The Reason I Keep Avoiding My Childhood Friend - Chapter 203

“I’m perfectly comfortable now. Are you saying this because of what the coachman said earlier?”

Considering Kir’s noble perspective, it’s plausible he found the intervention of an employee inconvenient.

Not being a noble myself, I’m not offended when they treat me with familiarity. They know the boundaries, so their actions never felt like overstepping to the point of being intrusive.

“I shouldn’t be meddling in how you interact with people.”

“Then why?”

“Because I can take better care of you if I’m around. Where else will you find a place as safe and comfortable as the Grand Duchy’s mansion?”

“Anyone listening would think I live in constant discomfort and danger.”

“So, you don’t want to live with me?”

Kir’s eyebrows twitched as if he was annoyed that I kept resisting. I see no reason to move when I’m perfectly fine with my current living situation.

Even if Mr. Hafterry doesn’t teach me as he used to, I can still learn a great deal by asking questions now and then, which is a huge advantage for a student.

But beyond that, there’s a more significant issue.

“Of course, you won’t be staying in the Empire forever.”

Kir closed his mouth, hit the nail on the head.

There was nothing more to say. Kir was expected to return to the Principality once the Emperor’s celebration was over. It would be strange for me to go back to Mr. Hafterry’s house or continue staying in Kir’s house without its master.

I’ve been studying all my life, where would I get the money? I didn’t want to be a burden to my father by declaring I want to move based on flimsy reasons.

Kir seemed to take my response seriously, perhaps in a different context. His fingers, coarser than they were in childhood, slowly traced his lips as if he faced a dead end.

He appeared deeply troubled.

“Were you planning to live in the Empire forever?”

“Not forever, but I don’t plan on going to the Principality anytime soon.”

I couldn’t say when I’d return to the Principality. There is no end to learning, but I still feel like a novice, so leaving the Sage’s Study feels like a distant future.

“If I decide to live in the Empire forever, would you move in?”

“Can you?”

Ignoring Kir’s hate for the Empire, the Grand Duke would never allow it. This was a completely different scenario from just studying abroad when he was young.

Kir had grown into a role significant enough to take on the Grand Duke’s responsibilities. It’s unlikely the Grand Duke would permit him to stay in the Empire permanently.

“If you promise.”

Why is he like this today? He feels uncomfortably forward that I’m starting to feel burdensome.

“Is something wrong?”

“It’s not that something’s wrong with me. I just think it’d be better if you moved out of that house.”

“My teacher’s house? Why? I’m really doing well there. There’s no problem at all.”

Kir had a bitter smile and rubbed his eyes with his fingers, looking extremely tired.

“I’m being serious, so you should consider it seriously too.”

What does he mean? It didn’t make sense to seriously consider an issue that didn’t need serious thinking. Kir stood up abruptly.

“It’s late. Go wash up and rest. You were tired today.”

I got up reflexively. There was nothing more to hold onto Kir for and no words left to say.

I headed to my room, left with a lingering discomfort from not being able to conclude our discussion.

*

In fact, I often stayed here too, whenever the Grand Duke visited the Empire with my father. I even had my own room, so the mansion wasn’t entirely unfamiliar to me.

As I adeptly made my way to my room, I couldn’t help but feel odd. At this point, considering it my own space even if I were to live separately, do I need to move again?

Upon reaching my room and opening the door, a sense of familiarity spread. It doesn’t mean it was messy. It was as neatly arranged as a hotel room, just very familiar to me.

The sight of the comfortable bed made me want to lie down immediately. I decided to wash up and get into bed quickly.

The pajamas were already there. Technically, I hadn’t grown much, so I just wore clothes that had been bought previously.

I pushed away the sadness that came back again.

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