Chapter: 593
Rene quietly waited for Arthur’s response, resting his face on one hand.
Arthur couldn’t calmly accept this lack of change in behavior or expression.
Just days ago, he had seen the cold glare directed at him. How could he have organized his thoughts so quickly?
No matter how outstanding his brother is, that’s impossible. I’ve always watched him from the side.
I know how hard he’s tried to be worthy of a king!
Such a person has lost the goal he pursued his entire life.
I can’t even imagine how immense his frustration must be!
And yet, he could just let go of that frustration in a day or two?
– I also think so. That guy is probably still wandering in despair. Just listen without reacting. Don’t let him notice.
Don’t let him notice? What a difficult request. I’ve never told my brother a proper lie before.
– If you give unnecessary words of comfort here, the hostility hidden beneath the mask will be revealed. So treat him as you usually do.
As I usually do? That’s also tough. How have I treated him usually?
“Hey, brother?”
“You asked about Lucy Allen, but what exactly are you curious about?”
“It’s just the kind of talk boys have when they gather. What do they like, what do they dislike, what are they interested in.”
As for likes, the first thought that comes to mind is teasing others, but that wouldn’t be the answer my brother wants.
Next, it’s about dungeons, but even that is a rather nuanced hobby for a girl.
Ah, thinking about it, that one has a tendency to be oddly obsessed with delicious things.
“She loves sweets. It’s surprising how much she enjoys eating, considering her small frame.”
Hidden by Frey, Lucy Allen is no slouch when it comes to eating.
Watching her demolish a parfait as big as her upper body in less than ten minutes makes me admire her.
“As for dislikes, it must be people from the Arts Church. I heard she was disgusted when she heard someone call themselves a reincarnation of a goddess.”
To be fair, it’s not that Lucy Allen particularly dislikes it; it’s something that any human would naturally resent.
Even if she tramples, criticizes, and ignores them, these people feel ashamed to realize that they are the same kind of human as her.
“If it’s something she’s interested in, it’s probably in a field you know well, brother.”
“Dungeon, you mean?”
“Yes. In fact, I doubt there’s anything other than dungeons that Lucy Allen would be interested in. Even the professors at the Academy shy away in front of her knowledge about dungeons.”
Lucy Allen’s obsession with dungeons is at an abnormal level.
At first, I thought her obsession stemmed from the blessing she possesses, but lately, I’m starting to think the causality might be the reverse.
It’s clear that Lucy Allen loves dungeons so much that the Lord bestowed such a blessing upon her.
“And gems?”
“Gems…? I heard she liked them in the past, but she doesn’t seem to care much about them these days.”
“What about cosmetics?”
“None at all. She even affirmed that she had never worn makeup even once before her maid came.”
“And clothes?”
“She only has the option of school uniforms or armor. She wouldn’t have any interest.”
Recalling how she designed our clothes brings to mind that she definitely has some talent, yet she doesn’t think of using that talent on herself, rendering it meaningless.
Thinking about it, this girl makes good use of her appearance when teasing others, but she seems to have little interest in her own.
Usually, with looks like that, one would want to dress up, but all she does is training tirelessly.
“Wow, she’s changed a lot.”
Arthur, who thought people focusing on their appearances would vomit blood over that statement, involuntarily raised his eyebrows at Rene’s remark.
“Did you have a conversation with Lucy Allen in the past?”
“Of course. I often went around the social circle following the First Queen. How could I not have met her?”
However, it seems Lucy Allen doesn’t show any signs of remembering anything about my brother.
Considering that Lucy Allen was a problem child back then, it’s possible that even my brother was treated like a weed, but that can’t be true. The bittersweetness and betrayal are evident in his tone.
“Are you curious about the details?”
“…A bit.”
“Then let’s make a bet. If you win, I’ll tell you what you’re curious about, but if you lose, you’ll have to cooperate with me.”
Arthur flinched at the word ‘bet.’ He had never once won against Rene.
This wasn’t just a matter of experience. Rene has adapted instantly to the things that Arthur was accustomed to and thoroughly crushed him.
“The Queen of Fairies told me to be careful. If I ask the people around me for help, I might lose my head.”
It was truly blasphemous, but Arthur couldn’t bring himself to say it was just a joke.
If even the rational Saintess said she would pressurize through the Church, then it goes without saying what other mentally unstable people would do.
“What’s the bet about?”
“I wanted to have a duel after a long time. I wanted to clash with the much stronger you.”
*
The day after I conquered Garad’s castle, I decided to keep my promise with Benedict.
Though there’s a thought that each day is precious, now that I’m back to being sickly Lucy after using my powers in Garad’s castle.
Since I inevitably can’t do anything, it’s better to at least relieve Benedict’s heart.
“Sloppy Erin. Do I have to put in this much effort to play with a silly Papa?”
I was wearing a black dress I had received from a perverted apostle, reflected in the mirror.
If I keep my mouth shut, I might as well look like a goddess descended from the moon. Maybe it’s thanks to Erin’s makeup skills improving.
“Young Lady, as you are gaining renown across the continent, you must always be careful when going to populous places like the kingdom’s capital.”
“Really? I’m way prettier than those other ugly ones even if I don’t do anything!”
“That’s… true, but even the Young Lady in this state is overwhelmingly beautiful enough to not allow jealousy.”
Isn’t it true that those who are jealous will feel envy towards anything they see?
– Lucy is so pretty!
– Lucy is the best!
– She’s cooler than the Queen!
– Hey, that’s…
– Isn’t that right?
– Maybe.
Well, since it’s a waste to wash off the makeup, I’ll just go out like this.
[Hah. She really is beautiful. If she were just a bit more mature, I’d have done my best to talk to her.]
[Please keep your dignity in check, old man who has lived for hundreds of years.]
[Am I not keeping it? I praised her just like I would for my granddaughter!]
Ignoring the nonsense of the old men, I jumped up and grabbed Benedict’s finger, pulling him outside the mansion.
Since we decided to play, let’s enjoy it! First, off to the delicious spots in the capital!
What kind of food will come out from that place which is supposedly fancier than the restaurant at the Academy? I’m totally excited!
Feeling woozy from using teleportation magic, I landed in the kingdom and then staggered, leaning on Benedict’s shoulder.
From above, I could clearly see the stares of people focusing on us.
Just a few months ago, I hated being looked at like this.
Most of the emotions in people’s gazes were filled with loathing or hatred.
Even now, I can’t say those negative emotions have entirely disappeared, but the ratio has drastically decreased compared to before.
What used to be occupied by hatred is now filled with admiration, surprise, curiosity, and the kind of grotesqueness reminiscent of a sloppy fox or reverence.
Though it’s still burdensome, it’s much better than the previous negative emotions.
Just not long ago, I might have thought of wishing for curses instead. Could this be the influence of receiving the Authority of Embrace?
As I was thinking this and strolling leisurely, the fairies hidden in my hair suddenly revealed themselves.
What? Haven’t I already heard enough praise? Do you still have more to say?
– Lucy! Inside!
– It’s dangerous!
– It’s chaos!
Inside? Dangerous? Shouldn’t I get more details?
I frowned, but I thought the fairies wouldn’t say this without a reason, so I headed in the direction they pointed.
What I found was Arthur, bleeding from his head.
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