I’m Not Doing This With A Friend Chapter 161

After meeting with Arcandus, I wondered if he would implicate me as an accomplice.

 

I’d drawn a line in the sand with him, declaring that we weren’t family.

 

But he didn’t. He seemed to think of me as family still.

 

“Foolish.”

 

I’m glad he’s not complicating things for me, but…

 

His inability to let go somehow reminded me of myself when I hadn’t met Carson, and it wasn’t a pleasant feeling.

 

I pretended not to, but I also felt a bit of a loss.

 

Even if I regretted it terribly now, I had come to think of the Arcandus as family.

 

“When are we leaving, Leen?”

 

At the sound of Carson’s voice, I swirled the tea I’d been sipping into my mouth.

 

“Soon.”

 

But I have Carson and the others with me, so things should be fine soon.

 

As the investigation progressed, Arcandus’ criminal activities became clearer, and the charges against me were dropped.

 

I was cleared because they could find no connection between my research and his.

 

This was partly due to the fact that the investigation revealed that Dobby was not a demon, but a common animal.

 

His old lab journals revealed that his first test subjects were my parents, which garnered a lot of public sympathy.

 

Of course, some people still wondered if I had something to do with the pandemic.

 

But that was literally just the tip of the iceberg.

 

It didn’t bother me in the slightest.

 

Until a few days ago, when the Emperor of Abascanthus sent me a letter saying he wanted to meet me in person and apologize…

 

I threw the letter into the fire as soon as I received it.

 

“If you want to apologize, come in person.”

 

As the victim, I didn’t like being told to come to him.

 

I mean, it didn’t make sense that the Emperor of the Empire would have to travel to apologize.

 

But I couldn’t help but feel repulsed.

 

All I wanted was to get out of Abascanthus as soon as possible.

 

Still, it wasn’t as if I had nothing to offer the Emperor, so I wrote back.

 

It was a letter asking for the Grand Duke’s pardon. If he had a conscience, he would do this.

 

Carson turned to me with a look of dissatisfaction.

 

“Are you sure you won’t ask for more from the Emperor, Leen?”

 

I shrugged lightly.

 

Considering what I’d been through, I could have gotten more out of the Emperor, but I didn’t bother.

 

Neither would anyone else…

 

“There’s plenty to pry elsewhere.”

 

I have not yet announced to the world that I have found a cure for Monstera.

 

For now, at the Potitua estate, I was in the process of taking the quince to Lagras and turning it into a cure.

 

Once I had enough, I would start distributing it.

 

“Abascanthus will have to be prepared to spend a fortune to buy a cure for me, won’t they?”

 

The mosquito repellent and mana relaxant would slowly increase in price once the current epidemic was over.

 

I raised my eyebrows in amusement at the thought.

 

“People in Abascanthus have no choice but to buy mosquito repellent.”

 

Lagras has mosquitoes that are only active in the summer months, but not in Abascanthus.

 

Due to its hot and humid climate, Abascanthus has always been plagued by mosquitoes and other pests.

 

No wonder the death rates are so high.

 

However, statistics show that the number of deaths has decreased since the Monstera epidemic.

 

This was due to the fact that mosquito repellents are actually very effective in fighting not only mosquitoes but also other pests.

 

Mosquito repellents have become an essential part of every home.

 

I would never go back to the days when I didn’t use them, but now that they’re so convenient, I would never be without them.

 

I’m sure they knew that, and that’s why they wanted to take it away from me.

 

So be it. I’ve already been exonerated.

 

Shouldn’t I be rewarded for the failed witch hunt?

 

“Not to mention, I’ve been selling mana relaxants to wizards all over the continent for years.”

 

I was thinking about how much I had in my pocket when I suddenly remembered Sera.

 

Something must have happened to her.

 

I was too busy trying to catch my breath to care.

 

“Caon, do you know what happened to Sera?”

 

Carson squinted as if he didn’t know.

 

“She escaped.”

 

“…Escaped?”

 

I furrowed my brow. The security of the imperial prison was considerable.

 

It was just that Carson had made it look easy, taking me to the front of Arcandus without difficulty.

 

But how was Sera, who had no powers, supposed to do that?

 

Suddenly, I remembered that Carson was not one to be so lax about my safety.

 

“…Caon, do you know where Sera is after she escaped?”

 

He looked at me and smiled quietly. I saw the smile and didn’t ask any more questions about Sera.

 

Maybe Sera hadn’t been lying when she claimed Carson had slit her wrists back at the Academy.

 

“Rex… at least he won’t be bored on his own anymore.”

 

If he wasn’t already dead.

 

I stood up, realizing that the clock was already striking twelve.

 

It was time to return to our home.

 

🍃

 

The Grand Duke saw me and Carson off as we returned to Lagras. His face was grim.

 

“…I’m afraid I can’t ask you to come visit again.”

 

The Grand Duke and I hadn’t yet spoken about my father.

 

I wanted him to tell me first.

 

“Grand Duke. Before we part, is there anything you want to say to me?”

 

“…I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve put you through here. “

 

Jeez. I didn’t want to hear an apology.

 

He seemed to be feeling guilty, like he still didn’t have the courage to tell me.

 

I guess there’s nothing I could do.

 

This time, I’d be the good guy and make the first move.

 

“Grand Duke. I hate Abascanthus.”

 

The Grand Duke nodded, though with a bitter face.

 

“I suppose that’s to be expected…”

 

“But I don’t hate you, Grand Duke, I really don’t.”

 

“Ah…”

 

His eyes widened at the unexpected words.

 

After a moment, his jaw slackened. I felt a deep sense of relief.

 

“That’s good.”

 

“When Caon and I set a wedding date, I’ll invite you to my wedding.”

 

The Grand Duke looks flustered, and he stutters.

 

“I, I… can I… attend your wedding…”

 

He was worried that he would disrupt the atmosphere of the wedding.

 

Either that, or he was thinking today would be the last time he’d see my face.

 

“So the next time you come to Lagras…”

 

I looked up at the Grand Duke and grinned.

 

“Tell me more about what happened with my father, Grandpa.”

 

For a moment, as if time had stopped, his every movement ceased.

 

One second. Two seconds.

 

Less than three seconds before, with a thud, his body collapsed.

 

Tears flowed like a waterfall from his eyes as he looked at me. As if he’s been holding it together all this time.

 

“You, you knew…”

 

“Yes. It’s strange that you shouldn’t know, given how you’re so insistent.”

 

I stooped low and pulled the Archduke into an affectionate embrace.

 

“Be well, Grand Duke, until we meet again.”

 

Actually, it would be sooner than I thought, as we were planning a wedding as soon as possible.

 

He didn’t respond, and only after a long moment did he slowly move his hands to hold mine in his own.

 

“Leen… my granddaughter.”

 

“Yes, Grandpa.”

 

“…And though I haven’t had much time to get to know you, I love you with all my heart.”

 

I let out a small laugh and returned his clumsy confession.

 

“Me too.”

 

🍃

 

When I arrived in Lagras, the first people to greet me were the Duke and Duchess of Lysianthus.

 

“Leen!”

 

“Our daughter-in-law!”

 

They rushed over to me, their eyes fixed on me, unable to see Carson beside them.

 

I felt a little bad for Carson, but I smiled wryly at their hospitality.

 

This overwhelming love for me was too much.

 

“Father, Mother!”

 

They both froze in place, as if sensing the change in titles.

 

The Duchess covers her mouth with her hands and stares at me in disbelief.

 

“My goodness…! How can you say ‘mother’ so naturally!”

 

The Duke seemed to like the title and repeated what I had said in a small voice.

 

“Father…”

 

“So, Leen, what are we going to name our grandchild?”

 

I chuckled at the Duchess’s excitement.

 

“We haven’t even exchanged rings yet, Mother, let alone gotten married.”

 

“…What?”

 

There was a moment of silence, as if someone had splashed cold water on her.

 

The Duke and Duchess’s changing faces were grave.

 

“What’s the matter…”

 

It was then. The Duchess took Carson’s hand and led me to a corner, as if kidnapping him.

It happened so fast.

 

I glanced in Carson’s direction and saw that he was being held by the Duchess and engaged in some sort of murderous conversation.

 

The Duchess called out to me in her most serious voice.

 

“Leen.”

 

“Yes…”

 

“No way. I know it’s unlikely, but just in case, just in case.”

 

“Yes…”

 

“Caon hasn’t asked you to marry him yet, has he? 

 

Ugh…

 

I rolled my eyes.

 

“Uh, no. Not yet…”

 

My answer ignited a fire in the Duchess’s eyes.

 

“Caon, this poor son of a— hasn’t even asked you to marry him yet! Of course, I thought it was a mistaken pregnancy!”

 

Feeling a cold sweat run down my back at her anger, I made a defense that wasn’t really an excuse.

 

“After all, so much has happened since then, and I could have proposed first…”

 

But the Duchess’s anger showed no sign of abating.

 

“Leen. Who was it that first confessed to you that he wanted to court you?”

 

“Me.”

 

“And who led you to bed first?”

 

“Me.”

 

“So who should pop the question?”

 

I lifted the ring with the Lysianthus symbol on my thumb.

 

“The Duke, I mean, father, did propose…right?”

 

“Oh…”

 

The Duchess let out a sigh of realization.

 

“This was my fault for not managing the men of Lysianthus well.”

 

The Duchess gazed at me, and I could see the sincerity in her eyes.

 

In response, I smiled awkwardly and averted my gaze.

 

Somehow, I felt like I had seen my future.

 

🍃

 

Having barely gotten away from the Duke and Duchess, we retired to our room to freshen up.

 

As I sat on the bed, a freshly dressed Carson plopped down next to me.

 

I stared at him in surprise.

 

After listening to the Duchess’s words and thinking about it, I realized that it was a bit unfair of me to propose.

 

I asked Carson, as if knowing but not caring.

 

“What did you and the Duke talk about?”

 

“Nothing much.”

 

“What is that nothing?”

 

“…You want to know?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Hmph.”

 

Then Carson smiled slowly and pecked me on the lips.

 

“If you kiss me.”

 

Now I felt like I was begging to be kissed.

 

The trouble was, Carson looked adorable, though.

 

I quickly paid the price. On the side.

 

“Okay?”

 

He blushed slightly and smirked, as if the brief kiss had been enough.

 

He looked genuinely happy.

 

“Leen, do you remember that letter you wrote to me at the end of our freshman year?”

 

A letter to my future self.

 

The one they gave away before graduating. I tilted my head at an angle, confused.

 

“Why are you suddenly talking about that?”

 

Instead of answering my question, Carson pulled a letter envelope from the subspace.

 

“I wrote that to you, Leen. We received it before graduation and haven’t even opened it yet.”

 

“…Why would you write that to me? It was addressed to the future you.”

 

“You and I are one, so I guess it’s kind of similar.”

 

“What the…”

 

That’s terrible logic.

 

Seeing my implied stare, Carson smirked and held out the envelope to me.

 

“Open it.”

 

On a whim, I took the envelope, broke the seal, and pulled out the letter.

 

“Are you sure this is for me?”

 

Carson nodded with a significant smile.

 

I grimaced, but did as he said and opened the letter.

 

Then my eyes fell upon the words written inside.

 

《Will you marry me, Leen?》

 

The words were unexpected.

 

Stunned, I blinked quickly and looked straight ahead.

 

Carson was holding an exquisitely crafted ring in his hand.

 

“What the…”

 

My face flushed with anger as I realized this wasn’t a dream.

 

This suddenly, really?

 

“I thought you said you wrote this letter in freshman year…!”

 

“Yes, I did write it then, and I actually thought that by the time we graduated, you and I would be married.”

 

“What?”

 

It runs in the family somehow.

 

“I was going to propose the day you graduate, but I’m a little late.”

 

He scratched the back of his head sheepishly and slowly got down on one knee in front of me.

 

“Will you take me, Carson Lysianthus, to be your husband, Leen?”

 

Tension bubbled within his eyes as he looked at me.

 

He acted so relaxed. Now his shoulders were stiff, and his face was somewhat flushed.

 

How could I not love him like this?

 

After a long moment of silence, I heard Carson’s panicked voice.

 

“…Leen?”

 

I smiled dazzlingly and pulled him into a hug.

 

“Of course. Thank you for being my family, Carson.”

 

This wasn’t what friends do. Completion.