Bello Leopard.

He is Nocton’s personal attendant for many years who was brought to the house by Patricia Edgar.

He was lowering his gaze with an expressionless face as if nothing had happened.

“I’ve never seen this cup, Bello.”

“Yes, this is a new one from the East.”

The appearance of the cup was well matching with the color of the reddish-black tea

But it’s not a silver cup. There was no deciphering magic on it.

Only then Nocton did realize.

The employee never taste the tea whenever she came.

Patricia Edgar, of course, didn’t do anything when Nocton greeted his guest.

Nocton knew it, but he was always careful.

You couldn’t expect your opponent to behave the same way forever.

However, he did not want to loosen the tension, and instead did his best to remain calm.

In front of her, in front of Roa Valrose.

The fact that he’s only realized this right now makes his heart distorted.

It was even worse for him to see Valrose smiling proudly.

The aroma of the rose tea tickled Nocton’s nose, even though he did not hold the cup in his hand.

Even if he tried to pretend he didn’t know, there was a subtle intrusive smell mixed between the calm scent of the tea.

No, it’s weird to pretend not to know.

It’s a matter of what to do.

He looked down at the cup in front of him with sunken eyes.

“You’ve become very skilled.”

“That’s right!”

“I think the tea will taste very delicious, but Valrose, if you don’t mind … I think I’m not worthy enough to enjoy this nice tea.”

She frowned, as if she couldn’t understand him.

Nocton smiled at her.

It’s hard to manage his facial expression when his feeling was a mess, but he forced his eyes to open.

Fortunately, it didn’t look like there was anything wrong on the outside.

“I want to give it to my servant.”

“My lord….?”

“Bello is like my hand and feet. It’s been six years since he’s been around and taking care of me. It won’t be any difference if I drink or Bello.”

Nocton, speaking in a gentle voice, looked at Bello.

Other emotions begin to mix with the intense tension felt by the servant.

Suspicion, anxiety, fear.

The expression of the servant, which had remained firm, was also shattered and began to show his true emotions.

“It’s all right. Lady Roa made it in person—”

“Bello.”

Drink.

“You’re not trying to disrespect my sincerity, are you? Are you trying to shame me in front of the Lady?”

It’s your own poison, so put it in your mouth.

The words of honor were greeted with trembling hands. The teacup was tilted for a moment. But soon the cup returned to its original state, and the tea in the cup did not disappear at all.

Nocton’s eyebrows have tilted slightly.

“Why don’t you drink it? It looks like you’re disregarding your sincere devotion.”

“That’s not it! I’m just, uh, it’s a little hot….”

“Drink it all. Don’t shame your master, Bello Leopard.”

Even though Nocton said so, he did not raise the cup.

The way he rolled his eyes toward Valrose was somehow a form of begging for help.

It’s stupid, Valrose doesn’t even understand what’s going on.

You’d just think, my childhood friend was just as bad-tempered as ever.

Even if you understand, what difference will it make?

Where in the world is a nobleman sides with a servant who tried to poison his master?

In the meantime, Roa Valrose seemed too shallow.

That thought set fire to Nocton’s heart.

The boy finally decided to help the servant who had no intention of taking the tea with his own hands.

His fingertips flickered, and black mana was absorbed like a smoke.

The secret magic that no one has ever seen created a visible change.

Bello’s hand ignored his will and dipped the tea into his mouth.

“Whoop, urgh!”

“I’m afraid the tea doesn’t taste good, Valrose.”

“….yeah. Should I apologize?”

“You don’t have to do that to my servant. Do you know what the tea is?”

Nocton shook his hand, laughing at the man whose face was blue.

When the magic that held his servant’s hand was gone, Bello ran out of the room as if he had waited.

“Anyway, I’m sorry. I think I’ve caused you so much trouble, so you can go back.”

What does Valrose have in mind? She stared at Nocton with her subdued eyes.

There was no blame for him, but her face was clearly marked with indignation.

Without saying anything out of her mouth, the girl looked at him and soon rose.

Without a world of greeting, Valrose left the study.

He felt strange to see the back of her head like that for the first time.

Like someone who’s never coming back, like someone who’s never going to meet him again—

No, it’s a big deal, isn’t it?

Nocton muzzled his mouth, and ended up saying what he had always said.

“….Come again, Valrose.”

Valrose looked back at Nocton for a moment, and soon resumed her steps.

The quiet footsteps gradually faded away.

He was upset. He can not do it.

But he can’t drink a poisoned tea.

He can’t explain that the Duchess is trying to kill him….

Thinking so, the boy shook his head, thinking that he seemed to make an excuse for himself.

It’s a little more of a caution to see Patricia Edgar came out more directly.

But it’s not important.

It’s just like any other day, as usual routine.

Nothing’s changed, and….

However, Nocton’s feeling grew worse when he thought about it, but thoughts were not something that could stop at his will.

Nocton was no exception.

And that day, Nocton Edgar has been thinking the same thing all day.

Roa Valrose never get him a tea after that.

It was an extraordinary change.

✴️✴️✴️

As time went by, he’s been around me a little bit, but my self-esteem was so low that Nocton constantly tried to test me.

I was still passed even if I failed once or twice, even though he looked a little upset.

So, I once thought that his way of testing me was to attract my attention, because I was more special than anyone else.

It seemed like I was the only one who knew Nocton’s true character, and because of that, I was intoxicated with a slight sense of superiority.

But as those things piled up, I realized that my thoughts were all delusions, and I lost confidence in him for the second time.

The test itself meant that he did not believe in me, and it didn’t matter what answer I gave.

I knew he was watching my reaction carefully, but sometimes it seemed like he was doing it for fun.

For example, it was about Sheryl Bornaine, who provoked my guilt.

“Do you dislike the Marquis Bornaine’s daughter?”

A couple of months after my reconciliation with Nocton, he suddenly asked.

Do I dislike Bornaine?

I’m sure it’s hard to understand why I always say such outrageous things whenever I run into her.

Although it was a big of drag to answer that you hated someone, it certainly wasn’t a good feeling.

Whatever he initial intention was, it seemed she really liked Nocton later on, but I couldn’t forget what she said the other day.

I was possessed by a somewhat obsessive hatred, due to guilt and kindness towards Nocton.

“I can’t say I like her.”

“Why?”

“That’s….”

I heard she said she’s going to play with you like a toy.

The reason was obvious, but I couldn’t say that.

Whether Nocton knew or didn’t know the intention of Sheryl Bornaine, it wasn’t something to put in my mouth.

He’ll just be offended if I say it for nothing. I could hurt his pride.

Perhaps there were so many such people around Nocton that I knew, but I couldn’t.

I came up with a new topic, so I hurriedly opened my mouth.

“It just doesn’t fit me. That’s right, I heard you need a partner for this party. We’re not even adults, so we don’t have to attend, but all the aristocrats of our age will be there. Can you be my partner?”

Nocton looked at me with a strange glance and shrugged his shoulders.

“I’ll think about it.”

And it’s the party day.

Since there was no answer to that day, I made Alloy’s friend as my partner.

He has a fiancee, but he seems to have turned a blind eye to it because of the age gap.

Since the story was brought up to turn around, I did not feel sorry that Nocton had not been my partner.

But the moment I saw Nocton’s partner, I feel like I was hit in the back of my head.

His partner was Sheryl Bornaine.

I thought of many things when I saw Nocton greeting me calmly.

You really don’t know that Bornaine has been talking behind your back? You asked me if I don’t like her, and what’s this?

Even though I didn’t like her usual behavior, the decisive reason for hating her was because of him, which made me feel more stupid.

The conversation I had with him in the mansion the day after the party made me more bewildered.

Why did you take her as your partner?

I was keeping my mouth shut because it seemed so lame to ask, but Nocton asked me the question.

“After my fake birthday, before you come again to the mansion. You went to the party, didn’t you?”

“….As if you’re checking. You went, too.”

“Then I saw you staring at Marquis Bornaine’s daughter. Maybe that’s why you came back.”

“So you’re saying that I—you suspected that I was trying to get close to you because I wanted to angry her?”

“There’s nothing like that.”

“If you have anything you want to say, say it straight.”

“Even if I did that, I wanted to make sure that Valrose would come to the mansion.”

He looked strangely satisfied with the way he said it.

My stomach twisted this time when I saw him.

You wanted to make sure?

You wanted to make sure if I’m coming to the mansion, even if you hang out with someone I hate?

You wanted to know how much I’ve been playing around?

So now that you’ve checked, are you happy with my reaction? Is that funny?

In anger, I poured out my cold tea on his feet, and left the study.

All my efforts to hate Sheryl Bornaine seemed pointless, and from that day I had thrown away the hatred that was not mine.

Even afterwards, my feelings did not get better.

Yeah, Valrose, that reminds me.

He didn’t even call my name.

Although I complained about it a few times, he insisted on the name Valrose.

I endured that distanceful name, and it finally exploded.