Chapter 174: The Clingy Girl and the Lazy Guy

After roaming around the vast estate, Alen finally chose to check out the sprawling garden. It was not like he had anything worth doing in this place other than checking out new things. He also didn’t want to go around trying to train again, as he had just recently engaged in a brutal battle.

He stepped onto the garden path. Beside him, the red-haired girl who introduced herself as Leviya walked steadily keeping his pace.

She had deliberately tagged along with him to show off the overall look of the mansion, acting as if she also didn’t have anything worth doing except guiding him around.

’Why is she following me like a lost tail? Is she planning something? Or did my handsome face really charm her that much that she doesn’t want to let me be alone... What a clingy girl...’

"So, where did you come from? You seem to be near my age. But I have never seen you around here before. Which family do you belong to?..."

Alen tilted his head at her probing questions and answered calmly.

"I already told you, I am just a simple wanderer. I don’t have any common place where I reside, and when it comes to family, I don’t belong to any of the noble families in this world..."

A surprised expression appeared on Leviya’s face. She turned her head toward him while they continued walking.

"Wait a second... Are you a commoner?!"

Alen paused his steps, thinking about what it actually means to be a commoner in this society.

’Is this world also among the ones which have strict divides between commoners and nobles? I haven’t thought about that. It seems the hierarchy still remains strong in this place. Well, I don’t care about that anyway...’

"Yep. I may just be a commoner..."

Alen looked at her with keen eyes, wanting to find out if she was looking down on him for being a commoner like some rich, spoiled young lady. But she didn’t show any disgust.

"Miss Leviya, can you give me a little bit of privacy?"

She looked at him calmly, folding her arms as she answered.

"Nope, I can’t leave you alone. I was told by Clora to keep a close eye on you so you wouldn’t do anything suspicious..."

Alen’s eyes widened at her words. He now realized exactly why she was following him everywhere.

’Damn that f*cking maid. I am surely going to throw her out a window one day...’

"So, you are the one who caused quite a havoc around the city. Did you lose your mind while doing that? Didn’t you know who rules over the city? Stupid wanderer..."

Alen suddenly felt annoyed by her nagging words, but he didn’t open his mouth. He already knew the universal rule of life.

’Never argue with a girl when you already know you can’t beat them in a war of words...’

"Hey, I am talking to you. Are you deaf?"

Alen stopped walking and turned around. He wasn’t able to hold back his annoyance any longer. He was done holding back.

"Hey, what is your deal? Don’t you see I don’t want to talk with you? Stop analyzing me every single second. I can see your true face hiding behind that polite facade!"

Leviya’s expression froze at his sharp words. Her friendly facade thinned out as she narrowed her emerald eyes dangerously, but she forced a tight smile onto her face anyway.

"What did you just say?..."

Alen stepped forward, closing the distance between them.

"I said, I can see the real you hiding behind the facade. Stop pretending by giving me a fake smile. There is nothing you are going to get by doing it. I am just a nobody who will go out of here in a few days, so there is no need to pretend..."

Alen looked at her head, narrowed his eyes slightly, and then looked away toward the trees.

Leviya stared at him for a tense moment. Then, she walked past him and spoke in a relatively softer tone.

"Follow me..."

Alen looked at her back, not entirely sure if he should or should not listen. But after seeing her walking away without waiting, he sighed quietly and started walking toward her.

They passed through the vibrant garden to enter a relatively open area where a small, clear pond was situated.

Leviya walked there and sat near the edge on the soft grass. Alen also joined her, sitting down while deliberately maintaining a respectable distance between them.

"So, you have a good eye to see right through me, it seems..."

She muttered the words while her entire focus remained on the silent ripples of the pond.

Alen didn’t react much. He grabbed a small pebble from the grass and threw it at a distance, hitting perfectly at an insect sitting safely on the surface of the water.

"Thank you for the compliment..."

Leviya’s eyes narrowed at the dead insect floating on the ripples as she replied calmly.

"It was not a compliment..."

Alen ignored her words as he picked up another pebble and threw it into the pond, aiming at another insect.

"What stage are you at then? What is your specialty?"

A small, genuine smile tugged on her lips as she answered calmly, giving him a sidelong glance.

"Well, I am still at the last trial of Stage 1. And my special ability is... Mind reading. Do you want me to read your mind and memories?"

Alen stayed entirely unaffected by her threatening words as he threw another pebble into the water.

"If you wish to die, you can try it for free as much as you want..."

His words echoed through the quiet environment. Leviya stared at him, trying to figure out if his words were a challenge or if he was just arrogant enough to say she couldn’t do it. But after finding none of the expected fear on his face, she fell silent.

"Are you saying it is dangerous for me to read your memories?..."

Alen just shrugged his shoulders while tossing another stone.

"Maybe..."

"Hey, stop killing the insects! You are going to wipe out their entire clan!"

Alen smirked as he continued to throw the stones anyway.

"I am just making sure that I will feel no sympathy while killing other beings in the Ascension Realm."

"Stop comparing them..."

Both of them fell silent for a long moment. Now, both of them felt much more comfortable around each other without the fake smiles. Just as the peaceful atmosphere was maintained, a voice, which sounded a little unusually sharp, came from right behind them.

"What are you doing here?"

...

Azrael’s POV:

Waking up in the morning sunlight was not as much fun as waking up in the afternoon. The bright sunrays fell through the gaps in the curtains as I lay there still in a deep sleep. The cool air of the air conditioner wouldn’t let me wake up and leave this cozy environment.

While hugging the soft pillow, a small smile appeared on my lips as I dreamed about my peaceful, grand, lazy life. Just as it seemed that I would lay there happily until the evening, a sudden knock on the door disturbed the peaceful atmosphere.

*Knock-Knock!*

"Young Master Azrael, wake up! Lady Sylvia herself sent me to wake you up. A guest has arrived in the house, and you should meet him."

My beautiful dream shattered into pieces. I looked up with cloudy eyes, wiping the sleep from my face as I picked up my phone from the bedside table and checked the time.

[15:00 PM]

My eyes widened in panic as I read the time. I immediately stood up from the mattress, almost falling off the edge of the bed in the process as I managed to keep my balance.

’Sigh... It seems I overslept... But I just checked earlier and it was only ten in the morning! How did it happen that I just opened my eyes a second later and then it is three in the afternoon? F*ck! If I don’t get up, Mom is really going to throw me out of the house. I should get up as early as possible...’

"Young Master, are you listening?"

I looked up, hearing the muffled voice from behind the door.

"Yep! I woke up! Just give me a few minutes, I’ll come out!"

Immediately after the words fell from my mouth, I quickly dived into the bathroom. I brushed my teeth, took a fast bath, and came out wearing brand new casual clothes. I combed my black hair into something that looked handsome—from my perspective, at least.

As I stepped out of the room, the maid standing outside the door bowed slightly and gave me the message.

"My Lady has said you should meet the guest and befriend him..."

I couldn’t help but frown at her words. Why wouldn’t I? It’s not like I could just befriend anyone I see. At least not before learning who the other person is and what their behavior is actually like.

"Who is the person? Another political chick wanting to be friends with my family?..."

The maid didn’t answer his question directly as she replied.

"You will know that after meeting him. Miss Leviya is currently leading the guest around..."

"Hmmm.... Is he young?..."

The maid suddenly blushed a little as she tried to calm herself down.

"Well, yeah... You will know about that when you see him..."

I couldn’t help but notice her red blush. It was not common for a maid, who always remains in perfect order, to blush around like a countryside girl. If this were some other mansion or strict noble house, she would have immediately been kicked out of the estate for not maintaining her emotions. But here in the Veridius Mansion, no such harsh rule exists; here, even the maids are treated like family.

"Okay, I will go check him out..."

I walked away from there as I climbed down through the long staircase to the hallway. I immediately took my steps toward the garden. It was because I already knew that Leviya, my so-called fiancée, liked visiting the garden, so ultimately she would lead the guest there to pass the time.

As I walked through the greenery searching for them, one specific thought came into my mind.

’Why did the guest suddenly come into the house out of nowhere? Why did Leviya willingly accept to lead the guest around? He is also a young guy... Can it be possible... that he is the exact same person she had mentioned? The one that she has a crush on? I will see about that...’

My expression became sharp as I noticed the soft sound of rippling water. I stepped outside the garden paths toward the clearing where the pond was located. Just as I expected, sitting there together on the grass, both of them sat there talking just like a couple.

Suddenly, I felt something stir painfully in my chest. I couldn’t hold back as the words left my lips, coming out a little too sharp.

"What are you doing here?"