AWWEWNR Chapter 54

But still, I would have liked to see more of her embarrassed and helpless expression. 

 

Though, I wonder if I could get her to look like that when talking casually about union of the bodies.

 

As Edward paused in his thoughts, Hanaella realized that he was having a hard time telling her his secret, so she tried to make him feel as comfortable as possible.

 

“Don’t worry, I’ve given my big secret to the Duke, so hearing your secret won’t make me blurt it out later.”

 

“It’s Ron.”

 

“Yes, Ron…”

 

“Yes, I’m Ron, did you know that?”

 

“…What…?!”

 

Hanaella was genuinely stunned as the unexpected secret came out of Edward’s mouth.

 

“I’m the Ron of the Norwen Firm.”

 

“…!”

 

‘My goodness…! Duke Edward is Ron?’

 

For a moment, Hanaella’s face went white.

 

‘What then, is he the Empress’s man?!’ 

 

The fact that Ron and Rosaryn’s husband were the same man who had backed Tharrott in the past meant that he was one of the Empress’s men. 

 

A man who had been instrumental in Lloyd’s death and the ascension of Lionel as Emperor. 

 

If Ron was just a money-grubbing businessman, that was one thing, but if he was actually Edward, the man who married Rosaryn, then Edward was clearly the Empress’s person.

 

‘This is a big problem. Have I revealed a family secret to the Empress’s man?’

 

Edward panicked at the sight of Hanaella, who seemed far more shocked than he had expected. Edward wondered if being Ron would shock her this much.

 

“Do you happen to know my name, my lady?”

 

“…Ed…”

 

Hanaella closed her mouth to say his name. She felt a tightness in her throat.

 

“Edward Ron Ethan Delioffe. Ron was my sub-name when I lived in the imperial palace.”

 

“…”

 

“Do you have a problem with me being Ron?”

 

Edward asked the dazed Hanaella, not wanting this reaction, but embarrassed by the fact that she seemed to be afraid for some reason. 

 

Hanaella stared at Edward’s question for a moment longer, her face white as a sheet, before she lifted her head and looked up at him.

 

“Duke Edward…”

 

“Go ahead, my lady.”

 

“… Are you one of the Empress’s men…?”

 

Edward’s eyes slowly widened at Hanaella’s question.

 

“Please answer me. Are you one of Her Majesty’s people?”

 

“…No, not yet.”

 

‘Not yet… When you say not yet, does that mean it will happen soon? When? When you marry Rosaryn?’ 

 

Have I just dug my own grave? Have I revealed my secret to someone who might get the Crown Prince killed? 

 

‘Now that he knows my secret, does he intend to play the Empress’s hand? Maybe he’s been trying to do this all along…’

 

Hanaella’s mind raced.

 

“Lady Hanaella.”

 

Edward, who had called her, looked at her worriedly and called again when she didn’t answer.

 

“My Lady.”

 

“Promise me in the name of Delioffe. That you will never reveal my secret to anyone.”

 

Edward nodded firmly as he looked at Hanaella, who was speaking urgently.

 

“I promise. In the name of Delioffe, I will never reveal your secret to anyone.”

 

‘…Can I believe it, the man said he wouldn’t tell the Empress my secrets…’ 

 

He said… wait, not yet… yes, he said, definitely not yet, so that means he hasn’t joined the faction, at least not yet…?

 

“So, Duke Edward, are you going to be one of Her Majesty’s men?”

 

“Well, I haven’t decided yet, but I’m surprised that a neutral minded young lady of Ariel would wonder about such a thing.”

 

“…”

 

“Weren’t you a family that didn’t care about the factions of the nobility?”

 

At Edward’s words, Hanaella glared at him. 

 

If she could get him on Lloyd’s side right now, it would undoubtedly be a great benefit to Lloyd. 

 

He would have no part in the destruction of the North and no chance of perishing there. 

 

To do that, she needed to know what interests he had in joining the faction.

 

“In case you haven’t heard, I do care. I have no choice but to join.”

 

“…?”

 

“Because His Royal Highness Crown Prince Lloyd has declared me his official lover at this meeting of the nobles.”

 

Edward’s eyes widened again at Hanaella’s words. 

 

A lover of the Crown Prince, he hadn’t realized. 

 

No, he hadn’t thought she had a lover at all. He hadn’t thought to ask, since he had no intention of dealing with a noblewoman in the first place, but he felt an inexplicable shock.

 

“…Are you His Highness the Crown Prince’s lover?”

 

“It’s hard to explain, but it’s official.”

 

‘Officially so.’ 

 

Edward, who was puzzled by Hanaella’s vague answer, asked her in a low voice.

 

“Are you in love?”

 

“Not really.”

 

And when he heard the answer, he breathed a sigh of relief.

 

“Hmm… I see. There must be something between you two that makes it inevitable.”

 

“Yeah. Anyway, that’s why I… no, I mean, the Ariel family is outwardly neutral, but inwardly, I side with His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince.”

 

“So you’re saying you’re going to raise the hand of His Imperial Highness.”

 

“Yes, so…”

 

Hanaella paused for a moment. But then she looked at Edward as if deciding something.

 

“I hope you’ll join me in this, Duke Edward.”

 

This was a surprise. This woman was so unexpected.

 

“On the same side…”

 

“I don’t know what you’re thinking of joining the faction for, but I don’t want to have to fight against Duke Edward.”

 

“…I certainly don’t want to turn Hayden’s darkness against the enemy, and there’s no reason to risk that by joining the opposing faction.”

 

‘Ah… I suppose that’s a good thing.’

 

“I am, however, a man driven by my family’s interests and my own pleasure. The reason I opened the Norwen Firm under Ron’s name is also a combination of profit and pleasure.”

“…”

 

“Do you want me on your side?”

 

“…Yes, I do.”

 

“Then, can you put aside family interests and take charge of my pleasure?”

 

“…!”

 

Hearing Edward’s words, Hanaella’s expression instantly stiffened. But soon, she nodded her head and said to Edward.

 

“Tell me what you want. I’ll do whatever I can.”

 

‘Because I don’t want Lloyd to die. No, I don’t want a world with Lionel as Emperor.’

 

A smile tugged at the corners of Edward’s mouth at Hanaella’s words, and he turned to her, his eyes glinting in the deep blue of Lloyd’s reflection.

 

“Would you be willing to use your healing magic on me?”

 

Edward’s words stunned Hanaella. 

 

He wanted her to use healing magic, and she wondered if he thought it was the same as casting black magic.

 

“Healing magic is literally magic that helps heal, as long as the target isn’t hurt…”

 

“You said ‘madness’ and ‘dark blade’… which is the less dangerous of the two?”

 

Edward asked, interrupting Hanaella.

 

‘…No way, you want me to use it now, here, on you?’

 

As if he could hear her mind, Edward held his left hand out in front of her.

 

“The less painful of the two, please, I’m not one to enjoy pain.”

 

“…Are you sane?” 

 

“I’m perfectly sane.”

 

“…”

 

“I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep if I just listen to Ariel’s healing magic. It’s a good thing I didn’t get to see your combat spells, after all.”

 

“…But to use combat spells directly on your body…”

 

“I told you, I’m a man who moves for my own pleasure.”

 

“It’s magic that cuts or explodes, and you want to be cut or blown up for your pleasure?!”

 

“Is the ‘Dark Blade’ a cutting spell? If so, let’s go with that, since bursting doesn’t seem to be as pleasing to the eye.”

 

Edward said, holding out his hand to Hanaella, and then added apologetically.

 

“Oh, and in case the pain is so excruciating that it keeps me from standing, shall we use my fingers?”

 

“…Don’t worry. If you drink my blood, the pain will disappear.”

 

“Ohhh— I see, so that means I can be cured with healing magic, I see.”

 

“…”

 

“Okay, then. Shall we start with ‘Blade of Darkness’?”

 

💫

 

Shia, who was practicing in the training grounds, noticed Thomas, who had gone to get water, and spoke to him. 

 

Surprised by Shia’s behavior, Thomas and the other legionnaires either stopped practicing or turned their heads to look at Shia.