It was a coincidence.
I happened to run into Yurik alone when I went down to the village for errands.
Today, the market was crowded, making it uncomfortable to walk. Already small in stature, I often found myself jostling with the maids.
‘When will they come?’
It had been about ten minutes since I’d been separated from the maids. I sat at the open square’s fountain, considering that they must be frantically searching for me.
“……Hello?”
“…….”
It was then that I encountered Yurik. He had a book in his hand, as if he had been to the library. It was a rather difficult formula book, uncharacteristic for his age.
‘But where’s his maid?’
He too seemed to have been separated from his accompanying maid, sitting vacantly by the fountain.
“My lord, where are you!”
At that moment, I heard the desperate call of a woman. It seemed like she was calling Yurik my lord.
“……Um, I think that person over there is looking for you?”
As the maid’s figure gradually disappeared from my sight, I spoke first. Nonetheless, Yurik remained seated, not moving a finger.
Is he still angry? It was awkward to meet his gaze after what happened last time.
“……Your name is Lise, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
He opened his mouth, remembering my name.
“I received the handkerchief. You didn’t have to give it.”
“It seemed like something you cherished.”
“No!”
I flinched at his loud voice. Looking at Yurik’s slightly shadowed face, something seemed to be bothering him.
“……That rabbit handkerchief. I don’t cherish it. Do you think it suits someone as childish as me?”
“What does that matter? Are you bothered by what Swell said last time?”
“…….”
“Just ignore what he said. Even though he talks like that, he also likes cute things.”
Yurik remained silent. As the atmosphere became awkward again, I thought hard for something to say.
I stared absently at the book he had. It was a mustread for physics formulas. It was a rather famous book among the nobility, and of course, we had it at the Marsen house as well.
“We have that book in our house too.”
I threw out a comment to ease the tension, but Yurik had no reaction.
“We have the whole series.”
“…….”
“It’s not that hard, you know? I gave up reading the series halfway. And have you read the other book by the same author? It’s really complex.”
No matter how much I talked, Yurik did not open his mouth.
The book seemed like common ground, but it didn’t seem to resonate with him. I then launched into the plot of the popular “Gilbert’s Heroic Tales” among our peers.
“Wasn’t the description of Gilbert saving his mother at the end really cool?”
Surely, this would get a reaction. There wouldn’t be a child who hadn’t read this book!
“……I didn’t read that book.”
“What? That famous book?”
“Never heard of it.”
I was more surprised by this than the fact that Yurik liked cute things.
“You don’t like reading books?”
When I asked, Yurik looked like he had been caught in a lie.
“What?”
“No, just……. Since you said you didn’t read ‘Gilbert’s Heroic Tales.'”
“Is that a famous book?”
He really doesn’t like books. When I nodded, Yurik’s face turned pale, and he avoided my gaze.
He mumbled something like, ‘Then I’ll have to read it from now on.’
“You really don’t like books.”
“……Actually, I prefer swordsmanship to books.”
Yurik, caught, spilled something I hadn’t even asked for.
“Really?”
I was a bit surprised at this. The Fenton family, to which Yurik belonged, ran a trading company and had little to do with swordsmanship.
According to the original, Yurik would later become the successor to the family and take over the trading company.
Is that all? He is someone who can perfectly take on the role of successor more than anyone else. Not only the empire’s trade but also a person who actively stimulates trade and cultural exchange with the whole world.
“Isn’t swinging a sword cool?”
“It is cool.”
“Why? You don’t think it suits me, do you?”
When Yurik asked, I quickly shook my head. It was really surprising. In the original work, Yurik had learned simple selfdefense and physical skills, but it was described that he almost never used them.
“No, no. It suits you well.”
“Do you like books?”
“Mmm. I’ve read three in a day before. At least it’s not boring when I read a book.”
When I spoke, Yurik handed me the book he was holding.
“This book too?”
“I’ve already read it twice.”
“…….”
At my response, Yurik hesitated.
“……Then can you tell me what’s on page 36? I read it several times in the library, but I don’t understand.”
“Show me.”
Yurik immediately opened to page 36.
“Oh, this.”
I moved closer to Yurik to explain to him.
“You get it?”
“Yeah. This is kind of easy. It’s related to differentiation…….”
As Yurik focused on my words, he asked me whenever there was something he didn’t know. Even though he said he hated books, Yurik had quick comprehension and a natural mind. He easily acquired the content and applied it.
“Yes, that’s it.”
“So how do you use this formula?”
“Ah, this isn’t much different from earlier.”
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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