The Divine Armor of the Old Century（Book 1）

Chapter 93

In this world, many problems can't be solved with violence. For instance, a fully loaded gun won't help you decide what to have for dinner, nor will it make a rebellious teenage girl rush home. When these two problems come together, they become a significant hassle.

In a street-side restaurant, Lloyd gazed through the fogged-up glass covered with droplets from the steam, watching pedestrians move like lone boats sailing in a sea of mist. Streetlights lit up one by one, their glow diffusing through the fog like tiny stars.

"They must be searching everywhere for you," Lloyd said, shifting his gaze to the girl across from him. She was set to become a duchess in a month, yet she showed no signs of maturity, remaining as willful as ever.

If her defiance were simple, it would be easy to handle. But things get complicated when the child is talented and has been trained by someone formidable.

"Arvey and I have an unspoken understanding," she said. "If he can't find me, he'll give up, and I'll be home safely before midnight. It's like an unwritten rule."

"It seems Arvey suffers from your antics," Lloyd remarked.

"It's a mutual compromise," Seiryu said, cutting her food clumsily, as if unaccustomed to it.

A few years ago, Seiryu didn't have the life she does now. On cold nights, she had no place to go, hiding in street corners and eating hardened bread. Meeting Lloyd marked the beginning of a long escape, eating barely warm meals. The changes over the years felt surreal, like a dream she couldn't fully grasp.

Lloyd rested his chin on his hand, feeling relaxed. Seiryu's cold demeanor was her best disguise. Sometimes, even Lloyd couldn't guess what she was thinking.

"Are you getting used to this life?" he asked.

"Just barely. People have to adapt to their environment, right?"

"'Just barely' sounds like an exaggeration for a duchess-to-be," Lloyd teased, glancing at Seiryu. Maybe she found life dull after being overwhelmed by wealth. After all, only when one gets tired of luxurious parties do they start getting interested in exotic things from far away.

"You taught me to remember what I once was," Seiryu said, not bothering to look at Lloyd, her inherent coldness making her seem indifferent.

"This feels like an illusion," she continued, cutting her food meticulously, finishing every last bite with a cold and sharp demeanor. "Old Dunlin, a new beginning, but if it were truly a new start, you wouldn't be a detective, right?"

"Being a detective is my lifelong dream, Seiryu," Lloyd countered passionately.

"A gun-wielding detective? It's still a life of violence, just masked under the guise of a detective. We're similar, Lloyd. We don't believe in the present circumstances. The only thing we trust is ourselves. Even this new life is just a beast sharpening its teeth during a brief respite, knowing that such a life is but a fleeting dream."

The deep blue ocean of her eyes reflected Lloyd's face, showing hints of anger and realization, like drowned corpses beneath icy waters.

Lloyd shuddered slightly and then wagged his finger vigorously. "No, no, no, Seiryu. You're prying into me again. You'll end up with no friends if you keep this up."

This cursed girl, she had a kind of magic about her. No one could escape her gaze. If talent existed, it belonged to Seiryu.

Seiryu said nothing more, just turned her gaze to the misty window. The water droplets on the glass merged and slid down, carving paths and letting in fractured light, creating a mesmerizing scene.

After a long silence, Lloyd suddenly asked, "Why do you think all this is just an illusion? In a month, you'll become the Duchess of Stuart. Old Dunlin will celebrate you. Those Stuart nobles will become your knights. In a few years, you'll be the most powerful person in Old Dunlin."

"You're no longer that shivering child in the street corner. You never will be again. So, what are you afraid of?"

They were similar, with similar worries and confusions. This might be why Lloyd had picked her up from that alley, much like he had done for other orphans.

"And what are you afraid of?" Seiryu replied in Lloyd's own style. Lloyd did not respond.

She stood up, her expressionless face managing a weak smile. "I had a nice time tonight. See you next time."

Lloyd raised an eyebrow. Truthfully, it was hard to read emotions on Seiryu's face. Sometimes he wondered if she was numb.

The conversation seemed to vanish into thin air. The two, with their unspoken understanding, let go of the unpleasantness. Lloyd offered, "Shall I take you home?"

"No need. Arvey is here."

Seiryu pointed to the door just as the bell rang. The old butler stood there like a lion, his large frame blocking the entrance despite his age. The bulge under his black coat suggested a gun, Lloyd guessed.

"Well, goodbye then." Lloyd waved at Seiryu, but his eyes were drawn to Arvey. The butler's gaze, full of resentment and hostility, never left him.

Lloyd felt like he might be shot the moment Seiryu left, but thankfully, nothing happened until the black car drove away.

Seiryu nestled in the comfortable back seat, watching the scenery change slowly. Arvey's large frame forced him to hunch awkwardly in the car.

"Do you dislike parties?" Arvey asked after a long silence.

"No, I just wanted to visit the exhibition today," Seiryu replied, leaning her head lightly against Arvey. The droplets on the window stretched into lines, disappearing out of sight.

"If you need anything, please tell me."

"You've done enough, Arvey."

Seiryu shook her head. In retrospect, everything was fine.

When she first became a Stuart child, Seiryu was scared. She didn't know what she feared, like a frightened fawn. She caused Arvey a lot of trouble, being more resourceful than he expected.

One night, Arvey found her sleeping in the hay in a stable after searching for her everywhere. He told her they could change things if she wasn't comfortable. After that, the butler placed blankets and pillows in every spot Seiryu had hidden.

From then on, Seiryu thought the old butler wasn't so bad, just awkward in expressing himself, much like threatening Lloyd with a gun all the time.

That might have been the beginning of her compromises.