ARML 29

Chapter 29 

Tears ran down her cheeks, and startled, he grabbed her shoulder.

“Lowell?!”

“How… how could you, senior, do that to me…?”

“Huh? Me?”

“I’m scared of many things, but I try to keep the timing right, write reports by myself.”

“That’s true! But…”

“I faced dark magic and didn’t even show fear.”

“…!”

Those words made Carlisle’s heart drop.

Many people were still struggling because of the dark magic artifact the enemies had used in the hideout.

He thought Layla was fine because of her holy power—at least on the outside.

But was she really okay?

‘They said it was a tool that showed terrible memories.’

She must have been worried about the younger kids at the orphanage and couldn’t show how hard it was for her…

Was the burden she held back because of the alcohol finally bursting?

‘I should have noticed. It’s my fault.’

Carlisle spoke sincerely.

“Lowell, you are truly the best. You’re perfect. You are the most perfect in the world.”

“But how come you can’t even eat one ice cream…?”

Layla sank to the floor and sobbed.

“Ugh, my life is so sad…”

“Lowell…”

“I’m tied to this scam contract… what is this… I wanted to enjoy something sweet too…”

“…”

“Waaah, a three-year slave, a slave… can’t even eat ice cream…”

Hearing her barely held back complaints, Carlisle’s spirit broke.

‘Yes. This is my fault.’

Because he brought her here, they finally learned about the group behind it—the ‘Ceres Order.’

But Carlisle Lupesque, who wouldn’t even buy her one ice cream, was a sinner.

That was an undeniable truth.

He sat on the cold floor, helped the sobbing Layla up, and comforted her.

“No, you deserve to eat it. So let’s go buy some now.”

Sniff “Okay.”

He looked nervously at the clock tower.

‘It’s tight, but maybe we can make it?’

Once again, Carlisle Lupesque deeply regretted his past mistakes.

Cedric Lorington greeted his lord with a confused face.

“Your Highness, at this hour, what…?”

“Don’t ask. Did you bring the thing?”

“Yes, sir!”

Cedric quickly snapped out of it and handed over the ‘thing.’

‘Good thing the Duke’s townhouse wasn’t far!’

It was an ice cream parfait made with fresh melon quickly frozen by magic, topped with pretty cherries.

Carlisle carefully gave it to Layla’s hand.

“Lowell, I brought the melon flavor you wanted.”

“Melon flavor… I love melon flavor so much…”

“Then eat a lot of melon flavor, Lowell.”

Though the situation was ridiculous, it was nice to see his junior quietly eating.

‘I’m glad she’s happy.’

There had been little joy since she came to the department.

Meanwhile, Cedric carefully asked Carlisle, who was watching Layla.

“Your Highness, just for today, can we let her stay at the Duke’s residence…?”

“Don’t say things that go against official conduct, Lorington.”

“Yes, sorry.”

“Keep your distance and follow.”

“Yes, understood.”

Since they knew the Ceres Order was behind this, they had to prepare more carefully at night.

After Lowell finished her ice cream, they would take her back to the dormitory.

‘I’ll knock on every staff room door to get people to come.’

Layla followed him happily, pointing at something.

“Ah! The river!”

“That’s right, good eye. It’s the Summersby River around the palace.”

Below the hill where they stood, the river wrapped around the palace grounds.

The view was beautiful, but at this time, the water was high and dangerous at night.

‘Ah. Lowell mustn’t slip.’

She seemed steady now, but she was still drunk.

‘Should I hold her hand…?’

What? We’re not even engaged.

‘If I can’t hold her hand, maybe I should hold her shoulder.’

Even if it looked like escorting a prisoner.

“Lowell, it could be dangerous, so I’ll hold your shoulder… Lowell?!”

Carlisle suddenly realized.

A drunk adult (20 years old) is just like a child (5 years old) who lets go of mom’s hand and runs to the toy store!

In a blink, Layla was already walking down the hill.

“Lowell, come back!”

But she hummed a tune without turning back.

Instead, she held her shoes in her hands…

Splash!

Layla Lowell started splashing into the river.

“Hahaha!”

“Lowell! No!”

He rushed into the river. Cedric shouted from behind, but he didn’t care.

“Lowell, stay still…!”

He grabbed her waist roughly and pulled her out of the water.

The splashing noise was loud.

But Layla laughed and babbled.

“Oh, it’s cold today too!”

“Lowell, please calm down!”

No more drinking parties ever.

Carlisle thought that many times while panting.

‘No, I should take every glass of alcohol away from her!’

He finally sat Layla on a bench, who smiled happily.

“Heeheehee. The sky is getting closer.”

“…”

“So pretty…”

“Yeah, looking at the sky…”

He thought all this in a jumble and knelt in front of Layla.

What was the basic magic for drying…? He was confused too.

Then Layla tapped his shoulder.

“Senior, senior, senior.”

“What is it…?”

“I’m curious about something.”

“Hmm?”

“Senior, if I die, will you come to my funeral?”

At that moment, Carlisle froze as if hit by ice water.

He vividly recalled many tombstones of the Duke’s people.

“I want to be buried…”

Her weak but persistent shaking of his shoulder continued.

But when Carlisle didn’t answer, Layla quietly looked up at the sky.

“Well, if I quit, it’s over anyway.”

“Lowell.”

“Even if I’m sick for over eight hours… in the end, it’s nothing.”

“…It’s not nothing.”

Carlisle murmured softly.

He helped put the shoes he brought onto Layla’s feet.

“Of course, you can’t do this forever… but after it ends, we’ll surely see each other for a long time.”

“…”

“And didn’t I promise? I said I’d protect you…”

So, when she suddenly asked if he would come to her funeral, his answer was no.

‘Lowell will never die.’

But when he looked up again, Layla Lowell was already dozing off.

“Lowell…?”

Phew…

“…”

‘Did she not hear a word I said?’

Far away, Cedric came running, out of breath.

He gasped to Carlisle.

“Your Highness, sorry to say this, but…”

“You don’t have to.”

“Ah, yes.”

Because Cedric was just going to say it was curfew time at the dorm.

Carlisle sighed deeply.

“Sigh… We have to head to the townhouse.”

“Your Highness, I’m sorry, but I have to tell you this.”

“What is it?”

“…Actually, the Duke himself just arrived today.”

“…”

Carlisle thought again.

He felt he would never forget this night for many reasons.

One day, I woke up and felt like I had entered a fantasy romance world.

‘I must have died suddenly after drinking at a company party in my past life.’