I Didn’t Save You To Get Proposed To - Chapter 52

The Marchioness gently called my name again.

 

“You’re not from my blood, but you’re still my daughter. I don’t know how many things you’ve done for me. So I’ll just say you’re free to be selfish. If your family won’t tell you, who will?”

 

Suddenly, something seemed to come up from my heart.

 

“You can be confused to your heart’s content or hesitate more. If it’s for you to be happy.”

 

I’ve never had a family. I have never had an ‘adult’ who took my side unconditionally like this. Suddenly, even though I was in my 20s, I thought that this is why I needed a family, even though I had been living well by myself.

 

“Thank you.” I managed to respond to Heim and the Marchioness who looked at me with warm eyes. And suddenly, I thought of a man who grew up in a similar environment to mine.

 

Is Ixion in need of a family as well, knowing that his mother died early and his father was uninterested in him, forcing him to wander the battlefield?

 

*****

 

It was the next morning that I met Ixion. After breakfast, he asked for a walk.

 

“I have to leave soon, but I don’t think there will be many opportunities for the two of us to talk.”

 

Slightly nervous, I cautiously stepped out and walked around with him.

 

“Niel will be in the carriage with you, is he?”

 

“Yes, I guess so?”

 

Niel hates riding horses and likes to be comfortable unconditionally, so he was likely to ride a carriage with me. Come to think of it, Niel hasn’t been seen for two days.

 

“By the way, have you ever seen Niel in the monster subjugation site? He hasn’t been to the Marquis since two days ago.”

 

“Well, there are people who said they saw him in the subjugation site, but I didn’t care too much because he wasn’t a person who went along with our rule.”

 

“Yes— That’s understandable.”

 

I nodded, trying to think little.

 

“—I see you are worried.”

 

“Oh, well, I have something to tell you.”

 

I opened my eyes wide at his complicated tone and said hurriedly. Ixion must have assumed I was weighing myself and Niel based on my last statements. I said firmly because this is a point that must be corrected.

 

“Niel and I really don’t have that kind of relationship. We’re siblings with the same surname. What’s wrong with that?”

 

“What?”

 

“I’ve never seen Niel as a man before. That goes for Niel, too. How did you come up with that idea when you left us alone?”

 

“That’s—” Ixion replied with a serious face. “Because Niel is famous for flirting with this woman and that woman.”

 

“But I’m not this girl or that girl!”

 

“Still, you’re someone he can’t help but love when you’re by his side.”

 

I was speechless for a moment when I heard a sudden confession.

 

“Everything seems determined, and you’re warm—”

 

His blue eyes twinkled in the morning sun.

 

“You seem to have a clear opinion of yourself, but you listen well to others—”

 

I looked him in the eye and turned my head hurriedly.

 

“You’re strangely fun to be with—”

 

It was because his eyes contained me so warmly that I became somewhat ashamed.

 

“The more I look at it, the more desperate I become.”

 

Not knowing what to answer, I wrap my hot cheeks around with cold hands. It’s a nice word to listen to, but it doesn’t show any decorations at all, and I can feel the sincerity as it is.

 

“So, a fool like Niel is enough to seduce you regardless of the circumstances.”

 

In fact, Niel was always going to bump into women without covering their backs. Seeing that Dalton and other servants of the Marquis were all terrified, it was hard to dismiss Ixion’s misunderstanding as groundless.

 

“And if it’s about the person you like, you tend to get nervous over small things.”

 

“—Huh.”

 

“I found out too late, but I did anyway. I’ll believe that it’s not true.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Was Ixion originally a person who said he believes this easily? Of course, I thought all kinds of questions would be poured out.

 

How did he come to think that I’m comparing him with Niel, then what does it mean to be together at the end, and why is she with Niel every day?

 

As far as I know, Ixion was not the type of person who would never let go of things that he did not understand. He wouldn’t be the one to go over it just because I’m saying it’s not true.

 

“Won’t you ask more questions?”

 

“You’re a smart person, too, and if you don’t talk to me, I think there’s a good reason for that.”

 

“….”

 

“I don’t want to question you anymore as I used to.”

 

I was thinking about what excuse I should make, but unexpectedly, Ixion did not delve deeply. And I didn’t want to talk to him about my monster transformation right now.

 

First, I wanted to find out enough and then calmly organize and convey my thoughts. In the current situation, I thought I would be sad if Ixion thought my monster’s transformation was terrible.

 

If he felt sad about my monster transformation, it wouldn’t be necessary to say anything more.

 

“Yes. Anyway, Niel is really like a friend and family. Really.”

 

“Family—”

 

Ixion nodded slowly.

 

“I don’t know, but I’ll try to understand first.”

 

He continued with a sigh. “And I have to ask for your understanding.”

 

“Yes. Please.”

 

“I don’t think we can go straight to the Imperial Library.”

 

“—Why?”

 

“It looks like His Majesty the Emperor went to the Berti Forest Hunting Competition. We have to stop by there first. Anyway, it’s a priority to see His Majesty.”

 

‘As expected.’

 

Around this time, the emperor himself went to the hunting competition, and it seemed that the schedule had not changed.

 

“But I promise. I’ll stop by Berti Forest for a while and then head straight to the Imperial Library. It seems like you have some urgent business to do.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

I nodded and answered. I think that’s a great favor, but Ixion’s thoughts were a little different.

 

“I’m sorry. I would want to go straight to the imperial palace—”

 

“What are you talking about? I’m asking you a favor. It’s only natural to meet His Majesty first. Don’t apologize.”

 

“Still— I want to do whatever you want, but it’s not easy.”

 

He sighed, sweeping over his black hair. Looking at his side, which was filled with excellence, I felt suffocated at the moment. Even though I decided to put everything on hold for now, my heart fluttered helplessly when he expressed his mind in such sincere words.

 

“Elsia.”

 

“Y-yes?”

 

“I’ve been thinking about it, and I’m sure my confession made you feel pressured.”

 

“Huh—”

 

“If you had liked me again, of course, you would have answered me clearly.”

 

He looked a little sullen, so I kept silent without knowing what to do.

 

“But you don’t have to like me right away. How about just being close like Niel, like a friend?”

 

“F-friend? With Prince?”

 

“I can’t tell you to stay like a family.”

 

To be honest, it didn’t reach me at all to be friends with Ixion. I couldn’t imagine treating him comfortably like Irene, Ridan, and Niel. Of course, as we have been doing so far, it won’t be difficult to take a walk on a horse together—.

 

Even if I couldn’t become a comfortable friend, I thought it was possible to become a difficult friend. I wasn’t even in a position to turn down his offer in the first place. As well as the difference in status, I was in a position to ask him to enter the Imperial Palace Library.

 

“I don’t have good memories with my family. Even if he is my biological father—” When I nodded, Ixion continued in a gloomy voice. “Come here, come that way, blaming me on a whim, he’s just giving orders. I’m sure I’ll just be used for something else anyway.”

 

Suddenly, I thought that this strong man who could easily cut through large monsters was pitiful.

 

“To be honest, it’s a relief he even needs that.”

 

And I hated the emperor, who I had never seen before.

 

*****

 

Ixion really had little expectation for blood-sharing ties.

 

He was superior to Crown Prince Ramon in everything. Swordsmanship, academics, physical conditions, and even cesarean studies—.

 

He was only eight years old when he first defeated Ramon, who was four years older than him, where the entire royal family gathered to watch.

 

He grew up lonely without a mother and no nobles to visit, and he was a child who needed attention and love. He was surprised to think that praise would pour out because he beat the Crown Prince in front of many people.

 

But everyone turned a blind eye to him with cold eyes. In particular, the Crown Prince’s mother and Empress Elaine, Duke Geoffrey, were staring at him as if they were about to kill him.

 

‘You dared to hurt the Crown Prince’s body.’

 

The Empress proudly raised her chin and said.

 

‘The gross half-blooded boy.’

 

There was no one on the side of the young Ixion. Ramon, who ran to death just before abruptly lost his temper and rubbed the blood in his nose.

 

‘You cheated!’

 

‘Brother—’

 

‘You attacked me before the whistle sounded!’

 

‘What are you talking about—’

 

It was a ridiculous nitpick. Ixion stepped back and looked up at his biological father, the Emperor, without realizing it.

 

The Emperor turned his head without making eye contact with him.