Chapitre 43: Coaxing the Fiancée
"..."
Sebastian groaned. Normally, reading books was a very enjoyable past time for him. However, it was different when there were groups of people watching his every move.
'Am I a rare specimen?'
He shook his head with a sigh and buried his head deeper into the books. If he couldn't ignore their gazes, then he could hide from them.
The library was open until late at night and only when it was near curfew did Sebastian got up to go back to his dorm room. Willow, James, and Freddie had already reunited with him the morning prior.
"So are you going to tell us the truth now?"
James nudged Sebastian a few times while asking.
"As I said, I really only awakened my abilities a little more than two months ago," Sebastian sighed. Ever since he had defeated Gilbert, people asked him similar questions.
He answered all of them in the same way.
Naturally, nobody believed him. He only trained for a little less than three months and was able to defeat Gilbert. It would've been more believable if he had said that the sun rose from the west.
"Then, how did you defeat him?" Willow chimed in. They were curious. None of them were present on the day of the match and could only get bits and pieces of information from rumors.
"An arrow straight through the gut."
"""..."""
Let's try to never get on his bad side. The three silently vowed.
They had heard that Gilbert was still recovering, but they didn't know that Sebastian had done such a vicious move.
"I'm going to rest. When anybody looks for me, tell them that I'm still injured," Sebastian spoke weakly and headed straight for his bed. His ribs still weren't fully healed, he could only rely on his natural regeneration. Though the stigma could do anything—according to Balanos—he still needed the fundamental knowledge of what he wanted to do.
Summoning for example. He didn't know even the basic principles of summoning creatures from another dimension that's why it was impossible. Maybe if he had the chance to talk with summoners, but right now, it was impossible.
'What I need the most right now is the power to heal, but this country's healers are all under strict management of the royal family. If I want to meet healers, then I should go to the country of Tidas.'
But, how would he be able to find an opportunity to go to Tidas? It would take him nearly a month on horseback but he wouldn't have the necessary supplies. If he were to travel by wagon, it would take him a little more than half a month. And, that was only a one-way trip. It didn't include how much time he needed to stay there and how much time it would take to get back.
If he were to go away for that long immediately after getting engaged and besting Gilbert in battle, wouldn't everyone think that he ran away?
Sebastian sighed.
There was only one way he could think of that could help him achieve everything in a month.
An airship.
They were created with the help of the House of Sol a few years ago but the cost required to ride in one wasn't something to be laughed at. It was the fastest way to travel but even if Sebastian saved up his money for a year, it wouldn't be enough.
Royalty typically used them to travel to the other side of the continent—or for a greater fee, the other continents.
Sebastian heard that the cost of flying in an airship to get to the next country would be around two and a half million Aur while flying over to the other side of the continent would cost about ten million Aur. It was cheaper to travel long distances than short ones because the airships were kept in storage until someone requested it.
And even then, not just anyone with money would be able to ride. Only those with the right connections or reputation would be considered. Sebastian, being from the House of Sol, could ride on it but he would still need to provide the money.
"I'd need about three million Aur."
"Why do you need such a large amount of money...?"
"Amy?!"
Sebastian stood up as fast as he could and ended up bumping his head on the top bunk.
"Uh..." he awkwardly scratched the back of his head. It didn't hurt very much with his toughened body. "Why are you here? This is the boy's dorm..."
Amy raised a brow and glared at him, "you're the one who told me that we should go on a date. I looked for you in the library but you were already gone and you didn't come to the student council room either."
"Ah... right."
"Ah, right?!" Amy slammed a fist onto the side of the bed and made the entire bunk tremble.
Sebastian, Willow, James, and Freddie, the four of them flinched.
"First, you forget our date, and now you don't even show a hint of apologizing?"
Sebastian's three roommates left silently. They had already heard the matter of Sebastian being engaged to Amy from one of the involved parties hence they didn't have many questions about her presence.
"I'm sorry..."
Sebastian muttered. Why did he feel like she would still be mad even if he apologized?
His fears came into fruition as Amy continued glaring at him. "Now, answer my question. What do you need three million Aur for?"
Sebastian coughed twice, "nothing."
If he told her that he was going on a trip to Tidas and leave her behind, she might just rip him apart. Since they got engaged, she became more aggressive with her feelings. Although Sebastian didn't exactly hate that change, it was still a new feeling to him and he had to take some time to get used to it.
"Did you get into debt with some people?" Amy approached him and held his face firmly with her two hands and forced eye contact.
"No..."
"Then what do you need that money for? If you need it urgently, I can give it to you but you'd have to pay it back..."
It was obvious that she wouldn't relent. He was still injured and her usual worry for him amplified by several times.
There was only one thing to do, whisper sweet nothings into her ear.
Sebastian wrapped his arms around Amy's waist and buried his face into her neck.
"S-Sebastian?" she stuttered. She was very flustered. She was in the middle of interrogating him then he suddenly did something so intimate.
"It's no use if I get the money from you. I'm trying to earn it so that I can treat you the way you deserve."
He didn't forget to give her a light peck.
"Ah..." Amy softly moaned at the sudden kiss on her neck. With a red face, she pushed him away and took deep breaths to compose herself.
Her face was still flushed as she talked, "I don't need money, I just want you to be safe..."
Sebastian put on a hurt expression, "do you not like me hugging you?"
'I have to push on...!'
"N-no, I like it... But, it's too early—"
"There's no problem with that. I love you and you love me. Society doesn't have the right to tell us what to do."
Sebastian closed the distance once again and held her even more tightly.
'Just a little more...'
Soon, she'd back off in a fluster and run away. When that happens, Sebastian would chase her and they'd go on her date—making her completely forget about the matter with the money and forgetting the date.
Or at least, that's how he thought things would progress.
Unknowingly, a crowd had gathered in front of the open door to the room. It wasn't just boys either, there were also a few girls mixed in. They most likely followed Amy to serve as her protection.
"..."
Sebastian stared at the crowd and they returned his actions.
If you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.
Although it didn't match its actual meaning, Sebastian could only think of that one line.
In the presence of a crowd, his face wasn't thick enough to continue as he slowly released Amy and gestured for the people by the door to leave. When he saw the last figure disappear, only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.
Amy looked at him with glazed eyes and he couldn't help but kiss those lovely dark eyes. She closed her eyes as he gave each one a kiss before talking, "let's go on that date."
She couldn't resist his obvious attempt at changing the conversation and nodded in a daze.
They walked out of the dorm hand-in-hand. They were already seen so what was the point of hiding it?
Although they were still in their uniforms, that didn't stop them from enjoying themselves outside. It wasn't until late into the night did they return to Clarice's estate. She was staying there for the time being under the request of both Markus and Amy, herself.
"No, you're not allowed to be in the same room."
Clarice's tone was firm. Sebastian quickly headed for his room but Amy stayed behind and pleaded.
"I didn't mind before but now that you're engaged with each other, you can't be alone in the same room with him. As much as I'd like to see my grandchild as soon as possible, we also can't stop you from going to school just because you're pregnant..."
She knew very well how hard it was to carry a child. Heck, she was carrying one now.
"We won't do any of those things, I won't allow him... yet..."
"No means no. You two have already had fun with your date. Focus on your academics and wait until you graduate!"
They took nearly half an hour convincing the other to give in and in the end, Amy lost.
...
"Even though we've always slept in the same room..."
Amy muttered feeling aggrieved. They had to wake up early to go to school and were currently eating. Sebastian was completely unaware of the quarrel that transpired last night.
"Stop sulking already..."
Ever since he saw her this morning, she continued to complain in a low voice.
Sebastian stroked her head for a little bit before getting up to go to the washroom.
'If things could last like this forever... I'd be satisfied.'
He made the same wish as countless others. One that was seldom fulfilled.
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État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
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