Part 1. This Childhood Friend Is Too Much  

1. This Childhood Friend Is

She got caught by her childhood friend reading an erotic novel.

“What’s this?”

Theofield shook the novel so Milia could see it. Milia’s face turned bright red. Even though she hadn’t finished fixing her hair, she grabbed the hem of her dress and rushed at Theofield.

“Don’t look!”

She tried to snatch the book from Theofield’s hand, but the height difference made it impossible. No matter how much Milia jumped up and down, she couldn’t even reach his fingertips.

“Hot breath poured from his lips. His wet breathing soaked her neck… What is this supposed to mean?”

Regardless of Milia’s embarrassment, Theofield kept reading from the novel. Of all things, the book had automatically opened to a risqué scene as soon as he flipped it open.

“The lady’s petals glistened with dew, and the man moved between her legs…”

Theofield stopped reading. He looked down at Milia with a pitiful gaze filled with all sorts of emotions.

“Have you been reading only this kind of stuff all the time?”

“Th-this kind of stuff? It’s just… a romance novel.”

As Milia stammered her reply, Theofield pulled another book from the shelf and opened it. This book was a history tome describing a war that happened 200 years ago.

“See? It’s clean, right? Not a single scratch on the cover, like it’s being opened for the first time today.”

Then Theofield opened the problematic novel again. Instantly, another steamy scene appeared on the page.

“How often did you read this for it to open right to this page? And it’s not just here. This part opens easily too—and it’s another erotic scene. So, you only read the spicy bits, and now there’s physical evidence left behind.”

It was all true, so Milia had nothing to say. But Theofield didn’t stop there.

“You have so many books in your room, but you only picked out these kinds of things?”

Theofield’s steps slowly headed toward Milia’s treasured collection. Milia sensed danger.

“Why are you going through books in someone else’s room? We’re going to be late… Let’s go already.”

Today, the two of them were supposed to attend the party at the Lisbon Viscountcy as partners. Milia tried to stop Theofield by grabbing his arm, but he gently pushed her hand away. A mysterious, arrogant smile appeared on his face.

“You rummaged through my room too.”

Just ten days ago, when Milia visited Theofield Manders’s house, she’d searched his room. Not on purpose, but while looking for something she needed. Of course, she hadn’t gotten Theofield’s permission. They’d never been the type to ask permission for things anyway.

“What, why are you reading someone else’s books without asking?”

“It’s just poetry. What’s the problem? You even have philosophy books here.”

Theofield smiled leisurely, as if he knew everything. Without hesitation, he picked up a philosophy book and opened it.

‘I’m doomed!’

Before Milia could even scream, laughter burst from Theofield’s lips. The childhood friend clutched his stomach and laughed loudly.

“The cover says philosophy, but what’s inside?”

He recited a line from a pulp novel hidden inside the shell of the philosophy book.

“She was consumed by the heat of love… pfft, trembling at the pleasure she felt for the first time… gasp, sinking into the swamp of passion. What is this…?”

In the end, Theofield couldn’t hold back his laughter and nearly collapsed in hysterics. Milia, her ears burning red, couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed the thickest book on the shelf and hurled it at Theofield.

* * *

“Is Manders sick or something? He keeps holding his side.”

Milia’s friend Sierra glanced worriedly toward Theofield.

“It’s not his stomach, it’s his ribs.”

Milia replied without even looking at Theofield. Before leaving for the Lisbon Viscountcy, the thick book she’d thrown had struck Theofield’s side. Thanks to the book’s corner hitting his ribs, Theofield hadn’t been able to get up for a while.

“But Milia, hasn’t Manders changed a bit lately?”

“How? He’s the same as ever.”

“I think he’s gotten more handsome. He was always good-looking, but…”

“You think he’s handsome?”

She couldn’t agree. Milia looked over at the young men in military uniforms in the distance to spot Theofield. Among them was her childhood friend, Theofield Manders, dressed in an army uniform.

After graduating from the academy and enlisting, Theofield had grown taller and broader than before. His slicked-back black hair revealed a smooth forehead. His thick, clear eyebrows and jewel-like blue eyes, along with the crisp red uniform, gold epaulets, and neat cuffs, made Theofield’s face shine even more.

But that shine was invisible to his childhood friend Milia.

‘Hmm, no matter how I look, he’s just average…’

Lately, Theofield’s reputation had been rising, especially among young ladies her age. Milia just couldn’t understand it.

Likewise, to Theofield, Milia was just like air. Even though Milia’s name had recently become a frequent topic among men in Lohandra’s social circles, Theofield had no idea.

“Theo, that young lady in the pale yellow dress over there—isn’t that Milia Lisner?”

“Oh, yeah.”

Theofield, still sore from where Milia had hit him with the book, replied with a grimace.

“About Lisner…”

Harry lowered his voice, careful not to let the ladies across the room overhear.

“She’s had a lot of suitors, right?”

“Yeah, Lisner’s cute, so I bet she’s had plenty of marriage proposals.”

Harry’s question drew in the other officers.

“I don’t know. She’s had a lot of suitors?”

Theofield asked in genuine surprise. The officers beside him were speechless.

“You’re the closest to Lisner. If you don’t know, who would?”

“Wouldn’t Milia herself know?”

“So you don’t know either?”

“How would I know that?”

The clueless young men kept talking.

“Soon, suitors will be lining up for Lisner, and then you won’t be able to hang out with her like now.”

“Why?”

Theofield questioned his friend’s words.

“No matter who Milia marries, she’s still Milia. Why wouldn’t I be able to hang out with her?”

With a truly innocent, untroubled expression, Theofield’s face made Harry ask seriously,

“Theofield, what do you think of Lisner?”

“I’ve known her since we were kids, but honestly, Lisner’s pretty.”

His thoughts about Milia Lisner—he hadn’t considered it recently, but he remembered thinking about it when they were younger.

“A guy in a dress.”

At Theofield’s words, the soldiers around him stared wide-eyed. Milia Lisner had a slim, petite figure and bright, golden-brown hair. She didn’t seem to realize it herself, but whenever she appeared at parties and danced, she attracted plenty of male attention.

Not a stunning beauty, but a cute and lovely young lady—that was how men Theofield’s age described Milia Lisner.

“You’re really dense. You have such a cute and pretty childhood friend, and you don’t think anything of her?”

“Cute and pretty? Are you guys blind?”

Still rubbing his sore side, Theofield frowned. The other officers shook their heads. He was hopeless. He didn’t even realize how high his standards had become.

“Then who do you think is pretty? Point out someone in this hall.”

“Hmm…”

When Taylor asked, Theofield straightened up and seriously considered.

“Is it really such a hard question?”

“Hmm…”

To point out a pretty young lady—Theofield had never considered such a thing before. And if he picked anyone here, people would start teasing him about having a crush on her. Then the story would reach Milia’s ears, and she’d tell her family, starting a second round of teasing. It was a disaster waiting to happen.

Just then, a savior appeared to rescue Theofield from his dilemma.

“Isn’t that Clara Selgier over there?”

Desperate to change the subject, Theofield pointed to a young man and woman entering the banquet hall. Everyone’s eyes turned to Clara Selgier and the young man accompanying her.

Both were around Milia and Theofield’s age. Clara’s elegant features drew attention even without heavy makeup. Her voluminous golden hair was pinned up high with a sparkling diamond pin. Her dress was made of blue fabric, a blend of silk and linen, specialties of Lohandra. Her ample chest was tastefully exposed, and even though her outfit could have seemed vulgar, she appeared graceful. It was all thanks to her naturally refined looks.

“Selgier is still dazzling.”

But unlike other men who focused on Clara, Theofield’s gaze was fixed on the slim young man beside her.

‘He needs to work out. He’s too frail.’

Compared to the glamorous Clara, her escort looked rather weak. Tall and thin, with pale skin and platinum-blond hair, his overall coloring was faint. He was handsome, but he seemed to lack confidence, almost passive.

“Isn’t that Kailo Leviwan? Why isn’t he here with his fiancée, Sophie Crayble?”

“Leviwan and Selgier are childhood friends.”

Taylor answered Harry’s question. Harry looked puzzled.

“But Selgier has always lived in the capital, right? Isn’t Leviwan from Lohandra?”

“Leviwan came to Lohandra three years ago. Before that, he stayed at a relative’s house in the capital. They must have known each other since then.”

After this explanation, Harry finally nodded in understanding.

“But isn’t Sophie Crayble here too? I think I saw her earlier.”

Harry looked up and began searching for Sophie Crayble among the group of women. She was so unnoticeable that it took a while to spot her.

“Look, Leviwan is going to his fiancée.”

Theofield found Sophie Crayble for Harry. She was already greeting Kailo, who was escorting Clara. Sophie Crayble smiled shyly at Kailo. Soon, Clara joined the group of women, and Kailo Leviwan leaned against the wall where the men were gathered. Theofield thought Kailo looked terribly bored standing alone by the wall.