The Writers of Legend (Two)

The dining room sank into silence once more, until the young lady broke it.

"So, you deliberately aggravated Dragon Clouds City and allowed everyone to witness your rudeness..." Saroma furrowed her brows tightly. "To prepare for this step?"

Ian blinked cheerily. The archduchess seemed to be pondering.

"The proposal, would it work?"

"I'm sticking to what I said before, in case you really marry someone." Ian glimpsed half-intentionally at Thales and patted his shoulder. "Then what about 'us'?"

Thales felt Saroma's gaze sweep past him every now and then. That look was like the helpless gaze that young girl once cast at him in a flurry in the library, the Hall of Heroes, Shield District, the prison cells, and before the five archdukes.

Though Thales felt a calming familiarity, but also felt a sense of unfamiliarity to that gaze, one that he could almost not bear.

However…

'"However, Thales Jadestar. What exactly am I to you?"'