Chapter 9. Does My Mana Taste Sweet?
The friendly tone from his academy days slipped naturally from his lips.
Lily smiled brightly and waved her hand. Then she lowered her hand and tapped the table twice.
“Come on, sit down first, Million.”
“Why? Is there something fun going on?”
Million pulled up a chair and came over to the table where Olive was sitting. He sat with the backrest of the chair between his legs, leaned his arms on the tall backrest, and grinned widely, showing his teeth.
“Now I’m curious what you two ladies were chatting about.”
“Oh, Olive said she’s got something on her mind these days. Come on, Olive, tell us.”
“Well…”
Olive glanced at Million.
“I thought Million might offer a good male perspective. Two heads are better than one, right?”
Lily perked up like she was all ears and leaned forward toward Olive.
“I’ll do my best to answer sincerely.”
Million also turned to Olive with a curious glint in his eyes.
“This… isn’t about me, but someone I know.”
Not me, okay? Olive emphasized again before beginning her story.
“There’s this really handsome guy. From a good family. Looks like he’s super popular too.”
The story hadn’t even properly started yet.
“Huh?” Million leaned back and pointed to himself. His expression was serious.
“Are you talking about me right in front of me?!”
Silence fell over the table at his words.
Lily pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed her forehead. Then she began removing her rings one by one.
“Uh, Lily… why are you taking your rings off?”
“There’s some idiot spewing nonsense, so I was going to teach him a lesson.”
“I’ll shut up. Just please don’t hit me.”
Startled, Million clamped his mouth shut. Then he turned the chair properly and sat upright.
Lily, seemingly pleased with his posture, slipped her rings back onto her fingers.
Olive let out a light chuckle and got the conversation back on track.
“But he’s kind of full of himself. Thinks he’s all that. Acts like he’s so irresistible that no woman could possibly reject him.”
Million’s expression started to stiffen, but the two ladies paid him no mind.
“And this guy had a girl he liked. He was so into her that he even changed his hairstyle to suit her taste, but I think she recently dumped him.”
“Oh, phew. It wasn’t me.”
Million finally let out a sigh of relief, now convinced the story wasn’t about him.
“After that, he suddenly asked my friend—someone he barely knows—to be his partner for a super important party. Totally out of the blue. So here’s the question.”
Olive looked seriously at both Million and Lily. Lily nodded, leaning forward.
“Why did this guy make such a proposal to her?”
Million broke his perfect posture and crossed his arms.
“That’s simple. He fell for her at first sight.”
His tone was flat, like it was obvious.
“He just got dumped, though. Could he really have deep enough feelings to invite someone to a big party that quickly?”
“Hmm. Does your friend come from a good family?”
“She’s not bad.”
“Then maybe he’s taking her as a showpiece. If he didn’t have anything, I’d say it was love at first sight.”
“…I see.”
“But why’s your friend so torn up about it? If she wants to go, she goes. If not, then she doesn’t.”
Million shrugged.
“I think differently, Olive.”
Lily, after seriously pondering, raised a finger in the air.
“That guy is clearly trying to get revenge! He wants to make the girl who dumped him jealous. Definitely. That’s it!”
“Oh! That’s it!”
Million, suddenly energized, clapped his hands in agreement.
“So that’s what it is…”
Olive slumped against the chair like a dejected bunny.
Hmm? Seeing that, Million propped his chin and smirked mischievously like a mischievous kid spotting prey.
Until now, Olive had occasionally wondered if Ludwig might have feelings for her.
Not often. Just a little. A tiny bit.
‘Well, he did flirt with me first! Held my hand, kissed it, even rubbed his cheek against mine!’
If she hadn’t talked to her friends, she might have fallen head over heels already. She probably would’ve started drafting marriage vows in her head.
‘I nearly got used for someone else’s love games.’
This is why you really have to listen to your friends.
Olive sighed deeply and muttered:
“So it really was like that, huh?”
“Wait, did your friend fall for that guy too?”
Lily asked, and Olive frantically waved her hands.
“Wha—No! What are you saying?!”
Maybe because she was flustered, her voice came out way too loud. People around them glanced at her.
Her cheeks turned red as Olive buried her head in embarrassment.
Snickering, Million rubbed her head and teased, “Aww, how cute.”
“Wait, hold on. Was that story your story?”
Realizing belatedly that Olive was talking about herself, Lily let out a heavy sigh and groaned, “Aigoo, aigoo…”
“By the way, has everyone decided on their debutante ball partner yet?”
Trying to help Olive recover, Million changed the subject.
But maybe he changed it too well. Olive covered her face with both hands and dropped her head flat on the table.
Oh no—was the proposal she got… for the debutante ball? Million clicked his tongue quietly.
“Well, I got dumped recently. Still hurts.”
“Huh? You got dumped, Lily?”
“Yeah. In 10 seconds flat. I wasn’t hitting on him because of his looks or anything, but still. I haven’t even thought about a partner since. If nothing works out, I’ll go with Zeke.”
She clutched her chest and looked dramatically skyward.
Million scratched his head as the conversation shifted to him.
“I was gonna go with my sister, but turns out she found someone else.”
He tilted his head toward the kitchen. Lily followed his gaze.
His sister, Lady Lysian Goldrot, had her golden hair neatly tied back as she arranged tea leaves, smiling. Standing beside her was a tall man with navy blue hair, leaning against the wall. There was a subtle romantic atmosphere between them.
“That’s Ronald, second son of House Cobalt. Vice-captain of the knights. I don’t like him much, but if Sis likes him, I guess it’s fine.”
Million pouted.
If House Chartre was the brain of the empire, House Cobalt was its sword.
As a traditional warrior family, the three Cobalt brothers were exceptional.
The eldest, Cyan, was a renowned strategist in the military. The second, Ronald, had already mastered the sword at a young age. And the youngest, Zeke—Million’s peer—was steadily following in their footsteps.
Olive, too, looked up from the table and glanced at Ronald.
‘So that’s the guy my brother once said had a nasty temper.’
He looked like Prince Ludwig—handsome but probably awful on the inside.
“Why are all the good-looking ones always taken?”
Lily pouted, hiding half her face behind her fan. Million leaned back lazily and crinkled one side of his face.
“Zeke from House Cobalt is handsome enough. Honestly, he’s too good for you, Lily.”
He blatantly provoked her.
Lily snapped her fan shut and smacked it down on Million’s head.
Lily always said a man’s true charm came from a bit of rebelliousness, and she spread this philosophy wherever she went.
“What about you, Olive? Got a debutante partner yet?”
Finally, it was Olive’s turn. She scratched near her lips awkwardly.
“Not really. I thought I’d just go with my father or brother.”
“That’s a last resort! Who even enters with family anymore?!”
Lily was outraged. Million, who had also planned to go with his sister, winced.
He glared at Lily, then looked at Olive.
“No other noble sons asked you? There’s no way the guys who liked you just vanished. Oh, right—what about Jason? He was all over you back at the academy.”
“You fool! How dare you associate our Olive with that unseemly guy?!”
Lily lashed out, and Million raised his arms in surrender. Lily’s fist hovered in the air before returning to the table.
“Stop it, Lily. To be honest… I thought I’d get at least one proposal. But not a single one came.”
I had no idea.
Olive let out a sigh, hiding her face with her hands.
She really didn’t expect to be this unpopular.
Even with the title of Marchioness of House Chartre, not one person had approached her. It was a shock. The noble sons who used to send letters had all cut ties with her.
Then, Million suddenly snapped his fingers.
“Oh right, that guy—Ruby? The one who came with you last time? His personality was awful, but he looked okay. He seemed interested in you—wait. No way.”
Million stopped mid-sentence and widened his eyes.
His gaze rolled toward Olive to gauge her reaction. She awkwardly smiled, lips trembling.
“That guy—Ruby—he asked you to the debutante, didn’t he…?”
“…”
“Well, I guess at least someone asked you! Ha… ha…”
Million tried to comfort her, but it only made Olive sadder.
“Ruby? Who’s that? What kind of name is that—he’s not a pet or something, is he?”
Lily looked back and forth between them.
Million furrowed his brows and subtly motioned for Lily to zip it. Lily, clueless at first, saw Olive’s stiff expression and shut her mouth.
Only the sound of eyeballs rolling across the table filled the silence.
Million quickly excused himself, saying he had to get the bread from the oven.
Lily silently patted Olive’s back. For some reason, Olive’s eyes stung.
