Pardon the Abduction, Holy Knight - It's an Emergency - Chapter 1.11
Besides, Rosemary Ferial was a woman obsessed with him, so she would likely fall for it easily with just a little kindness.
Although Rosemary’s attitude had changed since the kidnapping, Adriel thought even that was just to deceive him.
He had reasons for thinking so.
“That Holy Knight is mine.“
Adriel unconsciously clenched his fist at the memory of Rosemary’s voice and gaze that lingered in his mind.
At first, he thought she had said it to help him.
But thinking about it again, there was no way that wicked woman would have done so.
She must have just spoken her true feelings.
So this pounding heart must surely be because he felt disgusted.
“Master, it smells delicious!”
“Yes. You can look forward to today’s meal.”
As the warm food aroma tickled his nostrils, those eyes came to mind again.
“Open your mouth properly.“
That gaze that had stared at him like a predator about to devour him.
The way his heart had pounded that day must have been due to shame, certainly.
***
It was on the day he heard the news that Serena had been exiled to a nameless island.
“Hello, friend?”
The second customer arrived.
“How could you give a toy and then take it back.”
“……”
And it was Lucian Berto, with the same purple hair and eyes as the female protagonist.
…Damn it.
It had truly been a while since the last customer.
It was the second customer who came when I was half ready to give up and close the business, as customers had completely stopped coming since Serena.
“Welcome…!”
So I opened the door with a big smile, but….
“So you were here?”
I could only freeze with my hand on the doorknob when I saw the man standing in front of the door.
“My toy shop owner.”
“……”
Dark purple hair. A distinct tear mole under elongated eyes. As far as I knew, there was only one handsome man with overall strong, thick features.
The female protagonist’s brother, Lucian Berto.
…Should I just close the door now?
I barely stopped my hand from twitching against my will and finished my greeting.
“Wel…come…. But what brings you here…?”
“To get it back. My toy.”
“Pardon?”
“I don’t mind if you make a new one. In fact, I prefer new ones.”
What has he been saying?
I already knew Lucian Berto was an unusual person, but now he just seemed crazy.
“Um… customer? I wonder if you’ve come to the wrong shop. This is a guild, not a toy shop.”
I gestured towards the ‘Red Thread Information Guild’ sign hanging on the tree in front of the house.
However, Lucian didn’t even consider looking there. Instead, he simply widened his eyes, his gaze fixed squarely on me.
“You know. That’s not how you tail someone.”
“…!”
As I stood there blinking blankly, suddenly a large hand reached towards my face.
I attempted to step back immediately, but it was too late.
Instinctively bracing myself for my robe’s hood to be pulled off, I froze in place.
“Did you think you could avoid suspicion just by changing the color of your robe and mask?”
However, after all that tension, what happened next was rather embarrassing. Lucian’s hand merely tapped my hood lightly, as if knocking on a door.
I blinked my expression a mixture of confusion and bewilderment.
So what’s this about?
Does that mean he knew I had been following him?
The toy talk seems to be about Serena. Given that he called me the toy shop owner, does he mean I’m the one who made that toy?
…Can someone please dissect this person’s mind?
For a moment I felt dizzy, but if I stayed still like this, I’d be at his mercy.
I quickly gathered my wits and said,
“I’m sorry.”
“Hm?”
“Are you perhaps drunk?”
In times like these, it’s best to just act innocent and confident.
Got any proof? Do you have proof that I followed you?
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about, but it’s our policy not to serve intoxicated customers. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave now.”
I tried to close the door right then, but Lucian immediately stopped me.
It was useless to try closing the door with all my might, grunting and straining.
Lucian stared at me doing this and suddenly burst into clear laughter.
“Ahaha. You’re really interesting.”
If I didn’t know what kind of person Lucian Berto was, I might have felt my heart flutter at that refreshing laugh.
But I knew very, very well what kind of person he was.
Even more so after taking Serena’s request.
“But isn’t this too cold for someone who’s come all this way?”
Lucian slowly stopped laughing as he wiped the tears from his eyes with his long fingers.
“My favorite toy in a long time broke after just a few days. Do you know how heartbroken I was because of that? You know, the bigger the expectation, the bigger the disappointment, right?”
No, I don’t know. How could I understand what you’re thinking?
Whether he knew my thoughts or not, Lucian continued with a gentle smile.
“So, won’t you make this toy sturdier?”
“Are you…”
Are you insane?
I almost blurted out my true thoughts without realizing it, it was so absurd.
“Hm?”
What should I do?
As I was racking my brain on how to send this man away who was looking at me with his head tilted,
Grrrr…
Wit, transformed into a black dog, came to my side and bared his teeth at Lucian.
“Wit….”
Did you come to protect me?
I was momentarily touched by Wit’s timely appearance when I needed help, then I looked back at Lucian with a serious expression.
“Our guild is off-limits to non-customers, so I must ask you to leave now.”
“Hmm.”
Lucian seemed completely unfazed by the fierce dog baring its sharp teeth at him.
“Looks like you won’t accept me like this, huh?”
Then, as if talking to someone, he muttered to himself before suddenly smiling at me.
“It’s fine if I’m a customer who’s come to the shop, right?”
“What?”
“Alright. See you again then.”
“No, wait…!”
Lucian turned his back and got into his carriage before I could even answer.
I stared blankly at Lucian’s carriage as it drove away.
“What in the…”
Should I move away?
“Master! Snap out of it!”
Wit, who had returned to his blond fairy form at some point, slapped both my cheeks to bring me back to my senses.
I waved my hand as if shooing away a mosquito and locked the door.
Lucian Berto.
Of all the characters in this novel, he was the one I least wanted to get involved with. I couldn’t believe this reality.
“Master! Do you like Taro that much?!”
“Who? Ah… that rich friend of yours?”
But why suddenly mention that fairy’s name….
“Gasp. Don’t tell me Lucian Berto is Taro?”
“The watch in Berto’s chest pocket is Taro, Master!”
There was a watch in that man’s chest pocket?
I had no idea.
But setting aside the fact that the watch is Taro, why is Taro, that wealthy fairy you mentioned, with Lucian?
Are they contracted like you and me?
It was a completely incomprehensible combination.
Translator
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lurelia
Known for turning pages faster than I move in real life. Warning: May suddenly vanish into fictional realms, leaving behind only a vaguely potato-shaped indent on the sofa.