* * *
‘Sigh.’
I let out a breath and added,
“I’ll say it again, I’m not planning on partnering with Lett.”
“……”
“For now, I’m putting it off until the ball. If you don’t want to see me partner with Miss Viola, then at least introduce me to someone else. Don’t just keep shooting everything down without offering a solution.”
During the Imperial Ball season, we usually stayed at the venue and mingled with peers, so it wasn’t unusual to end up with a partner right before the event—or even to switch last minute.
It was an unspoken rule to go in with a partner pre-arranged, but still.
So I had time.
And if it came down to it, I could just… not dance. It wasn’t mandatory.
Sure, I’d probably become a perfect target for gossip as the poor sap who didn’t manage to find a partner all ball season, but…
‘I hate overcomplicating things.’
It was something that would pass soon anyway.
And I didn’t want to keep butting heads with him over this.
“……”
Cedric still didn’t say anything.
Feeling like this conversation would just keep going in circles, I gave him a couple of light taps on the shoulder as I walked past him, heading back to the ballroom on my own.
The spot Edgar had just left.
Cedric stood frozen, alone in that dreadful silence.
After a moment, he muttered quietly to himself.
“…He wants me to introduce him to someone?”
A bitter chuckle escaped, dissipating in the air.
“So cruel.”
As always.
His heavy murmur fell like a stone to the floor.
Cedric didn’t return to the ballroom.
I kept glancing around for him the rest of the night, unable to stop thinking about it—but he never showed up, so I must’ve been right.
After that, we didn’t get closer.
Actually, saying we drifted apart doesn’t quite cut it.
We didn’t see each other at all.
I even invited him over—on purpose.
But the Cedric who used to show up at every little get-together now made excuses about being busy and never showed his face.
Even Liette and my parents asked what had happened between us, clearly sensing something was off.
Back when I wanted to be alone with Liette, he wouldn’t give me a moment’s peace.
But now?
He was nowhere to be found.
So today, Liette and I decided to visit Cedric’s estate together.
To be honest… I was worried.
That was one reason.
But mostly, I had to ask Cedric for a favor.
So I had to see him—at least once.
“Son, I need to ask you for a favor.”
“What is it?”
“You remember I mentioned I’d be setting up an inn at a good location in the Lounier territory? And that the Count Lounier is weighing his options since so many nobles want to build on that prime land.”
“Yes.”
“Well, I need a rare herb for the negotiations. You should be able to find it if you go up Mount Burden.”
“…What? That’s a monster zone! You want me to go there alone? Are you trying to send your own son to his death?”
“You’ve got Cedric, don’t you?”
So said my father.
That sly smile of his made it clear he was scheming something.
But he kicked me out saying I couldn’t come home unless I brought it back, so I had no choice.
Damn it. Something’s not right.
This part wasn’t in the original novel.
Still, my father is a man of his word.
As a beta with zero swordsmanship skills, I couldn’t possibly survive a monster-infested zone alone.
If I failed, I really would be locked out of the house.
I absolutely needed someone’s help.
And the only person around me with both strength and swordsmanship… was Cedric.
The fact that Father casually named Cedric as an option just showed how well he understood me.
…Of all times, now—when things were icy between us—was this really the moment to ask him for a favor?
Even so!
“Can’t you just help me this one time? Please?”
“……”
“I know it’s shameless… but just once, please?”
“……”
“Think of it as saving a life!”
I even clasped my hands together and begged.
The three of us—me, Cedric, and Liette—had been chatting in the salon.
Once the mood warmed up, I pulled Cedric aside to make my request.
But as soon as he heard it, his eyes narrowed.
“So that’s why you came. Figures.”
His cheerful face from earlier fell into disappointment so fast, I was caught off guard.
I hurried to explain.
“I did want to see you too, you know.”
“Must be urgent, huh. Even laying on the charm now.”
…Cold. So cold.
Of course, I know I didn’t exactly earn his trust.
I can’t deny I had ulterior motives too.
After hesitating, I finally brought out the truth I’d been sitting on.
“I know I’ve been distant with you.”
“……”
“But I really came today because I wanted to see you. It’s been bothering me, how you’ve been avoiding me lately. I’ve been reflecting on all of it.”
“……”
“I’m sorry for the way I treated you. I really want to make things right. I know it might sound sudden or even ridiculous, but I mean every word.”
But perhaps, given the timing, Cedric didn’t look like he believed me.
I hesitated, worried that saying more might just sound like I was trying to cover up with excuses.
That’s when I heard Cedric let out a long, deep sigh.
“Alright. I’ll help you.”
“Huh? Really?”
“You were practically begging. How could I say no?”
“……”
“But you owe me something in return.”
“Okay! What do you want? What should I do?”
I nodded eagerly.
Cedric looked at me with a curious expression, as if my enthusiasm was a little odd, and then murmured:
“When I want something… Grant me that.”
“Like a wish ticket? Is that all?”
“Yeah.”
“Deal! I’ll do it. Thanks so much.”
I grabbed both of Cedric’s hands and shook them enthusiastically.
Maybe I startled him—his body went stiff—but he didn’t push me away, so I figured he didn’t hate it.
Feeling a weight lifted, I started walking back toward the salon with him, continuing our conversation.
“So, why did he tell me to come to you?”
“I don’t know either. He didn’t give me a reason. But ignoring him… He’d probably really throw me out.”
“No way he’d go that far.”
“My father doesn’t bluff. If he says he will, he will…”
“Well, even if you do get tossed out, someone’ll probably pick you up.”
“Come on. Who’d take in a penniless noble?”
The Lowell family’s prestige in the Empire was built entirely on wealth.
A broke son of Lowell was like a tiger with no teeth—completely useless.
“You never know.”
Cedric muttered casually.
I glanced at him, trying to make sense of what he meant, and realized it had been a while since we’d had such an easy, silly conversation like this.
It wasn’t as hard as I’d thought it would be.
I’d felt a vague fear about speaking with him again, but now that we were talking, it came naturally.
And it left a strange, almost pleasant feeling behind.
A few days later.
Cedric and I headed to Mount Burden, in the northeastern border of the Soliwen territory, to search for a rare medicinal herb.
Since the mountain was considered a danger zone due to the presence of monsters, it was surrounded by fortified walls.
We had no choice but to pass through them to enter.
So, we stopped by the fortress nearby, and thanks to that, some friendly rangers stationed there saw us off.
“If anything happens, make sure to fire the signal flare!”
“We’ll come help! Stay safe!”
Hearing their shouts from behind, I waved back, grateful.
“They’re good people.”
“Yeah.”
“And you’re going to be their commander soon.”
Once Cedric inherits the Grand Duchy of Soliwen, he’ll technically be in charge of this border command too.
Though from what I’d heard, with all the responsibilities within Soliwen, it’s rare for the duke to directly command the troops here unless it’s an emergency.
We walked until we reached the base of Mount Burden. The silence was oddly tense.
I scanned the forest and spotted a large rock nearby, then pulled out our food pouch from my pack.
“Should we… eat first before we go any deeper?”
We wouldn’t get the chance once we were in the dangerous parts of the mountain, with monsters lurking about.
Plus, we’d be too busy searching for the herb.
Cedric stared at me for a moment, then flicked my cheek and started picking a fight.
“You already ate before we got here, pig.”
I glared at him.
“Why are you picking a fight again? Then you don’t eat.”
I sat down on the rock, set down my bag, and opened the food pouch.
The warm smell of freshly baked bread wafted up.
As I split a roll in two, Cedric plopped down beside me and leaned his head in my direction.
“Ah.”
I gave him another long side-eye. His mouth was open, like he wanted me to feed him.
Honestly, back in the day I would’ve ignored a childish stunt like this.
He used to whine at me nonstop even when he knew I wouldn’t indulge him—then sulk when I didn’t respond.
This was the real Cedric, though.
Playful.
Clingy, even when I told him to cut it out.
Lately, he’d been cold and prickly whenever the topic of Viola came up, which was so unlike him….
After a moment’s hesitation, I decided to go along with his little joke.
“Take back what you said about me being a pig.”
“Fine, I take it back. Sorry. Ah~.”
Cedric shamelessly opened his mouth again like a baby bird. Geez.
I stuffed half the bread into his mouth.
He blinked in surprise, then gave me a wide grin.
His eyes curved into crescent moons—it was pLettier than I remembered. I found myself staring, spellbound.
It felt like it had been a long time since I’d seen him smile like that.
I guess it wasn’t like he had many reasons to smile at me.
Just as I was brushing a hand over my cheek—
“You eat too. Here. Ah~.”
Looking downright giddy, Cedric held out the bread he’d just bitten into, right up to my mouth.
I mean… really?
Offering the part he’d already eaten?
On top of that, acting like he was feeding me?
“Ugh! No thanks. I’ll eat on my own!”
“Don’t be shy. Come on~.”
I cringed and shouted at him to eat it himself, but Cedric just burst out laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world.
Before I realized it, all the awkwardness between us from that past argument had completely vanished.
* * *
