TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 238
[Q. To your Original Form.]
A very long time ago.
There was a Girl who had an Unrequited Love for a certain Boy.
A person like a Prince from a Fairy Tale who extended a hand to the Girl abandoned by her Parent and left alone.
The first meeting between the Girl and The Boy couldn’t be called good. After all, Underneath the Bridge in the Slum is not a romantic place.
A meeting between a Beggar and an Orphan.
Even though she didn’t have something extraordinary, the Girl came to like The Boy.
The Boy’s devotion opened the hardened heart of the Young Girl, who had dreamed of becoming a Princess.
However.
Even though the ending of that Unrequited Love ended in Tragedy, the Girl liked The Boy. Even now, as an adult, she cannot forget him.
After experiencing the Sad Pain of Goodbye and becoming an adult, the Girl met a certain The Man.
A The Man with Red Hair who resembled The Boy.
A person with a Peculiar Personality, completely different from a Prince from a Fairy Tale, someone who says Violence is closer than the law. The adult Girl met such a The Man.
The Girl disliked The Man.
He caused incidents wherever he went.
He showed no mercy.
The Girl disliked The Man, who had not an ounce of Justice in him.
Though The Man had many similarities to The Boy.
Without exchanging even a single story.
Without having a sincere conversation, the Girl hated and despised The Man, judging him only by his fragmented appearances.
Without understanding The Man’s heart.
(!) Please listen to the story of The Man (Ricardo) you dislike.
1. Show Ricardo your Original Form. (0/1)
2. Go on a Date with Ricardo. (0/1)
3. Listen to Ricardo’s True Feelings. (0/1)
-Will you accept?
Mikhail clenched his Fist.
Faced with the Generosity of the Blue Window that promised to show him the Truth he had missed, Mikhail clenched his Fist and bit his lip.
He hated it.
Facing Ricardo, having a conversation with The Man, he hated it so much it made his teeth clench.
But…
Reward: The survival of Lee Minhyuk.
In front of this sickeningly sweet proposal, Mikhail wavered violently.
Just once. If he could close his eyes and endure just once, it felt like he could obtain a reward for all the efforts he had made so far.
Mikhail clenched his Fist and suppressed his rising anger. The mere appearance of the Blue Window in front of him was an affirmation of the survival of that child. Perhaps, looking at the Blue Window that might deliver the Miracle he had most desired, Mikhail tightly closed his eyes.
“I… can’t give up.”
Suppressing his boiling anger, Mikhail gritted his teeth and nodded.
“I’ll accept.”
-Confirmed.
The Blue Window shone brightly, leaving behind faint letters before disappearing.
-Covers Ricardo’s eyes.
-Casts Magic on the Caster ‘Mikhail.’
The image of Mikhail in the Mirror began to change under the influence of a small Magic.
*
Another peaceful day on the streets of the Capital City.
Having come to the Capital City after a long time to buy the Young Lady’s dropped snack, I left her at the Desmond Estate and sat in a Cafe.
-Take care.
-Yes.
-Bring back some Chocolate on your way.
-Yes.
-You should greet Father too.
-Take care.
“Hmm…”
Although Chocolate could easily be purchased in Hamel, I came to the Capital City with the mindset of a Parvenu indulging in luxury, thanks to having more money.
Looking out the window, I nodded to myself.
“There are many people.”
As expected, since it’s the Capital City, there were a lot of people.
Students wearing Academy uniforms.
Nobles dressed in Dresses.
Couples holding hands and flaunting their affection.
The bustling streets of the Capital City, filled with quite a lot of people, brought joy to the virtuous actions of a Butler neglecting his duties after a long time.
‘Sometimes, playing alone like this is nice. Although, I’d rather play with the Young Lady, but that wouldn’t be proper slacking off.’
Though the Affinity Window being troublesome was a flaw.
[The Affinity Window cannot be used.]
‘Is this a strike?’
Shrugging slightly at the strike of the Affinity Window, which I had found quite useful, I brought the straw to my lips.
-Slurp.
The bitter taste of the coffee filled my mouth. The coffee, which revitalized the daily life of a Butler tired from work, brought a Small Smile to my lips.
“Bitter.”
The time now was 12:50 PM.
There were still 10 minutes left until the Chocolate Shop, which suited the Young Lady’s taste, opened.
And the waiting line was long too.
As expected of a popular Chocolate Shop that only opened for three short hours, there was a long line of people in front of it.
Looking at the long queue in front of the Chocolate Shop, I let out an Empty Laugh.
“I’m going to get scolded by the Young Lady…”
Trying to become a dignified Butler who understands the leisure of a cup of coffee, I might end up failing to buy the Chocolate.
Smiling faintly, I took another sip of coffee.
Thinking that since I’d get scolded anyway, I might as well slack off to my heart’s content, I stretched.
‘Since I’m out in the Capital City, I might as well drop by the Tteokbokki Shop and Malik’s newly opened Candy Shop to make up for it.’
Enjoying a little leisure, I sipped my coffee.
And at that moment.
“Huh…?”
“…”
“Who are you?”
Through the Glass Window, I locked eyes with a woman who had pressed her face against it, staring at me.
Long silver Hair.
A White Dress.
A woman with a Large Chest was staring at me intently.
“…”
Shaking my head, I avoided the woman’s gaze. She didn’t seem to be looking for me.
It was our First Meeting.
And she was too beautiful.
Since I wasn’t the kind of Butler to forget the face of such a Beauty, I shrugged and moved my body to make it easier for her to find her company.
To the right.
-Softly.
To the left.
-Broadly.
‘What is this?’
The woman’s deep gray eyes were following me.
Thinking, ‘Being too handsome can be a problem too,’ I considered it, but judging by the Rough-Looking Woman’s expression, that didn’t seem to be the case.
Then what could it be? If there’s a plausible hypothesis, it might be one of the people from the Academy who holds a grudge against me.
-Paaan.
For now, it didn’t seem to be for a good purpose.
I cautiously extended my finger and pointed to my chest, trying to confirm if I was indeed the person they were looking for.
-Nod. Nod.
Watching the woman nod, I awkwardly smiled and mouthed the words.
‘Me?’
-Nod.
‘Why?’
-…
The woman didn’t respond.
After what felt like a long, silent standoff, the woman, unable to win the staring contest, suddenly turned her body and came into the store, sitting in front of me.
“…”
“Excuse me.”
A woman staring at me intently without saying a word.
I spoke to her in a serious tone.
“I’m sorry, but this is a one-drink-per-person cafe.”
“Ah…”
The flustered woman hurriedly moved her body and rummaged through her pockets. Despite her clumsy demeanor, it seemed she had some conscience, as her frantic fumbling made me chuckle softly. Watching her search for a wallet, I hid my smile.
‘Where would a pocket be on a dress?’
She was quite a funny woman.
Normally, a woman would carry a bag. I thought she must be someone who was often scatterbrained.
‘I guess I have no choice…’
As a professional Push-Over, I slowly stood up, ready to open my wallet once again.
“Don’t go!”
The Silver-Haired Woman hastily stopped me as I rose from the chair, grabbing my sleeve with a flustered look.
“Don’t…”
The woman bit her lip and said.
“Please don’t go…”
Watching the woman lower her head and speak gloomily, I let out a small chuckle. Since she had gone through the trouble of coming to find me, I wasn’t heartless enough to just leave.
Gently removing her hand from my sleeve, I replied to her.
“I won’t run away.”
“…Then?”
“Didn’t I say it’s a one-drink-per-person cafe? I just finished my coffee, so I was about to go buy another. I’ll get you one while I’m at it.”
“Ah… Thank you.”
“It’s nothing. Is there a drink you’d like? Black Tea? Coffee?”
The woman lowered her head and answered in a Small Voice.
“Mandrake Tea.”
“What…?”
“Why?”
“No, it’s just that your taste is quite unique.”
I chuckled softly and walked away from her.
Then, I asked her quietly.
“What’s your name?”
“Mi…”
The startled woman quickly covered her mouth, then after a moment of thought, she opened her mouth hesitantly.
In a very Small Voice, timidly.
“It’s a Secret.”
“Then I’ll keep it a Secret as well.”
I nodded with a small Smile.
I had a feeling I knew who she was.
Though I didn’t know the reason why.
*
At that moment, Mikhail, sitting in the cafe, clenched his Fist as he watched Ricardo’s back figure walking away.
‘Is this a Lie…?’
In Mikhail’s eyes, it was clear as day.
-Under the influence of Magic.
[Ricardo’s Favorability toward ‘Mikhail’: 71 > 80]
Mikhail felt that something was going wrong.
The unexpectedly high Favorability.
The polite tone of his words.
The fact that Ricardo didn’t show any hostility toward him, despite Mikhail treating him rudely, left him surprised.
Although it wasn’t a significant change.
A small Cogwheel in his heart began to turn.
As Ricardo approached with a tray of drinks, Mikhail thought to himself.
Just achieve the purpose and leave quickly.
Don’t waste Time and go back to swing the sword, Mikhail thought.
“Here’s your drink, Miss Secret.”
“Ah… Thank you.”
“And this is my drink.”
Mikhail opened his mouth.
He believed Ricardo’s True Feelings were that he disliked and cursed him.
“You dislike me…”
“Ah.”
Ricardo interrupted Mikhail’s words and said.
“You’re beautiful.”
“…What?”
“I’ve been wanting to tell you that for a while now.”