Chapter 739: Date With a Crimson Flower II

When they played the Archery game, Willow had also done her best to ensure that she tied with Ezra in the total score.

She hadn’t simply let him take the lead.

Whenever their scores came close, she made an effort to keep up with him.

"For a Blood Alchemist, your accuracy is quite high when it comes to shooting."

Ezra said as he reached into the bucket filled with drinks and took out a bottle of pineapple fruit juice.

He placed it on the table instead of drinking it immediately, allowing it to warm up to a more suitable temperature.

Since he was wearing his heat-stimulating bandages, he could manage drinks that were slightly cold.

However, that didn’t mean he particularly wanted to drink something straight from a bucket filled with ice.

He had no reason to rush.

"You of all people should know that other Alchemy Paths tend to take inspiration from the philosophies of different Alchemy Paths when developing their own Alchemical creations."

Willow replied calmly.

She rested against the one-seater sofa, looking at Ezra as she continued.

"My family, along with other families, trains their children in shooting practice to improve our accuracy when launching Alchemy attacks such as Blood Missiles, Earth Daggers, and similar techniques."

She explained with a serious expression.

"I know that."

Ezra replied dryly.

Willow looked at him quietly for a brief moment.

There wasn’t much of a reaction on his face.

He had simply listened to her explanation and given a straightforward response.

She continued watching him, as though trying to read something from his expression.

"Did you enjoy your date with Selena more than mine?"

She asked curiously.

"The two were enjoyable in their own ways. But if I’m being honest, my preference is rather selfish. Because I would have preferred staying at home in my study and preparing for tomorrow’s resumption of classes."

Ezra replied honestly.

"I see. So, you can’t really say that one was better than the other because you don’t view either date as something particularly emotional."

Willow said calmly, interpreting his answer as best she could.

I think I’m beginning to understand Ezra Ashenlocke’s view on how he sees people.

She thought to herself.

She had been worried when Selena told her that she and Ezra had visited the Light Spot.

Willow had already planned to take him there for their date.

However, learning that Selena had visited the same place with him the previous day meant she had to reconsider her arrangements.

She didn’t want their date to feel like a repetition of what he had already experienced.

That was why she had spent the night planning a different route.

They started at the Game Center, where they played several games that were different from the ones Ezra and Selena had played.

Afterward, they walked around the garden and talked for a while.

Although...

I ended up giving in and visiting the Domestic Animal Farm anyway.

Willow’s thoughts came to a pause.

She had intended to avoid repeating the same activities, yet she hadn’t been able to resist visiting the farm.

I couldn’t stop myself from going there to see the cute animals.

She thought, somewhat disappointed that she hadn’t managed to keep her original plan.

He even found out that I’m a regular guest at the farm.

That was another thing she hadn’t particularly intended to reveal.

"Ahhh."

Willow let out a quiet breath.

She shifted her attention back to Ezra, who was still sitting opposite her.

This is the final spot I arranged for our date.

It was another place she usually visited with Vera and Diane whenever they wanted to relax together.

Unlike the Game Center and the garden, this place was already familiar to her.

It was somewhere she could comfortably spend time without having to think too much about what to do next.

"It seems this Light Spot is a regular destination for you, right?"

Ezra asked calmly.

He picked up the bottle of pineapple juice and checked its temperature.

It was no longer as cold as when he had first taken it from the bucket.

He turned the bottle slightly in his hand before placing it back on the table.

"Yes. Vera, Diane, Sasha, and I visit this place quite often."

Willow replied calmly.

"It’s only Selena who hadn’t visited this place before yesterday."

She added.

The girl had refused to visit the Light Spot because she wanted her first visit to be with her crush.

Willow’s gaze remained fixed on Ezra for a moment.

She didn’t say anything further about it.

Knock.

Knock.

A light knock echoed from the door.

"Lady Willow Derlis and Sir Ezra Ashenlocke, I’m here with your order."

A woman’s voice sounded from outside.

"Okay."

Willow replied calmly.

She rose from the one-seater sofa and walked towards the door.

Taking out the key card they had been given, she used it to unlock the entrance.

The door opened.

A waitress stood outside, pushing a trolley with a tray carrying the food Willow and Ezra had ordered.

She entered the room and wheeled the trolley towards the table.

After positioning it properly, she began transferring the covered plates onto the table.

The waitress arranged their orders before stepping back.

"Please enjoy your meal."

She lowered her head politely and left the room.

Willow watched her leave before closing the door.

Once the door was shut, she returned to her seat.

"I see."

Ezra replied simply to Willow’s earlier words.

"Let’s put that aside and get straight to why I asked you on this date."

Willow sat back down on the one-seater sofa and crossed her legs.

Her expression remained calm as she faced Ezra.

The casual conversation they had been having was about to end.

She had already spent enough time enjoying their date, and there was something important she wanted to discuss with him.

Ezra looked at her, giving her his attention.

"Ezra Ashenlocke, please become my fiancé."

Willow said calmly.

Ezra tilted his head slightly to the right.

He was a little surprised.

He hadn’t expected those exact words, although he had spent some time considering what Willow wanted to discuss with him before agreeing to the date.

Selena’s reason had been easier to understand.

Her invitation had been connected to the contract, which he knew she had also used as an excuse to get closer to him.

But Willow’s reason was still unclear.

He had considered the possibility that she wanted to ask him on a date because she liked him.

It was one of the possibilities he had taken note of.

Still...

He couldn’t simply settle on that explanation.

There were several possibilities worth considering, and he preferred to understand the reason behind her request before reaching a conclusion.

That was how Ezra approached things.

"Why?"

Ezra asked plainly.

"I, Willow Derlis..."

Willow adjusted her seating posture, moving forward slightly from the back of the one-seater sofa.

She looked directly at Ezra before continuing.

"Have a dream of becoming the next Duchess of my family. However, my rival for that position is my elder brother, Lucien Derlis."

She began explaining.

"As you already know, Lucien is a top talent and a genius. At his age, he has already reached the Arcanist Alchemist rank. Because of this, he has gained the influence and backing of many Elders and High-Board members within my family."

Willow paused briefly.

"He is already far ahead of me in this battle of succession."

She explained calmly.

Her words carried no attempt to deny her brother’s achievements.

Lucien Derlis was talented.

There was no reason for her to pretend otherwise, especially when his accomplishments were already known within their family.

His advancement to the Arcanist Alchemist rank at such a young age had given him an advantage that was difficult to overlook.

The backing of the Elders and High-Board members only made his position stronger.

Willow understood that.

She knew how far ahead he was, and she wasn’t going to pretend that the gap between them was insignificant.

"If your brother is that talented, then why go against him?"

Ezra asked.

He already had an idea of what her answer might be.

Considering the little he had heard about Lucien Derlis, he had his own guesses.

Even though those exact words he had heard about Lucien were nothing but good stories.

But Ezra had his own thoughts figured out about him.

However, he wanted to hear Willow’s explanation.

"Lucien is definitely a top talent. He is even one of the best geniuses in the Kingdom. And I know deep down that he is worthy of becoming the next Duke of Derlis, but..."

Willow’s fingers tightened around the fabric of her gown.

Her expression stiffened slightly.

For a moment, she didn’t continue.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t acknowledge Lucien’s qualifications.

If anything, she had just made it clear that she recognized them.

He was a genius, and his achievements spoke for themselves.

If the succession were decided by talent alone, Lucien would have a very strong claim to the position.

But that wasn’t the only thing she considered.

Becoming the Duke of Derlis meant gaining control over the entire House.

It wasn’t a position that should be judged by Alchemy talent alone.

Willow’s concern lay elsewhere.

She feared what Lucien might do if he obtained that much authority.

And the more she considered his position, the more difficult it became to dismiss that concern.

"...his true nature makes him too dangerous to be given that much power over the entire Derlis House. I fear that if Lucien becomes the Duke of Derlis, there is a possibility that the Derlis Sin will happen again."

She said with a serious expression.

Her fingers remained pressed against her gown.

She wasn’t accusing Lucien of already committing such an act.

Neither was she claiming to know exactly what he intended to do.

But she couldn’t bring herself to overlook the possibility.

The Derlis Sin was not something she wanted to see repeated.

And if Lucien became the Duke, the authority he would possess would make the consequences far greater.

Again...

Willow recognized his talent. She knew he was capable of leading the family, at least when judged by his achievements.

Yet she couldn’t separate those achievements from the danger she saw in his way of thinking.

That was the contradiction she had to deal with.

She couldn’t simply call him unworthy because he was her rival.

Nor could she ignore her concerns just because he was a genius with the support of the family.

"Don’t tell me... Is he trying to delve into the Forbidden Alchemies within Blood Alchemy?"

Ezra asked plainly.

His interest in the conversation had increased slightly.

"I’m not sure."

Willow shook her head.

"And that’s the true problem."

She paused again.

Her gaze lowered towards her walking stick.

For a brief moment, she remained quiet, looking at it before raising her eyes towards Ezra again.

She didn’t have a definite answer.

If Lucien was truly pursuing Forbidden Alchemy within Blood Alchemy, then her concerns would be much easier to explain.

But she couldn’t say that was what he was doing.

She wasn’t certain.

And that uncertainty was precisely what troubled her.

She had her reasons for opposing him, but she couldn’t turn suspicion into proof simply because she feared what might happen.

At the same time, she couldn’t ignore what she had observed about him.

"Like Vera and you, Lucien is very difficult to read. But if there is one thing that is clear about him..."

Willow’s expression remained serious.

"It’s his view on human life. He believes that people born into privilege should be able to benefit from those who weren’t born into the same privileges. That way of thinking is immoral."

She said.

Her gaze stayed on Ezra.

That was the part of Lucien she found difficult to accept.

His talent wasn’t the problem.

Neither was the influence he had gained within the family.

It was what he believed people were entitled to do with the advantages they possessed.

And unlike his intentions regarding Forbidden Alchemy, this was something Willow could speak about with greater certainty.

She knew what she thought of that belief.

No matter how talented Lucien was, no matter how many Elders and High-Board members supported him, she couldn’t convince herself that such a way of thinking was acceptable for the person who would eventually lead House Derlis.

Especially when that mindset wasn’t just a thing of thought to her elder brother.