Chapter 232: Chapter 232

TL: Zimmings

Mina, who looked at me and Adrian in turn, asked.

“You guys……know each other?”

“Of course, they are from the same empire after all. That’s the prince, and this is Lady Dubblede.”

Alan answered on our behalf. Mina said “Ah…” as I looked at Adrian, who was holding my cheek. I quickly pulled Adrian’s jacket.

‘What are you doing, get your hands off me!’

The current Odis Academy also has Andre, the son of Empress Yvonne.

If Alan reports that Adrian and I have a close relationship, It’ll get into Andre’s ears. Then Empress Yvonne will be vigilant against me.

It would not be good for me especially when the second child of fate appeared.

There is a high possibility that Empress Yvonne will collude with Mina to keep me in check.

‘It would be nice if she only colluded with Mina. But if she holds hands with the temple, there will be an uproar.’

Adrian understood me and out his hand away.

“Ah, haha… prince, you must be worried that my brothers might get upset by the scar on my cheek!”

“…….”

“The academy would be turned upside down if it’s the case, so the prince acting as president should be worried! Yes!”

“…….”

“No matter how young we are, even if we have known each other since we were young, people would misunderstand us when you grab my face when we grow up.”

I tap Adrian’s back so that it wouldn’t be seen by Alan.

‘Answer!’

“……Yes.”

When Adrian was forced to respond to my coercion, Alan only hummed in response.

“The Dubblede siblings’ stories are famous.”

Fortunately, he seemed to believe my excuses.

‘I’m glad my brothers aren’t normal at times like this.’

After breathing a sigh of relief inside, Mina said to Adrian.

“If it’s not urgent, talk to me. There’s something I want to ask you.”

“Even if it wasn’t me, there would be many people who could answer your questions.”

“It was you who brought me. I want to go back…! You said I came here because of the artifact. Then you’re the one who can bring me back, aren’t you?”

“I never tried to summon you. I’m not even sure if you resonated with the artifact.”

“I want to see my friends… I want to see my mom too…”

Mina bit her lip and lowered her head.

She looked like someone who had a hard time.

Suddenly, memories of my first life came to mind.

At that time, I overheard the conversation between Mina and the young priest behind the pillar.

“Did you have a hard time?”

“Huh?”

“Divine power training, saving the empire from various disasters, various external pressures as the child of fate… It must be difficult for everyone, but you didn’t say it was hard.”

“It’s hard. Why would it not be hard? But I don’t want to say it. It would make it harder for me and the people around me.”

“Miss Mina…….”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“If it’s going to be hard either way, it’s better for me to have a hard time alone. I don’t want others to worry. I’m adjusting well, I’ll keep going through this bravely….”

Mina smiled bashfully as she said that.

‘Mina was such a person from the beginning.’

A person who embraces anything alone.

But if you think about it, she’s only a 17-year-old girl who has fallen into an unknown world. She cannot help but feel anxious.

She had been hiding it so far, but it must have been frightening, overwhelming, and difficult.

I was speechless as Mina struggled to hold back her tears, and Alan glanced at me.

“Leblaine, why don’t you give in? I think Mina has more urgent business.”

“I didn’t hold on to him.”

“So you’re saying you can’t let him go?”

‘This bastard.’

What is he saying? Let’s be patient for now.

Alan used me to gain favour from Mina. He glanced at Mina as if saying ‘I’m thinking of you this much’.

“Hey.”

Alan frowned at my words.

“Hey? Is that how a commoner called-”

“Isn’t it rude to take sides and try to win Mina’s favor?”

“What?”

I sighed and walked over to Alan.

“If you really care about Mina, you should have asked Adrian to give her time, not me. But why are you criticizing me?”

“That’s-”

“You really hate having Adrian and Mina alone. You don’t want to let Adrian go, even if it hurts your pride.”

“I never thought of that!”

“Then why did you do that? You must have been afraid to attack Adrian because he’s the prince of the empire and acting as president of the Elysiano Class so you attack me instead.”

“Ha…….”

“Leblaine will be pushed away by the new child of fate. The empire is already buzzing with rumors about the new child of fate, so if you hold on to Mina’s string properly, you’d think you’d rise along with it.”

I looked straight into Alan’s eyes.

“Even if I break your arms and legs, I will only be expelled from the academy. However-”

“…….”

“After I get kicked out, I won’t just be Leblaine, I’ll be Lady Dubblede. Can you handle me at that time?”

Alan’s face turned pale.

I pat Alan’s neck and chuckle.

“Can you tell me my nickname in the empire?”

Adrian said with a smirk.

“Crazy dog.”

Alan and Mina’s eyes widened. I grabbed Alan’s neck at once and declared.

“My patience ends here.”

As I shoved his neck, Alan looked at me after a cough. There was fear in his eyes that had never been seen before.

He slowly took a step backwards, then turned around and ran away hastily.

I looked at Alan’s back, which had become small, and shook my hands.

A small chuckle was heard behind my back.

I slowly turned my head to look at Adrian.

“Don’t laugh, because it’s embarrassing.”

“Why? That was great.”

“Hey, I wanted to be elegant in the academy.”

“You are elegant enough even in the empire, lady,”

“In the empire, people run away when they make eye contact with me!”

“That’s because your brilliance is dazzling.”

Adrian smiled and said as I pouted my lips.

“You’ve gotten great at teasing since the last time I see you.”

“I miss you.”

“…….”

I scratched my cheek with a look of embarrassment.

‘He always hits me out of nowhere.’

Adrian, who has grown taller, looked like an adult now.

He was different from my father, my brother, and the servants whom I saw constantly, so I became a little awkward with him.

“Leblaine, so you were like this…….”

It was Mina’s voice. The girl looked at me with astonishment.

“If I have something to talk to Adrian, would you mind leaving the room?”

“Uh… Then I’m fine-”

Just then, the bell signaling the end of dinner rang.

Mina glanced at the bell in the distance and said.

“I’ll have to go to the freshman welcome party, so I’ll talk to Rian later. Leblaine, shouldn’t you prepare too?”

“Yes.”

“See you at the party… Rian too.”

Mina waved her hand at us and turned her back. After the girl disappeared, I turned to Adrian.

“Are you going alone?”

“I’ll take you there.”

“It’s okay, you don’t need to.”

Adrian didn’t answer. He had a smile that was hard to refuse.

“Your stubbornness has also increased. Ah, where is the little boy I was so worried about because he’s too kind?”

I said playfully as I took a step forward. Adrian walked up to me and said,

“I’ll do it if you want.”

“What?”

“The little boy you were so worried about because he’s too kind.”

“…….”

After being confused for a moment, I slapped Adrian on the shoulder.

“I told you not to go anywhere and say that kind of thing. If it’s not me, people might misunderstand!”

“You didn’t misunderstand.”

“…….”

“You’ve known it for a long time.”

I didn’t say anything and just glanced at Adrian.

I’ve been aware of Adrian’s feelings since the first time I brought this kid’s birthday present in a shabby alleyway.

However, I thought of it as a longing for someone who reached out during a lonely time.

He was very young at the time, and I was too busy with my work, so I didn’t pay attention to his feelings.

After walking quietly for a while, I couldn’t stand the awkward atmosphere and stopped.

“Why me! There must be someone much better!”

“…….”

“I mean, I’m selfish! My well-being always comes first.”

“It’s great.”

“……Ugh.”

“It’s okay if I’m not your number one priority. You will always be my number one priority.”

My heart thumped and felt like it was going to fall. I rolled my eyes and shouted.

“I hate this atmosphere! I hate it because it’s awkward! Look, Adrian. I am the daughter of the Duke Dubblede, and you are the emperor’s son. If we are dating, then there will be a riot!”

I can’t do it because I want to make Dubblede independent. As Chul-soo said, my story is like Romeo and Juliet.

“And what about Empress Yvonne and Marche? Huh? What about the nobles and the temple? You are a person who wants to be a holy emperor, and I am a person who hates temples! We can’t be-”

“You never said you don’t like me.”

“…… What?”

“I don’t need your reason.”

“…….”

“Leblaine, I’m actually a very stubborn person.”

Adrian came to me.

The tip of our shoe clashes, and I could feel his breath.

My body was tense. Thump, thump, my heart began to beat wildly. Adrian’s hand went to my hair. He muttered as he took a leaf off my head.

“Even if you told me to lie down and kiss the top of your foot, I will.”

“…….”

“I’ll do whatever you want.”

“… You must be crazy.”

When I looked at him with trembling eyes, he grinned.

Just then,

“Damn it.”

“Get your hands off my sister.”

The gangsters appeared. The gangsters… No, my older brothers are scarier than gangsters.

While carrying women’s shoes, accessories, and dresses on their hands and shoulders that were clearly mine, they said with their eyes wide open.

“Move. I am the mentor who will be chosen by the kid at the freshman party today.”

“No, I am.”

Adrian raised his head and said.

“No, it’s me.”

…… Help me.