By the time Lyr returned, it was almost evening.
Just like that day, he didn’t go straight into the house but came to the courtyard.
As soon as he arrived, he saw a maid tidying up the cups on the table.
“Did a guest come by?”
Lyr approached and asked curiously.
The scene looked just like a visitor had recently been there.
Sometimes he really wondered, when Tif was home alone, how did she handle visitors?
“They? With Yilu?”
“Yes, and Miss Teanya.”
“Alright, that’s fine too.”
Lyr had almost forgotten that tea party lessons were also a favorite course for noble ladies.
Back when he was at the Academy, some popular boys would be invited by girls to attend, but Lyr had no such memories.
Having him sit here like a log and chat with others, he really couldn’t do it.
“You don’t need to clean up. I’ll sit here for a while.”
He’d been wandering around outside all day, so it was a good chance to rest here.
“Okay, should I get you something to eat?”
“No need, just leave it.”
Lyr wasn’t particular about these things. When hunting magical beasts in the frontier, he might go several days without a hot meal.
Besides, there was so much food left untouched—no point letting it go to waste.
And so, after the maids left, Lyr casually sat down in one of the seats.
He raised his head and looked out across the horizon, just as the setting sun’s rays painted the evening clouds.
Lyr stared blankly into the distance, his thoughts drifting away.
‘Should I tell Yilu or not?’
He had been thinking about this the entire way.
He understood Lulong’s intentions, but it all seemed too idealistic.
Lulong, and even the Royal Family, only wanted to open the ruins; they didn’t consider Yilu’s situation.
Even now, under the influence of the Curse, she was already in that state. What if she gained power?
Lyr didn’t dare imagine that.
When a person is trapped in an inescapable situation, there are generally only two states: one is fear and terror.
But if someone suddenly gains power, then to reject that situation, destroying everything becomes the best method.
If Yilu, with power, fell into that situation again, would she indiscriminately slaughter like that Witch?
That was a terrible and irreversible path.
That Witch, who had once done the Kingdom a favor, must have known her own condition—unable to stay in crowded places for long—so she chose to disappear in the end.
Even if she remained in the Kingdom, she didn’t want to interact much, finally vanishing from everyone’s sight.
Just like that girl he had slain.
If you don’t want to drag others down because of the Curse, the best way is to stay far away from people.
‘I wonder if the family before the Shiga Family was truly formidable—not afraid of that Witch.’
Or perhaps he already knew her identity, or had some way to suppress the Witch’s Curse.
That was truly curious.
Thinking this, Lyr unconsciously picked up a dessert from the table and took a bite.
Before he could react, an intense sweetness flooded his entire mouth—sweet to the point of cloying—making it hard for Lyr to keep a straight face.
He suppressed the urge to spit it out, took a deep breath, and barely managed to steady himself.
Lyr’s eyes widened as he looked at the little thing in his hand in disbelief.
“Is this thing this sweet?”
A dessert the size of a palm had at least a fistful of sugar stuffed inside.
“Otherwise?”
From the direction the maid had left earlier, Yilu limped over.
“This kind of dessert is meant to be eaten in small bites, paired with tea.”
Yilu was speechless at Lyr’s behavior.
“Who eats it in such big mouthfuls like that? Even feeding a pig wouldn’t be done that way.”
She hadn’t really taken tea party lessons, but she knew about such things—she had tried a bit just now.
These exquisite desserts, aside from their appearances catering to noble ladies, are usually made extremely sweet.
So when eating, you only need a very small bite.
Just a taste, that’s the image noble ladies want to maintain.
The way Lyr ate just now—even a pig wouldn’t eat like that.
“I really didn’t know that.”
Lyr looked awkwardly at the remaining dessert in his hand, then finally set it down.
How could someone who never attended tea parties and knew nothing about this understand?
Watching Yilu slowly walk over to him and sit down, Lyr asked, “What did the doctor say this morning?”
“It’s fine, just need to rest for a while.”
“That really is difficult.”
Lyr said with a bitter smile.
She was right on the mark, but recalling Tif’s words earlier, Yilu felt even more displeased.
He didn’t even treat her as a friend, speaking his feelings so casually—it really irritated her.
Suppressing her anger, Yilu looked around and said, “It really is true. If you have something on your mind, you like to sit here alone.”
Lyr was surprised that Yilu suddenly knew this. He started to raise his hand, then relaxed it—probably Tif had told her.
“I saw you sitting up there for a while.”
Yilu glanced at a window in the room, which directly faced the rear courtyard.
She had clearly seen Lyr return and come straight here.
“So you’re paying attention to me?”
“Who would care about someone like you?”
Yilu shot back immediately.
“Uh…”
Lyr didn’t understand who had riled her up again.
Or was it that she only had such a temper with him?
“I heard you went to the Academy today. How was it?”
The maid who had followed Lyr had also returned earlier, bringing back many things he needed.
It seemed Lyr really intended to let her recover before sending her back.
Hearing this, Lyr instinctively opened his mouth to tell the truth, but then he thought better of it and just sighed.
He hadn’t even figured it out yet, and the person in question came asking.
All these actions were caught by Yilu’s eyes, making her frown.
She gave a light snort.
“It seems I really am a bother to you.”
This hesitating behavior, like he was choosing not to speak because of her identity.
Just as Tif had said.
“No, what bother?”
Lyr didn’t understand what she meant.
“Since I’m not worthy of knowing, then I won’t disturb you.”
Yilu stood up, maintaining her previous posture, ready to leave.
With her back to Lyr, she bit her lip, hesitated, and then said, “I thought I could see you as someone special, but it seems I was flattering myself.”
After saying this, Yilu walked away without looking back, leaving Lyr staring at her back, still not understanding what had just happened.