I’m Not Doing This With A Friend Chapter 154

He would kill a Lagrasian the moment they were brought before his eyes.

 

Judging by the intangible aura he exuded in the training grounds today as he struck down the knights, he deserved it.

 

He showed no hesitation with his sword.

 

“Is that Lagrasian Leen’s mother?”

 

“…Yes.”

A novel immediately formed in Carson’s mind.

 

The plot was predictable.

 

It would be even stranger to ask why the Grand Duke hated the Lagrasians so much.

 

He didn’t think his actions were right. But it was understandable.

 

It would be strange if decades of resentment and anger toward Lagras could be wiped away in an instant.

 

Caris added, growing more bitter, “But she was pregnant with Leen at the time, so from my son’s point of view, it would have sounded like killing them both.”

 

“Ah. So…”

 

Caris trailed off, his brow furrowing in disbelief.

 

“So that’s why Leen’s father told her to run away from her grandfather if she saw him?”

 

“He told her to run away…?”

 

Caris’s face paled instantly, as if someone had slapped him across the back of the head. His breathing came in slow and labored.

 

‘My son.’

 

If Rud had said those things to Leen, that meant he was afraid of hurting his family.

 

Guilt descended heavily.

 

Carson tilted his head curiously at Caris’s hardened face.

 

“Why do you look like that, after what you said to your son?”

 

The words cut deep into the bones. Caris replied, almost crying.

 

“…Yes, it is. It must have felt that way to Rud. Time must have taken its toll on my memory.”

 

Caris looked desperate, as if at any moment he would fall to his knees before Carson.

 

“I know that regretting the past doesn’t erase sin. But can’t you give me a chance, just once?”

 

But Carson only stared at him heartlessly.

 

“Grand Duke, I don’t care if you want to make amends for your past of bloodshed or not.”

 

He ran a hand roughly through his hair.

 

“And why does it have to do with Leen?”

 

I ask irritably.

 

“Do you know what I’ve been thinking the whole time since I heard you were Leen’s grandfather?”

 

“…Something.”

 

“Something like why you couldn’t muster up the courage.”

 

Carson’s eyes flashed sharply in the darkness.

 

“How Leen felt when she realized the existence of her biological grandfather. Is that a positive or a negative?”

 

Part of me wanted to stop the Grand Duke from telling Leen the secret of her birth.

 

Caris’s behavior wasn’t the only problem I had with him.

 

Leen’s mental health was another…

 

And then there’s the fact that her grandfather was Caris, a war hero of Abascanthus.

 

Leen was born and raised in the empire of Lagras.

 

‘But when Caris reveals to Leen that he is indeed her grandfather, she becomes a high noble of Abascanthus.’ 

 

What if the people of Lagras knew this?

 

One thing’s for sure, it won’t be looked upon favorably.

 

But Leen cares about his people, especially about family.

 

Rex was only able to blackmail her because he held the Count’s family hostage.

 

Or how she allowed Arcandus to go free with the simple words, ‘I am not the one who did it,’ even though she knew he was the one who spread Monstera.

 

It was all because of the ‘family’ bond.

 

She even told me her dream was to create a home, a family she could depend on.

 

“Well,” 

 

Carson added after a long pause, “Well, it doesn’t matter what I think, anyway. It’s Leen’s choice, isn’t it?”

 

After hearing Leen’s father’s warning, I thought I should separate her and the Grand Duke quickly.

 

But when I listened to the Grand Duke, I thought differently.

 

He was regretting the past and didn’t seem to want to harm Leen.

 

In fact, he wanted to do her good. If Leen’s safety was assured, he felt it was not his place to intervene in the matter.

 

It was up to Leen to decide.

 

“So, Grand Duke, I won’t stop you from telling Leen that you are her grandfather.”

 

Caris’s eyes widened in disbelief at the unexpected answer.

 

“Are you sure…?”

 

“Yes, but not now. Please.”

 

“What do you mean, not now?”

 

“Leen isn’t ready to accept anything yet, she’s just pretending to be okay when she’s not, and it’s not surprising when she breaks down.”

 

I hoped the truth would come out, at least not now.

 

The first step would be for Leen to accept that Arcandus was responsible for the deaths of her parents.

 

To make him pay for his crimes.

 

And finally, when she was ready to stop being hurt by the name ‘family’ anymore.

 

Preferably with the last name Lysianthus attached to her name. Then she’d be more like a Lagras noble than an Abascanthus.

 

Even if it turns out that her paternal grandfather was Caris, Leen would still be a member of the Lysianthus, so she’d have something to fall back on.

 

Meanwhile, Caris was being driven crazy by Leen’s unknown past.

 

What in the world could have happened to make the recklessly behavioral Duke be so careful?

 

“Duke, can you please tell me what happened to Leen?”

 

At Caris’s request, Carson suddenly remembered something.

 

And then…

 

‘I wonder if the Grand Duke is aware that his son died at the hands of someone else.’

 

It would be interesting to see his reaction when he found out.

 

In a way, it was a butterfly effect of the Grand Duke’s own making.

 

If the Grand Duke had not opposed Leen’s mother, many things would have been different.

 

It would have been impossible for Arcandus to be employed by House Potitua.

 

It was a mistake, to say the least.

 

Carson frowned in annoyance as he let the thought sink in.

 

Indeed, quite irritated.

 

“Do I have to fill you in on all this? You’ll hear about it later, when you get to know Leen better.”

 

🍃

 

After a restful night’s sleep last evening, I had breakfast with Carson and was invited to tea with the Grand Duke.

 

Tea, that means, cakes of all kinds, sandwiches, cookies, etc.

 

It was a setting that could pass for lunch.

 

“Leen, you’ve got cream on you.”

 

Carson stole the whipped cream from the corner of my mouth with his hand and popped it into his own.

 

The Grand Duke’s eyebrows twitched and his lips curled. But he didn’t speak.

 

I was surprised. I expected him to be furious.

 

My eyes narrowed at the subtle change in mood.

 

The murderous glare that had passed between the Grand Duke and Carson yesterday seemed to have softened somewhat.

 

Or perhaps it’s gotten worse…

 

Perhaps they argued while I was gone.

 

From the looks of it, the Grand Duke seems to have suffered a great defeat.

 

The question arises, did they have time to meet?

 

Carson was with me all day yesterday and today, and I slept with him in my arms…

 

What’s even more suspicious are the words Carson spoke this morning.

 

“Leen, I take back what I said about returning to Lagras soon.”

 

“…What?”

 

“You can stay as long as you want, and then we’ll go back. Of course, if you want to go back right now, that’s fine.”

 

“Why all of a sudden? Did you resolve the problem?”

 

“Just. You seem to be doing better than I feared, so I’m going to respect your opinion.”

 

Surely he said…

 

He’d been thinking about something all night.

 

If so, what was Carson worried about?

 

The question was beginning to grow in size.

 

There was a light knock on the door, and Kun stepped into the tearoom.

 

“There you are.”

 

Carson sighed at Kun’s entrance, resting his chin on my shoulder.

 

It was a fairly natural touch.

 

“Looks like we have one more distraction.”

 

“Who’s a distraction?”

 

“You and the Grand Duke, if you can’t tell.”

 

“Apparently the Grand Duke invited you to tea, but do you think this is some kind of date?”

 

“Yes. 

 

He looked at Carson in disbelief, then shook his head and looked away.

 

“I spoke to His Majesty and was granted permission for Carson to enter the palace, Leen.”

 

“Oh. That’s good to hear, I didn’t think it would be easy with the security concerns.”

 

“But the day you were granted permission…”

 

Kun paused, unable to speak immediately. He even looked a little apologetic to me.

 

 Just relax, I was expecting that.”

 

It’s the Emperor’s summons, so of course we have to accommodate his schedule.

 

Of course, it was a little awkward if it took too long.

 

Before the production facilities could be built at the top of Hans, he would need to finalize his deal with the Quince and return to Lagras.

 

Once the production facility has been built, we should be able to survive for a while on the current supply of quince in Lagras.

 

Who knows how long it might last?

 

“That’s…. An invitation to the imperial banquet in four days.”

 

“An imperial banquet?”

 

“Yes. It’s a quarterly banquet, and His Majesty usually doesn’t attend, but this time he’ll make a brief appearance.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

This was getting tiresome. I would be the center of attention at the banquet.

 

I’m a guest in Grand Duke Caris’s mansion, I’m friends with the prince, Kun, and…

 

And I have the stupid title of Saint.

 

Plus, Carson was famous.

 

Kun continued, touching the nape of his neck awkwardly.

 

“Leen has given so much to Abascanthus in stopping the spread of the plague that he wants to officially honor her.”

 

Well, I don’t need any such thing. I was just doing my duty as a herbalist.

 

It’s a mosquito repellent, a mana relaxant, and I didn’t give it away for free, I sold it for money.

 

Right now, I’m sure my bank vault holds a stack of money.

 

I wiped my hand across my forehead.

 

“Okay, fine, four days from now, I’d better hurry up and prepare.”

 

I had to learn the etiquette of Abascanthus, so I wouldn’t make a mistake in front of so many people.

 

Perhaps I should buy a dress, and some jewelry, and find someone to help me get ready.

 

In the past, I would have simply dressed as a commoner, but… 

 

Sooner or later, I would be a part of the Lysianthus, and I couldn’t afford to miss the opportunity…

 

Carson would be there as my partner, and this would be my first official appearance.

 

It was then that I heard the Grand Duke’s gentle voice.

 

“If you don’t mind, I’ll help you. I may look like an old man in the corner room, but I’m sure I can be of some use.”

 

What good would it do?

 

Grand Duke Caris. With that name behind me, people wouldn’t mess with me.

 

I grasped the Grand Duke’s hand and smiled broadly.

 

“Thank you, Grandpa.”

 

“You’re welcome…”

 

And then, strangely.

 

Very strangely, tears began to form in his eyes.

 

All I did was smile and greet him with a genuine smile.

 

Was that really the person who was referred to as the Killing Eagle?

 

Embarrassed, I grabbed the food in front of me and brought it to my mouth to pretend I didn’t notice.

 

Ugh. But this sandwich.

 

Why does it taste familiar?