She Is a Daughter Raised As the Son of a Duke - Side Story Episode 4

Side Story Episode 4

“Just a moment. Are you saying Jed willingly accepted Arthogon’s curse?”

Iris, who couldn’t comprehend the situation, interrupted Mirocagon’s words and asked.

“Does that even make sense?”

Cassius also found it hard to believe, suspecting that Mirocagon might be making up the story according to his own whims.

“If you’re trying to deceive us with lies, we won’t just stand by. Tell us the truth.”

The thought of the Guardian Deity being able to kill him made Mirocagon break out in a cold sweat as he clapped his hands.

“What foolish monster would dare lie in front of a Guardian Deity? It’s irrelevant to me anyway. If it’s true, Jed’s reckless actions were his destined path if he and May hadn’t fallen in love with each other.”

Mirocagon’s expression didn’t seem like he was lying.

“What happens to him after receiving the curse then?”

“As he wishes, May will start caring about Jed. She will want to avoid it but won’t be able to. She’ll want to ignore it, so she’ll try to find and kill Arthogon, but even finding it won’t be easy.”

“Even if she finds it, the question is whether she can kill it.”

If you were to select the three strongest among the S-class monsters, Arthogon would undoubtedly be among them. Such was the power held by the curse.

“In the end, May ends up searching for Arthogon with Jed, and eventually her heart opens to him. After they fall in love, they find Arthogon and break the curse, leading to their marriage. That’s their story.”

It could be seen as May fully succumbing to Jed’s plan. Because of Zed’s curse, she starts caring about him and eventually gives her heart to him.

Having seen May and Jed with eyes that perceive the truth, Mirocagon’s mind painted a certain scene.

At some point, when a horde of monsters attacked and May was in danger, Jed witnessed her plight and rushed to rescue her, suffering greatly himself.

This incident causes May to start feeling sorry for Jed. This pity eventually transforms into the emotion of love.

One day, May approaches Jed, who is sitting alone on a bench. With determination, she speaks to him gently.

“I’m a little worried that you might not be able to endure until we find Arthogon and break the curse… So… I’m doing this.”

May cautiously raises her hand and cups Jed’s face. Jed isn’t the one feeling the touch; it’s May reaching out to him. May then kisses him on the lips.

Seeing May and Jed’s first kiss with eyes that perceive the truth, Mirocagon closes his mouth once more.

“Of course, given that May and Diego are already in love with each other, such things won’t actually happen.”

“It’s a hypothetical scenario, but it’s amusing.”

“Isn’t it always fun to talk about other people’s love lives?”

Seeing Cassius smiling at Iris, Iris also smiles uncontrollably, unable to suppress her joy.

“Finally, there’s someone who could have become May Flotina’s husband. Would you like to hear about it?”

“Who is it?”

“Milo Nazret. He’s the son of Marquis Nazret.”

***

In the late summer of her twenties, May had no interest in romantic relationships, unlike Stella.

Since Jed, she hadn’t felt any romantic attraction towards anyone else, and besides, given the situations with Persis and Floa, she couldn’t smoothly pursue a relationship right now anyway.

Even though Jed, who had been a lingering thought, had completely left her life by this point, Stella and May made lip balm with her at Nazret, suddenly asked a question.

“But why don’t you have any interest in Milo?”

Filling a small container with strawberry-scented lip balm, May found the question quite sudden.

“Milo? Why Milo all of a sudden?”

“Isn’t Milo the best guy around your age in your surroundings? Don’t you think?”

Just as she said, among the men approaching May, both externally and internally, Milo was the best choice.

“I do feel somewhat drawn to Milo. But there’s no certainty.”

Milo was undoubtedly charming, but May couldn’t fully sense his appeal.

The main reason was that Milo had been the one May rescued from Gliw-gone’s attack. Knowing his backstory and having seen his injured body, May could only see Milo as a pitiful figure rather than someone who evoked romantic attraction.

“After Milo won first place at the Arcus Tournament, have you ever seen him? He said he would approach you actively once he becomes a Guardian Knight. Maybe your thoughts will change if you meet him within the Order.”

Currently, Milo was officially a Guardian Knight and was undergoing a month-long training camp for new knights. He was part of the First Knight Order, just like May.

“Why are you suddenly pushing me towards Milo? It’s suspicious.”

When May looked at Stella with a skeptical glance, Stella answered as if she had no ulterior motive.

“I’m worried you might end up liking a bad guy like Jed Bloche. I just hoped you’d like our Milo instead. Well, I’d support you if you find someone else who’s genuinely good.”

However, there wasn’t a man around May whom she could confidently label as good enough for her.

“But if you marry Milo, you can still see each other frequently even after marriage.”

As Stella revealed her inner thoughts, May chuckled as if understanding.

“So, that was your intention?”

Stella seemed a bit embarrassed and cleared her throat awkwardly.

“No matter how close you are, getting married tends to create distance between people. I don’t want that to happen.”

It seemed like Stella had picked up something during her recent social gathering.

“Don’t worry. My father and Marquis Nazret are still close friends, after all.”

Even though they couldn’t meet as often as before due to their respective households, they were still close allies.

Thinking of Persis and Heint, Stella felt somewhat relieved.

“Anyway, think about Milo as well. If you marry Milo, I promise you’ll become a good sister-in-law.”

When May thought of Stella becoming her sister-in-law, she couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle. It seemed like Milo would need more consideration, so she just smiled elegantly.

It didn’t even take two months for May’s thoughts to change.

After finishing a sword practice duel with May, Milo approached her as she rested under an oak tree.

“I’ve always dreamed of a day like today. A peaceful day where I can sweat and rest with you, and share light-hearted conversations, my lady. I’m happy that my dream has come true.”

“If a day like today is a happy day, then there will be many happy days ahead. Until I can’t compete anymore, I’ll duel with you.”

As tradition held for previous winners of the Arcus Tournament, Milo, who won first place in this year’s tournament, was remarkably strong. Despite being considered one of the strongest, May couldn’t easily defeat Milo.

“Then I’ll have to work harder in our duels without holding back.”

Milo showed May a gentle smile and then shifted his gaze to her lips.

“Did you apply lip gloss? They’re as red and shiny as cherries.”

“Oh, it’s lip balm. I made lip balm with Stella last time.”

Milo continued to gaze intently at May’s lips and leaned in closer. May flinched for a moment but tried not to show her surprise.

He moved in close enough to smell the scent of her lips.

“Your lips have a sweet scent, my lady.”

“… I added a strawberry flavor.”

From a distance where their breaths nearly touched, Milo looked up to meet May’s eyes.

Meeting his cherry-colored eyes, May’s heart seemed to beat faster.

“Does it taste like strawberries too?”

Before May could even answer that the taste wasn’t present, Milo lightly pressed his lips against hers with his thumb, tasting it himself.

Taken aback, May blinked with surprise and asked, her eyes wide like a startled rabbit.

“What are you doing?”

Milo acted nonchalant, as if asking what was wrong.

“It’s not exactly a strawberry flavor, but it’s sweet.”

May was both flustered and bewildered, unable to find her words. She couldn’t believe Milo was so cheeky and shameless, and she wondered how she could feel this fluttery around him.

That night, May’s mind was filled with thoughts of Milo until she fell asleep. She couldn’t sleep well because of him.

‘How can he taste lip balm from my lips?’

Milo surely wouldn’t have any experience in romance. His sudden advances were unusual.

‘Of course, I didn’t dislike it though’

Since she couldn’t sleep, May decided to speculate about why Milo had acted that way earlier in the day.

‘Does he still want to marry me?’

Four to five years ago, Stella had mentioned that Milo expressed his desire to marry May. It was quite an old story, but since Milo kept showing interest in her, it seemed like a reasonable assumption.

‘But if he marries me, he won’t be eligible for the title of Marquis.’

Since May would eventually become the head of Flotina, the person who would become her husband needed to inherit the Flotina estate. Therefore, Milo, as the heir of Nazret, was in a difficult situation when it came to marrying May.

In theory, Stella could inherit the title instead of Milo, but… did Stella even have any interest in becoming the head of a noble family?

Although she used to be uninterested in noble titles, things might be different now.

‘But why am I even thinking about marriage…?’

Lost in thought, May suddenly snapped out of it, realizing that she was daydreaming. She shook herself awake and tried to fall asleep.

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