Young Master, Please Put Some Pants On! - 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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Chapter 78
Arsian, who had been slowly running one hand through his hair, belatedly noticed that Mellis’s silence was growing longer.
“I’m sorry if I overstepped. I just… I only wanted Mellis not to feel such anguish. I know all too well how painful that can be.”
“Yes. I know you said it out of concern for me.”
However, despite her deliberately calm response, she couldn’t help the sharp ache that came to one corner of her heart.
Arsian, who had been watching Mellis carefully, spoke in a cautious voice.
“Mellis, won’t you just come with me to the Ducal Residence?”
“What…?”
Mellis’s eyes widened at his unexpected proposal. However, Arsian continued speaking in a more serious voice than ever before.
“I told you, didn’t I? That I see my childhood overlapping with yours. I want Mellis to be happy. The reason I haven’t said anything until now was because you seemed happy there.”
“…”
“But now I’m confident that I can make Mellis happier.”
“Arsian.”
“I’m not saying this simply because I have romantic feelings for Mellis. I believe Mellis will become a capable healer, and I need such a Mellis.”
Arsian’s gaze didn’t waver even an inch. And at that confident look in his eyes, Mellis unconsciously felt one side of her heart ache.
“I’m not asking you to decide right away. Just… please never forget that no matter what happens, I’m always on Mellis’s side.”
“…Thank you.”
However, contrary to her words, a bitter shadow crossed Mellis’s face. Before they knew it, the two had reached the main gate.
“I’ll escort you to the Ducal Residence.”
“No. Noel is waiting nearby, so it’s fine. I had a pleasant time today.”
Mellis bowed her head and turned to leave. Arsian, left alone, stood there blankly until her figure disappeared from sight.
“Ah, I made a mistake…”
It had been too hasty an action. To make such a big mistake just when Mellis was gradually opening her heart.
In that expression that had appeared on her face for a moment, Arsian saw a reflection of his past self. That pitiful look of holding back tears that seemed ready to burst at any moment.
The conviction that everyone would hate him and the desire to turn away from that fact. And the faint hope that perhaps, just perhaps, someone might like him. It was all too familiar an emotion.
“How annoying.”
Arsian let out a quiet sigh and ran one hand over his flushed face. Why was it that nothing went as planned when it came to Mellis?
He couldn’t understand the reason.
* * *
In the deep of night when darkness hung thick, a woman completely concealed by a cloak looked around as she headed somewhere.
The place she arrived at was an eerie alley with few people around. Upon spotting someone who had arrived there first, the woman pulled back her hood to reveal herself.
“I’ve proceeded with everything as instructed.”
The woman’s identity was Sandra. With anxious eyes darting here and there as she surveyed the surroundings, she pulled out a photograph from her chest and handed it to the man.
“I just finished reporting an identical photograph to the newspaper company you told me about. Of course, I proceeded completely anonymously.”
The man gave no response and stared intently at the photograph Sandra had handed him. The photograph contained the affectionate scene of two people, a man and woman.
“Well done.”
The man took out a small pouch from his chest and handed it to Sandra. Sandra’s eyes widened at the weight of the pouch, which was clearly heavy at first glance.
“Th-thank you!”
How long had it been since she’d touched money like this! Sandra made no attempt to hide her bright smile, openly showing her joy, when the man who had put the photograph in his chest asked in a low voice.
“What about the evidence you mentioned?”
“Ah, here it is. This is proof that woman is my daughter.”
Along with those words, Sandra pulled out another photograph. It was Mellis’s graduation photo, showing her with a gentle smile. However, unlike the confident Sandra, the man’s brow furrowed deeply.
“The face looks somewhat similar, but they don’t seem to be the same person.”
“No! I’m absolutely certain! That woman called Merien who appeared in the article before is definitely the same person!”
“…I’ll take it into consideration for now.”
As the man who had taken the photograph turned to leave, Sandra spoke in an urgent voice.
“If you need anything else, please come find me anytime!”
“…”
Sandra, who had been smiling brightly, immediately wiped the smile from her face as the man’s figure grew distant.
“A lowly half-blood acting so arrogant…”
Sandra grimaced and clicked her tongue briefly, recalling the large reverse scale embedded in the man’s face. However, apart from that, she couldn’t help but feel excited again about the heavy pouch.
She had first met that man a few weeks ago. He had approached Sandra, who was following Merien as usual, and suddenly made her a proposal.
‘If you know anything about that woman, I’ll buy that information from you.’
After briefly being wary of the suspicious man’s attitude, Sandra quickly changed her tune when he offered her a few nif. After she had talked for quite a while, the man, who had been quietly focusing on Sandra’s story, pulled out some journalist’s business card.
‘Report to this person that the woman is meeting other men. He’s skilled, so you don’t need to worry.’
Sandra’s eyes gleamed with interest as she examined the journalist’s business card. He was a journalist affiliated with a newspaper company that had great influence in the Empire.
‘Then how about revealing Mellis’s identity to them as well? That would be more certain.’
‘That’s nonsense. I can’t mess things up with uncertain guesswork. First, bring clear evidence that the woman is indeed your daughter.’
So today she had finally found Mellis’s graduation photo and handed it over, but what was with that cold attitude! From the beginning, there wasn’t a single thing she liked about that guy.
Anyway, since she had gotten her fair share, it didn’t matter to her.
“But why…”
As Sandra was about to leave, a question she hadn’t thought of until now suddenly entered her mind. Why was that man investigating Mellis’s background?
What was even stranger was that the man seemed to be merely someone’s subordinate. Thinking back on everything so far, there was definitely someone of high status behind him, but why would such a person be interested in a mere child like Mellis?
“Well, that’s none of my business.”
Whatever the reason, it had nothing to do with her. Thinking this, Sandra hummed a tune as she left.
* * *
The next day, on Heartwing Day itself. Garulus, who had been concentrating hard on chocolate-making class since early morning, was filling his basket with colorful chocolates.
“Phew, this should be enough, right?”
Since he had made such pretty chocolates, wouldn’t everyone praise him and say he did well? Garulus was grinning foolishly, imagining himself surrounded by people receiving applause, when it happened.
Benjamin, a friend from the same class, approached Garulus with sparkling eyes. In Benjamin’s hands was freshly made Heartwing chocolate.
“Garulus! Um, this…”
“Hm? Are you giving it to me?”
“No. It’s for your nanny. That really pretty sheep lady…”
“What?”
At the mention of giving chocolate to Mellis, Garulus gasped and shot up from his seat.
“What kind of nonsense is that! Absolutely not with Mellis! Absolutely not!”
“Why…? I’ve never seen such a pretty person in my entire life!”
“If I say no, then it’s no!”
At the commotion, the children who had been watching from nearby began gathering one by one.
“Why? What’s going on?”
“Benjamin likes Garulus’s caretaker!”
“Oh, that angel-like sister? But that sister is Duke Ferzen’s girlfriend.”
“What?”
Hearing his friends’ conversation, Garulus’s mouth fell wide open.
“What kind of nonsense is that? Mellis is Arsian’s girlfriend?”
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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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