For Romantic Superpowers - Chapter 44 - Business Trip (2)

#44. Business Trip (2)

Suddenly hearing that name, Perth’s heart sank.

“Why did that name come up all of a sudden?”

“Well, wasn’t the probability of her being included on the list already high? I initially tried to get closer due to the Count, but lately, I’ve been interested elsewhere, so I’ve been a bit distant. Wouldn’t it be nice to use this opportunity to reconnect?”

Perhaps because he rarely faced rejection, Alfonse didn’t fully acknowledge that he had been rejected by Lia. Instead, he turned his attention to another young lady and tried to charm her. She seemed to acquiesce more readily than Lia did. Seeing his interest return.

“I noticed earlier that if you touch the precious youngest daughter, the Count might not… like it very much.”

“If that youngest daughter likes me, isn’t that an unavoidable problem?”

He still hasn’t given up. Eventually, Perth decided to make him realize the reality a little.

“From what I can see, the lady doesn’t seem particularly interested in romance and seems more interested in palace affairs.”

“Well, she’s still young for that. Wouldn’t she fall for me again when she sees how well I handle things by her side?”

He wanted to say that the word ‘again’ was a wrong choice. In fact, he’d had Kevin and Lia in the greenhouse in mind when he’d proposed the Hiver trip, and the chances of her not going along were slim. Therefore, he had to do his best to assist Alfonse while simultaneously protecting Lia from him. Perth sighed involuntarily.

“I’m looking forward to the business trip.”

He was very worried about the Hiver business trip.

* * *

“Hiver?” 

“Yeah. Do you know where it is?”

Of course, it was a place name she had heard of when learning about the history and geography of Psychedelia. There were almost no citizens who didn’t know the Hiver region, an outskirt and cold region of Psychedelia.

“But isn’t it a cold region there? We’re in the Desert Climate Plant Management Department.”

“Well, that’s true, but all the plant research-related personnel are going on the trip regardless of department.”

Just because their fields of expertise were different didn’t mean they were unaware of each other’s knowledge. The greenhouse had also moved between departments every few years. Among them, those who took care of plants were a minority compared to researchers from the Cold Climate Plant Management Department. The opinion of the higher-ups was that there weren’t enough.

“And probably there’s a shortage of numbers. In politics, appearances are important.”

Kevin’s eyes, saying those words, were mixed with disgust. He detested those who calculated others’ eyes like that. That’s why he didn’t particularly like nobles. Within the Order of Knights, ranks were divided purely by skill, so he could befriend Charlie and Rufus.

“I see. Then it’s understandable for you, Mr. Kevin, to go, but what about me?”

Kevin looked down at Lia, who was staring at him straightforwardly. Although she’s a noble, when he met her straightforward gaze without pretense, his heart fluttered. Even though they were talking about work-related matters, it made him feel awkward to meet her eyes.

“Ah… You’re my assistant under my management. Naturally, you should come to help me.”

The truth was that he didn’t want to be separated from Lia, even for a moment, in the short time he was given, a month to be exact. He’d grown more impatient since Perth had made his declaration official. 

“What about the Miracle of the Desert that I’ve been taking care of?”

“Oh, other staff members will assist with that.”

“That’s fortunate. Hiver region… It’s my first time going there.”

“Really? It’s cold, so you should prepare warm clothes.”

“Is it very cold?”

“Extremely. There’s also a lot of snow.”

Kevin had often been to the Hiver region during his time in the Order of Knights. It was natural because if war broke out at the border of Psychedelia, it was the Hiver region. It was a place where the residents’ sentiments were grim due to the harsh climate and frequent wars. Many children were abandoned at birth, and many orphans lost their parents due to war. Due to the severe cold, plants didn’t grow well, so there was always a shortage of food. Nevertheless, the higher-ups did not reduce taxes. Being there often led to increasing resentment toward those in power.

“Mr. Kevin?”

Lost in thought, Kevin remained silent for a while. He awakened from contemplation at Lia’s call, but his expression wasn’t bright. Regardless, it was clear that it wasn’t a safe place.

“It’s not… safe, so be careful.”

“Okay.”

“Stay close to me as much as possible.”

After saying it, it seemed strange. Flustered, Kevin raised his hand with a flushed face.

“No, not in a strange way! Because it’s dangerous! I Mayn, I’m a former knight, right?”

“Yes. Besides, since I’m your assistant, it’s natural for me to be by your side.”

Fortunately or unfortunately, Lia didn’t perceive it as having a strange Mayning at all. Rather, her nonchalant expression seemed to be evidence that she was not conscious. So he wanted to make her more aware.

“And I… I’m going to try to make a good impression throughout the trip.”

Fortunately, there was a response to the deliberately brought-up topic. Seeing Lia’s face suddenly blush with embarrassment, a mischievous feeling surged within him. As he reached out gently, she turned her hesitant face away. Kevin felt a bit hurt by her reaction.

“But please don’t hate it too much…”

Lia was puzzled by Kevin’s bitter expression. It wasn’t that she disliked Kevin; it was just that the sudden contact was unsettling. She had unconsciously avoided him because she was surprised. However, it was a role she couldn’t answer whether she disliked or liked.

She pulled her sleeve and covered her oddly contorted face. Kevin realized that she was very uncomfortable with this situation. And now that he’d said it, she might be uncomfortable the entire trip to the Hiver. However, he hoped she would feel uncomfortable. If that was proof that she was aware of him.

* * * 

The preparations for the Hiver business trip were completed in an instant. Just recently, the greenhouse, which had been chaotic due to festivities, was now bustling with preparations for the trip. Lia also handed over the care of the Miracle of the Desert to another colleague. They were daily spraying mist, a technique Kevin had helped with.

Fortunately, it seemed to have an effect, as there were no signs of the Miracle of the Desert rotting or withering. She asked other people to mist the plants while she and Kevin were away. 

When Lia first learned that Alfonse was leading this trip, her expression stiffened. However, Perth also said he would be accompanying. He declared that he would thoroughly prevent Alfonse from causing any trouble. Naturally, she felt relieved.

Moreover, it seemed that Kevin would be narrowing the distance between them during this trip. It was extremely burdensome. After consulting about it, fortunately, Perth said he would intervene as much as possible if the atmosphere between Kevin and her became awkward. In many ways, Perth was someone who sided with Lia, whether it helped or not.

When Lia told May that Perth had agreed to help her, her expression was subtle. 

“He said he’d help you with both? Weren’t both of them introduced to you by Mr. Perth?” 

“Oh, now that you mention it.”

“I used to think you are stupid in this field forever, but now he’s starting to catch on. That person too.”

“Is Mr. Perth stupid?”

“He was ignorant about human relationships. At least.”

It was difficult to deny that. She had been hurt by Perth himself. But these days, Perth seemed to understand her heart very well. As if he had seen through it.

“But he’s so understanding these days, he only tells me what I need to hear.” 

“Maybe it’s just when it comes to you.” 

“Maybe it’s because I give him so much information, and he’s a fast learner.” 

It was clear that it wasn’t for those reasons. If it wasn’t a matter of interest, he didn’t want to know anything. Perth didn’t. Lia was the only one who didn’t know she was among his interests.

Now that Perth had even noticed, all that was left was Lia. If the turmoil around her was going to shake her heart, the wall of stubbornness was solid. Maybe she didn’t even know she was deliberately avoiding it. Sometimes she seemed to be rejecting romance itself.

“May sometimes pet my head when I’m thinking alone.”

“Your hair is so soft, it feels good to pet.”

“I don’t do it much now because it’s bothersome, but when I was at the mansion, Jacqueline took care of it wholeheartedly. ‘Miss, your hair is life! It’s one of the few advantages, so you should take good care of it!’ she used to say. Isn’t that too much?”

“Yeah. She was very honest.”

“May!”

May rested her chin on the top of Lia’s forehead, given her taller stature compared to Lia, making the gesture effortless. Despite the possibility of being pricked by May’s pointed chin, Lia remained still, indicating that May had something on her mind.

“May, thank you for always listening to me. Sometimes, tell me about yourself too.”

“Hmm. Just hearing about the Hiver region brings back memories of my childhood. My family lived in that region when we were young. It was so difficult to live there that we moved closer to the capital.”

“Really? So you must know well about the plants in the Hiver region?”

May chuckled at her clear interest. In some ways, she was just like Perth, engrossed in her areas of interest.

“Even though it was such a cold region, grass would grow there. It was almost suspiciously strong compared to people. But during famines, it was hard to see even a single blade of green. Most of them lacked taste, but there was one grass that tasted good even when eaten raw. I was too young to remember its name, but I vividly remember its taste.”

The appearance of those pointed leaves came to mind. Initially, the dull color made her reluctant to eat it. However, with her mother’s persistent persuasion, May tried a salad made from the grass. Expecting bitterness, she was surprised by its soft taste and refreshing scent.

“Maybe it tasted even better to me because I used to eat rough potatoes every day.”

Lia had never experienced the famine May spoke of. However, she knew that her memories weren’t just filled with sad ones. Amid poverty, stories of sharing potato soup with family or experiencing digestive issues after eating strange grass brought laughter.

“Even though we were poor, it was a time when our family got along well…”

“Is it not good now?”

May looked at Lia’s worried expression. Every family has its own story. It was just a matter of how they accepted it.

“No! Now it’s even better because our family has grown larger! Thanks to my siblings causing accidents left and right, it’s always chaotic.”

Just the thought of a bustling home made her overflow with longing. Seeing May’s expression, Lia thought she seemed envious. Her own family wasn’t particularly close-knit. Especially her parents. While Charlie and Rufus cherished her, they weren’t as close as May’s family.

“When you go to the Hiver region, people might seem tough, but be kind to the children, Lia.”

“Yes, I understand.”

It was a brief parting from May, who felt like family every day. They embraced each other, regretting the time they wouldn’t see each other.

“This makes us look like lovers. Give me some space.”

“May, that’s too much!”