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Translator: thursdays Editor: Sasha PR: LightBrin
2.
Romance Fantasy Trope 1
『Any man near the main character is shady at first.』
Romance Fantasy Trope 2
『The man who seems the most ordinary is actually the most extraordinary.』
3.
My heart throbbed. I was anxious. Like broken piano keys, my heart was playing off-key. That was how ominous the Heretic Questioner’s smile was.
I felt a premonition that we were going to slide all the way down this slippery slope.
And what was at the bottom, I could not see.
“Heretic—”
“You look unharmed, Lady of the Golden Silk.”
Before I could finish saying his title in the Tower, the Lady of the Silver Lily used the protagonist’s title in this world first.
“I heard you were attacked by an assassin…. But you’re a girl who grew up in the borders. The thread of your life is as tough as a weed. A single assassin must not be a big deal for you.”
“Hmm.”
The corner of the Heretic Questioner’s mouth tilted up.
A little later, I would find out that it was out of ridicule.
Words that the Heretic Questioner would never say flowed from his lips.
“Did you deliberately come out this late to compliment my healthy body? Truly, I thank you, milady. His Highness did the same. I am happy that many people care for my inexperienced self! So much so that tonight’s misfortunes feel like luck!”
The Lady of the Silver Lily’s eyes became ferocious.
The Heretic Questioner had planted two thorns in his words just now.
‘Aren’t you the one who hired the assassin?’
Intimidation.
‘The crown prince came to visit me personally because he was worried about me.’
Provocation.
“……Your head is as disheveled as a weed, too. There is a thin line between imagination and delusion. Our choice of whether we step over that boundary determines our human dignity. As a noble, please act with decorum.”
“Ah, I’m sorry! So it isn’t against decorum to slap someone’s face at a ball. Well, I did grow up on the outskirts, so I don’t know the manners of a duke’s daughter!”
“…….”
“If it is not disrespectful, when will you invite me to your salon? I’d like to receive etiquette lessons directly from a wonderful lady. I’m not used to hitting people, so I think I need to learn about the angle and strength of my hand.”
There was a motorcycle engine running on his tongue.
I wondered where the engine sound was coming from, but after listening more closely, the crazy noise was the sound of my own heart.
Thump. Thump.
Dread wrapped around my heart and held me by the neck.
“Milady! Don’t be rude!”
“A mere baron’s daughter from the countryside is saying such thoughtless words….”
The duchy’s servants became indignant at the waltz of the Heretic Questioner’s tongue. Some of the attendants had probably betrayed their master and belonged to the crown prince. I didn’t know if it was just one or if there were more traitors, but that wasn’t what mattered now.
“I apologize!”
I hurriedly intervened between the gold and silver ladies.
The Lady of the Silver Lily furrowed her brows.
“You are…”
“Milady is greatly shocked today because of the strange events that occurred. From this lowly servant’s understanding, she desperately needs to rest. Since it’s late at night, would your ladyship please allow us to excuse ourselves? The misunderstanding will be resolved tomorrow.”
“…….”
The Lady of the Silver Lily closed her lips.
Behind her, the servants were buzzing.
When their mistress raised her right hand, they all stopped moving. In an instant, stillness enveloped the hallway. It would have been impossible to do if she did not keep her subordinates on a tight leash from the beginning.
“Excuse me, butler. What are you talking about?”
Rather, it was the Heretic Questioner, the Lady of the Golden Silk, who protested.
“I still have a lot to say to her ladyship. You can’t just end the conversation at will……”
“Be quiet.”
I grabbed the Heretic Questioner’s wrist. I grabbed it, then walked away while dragging him behind me. The Heretic Questioner said, “Ah, wait, butler! Wait a minute!” He struggled, but I never let go of his wrist. We really couldn’t let our character immersions rise here.
“Milady.”
Just before exiting the hallway, I looked back. The Lady of the Silver Lily was looking at us with an equivocal expression.
“…What is it?”
“I have always admired the upright conduct of the duchy’s servants. Tonight, your attendants were quite virtuous, unlike a common man like myself.”
I politely bowed my head to her.
“I have realized many things. This humble self pays respect to your ladyship.”
“Now, please excuse us.”
With that, I pulled the Heretic Questioner out of the hall.
The Heretic Questioner, who was rebellious at first, had calmed down.
There was a wide garden between the ballroom and the dormitory. Moreover, it was a spring night.
The newly bloomed magnolias were drooping by their heavy heads. The night was soaked in the scent of flowers, thick under the white trees. As we stepped forward, pale magnolia petals fell and touched our toes.
“My goodness.”
The Heretic Questioner stepped on a fallen magnolia petal.
“Ah.”
He stopped and looked up at the night sky. After a while, the Heretic Questioner turned his head and looked at me. His face was impassive. He seemed to be disoriented.
The Hunter said to be the craziest person in the Tower muttered to himself as if he couldn’t believe what he had just done.
“Death King…….. What did I say back there?”
4.
As soon as I closed the door of our quarters, I said, “Choose a password.”
We had been quiet as we walked to the dormitory. No word was exchanged between the two of us. It was a little difficult to walk because my ankles were bound by the silence.
Was it due to the increased character immersion? I knew the path from the garden to the dormitories like it was natural.
Perhaps the characters’ memories became clearer the more immersed we were. Right now, it was difficult to judge whether that was good or bad.
“A password…….”
The Heretic Questioner blinked.
“Is it a secret password……?”
“If we leave things as is, it’ll become really dangerous for us. You have to keep it together.”
“We do. Death King, you’re right. Yes……”
The Heretic Questioner seemed to be struggling to speak. He kept slipping. His voice was slipping faster than an accident on a slippery road. It was a red light, signaling that the person in front of me was in danger.
I firmly grabbed the Heretic Questioner’s face with both hands. Then, I forced him to meet my eyes.
“When spring comes, magnolias fall.”
“What……?”
“When I say [when spring comes], you, the Heretic Questioner, will reply [magnolia falls]. That’s our passcode. It’s the phrase that tells us to get a hold of ourselves. Now, if you understand, tell me. When spring comes?”
“Magnolia……”
“Again. When spring comes.”
“Magnolias fall.”
Little by little, the eyes of the Heretic Questioner showed that he was returning to himself. He started to look in front of him, rather than blankly into space. The Heretic Questioner shook his head, saying, “Hmm,” and “Well!” Then, he nodded.
“Yes! I’m back!”
“Okay. Good job.”
“Thank you, Death King! Aha. Indeed, today had a storm of surprises. I’ll never forget this day.”
“Would you like to rest and have a cup of tea?”
“Please!”
Good. It wasn’t over yet. It was too early to give up this round.
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