After Kadita returned inside the mansion upon being called by Mom, I found myself alone on the balcony. Sometimes, loneliness can be a blessing.
'Finding solace in the cool night air while gazing at the sky isn't so bad, is it?'
Unlike the country in my previous world, where light pollution obscured the stars, the skies confidently displayed their beauty in this world.
Stars dotted the night sky like shimmering jewels, filling the vast expanse with their brilliance.
'It's breathtaking. I can't help but feel a twinge of regret for spending my past life confined within the same room.'
As I gazed at the stars, I was reminded of my Mana zone ability. Upon contemplation, I realized that the contents of my mana zone weren't related to elemental magic.
Considering my proficiency in elemental magic belongs to high comprehension, it's only natural that my mana zone should be related to this.
'If you think about it, it doesn't make much sense.'
Deciding not to dwell too much on it, I chose to continue admiring the beautiful sky.
-Step step step step
I sensed someone approaching. Was it Kadita? Didn't Mother previously summon her?
Deciding to confirm the identity of the person, I turned around and found a woman with gray hair and eyes, dressed in a one-piece dress adorned with gold embellishments.
'...Olivia? What brings her here?'
I was a little taken aback by Olivia's sudden arrival, but it wasn't good etiquette to stare at her for too long.
"Uh, do you need anything, Lady Olivia?"
Hearing my question, Olivia just froze in place.
'Wait, Olivia, please say something or this situation will be very awkward.'
"Ah... Congratulations on your birthday, Mr. Fawwaz."
After a moment's pause, Olivia finally responded to my question. But wishing me a happy birthday wasn't typical of her. At least she didn't do this to Ivan when they were first introduced.
'Hmm, is there something wrong?'
"Ahh... thank you for your kind attention, Lady Olivia."
Deciding not to dwell too much on this sudden change, I responded with words of gratitude. After all, what else could I do?
"By the way, what brings you here, Mr. Fawwaz?"
Olivia asked, curious about what I was doing, her head slightly tilted inquisitively.
"I'm just admiring the sky and enjoying the cool breeze."
"It seems enjoyable. Mind if I join you?"
Olivia asked, flashing her signature elegant smile, her eyelashes fluttering, and her tiny red lips accentuating her excellence as the main heroine.
"Of course, it would be an honor to have your company."
I decided to accept Olivia's offer, choosing to respond with the words I had diligently studied from the book "100 Elegant Noble Manners That Even a Monkey Can Understand" the night before.
'That darn book uses monkeys as a reference point, which is rather unfortunate that it's the only book I can comprehend.'
"Alright, please excuse me then." Olivia closed the distance between us, making her way towards my side. She placed her hands on the balcony railing as she directed her gaze towards the sky.
Following Olivia's lead, I turned my gaze skyward as well, and we stood there silently, admiring the expanse above us while occasionally being brushed by the cold evening breeze.
.
.
Breaking the silence between us, Olivia posed a rather unexpected question.
"Mr. Fawwaz, do you know why I am proposing to postpone our engagement?"
'Wow, that's quite a direct topic to broach.'
Truth be told, I didn't fully comprehend the reason myself, but I could make a rough guess.
In the original story, Olivia's issue stemmed from the politics within her family. However, postponing the engagement seemed to be a separate matter. So admitting that I didn't know seemed to be the most appropriate response.
"Unfortunately, I don't possess the ability to read minds."
"Oh, is that so?" Olivia responded, seeming somewhat incredulous. "Then, what are your thoughts on the matter?"
Olivia continued her inquiry, her posture still directed towards the sky. Wait, why was she so curious?
"Well, to be honest, it's disheartening for me, you know? But I do respect your decision."
Hearing my response, Olivia slowly redirected her gaze towards me, and I naturally followed suit. Thus, the two of us found ourselves locked in a mutual stare.
"For someone who claims to be sad, your eyes betray a different sentiment."
'Wait, what does she mean?'
I could only remain silent, at a loss for words in response to Olivia's observation.
"The expression you had when I made that request earlier wasn't one of anger or sadness... it was one of curiosity. It seemed as though you anticipated a similar request from me, but the outcome was slightly different from what you expected."
What did that mean? Wait, did Olivia possess that kind of ability? What kind of life had she lived to be able to discern someone's gaze like that?
"So, what are your thoughts on it? Ah, and just to add, I can detect lies from my conversation partners, so please answer truthfully."
I've never witnessed Olivia's ability to detect lies before. Is she being truthful? But I don't want to take any chances. For now, let's adhere to her request.
"Well, as you mentioned, I initially anticipated a negative reaction from you when we first met, given our respective circumstances. Considering you were engaged to a young Lord Everglen who cannot inherit his family's power, a request for the cancellation of our engagement wouldn't have been unexpected. I was prepared to comply with your request. However, I was surprised when instead of a cancellation, you proposed a postponement."
I ended up blending a few lies with the truth. It was indeed a fact that I had expected an annulment of the engagement. However, I couldn't divulge the real reason behind my expectation—the fact that in the original story, Olivia was the main heroine who would ultimately end up with Ivan.
"I see. It seems your perception is rooted in insecurity."
Olivia uttered this with a mysterious smile, reminiscent of a cunning fox in moments like these.
"Ah, by the way, I've heard about your remarkable accomplishment in dismantling the slavery organization."
Continuing seamlessly to the next topic, Olivia inquired about the incident when I defeated Reinhardt.
'Hmm, what does she hope to achieve by asking me this?'
"Regarding that, yes, with the assistance of those who supported me, we successfully dismantled the organization."
During the discussion about attacking the organization's hideout, I agreed with Mr. Ian. He would assist in validating the destruction resulting from Reinhardt's death. As part of the agreement, I agreed to draft a report indicating that I required Ian and Merlin's assistance in defeating Reinhardt, although I defeated him alone.
"Hmm, to be honest, I have my doubts about that, Mr. Fawwaz."
I found it intriguing that Olivia harbored doubts regarding the information from the empire. It sparked a sense of excitement within me. But did she suspect that I defeated Reinhardt alone?
"Ah, I see. And what exactly are the grounds for your doubts, Lady Olivia?"
"Two, I have two reasons to doubt."
Olivia indicated the number two with her finger as she spoke.
"Firstly, based on reports from my trusted subordinates, there are no traces of Mr. Merlin's or Mr. Ian's magic at the site of Reinhardt's previous battle. From this evidence, I deduce that all these accomplishments are solely your own."
"Lastly, the underlying factor that fuels my doubts and leads me to believe that you defeated Reinhardt alone is..."
Olivia paused momentarily, a gust of wind causing her gray hair to cascade, and her sharp gray eyes bore into mine.
"The fact that you possess the capability to do so."
~~~
TN: I deeply regret missing two weeks. I sincerely apologize. Doing Dogeza