TDKSR 04

Chapter 04

“In that regard, please take a look at some documents. While Your Highness has been enjoying yourself, work has been piling up.”

“Then why did I hire you? Handle it yourself.”

“There are things I can’t resolve on my own.”

“You know my style. Just roughly match it…”

“Shouldn’t Your Highness’s opinion be reflected somewhat in the candidates for your fiancée?”

“Huh?”

What was this about?

“…Did I mishear? Fiancée?”

“I’ve narrowed it down to young ladies with blonde hair and blue eyes for now.”

“Eh?”

Jonah brought several photographs to Jonathan and spread them out.

They were beautifully adorned young ladies, notably all with blonde hair and blue eyes. They were undoubtedly daughters of great families that matched in power and wealth.

“You were busy with imperial succession issues around the time you came of age, and after receiving your title, you were occupied with settling affairs for a while. Now that things have been sorted out to some extent, it’s only right that your marriage matter comes up as well.”

Jonathan glanced at the photos, then raised his eyes to look at Jonah.

“Hah?”

“Everyone is very interested in Your Highness’s marriage.”

“His Imperial Majesty doesn’t have an heir yet. For me to marry would be seen as checking the Emperor.”

Jonathan casually pushed the photos to the edge of the desk as he spoke.

“It’s already been two years since His Imperial Majesty married.”

“It’s only been two years. In the meantime, His Majesty has been busy going through the succession struggle and various other matters alongside me.”

“I will follow Your Highness’s lead as your subordinate, but if I may offer one word, I believe it would be wise for you to familiarize yourself with the names, backgrounds, and situations of the young ladies here.”

“Why?”

“Because they will become the list of people who will bump into or fall into Your Highness’s arms by ‘coincidence.'”

“Ha! Those coincidences.”

“Also note that an annoyingly large number of such coincidences are scheduled to unfold.”

“Call Ronan.”

“Continuously putting others forward…”

Jonathan tapped the photos with his finger and spoke.

“I know, I know. But Ronan is my stand-in, so he needs to learn them too. There’s no point in only me knowing.”

After confirming that Livga was a Star Seeker, Jonathan spent several days feeling uneasy.

Since his ability was Stealth, the existence of a ‘Star’ felt like a considerable threat to Jonathan.

Jonathan even dreamed that Livga killed him.

Dreams where she sided with the remaining rebel forces, pointed at Jonathan, and shouted, ‘That man is an aura manifester!’

Whenever that happened, anxiety welled up, and he would visit the academy directly and call Livga out.

“I am Livga Wilton.”

Of course, now he met Livga properly dressed in attire befitting a Duke.

Even though he knew well that Livga came from a fallen noble family and had no power whatsoever, Jonathan somehow didn’t want to be caught off guard by her.

Perhaps if he saw her often enough to get used to her, this strange feeling would subside.

Actually, Livga had changed a little too.

Perhaps because she now knew Jonathan was truly the Duke of Kusakov, she seemed very awkward when called out like this.

She never initiated conversation and only answered Jonathan’s questions stiffly.

The bold Livga who had tried to kiss him felt like someone from a dream.

Of course, Jonathan’s questions were dreadful too.

“How are your studies?”

That sort of thing.

“I’m working hard. I think I’ll get a scholarship. Since poor skills would invite gossip, I’m doing my best.”

After exchanging such stiff conversations, Jonathan felt his own behavior was too strange and soon stopped.

Seeing Livga frozen stiff was uncomfortable, and it really didn’t feel right to call her out like this.

So he found Livga through other means.

—

When classes ended, Livga usually studied in the library for about three hours before heading to the dormitory.

She never left her seat in between. There were often useless items or notes left on her desk.

Today, as Livga was sitting at a library desk diligently taking notes, unfamiliar handwriting appeared on her notebook.

[I’m bored.]

“?”

When Livga looked up, Jonathan, dressed in a school uniform, was sitting across from her, chin resting on his hand.

His whole body was shimmering, so he was in Stealth state.

He must have entered without being seen by using his aura.

Startled, Livga froze for about ten seconds, then rolled her eyes to check her surroundings. Then she wrote even smaller beneath Jonathan’s writing with her pencil.

[How did you get in here?]

[Easily.]

Livga looked up at Jonathan.

‘Ah, is she angry?’

Jonathan smiled.

Seeing Livga’s flustered face made him feel a bit lighter.

Yes. This kind of spontaneous visit suited Jonathan’s personality much better.

Livga wrote something again.

[Duke, I’m sorry but I’m not finished studying yet. I need to memorize vocabulary up to the next chapter.]

[Class is already over, isn’t it?]

[I need to work hard to get a scholarship.]

[That’s mean. You’re cold, Livga.]

At Jonathan’s playful handwriting, Livga silently frowned for a moment, alternating her gaze between the notebook and Jonathan.

Even that sight was amusing to Jonathan.

[You’re a Duke, so you must be busy.]

Livga seemed to want to chase Jonathan away.

[I’m busy, but I want to play.]

Livga looked up at Jonathan again. She wasn’t frowning, but her face looked a bit troubled.

Jonathan deliberately put his hands together and blinked his eyes. It was a joke.

Livga wrote down more words.

[Can you wait until I finish filling up 300 vocabulary words?]

[My sparkling eyes didn’t work!]

“…”

Livga stared at Jonathan’s writing for a long time, as if dumbfounded. Then she let out a small sigh and added.

[Excuse me, does Your Highness the Duke usually use such feather-light phrasing?]

Jonathan quickly understood the meaning behind Livga’s roundabout words. It meant, ‘Are you usually this lighthearted?’

Jonathan smiled playfully and added.

[Oh my, do I look light? Thanks. I guess my diet worked?]

This lightness—something utterly unimaginable from an imperial family member.

Even Livga’s youngest brother Asel didn’t talk like that.

There were many nobles at the academy. The place was full of stiff-necked types.

But Livga swore she had never seen anyone as bizarre as Jonathan Kusakov.

Just a while ago when she had been called to the chancellor’s office, he had been awkwardly smiling and asking things like ‘Do you study well?’

Was this really the same person?

In the end, Livga let out a small sigh and closed her book.

“I’ll leave first.”

She touched her friend’s shoulder—the one who was so absorbed in studying with earplugs on—and stood up.

Jonathan quickly followed Livga as she gathered her books and left the library.

“Shall I carry those for you? They look heavy.”

“I appreciate your kindness, Duke, but if you did, the books would appear to be floating in the air.”

“I can cover them with my ability so the books won’t be visible either.”

“Still, there’s such a thing as intermediate steps.”

“Just step into the grove for a moment and quickly take care of it.”

Jonathan pointed toward a tree-lined area.

“They’re not that heavy. Rather, I’m curious why you came looking for me.”

“Just… because I wanted to see you.”

Jonathan had simply answered whatever came to mind. He hadn’t given it much thought.

But Livga looked at Jonathan with surprised eyes, and only then did Jonathan realize that his words could be misinterpreted.

To smooth things over, Jonathan deliberately puffed up his cheeks and spoke playfully.

“Didn’t you want to see me, Livga?”

With a frown, Livga stepped aside and answered.

“I need to get that scholarship. My grades can’t drop.”

She seemed to have answered rather coolly, but the side of Livga’s face that Jonathan looked at was that of a child with soft peach fuzz…

“You were doing well enough.”

His words carried a hint of pity.

“My goal is a full scholarship. Even if I’m in the safe zone, I don’t like situations where uncertain factors arise.”

Livga didn’t seem to notice at all.

“What are you worried about, Star? You have me, the Duke. I’ll pull some strings for you.”

Stopping in her tracks, Livga looked straight at Jonathan and spoke.

“I can achieve this through my own efforts—why would I need you to do that?”

“Hmm, being a Star is also a talent. That’s your ability too.”

“I want to receive a scholarship through academic ability, not that kind of ability. Through my own hard work. I still have a lot to learn right now.”

“Hoo.”

Jonathan smirked.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

“Hm?”

Livga didn’t hide her uncomfortable expression as she spoke.

“You’re smiling in an odd way.”

“I like straightforward and diligent people like you, Livga.”

Jonathan had merely expressed his impression of Livga’s diligence, but—

“I also like Your Highness the Duke, who acts lightly so that a student from a fallen noble family can speak comfortably.”

Livga gave a stiff answer.

Jonathan’s eyes widened.

It was in moments like this that he felt Livga was young.

No matter how casually Jonathan treated her, no noble would use such directly pointed expressions about Jonathan’s behavior.

It must have been a combination of Livga’s unique honesty, confidence, and innocence.

Jonathan liked that.

“Did something happen?”

As if asking how he was doing, Livga blew out the question like a passing breeze without even meeting his eyes.

And so, as if startled by that gentle breeze, Jonathan answered honestly.

“My mother wants me to get married.”

They had only known each other for such a short time. The relationship between a young female student and an adult Duke.

Even knowing she wasn’t the right person to share this with…

“Does Your Highness want to get married?”

“Hmm, no.”

“Well…”

Livga started to say something, then closed her mouth.

“Why? You can say it. I’m someone easy to talk to.”

“Do you prefer casual relationships?”

“What?”

Jonathan burst out laughing.

“I just wondered if you might be someone who doesn’t like marriage but enjoys dating.”

“Do I look like that?”

“I don’t know.”

“What about you, Livga?”

Jonathan had asked it as a joke.

“Honestly, I don’t like that type. It seems like they just want to date because they don’t want to take responsibility.”

“…Ah, I see.”

He was flustered by the seriousness in Livga’s eyes.