I’m Not Doing This With A Friend Chapter 152

 

Carson’s eyebrows knit together.

 

What a meaningful thing to say. As if Grand Duke Caris were part of Leen’s family.

 

His gaze landed on the backs of Leen and Caris’s heads.

 

The two silky black-haired figures stood side by side, like a grandfather and granddaughter.

 

Come to think of it, her father had once told her he was a citizen of Abascanthus.

 

And then there was Grand Duke Caris giving Leen an affectionate glance and a wary glare at me.

 

“No way…”

 

But then he shook his head in disbelief.

 

It didn’t make sense that a man who claimed to be the Grand Duke of Abascanthus would let Leen live as a commoner.

 

Carson glanced expressionlessly at Kun, who seemed to find the situation amusing.

 

Even if this theory were true, he had no intention of changing his attitude toward Caris.

 

On the contrary, if it was real, it would be a shame.

 

Leen had suffered all kinds of hardships because of her status.

 

If only Grand Duke Caris knew about it, why hadn’t he sought her out before now?

 

It wasn’t long before Leen’s mind was at peace.

 

‘I wonder if the presence of her paternal grandfather here would help her mental health. I’m not sure.’

 

Carson’s expression turns sour. He hoped he hadn’t stirred Leen’s emotions unnecessarily.

 

“I hope I’m wrong in my assumptions.”

 

As they entered the mansion, they saw a large picture frame in the center entrance hall.

 

It was covered with a white cloth, however, making it impossible to see what was inside.

 

Leen stopped in front of it and looked curiously at Grand Duke Caris.

 

“Wow, it’s so big. What kind of picture is this frame?”

 

Caris flinched for a moment, cleared his throat, and answered.

 

“It’s a large family portrait.”

 

“Oh…”

 

Leen thought it was a stupid question.

 

It was no secret that Grand Duke Caris had no legitimate heir to the title of Grand Duke.

 

In that case, that painting must be a portrait of his dead wife or child.

 

I hastily wiped the awkward look off my face and tried to change the subject.

 

“Later.”

 

“What?”

 

Blinking at Caris’s ambiguous question, he hesitated, then spoke up.

 

“…Next time I get a chance, I’ll show you.”

 

“Uh… Yeah, I’ll look forward to it.”

 

Looking at the two of them, the butler realized that the conversation was over and led Leen back to the door.

 

“You can come this way.”

 

Following the butler’s lead, Carson walks to the right and Caris follows closely behind.

 

That’s when Caris grabs him by the shoulders.

 

“You’re not going that way.”

 

The direction Caris pointed was the opposite of where Leen was headed.

 

Carson smirked and answered, “I prefer this way.”

 

“…There’s only one room left there.”

 

“I can share a room with Leen.”

 

“Don’t you dare!”

 

Caris’s face contorted in an instant. A flush rose around him.

 

But Carson remained calm.

 

“I’m sorry,” Carson said, remembering what Leen had once told him.

 

“She just can’t sleep without me.”

 

The corner of his eyes curled up into a frown.

 

“…What, she can’t sleep without you?”

 

Caris stared at Leen with quivering pupils, and Leen rubbed the nape of her neck awkwardly.

 

“I mean, I’m not sure what you’re thinking, but I’ve been going through a lot lately, both mentally and emotionally, and I just can’t sleep without Caon.”

 

As if to show her that, Carson shrugged with a casual smile.

 

Leen, a little taken aback by the reaction, quickly spoke up as Carson’s face flushed with shock and betrayal.

 

“…Well, you shouldn’t worry too much, it’s been a while since we’ve shared a bed, and we’re dating with the intention of getting married!”

 

But that didn’t comfort Caris.

 

If anything, the idea of sleeping together for so long shocked him even more.

 

“I see…”

 

Leen tilted her head, watching him shrivel up like a wilted flower.

 

‘Why is he so shocked? Did the Grand Duke want to bridge the gap between Kun and me?’

 

Kun’s expression, now that he glanced over, was ugly.

 

I don’t know if there were still feelings, but it was not a story to be told lightly.

 

The person he’d been in love with was dating another man with the intention of marrying him, and they were even living together and sleeping together.

 

‘Wow, I would have cried already.’

 

Leen was in the middle of apologizing to Kun when Carson declared with a triumphant look on his face.

 

“Then, since Leen has confirmed it, we’ll share a room.”

 

“…”

 

Caris didn’t answer, just stared at him in silence.

 

Leen, noticing the mood had somehow subsided, nudged the butler.

 

It was a gesture meant to get them to their rooms quickly.

 

The butler was a professional. He immediately realized what she was referring to and started walking.

 

“Well, I’ll go unpack my things, then, and if you need to speak to me, I’m always here.”

 

Carson followed closely behind Leen as she hurried away.

 

When they were alone in the center foyer, Caris spoke in an eerie voice.

 

“…It’s been a while since I’ve had to wield a sword.”

 

Kun, realizing that Caris was serious, glanced at his belt.

 

Thankfully, he didn’t have a sword. But before we face Carson again, I think we should let off some steam…

 

Kun spoke casually, “Perhaps it would be good for you to have a duel with the knights after all these years.”

 

“That’s a good idea.”

 

Caris’s feet turn toward the arena.

 

Kun closes his eyes, mourning the knights who would be sacrificed for the peace of Abascanthus and Lagras.

 

🍃

 

Carson laid out the luggage he had stored in the subspace in the room.

 

I sat down on the bed, crossed my legs, and spoke to him.

 

“Caon, is there something wrong with the Grand Duke?”

 

“What part?”

 

“Umm. To be honest and unfiltered, I don’t know when you acted so familiar with him.”

 

“Pfft.”

 

Carson swallowed the laughter that was rushing out.

 

“No, it’s not. If he was treating you like that, I’d say he’s a sweet man, but he’s treating me like a complete stranger.”

 

Of course, it wasn’t as if Carson hadn’t just walked out on the Grand Duke.

 

“Perhaps it’s because you’re of House Lysianthus…”

 

“Hahaha!”

 

Carson finally couldn’t hold back his laughter and started laughing, holding his stomach.

 

“What’s so funny?”

 

“It’s just that I feel like I’ve won something against him.”

 

What a childish thing to say.

 

I smirked and opened the duffel bag he’d pulled out.

 

“More than that, is it true that the Grand Duke killed your grandfather in the Imperial War?”

 

He dabbed at the corners of his eyes, which were now watery with tears.

 

“Yes. It’s true.”

 

“It must be awful to see the Grand Duke.”

 

“It’s okay, I’ve never seen Grandpa’s face, and my father doesn’t seem to have much affection for him.”

 

Carson really didn’t seem to mind.

 

‘So the family enemy thing was just something you brought up to spite the Grand Duke.’

 

Summoning his dead grandfather just to argue with him…

 

My gaze was clouding over as I looked at Carson, and he asked curiously.

 

“Come to think of it, I don’t recall hearing anything about Leen’s grandparents.”

 

That’s to be expected, since I had no biological family.

 

“Well. On the Count’s side of the family, my grandfather was killed in the Imperial War, and my grandmother died of a broken heart when she heard the news.”

 

It wasn’t uncommon.

 

The decades-long Imperial War had killed many of the nobles who fought in it.

 

“The other side of the family…”

 

I couldn’t explain. I don’t have any information.

 

The only thing I know about my grandfather was what my father told me…

 

When I couldn’t speak easily, Carson asked another question.

 

“What was Leen’s father like?”

 

“A sweet man.”

 

That one word explained it all.

 

“He would do anything for my mom and me. He was a great cook and a great family man. He was the best dad ever.”

 

Sometimes his antics got him in trouble.

 

“Back then, I dreamed of marrying a man like him.”

 

“…I’m jealous.”

 

Carson pursed his lips and grumbled softly.

 

No, why would he even be jealous of my father?

 

I stifled a chuckle at his cute jealousy and kissed him on the lips.

 

“I think I’ve met a better man.”

 

His face flushed at the surprise kiss.

 

“Leen, not so suddenly…!”

 

I kissed his lips a few more times to calm him down.

 

Carson finally quiets down.

 

“And to answer the question I couldn’t answer earlier…”

 

I stroked his pink hair affectionately.

 

“My father became contemplative when the subject of my grandfather came up, and he was very reluctant to talk about it.”

 

Maybe Dad was the illegitimate son of an Abascanthus nobleman.

 

And maybe he was abused under them…

 

“There’s only one thing he ever told me about my grandfather.”

 

“…And what is that?”

 

“If you ever see him, run away from him on the spot.”

 

For a moment, Carson’s face stiffens.

 

“Why?”

 

“I don’t know why…”

 

It was then. A male scream came from somewhere in the mansion.

 

“Argh!”

 

And not just once, but in rapid succession. I exchanged a glance with Carson, then opened the door to the doorway.

 

Then I grabbed a random bystander and asked.

 

“What’s that noise?”

 

The servant shrugged, as if it was no big deal, even over the pitiful screams I could still hear.

 

“Perhaps you’ll find out when you get to the training grounds.”

 

“The training grounds?”

 

They’re just practicing swordsmanship, yet they scream like that?

 

…I couldn’t help but wonder.

 

“May I ask you to escort me to the training center?”

 

With that, the servant led me to the training center.

 

The first thing I saw was the knights lying like corpses, and the Grand Duke standing in front of them.