I Will Not Fall For the Villain’s Flirtations - Chapter 82

Are you my parents or what? Why are you asking such things?

I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t even speak. Seeing Peidos quietly staring at Keene with a dark expression, I decided to step in before the atmosphere worsened.

“That’s enough, so…”

But at that moment, Peidos, whose mouth had been tightly shut, opened it.

“I proposed because I wanted to make her happy.”

“……”

“Although I can’t abandon my mission, I will protect Miss Duna’s safety no matter what. Even if it means after my death.”

Then he turned his head slightly and spoke to me in a low voice.

“Don’t worry. I have a small house in Trevan that belongs to me. If something like that happens, the ducal family won’t just stand by either.”

“Oh… It’s okay. I never worried.”

I never calculated such things in the first place. Even if I scrutinized it carefully, there would be no reversal.

A poor man is disqualified from being the male lead, isn’t he? No matter how clean he is, he must have some basic assets.

“Wow, you’re lucky, sister.”

Con, as usual, praised him, saying how great it was to have such a reliable brother-in-law. Then he turned to look at Keene and smirked.

“Heyyy, what are those sharp questions? For a moment, I thought you were the eldest in this house.”

He pretended to be deeply moved, saying he wanted the same treatment when he got married, making a fool of himself. Surprisingly, my parents’ expressions were no different. Their eyes sparkled as if they had scooped up a spoonful of the Milky Way.

Dad, who had looked frustrated earlier, especially had bright eyes. He seemed very pleased, as if a burden had finally been lifted from his heart. It seemed he wanted to ask such questions but couldn’t bring himself to because of the other party.

“Since it’s come to this, how about really becoming my brother? I’ve always wanted a brother!”

“That’s difficult.”

“Well, having a younger sibling like my sister is a bit much, right?”

“Quite much. No man would want to take Du as a younger sibling.”

Keene said that and winked at me. Con, not realizing the low-quality joke, laughed foolishly, saying even he wouldn’t want that.

I sighed in exasperation at the absurd situation and turned my head to check on Peidos. He looked noticeably darker than before, as if something was bothering him.

A person of few words must have found it torturous to be in such a place. Besides, being bombarded with absurd questions from people who were not even his family must have been unpleasant.

I stealthily stepped on the foot of the man who was calmly eating despite acting presumptuously. I felt I had to do at least that to relieve my anger.

“Ouch! What the heck?”

“……”

But the scream came from Con, who was sitting in front of me. Realizing my mistake, I quickly bowed my head. From beside me, I heard Keene chuckle as he glanced at me.

…Ha.

In frustration, I cut the soft fish into small pieces with a fork. Ever since this man intruded into my social activities, nothing had gone smoothly.

* * *

After the banquet, my parents called Peidos to the study. I understood their desire to talk calmly without any other interruptions, but I felt uneasy because they excluded even me.

I’m still someone difficult to deal with, so what are they going to say to such a person?

Feeling anxious, I couldn’t sit still and kept wandering around the living room, which annoyed Con.

“Why are you being so restless? Try meditating calmly.”

“Forget it. You do it.”

I snapped at my nagging younger sibling, but unfortunately, the young soul had a lot to say.

“Knowing Mom and Dad’s personalities, why are you like this? Mom only acts like that towards us; she can’t say harsh things to others. No matter how difficult the conversation is, it won’t be worse than what Keene said earlier, right?”

“Still…”

“Sister, you’ll have to face it soon. When are you going to the Duke’s house?”

I almost knocked over the teapot when I heard that question while pouring tea to quench my thirst. The thought of the suffocating situation made me sigh. Seeing me looking pitiful, Keene picked up the teapot lid that had fallen on the sofa and asked.

“Are you that nervous about meeting the Duke?”

I answered with silence, and he whispered annoyingly.

“I don’t have parents you need to greet.”

“……”

“How about changing your fiancé now?”

What a shameless man.

Too exhausted to respond, I slammed down my teacup and turned away.

Ignoring the man who’s always looking for an opportunity to flirt, I circled around the piano, waiting for Peidos to come out. Then I noticed Keene asking a maid for something.

Perhaps influenced by his radiant appearance, the maid nodded happily, looking much happier than when she did errands for my family. She soon brought him a coat. Con, noticing that he was getting ready to leave, tilted his head.

“Where are you going? It’s late.”

Keene, who had been lounging around reading a book on the sofa, suddenly preparing to leave, looked strange to Con, who stared at him curiously. Keene smiled and said.

“I have something to take care of. I’ll be back in the morning, so rest well.”

While answering Con, he looked at me when he said to rest well. I pouted and sarcastically remarked while deliberately avoiding his gaze.

“…I could rest very well if it weren’t for your last words.”

He must be busy. Being in the position of the Tower Master, it was impressive that he wasted this much time in the first place. Considering the time he spent hanging out with my family while I was away, it was even more absurd.

But saying he’d be back in the morning. What on earth is he thinking?

“Still, sleep well. You said you’d be walking around tomorrow.”

“……”

“There he is, the person you were waiting for.”

At the tip of his finger stood Peidos, who had just come out of the study. The smile that naturally appeared when our eyes met vanished like a mirage when he saw Keene behind me.

“Are you leaving?”

“Why, will you miss me?”

Keene, who responded leisurely to the sharp question, draped his coat over his arm. He patted Peidos on the shoulder a couple of times and whispered something in his ear. Though it was too quiet to hear well, Peidos’ expression turning cold suggested it wasn’t anything beneficial.

“Miss, the madam wants to speak with you, so please come in…”

At that moment, Rosie, the maid who had brought Keene his coat, conveyed my mother’s message to me. Wanting to check on Peidos’ condition again, I turned to him. Peidos, who had been glaring at Keene, withdrew his gaze and spoke to me.

“Go in. I’ll follow this guy to make sure he doesn’t do anything foolish.”

“…What?”

I widened my eyes in surprise at the unexpected words. Keene seemed equally taken aback, chuckling and sneering.

“You’re going to monitor my every move? Even after the ceasefire agreement?”

“I can’t fully trust you.”

“What if I refuse?”

“You will cease all armed activities during your visit to the Holy Kingdom and fully agree to be under the control of high-ranking priests.”

Peidos, who brought up a condition that seemed part of a clause, then lowered his voice and growled.

“Did you forget?”

“…….”

The tense standoff was broken by Keene’s casual laugh. He relaxed his expression as if it didn’t matter and put his arm around Peidos’s shoulder in a friendly manner.

“Alright. Actually, I didn’t like you being here.”

“…….”

“Du, see you tomorrow then.”

He waved cheerfully and teleported away with Peidos. Watching the fading afterimage of the men being sucked into a bundle of light, I let out a hollow laugh.

Are they really leaving like this?

I was standing there, dumbfounded, in a situation where there was no promise of when they’d return, when Con suddenly approached, making a fuss.

“Wow, what was that? Wasn’t that teleportation just now? Was that Keene, the Commander, or a magic tool?”

“……Did you hear?”

Peidos hadn’t openly called Keene the Master of the Magic Tower, but since the topic of the pact came up, I asked just in case. However, Con seemed puzzled, as if he hadn’t listened attentively.

“Huh? What?”

“……Never mind.”

Seeing his clueless face, it was clear my innocent younger sibling hadn’t noticed anything.

“I need to talk to Mom and Dad, so go to bed.”

“Huh? Oh… Wait, was that teleportation just now or not!”

Ignoring his anger at not answering his question, I headed to the study where my parents were waiting.

* * *