TIPI 08

Chapter 8

Adrian Dorset. Lionel’s eighth cousin. A stalker who had been living under the same delusion ever since Lionel first came to the baron’s estate at the age of seven.

He was also one of the reasons Lionel had desperately wanted to get away from the Frencia family.

“So, he’s an idiot who’s been rejected by me several times since we were children. I honestly never thought he’d come all the way here.”

After hearing Lionel’s brief explanation, Blasion nodded. Kaelen quickly asked,

“Shall I throw him out?”

“No. I can’t cause trouble for so many people. I’ll go talk to him myself and take care of it.”

Lionel bowed her head slightly and left the examination room. Blasion, who remained behind, shrugged as though somewhat surprised.

“The world has certainly changed. A hundred years ago, going after someone who had rejected you even once would have been considered a disgraceful thing to do.”

“That is still something only pathetic men do. It seems Doctor Frencia has gotten herself involved with a rather low-quality man. Shall we use force?”

Blasion thought for a moment before standing up.

“Let’s observe for now. But prepare for the possibility that things may get out of hand.”

“As you command.”

Lionel opened the door to the reception room.

The unwelcome guest inside immediately jumped to his feet.

“Lionel!”

“Adrian. What brings you all the way here?”

Lionel replied coldly to his agitated voice.

The young man, whose face was covered in acne, came rushing toward her, panting heavily.

His belly fat jiggling over his belt and his labored breathing created a rather unpleasant harmony.

“What do you mean, what brings me here?! I know there are many people opposed to our love, but things don’t have to go this far. I’ll explain everything to Auntie, so come back with me!”

Lionel replied without even blinking.

“How many times do I have to tell you? I don’t like you. Just looking at you makes my peripheral nerves reject you and fills me with rage. Are your ears so clogged with earwax that you can’t hear me?”

Whether Lionel rejected him or not, Adrian’s delusions continued unabated.

Eventually, he pulled a ring box from his pocket.

“It’s time you stopped hiding your true feelings. Lionel, marry me.”

Apparently, he had seen such a scene somewhere before. He dropped to one knee and opened the ring box.

Lionel felt as though she might actually have a seizure.

“I think five children would be just right. What do you think?”

“Get out while I’m still being nice. Otherwise, I’ll shove that diamond ring into both your cheeks and give you dimples.”

“Ahh, my angel is saying such harsh things!! You must have become rough around the mouth after suffering out in the world. I’ll have to take care of you with love.”

Adrian let out a ragged breath.

This had become physiologically unbearable.

Lionel looked at him as though he were a disgusting insect and turned away. She just wanted to get out of this place as quickly as possible.

“I don’t have enough time to listen to your nonsense. Adrian. Leave. It was disgusting being involved with you. Let’s never see each other again.”

“Why do you keep saying such sad things, Lionel? It hurts my heart, but you’re only saying that because you’re trying to push me away, right? Stop pretending and be honest. You love me!”

It was at that moment that the hopeless stalker reached out his hand.

THUD—!!

CRASH!!

Suddenly, Adrian was sent flying across the room.

Lionel turned around in surprise.

Someone had landed lightly beside her. Long hair swayed like rippling waves.

“The doctor.”

For a moment, Lionel thought it was the duke because of the déjà vu from their first meeting.

But it wasn’t.

The man who had dealt with the stalker with a single kick checked on Lionel.

“Are you all right?”

His black hair was tied high. His eyes were clear and brilliant blue. He wore a neat uniform, with a sword hanging at his waist.

Without realizing it, Lionel called his name.

“Everain Carseido?”

“……You know me?”

How could she not?

He was a character from The Flower That Never Loses, the duke’s personal guard knight, and a man who had secretly been in love with the female protagonist.

Everain was Lionel’s painful soft spot—or rather, her painful stock investment.

Throughout the novel, she had desperately rooted for him to end up with the heroine. She had been so disappointed when it never happened.

While Lionel briefly reminisced about the original story, Adrian suddenly demanded an explanation.

“Lionel! Who is that man?! D-Don’t tell me you’ve found another man besides me?!”

When had he been so certain that she was madly in love with him?

Before Lionel could even respond, Everain stepped in.

“I apologize for interrupting your conversation. However, I could not simply stand by and watch someone lay hands on a lady.”

“No, it’s fine. Thank you for saving me.”

“By the way…… what shall we do with that man?”

Everain’s gaze turned back toward Adrian.

Sensing the dangerous aura coming from him, Adrian crawled backward while still sitting on the floor.

Unfortunately, he could not get very far because of his sagging belly.

“……What do you mean by ‘do with him’?”

“In my experience, those who become obsessed with someone of the opposite sex because they cannot humbly accept their own foolishness are highly likely to resort to increasingly violent behavior. As a preventative measure, I recommend severing one of his Achilles tendons.”

Everain grabbed the sword at his waist without hesitation.

Adrian let out a terrified shriek.

“Eeeeeek!”

Everain Carseido.

Clearly, he had not been granted his title based solely on his swordsmanship for nothing. He was quite a violent man.

Thinking this, Lionel waved her hand dismissively.

“He’s been thoroughly frightened. He won’t cause any more trouble. ……Right, Adrian?”

“I-I was wrong! I won’t do it again! S-So please spare me……!”

“Your words are too casual. Apologize properly.”

“I’m sorry……. I-I’ll never bother Lionel again!”

Everain seemed genuinely disappointed that he would not be allowed to ‘deal with’ Adrian. He glared at him for quite some time before finally stepping back.

“Your Grace, the situation has been resolved.”

“Good work.”

Blasion had approached them without Lionel noticing.

He picked up the ring box lying on the floor and casually remarked,

“I don’t know the details of the relationship between the doctor and that man…… But I would advise filtering out any man who proposes with a fake diamond while passing it off as a real one.”

“W-What are you talking about? It’s real……!”

CLINK—CRASH!

The ring flew past Adrian’s face and embedded itself in the wall, shattering into pieces.

The duke had apparently finished appraising the diamond in an instant, and he openly sneered.

“A ring that suits its owner perfectly.”

“Ggh……”

After being thoroughly beaten up and humiliated, Adrian’s face turned bright red, as though it might burst.

He hurriedly got to his feet, looked at Lionel, and shouted,

“Lionel!! I-I’ll definitely rescue you from this cursed house! Just wait a little……!”

“You crazy bastard. You still haven’t come to your senses?”

“If you eat nothing but jerky every meal, you’ll go crazy too! I-I’ll feed you plenty of delicious food, so please wait for me!”

And with that, Adrian hurriedly left.

Lionel stopped Everain, who was about to chase after him, and looked down at the piece of jerky lying on the floor.

“Haha……. I suppose serving jerky to a guest really does get a negative review. But there really isn’t anything else in the kitchen……”

Kaelen gave an awkward laugh as he tried to defend himself.

Much to Lionel’s annoyance, she had to admit that there was some truth in Adrian’s final words.

“But…… do all of you really eat nothing but jerky three times a day? Every servant too?”

She had been too distracted to question it until now, but every meal at this mansion consisted of jerky and juice.

At this rate, constipation was practically guaranteed.

The guard knight and the aide exchanged a secretive glance before answering.

“The servants sometimes eat other things outside. But the only food stored in this mansion is jerky and juice.”

“It makes no sense for a mansion with such good employee benefits to serve nothing but jerky. Don’t you have a cook?”

“There is no cook in this mansion…… There is only jerky and juice.”

At this point, it seemed that only the duke could reveal the truth.

Just as Lionel expected, the duke explained why they maintained such a bizarre diet.

“I do not die even if I do not eat. I simply keep jerky, which is easy to store, for the occasional times when I feel hungry. That is all.”

“For the record, I’m the one who orders the juice. We occasionally bring in other snacks and bread as well…… But whenever we do, the servants devour them with gleaming eyes, so eventually all that remains is the jerky.”

An immortal who had lost his appetite, and the servants suffering under him……

Of course, becoming as overweight as Adrian wasn’t desirable either.

But how could anyone possibly live on jerky alone?

Even fitness fanatics who chug protein shakes three times a day still eat vegetables.

As Lionel thought this, something suddenly flashed through her mind.

She turned to Blasion, who was standing there with a sullen expression.

“How long have you been living on nothing but jerky? No, how long has it been since you last ate a proper meal?”

“I don’t remember exactly…… But it was right after the Second Holy War. So, probably around three hundred years.”

“You really have the ultimate cost-effective body.”

A triumphant smile appeared on Lionel’s face.

She looked at the duke with delight and said,

“I think I’ve found a way to make Your Grace’s heart move.”

“……What is it?”

“Starting today, we’re going to—”

Lionel declared firmly,

“Go with accelerated aging.”