TKPIMD 08

Chapter 08

Adrian Dorset.

Lionel’s eighth cousin.

Ever since Lionel came to the Frencia barony at the age of seven, he had lived in a delusion that never changed.

He was also one of the reasons Lionel had wanted to escape from the Frencia family as quickly as possible.

“So basically, he’s an idiot who has been rejected by me countless times since childhood. I really never expected him to come all the way here.”

After hearing Lionel’s simple explanation, Blasion nodded.

Kellen quickly asked,

“Should I throw him out?”

“No. I can’t cause trouble for other people because of him, so I’ll go talk to him myself.”

Lionel bowed her head slightly and left the examination room.

Left behind, Blasion shrugged as if he was slightly surprised.

“The world has changed quite a lot. A hundred years ago, approaching someone of the opposite sex after being rejected once was considered a truly shameful act.”

“That is still something only pathetic men do nowadays. It seems Teacher Frencia has become involved with a low-quality man. Shall we use force?”

Blasion thought for a moment before standing up.

“For now, let’s watch. However, prepare for any possible situation.”

“I will carry out your order.”

Lionel opened the door to the reception room.

The unwanted guest inside immediately jumped to his feet.

“Lionel!”

“Adrian. What brings you all the way here?”

Lionel responded coldly to his excited voice.

The young man, whose face was covered in acne, hurriedly ran toward her while gasping for breath.

The fat shaking above his belt and his heavy breathing created an unpleasant harmony.

“What do you mean, what brings me here?! I know many people oppose our love, but this is unnecessary! I’ll explain everything to my aunt, so let’s go back together!”

Lionel answered without even blinking.

“How many times have I told you? I don’t like you. Just looking at you makes my peripheral nerves reject you and makes my anger boil. Are your ears blocked with earwax or something?”

Whether Lionel clearly rejected him or not, Adrian’s delusions continued.

Eventually, he pulled out a ring case from his pocket.

“It’s time we stop hiding our feelings. Lionel, marry me.”

As if he had seen this scene somewhere before, he dropped to one knee and opened the ring case.

Lionel felt like she was about to have a seizure.

“I think five children would be the perfect number. What do you think?”

“Get out right now while I’m still speaking nicely. Otherwise, I’ll shove that diamond ring into both your cheeks and make dimples.”

“Aah, my angel would say such harsh words!! As expected, life outside must have made your words rough. I’ll have to take care of you with my love.”

Adrian let out a rough breath.

At this point, it was becoming physically unbearable.

Lionel looked at him as if he were an insect and turned around.

She just wanted to leave this place quickly.

“I don’t have enough free time to listen to your nonsense. Adrian. Leave. It was unpleasant being involved with you, and let’s never see each other again.”

“Why do you keep saying such sad things, Lionel? It hurts my heart, but you’re only pushing me away because you’re trying to deny your feelings, right? Stop pretending now. You love me!”

The moment the hopeless stalker reached out his hand.

BAM—!!

CRASH!!

Suddenly, Adrian was sent flying far away.

Shocked, Lionel turned around.

Someone landed gracefully beside her.

She saw long hair flowing like waves.

“Personal physician.”

Because of the déjà vu from their first meeting, Lionel thought it was the duke.

But she was wrong.

The man who had dealt with the stalker with a single kick checked Lionel’s condition.

“Are you alright?”

Neatly tied black hair.

Clear, pure blue eyes.

A clean uniform and a sword hanging at his waist.

Without realizing it, Lionel called his name.

“Everain Karseido?”

“……You know me?”

How could she not?

He was a character from 「The Unfading Flower」.

The duke’s personal guard knight.

The man who had a one-sided love for the heroine.

Everain was Lionel’s painful favorite character.

No, more accurately, he was her painful investment.

While reading the novel, how many times had she cheered for him, believing he absolutely had to end up with the heroine?

And how disappointed had she been?

While Lionel briefly recalled the original story, Adrian complained.

“Lionel! Who is that man? S-Surely you didn’t find another man besides me?”

When he had been so certain that she was completely obsessed with him……

Before Lionel’s pitiful gaze, Everain stepped forward.

“I apologize for interrupting your conversation. However, I could not simply watch someone lay hands on a lady.”

“No. Thank you for saving me.”

“However…… what should we do with that man?”

Everain’s gaze returned to Adrian.

Feeling the frightening aura, Adrian crawled backward while sitting on the floor.

Even that was difficult because of his hanging belly.

“……What do you mean by ‘do with him’?”

“In my experience, those who cannot humbly accept their own foolishness and become obsessed with someone of the opposite sex are highly likely to act aggressively in the future. As a preventive measure, I recommend cutting one Achilles tendon.”

Everain grabbed the sword at his waist without hesitation.

Adrian screamed in horror.

“Eek!”

Everain Karseido.

It seemed he had not received that surname merely because of his swordsmanship skills.

He was quite aggressive.

Thinking that, Lionel waved her hand.

“He’s already been properly taught a lesson, so he won’t cause trouble anymore. ……Right, Adrian?”

“I-I was wrong! I won’t do it again! S-So please spare me……!”

“Your words are too casual. Apologize properly.”

“I’m sorry……. I-I will never bother Lionel again!”

Everain seemed genuinely disappointed that he could not “deal with” Adrian.

He stared at Adrian for a long time before finally stepping back.

“Duke. The situation has been resolved.”

“Good work.”

At some point, Blasion had approached them.

He picked up the ring case lying on the floor and casually said,

“I do not know the entire story between you and that man…… but I would advise you to avoid men who deceive others by pretending a fake diamond is real when proposing.”

“W-What are you talking about? It’s real……!”

CLINK!

The ring flew past Adrian’s face and struck the wall, shattering into pieces.

The duke, who had appraised the diamond in an instant, openly laughed.

“A ring that truly suits its owner.”

“Ghk……”

After being beaten badly and humiliated, Adrian’s face turned bright red as if it would burst.

He hurriedly stood up and shouted at Lionel.

“Lionel!! I’ll definitely save you from this cursed house. Just wait a little longer……!”

“You crazy bastard. You still haven’t come to your senses?”

“If you keep eating only dried meat every meal, you’ll go crazy too. I-I’ll feed you plenty of delicious food. So wait for me!”

With that, Adrian hurriedly left.

Stopping Everain, who was about to chase after him, Lionel looked at the dried meat that had fallen on the floor.

“Haha……. As expected, serving dried meat to guests gets bad reviews. But there really is nothing except dried meat in the kitchen……”

Kellen smiled awkwardly as he made an excuse.

Unfortunately, Lionel had to admit there was one thing Adrian said that she agreed with.

“But…… do all of you really eat only dried meat three times a day? All the servants too?”

She had been too busy until now to question it, but this mansion served only dried meat and juice for every meal.

At this rate, constipation was guaranteed.

The guard knight and assistant exchanged secretive glances before answering.

“The servants eat other things outside. However, the only things stored in this mansion are dried meat and juice.”

“In a mansion with such good benefits, it makes no sense that the meals are only dried meat. Don’t you have a chef?”

“There is no chef in this mansion…… There is only dried meat and juice.”

Now it seemed only the duke could reveal the truth.

As Lionel expected, the duke explained why he maintained such a strange diet.

“I do not die even if I do not eat. I only keep dried meat because it is easy to store for the times when I occasionally feel hunger. That is all.”

“For reference, I order the juice. I also sometimes bring in snacks or bread…… But every time I do, the servants eat them immediately with sparkling eyes, so eventually only dried meat remains.”

An immortal who had lost his appetite and servants suffering under him……

Of course, gaining weight like Adrian was not desirable either.

But how could a person survive by eating only dried meat?

‘Even fitness fanatics who drink protein shakes three meals a day still eat vegetables.’

As Lionel thought that, something suddenly flashed through her mind.

She looked at Blasion, who was standing with an indifferent expression, and asked.

“How long has it been since you started living only on dried meat? No, how long has it been since you stopped eating proper meals?”

“I do not remember exactly…… But it was right after the Second Holy War occurred, so probably around 300 years.”

“You really have achieved the ultimate cost-effective body.”

A confident smile appeared on Lionel’s face.

She happily told the duke.

“I think I found it, Duke. The method to make your heart move.”

“……What is it?”

“Starting today, we will—”

Lionel declared with a firm voice.

“We’re going with accelerated aging.”