25 Denial and Attraction

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE – DENIAL AND ATTRACTION

Jeffrey explained to the chestnut-haired man as he complains because of the whispers from the main hall as they can still hear it by them.

Ryan could only sigh as he didn't know what to expect because of this.

Ryan seems to remember the last sentence that Jeffrey told him and it's almost the same sentence that Kira told him about Scarlette.

'Don't you know that she is also recognized by the nobles and royal family of the whole Empire? The only reason is, in this Empire or even in the whole continent, she is the only SSS-rank adventurer and she is far stronger than the Captain of the Falcon Knights of this Empire'

Those are the words that Kira stated back in Freycrest Capital city.

Upon remembering those words, he immediately looked at the auburn-haired man beside him as his thoughts are running once again.

'Wait a minute! If I am not mistaken, Marquis Middleton is also the Captain of the Falcon Knights, right?'

He thought deeply and Jeffrey looked at the chestnut-haired man who became silent for some reason as the auburn-haired man had a questioning look.

"Hey! I learned from Scarlette that before the two of you got here in the city, you got injured because of the intense 'practice' that she gave you. How was it? She's really strong, isn't she?"

Jeffrey diverts the topic as he remembered something from Scarlette as he asked the chestnut-haired man.

Ryan snapped his thoughts as he looked back at the auburn-haired man and groaned annoyingly.

"Why do you ask?"

Ryan asked annoyingly and Jeffrey noticed that the chestnut-haired man seems to have a hostile attitude towards him.

That makes Jeffrey somewhat baffled because he doesn't understand why Ryan is emitting an aura like that.

'What's gotten him so worked up? I just asked about Scarlette's lesson with him and this man became so grumpy for some reason' Jeffrey thought.

Ryan, on the other hand, had a different thought about Jeffrey. It seems like the reason why the revered Marquis Middleton of Silveria Empire is sticking with someone like Scarlette.

Aside from the fact that the woman is a commoner, Scarlette is pretty famous across the continent and had the strength that everyone could admire and envied at the same time.

Ryan knew about Marquis Middleton of Silveria as he is also a noble and he heard stories about his life and his contributions to the Empire.

Rumors flew around in different Empires and Kingdoms about him seeks someone stronger than him.

And that's how Scarlette came into the picture.

Both gentlemen became silent after that.

Jeffrey didn't ask Ryan any further since he felt that the chestnut-haired man is either pissed off by remembering something awful or he is just a grumpy man.

Ryan did the same as he didn't look at Jeffrey's side as he didn't want the auburn-haired man to see his hostile eyes at him. 

'Just remembering them being together, makes my blood boil for some reason.'

Ryan thought negatively and he snapped his thoughts back as he set aside those emotions and focus on what's in front of them.

Ryan looked at the front where he could see Scarlette's back from them.

He knew that even though the crimson-haired woman is wearing a veil that covers her lips, he could tell that she had an ethereal beauty hiding beneath that veil of hers.

Ryan wonders that if Jeffrey had seen her real face when they are alone. 

'Am I attracted to this mysterious woman? I barely knew her and not just that, Scarlette is my clue for finding the person that I am searching for!'

His thoughts are keep running once again and it centers a certain crimson-haired woman in front of them.

'Why am I being distracted this lately?! I couldn't understand myself anymore!'

Ryan thought once again as he made a deep breath to calm himself for not thinking about his weird attraction to the woman and at the same time, about her and Marquis Middleton's status relationship.

Just thinking about it again makes it even worse and he became gloomy because of that.

Jeffrey felt an ominous feeling at his side and he looked at Ryan, who had a gloomy atmosphere and he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at him.

"What's wrong with you? Are you all right?"

Jeffrey asked him and Ryan didn't look at him but answer in a cold tone; "Yeah, I'm fine"

Ryan said and Jeffrey didn't ask him again as he only speaks; "Well if you say so"

"Please come in"

Ryan snapped back when he noticed that they have arrived at the private room that is being led by Ericka, the person in charge of the reception area.

Since the mission that Scarlette choose seems quite urgent and confidential the way Ericka is behaving earlier when she read the mission leaflet.

When all of them are now inside the private room, Ericka locked the doors and all of them settled down on the sofa.

After that, Ericka closed her eyes as she cast a spell.

[Barrier Formation Shield Activated; Silencing Crowd!]

After she cast the enchantment, a crystal-like ball appeared in her hands and it disappeared in their sight and it became a huge barrier shield that surrounds the four of them.

There is another layer of the shield that indicates that no one would eavesdrop in their conversation.

When Scarlette saw this, she smiled in fascination. Although no one can saw her smile, her eyes could tell it.

'Why such a talented mage is doing here? Working at the Adventurer's Guild instead of working as a Court Mage in the Empire? Is it because…'

Scarlette snapped in her thoughts when the casting is complete and Ericka looked around them as she speaks; "Just to make sure that no one would eavesdrop on our conversation. Since this is a sensitive topic to discuss, we need to take precautions"

Ericka explained to the trio and Scarlette waved her hand.

"You did the right job, Ericka. Since there might be someone, other than us knowing about this mission, we need to make sure that no one is going to eavesdrop on us"

Scarlette began to speak and Ryan immediately looked at the crimson-haired woman with wide eyes.

'Wow! Another casual conversation that she had! I thought she never likes to speak that much?'

Ryan thought as he looked at Scarlette and Jeffrey saw the puzzled expression coming from the chestnut-haired man.

He immediately read his expression as he explained; "Indeed, Scarlette is not fond of speaking and engaging in a long conversation but when it comes to mission details, she is in charge"

Jeffrey explained and when Ryan heard this, he immediately looked at the auburn-haired man as he raised an eyebrow at him.

"Seriously? You know her a lot, don't you?"

Ryan said bitterly and Jeffrey didn't notice the other man's bitter tone as he just continued; "Well, not totally. Only some trivial matters that I know about her"

He said and Ryan just ignores the auburn-haired man as he felt his blood boil once again.

Scarlette, on the other hand, paid no attention to her companions as she secretly looked at Ericka's necklace and smirks.

Knowing that no one is going to see it since she is wearing a veil and no one could see what her expression is like then, she thought.

'So, you are working under HIM. That person never changes and I bet he is also listening to this conversation that we are going to have. That sneaky bastard!'