I Grabbed the Tyrant’s Heart - Chapter 169
“Weathering.”
“It’s Blest, please.”
“Allow me to call you Weathering.”
The woman’s voice was filled with desperation.
“I’d rather not.”
“But!”
“But, what?”
The man’s cold tone was utterly unfamiliar, and I found myself eagerly listening in, becoming an accomplice.
“Since when did Lady and I were on such familiar terms to use first names?”
“I’m, I’m sorry.”
I recognized the woman’s identity. It was Carin Heights, the daughter of County Heights.
The source of the bouquets that was often left in front of Weathering’s lab. She was also the woman who always sought dances with Weathering at parties and pursued him.
The pair beyond the bushes were none other than my magic teacher and his admirer.
Could it be that the colleague Ethyl mentioned was from the Heights?
Despite my initial doubts, their conversation proved too intriguing not to eavesdrop on.
“Why do you keep sending proposals to Lantia, bothering me?”
“Because I admire Doctor Blest.”
Carin Heights must have wanted to make the rumor true about confessions in this place being successful.
“I have no feelings for the Lady, so please don’t do it again.”
“What…?”
She seemed taken aback by the blunt rejection.
“I have no intention of marrying or even dating the Lady. Do you understand? So please stop bothering me.”
“Is there someone else you like? Is that why you’re rejecting me?”
“I simply have no interest in you.”
“That’s too harsh!”
Carin Heights burst into tears.
“How can you be so cruel when I love you so much! There’s no need to be so brutal!”
“I never asked for the Lady’s affection.”
Looking up at Tess, he pretended to know nothing. So was he aware he has been a nuisance to me too?
His reaction was too adorable, so I buried my face in his chest. Though I couldn’t hear his heartbeat, I could feel his tension. Had there been a heart, it probably would have been racing.
Unlike the peaceful sanctuary within Tess’s cloak, a hostile atmosphere continued beyond the towering bushes.
“You promised not to bother me again if I came here. Please keep that promise.”
“Really, you’re cruel to the very end. A man acting as cold-hearted as you to someone who loves him will never find love.”
“I would like to return those words to the Lady.”
Weathering’s voice no longer held even a trace of annoyance. It was as if he was dealing with an inanimate object.
“I hope you get back exactly what you’ve given after bothering others to this extent.”
With sobs and the light sound of footsteps fading, Carin Heights seemed to have left, leaving Weathering behind.
Tess whispered.
“Let’s go.”
“Okay.”
“This way.”
“What?”
The path we were on would lead directly to Weathering if we continued.
“The path is this way.”
“We can go around the other side.”
Exiting from here would reveal we overheard their conversation, and more importantly, Weathering seeing Tess and me together might not sit well with him.
Tess’s intentions seemed rather suspicious as he smiled.
“Tess.”
“That person knows we’re a couple anyway, right?”
Sure enough, as soon as I called his name, he started making excuses.
“Is this because you only have Weathering to brag to, or do you want to rub it in his face?”
“Both?”
Tess, who had bowed his head and laughed, was so beautiful it made me want to agree with everything he said. But I sighed and shook my head.
What to do with this mischievous devil?
“Fine.”
When weighing Tess against Weathering, the choice was clear.
There’s no point in tiptoeing around Weathering forever. Tess has been patient enough. If it were me, I’d be furious knowing Tess had confessed to another woman.
…Thinking about it, Tess has been quite generous, hasn’t he?
I clutched Tess’s hand as if facing a rival. As we interlocked fingers, his eyes turned into full moons before softening into crescents.
Weathering was leaning against a large tree.
“Weathering?”
Though I knew he was there, I called out as if surprised.
At the sound, the scholar looked up in shock as he saw me removing my hood.
“Euel? What brings you here, ah.”
Similarly, as Tess pulled back his hood, Weathering bowed slightly.
“Greetings from Weathering of Blest to the glory of the Northern Empire.”
Tess looked down at Weathering, his expression turning stone-cold in an instant. Through your eyes, Weathering’s soul must be visible.
Yes, Weathering still has feelings for me. So, of course, you wouldn’t be pleased.
Why choose the path that hurts, foolish Tess.
Feeling pity for the pretend-adult but real mischief-maker, I squeezed his hand, prompting a slight smile from Tess. Weathering’s expression darkened but it was expected.
“It’s nice to see you here.”
Since neither seemed inclined to speak first, I forced a cheerful tone to break the ice.
“Indeed.”
“It’s an unusual place for Weathering. What brings you this far?”
“Ah, just clearing my head. It’s a place often mentioned in class, and I was curious.”
Whether he believed we hadn’t heard anything or was playing along with my act, I couldn’t tell.
“Are you and Your Majesty… that, on a date?”
“Yes.”
Tess was the one who answered.
“They say this is a popular spot for couples, so I came with Euseniel.”
“I…see.”
Weathering’s response was lukewarm, and Tess’s face showed no joy. It was as if I could see the chill of the surrounding darkness.
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