By Zephyria 
“Well? I don’t know what you’re talking about… I really don’t know.”
Only the end of his words became a little blurred. He spoke nonchalantly without the slightest hesitation. Indeed, he was a great magician-level of shamelessness.
“Are you going to pretend you don’t know?”
“I’m not pretending I don’t know, I really don’t know. Carlisle is Little Duke Graham, right? The young wolf you cherished so much. Why did I do that to him and you? Did I do something to him?”
Ah, don’t tell me you’re blaming me for not saving him during the northern turmoil? His voice, even asking back as if he was wronged, was still nonchalant. If I didn’t know how cunning and treacherous he was, I would have really thought I had misunderstood.
“Okay. Go ahead and keep pretending you don’t know like that. If you don’t intend to answer, I won’t bother you. Instead, let’s stop this ridiculous Daddy-Long-Legs game here.”
“Yes? Patron, what are you…”
In human relationships, there’s nothing more foolish than dividing people into superiors and inferiors, but if I had to choose who was more dominant between Lennox and me, it was clearly me. How powerful he was had no influence on determining emotional superiority.
Favorability (Pure Love): 81%
When I focused my gaze, the transparent inner thoughts above his head, visible without fail, proved that fact more strongly than anything else. In the game, the turning point for developing into ‘lovers’ was 70 percent favorability, so his feelings for me could be considered quite deep. Even if it was pure love grown arbitrarily in a shade where even sunlight didn’t reach.
Lennox’s cheesy, secret preference was ‘an angel he wanted to plunge into the mud.’ If that was the case, his motives were somewhat understandable. As much as he loved me with pure devotion, he would want to plunge me into the mud with a stronger desire than anyone else.
“Even if you just didn’t listen to me, I don’t need a Protege who deceives me and stabs me in the back like this. Today’s tea party will be the last.”
“…….”
“I’ll say it again. I don’t need you anymore.”
However, I no longer needed to sincerely capture him. Even in the original true ending, he wasn’t a major main Love interest. So this much was already enough. As a level of favorability that satisfied the conditions to enter my Harem.
Besides, the dark past where Allen would helplessly fall for Carlisle had already been erased as if it never existed, so there was no way he would fall for Allen now or give his heart unconditionally like in the original.
I no longer regretted him. The one who had to do his best for me was him, after all.
“You helped Allen steal Carlisle’s spot next to him, didn’t you? It was you, wasn’t it?”
There was no verbal answer. Instead, his shameless lips curved up into another smile. It was disgusting now.
After Carlisle escaped Allen’s manipulation, I gradually pieced together what had happened with Carlisle’s cooperation. Even if it was Allen’s ability that made Carlisle mistake Allen for me, there were still many missing pieces. According to Carlisle, Allen mentioned all the things that he and I had experienced very naturally and explained them as if he had experienced them himself. This was the first time I had met Carlisle before Allen, so… even if Allen had memories of the previous Iteration, it still didn’t make sense. After thinking about what on earth was going on, it suddenly occurred to me.
‘The dangerous things are all over. It’s okay, Young Master. This place is safe. So don’t tremble like that.’
The existence of this powerful magician who saved me when I jumped off the cliff, bracing myself for another repetition. He had been watching me all along back then. So, unless it was I or Carlisle… the answer to the question of who found out about the trivial things in the North that even Nicole didn’t know and passed them on to Allen became too clear.
“Ah, I thought it was over since you didn’t ask me about it… So you were planning to scold me after all?”
The regretful expression as he sighed deeply was as seamless as a theater actor who had been rolling on stage for years. His red eyes sparkled vividly like cornelian cherries.
“That’s right. I did it. I told Allen about what happened between Grand Duke Graham and you, and I provided him with a Magical Artifact that could hypnotize Grand Duke Graham’s mind.”
I didn’t think he would just be running his mouth, but as expected… he didn’t betray my expectations.
“It’s a shame. I was deceiving you quite seamlessly. Hmm… It seems Grand Duke’s resistance was stronger than I thought. Thanks to that, I had to completely revise my plan for the future. Originally, I was planning to deceive everyone into thinking Allen was you around this time, and then steal only you and run away.”
“Ha, who said you could?”
“Of course, I did. You said you don’t need me anymore… Well, originally, even if you pick up trash like me as you please, you can’t throw it away as you please.”
“Didn’t you understand what I said?”
“How could I not understand? You know how clever your Lennox is…”
My chest felt stuffy as his melting smile washed over me.
“Why did you do that? Why did you save me, and why did you make me love you?”
At least I thought he would be a little surprised if the truth was revealed. Even just a little, I thought he would show some remorse. If he had even the slightest bit of decency or conscience as a person… I really thought he would.
“I love you, only you. So faithfully.”
Even my firm will to not continue the relationship couldn’t make even a slight scratch on Lennox’s shamelessness. I just stared at him mercilessly with a lost and disgusted look, and at that very moment when he was about to say something.
Knock knock
-Young Master. Lady Beatrice has arrived.
Nicole’s voice was heard. It was already time for the tea party to begin.
* * *
“Oh my, is this the Illusion Magic that the Magic Tower Lord casts? This is the first time I’ve seen such elaborate and vivid illusions!”
“It’s not just the appearance, the fragrance is so fragrant…!”
The spectacle of flowers surrounding the long table in the middle of the garden was truly magnificent. Not only were there flower trees that hadn’t bloomed yet, but also flowers that rarely grew in the climate of the capital, all blooming and withering so dizzyingly and enchantingly, floating around the table.
Even Beatrice, who was quite used to such splendid sights, clapped her hands with a face flushed like a child. I felt sorry for the servants who had worked hard to set the table and prepare the tea and refreshments, but this tea party was nothing more than a magic show performed solely by Lennox. The attendees of the modest party would have gulped down a bowl of ice-cold water, even if it wasn’t the blended black tea that Nicole had ambitiously chosen and served.
Since I and Beatrice were mingling together, the people gathered here were also people who wouldn’t lose out to anyone in terms of arrogance when taken one by one. But it seemed that wasn’t the case today. Every time Lennox provided a new spectacle, they would widen their eyes and exclaim with excitement.
“…….”
“…….”
The only two people among the party attendees who weren’t excited and maintained a calm appearance were me and Allen, who were sipping tea.
I had deliberately arranged a seat for Allen at today’s tea party, even though we lived in the same mansion. Even though I knew that the other attendees didn’t really welcome Allen.
I was curious to see what the two accomplices who had boldly tried to steal Carlisle from me would look like in front of me.
“Then next, I’ll show you Space Transition Magic. Is there anyone who wants to visit a place right now? I don’t handle anything within the capital.”
“Me, me!”
“Magic Tower Lord! I want to see my grandmother in the West!”
It was a vain expectation. Lennox was very openly and blatantly being a clown, and Allen…
“…….”
Without taking his eyes off Lennox for a moment, he was just staring at me without blinking. It was no use trying to avoid his gaze. The blatant gaze, which was unusually calm in the midst of the friendly atmosphere, seemed to gnaw at my nerves more sensitively.
“Allen.”
“…….”
“It’s a rare opportunity. Aren’t you going to watch the Magic Tower Lord’s talent?”
“…….”
I tried to fix my gaze on the teacup and said to Allen casually. I didn’t care whether he watched Lennox’s clowning like the others or not, I just wanted him to take his eyes off me.
“…….”
“…….”
There was no answer, and instead, my cheek continued to tingle. If gazes had physical force, it would have been pierced through already. Eventually, giving up, I sighed and turned my head towards where he was sitting. And then, I was about to tell him to stop looking at me because it was burdensome.
“Allen, stop looking at me because it’s burdensome…”
“Ah. You finally looked at me.”
He smiled brightly with eyes filled with ecstasy. I felt goosebumps all over my body due to an instinctive aversion. This guy and that guy… Anyway, the problem was that crazy people were always smiling.