STM 107

What do you mean, impure? Rick quickly glanced at the harmonious siblings. Lantuya was still earnestly speaking, as if she were giving a sermon, and Lu was diligently nodding along.

Even though Lantuya’s eyes seemed unusually passionate, it didn’t feel particularly impure.

“Well, she does seem excited about something, but beyond that, I don’t know.”

“She’s holding his hand too tightly.”

Hand? Rick strained his eyes to look closer, but again, he couldn’t find anything unusual.

They just look like close siblings? Maybe because he hates Lantuya so much, everything about her bothers him?

As he thought that, Lantuya started stroking Lu’s arm. Immediately, a low murmur mixed with killing intent came from beside him.

“That woman is acting so annoyingly.”

Solongo, who had come out to see Lu off, was tense and on high alert. It wasn’t because of Lu leaving alone.

She had an unfounded belief that Lu would survive anywhere just fine. Her biggest worry was the matriarch. What if Lantuya collapsed at the moment of farewell?

But what do you know? She had a smile on her lips that wouldn’t fade, as if she’d been waiting for Lu’s departure. And that wasn’t all.

Tairok had brought so many escorts that the guards were shocked and mobilized in full force, filling the front of the mansion with soldiers. Thanks to that, the tension flowed like they were on the brink of battle.

Even Lu, the person involved, found the situation displeasing.

“I can’t tell if he’s here to pick me up or to attack this place.”

At that, Lantuya beside him laughed and gently took both of Lu’s hands.

“He probably wants to assert dominance. Try to understand.”

Solongo turned to Lantuya in surprise. When had her family matriarch ever included Tairok in the realm of understanding, even once?

Even after realizing he wasn’t an enemy, she’d been itching to curse him, yet suddenly she was defending Tairok with such a mild expression. But the matriarch’s understanding didn’t end there.

“No, but if he’s come to someone else’s house, he should greet the host. Why is he glaring like that?”

Lu grumbled again, and Solongo barely held back from agreeing. Tairok had refused to enter the house, claiming it wasn’t necessary, and was standing there imposingly, casting cold glances.

What a jerk.

But Lantuya’s take was different.

“He must have urgent business. As a Grand Duke, he’s probably busy?”

Whoosh!

This time, Solongo’s head whipped around with a gust of wind. Is something wrong with the matriarch’s head?!

However, she was the only one worrying about Lantuya’s health. Lu was only focused on Tairok’s gaze.

“Even so. How dare someone so young glare at Doctor Kim like that?”

On the surface, Lantuya was the youngest. But age aside, Tairok was indeed sending a murderous glare toward Lantuya that anyone could notice. Yet she just laughed it off with a “heh heh.”

“Let it be. He’s not hating on you.”

Has she really eaten something wrong? She sometimes eats weird things with Baron Owick while searching for that chili pepper or whatever, maybe there was a deadly poison in one of them?

Solongo’s worry grew, but Lantuya simply continued her instructions in a tone full of generosity, as if she could forgive the whole world.

“So you get it, right? You have to do well.”

In response to her urging, Lu nodded vigorously, like a soldier burning with resolve.

“Just trust me.”

The two shared a heated gaze for a moment. Solongo was moved by their camaraderie, deeper than actual siblings.

They must be sharing a strong determination to save their world. Then, Lantuya stroked Lu’s arm and said what sounded like a code.

“Focus on the Acorn Forest.”

“Yes, intensively on the Acorn Forest.”

As the siblings exchanged another intense look, Solongo was overcome with emotion. They’re planning to use the Acorn Forest as a forward base to carry out their operation to save their world.

However, the emotion shattered at the sight of someone’s vicious glare that caught her eye. Wait, why is that guy glaring like that again? And why in this direction…

Solongo openly showed her displeasure on her face and informed the matriarch.

“Matriarch, Grand Duke Kun is approaching.”

They’d deliberately been saying their farewells quite far away, in case Tairok overheard any complaints. But before the greetings were even done, he walked over with heavy steps and coldly spat out.

“Hurry up and finish.”

The words that came from him were quite rude and arrogant for a family sharing a farewell, but to the two siblings, it was different. It was a perfectly reasonable and sensible demand.

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The Acorn Forest.

The reason Doctor Kim and I got excited wasn’t just because it was an unexplored area.

‘I completely forgot about that land because of my hatred for Kun. The Acorn Forest is a vast hilly area spread out right behind the Kun main castle. The big mountains around are far away, so the forest couldn’t be more bountiful. I’ve heard that incredibly diverse plant life grows along the hills. In short, it’s a natural treasure trove.’

Treasure trove!

They were ear-perking words. The serious discussion Doctor Kim and I had before leaving the Adeye family was all about finding chili peppers, but that didn’t mean I’d forgotten my own goals.

It’s just that since I wouldn’t have much to do right away at the Kun family, it’d be nice to wander around like a stroll and look for chili peppers. I was excited, but on the other hand, I tried to stay calm, recalling Doctor Kim’s advice.

‘But don’t get your hopes up too high. I’ve gotten excited like that and been disappointed more than once or twice over the past 10 years.’

‘Your mouth is stretched like the Joker’s right now.’

‘I’m always like this when I talk.’

Yes, I shouldn’t repeat the cycle of getting excited and disappointed like Doctor Kim. But I forced myself to tighten my face, as the corners of my mouth were about to part.

And for good reason, I wasn’t alone in this carriage. And my fellow passenger picked at my expression.

“Are you that sad about parting from your sister?”

“Huh?”

“You’re trying so hard not to cry.”

It was the opposite, but I couldn’t reveal the truth, so I just shrugged.

“I’m not trying.”

“….”

“I have no intention of crying, so don’t worry.”

I was letting him know I wouldn’t act annoyingly in front of him, but he tilted his head to the side and slowly smiled.

“I’d like it if you cried.”

You like seeing me in pain? What a guy you can’t let your guard down around for a second.

“I absolutely won’t cry.”

“You shouldn’t say ‘absolutely.’”

Then he suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled it toward him. I resisted, but I was so shocked by his subsequent words that I couldn’t pull away successfully.

“Because making my beloved fiancé cry is going to be my job from now on.”

This crazy… Putting aside that cringy “beloved” whatever title, what? Making me cry is his job?

It’s nothing short of a declaration of war that he’s going to torment me. He hasn’t actually put my room right next to a pigsty, right?

Fine, bring it on. If I end up befriending pigs and becoming a pig master in the process, that’s killing two birds with one stone. I glared at him fiercely, determined not to lose.

“What should I do? I’ve never shed a tear in my life. I don’t even tear up when I yawn.”

I countered nonsense with nonsense, but it didn’t work. He just played with my hand and smiled even wider.

“Then I’ll be the first to make you cry.”

Damn it, he’s even happier now. Just how much is he planning to torment me? Huh? Could it be…!

A horrifying hypothesis came to mind, and my expression hardened.

He wouldn’t… not give me food, right?! I immediately tried to pull my hand away, shaking my head coldly.

“No. Your Grace is just one among many who have tried… Ugh.”

Suddenly, he squeezed my hand so tightly that I groaned. I barely managed to swallow it, but it hurt so much that tears welled up in my eyes.

What a vicious guy. Since I said I’ve never cried, he must have tried to break my hand to test it.

I couldn’t bring myself to curse, so I glared at him fiercely, but his gaze only grew more intense. Then he reached out his hand to my face.

I tried to turn my head away, but his hand was already wiping at my eyes. He then brought the tear on his thumb to his lips and licked it with his tongue.

“I am the first.”

…Should I just headbutt him? I swallowed the anger welling up in me and glared at him as if I was going to kill him. His eyes were still filled with amusement, which only made me even angrier.

“Yes, should I give you a prize? My teeth are still strong.”

“What prize? It’s only natural to take my beloved fiancé’s first.”

He let go of my hand, spitting out another terrifying modifier. I rubbed my eyes with my hand, as if to show off.

As I tried to erase the feeling of his touch under his cold gaze, I heard a dry command.

“As soon as we get home, make a list.”

What list? He twisted only his lips, not his eyes, into a smile.

“Of all the many who have tried to make you cry. Don’t leave out a single one.”