The Villain’s Aide Has Run Away - Chapter 85.2
But what if that thought had changed?
If it really had been just a fleeting feeling brought on by Blue’s ability, then their relationship would end as nothing more than an accident.
Even if no one else was involved, if Kailos were to say that he no longer held those feelings for him, could Leslun be satisfied with just disappointment? Would he end up hating him instead?
Even that would be a luxury. Leslun knew he could never truly resent the crown prince.
From the very beginning, daring to harbor such feelings had been stepping beyond the line.
It was painful knowing he could not say it aloud or cry to release the anxiety weighing him down. And all of this was because of the conversation they had earlier, brought on by today’s debate topic.
Romantic feelings.
Even speaking the words felt dangerous.
Leslun was not someone who could offer the crown prince any benefit in status, bloodline, or gender. From such a position, to have private feelings for him had been reckless from the start.
And yet, the fact that he could not bring himself to let go of his feelings for Kailos shook him even more.
It was then that a figure approached him with light steps and spoke.
“Leslun.”
Lady Miroi’s face was as composed as ever.
“Would you like to come with me?”
“I must return to the palace.”
“I have already sent word to His Highness. If it is urgent, he might come himself… though Robin will probably be the one to arrive.”
Hearing that she had already arranged contact, Leslun could not bring himself to refuse.
Not long after, her carriage arrived. When the door opened, Lady Miroi stepped in first and moved to the inside. Leslun hesitated briefly, then placed one foot, then the other, into the carriage.
The door closed, and the wheels began to roll smoothly.
***
Since being taken in by Kailos, Leslun had spent nearly all his time within the palace. Opportunities to see the entire city like this were rare.
For him, the city had always been nothing more than a scene glimpsed through a window.
The long stone-paved roads lined with shops, the bustling crowds, the plaza with its fountain, and even the massive clock tower — everything caught Leslun’s gaze.
Before he knew it, he had pushed aside both his feelings for Kailos and his worries about what might be happening at the academy, focusing only on watching the outside world.
“Fascinating, isn’t it?”
Lady Miroi, seated across from him, smiled as she spoke. Leslun smiled lightly in return and nodded.
“Somehow… it feels like I am traveling.”
At those words, Miroi also turned to look out the window. Leslun kept his eyes fixed on the passing scenery as well.
Soon, the carriage came to a stop. Leslun, who had been about to step down first to escort Lady Miroi, was struck with admiration.
The building before him was not as dazzling as the palace, but it was beautiful in its own way, steeped in an antique charm. The red stone structure, as if holding centuries within it, and the columns lined along the corridor seemed like records silently proving the passage of time.
As Leslun silently admired it, Lady Miroi quietly spoke from beside him.
“It seems our house suits your taste as well.”
Leslun, belatedly realizing his face had reddened, nodded.
“You must find it strange, having always stayed inside the castle?”
“Yes.”
He did make trips between the palace and the academy, but usually he only traveled along the direct route between the two, leaving little chance to see the world outside.
That the ducal residence was this magnificent was surprising. Lady Miroi said nothing more, but instead of sharing in his admiration, her eyes took on a faraway, wistful look.
“There was a time… when I thought perhaps I was one of the pillars of this place.”
Her voice slipped out softly, like the wind.
“I believed that even if I lived my whole life in silence, I could submit and accept it if it was for the sake of the family.”
It was in the past tense. Leslun looked at her. She was smiling.
“Does that mean you no longer feel that way?”
“Yes.”
Her answer sounded almost refreshing.
“I have come to realize that giving up everything just for the sake of the family is too much of a waste.”
When she had been trapped in Count Camilo’s estate, Miroi had seemed like someone who had given up on everything. But when Leslun freed her, the eyes that had been so dim suddenly lit up.
Perhaps what happened that day had changed her.
As Leslun looked at her smiling now, as though she had decided not to live solely for the family anymore, he felt an odd sensation.
The future image of Lady Miroi sitting at Kailos’s side like a lifeless doll seemed to fade from view.
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