30

Llewellyn’s mouth wavered as if he was having trouble with what to say. It goes without saying that it made him look even more suspicious in her eyes.

Rosenia gave him a fierce look and interrogated him.

“You’ve been sane this whole time?”

“…”

“You also lied when you said you didn’t remember?”

“…”

“So it was all a lie…”

The last words Rosenia spoke were mixed with tears. As she cried again, Llewellyn, who was visibly flustered, held her face with both hands.

Rosenia could feel his warmth through his large hands covering her cheeks. While staring at her blankly, Llewellyn spoke.

“Rose, I’m not…

“…”

“Rose…”

Llewellyn closed his mouth as if he was unable to find the words, and soon sighed deeply. Then, he stared at her with his peerless honest eyes and spoke clearly.

“I’m not using you, Rose.”

“…”

“It’d be ridiculous for me to take advantage of you. How could I…”

His expression alone made him look very honest. But with only such words, there was a long way before Rosenia could believe him. With a look of disbelief, she spoke while looking at him.

“You are too different from what I imagined.”

“…What?”

“I kept thinking it was weird. You, the Duke of Rasiane, has been kind to me, act like we’re lovers, and you cook for me… It all seems ridiculous.”

When her words fell, she felt like crying again. She was so excited by his kind behavior and way of talking that she was fooled.

“But that was all an act. It would make sense that it was all an act. For such good things to happen to me, the daughter of the enemy’s family, without a reason.”

As soon as Rosenia finished speaking, Llewellyn hurriedly refuted.

“I’m not acting.”

“Lies. I don’t believe you.”

“What can I do for you to believe me?”

After an agonizing moment’s thought over the pleading question, Rosenia thought of what she wanted to know.

“…Please be honest with me. Why were you lying in the Hill family’s villa garden, why you treat me kindly, and why do you want to get close to me, everything…”

“…”

“Everything, without a single lie.”

After saying so, Rosenia secretly used a magic spell. It was a spell that allowed one to see through the lies of another person.

Adrian and Rosenia, as masters of the Mage Tower, had to meet many sorcerers around the world and question their wrongdoings, so they had to learn this lie detection magic.

Unlike Adrian, who learns every magic like breathing, Rosenia found it a little difficult to do mental magic. So, it took her a lot of effort to learn this magic.

There were times when Rosenia thought of giving up because she was lazy to practice, but now that she looked back, she felt glad that she learned it.

‘The magic of looking into a person’s thoughts won’t work on him, but it’s enough to tell if what he’s saying is true or not…It won’t be difficult.’

Rosenia could have used this magic before, but she didn’t. She had been foolish enough to turn a blind eye to everything. The questions between him and her. She didn’t want to break this peaceful life at the summer villa.

She was certain that she had been possessed ever since she first saw him. Emerald eyes as vivid as verdure. She was so bewitched by his eyes that she had become intoxicated.

But it was time to wake up from this hangover. Rosenia opened her eyes wide and stared at him. He looked perplexed, as if he had been put through a very difficult task.

‘After all, he won’t answer? Or is he going to lie again?’

As Rosenia stared at him in a fit of tears, Llewellyn sighed heavily, then spoke.

“…From beginning to end, I’ll tell you everything.”

“Okay.”

“However, please give me your word.”

“My word?”

“You’ll hear me out, and you won’t think badly of me.”

“…?”

‘Don’t think badly of him, what does that mean?’

Her forehead creased. Was there such a huge secret that she would be appalled?

“…Tell me first. I’ll judge after I hear it.”

“…”

Llewellyn bit his lips with a really reluctant look, and then nodded. After a short breath, he finally began to talk.

“The first time I saw you was when I was thirteen.”

“What?”

Her eyes widened at the unexpected words. She looked at him in surprise at his sudden bashfulness.

His reaction was quite surprising to her, and with a murmur, he continued.

“When I was thirteen…I sneaked into this villa and stole a glance at you while you were asleep.”

“…”

“And when you woke up, our eyes met.”

“…”

“I turned around and ran away.”

‘No, wait a minute.’

Her lie detection magic wasn’t responding. So that meant Llewellyn was telling the truth.

‘Wait, when he was thirteen? So I was eleven or twelve? What happened in the villa at that age was…’

“…”

‘I can’t remember. Something seems to have happened…’

Cursing her poor memory, she placed both of her hands against her head and then glanced at Llewellyn.

Llewellyn was looking at her with an uncomfortable and earnest look.

“I think that was the first time.”

“…”

“At that time, I fell in love with you.”

‘…He said he was thirteen then…?’

Then, this isn’t a love on a whim.

‘He has felt this way ever since? For more than eight years? Wait a minute, then at the royal banquet…’

“At the royal banquet, I realized it when I saw you.”

“…”

“That I desperately wanted you.”

Abruptly, Llewellyn’s mood became quite heavy. Rosenia felt an oncoming chill.

Her heart pounded with strange anxiety. She felt like running away for some reason. Slowly moving his legs and tossing and turning, he hugged her firmly at the waist.

“…!”

Flinching greatly, her body soon stiffened. She felt a strong force tightly clenching her arms. It was an irresistible force.

Maybe because Rosenia was suffocated by this force. But, she had a sudden premonition. That this man will never let her go no matter what…

“I had only met you twice.”

“…”

“We didn’t even talk much.”

“…”

“But I can’t believe I became infatuated with you. I’m sure I look like a total madman. I know.”

Rosenia almost nodded for a moment and then stopped.

‘Oh, no. Let’s just stay still. I think that’s a good idea…Something isn’t right. Something, absurd… ’

“I understand that you suspect me. When I look at myself objectively, I think I’m out of my mind.”

“…”

“I really want you with all my heart and soul. Ever since I realized that feeling, I’ve been madly desperate to find a way to reach you.”

“…”

“But no matter what I did, meeting you felt out of reach…This time, I took the chance and came to this villa.

“…”

The subsequent story was as Rosenia knew it. When Llewellyn arrived at the villa to meet her, it started to rain, and he collapsed on the ground because he couldn’t suppress his mana congestion.

‘Oh my god. If I hadn’t helped him, he’d be dead! He’s really out of his mind…’

“…”

For a moment, Rosenia made eye contact with him and was startled without realizing it.

There was a strange heat within the emerald eyes looking at her. The madness within them was as clear as day. Such madness made her truly believe he was out of his mind.

In a trembling voice, Rosenia asked.

“So, you’re out of your mind, aren’t you…?

Raising the corner of his lip, Llewellyn replied.

“Well?”

The lie detection magic hummed chaotically. That simply meant Rosenia couldn’t see through him.

‘No, so is he really crazy or not? What the hell?’

Unable to hide her shock, she looked at Llewellyn with her eyes blinking rapidly. He slowly looked down at her and gently stroked her cheek.

“Rosenia.”

“…”

Extremely tense, Rosenia swallowed her breath. She kept having the feeling that her neck was going to be bitten by the fangs of a beast.

“What did your magic tell you?”

“…!”

“Did it show that I’m absolutely telling the truth?”

“H-how…”

Rosenia became dumbstruck at his unbelievable question.

‘Don’t tell me, did he see through my magic? I thought he wouldn’t notice anything. But he knew all along…’

Llewellyn kissed her cheek, who was staring blankly at him. He still showed a cordial and friendly attitude, and looked cautious and thoughtful as if he was caring for something lovely.

But…

‘He’s crazy…’

Rosenia couldn’t get the thought that he was crazy out of her mind.

It was all the more confusing when Rosenia knew it wasn’t a lie. How long have they seen each other? Like he said, they had only met him twice. She doesn’t even remember one of them.

Besides, at the royal palace’s banquet, all they did was make eye contact from afar! She didn’t even speak to him! So, how the hell, she wondered.

‘How could he fall in love with me and not forget for more than eight years? He even risked his life to meet me! Is his feelings for me true love?’

“Rosenia, that look on your face right now…”

Only

“Ah…”

Rosenia came to her senses when she heard his voice. She didn’t know what expression she was making. She only knew that her body was swaying like an aspen leaf.

With a sweet smile, Llewellyn asked.

“Do you think badly of me now?”

“What? N-no, it’s not like that…!”

“Is my abnormal obsession for you crazy?”

“That’s…”

Rosenia couldn’t bring herself to say yes or no. She definitely liked him, but at the same time, she was scared of him. No matter how hard she thought about it, he was crazy.

Llewellyn’s mouth wavered as if he was having trouble with what to say. It goes without saying that it made him look even more suspicious in her eyes.

Rosenia gave him a fierce look and interrogated him.

“You’ve been sane this whole time?”

“…”

“You also lied when you said you didn’t remember?”

“…”

“So it was all a lie…”

The last words Rosenia spoke were mixed with tears. As she cried again, Llewellyn, who was visibly flustered, held her face with both hands.

Rosenia could feel his warmth through his large hands covering her cheeks. While staring at her blankly, Llewellyn spoke.

“Rose, I’m not…

“…”

“Rose…”

Llewellyn closed his mouth as if he was unable to find the words, and soon sighed deeply. Then, he stared at her with his peerless honest eyes and spoke clearly.

“I’m not using you, Rose.”

“…”

“It’d be ridiculous for me to take advantage of you. How could I…”

His expression alone made him look very honest. But with only such words, there was a long way before Rosenia could believe him. With a look of disbelief, she spoke while looking at him.

“You are too different from what I imagined.”

“…What?”

“I kept thinking it was weird. You, the Duke of Rasiane, has been kind to me, act like we’re lovers, and you cook for me… It all seems ridiculous.”

When her words fell, she felt like crying again. She was so excited by his kind behavior and way of talking that she was fooled.

“But that was all an act. It would make sense that it was all an act. For such good things to happen to me, the daughter of the enemy’s family, without a reason.”

As soon as Rosenia finished speaking, Llewellyn hurriedly refuted.

“I’m not acting.”

“Lies. I don’t believe you.”

“What can I do for you to believe me?”

After an agonizing moment’s thought over the pleading question, Rosenia thought of what she wanted to know.

“…Please be honest with me. Why were you lying in the Hill family’s villa garden, why you treat me kindly, and why do you want to get close to me, everything…”

“…”

“Everything, without a single lie.”

After saying so, Rosenia secretly used a magic spell. It was a spell that allowed one to see through the lies of another person.

Adrian and Rosenia, as masters of the Mage Tower, had to meet many sorcerers around the world and question their wrongdoings, so they had to learn this lie detection magic.

Unlike Adrian, who learns every magic like breathing, Rosenia found it a little difficult to do mental magic. So, it took her a lot of effort to learn this magic.

There were times when Rosenia thought of giving up because she was lazy to practice, but now that she looked back, she felt glad that she learned it.

‘The magic of looking into a person’s thoughts won’t work on him, but it’s enough to tell if what he’s saying is true or not…It won’t be difficult.’

Rosenia could have used this magic before, but she didn’t. She had been foolish enough to turn a blind eye to everything. The questions between him and her. She didn’t want to break this peaceful life at the summer villa.

She was certain that she had been possessed ever since she first saw him. Emerald eyes as vivid as verdure. She was so bewitched by his eyes that she had become intoxicated.

But it was time to wake up from this hangover. Rosenia opened her eyes wide and stared at him. He looked perplexed, as if he had been put through a very difficult task.

‘After all, he won’t answer? Or is he going to lie again?’

As Rosenia stared at him in a fit of tears, Llewellyn sighed heavily, then spoke.

“…From beginning to end, I’ll tell you everything.”

“Okay.”

“However, please give me your word.”

“My word?”

“You’ll hear me out, and you won’t think badly of me.”

“…?”

‘Don’t think badly of him, what does that mean?’

Her forehead creased. Was there such a huge secret that she would be appalled?

“…Tell me first. I’ll judge after I hear it.”

“…”

Llewellyn bit his lips with a really reluctant look, and then nodded. After a short breath, he finally began to talk.

“The first time I saw you was when I was thirteen.”

“What?”

Her eyes widened at the unexpected words. She looked at him in surprise at his sudden bashfulness.

His reaction was quite surprising to her, and with a murmur, he continued.

“When I was thirteen…I sneaked into this villa and stole a glance at you while you were asleep.”

“…”

“And when you woke up, our eyes met.”

“…”

“I turned around and ran away.”

‘No, wait a minute.’

Her lie detection magic wasn’t responding. So that meant Llewellyn was telling the truth.

‘Wait, when he was thirteen? So I was eleven or twelve? What happened in the villa at that age was…’

“…”

‘I can’t remember. Something seems to have happened…’

Cursing her poor memory, she placed both of her hands against her head and then glanced at Llewellyn.

Llewellyn was looking at her with an uncomfortable and earnest look.

“I think that was the first time.”

“…”

“At that time, I fell in love with you.”

‘…He said he was thirteen then…?’

Then, this isn’t a love on a whim.

‘He has felt this way ever since? For more than eight years? Wait a minute, then at the royal banquet…’

“At the royal banquet, I realized it when I saw you.”

“…”

“That I desperately wanted you.”

Abruptly, Llewellyn’s mood became quite heavy. Rosenia felt an oncoming chill.

Her heart pounded with strange anxiety. She felt like running away for some reason. Slowly moving his legs and tossing and turning, he hugged her firmly at the waist.

“…!”

Flinching greatly, her body soon stiffened. She felt a strong force tightly clenching her arms. It was an irresistible force.

Maybe because Rosenia was suffocated by this force. But, she had a sudden premonition. That this man will never let her go no matter what…

“I had only met you twice.”

“…”

“We didn’t even talk much.”

“…”

“But I can’t believe I became infatuated with you. I’m sure I look like a total madman. I know.”

Rosenia almost nodded for a moment and then stopped.

‘Oh, no. Let’s just stay still. I think that’s a good idea…Something isn’t right. Something, absurd… ’

“I understand that you suspect me. When I look at myself objectively, I think I’m out of my mind.”

“…”

“I really want you with all my heart and soul. Ever since I realized that feeling, I’ve been madly desperate to find a way to reach you.”

“…”

“But no matter what I did, meeting you felt out of reach…This time, I took the chance and came to this villa.

“…”

The subsequent story was as Rosenia knew it. When Llewellyn arrived at the villa to meet her, it started to rain, and he collapsed on the ground because he couldn’t suppress his mana congestion.

‘Oh my god. If I hadn’t helped him, he’d be dead! He’s really out of his mind…’

“…”

For a moment, Rosenia made eye contact with him and was startled without realizing it.

There was a strange heat within the emerald eyes looking at her. The madness within them was as clear as day. Such madness made her truly believe he was out of his mind.

In a trembling voice, Rosenia asked.

“So, you’re out of your mind, aren’t you…?

Raising the corner of his lip, Llewellyn replied.

“Well?”

The lie detection magic hummed chaotically. That simply meant Rosenia couldn’t see through him.

‘No, so is he really crazy or not? What the hell?’

Unable to hide her shock, she looked at Llewellyn with her eyes blinking rapidly. He slowly looked down at her and gently stroked her cheek.

“Rosenia.”

“…”

Extremely tense, Rosenia swallowed her breath. She kept having the feeling that her neck was going to be bitten by the fangs of a beast.

“What did your magic tell you?”

“…!”

“Did it show that I’m absolutely telling the truth?”

“H-how…”

Rosenia became dumbstruck at his unbelievable question.

‘Don’t tell me, did he see through my magic? I thought he wouldn’t notice anything. But he knew all along…’

Llewellyn kissed her cheek, who was staring blankly at him. He still showed a cordial and friendly attitude, and looked cautious and thoughtful as if he was caring for something lovely.

But…

‘He’s crazy…’

Rosenia couldn’t get the thought that he was crazy out of her mind.

It was all the more confusing when Rosenia knew it wasn’t a lie. How long have they seen each other? Like he said, they had only met him twice. She doesn’t even remember one of them.

Besides, at the royal palace’s banquet, all they did was make eye contact from afar! She didn’t even speak to him! So, how the hell, she wondered.

‘How could he fall in love with me and not forget for more than eight years? He even risked his life to meet me! Is his feelings for me true love?’

“Rosenia, that look on your face right now…”

Only

“Ah…”

Rosenia came to her senses when she heard his voice. She didn’t know what expression she was making. She only knew that her body was swaying like an aspen leaf.

With a sweet smile, Llewellyn asked.

“Do you think badly of me now?”

“What? N-no, it’s not like that…!”

“Is my abnormal obsession for you crazy?”

“That’s…”

Rosenia couldn’t bring herself to say yes or no. She definitely liked him, but at the same time, she was scared of him. No matter how hard she thought about it, he was crazy.