Tia’s Smooth Life After Regression - Chapter 78
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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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Tiya’s Smooth Regression Life
Chapter 78
“What’s going on?”
“Did the kids get into a fight?”
Having heard the commotion, people began gathering one by one.
Perhaps among them there might be southern nobles who knew her, like Jasper.
“Someday the Duke will eventually find us mother and child. So Valen, for that time, you must never let the people around you discover that you’re a boy.”
“If that were to happen—”
She would be killed.
Mother’s old warning strangled Valentina’s throat.
So she needed to escape this place immediately, but her gaze kept lingering on Tiya who had stood up for her.
Just then.
“Go to the carriage first.”
Rodion, who had arrived a step late, took off his coat and draped it over Valentina as he spoke.
Valentina clutched the coat tightly, looked at Tiya, then left the scene as if fleeing.
* * *
【What’s the point of learning magic? Are you going to use it to make stew? What’s the use of practicing magic like that? When you actually need it, you just charge in like a wild boar!】
“Ah, I get it… I’m reflecting on it too.”
Tiya said glumly to Winter’s nagging that poured out enough to make her ears bleed.
“It was a shameful fight, unworthy of a Northerner. Grabbing hair and all.”
【This kid still hasn’t come to her senses.】
Though she said that, Tiya actually knew she had done wrong.
Acting with her body first.
And then failing to subdue her opponent with overwhelming force in one go.
So when Rodion mediated, she had been willing to apologize to her opponent.
“Just wait and see! When that lowly thing returns to the South, I’ll make sure to torment her over and over again.”
But then that really happened.
“Tiya, you need to apologize.”
“Sor… Sor…”
“Tiya?”
“You slippery bastard! You were wrong first!”
A second round was about to start when Rodion barely managed to stop it.
To prevent the situation from escalating further, Rodion told Tiya to go back to the carriage.
Following Rodion’s words, Tiya trudged toward the carriage but changed direction to go with Lev, thinking he would still be in the reception room.
The reception room assigned to the Vladijef children and House of Count Valoz.
Guard knights were gathered in front of that door.
“What are you all doing here? Where’s Lev?”
The knights, who had been discussing something with troubled faces, discovered Tiya and explained the situation with relieved expressions.
“He’s already in the carriage. However, Lady Valentina went into the reception room and won’t come out at all. She just told everyone not to come in.”
“Valen is here?”
But Valentina was definitely someone her brother had said to send to the carriage first.
Tiya knocked on the reception room door with puzzlement.
Knock knock knock.
“Valen? Are you in there?”
“…”
“It’s me, Tiya. May I come in?”
“…”
Though she knocked several times, no answer came from inside.
Tiya subtly signaled to Winter with her eyes.
‘Take a look inside for me.’
Winter, reading the intention in her gaze, let out a sigh.
Soon Winter stuck his head through the door to check the situation inside, then came out and shrugged his shoulders.
【She’s just crouched in a corner of the room?】
“When I go in, Valen won’t be in a difficult situation, right?”
【That’s true, but what are you…】
Whoosh.
Before Winter could finish speaking, Tiya drew her staff.
Then she unleashed the attack magic she had recently learned from Winter toward the door handle.
With a thunk, the door handle fell off along with the locking mechanism.
The eyes of the knights watching the situation from a distance wavered.
Tiya spoke triumphantly to the knights.
“It’s lock-picking magic I learned recently.”
【I didn’t teach you to break locks.】
“Everyone please wait here for a moment.”
Tiya asked the knights and entered the reception room.
“Valen?”
Inside the reception room furnished for guests, there were comfortable chairs and couches.
However, Valen was crouched in a corner of the room, huddled up.
Still wearing Rodion’s coat over herself.
“Valen, are you okay?”
“…Don’t come near me right now.”
Valentina mumbled while still crouched. Though it was a beautiful, clear voice, Tiya felt sharp thorns within it.
Just like… when she had met the cross-dressed Valentina at the Central Library.
Tiya didn’t approach Valentina recklessly like when she had broken down the door.
Instead, she sat down about three steps away from her.
“Okay. Then tell me when it’s alright to come closer.”
“…”
“I’m good at waiting, you know.”
At those words, Valentina’s shoulders flinched.
After a moment, Valentina lifted her head slightly so only her eyes were visible.
Valentina and Tiya’s eyes met.
Tiya thought Valentina seemed to be frightened somehow.
“Don’t do that next time. I’ll handle it myself.”
【Look at that. She’s the type who doesn’t even know to be grateful when you help her.】
Tiya pretended not to hear Winter’s words and spoke more carefully than usual.
“Okay. But next time if something happens where you need help, tell me. Can you promise me that?”
Valentina remained silent with her mouth tightly shut.
Then instead of answering, she nodded her head. Or maybe she shook it. No one could tell.
It was such an ambiguous gesture, but Tiya interpreted it positively.
“Good, that’s a promise, right? Then let’s go home now.”
“…I can’t go out like this right now.”
“Why?”
“Right now my face is such a mess too…”
Valentina’s hand gripping her coat tightened.
“My clothes are covered in mud too, and there might be people I know. So…”
“Ugh, just because of that?”
“Just that? I can’t live if I’m not pretty!”
“…”
【Wow… This is the first time I’ve heard such novel bullshit.】
Tiya also agreed with Winter’s words.
“What on earth are you talking about?”
Tiya looked genuinely dumbfounded.
Valentina bit her lip and hung her head.
Tiya’s two hands carefully cupped Valentina’s cheeks.
“Look at me.”
There was no force at all in Tiya’s hands. She had already seen everything there was to see.
Valentina resignedly lifted her head.
Tiya looked straight into Valentina’s violet eyes and spoke with sincerity.
“Valen, you’re pretty.”
“…”
“I’ve never seen anyone prettier than you, Valen.”
【This is the second time I’ve heard such novel bullshit today.】
It wasn’t just Winter who was flustered by Tiya’s attitude of countering bullshit with bullshit.
Heat rushed to Valentina’s face as she stared up at Tiya in a daze.
The anxiety that had been tormenting Valentina just moments ago evaporated without a trace in that heat.
“Wh-wh-what are you saying?”
“It’s because you keep saying ridiculous things, Valen! You can’t live if you’re not pretty. When have you ever not been pretty?”
“E-enough. Enough, so stop now. I’ll go to your house.”
Unable to bear the rising heat, Valentina shot to her feet. However, she hesitated at the pain she felt in her ankle.
Tiya, who had examined Valentina’s ankle, cried out in surprise.
“Your ankle is all swollen! Wait here for a moment. I’ll call the knights outside—”
Valentina quickly grabbed Tiya’s hand to stop her.
“Not the knights.”
At the firm words, Tiya tilted her head, then realized.
She remembered how Valen used to worry about hurting people because she couldn’t control spirits well.
“I can walk by myself.”
“But you couldn’t get to the carriage alone with that ankle, which is why you were in the reception room, right?”
Valentina was speechless at the unexpectedly sharp observation.
But she really couldn’t accept help from the knights. They might discover her secret.
“I’d rather have Lev carry me on his back.”
“…My brother might die.”
“…”
They had hit another obstacle. Valentina steeled herself and was about to step forward, prepared to crawl back if necessary.
“I’m really fine… Tiya?”
“Hm?”
“Why… why are you sitting with your back to me?”
Thinking it couldn’t be, Valentina hesitantly stepped back.
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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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