Lin Yue awoke to a soft sensation, the faint fragrance of violets lingering at the tip of his nose.
He jolted his eyes open, and what met his gaze was the familiar tent ceiling—and… a breathtakingly beautiful face sleeping just inches away.
Lia?
Lin Yue’s mind instantly cleared.
He stiffly lifted his head, finding Lia curled up beside him, breathing evenly, still clearly asleep.
Her pale violet hair was spread across the pillow, a few strands clinging to her cheek, her usual cold and distant air softened, now replaced by a rare gentleness.
Lin Yue’s heart skipped inexplicably.
He tried to carefully shift his body, only to find a note pressed to his chest.
He gently picked it up.
On it was Airella’s handwriting: [Lin Yue, you fell asleep last night. I had Lia carry you into the tent. If you’re not feeling up to coming today, I’ll help ask for leave. Lia said she’ll take care of you, so I’ve gone back first. You didn’t eat last night, so I saved you some breakfast—remember to eat when you get up. —Left by Airella]
Lin Yue stared at the note, rubbing his forehead helplessly.
You two are really “thoughtful,” even providing sleep companionship service.
It’s a bit much.
He glanced back at Lia, hesitating whether to wake her.
After all, the two of them sleeping together like this—even if he had no evil thoughts—she was still a girl in her prime.
“Ah-ha… good morning, Lin Yue.”
Perhaps sensing his awakening, Lia woke up, a hint of drowsiness in her voice.
“What’s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?”
Lia ruffled his hair, as if she could sense his unease.
“I… let’s not talk about that. Why are you sleeping on my bed?”
Right now Lin Yue just wanted to complain about this.
“You fell asleep suddenly. I was afraid you’d die and then no one would cook for me. Besides, there’s something I wanted to ask you.”
Lia crawled out of the tent, looking a bit timid in the harsh sunlight, but still stepped outside.
“If there’s anything going on, make sure you tell me. Don’t keep it all to yourself.”
Lia sensed a very familiar aura in Lin Yue.
Something called “self-doubt”—a slow, chronic self-destruction.
“Yesterday’s duel—that guy didn’t really win, did he?”
Lin Yue was a bit surprised to hear her casually see through the truth.
“You saw that I threw the match on purpose?”
Lia glanced at Lin Yue, her eyes narrowing before breaking into a smile.
“Just a guess…”
But she’d sensed it already, the instant the space magic compressed successfully.
…
As soon as Lin Yue entered the classroom, Airella’s gaze locked onto him like radar.
She had been resting her chin on her hand, staring gloomily at the blackboard in a daze.
But the moment she saw Lin Yue, her eyes lit up, though then, remembering something, she asked worriedly: “Lin Yue… I was thinking you could sleep a bit more today.”
He felt a warmth inside, walked over and sat beside her, smiling, “I’m fine, I slept enough. But you, why do you look so worn out?”
Seeing Airella’s worried face, Lin Yue remarked without thinking.
“I… I’m fine, hehe.”
She couldn’t possibly tell him that after going home, she kept obsessing over why she’d suddenly wanted to kiss Lin Yue at that moment.
“Lin Yue, losing doesn’t feel good, huh! Hahaha!”
Gus had somehow snuck up behind him and gave his back a hearty slap.
“Ow…”
Because he was always forging magitek, Gus had sturdy muscles that most mages didn’t.
“You really are stubborn. Of all things, you had to compete in potion-making? I thought you were going to win!”
Actually, I’m not even sure if I won or lost.
Lin Yue had only judged based on Yuan’s reaction.
Either way, he had to admit defeat.
Seeing Lin Yue wasn’t downcast at all, only carrying a hint of helplessness, Gus scratched his head, feeling this guy was really odd.
Normally, when a noble loses a challenge, they’re at least flustered for days, but this guy just treats it like a streak of bad luck passed, which is really infuriating.
“Hey, hey, most of your trouble comes from women anyway. Can’t you have some fighting spirit? Losing means getting looked down on.”
What do I care if I’m looked down on?
Your values don’t apply to me…
Even if my reputation is trashed, as long as I achieve my goals, it’s all a fair trade.
Seeing Lin Yue’s nonchalance, Gus originally wanted to comfort him and take him out for a drink.
But now it seemed Lin Yue didn’t have much knightly spirit, nor was he too upset, so Gus just let him be.
“……”
From a distance, Isabella watched Lin Yue, an intriguing expression on her face, with a small wooden box set on her desk.
…
“Lin Yue…”
There weren’t many classes today.
Lin Yue was planning to return to the camp, but was called out in the school courtyard.
But this time, the person who called him surprised him.
“Yuan, what is it?”
He thought Yuan wanted to cause trouble again, so he raised an eyebrow, ready to brush him off.
But before Lin Yue could react, Yuan bowed deeply and handed over a card, saying loudly, “My victory was unworthy. Please accept this! If you ever come to the Rudel family, you’ll be treated as an honored guest…”
Why does everyone keep bowing to me?
Are you all from the land of bows or something?
“And everything I promised before the duel! I’ll fulfill it, one by one. If there’s anything else…”
Lin Yue smiled, unceremoniously took the card from his hand, and interrupted him, “No need for all that. I just apologized and cleared things up, I didn’t really lose much…”
He continued.
“Besides, it was my first time making potions, so I don’t even know if I won.”
“F…first time!”
Yuan leapt up in shock, for a moment even a bit taller than Lin Yue.
To surpass years of accumulated family potion-making experience on your first try—are you insane?!
“You’re lying… No matter how skilled, it shouldn’t be possible…”
His thirst for knowledge was reaching its peak.
“Please, you have to tell me your potion-making method. I apologize for everything I said before, and our family is willing to work with you… any conditions!”
Yuan could faintly sense that the person in front of him might become someone who would overturn the rules of the magic world.
What a pain… I thought losing in public would make him leave me alone, but now he’s even more persistent in a different way.
Shouldn’t have shown off.
Should have just honestly lost…
“You challenged me for Isabella, right?”
Lin Yue quickly tried to change the subject.
“Ah… Is it that obvious?”
At the mention of Isabella, Yuan immediately forgot everything he’d just said, scratching his face a little sheepishly.
Who couldn’t tell…
“Listen, a girl like Isabella—you can’t be too flashy in front of her, you have to be a little more reserved…”
“If you want to pursue her, don’t use this approach. She’s no delicate flower.”
Lin Yue threw an arm around Yuan’s shoulders and continued, “Want me to teach you how to talk to her? In exchange, just help me make potions from time to time. Doing it alone is exhausting—how do you even keep up?”
“Ah… really? Then I…”
Just as Lin Yue was relieved the guy was a lovestruck fool and the matter was brushed over, Yuan thought about it, and realized Isabella’s attitude toward Lin Yue was indeed different from how she treated others.
“But wasn’t it all because of the marriage arrangement before…?”
If not for that, he wouldn’t have challenged Lin Yue.
But apparently, it had accidentally hurt Isabella’s pride.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have defended Lin Yue.
Lin Yue pondered, then smiled, “Didn’t I publicly apologize yesterday? If you really like her, I can bite the bullet and help you out.”
Yuan, who’d long heard of Lin Yue’s infamous playboy image, perked up his ears at the prospect of hearing his advice.
“Rather than that, there’s something else I’m curious about.”
Yuan stroked his chin, giving Lin Yue a mischievous look.
“Ask away.”
After yesterday’s duel, Yuan’s opinion of Lin Yue had improved a lot.
Rather than how to chase Isabella, what intrigued him was how Lin Yue managed not to just marry one of the Valiana sisters.
“I think, even though the Valiana sisters are excellent, with your family’s power, as long as you treat one of them well and focus your affections, it wouldn’t be that hard. Yet you chose both…”
This kid… why does he seem so suspicious of me all the time.
Lin Yue sighed, revealing his true thoughts: “They’re gifted and have great personalities. Even with a marriage contract, they’re not people I can easily handle…”
“You really think I want both? I just don’t want to get married so soon, that’s all there is to it.”
Yuan looked unconvinced.
Men know what men are thinking…
“Don’t you have any feelings for Miss Isabella? She’s so excellent and beautiful—even without love, you shouldn’t completely ignore her. And you even had the chance to just take her…”
For nobles like them, arranged marriages were basically inevitable, and few had the right to choose love.
Only those with powerful families might be able to pursue true love while taking concubines.
Lin Yue thought for a moment, then said, “If you ask if I’m interested, well, maybe a little. But rather than romantic feelings, I’d call it… admiration?”
“I feel like she’s meant to soar free—she was born to be that way.”
He recalled in the original story, after kicking the original Lin Yue aside, in just a year or two she’d become her sister’s equal, even mastering the power of law even sooner.
Lin Yue nodded to himself.
“Besides, I’m not really into Isabella’s type—cold, independent girls.”
Though he did feel a faint attraction toward Isabella, it was the same for the other girls he knew—no difference.
Now, more than romance, his focus was on making it to the end.
Once back to reality, he might never see them again.
Well, maybe in the game.
“So, what’s your type?”
“Me?”
He couldn’t help but picture Lia in his mind.
“I prefer petite and adorable girls, the kind who love to eat…”
“Or maybe someone gentler?”
For some reason, Airella’s image popped into his head again.
Lin Yue actually wasn’t interested in the tsundere type.
He preferred someone obedient and gentle.
Thinking about it, Isabella wasn’t bad either—she seemed like the ideal housewife.
After finishing the topic, Yuan began to chatter away, “I don’t know when it started, but Miss Isabella began to change…”
Maybe he was enjoying the conversation, as Yuan began sharing his own observations about Isabella.
“She usually doesn’t smile, but sometimes she’ll suddenly gaze out the window and grin to herself… hehe, she’s actually pretty cute.”
Are you a stalker?
How do you even know that…
Lin Yue was starting to want out of this conversation.
“Ah, maybe it was when you were lying in the infirmary…”
“You think… maybe after you saved her, that’s why she’s like this…”
But aside from interrupting his duel challenge a few days ago, Isabella hadn’t done anything out of the ordinary.
“I think you’re overthinking it… She’s a noble lady, the eldest daughter of the Valiana family. She knows it was an emergency, she won’t dwell on it.”
As for Lin Yue, he hadn’t paid much attention to Isabella’s changing attitude.
He’d saved her out of instinct and concern for the plot.
“Anyway, it’s not like I saved her to win her favor. Whatever she thinks is her business. We’re not close, and as long as she leaves me alone, I’ll be grateful.”
Thunk!
Suddenly, not far away, came the sound of something falling—a wooden box hitting the ground.
The two looked toward the source and saw Isabella leaning against a tree, her bangs hiding her expression, staring straight at the two of them, her thoughts unreadable.
“M… Miss Isabella!”
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