Taisetsuna pretended to go get her glass to drink some water and looked at the Princess and next, at Nozomu, and like Robert, she noticed the accomplice smiles they were exchanging. She put the glass down and whispered to the blond young man, who was happily smiling at the group of young Nobles near him, who were puzzled by his choice of female company. “I see what you mean. That’s not all I see. The future Countess Diana doesn’t look thrilled with you near me. She seems to want to kill me with her eyes.”
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Robert made a slight smile and said, “Yes, because, despite what you think, I am a splendid catch. All the young women, Nobles or not, are always flirting with me in an attempt to make me fall for them. So far, none of them has even made me interested. You, on the other hand, puzzled me so much that I find myself eager to know more about you.”
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“Yeah, I figured that, considering you didn’t leave my side ever since I arrived. It is of no use, you know? You won’t get me into a bed as easily as you would if you tried with the future Countess.”
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“Well, you can’t blame me for trying, you know? But, I find it interesting the way you keep refusing me. My charismatic character is not even a single bit attractive to you?”
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Taisetsuna shrugged and signalled with her eyes to the Princess and then to Nozomu. “If you want to learn how to be charismatic, you should learn from that guy. If you didn’t notice yet, he doesn’t go to such lengths as you, even so, she is puzzled by him. Like a lot of the friends of the future Countess Diana. The moment he gets some sort of Noble title for his achievements, they will totally forget about you and go after him, like ‘Ergy’ after ‘Fool’s Death’ flowers.”
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Robert answered while signalling with his eyes to Nozomu, who was smiling at a maid and asking about the food she was putting on his plate. “Yes, I see your point. I also noticed that the last time he was here. I don’t understand why, but I also got dragged by his talk. He is very polite, and he treats everyone in the same manner. See? Most Nobles don’t even look at a maid, let alone talk to her. I don’t know how to explain this, but… it’s as if he is marvelling at everything. Even with that meat on his plate, that he keeps on poking it with his fork. Was he always like that? Or did he change after his memory loss? He said something about that.”
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“He was never like that, he was the most annoying brat you would ever encounter. He was also very kind, but loved to pull pranks on people. Now, it’s like he is a different person. Like… I don’t know, as if he was older and wiser? Sometimes he treats me like a kid when we are almost the same age! It makes me so mad, but I know he doesn’t do it on purpose because he is like that now.”
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Robert noticed the way her eyes were shining while she was looking at Nozomu, and he forced a slight smile. “Does he know you like him?”
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He realised the way she stared at him, in complete shock, and he added. “Do you know you like him?”
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“I… don’t like him… at all! He’s like family... I could never…”
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“I know you both grew up together, and maybe you never saw him that way because he annoyed you. Now that he has changed, and like you said, looks older and wiser, it is understandable that he gathered your interest. I hope you at least give me a chance because I can probably pick your interest as well. Considering he has his hands full, maybe you should look for someone else. Me or another man. Preferably me.”
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Taisetsuna turned bright red and grabbed her glass as she whispered. “Don’t tell him… and… did you just admit that you…”
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“I won’t tell, and I think I did, actually. I already said you puzzled me, and I hope I may be able to puzzle you as well.”
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“You… you are a fool, one-day-to-be Viscount Robert Keskula... The future Countess Diana is a far better choice for you. Or any of her friends. Your family will accept her instead of a commoner like me. Not that I am even considering the possibility of some sort of relationship with someone like you, I am just pointing out a fact. I admit, you are not as shallow as I thought, and you are rather handsome, but you and I? It’s never going to happen.”
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Robert made a big smile and raised his glass at her while saying, in a low voice, “Challenge accepted!”
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“Say what? What do you mean?”
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“I accept your challenge. I will make you fall for me, either soon or at the Academy. I have no idea how I will accomplish that, but I do like a good challenge!”
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Taisetsuna asked, visibly annoyed and almost growling. “Now I am a challenge? First, I was a trophy for you to put in your bed, and now I am a challenge?”
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Robert answered, still with a smile plastered on his face, annoying her even more. “Yes, the greatest challenge of my life. I never met a woman with such strong convictions, and if you keep on intriguing me and sounding so interesting, I will probably ask you to marry me.”
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Taisetsuna covered his mouth with both hands, glancing around to see if anyone heard his whispers. “Are you nuts? Saying something like that with so many people around? You have no shame?”
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“I am not nuts because I am whispering so low that I can barely hear myself. I know how good of a hearing a Cat-kind has, so I know that anyone around us can’t hear me. You are very interesting, Taisetsuna Kawa, and I want to get to know you better. I hope that you at least give me a chance so that I can also show you I can also be very interesting and a worthy suitor of your heart.”
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Taisetsuna had her mouth half-open, and she slowly shook her head, unable to believe what she was hearing. “You totally and completely lost it… I am an orphan, a commoner… I am no one… I have nothing to offer you or your family... Why in God Raluth’s name would you want anything to do with me?”
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“Well, if you put things that way, do you remember when I told you I would be a Viscount and it did not impress you? Today, I told you everything I can do and what I accomplished, and you weren’t a single bit impressed as well. So, it is safe to say that to you, I am no one, and I have nothing to offer, meaning that we are on the same step. I believe it is a good way to start. If you allow me to try, that is. It would hurt me and make me feel miserable if you didn’t at least let me try to conquer your heart.”
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“You are unbelievable… Why? Just because I didn’t fall for you at first sight? That is ridiculous!”
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“That alone is reason enough, even if you don’t believe it, but it was not the only thing. Just seeing you angry or puzzled makes you more interesting in my eyes. The future Countess, as you call her, and all her friends, hide their emotions as much as they can, except for the melted eyes when they look at me. You, well… most of the time, you look at me as if you want to kill me. Other times, you smile, and I feel myself melting. You have amazing laughter and your eyes… Don’t you even make me talk about your eyes! Oh, and I saw your Magic last time, and I lost my breath. I can’t possibly imagine how much you practised and how much raw power you have in you to be able to do what you did last time in the garden. Or in the Throne Room. You lifted that fat, sweaty guy as if he was nothing, and you threw him like a doll. That was freaking awesome!”
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Taisetsuna took a sip of her water, not knowing what to say to so many compliments and those glowing eyes full of admiration. She put the glass on the table again and murmured. “Thanks, I guess… I… am not used to… be flattered. The Adventurers at the Guild often tease me, and a few guys in the City say one or two things to me when they come to buy pizzas, but I don’t normally answer because I am not sure if they are serious or mocking me.”
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“Well, if you let me stick around, you are bound to be flattered more often. I hope to deserve some flattering as well, because, as you can see, I put a lot of effort into looking as good as I do!”
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Taisetsuna muffled her laughter, and Robert almost choked on his drink. “Pfft!… Stupid… You know you look more like a girl than a guy, right?”
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“You may say that, but I will prove to you one day how manly I can be. Preferably, accompanied by a few scratches on my back and bites on my shoulders.”
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“And now you ruined it… You can’t talk seriously, can you?”
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“I can. I have been talking seriously since you arrived. You are the one that keeps on thinking I am shallow or that I am mocking you. Do I need to kiss you in front of all these people for you to believe my intentions?”
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Taisetsuna gasped and leaned back in her chair. “You… You wouldn’t dare…”
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“Do you want to bet? I have nothing to lose with my reputation as a ladies’ man, you know? No one would be surprised if I did that. Well, maybe you and your friend would.”
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“He would slice your head in two the moment you kissed me... He is overly protective… Not to mention, I would bite your face off if you did that!”
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Seeing him approaching his face towards her, Taisetsuna leaned back even more and turned bright red. Her heart almost stopped when he said, “Don’t you challenge me, Taisetsuna, because I will…”
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He then slowly retreated and kept on staring at her, with lust in his eyes, making her gulp and stutter. “Y-you are n-nuts…”
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“No, I am not. I just realised I need to be very clear for you to understand and believe me. Do you have any doubts that I was not mocking you when I complimented you?”
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Taisetsuna vigorously shook her head, and Robert continued, “Do you have any doubts about my intentions towards you?”
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She shook her head again, and he smiled, putting her glass in her hands and grabbing his. He then made a toast and said, “Good, because I was getting worried. Like I said, you are indeed extremely interesting, Taisetsuna, and I am eager to get to know you better. To an interesting future, as we know each other along the way!”
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Taisetsuna touched her glass with his and gulped the water down. She then smiled awkwardly and whispered, “This means nothing, okay? I am just giving you the benefit of the doubt!”
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“That is all I need. For the moment.”
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She made a slight frown, unable to understand what he meant by that until he sent her a kiss with his lips, which made her chuckle. “Dumbass...”
…
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