The Villainess Is Shy In Receiving Affection

Chapter 178

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With the discovery of mana stones, the rest of summer passed quite noisily.

The newspapers sent articles every day predicting the new life that would become possible with mana stones.

Mana stones could hold the mana injected by mages for a long time.

Using this property, there was talk that even non-mages might be able to enjoy the benefits of magic later on, and people were enthusiastic regardless of their status.

At the banquets and performances that took place almost every day, there were always different scandals pouring out.

Thanks to that, the Yellow Paper dealing with the private lives of nobles also recorded the highest sales in history.

Even when everyone was burning the last of the hot summer like this, there was someone who couldn’t be a part of it.

It was none other than Melody Higgins.

She turned down most invitations and often spent her time quietly in the mansion.

The main reason she spent time like that was actually because she became anxious after completely entrusting the Duke with Prince Samuel’s matter.

But since she couldn’t reveal that fact to those around her, she used the excuse of “wanting to stay quiet until the results of the Records Keeper exam come out.”

Fortunately, those who understood the importance of that exam respected her opinion no matter what.

“Mel, haven’t you been staying in the mansion too much lately?”

But Isaiah didn’t seem to want to listen to such excuses anymore.

With his face nicely tanned by the summer sun, he visited Melody’s room window.

“Hello, Isaiah. And even if I only stay in the mansion, I take a walk in the garden every day and swing wooden swords with Miss Loretta.”

Loretta, who had expected a long time ago that she “might be able to receive a real sword,” ended up receiving a new wooden sword as a gift.

She didn’t neglect training, swinging the wooden sword whenever she had a chance, saying “Next time for sure, I’ll get a real sword!”

“I know that, but still. You didn’t even go see the magic of light being shot up at the fortress the other night, right? It was really pretty.”

Melody shrugged and laughed.

“I already got called an idiot by Ronny for that. He said, ‘How could you miss such a spectacular sight, are you in your right mind?'”

When she imitated Ronny’s way of speaking quite similarly, Isaiah laughed, giggling.

“That’s his way of worrying about you.”

“I know.”

“So, Mel.”

Isaiah reached out his hand from beyond the window.

“If I ask, will you come out with me?”

Melody alternately looked at Isaiah and the window for a moment before answering.

“I can climb over a window by myself even without Isaiah’s help?”

“Not the window!”

Isaiah hung his body completely over the window frame.

“I’m asking if you can go outside with me.”

“Where are you trying to go?”

“Oh, it’s nothing special.”

He raised his head again and grinned.

“To the temple.”

“Why there?”

“I’m going to get my new sword blessed.”

“A new sword? Isaiah, you got another sword?”

Melody asked in surprise.

No wonder, since he already possessed two famous swords.

One was a gift from the imperial family when he saved His Highness the Crown Prince at the hunting grounds. The other was received from Duke Baldwin when he pledged his loyalty to the ducal family.

Even after receiving swords from the two most influential people in this capital, getting yet another new sword was quite impressive.

“It just happened to come to me, that’s all.”

He fiddled with his hair and answered as if it was no big deal.

“His Majesty the Emperor gave me another sword.”

“Suddenly? Why?”

“Well, I recently won the martial arts tournament.”

“…!”

Melody was so surprised that she could only stare at him blankly.

She had heard there was a tournament, but this was the first time she heard that Isaiah had entered, and even that he had won.

“Why didn’t you tell me?!”

Melody quickly grabbed his arm.

“How could I tell you such a thing?”

“Why can’t you tell me!”

“Why, you ask.”

He looked down slightly, feeling very embarrassed.

“If I said I was entering the martial arts tournament, you would have thought I would definitely win, right?”

“Me?”

“Yeah. But it would be embarrassing if I didn’t win.”

At his words, Melody recalled something from a very long time ago.

When they first reunited in the capital.

He had said he couldn’t send news to his mother because he hadn’t become a knight yet.

Since he often sent news to his mother after that day, she had forgotten for a moment, but it seemed his personality hadn’t changed at all.

“Isaiah, you dummy.”

Melody lightly squeezed the hand holding him.

“I just wanted to cheer for you. I’m saying I wouldn’t be disappointed even if you didn’t win.”

“But it’s still embarrassing to lose in front of you.”

“Hmph, even though you say that, you splendidly won when I wasn’t looking.”

At Melody’s words, he slowly broke into a smile.

“Well, that’s true. I was also lucky though.”

“You meanie, make sure to invite me to such important events from now on.”

“Okay, I will. So I’d like you to come with me to the temple, Melody.”

Melody was about to willingly nod her head. If Isaiah hadn’t added these words.

“And let me offer all the glory of victory to you there.”

“…What?”

When she asked in surprise, Isaiah touched his cheek and smiled awkwardly. He seemed to be suppressing his embarrassment somehow.

“It’s a knight’s job to offer glory to his lady, isn’t it?”

“But I’m not Isaiah’s lady!”

It was Loretta Baldwin.

That was right as long as he existed as a knight of the ducal family.

“She’s not my lady, but my captain. For me, there’s only Mel.”

“…Isaiah.”

“Of course, I’m not forcing you.”

He straightened his body that had been leaning on the window frame. Naturally, Melody’s head was raised high to follow his face.

“As I said before, I won’t do anything you don’t allow, Mel.”

He paused for a moment and swallowed a large breath. Melody knew he was very nervous, unlike usual.

“Miss Melody Higgins.”

Isaiah took out his sword, placed it to his lower left, and knelt on one knee.

Only then did Melody realize that he was perfectly dressed in the knight’s uniform he never wore normally.

If so, he must be making a request to Melody not as her friend Isaiah, but as the knight Mullern.

“Please allow me to offer the glory I have obtained to you.”

At his words filled with deep sincerity, Melody couldn’t give any answer carelessly.

She didn’t want to respond to his serious heart with light words.

After staring at the floor for a long time, he finally raised his head.

He gazed at her solely with a heavy gaze, then grinned at one point.

“How was it, did I seem like a real knight?”

Along with a much lighter voice compared to a moment ago.

Melody couldn’t say anything this time either. Because she knew he was acting this way to ease her tension.

“Oh, was it not good? I practiced a lot, you know.”

He stood up as if jumping, and approached the window again.

“Uh… sorry.”

“Mm, no. It’s not something Isaiah needs to apologize for.”

“You say that, but your face was totally stiff. It’s no use if you don’t smile, Mel.”

At his words, Melody fidgeted awkwardly with her hands clasped together.

“I was just, surprised. Very surprised.”

“Surprised. You already knew I wanted to protect you, right? Of course, you’re doing well on your own, Mel.”

“Well, I do know that, but still…”

Him formally offering glory to her was a bit of a different issue. To the extent that it could be a turning point in their relationship.

Above all, Melody couldn’t help but think that way, given that Isaiah’s attitude in making that request was much more polite than usual.

“Got it. Then can you think about it slowly? It’s something happening in ten days anyway.”

“…Okay, I’ll seriously consider it.”

“Great, now praise me!”

He stuck his head out over the window frame in his usual manner.

“P-Praise?”

“Yeah, I won. I deserve to hear you say I did well, right?”

Since that seemed to be the case, Melody stroked his head appropriately as usual for now.

“You did well, Isaiah. I’m really proud of you. The doctor will be extremely happy too. Right?”

“Ahh!” He gasped.

Isaiah stared blankly at Melody for a moment, then quickly straightened his posture.

“No, it’s not that I forgot to contact Mother! You always emphasize that! I listen to you really well!”

“In other words, you haven’t written a letter, right?”

“No! I just haven’t written it yet! I was definitely going to write it today! Really! There’s no way I would forget what you said! Believe me!”

He started backing away little by little while wildly waving both hands.

“I’ll go write it right now. So you have to seriously think about my request too, okay? Got it?”

“Yes, I will.”

“Great!”

Looking so delighted for some reason, he took a startlingly high jump on the spot and began happily crossing the garden.

“…Seeing him like that, it seems he hasn’t changed at all.”

As Melody muttered softly, there was a knocking sound at her room door.

“Yes.”

Melody answered in a small voice, but the closed door didn’t open.

‘Did I mishear?’

Out of curiosity, she tried opening the door herself.

Through the crack of the door, a man’s suit was visible. Looking up, Claude Baldwin was standing there with an awkward smile.

“Young Master?”

“I’m sorry.”

He gave a small apology, then added a word so Melody wouldn’t misunderstand.

“I wasn’t waiting for you to open the door. I was contemplating whether it was okay to open it.”

“…Why…?”

“Well, I didn’t want to ruin your mood.”

He said “Ah, right.” and held out what he had been hiding behind his back.

When Melody looked down at the familiar scent, there was a bundle of medicinal herbs they had made together before.

“This is…”

“It’s not completely dry yet, but… Jeremiah said to give it to you since it will give off a nice scent if you decorate your room with it.”

“Ah.”

Melody accepted the bundle of herbs he handed over.

“Thank you for delivering it. Did you visit the herb garden today?”

“Yes, I also had something to receive from Jeremiah.”

Silence lingered between the two for a moment.

Melody thought he wouldn’t have even set foot in her room if it hadn’t been for Jeremiah’s request.

Because there was no reason for the two of them to meet on purpose after finding a point of contact with Prince Samuel.

Somehow, the inside of her wrist felt throbbing.

The place where his lips had deeply touched before. Now there was nothing left there.

“Well… then.”

At his words as he took a step back, Melody unconsciously reached out her hand towards him.