Chapter 2
The first time I saw the boy was a year ago, but at that time, I wasn’t really interested in him.
I was just admiring his good looks and feeling strange. Of course I wouldn’t deny that Nocton Edgar’s appearance is overly aggressive, but I didn’t miss the attention.
Although his appearance and background were enough to make him stand out, but he was also famous for his obscenity.
There was a suspicion that Nocton Edgar, who was recognized as the Duke’s hair even though he’s the third son and still young due to his outstanding abilities, was born of the Duchess’ infidelity.
Whether it was true or false, people have merrily criticized Edgar’s mistake and having rejoiced over his misjudgement.
There was, of course, a shallow premise that the boy would be dragged down from his position as the successor. It wasn’t easy to believe that a young boy could become an heir just by his abilities.
Therefore, despite his beautiful appearance and exceptional talent, only a few people approached him.
Rather, his looks became a laughingstock and his excellent talent was devalued because of his appearance.
Later, people would try to gain his favor, but for now … this is not the case.
So it was an opportunity for me.
Wouldn’t there be a hope if I approached him when he was lonely and in his difficult time?
It was a selfish and opportunistic idea, but I couldn’t afford to question my conscience or anything at all because I thought I might get burned.
So, a year later, I approached Nocton Edgar at a party.
The boy was leaning his head as if he was thinking about something.
“Hello?”
The boy raised his head in amazement, for he had no idea I was approaching. Even from a distance, his impressive faxe was quite shocking.
I wasn’t exaggerating. It’s to the point that I doubt whether he was a human or a devil.
“Um … You’re Nocton Edgar, right? Do you know me? I went to the same party last year.”
“You are the second child of Marquis Valrose. I remember.”
“How do you know that when I haven’t even introduced myself? You have a really good memory.” I laughed at the reply, but the awkwardness gave me goosebumps.
Why do you use such honorifics? The noble children of his age speak up well from the beginning, but the Duke of Edgar’s educational policy is quite something.
I’m a little bit discontented by the overly adult way of talking.
At that time, the boy’s eyes widened as if he had noticed my negative thoughts.
“Excuse me, young lady, but you do you have any magical items?”
It was a sudden question, colorless of a moment’s hesitation.
In this situation, all of a sudden, magical items? I shook my head a bit.
“Well, I want to ask, do we have to use honorifics? If you were ten last year, you’d be older than me, and if you weren’t, we’re not grown up yet, are we? It’s a little distant. I don’t have anything to say if it’s convenient for you—”
“All right, if you want to.”
It’s pretty, so I’ll watch it.
Seems like I was talking too much about Nocton Edgar’s face, but I can’t help but be influenced by his appearance in a state of almost no good. Every aspect of his face is pretty.
My cheeks glowed hot.
“I’d like to have a little more talk with you, Roa Valrose.”
I don’t mean to be a mind reader but … he knew I was fascinated by his looks. Nocton Edgar gently bent his eyes.
I don’t know if he just smiled, or used his good looks, but it was enough to exclude myself from my intention.
“I want you to come to the mansion after the party, Valrose.”
Without thinking, I nodded freely.
In the real sense, that was my first encounter with Nocton.
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Nocton Edgar was sensitive to the feelings of others ever since he was born.
When he was young, he could feel how others felt about him, and when he was growing up, he knew how people felt about others.
It was possible because he was a natural black wizard.
In black magic and professional books, this particular power, called ultra-microscopic magic, is sensitive to human emotions and especially negative emotions among others. It was the only power that could interfere with the minds of others.
To be born as a natural wizard, you needed a special circumstance. but to carry this magic that runs from usual orbit, you needed more than any other magic.
A natural black wizard is born with parental hatred.
The feelings of either the mother of father were enough, but it was clear he needed to feel ashamed of himself as if he were a devil.
It’s a magic that a child only can conceived while superfine mana is actively moving with excess emotion.
That’s why, in this age, there was only one natural black wizard and it’s Nocton Edgar.
The only power was to distract the boy from his childhood and even though he had been knocked down, Edgar did not believe in people … and he had just turned 11 years old.
He stood in the middle of the party and listened to the flowing story.
Because of his natural magic, he was more sensitive than others so he could hear even the tiny noises.
Thanks to his special ability, it wasn’t just the sound of silk.
He could feel all kinds of filthy feelings toward him, such as ridicule and malice, which were full of the Duchess’ stigma.
—It’s the next Duke. He’s only 11 years old and he’s the heir to the dukedom, beating his brothers….
—He was five years old when he became the successor. I heard he’s very talented. Is it possible to talk about something that you’re capable of at that age? Although he has a beautiful face.
—That’s ridiculous. Is it because of the talent to put an illegitimate son on the Duke’s seat? we don’t even know who is his biological father. His Grace is still in his senses. He’s not that stupid so even if he do a crazy thing right now, he’s going to go back to where things are.
—But who is the real father? His Excellency was not able to visit the Duchess, so I’m sure it’s an affair.
“Hello?”
The sound of the stuffy cried was swallowed by a nearby noise.
In a little surprise, Nocton raised his head.
Red hair and dark-green eyes, as if they had drawn the color of a rose. The gorgeous girl was looking at him with a shy smile.
It’s seems like she was approaching him when he’s busy listening to the flowing conversation.
He never spoke to her, but Nocton knew at once who his opponent was. It would be hard not to know.
As soon as Roa Valrose appeared with her parents at the party, many of the aristocrat were excited.
‘Oh, you’re the second daughter of Marquis Valrose, are you?’
‘Oh my God, she’s so cute. She looks like a cat!’
‘The eyes are a bit weird but….’
‘It goes well with the hair color.’
He couldn’t pretend he didn’t hear the loud chattering of the noise.
Not only adults, but also children were busy huddling the redhead girl.
Of course, there must have been virtue that the child is the treasure of a powerful man named Valrose.
No matter how beautiful and shiny they are, there is a wall that can not be overcome by appearance only in the society. Whether it’s a bit dull or natural, the parties seemed irrelevant.
For Nocton, that was the first time he realized that not everyone would be ridiculed because of their beauty.
“Um … You’re Nocton Edgar, right? Do you know me? I went to the same party last year.”
“You are the second child of Marquis Valrose. I remember.”
“How do you know that when I haven’t even introduced myself? You have a really good memory.”
Strangely, she laughed. She has a small dimple on her left cheek.
The Valrose’s Marquis said that he had not yet begun formal education for his second daughter, which is probably true.
On the outside, he smiled politely, but Nocton found himself being sarcastic inside.
He thinks she’s very excited because she was shy, what is—
When he was thinking about it, he suddenly realized that he had a different feeling.
Strangely enough, he didn’t feel Roa Valrose’s mind.
Someone who was talking to him, how they feels about him, could be vivid as his mind.
Since he was born, it was very natural to Nocton. Like moving your hands or feet, or smelling them. It was a natural thing, as if you were looking at it with your eyes and hearing it.
He felt frustrated by his unreadable opponent.
The colorful painting seemed to have not painted a single color.
Therefore, he had no choice but to ask the girl who was not interested in what to say.
“Excuse me, young lady, but you do you have any magical items?”
“Huh? No.”
“Then, why— oh, excuse me.”
“Well, I want to ask, do we have to use honorifics? If you were ten last year, you’d be older than me, and if you weren’t, we’re not grown up yet, are we? It’s a little distant. I don’t have anything to say if it’s convenient for you—”
“All right, if you want to.”
It’s not a big deal, but it was annoying to keep talking so Nocton stopped. It was rude, but the child with his eyes wide open and checks flushed seemed not to think so.
He can’t read her mind even though her face is so frank.
It’s a good thing she doesn’t know.
Nevertheless, it was quite interesting and exciting to have to guess the feeling of the other person through facial expression, voice, and gesture.
On a rather spontaneous note, Nocton though he wanted to talk more with Roa Valrose.
However, if she were to be lured by words, it wouldn’t work like he wants.
Undeniably, many people were reluctant to see the Duke.
If she says she’s going to hang out with him, he’s sure the Marquis will scold her and complain about how filthy he is.
Then the child, who had been fascinated by his beautiful appearance, would soon changed her mind, then criticizing and mocking him.
It happened many times, and he knew exactly how it was going to go.
So this time, just sweet words were not enough.
Magic flowed out of Nocton’s eyes. It was a simple hypnotic magic that made her listen to him.
In the past, the other’s person mind felt abnormally sudden change, so he could immediately know whether or not the hypnosis was done … but this time, he couldn’t do that.
This doesn’t mean it doesn’t work.
“I’d like to have a little more talk with you, Roa Valrose.”
Nocton curled his eyes gently.
It was not difficult.
His father was the sweetest person in the world and he knew the best how much it mistook him.
“I want you to come to the mansion after the party, Valrose.”
As soon as the red-haired Valrose nodded, Nocton was convinced that his hypnosis had worked.
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Attracted by Nocton’s invitation, I started to go in and out of the Duke’s mansion, even at my parents’ dissuasion.
Only three months later, I gave up the role of the heroine.
I swear to God, I’ve never seen such a cheap baby.