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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: No More Distance
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I wanted to chase after him right then and grab Luciano by the collar, but I held back for now.
I'd realized that this was the conclusion a kid who wasn't even that young had come to after racking his little brain.
So first, I reached out to Cale.
"What brings this on?"
He came at my call without complaint.
"How's Lucci been lately?"
Cale twitched his eyebrow as if wondering why I was asking him, then answered lightly.
"The same as always?"
"The same?"
I was floored.
Of course, I didn't actually want him to suffer or anything, but hearing he was the same made my stomach boil for some reason.
"He's putting a bit more focus into his training?"
Cale added slyly, reading something in my expression.
Even the words "focusing on training" pissed me off!
"Oh yeah, Harrison's all better now, too?"
As my trembling intensified, Cale smoothly changed the subject.
But the problem was...
"How do you know that?"
"Huh?"
"You're not exactly on greeting terms with Harrison."
Cale and Harrison had never formally met.
The day Cale saved us, Harrison had been passed out.
And Cale left our mansion early the next morning, so there'd been no time for introductions.
Which meant he'd met Harrison separately after Harrison left our mansion.
Under my piercing glare, Cale rolled his eyes.
*He won't confess the truth!*
I put more force into my stare, and Cale muttered evasively.
"He's been sticking close to my disciple lately."
"Ha!"
So he'd been meeting Harrison every day.
And meeting Cale regularly for diligent training!
*He's just rejecting me?*
My anger shot up to the heavens.
I couldn't hold back anymore.
* * *
If I thought about it even a little, Luciano's intentions were obvious.
*He's distancing himself because the attack made him anxious about me getting hurt because of him.*
He must have been worried I'd suffer because of him.
But I hadn't expected him to avoid me so extremely.
I'd been fooled because he'd pretended to be fine at the time.
*I forgot he was a kid who overthinks useless things.*
I should have kept a closer eye on him after the incident.
I'd been too distracted with my own affairs and the golden egg to think about comforting Luciano.
I checked with Cale for a day when he had no training scheduled and headed straight to the imperial palace.
"Lucci, you here?"
When I finally found him while wandering his palace, I was shocked.
"Espin, what brings you here?"
I could brush off the cold gaze that seemed to ask why I was there without warning.
I rolled my eyes and looked at the person standing across from Luciano.
"You're here."
Harrison greeted me awkwardly, noticing my gaze.
Seeing Harrison with Luciano was a huge shock.
I'd expected it somewhat after hearing from Cale.
But confirming it with my own eyes made it impossible to hide my sense of betrayal.
*How could you?*
"Lucci, let's talk."
"I'm busy. Make an appointment and come back later."
Luciano rejected me.
The two were in the middle of sword training, swords in hand.
There was no reason he couldn't spare a moment, but he refused anyway.
My mood sank.
"I'm serious."
I put some force into my words.
"I'm not joking either."
Luciano shot back curtly.
He seemed to have made up his mind, maintaining his impassive expression.
"So you want me to leave?"
"Yeah. From now on, don't come without an appointment."
Luciano's attitude was ice-cold.
This was the same guy who'd clung to me, not knowing what to do, just a little while ago.
Now he was telling me not to visit as I pleased.
*Unbelievable.*
My heart pounded with rage, my head dizzy with heat.
Harrison fidgeted awkwardly in the middle, glancing between us.
I knew what thoughts had led Luciano to this decision, so I tried to resolve it as amicably as possible.
It wasn't malicious.
If anything, he thought he was protecting me.
*But that doesn't mean I have to accept this attitude.*
I hadn't looked after Luciano and taken his side because I was just a nice person.
Because he was my friend.
Because he was my person—that's why I'd comforted him.
But Luciano's actions now meant he was drawing a line between us.
Pretend we don't know each other for the other's sake?
Understand the other's feelings and keep our distance while cheering from afar?
What nonsense.
*We're not some star-crossed lovers from a millennium romance.*
Relationships between people weren't maintained by thoughts alone.
Distance meant growing apart.
Especially at our age—friends could become strangers with just a little neglect.
I wasn't generous enough to keep caring for someone who wanted distance from me.
"Let's make this clear."
My voice sank low and steady, making Luciano flinch.
But he said nothing.
I could see his resolve to stick to this attitude.
"It seems like you're trying to put distance between us right now."
"......"
I dragged out my words on purpose, but as expected, no reply.
"It looks like you're trying to end things between us?"
"That's not—...!"
Luciano cried out in surprise, but he couldn't finish.
He seemed to think becoming complete strangers was better for me than this awkward in-between.
He worked his lips, then clamped them shut.
Harrison's fidgeting grew more pronounced.
So I issued my final ultimatum.
"If we don't talk now, I'll assume you have no intention of ever speaking to me again."
I shot him a chilling look, and Luciano drew in a small breath.
He couldn't hide his shocked expression, as if asking how I could say such a thing.
If that's how it was.
"Still no intention to talk?"
I glared, demanding he answer with his own words.
My heart was hurt too—I had no intention of going easy.
Luciano's eyes flashed as he glared back at me.
He huffed a few times, then whipped his head away.
It looked like he was saying to do whatever I wanted.
*So you're gonna be that stubborn?*
"Understood. Thank you for everything. I wish Your Highness a glorious future."
I deliberately used formal speech and bowed politely.
I turned away, leaving Luciano staring at me in shock.
"Ah, miss!"
*Not 'miss', Espin!*
It wasn't the time to correct him, so I ignored Harrison's panicked call.
Without lingering, I strode out to where Billy was waiting.
*You think you're the only one who can ignore me? I can ignore you too! Hell, I can end our friendship!*
As I stomped along in fury.
"Espin!"
I'd only walked a short way when Luciano's desperate cry rang out from behind.
I heard the sound of him running frantically after me.
Only then did the pent-up emotion in my chest melt away.
*That's more like it.*
I reined in my rising smile and slowly turned around.
Luciano appeared, face frantic.
He was panting—he must have run full speed.
Normally, I'd have teased him about what had him in such a rush.
But instead.
"What brings Your Highness to call for me?"
I kept my face expressionless on purpose.
His expression twisted even more at my actions.
"You're really going to do this?"
He cried out like the aggrieved party.
His face said he was upset that I wasn't considering his feelings.
"I'm just doing what Your Highness wants."
"This isn't what I want."
He shouted, sounding wronged.
"No. This is exactly what Your Highness wants."
I cut him off firmly.
"Why won't you understand my feelings?"
Luciano yelled in frustration.
It was all for your sake.
His eyes brimmed only with resentment at how I could do this.
This little brat!
"What don't I understand? I know it's because you're worried I'll be in danger! But you're the one who doesn't understand my feelings!"
I shot back without yielding, and Luciano flinched back.
His ears turned red, embarrassed that I'd read his inner thoughts.
But soon he sent me a look that said he knew all that, so why act like this.
"What am I not understanding?"
"How do you plan to handle it alone!"
Of course, in the original story, Luciano survived just fine.
He'd endured Imperial Consort Isabel's schemes and grown stronger.
But the original story was twisting.
It was hard to believe the dangers ahead would lessen.
With greater trials coming, Luciano trying to shoulder them alone seemed reckless.
"It's better than you getting hurt! I can handle it!"
Luciano's voice sounded desperate at first glance.
I could read his genuine fear of me getting hurt, leaving him helpless.
But he was making too narrow a judgment, gripped by fear.
"Think rationally. Is Imperial Consort Isabel an idiot? Well, sure, her thinking is a bit short-sighted for an adult. But she's not completely stupid, right?"
"......What are you trying to say."
"We've been together all the time. Not just the nobles—everyone in the palace, even the servants, knows we're close."
"That's why I'm doing this. If we pretend to grow apart now, you'll be safe!"
Luciano protested.
*No, this kid keeps saying nonsense.*
Frustrated, my posture slouched.
"If we suddenly grow distant after the attack, do you think people will just think, 'Oh, they had a fight,' and move on?"
No way.
Anyone with a brain would suspect first.
"They'll suspect if you're deliberately distancing yourself because I'm too precious to you—yes or no?"
Luciano gasped in panic.
His current actions were far too naive.
"Even if they buy that we've fallen out, anyone with brains would test it, right?"
A hint of sarcasm slipped out, but it was enough.
He was still young and made emotional judgments often, but Luciano wasn't foolish.
I just needed to give him time.
"They'll try attacking you in some way...."
He found the answer.
