since they had traveled together alone and spent sweet time together.

To feel such strange emotions in such a situation.

This was unacceptable both as a man and as a knight…

“My changed face, you had a hand in it, didn’t you, Young Master?”

“Huh.”

Lili Calaran’s voice pierced through his thoughts. Lumian’s face showed surprise.

Lili, with an expression that said ‘I knew it,’ continued speaking.

“I was right. I had a suspicion, but as expected…”

“No, I never said that, did I?”

“Then why haven’t you pointed out my changed appearance until now? Not only that, but you recognized that I was Lili Calaran right away.”

“…”

“If it weren’t for you, Young Master, that wouldn’t be possible. You don’t need to lie.”

“Hmm…”

“Or is it… burdensome for me to mention this matter?”

Lili Calaran stopped walking.

And she turned her body completely to face Lumian.

She was beautiful. The gentle moonlight had limitations in driving away the darkness, but even so, her appearance wasn’t properly hidden.

No, rather it seemed as if light was emanating from her face itself.

Her small chest wasn’t a problem at all.

It felt suffocating. Lumian, unaware that sweat was seeping from his hands, stammered any words.

“No, it’s not burdensome. Um, so…”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to make you flustered, Young Master.”

“Oh, haha, of course that wasn’t it. Haha, hahahaha…”

“I just… wanted to say thank you, that’s why I did that.”

After saying this much, Lili Calaran bowed politely toward Lumian.

It wasn’t a simple greeting.

Her expression, gestures, and attitude carried a heavy atmosphere that was hard to express in words.

Various complex emotions including gratitude, joy, sadness, regret, and emptiness.

Others wouldn’t be able to feel it, but only Lumian could understand.

He too had experienced something similar. When he learned the content of the wish through his reunion with the Knight King, it was truly a confusing feeling that couldn’t be expressed in a single word.

‘Still, from today on, she’ll be able to live each day with a much more lighthearted mind.’

Lumian returned the bow. The two remained with their heads lowered toward each other for quite a while.

When they raised their heads simultaneously, when their eyes met. The atmosphere had become much lighter than before.

Lili Calaran smiled.

It felt as if she had shed a layer. Looking at her pure white teeth, Lumian sincerely wished for her future to be filled with happiness.

She said.

“Shall we walk a little more?”

“Let’s do that.”

Lumian and Lili walked through the garden again.

Despite the chilly weather, it didn’t feel very cold. The two spent time chatting about various things.

“Haha, you were curious about that? That’s unexpected.”

“Unexpected? There are many people around me who admire the Academy. Every story you tell me, Young Master, is so interesting to me.”

There were plenty of topics to talk about. Just stories about Tarasan Academy alone could bloom into conversation flowers all day long.

It was especially so since there had been many incidents and accidents during the past year. Lumian led the conversation more actively than at first, and Lili Calaran listened with an interested attitude.

It was enjoyable. It was a fresh sensation he hadn’t felt before coming to the New Year’s party, when he had been filled only with thoughts of deceiving the nobles.

However, such time didn’t last long.

When one story ended and a moment of silence passed between them.

Meaningful words flowed from Lili Calaran’s mouth.

“Excuse me, Young Master?”

“Yes?”

“May I… call you Lumian?”

Thud.

A feeling of something catching. Lumian stopped walking.

‘What is this?’

It wasn’t anything special.

Wanting to call him by his name rather than his title meant wanting to be closer than before. If it was just that, there wouldn’t be anything particularly special about it.

But Lumian couldn’t think of it so casually.

Lili Calaran’s gaze as she also stopped walking and looked at him.

The serious atmosphere he felt from there approached him with greater meaning.

It felt like receiving a confession.

‘…Am I being overly self-conscious?’

No. That wasn’t it.

If it were before, maybe, but the current Lumian, though a beginner in romance, wasn’t a fool in love. It was nearly impossible not to notice the sweet yet fatal signal that Lili was sending now.

Thump thump.

His heart rate, which had calmed down, quickened again.

Gulp.

Without realizing it, saliva went down his throat.

He was confused. Lumian had countless thoughts in that brief moment.

What was this emotion he was feeling right now?

Was he simply flustered by an unexpected situation? Was it just the inevitable burden he felt facing someone with transcendent beauty?

Or was his heart truly being swayed by Lili Calaran?

While he had Tania Eloise, his girlfriend?

‘If that’s really the case, what should I do?’

Should he act to avoid being a bad man?

Or should he be honest with his feelings?

It was an extremely difficult topic.

So much so that most people couldn’t give a definitive answer about what was right. For Lumian, who was just starting his first romance, it was certainly an even more difficult problem.

“….”

But fortunately, Lumian no longer had to choose between the former and the latter.

The moment he activated his aura to maintain composure, he realized.

Even now, facing Lili Calaran.

His aura wasn’t growing at all.

The brief flutter was merely from the unexpected situation.

‘It’s completely different from when I’m with Tania.’

Lumian, who had finally found peace, smiled brightly.

Seeing this, Lili Calaran’s eyes wavered. Soon an answer flowed from his lips.

“Of course. You may call me whatever you’re comfortable with, Lady Calaran.”

“Oh… really?”

“Yes. Ah, but you know what? I think we’ve become much closer than before, so may I ask you something?”

“Of course. What is it, Lord Lumian?”

“Ah, it’s nothing major, but it’s about a gift for my girlfriend.”

Lili Calaran’s eyes widened slightly. Her left hand briefly gripped the hem of her dress.

However, that was only for a moment.

Quickly returning to a smiling face, she spoke brightly as if nothing had happened.

“Girlfriend? Did you perhaps start dating someone at the Academy?”

“Haha, yes….”

“Wow… I’m so envious. An Academy romance with someone you love, not an arranged marriage. How romantic!”

In an even more excited atmosphere than before, Lumian began telling his story.

He had recently traveled with her, and his girlfriend had given him gifts. An eternal snow necklace symbolizing eternal love and a portrait she had drawn herself.

But since he was a beginner at romance, he hadn’t thought to prepare such things. So he wanted to give her a meaningful gift, albeit belatedly, and asked if she had any recommendations.

Hearing this, Lili Calaran put her hand to her chin and pondered seriously.

Even her slightly frowning expression was incredibly beautiful.

But it was fine.

Having clearly understood his own heart, it didn’t matter much.

Lumian waited with a still peaceful mind, and Lili Calaran soon provided an answer.

“How about a sapphire necklace?”

“A sapphire necklace?”

“Yes. Sapphires suit young women better than rubies, and sapphires are gems that symbolize ‘eternity,’ aren’t they?”

“That’s certainly true. Right, why didn’t I think of that? It would suit her perfectly.”

Lumian answered with delight.

Seeing his expression, Lili clenched her fists tightly again. However, there was no change in her face.

She continued speaking.

“Yes. And… if you add a handwritten letter, wouldn’t your girlfriend be extremely happy?”

“I think so. Thank you so much, Lady Calaran.”

Lumian said, bowing his head slightly.

His form of address remained formal. She replied.

“Not at all. You must really love your girlfriend very much.”

“Hahaha.”

The two continued talking about several more topics after that.

Romance stories, estate stories, Academy stories.

After spending about 30 minutes together, the two politely greeted each other and parted ways.

However, unlike Lumian who returned to his dormitory, Lili Calaran wandered the empty garden for quite a while longer.

“He really likes her a lot.”

Tania Eloise, was it?

She was envious. But she had no intention of coveting.

He was like a benefactor to her. Lili Calaran’s nature was too kind to attempt to destroy such a person’s happiness.

‘I’m not confident either.’

She had deliberately recommended the sapphire necklace.

Since Lumian would also know the story associated with it, she thought she could gauge how deep his feelings for Tania were.

‘But to think he’d nod without even a moment’s hesitation….’

Lili Calaran smiled bitterly.

There was no way she could compete. Thinking this, one part of her heart ached.

Of course, she would be fine.

This much was nothing compared to the wounds she had received throughout her life.

“I hope you succeed.”

Lili Calaran, who had muttered briefly, finally returned to her dormitory.

Only the moon floating in the night sky was quietly comforting her.

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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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