Chapter 26

Citrina glanced at Desian who was next to her and said in a small voice, “Desian.”

“Yes, Rina.”

Desian’s voice was indifferent. However, she was able to read the subtle emotion it contained.

‘What should I say? You want to leave the Duke’s Household? Is it too straightforward?’

Citrina moistened her lips. She had something to do before telling them she was leaving.

Before leaving, she wanted to give them a present. Wanting to give them a gift of good memories. It’s something she wanted to give as a sign of gratitude for giving her good memories.

“Do you have any time now?”

At her offer, Desian was silent for a moment.

“For you, always.”

Soon afterward, he laughed with his eyes closed and opened them, they were as dazzling as the sun.

Desian’s laugh has been quite normal these days. Strangely, however, this moment seems to be the most memorable, Citrina thought.

The way he always smiles at her.

“Do you mind if we go out together? Even if Duke Pietro is sick… he could get healthy again,” Citrina whispered, wondering if she touched his trigger.

Although the duke is ill, it seems like Desian was yet interfered by anyone these days. It was because everyone was killed, and only the lifeline of the duke remained.

“The Duke of Pietro will die soon.”

“Is that so?”

“So you can do whatever you want.”

It was a calm voice as if he was proclaiming a death penalty.

“Okay. Maybe because the symptoms are getting worse day by day and his illness is serious. Is it really okay to go out?”

Desian nodded slowly while his gaze was in the other direction. It felt strange for him to look away from her.

“Del, they say that ordinary people go out when they want a change of mood.”

“Do you, too?”

It’s a fact that he was not interested in other people.

He questioned as if asking the correct answer to the quiz. His calm gaze was on her, seemingly wanting to learn everything about her one by one.

“Yes. That’s also what I’m trying to do.”

Desian didn’t ask any more.

“Shall we go then, Rina?”

Citrina’s gaze turned to him.

Desian always has a neat appearance, as if the blood-red figure that day was a lie. But still…

“Oh! Can you wait a little longer? We have to get ready.”

“I will always wait.”

It sounded like he was saying that he would always wait for her. It seems that she keeps getting strange misunderstandings, but she just nodded a few times.

A cool breeze flowed in from outside through the window. She came to the duke’s household one summer day, time passed, and now the cicadas are no longer crying. Slowly, their summer is fading.

Before going out, Citrina needed some time to prepare. So she called Heled.

“Heled, could you call a dressing maid?”

Until now, there was no need for a maid to dress her up, but today it was necessary.

“Please wait for a short while.”

“Okay.”

As a loyal butler, Heled did not ask anymore, and called for a dressing maid. With her touch in the room, Citrina can’t help but be amazed.

‘But I’m a young lady of a Baron, I’m not used to being handled by a maid. I’ve never had such an experience.’

Instead of the simple dress she always wore, Citrina wore a fancier dress and held a white fan. The maid who helped with the dressing tidied up the clothes and then politely stepped back.

Citirna checked herself out in the mirror. The dress was really good since it goes all the way up to her neck, so it does not really reveal the chest, and it’s also comfortable, it wasn’t tight on the body at all.

She smiled as she looked in the mirror. She was quite pleased with today’s outfit.

“Good. I have to go now.”

She opened the door as she tried to shake off her uncomfortable feelings.

Desian, who was waiting for her in the hallway with his eyes lowered and not moving any muscle, looked up.

“You look pretty, Rina.”

“… I think so too.”

Citrina tried to play a joke, but Desian only nodded silently. Somehow, she got a little embarrassed.

“Where do you want to go?” Desian asked first. Citrina put her white lace gloved hands over his. It’s an attitude to ask for an elegant escort.

“Yupp, I…”

She’s now used to the trembling she feels at the tip of her fingertips. Citrina laughed at the fact that she had become accustomed to this warmth.

“I want to buy a sword. Is there any place in the capital to buy a sword? I think it’s on the street.”

“… -sword?”

The word came out slowly in a strange tone. For him, Citrina’s explanation is not well detailed.

“Yes. I want to buy one for me and Aron.”

“Aron? Why?”

Desian’s languid voice slightly deepened.

“Huh?” she asked. There was little more strength on his fingertips. It was a subtle difference, but it was clear. Citrina grinned.

‘What, did these guys fight?’

No, that ‘s a wrong thought.

‘There is no way to fight like a child.’

“Oh, I think Aron’s interested in swords.”

She wondered if she had offended Desian, so Citrina groaned.

‘I can’t say that I read it in the novel, so it’s better to answer moderately.’

“Aron, you say.”

At Desian’s whisper, Citrina looked at him with curiosity. She can’t read his expression.

But one thing was clear. He’s like… a different language she’s trying to read but never learned before.

Desian’s magic was obvious. They arrived safely in the empire’s capital, in the part where shops were concentrated. After passing by different shops several times, Citrina found the place she was aiming for.

It was a shop about three stories high. It looked like a place that sells swords. For some reason, it looked familiar, then she remembered.

‘Ah! There, I remember. In the novel, Aron bought a sword from a retired knight here. Perhaps…’

Citrina recalled the content of .

“Del, let’s go over there.”

Desian nodded. As she walked toward the store, she laughed happily as she thought of the chunky money she had in her dress.

‘I have a lot of money.’

For some reason, she felt proud while feeling the warm breeze. At this moment, apparently she was a wealthy young lady.

… But soon, her pride as a wealthy young lady quickly shattered. There was a display stand full of colorful swords.

In front of her, Citrina found the sword she liked. It was a short sword. It was sharp and there were few rubies embedded in the handle.

‘I said I would give Aron a ruby as a gift! Just in time, I saw something that’s just right.’

“This.”

Citrina pointed her finger at the sword. The owner who was by her side showing the swords , quickly pulled out the sword and handed it over.

“How much?”

Taking the sword, she asked richly and profanely.

“It’s 800 seril.”

The owner’s reply was a bit shocking. Citrina smiled awkwardly and commented, “Let me take a closer look.”

‘Oh, I’m running out of budget. Swords are definitely expensive. The budget is very tight since I have to buy Desian’s gift too…’

Thinking about the money in her inner pocket of her gorgeous dress, she frowned.

‘But this is the prettiest. It’s also meaningful.’

The blade of the short sword she was holding flashed sharply. The sword is less likely to get dull even if it doesn’t last long, also the handle of the sword has a refined finish.

‘It looks good enough for beginners to be interested. If I buy this, my departure schedule will be delayed.’

Citrina pondered for quite some time. It was when she was in deep agony between money, a meaningful gift, and the alternative, she was suddenly hit with an idea.

‘Can I bargain even just for a little?’

“This, could you please lower the price?”

Cirina raised her head. The owner rubbed his hands together with a smile of a capitalist.

“Ah, the cost is already…”

The owner looked at Desian who was standing behind Citrina. He immediately shut his mouth.

“Yeah?”

Suddenly his words stopped and Citrina asked back, embarrassed.

“Haha! Are you surprised?”

“I have no idea what the surprise is…”

Citrina was confused. What surprise?

“It’s totally free.”

“Ne? Really? It looks like a precious sword.”

“It’s absolutely free. It’s the event period. I’ll give you two, one plus one.”

“Oh, I just need one, though.”

Citrina whistled a little. Sweat continued to flow down the owner’s forehead. His handkerchief was drenched, as if it was wiping away tears.

‘Why does he look so pale? Even his body’s trembling.’

She thought he caught a cold. It looks quite serious. Still, the state of the owner’s health is not important. Citrina looked at the sword.

‘It’s suspicious for it to be free. Is this sword made out of magic?’

If it’s such a cheap sale, then her thoughts certainly make sense.

If it’s a sword made out of magic, it can blacken the male protagonist, Aron.

Such a specific development

She already had a hard time getting the villain closer to a good person.

Citrina opened her mouth.

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