n

n

nShe glanced sideways at Aceras’ face.

n‘As expected of the original male lead.’

nLooking up close, handsome people will always be handsome.

nHis drooping puppy-like eyes, thick upper lip, and even without any expression, his mouth corners always curled up.

nHe looked good, but somehow she can feel something dangerous from him. However, it was frustrating because she couldn’t figure out what he was thinking.

nDalia, who knew Aceras’s personality before his breakdown, slowly began to feel anxious.

nDidn’t he did something suspicious this time, such as digging up Dalia’s behind-the-scenes information?

n“Aren’t you supposed to go quickly?”

n“No, it’s an honor to see Miss Dalia in person.”

n“…….Did you remember my name?”

n

n

n“Yes, ash gray hair is not common, and you’re so famous.”

n“……”

nThere were meaningless conversations.

nAceras was still looking at her with a harmless smile.

nIt would be nice if he could tell her that he was talking about himself, but it was hard to treat him recklessly because she knew that he would become the pope of the Holy Empire in the future.

nThere was only one thing that Aceras kept on thinking about.

n‘I think she heard it, but how far did she hear?’

nHe needs to learn more about Dalia’s ability. It doesn’t seem that she knows much about the value of her power yet.

nThe power to bring the frenzy transcendent back to normal. It was the opposite of what he was going to do in the future, and at the same time, it was the power that would be more helpful than anything else if he used it well.

nHe was going to destroy this empire in the future.

n‘It would be nice if I could convince her to be on my side.’

nHowever, he got caught in the most important scene.

nEven if he thought about it, it was pathetic.

n‘Well, let’s fix it first.’

n“You’ve heard the conversation before, haven’t you?”

nAceras said with a gentle smile.

nDalia shook her head again with a look as if she was the most wronged person in the world, but it was obviously a lie.

nIt was hard to tell how far she had heard, but Aceras decided to throw a small question first.

n“You’ve seen an embarrassing scene. We didn’t get along very well. “

nIf he said this, he can pretend that the words that he said at that time were him actually trying to hurt Adrisha’s feelings, and that he didn’t actually mean it.

n“……Is that so?”

nHowever, strangely, Dalia’s expression changed even more when she heard it. With an expression full of suspicion.

nAceras checked again what he said just now, but he couldn’t find out the problem.

n‘What is this?’

nHe smiled more gently, but contrary to his intentions, Dalia’s expression hardened.

n‘……As expected, she’s not easy.’

nHe ignored her because she was young, but she remained vigilant. Maybe she knows more than he thinks.

nBut he had to find out what she knows. If Dalia Pesteros has the power to restore the frenzy transcendent, she may be able to ‘prevent’ the mana explosion by purifying the fallen soul itself with mana.

nThen he can use his power as much as he wants without worrying about the mana explosion.

nIt was a force that all transcendents would be tempted to own. The strength that can make the entire continent to fight for it.

n‘The way to know, probably through a handshake maybe……?’

nIf that clears his soul, who has undergone the Magic Blooming and is degenerating, it will show that this is not just a fluke.

nAceras looked at Dalia secretly.

nShe had already noticed from his words that he was lying naturally.

n‘Who are you kidding, didn’t get along.’

nAdrisha clearly said that she had never spoken properly with Aceras.

n‘Suspicious, as expected! What are you planning!’

nDalia glared at him, full of doubts. Aceras finished his long observation and reached out his hand.

n“Miss Dalia, if you don’t mind, can I ask for a handshake?”

nDalia’s eyes widened at the unexpected request.

n“A, a handshake?”

nWhy does everyone here like to shake hands? She was sure that when she learnt from the tutor, people don’t usually ask a lady for a handshake.

nDalia thought to herself, but there was no reason to refuse, so she held his hand.

nAt least, she was wearing the gloves Adrisha gave her as a gift, so she felt slightly less repulsed.

nAceras squinted and looked down at his hand.

nIt wasn’t until a long time later that he finally released his hand. For some reason he looks like he has lost interest.

n“Is there any problem…?”

n“No, I guess my expectations were too high.”

nAceras lowered his eyes and spoke in a sad voice.

n“I thought that Miss Dalia wasn’t really a human…… that’s what I thought. But it seems that it’s not until that degree though.”

n“…….You really had high expectations.”

nUnable to know his intention of speaking that, Dalia’s mind became blank.

nAre you scratching people’s hearts like this? It was hard to know whether he was being sarcastic or not, so she didn’t even know whether she had to feel bad now.

nThen, another round of music ended.

nAdrisha probably soon noticed Dalia’s absence at the ballroom.

nDalia didn’t want to see this man and Adrisha meet again after the fight just now.

nSo Dalia was desperately racking her brain, and just outside the balcony, she heard Adrisha’s voice asking a servant.

n“Have you seen where Miss Dalia Pesteros is?”

n‘As expected.’

nAceras heard the same thing, then he looked at Dalia. His expression became a little awkward.

n“I still have a lot of questions to ask you…..”

n“……Yes?”

n“Miss Dalia also still has more questions to ask me, right?”

n‘How did he know?’

nDalia asked with her eyes. Aceras grinned.

n“Strangely, I can see everything you think of from your face.”

n‘How annoying.’

nThat’s what transcendents were supposed to be like. In addition, Aceras was twice as meticulous.

nBut Dalia also had her pride too. For some reason, she didn’t want to lose to him. She walked toward the door smiling.

n“No, after thinking about it, I think we can meet again.”

n“……What?”

n‘Sure, it’s fine if you want to stop me from going to dance. I can just say that I need to talk with Aceras.’

nAs Dalia walked without hesitation, Aceras blocked her way with an expression of ‘this is not it’.

n“Why don’t you think about it again?”

n“There’s nothing to think about. I’ll call Adrisha. Get out of the way.”

nFor the first time, the smile disappeared from Aceras’s face and replaced with panic instead. Dalia smiled because she was in a good mood.

n“Or if you ask me specifically not to go out, I will do that.”

nAceras’ expression was distorted. Maybe it’s because he’s still young, but he seemed to be more naive compared to the original.

nAceras said after a while.

n“……I beg of you, my lady.”

nDalia answered proudly.

n“Since you said that, I’ll just stay here.”

n“……Okay.”

nAceras looked as if he had lost somehow. It made Dalia feel even more pleasant.

nBut then.

n“Dalia? Are you there?”

nAdrisha knocked on the balcony window.

n‘Oh, did we talk too loud?’

nOnly then did Dalia feel like she was out of her mind.

nAceras and Dalia made eye contact.

nHe even said ‘please’, but are they gonna get caught because of her?

nAceras breathed a short sigh. Then he tilted his head and smiled softly.

n“Since you’re doing me a favor, could you forgive me for a little rudeness?”

n“……Yes, I will.”

nHowever, Adrisha was already ready to open the door and come in.

nWhat can you do here?

nThen, something unbelievable happened. Aceras grabbed Dalia’s waist and hugged her, and immediately jumped right out of the railing.

nDalia held back the scream by covering her mouth tightly with her hands. Her hair loosened and the hair tie flew away in the wind.

nShe thought that they would fall like this, but Aceras took Dalia’s waist with one hand and grabbed the edge under the railing with one hand.

nIt is true that transcendents are said to be ahead of ordinary people in all aspects, such as strength and intelligence, even before the blooming.

nNo matter how much smaller Dalia is than Aceras, but this……

n“Dalia?”

nAdrisha’s voice can be heard right above them.

nAceras shook his head at Dalia. Dalia nodded with her eyes wide open.

n

n

n“………I definitely hear her voice here.”

nAdrisha seemed to look around instead of going out right away. Then she made an “Ah” sound as if she had found something on the floor.

n“……Dalia’s hair tie is here.”

n“……”

n“……”

nDalia made eye contact with Aceras. Just looking at their eyes, they were both thinking of the same thing.

nAdrisha opened the balcony door and stormed out. Her voice, that was always soft, resonated.

n“It’s an emergency! Where’s the Duke of Pesteros?”

nWe’re doomed.

nThings have gone wrong.

n