Translator and Editor: Maru and Aki

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Chapter 17

It seems as though Tidwell was really glad that Ravia was by his side. Isn’t that alone proof that she was giving him special treatment?

It doesn’t matter to Tidwell if Ravia had no affection towards him as long as they could be together.

That’s why Herod’s words triggered Tidwell immensely. Especially when Herod told Tidwell that Ravia was not interested in him at all.

No way.

That statement about my sister isn’t true at all.

Tidwell returned to the mansion as his mind was occupied with numerous thoughts. The first place he rushed to without even taking off his coat was obvious.

“Tidwell?”

The library.

A woman, who was reading a book as she bathed in the sunset by the windowsill, raised her head.

A reaction that was neither slow nor fast. A calm response like that of a breezeless rain with a straight posture.

Sitting by the closed window on a rainy day always made a specific type of person feel cozy. It makes that someone feel as though they are separated from the pouring rain outside the window and the humid air around them. All of these make them feel that they are in their own safe space.

Ravia was that kind of person.

“You said you’d come at sunset. You’re a little early.”

That being the case, if Ravia truly doesn’t care about him at all, she’d kick him out of her cozy space and leave him outside in the rain.

So, Tidwell approached Ravia slowly.

Ravia closed the book she was reading and waited for his words. She was reading the sequel of [Sophistry and Hypocrisy]. At that moment, she was almost finished with the book.

The sequel looked quite thick, but she kept on reading it despite that fact. Curious as to why, Tidwell asked her this question.

-It looks quite thick, but you seem to enjoy it so much, sister.

-Yes. I like it.

It was a clear answer that contained no hesitation. Come to think of it, Ravia was very explicit about what she likes and dislikes. That explains why the butler was able to prepare the tea party thoroughly.

She never lies. She always said what she liked with confidence. With that in mind, Tidwell asked.

“Sister, I heard you rejected all your marriage offers…”

“Ah, did my father tell you?”

“There are already rumors going around.”

“Yes, I suppose so. Since it’s about the Leontines after all.” Ravia nodded and smiled gently. Her attitude expressed her pride in her family.

Ravia thoughtlessly affirmed Tidwell’s question, but perhaps because she realized that something was wrong a moment after, she opened her eyes wide.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean I won’t get married. I simply disliked the candidates my father prepared for me.”

“Yes, I’m aware. One is a womanizer, one has erectile dysfunction, and one is a squanderer.”

“Ah, so you’re aware?”

There’s no way he wouldn’t have known. And so, Tidwell responded with a simple nod. Only then did Ravia become relieved.

“I’ll get married soon, so you don’t have to worry. I’ve said it myself many times, but I do not wish to become the head of the Leontine family.”

“If that’s the case, then what do you desire, sister?”

Somehow, his words came out quite curtly, but Tidwell was too anxious to care about his manners.

I must hear her answer. If Leontine, which she has been aiming for her whole life, is not what she wishes for, then what does she desire? Why doesn’t she want to take back what was taken away from her?

“Didn’t I tell you before? I don’t have a single memory that I would want to be reminded of in this place, so…” Ravia thought for a moment, then she smiled and shrugged her shoulders. As a result, the shawl she had on her shoulders fluttered.

“Since you want an answer, I’ll be straightforward with you. I’m going to leave this place and start anew.”

“…You’re leaving?”

“That’s right. I can assure you that since I have to move into my husband’s place when I get married. Hence, you won’t have anything to worry about. What’s more, as soon as I get married, we won’t be seeing each other as much anymore. And, if you so desire, I won’t come to the capital at all. I can agree to it since it is in my personal interest to move to the countryside or to another country. Additionally, I won’t be treated badly any longer since I can discard my noble title right after”

Each and every word that came out of Ravia’s mouth clearly said that she’d be leaving Tidwell for good and starting anew.

As a matter of fact, Ravia has always been consistent with her words. This is true as she always said she wanted to leave and never come back to both Tidwell and Tidwell who pretended to be Herod. But as Herod said, Tidwell didn’t realize it because he has been too out of it lately.

‘Aha.’

Only then did Tidwell realize. The reason why Ravia was so cruel towards her servants. The reason why she didn’t want to succeed Leontine. And the reason why she treated him kindly.

“…So you’ve decided to throw away Leontine, sister.”

The reason why she was able to act in such an indifferent attitude was because she didn’t care about those people who had no value to her. She already made up her mind.

As soon as he realized that fact, Tidwell felt as if he was kicked out of her safe space and was already drenched in the rain outside.

However, he wasn’t a child who’d cry at that. So, he directed his hollow gaze at Ravia.

Upon noticing his gaze, Ravia erased her involuntary smile and raised her chin.

“It’s slightly wrong of you to say that. What I meant was that as long as I can leave this place, it doesn’t matter where I’m going.”

“That’s exactly what throwing away means, isn’t it?”

“You’re right about such a useless thing, Tidwell.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

Tidwell said so, and sat down by Ravia’s feet. It has always been Ravia who looked up at Tidwell, but this time, it was Tidwell who looked up at Ravia.

No. There was another time when Tidwell looked up at Ravia.

“Sister.”

It was when his voice, which reminded her of the abyss, held Ravia back when they first met on the stairs.

“Will you abandon me, too?”

***

Today, Ravia was in a good mood. Ravia’s mood was always either calm or terrible, so it was very unusual for her to feel particularly good.

One of the reasons why is because Ravia was freed from one of her worries.

It was the day she’d meet Herod again, so Ravia planned to go out in the afternoon.

Unfortunately, Ravia has been with Tidwell for the past few days, and because of that, he reduced her time alone, which was opposed to what she desired.

Somehow, he behaved strangely and wanted to be with Ravia all the time.

Is he that distrustful of me? I’ve been reading sophistry and hypocrisy for so long because I was wary of Tidwell. Normally, I would’ve finished a book of the same thickness in a day or two.

‘I couldn’t relax because he kept looking at me every time we were together. What’s more, I couldn’t concentrate on the book I was reading, so I had to reread each page several times to understand its content.’

Of course, he looked pretty cute when he smiled and talked gently as if he were an innocent child, but when he only stared at me without saying anything, it was rather burdensome.

Despite everything, he was clearly monitoring me. Because of that, I couldn’t just push him away easily.

After a week or so, Ravia was thinking of announcing her marriage with Herod as soon as possible.

-I don’t think I’ll be able to have tea time with sister today.

Meanwhile, Tidwell said that after lunch. He told me he has an appointment with a friend today, so he must go.

I didn’t get a proper explanation, but after he told me where he was going, I’m sure he went to see Herod.

‘It’s nice to know that they get along well.’

Even if after I married Herod Tidwell still doesn’t trust me, he wouldn’t be able to bring himself to kill Herod easily, right? Having thought so, Ravia suddenly became curious.

‘Will he consider my proposal?’

Considering his previous reaction, he will surely come to the theatre. Moreover, Herod doesn’t have proper control of his abilities and has trouble controlling his emotions every time. So, there is no doubt he wouldn’t miss such a good chance of meeting someone who possesses a spring power. That’s why Ravia told Tidwell, who was about to leave.

-Would you mind giving my regards to the friend you’re meeting today?

-…Why are you giving your regards to him?

Oh, based on his response, it must have looked a little suspicious to him, so Ravia added quickly.

-Because he’s your friend, I should, of course, treat him nicely, right?

Although she had no idea why Tidwell’s ears turned red, Ravia only continued to smile and saw him off. As soon as Tidwell’s carriage was out of sight, she used a secret passage to get out of the mansion.

The destination was, of course, the Velocio Theatre.

Meanwhile, Ravia realized something after organizing the contents of [His and Her Spring.]

The fact that no one was more pitiful than the heroine of the tragic novel.

In fact, Leticia’s biggest misfortune was Tidwell. Because of Tidwell’s obsession to be loved, Leticia was tangled in a situation where she could only look at Tidwell and him alone.

Nevertheless, the biggest reason why Leticia couldn’t leave Tidwell was because of money. That is because the Leontine family funded Leticia’s family with a huge amount of money.

The huge amount Leticia received was given to her when she married Tidwell. Due to that, she felt as though she owed him.

‘Well, in the end, Leticia loved Tidwell. The problem is money, which is a very big obstacle for the two.’

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Advanced Chapters!

Rate the novel on Novel Updates.

Join our discord to receive the latest updates as soon as possible!