It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 172

At any rate, now that I had gauged both our levels of stamina, one thing was certain.

‘Vivian won’t keep her promise.’

Tormented as she was by three men at once, it would be hard enough to sway even one, let alone two.

And with Halid now drawn into this insane four-cornered tangle, there would be no space for her to recover herself.

‘Now that I think about it, I had a hand in driving Halid to join.’

Of course, Lionel wasn’t standing idly by, relying only on Vivian’s promise. But I could see he would need more support in drawing these men actively to our side.

Watching Dantère, Ardin, and Vivian together, I thought carefully before I made my decision.

‘I’ll have to deal with Ardin Silias.’

Between Dantère and Ardin, it was Ardin who could be swayed, even without Vivian.

Thinking of Ardin’s perspective in A Night of Entwined Serpents, and what I had come to understand of his temperament now, I judged I could resolve him more quickly than Vivian could.

Of course, first I would need Lionel’s permission.

I turned from watching Ardin gently dabbing at Vivian’s sweat to face Lionel.

As always, our eyes met at once.

From my expression, my gaze, even the slightest movement, I could tell he hadn’t missed a thing.

“Come to think of it, you were sparring with Duke Calitas earlier, weren’t you?”

“It was nothing more than part of my daily training. Sparring with the Duke helps prepare for real combat.”

I decided it was best not to ask a dangerous question like ‘Who wins?’ I was a little curious, but one can’t go through life having every question answered.

“I won’t disturb you, so please continue.”

There was no reason to linger and receive more troubled looks. I should return to my room and start laying out concrete plans to overturn Silias.

“Let’s go up together.”

Lionel strode to me and slipped an arm around my waist.

“That’s enough for today.”

Halid nodded in agreement.

Vivian still seemed to want to sit and rest a while longer, so I left the training hall with Lionel first.

“Shall I carry you, if walking is difficult?”

…Come to think of it, there were three flights of stairs to climb. On these trembling legs.

“I’m fine.”

I hesitated for a moment before shaking my head. At times like this, the more I forced myself to move, the quicker my muscles would build.

“Rather, there’s something I want to discuss with you.”

“Is it about Ardin Silias?”

“What? How did you know?”

“You were watching him for quite some time.”

He looked down at me with a smile shadowing his lips.

But somehow… his eyes did not smile.

‘Could it be that Lionel is jealous of Ardin, after Halid…?’

Of course, that couldn’t be it.

He must simply have guessed at what was on my mind.

“He asked me for help regarding that thing we captured last time.”

“And what did you answer?”

“I told him it would be difficult for me to visit Silias unless you accompanied me.”

At my reply, he nodded.

“You must never set foot in Silias alone.”

Lionel would answer when I asked, but he did not tell me every detail of the current situation.

Especially concerning Ardin and Dantère, it seemed he wished for me to keep my distance from them.