Chapter 56.1

Chapter 56 – Why Would I Go There?

“Ah…”

***

“With this, you will be safe from any attack. It might be even stronger than the Imperial Palace,” Ventus said confidently.

At that, Ashia glanced at Kaligo. He was sitting quietly with the two of them chatting and sipping tea. He seemed to understand why Kaligo shouted that it would be safer than the Imperial Palace.

“Then, are you going to stay in the Grand Duke’s residence for a while?”

“Yes, that’s what we’ve decided.”

With Ventus’ appearance, their tea time ended there. Kaligo went back to the office so the two of them could have a conversation, so Ashia and Ventus went up the stairs and talked.

“It won’t be easy to attack here. Even if they attack, there won’t be any danger of the building collapsing or getting hurt.”

The two headed to Ventus’ lab. This was because Ashia told him she wanted to borrow his laboratory.

“I’m sure there’s no shortage of tools here, but do you have any ingredients?”

“Yes, fortunately, I have kept the expensive or hard-to-find ingredients somewhere else.”

“Where?”

“The Grand Duke’s mansion.”

Kaligo unfolded the extra coat on his arm and draped it over her shoulder.

Ashia looked down at the cape that fitted her body and continued speaking, “Why would I go there?”

“Then do you plan on staying at the inn?”

“What’s the problem with that?”

When Ashia asked him back with a ‘Isn’t it only natural?’ a faint wrinkle was drawn on Kaligo’s head.

“Didn’t you think you should have contacted me?”

“I did. I was going to contact you and say that there will be a delay in the making of the potions. But morning should come first before that.”

“Not in that way.”

“Then what?”

Kaligo’s voice lowered even more. a crushed voice escaping through his gritted teeth, “Like, for looking the person who made that building like that, to find them and take care of them right away, or helping you find a place to live because there is no safe place for you to stay.”

“…”

Ashia looked at him with wide eyes and tilted her head. ’Are you so bummed that I didn’t call you for help? Do I have to call you to ask for help with this kind of thing?’

She wasn’t a child…

’But what do you mean by the Grand Duke’s mansion? For some reason, I am hesitant to go for such a trivial matter, and not because you requested me or that you were having a seizure.’

This was going to be difficult…

Ashia had already told Kaligo that she had no intentions of dating or getting married. Was that all? She also said that she would live a confident, smoothly flowing, wonderfully single life.

She didn’t want to accept his heart right away, but she felt like he was taking advantage of this kind of work, and she didn’t like it.

“Kaligo, I…”

“The person who made the building that way may still be nearby. They might attack again at the place where you are staying.”

“…”

If the attack was indeed directed to Ashia, then it was impossible for them not to attack again.

“You’ll be safe at the Grand Duke’s mansion.”

“…”

(T/N; That’s smooth Kaligo hahaha)

If she had to find a place, she could go to another empire, or continent using a gate. But she may have to stay up all night preparing for someone’s attack.

‘The Grand Duke’s mansion…’

At the very least, it wouldn’t be necessary if it was the Grand Duke’s mansion. That man, Kaligo, is a trustworthy person.

‘Yes, well. There’s no particular reason why I shouldn’t go there.’

No, haven’t we already kissed each other? Under one roof with that kind of situation….

‘But Kaligo didn’t touch me first.’

‘No, I can touch him first, right?’

‘Should I really start taking medicine?’

‘No, but, why was I always the one touching him first? I liked it so much back then, and acted as if we will do it right away, but why is he only looking at me now? Am I not attractive?’

‘No, what is that? Do you want to touch him?’

‘Haa, I must be crazy.’

The conflict with her another self has conflicted her thoughts. Her worries that started with going to the Grand Duke’s mansion ended with her worrying if she lacked charm.

Regardless of her thoughts, Kaligo led her to the carriage. She was in a daze so she was getting on the carriage without even realizing it.

“Oh?”

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Kaligo also sat down as the puzzled Ashia sat down on the chair. And the carriage immediately began to move slowly.

“There is no better way than this.”

He said as he closed the window that had been left open.

Ashia stared at Kaligo and asked him, “… How can you guarantee that?”

“I am confident that the Grand Duke’s mansion is safer than the Imperial Palace.”

“…”

Kaligo looked at Ashia with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

“You can close your eyes for a little bit. I will wake you up when we arrive.”

“…”

If he had asked Ashia to open the gate so they could move faster, but he didn’t. Even though he had no idea that using a lot of mana was too much for Ashia’s body, his strange way of thinking is better than expected.

She doesn’t know if she was very tired. She didn’t think she was going to fall asleep, but Ashia fell into a deep sleep less than a few minutes later.

* * *

“I… I didn’t wake up when we arrived.”

She sat down across the table with breakfast on it. Maybe she was too tired yesterday, but she was deeply asleep until morning and she didn’t even wake up even when she was moved from the carriage to the bedroom.

“You wouldn’t wake up.”

Kaligo cut the food on the plate into small pieces and put it in front of Ashia, silently laughing.

“… But I might have woken up if you woke me up.”

“Once you fall asleep, you won’t wake up.”

“…”

“It was the same then and now.”

While he was looking down at the plate, smiling quietly and muttering in a low voice, Ashia silently raised her head.

“Yes?”

How did you know that? It was a fact the maids told her when she was Renna. That once she had fallen asleep, she wouldn’t get up until morning. Did they tell it to other people? They had never slept and woken up together… ah, there was one time. The day that they had slept and woken up together.

“That time at the Fairy Forest! You found out then, right?!”

Kaligo only smiled meaningfully at her question, but didn’t respond.

‘Ah… it wasn’t that time?’

Ashia tilted her head and concentrated on her meal again.

The two finished their meal and headed for the garden in the Grand Duke’s residence.

“The garden is beautiful.”

“Do you like it?”

“Yes.”

“Are you not cold?”

“Yes, I guess spring is just around the corner. It’s especially warm today.”

“That’s a good thing then.”

There were expensive and luxurious teacups, accompanied with colorful and appetizing cakes on the tea table.

“I didn’t know you enjoyed teatime too.”

“It was a habit you made me do.”

“…Me?”

Kaligo raised his teacup. The transparent red tea shook inside the white teacup.

“This is Lemet tea.”

“…Ah.”

“When it comes to tea, I still don’t know anything that much other than this.”

“…”

“Every time I come back from the battlefield, you always send me this tea.”

“You remembered that?”

“How can I forget?”

“…”

“If it was something you did… I haven’t forgotten a thing.”