Feigning indifference to leave room for maneuver

Are they… dating?

Kalandria wasn’t so dense that she couldn’t see it right in front of her.

The fingertips hanging by her skirt curled slightly, as if trying to grasp some invisible rein.

She had always regarded Loya as her private property.

The young lady could choose whether or not to let him lick her palm, but absolutely no one was allowed to touch her dog randomly.

However, under Kalandria’s cold gaze, the priestess was still facing away from her, concentrating on picking out various ornaments from the stall.

It wasn’t until the whispers of the surrounding merchants and passersby rippled out that she belatedly turned her head, meeting those icy eyes.

“Oh? This lady…”

The priestess’s eyelashes fluttered twice, her gaze sweeping over the winged swan emblem on the silver-haired noble lady’s shoulder strap, and then she broke into a polite smile,

“You must be the captain of Swan Lake, Florence’s most dazzling and radiant crystal, Miss Kalandria.

May the morning sun gently caress your hair, today is also a bright and beautiful day.”

When she curtsied, even the pleats of her skirt drooped into a perfect fan shape, and the elegance imbued from day after day of chanting hymns and masses flowed naturally like the chimes of morning prayer.

Kalandria was choked by this dewdrop-like greeting, her anger like a crossbow that had been loaded but the string had snapped.

“You… are?”

“Ah, please forgive my rudeness.”

Flurby folded her hands in front of her chest and bowed slightly,

“Flurby Dalco, a novice priestess serving the Upper City Monastery, it is an honor to meet you.”

Her head lowered slightly, covering the snow-white nape of her neck at the collar, and the folds of her monk’s robe remained undisturbed when she bowed,

Her movements were elegant and dignified, as standard as the statue of a saint placed next to the entrance of every church.

Kalandria couldn’t help but wonder.

When did Loya’s taste change to this gentle and virtuous type?

“A retired adventurer, and… a priestess.”

Her tone was slow, with a hint of imperceptible impatience hidden within,

“So what are you doing, are you d-dating?”

“As you can see, we made an appointment to go shopping together.”

Loya smiled dismissively, not really wanting to bother with this noble young lady who seemed to be interrogating him again.

However, the priestess was different, not only polite, but also honest:

“That’s right, Miss Kalandria. I asked Mr. Loya to be my guide, accompanying me to the market street to purchase some decorative items for the engagement ceremony to be held in the church next month.”

Kalandria narrowed her eyes, holding back the disgust in her eyes.

I didn’t ask you, why are you rushing to be so well-behaved?

However, from the content of her words, she caught some clues.

“The engagement ceremony at the church next month, that wouldn’t be…”

“Yes, Laiwenseite and Saint Sword family.”

There was no need to pretend, since she was going to go anyway, Loya simply laid his cards on the table,

“That’s why I’m helping Miss Flurby pick out flowers. Since it’s your engagement ceremony anyway, why not give some advice, do you prefer red or white?”

The seemingly deliberate and thoughtful inquiry in his words sounded like nothing more than casual conversation between friends.

Kalandria was stunned.

Normally, a man, upon hearing that the girl he likes is getting married, should feel like the sky is falling, should fall into endless pain and despair, and should try his best to salvage even a sliver of possibility.

However, the Loya she saw before her didn’t seem to be like that.

It was as if all of this had nothing to do with him, as if his beloved’s life event was just an ordinary melon from next door.

Even though the person she was talking to was right in front of her, the inexplicable sense of distance made Kalandria’s throat tighten.

“Oh? So the woman at the engagement ceremony is Miss Kalandria!”

Flurby covered her mouth in surprise.

The priestess, caught between the complex gazes of the two, was completely unaware of the subtle atmosphere in their mutual silence.

But it was her voice that reminded Kalandria,

The noble young lady came back to her senses, opening her mouth as if suppressing her anger:

“I don’t care about red or white.”

Although she was answering Loya, her eyes were fixed on Flurby, as if she had found the culprit.

This woman must be interfering!

Last night, Kalandria clearly saw Loya’s sadness when he took the invitation.

And later, she heard people say that he had been drinking alone all night, leaving the tavern completely drunk.

Up to this point, everything was still within expectations.

But then you suddenly tell me that he doesn’t care the next day?

–Miscalculation, a huge miscalculation.

Realizing that something had gone wrong, Kalandria looked at the priestess with the eyes of an enemy.

She deliberately used the engagement ceremony as a guise to hook Loya, in order to make him jealous and sad, to teach him to face the feelings in his heart.

Not to create an opportunity for you, you foxy woman, to take advantage of the situation!

Thinking of this, Kalandria’s anger turned into calm,

After brewing for a while, she turned to look straight into Loya’s eyes:

“Speaking of which, since you’re willing to pick out flowers for the ceremony, you’ll be attending, right? I’m seriously asking you.”

“As a friend.”

Getting his definite answer, Kalandria secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as he was willing to come then, there would still be room for maneuver afterwards.

“By the way… Kalandria, I have something to ask you too.”

Loya paused.

Kalandria’s eyes widened slightly, this was the first time that the young man in front of her had taken the initiative since he left Swan Lake.

“W-What?”

“After you get married, will you still be active as an adventurer? What are your plans for Swan Lake?”

His tone was serious, and his eyes were equally earnest, just like the way he used to carefully discuss various adventure matters.

“Plans…”

Kalandria couldn’t answer.

Engagement and everything was purely a guise, let alone considering what to do with her adventure career after marriage,

She only recognized one result: that Loya would definitely cry and shout to beg to return to the team, and never thought of anything else.

However, since he had asked, this was a way out.

Kalandria’s ice-blue eyes rolled, and she raised her eyebrows and asked in a playful tone:

“Why are you suddenly asking this? Didn’t you quit? Like you said, it shouldn’t have anything to do with you, right?”

Loya smiled lightly:

“Although I quit, there’s still Hanni and Timos. We’re all teammates who have gone through life and death together, asking for them, it’s just concern.”

Concern? Kalandria hid her satisfaction.

I see that you actually can’t let go, right? You’re really good at making excuses.

She raised her eyes, tapping her chin with one index finger, and chuckled casually:

“That’s true… I really have to think carefully about what to do with Swan Lake afterwards… maybe it will disband?

But, if you want to come back, it’s not impossible to consider keeping it.

Ah~ maybe I won’t have time to manage it then, so I’ll let you be the captain and get a taste of it…”

That’s right, playing hard to get too much is also a problem, you have to give some space appropriately, leaving room for maneuver.

This way, Loya will know that there is still a possibility of salvaging the situation, so he won’t give up completely.