North x Northwest

Chapter 368

Chapter 368

Extra’s Chapter 368

Extra 1: Boyfriend is gone: Liloa & Edgar

It has been three months since Lil left the Retiro residence and lived separately in Roahn. She said it wasn’t because she had any other intentions, but because she wanted to focus on her research and writing. Ed was allowed to see her, but only once a day, either during lunch or dinner. While the whole arrangement frustrated Ed, he held on to Lil’s promise of returning to his residence after her studies were over, otherwise, he might’ve lost his mind already.

Tonight, Ed just returned from their dinner. He didn’t feel it when they were together, but he felt very lonely being alone in his huge mansion. In reality, however, he wasn’t alone, for Levi and Linhardt lived with him, and hundreds of vassals came and went every day. On top of that, even Lil’s half-sister Constance was staying there, too. Nonetheless, Ed felt lonesome.

‘But I have to endure this. Otherwise, it will upset Liloa. She absolutely hates the feeling of being controlled…’

Ed was well aware of this and attempted to avoid obsessing over her for years… but failed. In the end, he had no choice but to accept this fact about himself and therefore allowed himself to be deeply attached to her as long as he was never caught.

Of course, he had been holding up well so far… Well, until he saw the messenger pigeon that was used as their means of communication…

The pigeon flew to Ed as soon as he arrived at the mansion. This pigeon was only meant to serve him and Lil. As soon as he reached out his hand, something fell from the pigeon’s leg. It was attached so quickly that it wasn’t even sealed.

‘I just got back from our dinner together. But a letter? It’s been a while since I remember Liloa acting this cute…’

It seemed like time stopped for a moment. Ed closed his eyes tightly, wondering if what was in front of him was merely a hallucination before opening them again.

[ Edgar’s gone. Come quickly. ]

When he came to his senses, Ed found himself in front of the hotel where Lil was staying. The horse he rode was out of breath. Ed’s thoughts spun as he went straight up the hotel stairs.

‘Who is the person who can come over when I’m gone? And that too, on a night when our dinner time just ended… No, whoever it may be, she must’ve called that person over for a reason. Come to your senses! She’s unparalleled in honesty and justice compared to anyone else in the world. When it comes to integrity, there’s no one like her on the continent. She’s unrivaled. So, why did I run like this? You poor guy… I don’t deserve being by Liloa’s side…’

“No way.”

Ed quickly decided that he could never show himself to her like this.

‘Meeting Liloa now will obviously be a mistake. I’ve endured it so well up to this point.’

In times like these, he learned very well not to follow his impulses.

‘This will be a fatal mistake…’

Ed pressed his forehead against the door he couldn’t open.

“I’m going crazy…”

However, Lil’s voice came through the door as if she had sensed a presence.

“…Who’s out there?”

His heart was beating like crazy. He thought about backing out, but he was so anxious that he felt like he needed to see her face.

He paused for a moment to breathe. He then took a step back, ruffling his hair and adjusting his outfit. When he knocked, Lil answered lightly.

“Come in.”

As soon as he opened the door, their eyes met. Lil looked perplexed. There was an unexpected look in her eyes upon seeing Ed suddenly come back. Ed, on the other hand, smiled brightly and walked over to her, pushing his head into her arms.

Lil, carrying his weight, collapsed towards the sofa. She then asked in a quizzical tone.

“…Why? Don’t you have a meeting with His Majesty’s representative later in the morning?”

“I came back because I missed you so much.”

“You just left, right?”

“Let me just stay a little longer, please?”

“You’ll die out of exhaustion like this, really.”

Ed lay on top of her and discreetly turned his head to glare at the door.

‘Whoever that person is, they can’t come anymore because the letter has been incorrectly delivered to me.’

With Ed staying in that position, Lil stroked his hair out of habit.

Ed mulled things over as he received her familiar touch.

‘I’ve handled these matters efficiently so far. Many have approached Liloa without even knowing the subject. There were a surprising number of them, but Liloa was always uninterested, so much so that it’s bothersome for me to suddenly have to deal with them. Still, she never neglected to be clear about us or left any room for consequences.

However, this is the first time that Liloa made the first move… That’s why I’m taking this seriously.

What should I do in this case? Thinking back, Liloa liked my appearance and brain the most. Appearance? I don’t think someone else’s looks can surpass mine. If there was, then that man would’ve turned Sesbron over by now, but Sesbron has been quiet. If so, then how about someone smarter? Could it be somebody from the Imperial Clairaut? There are several studies that Liloa has recently shown interest in at the Imperial Clairaut. I may not know all of the professors there, but there’s a high chance that he could be one of them.

Did she invite him over to talk to him? But why leave me out? It would’ve been better if all three of us had dinner together…’

Lil’s voice suddenly cut in.

“…Aren’t you going?”

‘Is it just my illusion that her voice sounds nervous?’

A blunt answer suddenly came out of Ed’s mouth.

“I’m not going.”

“…”

“Why, will it bother you if I don’t go?”

“No…”

He wasn’t convinced by her answer, so he dug deeper into her arms for no reason. He shook his head back and forth to pet himself when her hand paused.

“I have nowhere else to go but here.”

“You have the biggest mansion in the West.”

“Then, if I have nowhere else to go, will you let me sleep here?”

“What nonsense…”

It seemed like Lil wouldn’t even bother dealing with him at all. Ed whined, trying to show as little doubt as possible.

“Why do I feel like you keep trying to send me away? Are you expecting someone else to come?”

“Yeah…”

Her answer was so simple that it made Ed’s entire body stiffen.

“What kind of bast… No, who is coming?”

“It’s a secret.”

Ed stood up in genuine shock. Lil looked up at the man whose hair was disheveled from his own excessive rubbing. While it seemed like her eyes were the same as usual, she seemed a little bothered. Ed became impatient and pulled her hand to confirm her affection for him alone.

Lil answered as she was obediently held.

“Constance.”

“Constance?”

“Constance should be here soon. I sent the pigeon, but why hasn’t she come yet?”

‘Because the note from the pigeon is in my inner pocket…’

Ed asked back, feigning annoyance.

“She’s a princess, so you should just invite her over for dinner. Why would you have her come over after I was gone?”

“There are times when sisters just want to spend time together, and we decided to sleep together today.”

“Ahh.”

“So…”

Lil gestured towards the doorway. It was meant for him to leave.

“I see…”

Ed stood up mumbling something meaningless.

‘Why didn’t I even consider Constance? Constance is staying in my private residence. The pigeon didn’t fly to the wrong place. I only happened to run into the pigeon first.’

Feeling ashamed, he quickly thought of delivering the note to Constance. This matter had to go by naturally, without Lil finding out.

“Then I should take my leave.”

Although he didn’t wear a hat, he followed Sesbron’s etiquette and greeted Lil very politely. Since he had suddenly become a person who stole another person’s letter, he wanted to be polite. Lil, who was looking at him up and down, frowned a little.

“Why are you so strange today? Well, you’re always like that, but today you’re strange in a different way…”

“Can it be because I wanted to see you at night too?”

He slyly changed the subject, causing Lil to burst out laughing at his blunt words. She laughed often whenever she was with him, but still, every laugh she let out was precious to Ed. He grinned. Lil wrinkled her nose as if she was thinking, but then gave a generous answer.

“Okay, well. Anyway, see you again tomorrow night then.”

‘That was unexpected.’

Ed went to the door as if he was going to fly and waved his hand eagerly. Lil couldn’t resist his energy and similarly waved her hand.

As he was leaving, Ed smiled and thought.

‘Still, I should secure a list of professors at the Imperial Clairaut first thing in the morning.’

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TN:

This little side story was posted by the author on her blog. It was written as a writer’s challenge 3 years (2021) after the completion of the novel (2018).

Note from the author:

‘Thanks to the reader who requested the challenge, I was able to meet Liloa and Edgar after a long time. Thank you for reading it.‘

As for the timeline, we think this little arc falls between the two epilogues, so after they went to the northern continent, but before they left for the western continent.

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End of Extra 1: Boyfriend is gone: Liloa & Edgar

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