Translator: Nox

Chapter 78

Dielo looked at him. Redius's expression was somber.

Yes, she was a fake Pero.

And Redius and countless Gasols were eagerly anticipating his Pero Awakening.

That awakening which he could not achieve with the current Krua.

But it was already too late to deny the fact that he wanted Krua.

"...Yes."

He finally admitted. Even so, he did not avoid Redius's gaze.

"You told me when I was young."

At this sudden mention of childhood, Redius tilted his head slightly.

Dielo continued speaking to him.

"As time passes after becoming the head of the family, you will lose many things, but you must not give up what is most precious. Otherwise, you will collapse."

When Dielo became the head of the family at a young age, he faced countless sneers incomparable to now.

'The fall of Argenta is right around the corner.'

'I hear this Argenta head couldn't even stand before fire just a few years ago?'

Dielo had to endure alone the mocking gazes of people from other families at the funeral.

'My Lord.'

It was Redius and his wife who approached him then.

For the young nephew who would walk a thorny path, Redius became both a strong shield and a harsh teacher who pushed him relentlessly.

It was the same when Dielo experienced his first loss on the battlefield.

When many beloved Argentas died in battle against monsters, and he thought only a future of losing more of his people remained.

When he was about to collapse.

'You must become strong, my Lord.'

'If you're afraid to even keep people in your heart for fear of losing them, then don't give them affection at all.'

That's what Redius said. At the time, Dielo, feeling as if hanging off a cliff edge, replied dejectedly:

'Then nothing will remain in my hands.'

To those words, Redius shook his head.

'You will gain and lose many things in the future. That cannot be denied. If you despair each time, it will be like offering your neck to the enemies. So.'

'Find the one most precious thing.'

'One thing for yourself, not for the family.'

'As long as you don't give up that precious thing, you won't collapse, my Lord.'

'And for the Lord who has devoted everything for the family, Argenta will gladly risk their lives to give you that.'

You said it was for me, not for the family.

Reciting his past teachings, Dielo said:

"She is precious to me, Master."

Because I long for her so desperately, as if I would perish without obtaining her.

"I simply cannot give her up."

The plan to create Pero was still uncertain of success.

But he would definitely succeed.

It was when his downcast gaze turned to Redius.

"I heard that Benia came as the real Pero."

"But her whereabouts afterwards became unclear, I hear."

Dielo had not informed Redius, who said this, about 'that plan' directly commanded by Rick, the head of intelligence.

But having heard about Pero, he must have guessed where she disappeared to.

Being sharp-eared and excellent at gathering information.

"I dare not ask where Pero went... But do you truly intend to welcome the lady who is not Pero?"

"Yes. There will be no harm to Argenta. That's what I'll do."

Dielo spoke in a calm voice.

He would not back down.

Perhaps sensing that resolve.

Redius smiled faintly.

"If it were a while ago, I might have opposed."

So does that mean it's different now?

It was when Dielo narrowed his eyes.

"Listen to my story, my Lord."

Saying so, Redius examined him and said:

"I tested the lady."

"...!"

Dielo's cold gaze turned to Redius.

Redius almost laughed without realizing.

How can you say you hid your love when you show such a fierce reaction?

"In this recent carriage supply incident, I dared to try testing the lady."

"...I wonder where your manners towards the mistress of the family have gone."

It was a voice barely holding onto reason.

Yes, this was the right response for the head of a family.

Even if they were in a contract marriage with that mistress.

But Redius touched on a part Dielo hadn't considered.

"I dared to do so. But she was someone who needed no testing."

Dielo paused.

"She is a perfect Argenta who does not need to be tested. And."

Redius said while observing the family head.

"She is a strong Argenta."

Dielo understood what Redius's words meant.

As his eyes widened, Redius smiled.

"There have been family heads who couldn't achieve Pero Awakening. As you know, each family faced crises during those times."

Some never found Pero until death, and sometimes there was already another being they had given their whole heart to.

Families that welcomed such heads faced crises. It was because internal divisions arose.

Sometimes internal division is more fearsome than external enemies.

"But this time is different."

He looked out the window where wind and rain were raging.

"Unlike the past when crises struck because people didn't follow the mistress who wasn't Pero, now Argenta is following the lady."

I rather think this is an opportunity.

An opportunity to perfectly catch the enemies off guard and infiltrate.

At those words, Dielo exhaled briefly.

"It sounds like you're saying I can be enchanted without worry."

"Yes."

Redius said proudly.

"Move as your heart desires. The lady is neither someone who will do harm to Argenta, nor is she weak enough for you to worry about, my Lord."

In any situation, she will move proudly and calmly.

Redius gained that certainty from this incident.

That's why he could say this:

"Move like a flame."

"Like a flame."

Dielo repeated those words.

A flame devours its target without even knowing what it's burning.

No matter how large, it gradually, gradually burns until it becomes a great fire that swallows the opponent.

Devouring, that was the instinct of flame.

Once it touches something, it cannot stop, ultimately burning what it desires to burn.

If not, it will extinguish itself. That was the nature of flame.

In short, Redius was telling him to stop holding back.

"...Yes, like a flame."

Dielo nodded slightly.

It felt like his mind was clearing.

A refreshing feeling remained in his mind, clean like after a wave had passed.

The refreshing feeling she left behind.

Why am I holding back?

'...Dielo.'

She who accepted his kiss in the cabin.

And she who looked at the mirror with a flushed face was just beyond a very thin wall.

A wall that could be easily broken if someone had the courage.

But he had no intention of breaking that wall.

He didn't want to make even a slightly unpleasant intrusion.

Instead, he intended to make his lovely bride cross that wall herself.

He was confident he could do it.

'Krua.'

He wanted to ask while endlessly calling her name.

Perhaps, do you find me lovable?

I find you so lovable I can hardly bear it, but what about you?

If you don't find me so lovable, why do you look at me with the same gaze as when I look at you?

And why do you quickly hide your gaze when our eyes meet, what does that mean?

He wanted to ask all that.