It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 169
Now that I was officially Lionel’s fiancée and soon to be wed, neither Dantère nor Ardin would dare harm me unless they’d lost their minds. Even so, their mere presence in the same space was harmful to my sanity.
The exact opposite of Lionel, who calmed and thrilled me simply by being near.
Still, it wouldn’t be good to make outright enemies of them. I couldn’t afford to ignore them completely.
“How has that research been going? The specimen you took away, the ashen dust mass.”
At my attempt to redirect the conversation, light flickered in Ardin’s eyes that had been dull as dead glass.
“If I’d known you were interested, I would have spoken with you sooner. I’ve actually been running several experiments—”
I regretted asking at once….
Excited, Ardin began spilling magical jargon in a flood, like it was nothing.
Thanks to browsing through theoretical tomes and various other fields in the annex library, I could roughly follow what he was saying, but understanding was another matter entirely.
“For that reason, I must ask, would you be willing to visit my family’s estate and infuse divine power once more?”
Visit the Silias estate? Ugh, I disliked the thought. Yet uncovering the true nature and weakness of the ashen dust masses could be worthwhile.
And perhaps…
“Would it be possible if I came with Lionel? He wouldn’t permit me to go alone.”
“Mm… the Duke of Luanax, is it….”
With an awkward look, Ardin trailed off, then gave a small nod.
“Then I’ll seek permission from my brother. The master of Silias estate is not me, after all.”
“All right. Please let me know once it’s arranged.”
Ardin’s brother, Marquis Felix Silias, was a man with much to hide. I wondered whether such a man would willingly allow Lionel into his house.
If things go well and we receive an invitation, it could be a great opportunity for Lionel. With what I knew of Silias, I could aid him.
“Sasha, have you waited long?”
I turned toward Vivian emerging from her bedroom, and my eyes widened. Likely Ardin and Dantère felt much the same.
“I don’t exercise much, so this was all I had to wear.”
Tightly fitted riding breeches, a loose white blouse, hair tied up in a ponytail that bared the nape of her neck.
Different from her usual elegance, and yet, her beauty was impossible to look away from.
Truly, when you’re beautiful, anything suits you.
“Forget exercise. Want to play with me instead?”
Dantère slipped his arms around Vivian’s waist from behind, pressing close. I hardly needed to look to imagine the state of him below.
“No. I promised Sasha first.”
“Sasha can join us. I’ll have you both dripping in sweat. Much more fun than tedious training.”
“Viscount, keep that up and you’ll be thrown out. Lionel’s already on edge as it is.”
“Oh? Surely not?”
“Yes.”
I answered without hesitation.
Sulking, Dantère released Vivian’s waist.
“Just this once.”
“Why should I?”
He liked to act as though he would not cross Lionel, but sometimes Dantère’s reckless lack of foresight bordered on absurd. I couldn’t afford to show weakness.
Still… I had planned to spend time with Vivian alone, yet somehow Ardin and Dantère followed us.
And when they trailed us all the way to the underground training hall, it became clear they wanted to watch Vivian exercise.
“Hold on, wait here.”
