My Strange Savior - Chapter 107

Chapter 107

“Then what kind of adult should Rey become later?”

“A strong, handsome, and wealthy adult.”

“Exactly. If his face continues to grow as it is, he’ll probably become good-looking, and as for wealth… well, he can cultivate it gradually as he becomes an outstanding person. So, for now, what he needs to do is eat well, sleep well, and grow well, right?”

“Yes!”

Rey, who had become a devout follower, looked at Ariana, who had bestowed grace upon him, with sparkling eyes.

‘No… No, Rey. That’s not it.’

Gia, who had already fallen for Kalion’s face and wealth, had a blurred gaze, unable to believe that she was the most normal one here. Rey’s face was too determined to deny.

Rey had already stopped crying. Ariana gracefully stood up from her seat, wearing a fresh smile.

Ariana’s expression seemed as refreshing as someone who effortlessly solved a very difficult problem.

Without knowing Gia’s heart, Ariana shrugged her shoulders, as if saying how about it to Gia.

Gia desperately wanted to see Kalion.

Ariana, without forgetting her duty to guide the two to their accommodations, led them to the main building, inviting them to come quickly.

It had been the same at Oscar’s house, and every time they visited the homes of small and large nobles as they ascended the capital, Ariana had always provided them with separate lodgings. 

Following Ariana as she went upstairs, Gia raised her eyebrows in confusion, wondering why there was no passage leading to the annex. Though the reception room from earlier was slightly distant, it was still part of the main building, so Gia had expected a separate passage leading to the annex.

“We’ve arrived.”

Having ascended about four floors, the mansion, larger than expected, overwhelmed Gia with its grandeur, even from just glimpsing the staircase and corridors. The artworks scattered throughout looked splendid even to Gia, who knew nothing about art.

“Is this it?”

“Yes. The room right next door is my brother’s room.”

As if revealing a secret, Ariana whispered to Gia, covering her mouth with a delicate hand. Gia’s mouth gaped open at the mention of being next to Kalion.

Even if Gia, who had never experienced proper social life due to the world collapsing into zombies, knew that this wasn’t right. In the face of the eccentric behaviors of the family, Gia’s mouth remained firmly open.

“Why?”

What’s the problem?

In response to the refreshing question, Gia became dumbfounded. Gia’s eyes shifted with an earthquake as she looked at the door adjacent to Kalion’s room.

“Um, I… It seems too close.”

Gia’s voice seemed to shrink as if it could dig into the ground and reach the core.

Even with Gia’s timid resistance, Ariana didn’t seem to mind at all. It didn’t appear to affect her in the slightest.

“Brother specifically requested it, you know?”

“K-Kalion?”

“Oh my, already using his name… Oh my, oh my.”

Seeing Ariana grab her cheeks and wiggle her feet, any first impressions shattered into pieces.

Is it considered age-appropriate to seek a thrilling romance during a blood and zombie apocalypse? Should one understand and respect Ariana’s open-minded view of romance? 

Gia, unable to find her center, wavered and stumbled.

“Eek. I don’t know. Seriously.”

What she didn’t know, Gia wondered. 

Standing in the corridor, Gia expressed her mental fatigue. Although her body was never tired, her mind urged her to create some time alone. Gia, who had been cautious with every word regarding Kalion’s family, felt her lips sealed heavily.

‘I don’t think I can handle this anymore.’

With tightly closed eyes, Gia opened the door. As the door swung open, the rich scent of an old wooden mansion wafted out. Sniffing the pleasant aroma, Gia inspected the tidy interior. 

The well-organized room was spacious enough for Rey and Gia to somersault at least twenty times without any hindrance.

Whether they received advance notice that a child would be coming or if it was another considerate gesture from Kalion, at the center, a small desk tailored to a child’s height was placed. On top of it were toys and various colored paints, rarely seen in Oscar’s domain.

“I brought out the desk my brother used when he was young. How do you like it?”

“Oh… This was Kalion’s desk from before?”

“Yes.”

Kalion must have been this small once. Gia, who had been marveling at the perfectly sized desk and chair for Rey to sit comfortably, walked forward as if mesmerized.

Even though the desk seemed free of dust, it felt like Kalion’s fingerprints were imprinted on it. It must have been from when Kalion was a child. Gia wondered what he was like back then—was he as aloof as he is now, or perhaps incredibly cute? 

As Gia’s imagination unfolded, her tightly sealed smile lines began to soften.

Somehow, the image of a small, cute child with an aloof expression came to mind. Would he have been as handsome as he is now? The more Gia let her imagination soar, the more her lips, once firmly closed, began to tremble.

Ariana, who had been observing Gia’s actions from the sidelines, approached.

“When my brother was young, he was…”

Gia’s ears perked up at the way Ariana spat out exactly what she wanted to know, and she covered her lips with her hand before she could speak.

“That’s right. Lady Gia, you mentioned being tired, didn’t you? I have once again been rude…”

“Not at all. It’s not a bother.”

Ariana’s lips lifted in response to Gia’s determined manner of questioning.

“Well then, I’ll have to stay for a moment. Is that okay?”

“Yes.”

Encouraging her to sit, Gia led Ariana to a chair near the desk.

Rey seemed already captivated by the array of toys displayed. Glancing at Rey exploring everything, Gia, too, sat across from Ariana.

“This conversation might take a while. How about we discuss it while having some tea, Lady Gia?”

“Sure, that sounds good.”

Gia’s eyes sparkled with determination to hear the stories of Kalion’s childhood. Ariana, witnessing the passionate and mutual enthusiasm between the two, smiled and shook a bell in delight.

A servant, whose whereabouts were previously unknown, entered. Ariana’s graceful face as she elegantly ordered tea was refreshing.

While Ariana smiled at Gia, who was eagerly anticipating the conversation, even before the tea arrived, Gia’s fidgety demeanor couldn’t be contained. Eager to ask about Kalion, Ariana, with smooth lips, observed Gia.

‘Could my brother have fallen for this appearance?’

The mysterious stranger, emitting an atmosphere that seemed gentle yet not entirely easygoing, was undeniably charming. With no knowledge about this place, the unfamiliarity set her apart from ordinary people, giving off a distinct and appealing vibe. 

The whimsical appearance was intriguing.

Even though she seemed to have experienced everything in the world, there was an innocence about her that made one want to protect her. She felt the desire to take care of her. After all, Gia was the one who saved Rey, worked hard to rescue his parents, and accompanied him throughout the responsibility.

Ariana, who had heard the contents of her father’s letter from her mother’s lips, looked at Gia in front of her, hiding her surprise.

She even found the different faces of the person here to be fascinating. Though her hair was black like hers, hers looked much better. Her skin, almost as if separately maintained, was pale and smooth.

Gia’s small face held her facial features tightly, which was hard to believe. Even Ariana, who had never been swayed by appearances, would admit that Gia was a rare beauty.

The tall nose, large eyes, and cute mouth—all three elements harmoniously fit into her face, making it more desirable the longer one looked at it.

Despite the nobles’ deceptive intentions, Ariana, looking at Gia with a clear light brown gaze, unintentionally became captivated. Even she, who had heard the rumors about her brother’s martial prowess, was intrigued. 

Ariana, proud of her brother’s swordsmanship, examined Gia’s body,wondering if she, with a sleek physique rather than a robust knight-like one, could handle a sword. She had even heard that Gia defeated a troll. The curiosity couldn’t be contained.

Moreover, this woman was the first brought by her brother, who seemed to know nothing about the part of love. Ariana had a strong premonition that she might be the first and last. This feeling wasn’t exclusive to Ariana; even her parents, unable to sleep since dawn, went to greet her at the mansion.

There was no doubt that they were extremely curious. The woman who had captured their son’s heart, beyond being just a foreigner, was a subject of great interest to them.

Solving the curiosity of parents might be the duty of a filial daughter. Ariana, skillfully disguising her curiosity as her parents’, freely shared Kalion’s childhood with Gia. 

Since Gia was practically becoming a part of their almost family, Ariana, without hesitation, chattered away tirelessly.

Talking about what Kalion was like as a child was frankly no fun, and it was safe to say Gia’s reactions were more entertaining.

From a young age, Kalion, who never showed any interest in martial arts, was an exceptionally mature child. He never threw tantrums, was diligent, and understood the obligations burdened by his family.

If there hadn’t been an older brother, Kalion, in the next generation, might have been the next head of the family. The expectations of the family for Kalion were exceptionally high. Disliking sibling conflicts, Kalion willingly gave up his position as the head of the Imperial Knights, and there was no one else who brought up that story.

“Brother was a boring person even when he was young.”

“Boring?”

“He was similar to now. He only knew about the sword… He wasn’t interested in his surroundings. He didn’t throw tantrums, and he didn’t know how to pester for things he wanted.”

Would the story of young Kalion be interesting at all? Despite the lack of any entertaining aspects in the story, Gia’s eyes were round and full of interest. 

Knowing that Gia, despite being older than her, looked cute to Ariana was a realization that made sense, considering Gia looked as young as her.

Seeing Gia as someone of the same age, if not younger, wasn’t unreasonable, especially considering her appearance.