-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Who Do You Like?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“What?”
Luciano let out a dubious sound, as if asking what nonsense that was.
My taste?
What kind of random remark was that?
I couldn’t comprehend Harrison’s words either.
At our bewildered expressions, Harrison replied calmly.
“It seems like His Highness is worried that the lady and I might develop a deep relationship. You don’t need to worry. I’m not the lady’s type.”
What?
That’s not what Luciano is worried about!
He’s concerned that if you and I get close, I’ll find out about Luciano’s past!
I jumped up at Harrison’s detailed explanation.
And who said that!
That you’re not my type!
I was planning to seduce you!
Of course, I couldn’t say any of that out loud.
I was so flabbergasted that my mouth just opened and closed, but surprisingly, Luciano—who should have been angry at the nonsense—stayed quiet.
His calm eyes alternated between me and Harrison.
Then, as if struck by a sudden realization, his gaze sharpened again.
“How do you know that?”
Harrison gave an awkward smile.
“I heard it directly.”
He bowed his head dejectedly.
‘Me? I said that?’
“W-When did that happen?”
I was so flustered I couldn’t remember.
Luciano’s gaze landed on me.
Was it my imagination, or did it carry a look of reproach, as if to say how could you?
Hey!
You said you didn’t like me getting close to Harrison!
Then, as if remembering something, Luciano’s suspicious gaze shifted back to Harrison.
“Hold on, how did you happen to hear that directly? Did she perhaps confess...?”
At the meaningful word, Harrison panicked and jumped in.
“No! A servant who was with the lady misunderstood. The lady firmly said there’s no way she’d do that.”
Harrison spoke with utmost seriousness, as if determined to uproot any misunderstanding.
Only then did it come back to me.
When I received Harrison’s apology gift in front of Billy.
-Even at a glance, that guy isn’t my type!
-My tastes are set in stone!
I’d just blurted it out because Billy’s misunderstanding was annoying.
‘I’m doomed.’
Before I could even start building our relationship, things with Harrison were already ruined.
I’d been so excited, hoping we could at least get along.
But he hadn’t even considered pursuing me from the start.
Following Luciano, Harrison didn’t seem like a romantic prospect either.
This was a big problem.
A romance novel without romance was an issue.
‘In the end, do I have to target the black-bellied Damian...?’
My protagonist status was already in jeopardy without any intimate interactions with the male leads.
“Fine.”
Luciano’s voice—back to normal—cut through my serious contemplation.
“I won’t believe your innocence.”
While I’d been lost in thought, Luciano’s mood had somehow softened considerably.
‘But innocence?’
What had Harrison even done wrong?
“That doesn’t mean I trust you, so watch your behavior.”
Luciano warned Harrison firmly.
But that attitude was the mildest reaction he’d ever shown toward him.
The tiniest of openings.
“I’ll be careful.”
Harrison smiled, visibly moved by that alone.
‘I get it. That feeling.’
Harrison’s face, full of joy and relief, even tugged at my heartstrings.
“Espin.”
“Yes?”
“Let’s talk.”
It was a signal for the two of us to speak alone.
“Sure.”
Luciano nodded, and I followed obediently.
We arrived at a nearby terrace.
“Wow, they set it up like this for parties?”
The terrace had chairs and a table that weren’t there normally.
Screens blocked the view from the adjacent terrace.
It was a rest area for when playing inside got tiring, or a spot for quiet conversations.
‘No wonder secret rendezvous are possible in romance fantasy novels?’
I’d wondered how they managed discreet talks on open terraces, but now it made sense.
After peering around the terrace curiously, I sat in a chair.
As expected from palace furnishings, it was plush.
“Ahh, so comfy. My legs hurt from standing so long.”
A groan escaped me naturally as I patted my legs.
I kept patting for a while, but Luciano remained silent.
It was odd—standing there just looking at me without sitting.
He didn’t seem angry, though?
“Why are you standing like that?”
“Just am.”
“Something wrong?”
“No.”
Something was off.
Luciano’s demeanor felt strange somehow.
“Stop standing and sit.”
I patted the spot next to me.
The two-seater chair had plenty of room for Luciano.
Without protest, he sat obediently.
‘He’s really acting weird.’
“What is it? What’s going on?”
Luciano just sat there silently.
His expression looked somehow complicated, so out of habit, I started to spread my arms before lowering them.
He’d been watching my action and asked,
“Why.”
“Hm?”
“Why’d you lower your arms? You were going to hug me.”
Lately, I’d been hugging Luciano whenever I got the chance.
His mood always seemed down.
So today, too, I’d instinctively gone to hug him but lowered my hands upon seeing his state.
It was Luciano’s birthday today, so he was dressed more sharply than usual.
An unfamiliar, luxurious outfit.
For some reason, Imperial Consort Isabel must have prepared new clothes for him.
It made his already handsome face shine even more dashingly.
‘Male leads and their looks, honestly.’
Later, when the ball heated up, there’d be a moment when Luciano stepped forward.
‘Wrinkles on that outfit then would be bad.’
I was being considerate of Luciano in my own way.
“Hold off today.”
“Why.”
I’d said it for his sake, but dissatisfaction filled Luciano’s eyes.
“It’s a rare day you’ve put in effort. Hugs will wrinkle the clothes.”
He clamped his mouth shut at my firm words.
‘That face is full of complaint.’
“It’s the first time I’ve ever put in this much effort—do you really have to mess it up? I was super careful. Don’t I look pretty today?”
I used myself as an excuse, knowing he’d say it didn’t matter to him if I said it was for his sake.
But saying it left a bad taste in my mouth.
Even as childhood friends, seeing him dressed up like this for the first time, shouldn’t he at least politely say I looked pretty?
As I couldn’t hold back my rising emotions and puffed my cheeks,
“You look pretty.”
His blunt words made my heart drop.
I looked at him, wondering if he was joking, but there was no playfulness on Luciano’s face.
It was the compliment I’d wanted.
The one I thought was obvious.
But hearing it from Luciano’s mouth felt strange.
Heat rose to my face, and my heart pounded wildly.
“I-I didn’t say it to get flattery.”
I stuttered from embarrassment.
Luciano’s red eyes fixed on me.
‘Why’s he like this today? Is he set on teasing me?’
Unable to meet his gaze, I rolled my eyes around needlessly.
Then, they locked directly with Luciano’s, who’d been staring.
His red eyes rippled with an indecipherable emotion.
His intense gaze held mine captive.
But as if recalling something, he furrowed his brow, averted his eyes, and muttered,
“...Annoyingly so.”
It was a small whisper, like to himself, but I caught a certain word.
Annoyingly?
Did he just say he was annoyed?
My pounding excitement chilled in an instant.
It felt like a bucket of cold water over my head.
My stomach churned.
“Fine. I shouldn’t have hoped for it. Whatever.”
At my sulky tone, Luciano’s eyebrow twitched up.
Was complimenting me with “pretty” really that hard?
I praised you whenever I thought of it!
I’d gotten needlessly excited.
With Harrison acting weird, and now Luciano, I’d almost deluded myself.
“What?”
“What do you mean, what?”
“Your reaction just now...”
Luciano seemed about to say something, his jaw clenching, before swallowing his words.
He clamped his mouth and glared.
Glare all you want!
You think I’m not upset?
“I’m leaving.”
I shot to my feet.
I caught Luciano’s surprised expression, but I was in a bad mood and didn’t want to stay.
I stomped off to escape the situation.
With me always around, Luciano had no idea how precious I was.
“Espin!”
Luciano caught up frantically and turned me around by the arm.
“Why are you suddenly like this?”
He stared, as if unable to understand my behavior.
His innocent expression only soured my mood more.
“You just said you were annoyed.”
Luciano’s eyes widened.
Did you think I didn’t hear?
Hmph!
“That wasn’t what I meant. I wasn’t saying you annoy me.”
My mood didn’t improve at his urgent excuse.
“Then what was it?”
Luciano dragged a hand down his exasperated face.
Had I ever seen him this anxious?
He hesitated, as if it was hard to say easily.
“What is it?”
“Who do you like?”
After dragging it out, Luciano’s question was utterly out of left field.
“What?”
“Who do you like?”
The first time was hard; the second wasn’t.
Luciano asked again, with firmer eyes and a resolute voice.
