---

Chapter 49: For Example, I Think You’re Handsome

After finishing dinner, the girls began to clean up.

Girls have their own unspoken understanding at times like this, no need for Roy to butt in.

The young boy happened to be holding half a jug of unfinished honey wine, heading outside to the balcony to sip alone, enjoying the leisure.

Alice and the two catgirls were washing the dishes in the kitchen.

Nia and her two besties were clearing the dining table.

At first, Nia was very reluctant, saying she couldn’t do anything but eat.

But her two friends, wearing mischievous smiles, made her realize they didn’t pull her over just to clean the table.

“By the way, you and Roy seem to be getting along pretty well,” Jenny initiated the topic.

“Because that guy is actually nice… Stop! Hold on! We’re not that kind of relationship!” Midway through, Nia immediately saw through their gossiping intent and interrupted with righteous indignation.

“We’re just… friends.”

In fact, Nia herself wasn’t quite sure; you could say it was questionable whether they were friends at all.

If you had to put it that way, she was Alice’s friend, while her relationship with Roy was even more complicated.

But in the eyes of gossip-loving Jenny and Amy, the pause symbolized shyness, shyness symbolized feelings, and feelings proved Nia had a crush on Roy.

When a good friend has someone they like, how could you not help out a bit?

“We’re all friends here, so why pretend?” Jenny shook her head.

“Pretend? What am I pretending?” Nia looked completely clueless.

Amy raised an eyebrow slightly: “The dress you wore back earlier, that was Roy’s, right?”

“!!!”

This was something she had no words to refute!

Nia’s face unusually heated up.

“Oh, she’s blushing!” the dark-skinned girl teased, laughing.

“No, I’m not! I already said that dress was just… ugh, whatever, think what you like.”

Looking at her two best friends’ playful expressions, Nia sighed in exasperation and gave up resisting.

After all, no matter how she explained, those two would probably be stuck on that point anyway, right?

It must be said that Nia was sharp-minded in social situations, often able to see through others’ true thoughts. That’s why she noticed Roy seemed a bit uncomfortable at the dinner table and skillfully shifted the topic to include him in the conversation.

Whatever those two said, all she had to do was nod along.

But unfortunately, she underestimated the two friends’ initiative.

Amy whispered: “This is a great opportunity to be alone with Roy. Why aren’t you making a move?”

Nia followed Amy’s gaze and caught sight of the black-haired boy standing alone, feeling a bit inexplicably anxious.

This was indeed an opportunity… wait! She didn’t have those kinds of feelings for Roy!

“Make a move? No way… Hey, don’t drag me!”

Before Nia could respond, the two girls had already pulled her towards the door.

Nia wanted to resist but was threatened with “If you keep moving, we’ll tell Roy you like him,” so she reluctantly gave in.

In the end, the green-haired girl was forcibly pushed outside, and when she turned back, the door was tightly shut.

“What’s up?” Roy looked back, puzzled.

Nia twitched her mouth, silently cursing those two nosy troublemakers.

But she quickly calmed herself down and approached the young boy.

She didn’t actually mind being alone with Roy.

“I just came over to keep you company~”

“Sounds nice, but you’re obviously just slacking off.”

“Those two aren’t contradictory. Is there a problem with keeping you company while I slack?”

Wow, only you could put slacking off in such a refreshing light.

Roy shook his head with a bitter smile.

He shook his leather wine flask at her: “Want some?”

“We don’t have cups, though,” Nia glanced at his hands and played coy. “You’re not trying to take advantage of me for an indirect kiss, are you?”

Roy casually gave her a playful smack on the head, earning a squeak from the girl.

“Stop saying silly things. Just use a cup; I’ll drink straight from the jug.”

Nia wasn’t the standard noble, so Roy felt relaxed around her.

He poured her a drink and pushed the cup in front of her.

Actually, Roy didn’t enjoy drinking, but since honey wine wasn’t too strong, it was nice to have as a beverage.

He remembered Nia could handle her drink pretty well; this little bit would be nothing.

The girl cradled the cup in both hands, eagerly taking small sips like a greedy cat, and her smile widened in delight. Sweet dimples appeared on her fair face, as if a wave of sweet honey had rippled across it.

Nia delightedly exclaimed: “This wine is really sweet!”

The boy caught this moment, taking a tiny sip from his own flask, and unconsciously wore a smile that mirrored Nia’s: “Yeah, pretty sweet.”

The night was calm, and outside the cabin, the serene night enveloped them.

Standing on the balcony of the wooden house, they looked out over a vast meadow stretching into the distance. The soft moonlight sprinkled over the grass, and a light breeze stirred the tender leaves and vibrant flowers, reminiscent of shimmering green waves.

The cool evening breeze brought with it a fresh fragrance.

The two leaned against the railing, sharing light drinks and laughter under the gentle night sky.

“By the way, thanks for earlier.”

“I didn’t catch that~”

“You’re afraid I might run out of things to say, so you brought up the negotiation matter, right?”

Roy wasn’t that socially awkward or lonely, but it didn’t feel bad to have someone care.

Nia leaned on the railing, pushing her empty cup away, and casually hummed: “Who knows?”

With her green hair cascading downwards, the elven girl cast him a suggestive smile from below: “Maybe it’s the truth.”

That emerald-like, enchanting gaze shimmered momentarily; her sparkling lips shaped words sweeter than honey.

“For example, I think you’re really handsome, and stuff like that.”

The evening breeze swirled around, stirring the boy’s heart.

His hand shook slightly while pouring, spilling some precious nectar on the ground.

And then came the sound of bright, bell-like laughter.

It just didn’t sound too pleasant.

“Ahahaha! So lame! You’re not actually blushing, right?!” Her face transformed back to her usual carefree demeanor, banishing the earlier haziness.

“You…” Roy gritted his teeth, cursing himself for being so careless, falling for this little prankster’s trap.

After all, this girl casually threw around remarks about marrying someone else.

What a woman’s words; a deceptive trickster, not a second to trust!

“But there’s one thing I didn’t lie about.”

Nia tossed her side ponytail aside, resting her chin on her palm, her smile fading slightly.

Others thought Roy had overpowered Douglas thanks to his status as an Oath Knight and the strength of the Lionheart faction. But Nia, who had witnessed the entire negotiation, understood it was merely a facade.

The boy’s calm manner, collected mindset, orderly plans, and unyielding determination were the true keys to victory.

Nia felt that even if their roles were reversed, she wouldn’t have done any better than Roy.

“I really think you’re impressive.”

“Compared to that, I’m not so great.”

His bright eyes dimmed.

A soft sigh melted into the night wind.