Time passed, and it was time to part. Why are meetings always so short?
Thinking about separating from Seiana, Raymund felt an urge to take her along and go straight to the palace.
But.
‘If I did that, the Count and his family wouldn’t just stand by quietly.’
Then inevitably, he would have to clash with her family, and since Seiana would get angry, Raymund suppressed the rising desire inside him.
“Ugh. To have two… with my daughter…”
“Father.”
To have two friends.”
The Count sounded moved by the words, but judging by his expression, it looked like he had seen the world collapse.
Indeed, it could only be a disaster for the Count.
Not only did he have to deal with the monster named Raymund, but now the monster Aries was also involved.
Raymund glanced at Aries standing beside him.
At first, she had been interested in watching Seiana’s family see them off, but now she had become indifferent, letting her gaze wander aimlessly.
Normally, such careless behavior wouldn’t matter… but Raymund lightly tapped Aries’s arm with his elbow.
When she noticed the hint to be conscious of Seiana, she was startled and adjusted her posture properly.
Since others couldn’t look them straight in the eyes, they could behave rudely, but Seiana would see it all.
Raymund put on a gentle face and said his farewell.
“I’ll be going now. See you next time, Seiana.”
“Yeah. Both of you get home safely. And everyone, make sure to get your families’ permission for the trip next month.”
“What? A trip? Who are you going with? It can’t be those two, right? Lovitt!”
“Father.”
Behind the carriage that had started moving after their farewell, the Count’s roaring voice was heard.
“I won’t let you go to that thief,” and such words were said, with his family restraining him as the sounds faded away.”
“Today, I’ve been called a thief twice.”
Of course, he wasn’t unfairly accused.
It was true that he had stolen Aries’s idea, and he was planning to steal the most precious treasure of the Count’s family.
Does the Count know that being called a thief first actually lessened the guilt of taking it?
Raymund chuckled, imagining the Count’s embarrassed expression if he knew his true feelings, when the carriage stopped.
They had just crossed the entrance to the Count’s territory, so they weren’t at their destination yet, but the two got off the carriage without any suspicion as soon as it stopped.
Nearby where the white and splendid royal carriage had stopped was the special carriage for ability users they had ridden before.
The two got on that carriage, leaving the royal carriage behind.
Raymund always took the royal carriage when entering the Count’s territory where Seiana could see him, but when out of her sight, he rode the ability users’ carriage.
There was no other choice.
The ability users’ carriage was too plain and would look strange for a prince to ride.
‘Well, it’s more comfortable than worrying about my appearance being reflected outside.’
The royal carriage had heavy curtains closed tightly, and he had to hold the curtains with his hands to prevent shaking.
The ability users’ carriage was more comfortable because he didn’t have to do anything.
So as soon as he switched, Raymund’s tension naturally relaxed.
Aries felt the same.
She flopped onto the seat in a rude and sloppy posture and snorted as she spoke.
“Unlike I thought, the family was boring.”
Her tone was somewhat disappointed.
Aries’s ‘boring’ didn’t mean she was disappointed that they didn’t act like clowns.
Aries had expected that, just as Seiana was special, her family might also possess some special qualities.
Maybe not all, but if they were her siblings, maybe…
“Come to think of it, we didn’t meet the Countess. How about her? Is Seiana’s maternal side special or something?”
Only those except for the Countess and the youngest prince came to see them off today.
So Aries, who hadn’t given up hope until the end, asked with a regretful voice, but Raymund shook his head.
“The Countess is the same.”
He had met her only once, but the strong scent of fear from her was unforgettable.
He had never met the young youngest prince and had no plans to, either.
‘Children are even more mentally vulnerable.’
Just a brief encounter could shatter one’s mind.
Maybe when they grew up it would be different, but meeting now would only bring disaster.
“The maternal side isn’t special either. They are the Staveweber family, marquises.”
“Hmm… I’ve heard of them. I thought maybe they were related to ability users, but that’s not the case.”
Seiana’s maternal family was known for producing intelligent people for generations.
Most became scholars, and the rest worked as public officials or merchants.
Just an ordinary family with nothing special.
‘That said… Seiana must be a mutant.’
In a good way, that means she’s special.
Raymund looked at his palm and drifted into thought.
Being near Seiana made him feel comfortable.
Not because of mental satisfaction, but his body truly relaxed.
Even when not using his ability, his body often felt limp, but around Seiana, that feeling didn’t come.
Also, when using his ability, his body didn’t hurt.
‘Is it just me? Or does Aries feel the same comfort?’
Raymund looked at Aries curiously, but she didn’t seem to notice or mention anything.
Well, Raymund was the only ability user who felt worse every time he used his power, so it made sense that she wouldn’t notice.
That’s why no one longed for Seiana as much as he did.
Earlier, when Aries naturally grabbed Seiana’s hand, Raymund thought his eyes would pop out.
“I hate you.”
Raymund’s dislike for Aries came out naturally.
It would be embarrassing to hear such words in front of you, but Aries didn’t care.
Instead, she just sneered at Raymund’s dissatisfied glare as if saying, ‘So what?’
“It’s me, though?”
If there was no rival, she too could monopolize Seiana.
Even though Raymund made it possible for her to meet Seiana, Aries didn’t feel thankful at all.
‘Even without me, I would have met Seiana someday.’
Though both rarely went out, unlike the opposite-sex Raymund, Aries, who was the same sex as Seiana, had some overlapping activity areas.
Places like dressmakers or shops selling popular goods among noblewomen…
The chance to meet was low but not zero.
‘Maybe one day, we accidentally bumped into each other on the street.’
Seeing a face asking, “Are you okay?” she would probably be stunned.
It’s a future that won’t happen anymore, but just imagining it made Aries smile.
Because of Raymund, she couldn’t be Seiana’s only friend…
“I will be Seiana’s only female friend.”
Only she would be Seiana’s friend as a female human. Aries said firmly, as if making a vow.
“And if we get a little closer than now, I’ll be allowed to use a nickname.”
Actually, by telling her own nickname, she hoped Seiana would also allow her nickname, Lovey.
Of course, for Seiana, in her previous lives, only her family or her ex-fiancé Pedro Jeong called her by that nickname, so she just didn’t think much of it.
She never imagined someone else would want to call her by that nickname, so she didn’t even request it, and thus never gave permission.
But for Aries, it was a bit upsetting.
‘People’s feelings are really tricky.’
She thought she could be satisfied just by being by her side, but after being allowed to be next to her, she wanted a deeper relationship.
Still, a consolation was that Raymund, who had known Seiana longer than her, also hadn’t been allowed to use the nickname.
“I’ll get permission before you do.”
Aries said like a declaration of war.
Raymund thought, ‘Nickname? Isn’t that something only family uses?’ and imagined becoming family by calling Seiana’s nickname.
Suddenly, when faced with this declaration of war, he felt like a bucket of cold water was poured over him.
‘I knew first… but she’s going to get permission before me?’
Flames sparked in Raymund’s eyes.
He imagined Aries, who met Seiana later, getting closer to her than he was.
He pictured them gazing tenderly into each other’s eyes and holding hands.
And seeing Aries like that, Seiana smiled brightly.
‘I like Aries the most!’
Raymund felt suffocated for a moment.
Is she going to be Seiana’s first?
If it were someone else, maybe he could accept it… but no, he couldn’t accept anyone else.
He had to be her first.
Watching the furious Raymund glare, Aries smirked.
She lifted her head proudly and looked down at him.
“And if we get that close… we’ll have a pajama party with Seiana.”
“Me too…!”
“You can’t. You’re a guy.”
Trying to sneak into a girls’ gathering?
Aries sneered at him and soon started listing all the things Raymund couldn’t do.
Like going to the dressing room together at a clothing store, or even if not a pajama party, enjoying a nap together…
All things somewhat allowed between same sexes, but absolutely impossible for Raymund.
“I’m jealous.”
For a moment, Raymund envied Aries.
Why was he a guy?
Why couldn’t he do the things Aries could?
Of course, Aries was just talking about her hopes, but Raymund thought almost everything she said was a done deal.
Partly because jealousy narrowed his vision, but also because he knew Aries’ persistence well enough to know she’d somehow get what she wanted.
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