I Tried to Become a Worthless Scumbag to Break Our Engagement for His Happiness, but Instead I Was Hugged, Kissed, and Sworn Eternal Love by the Ice Knight (BL) - CHAPTER 20

Fleck, selfishly unwilling to be separated, sought to stay close a little longer. The clever Fleck managed to say, “Thank you, Lord Nuno,” politely, like proper courtesy.

But Heliosphere let out a long sigh. That meant there was a problem with his response.

Fleck scolded himself properly, thinking that as a knight, it was only natural for Heliosphere to care for the weak, and he must not misunderstand.

Heliosphere received the cane back from the coachman, but instead of returning it to Fleck, he stored it away inside his own dimensional magic.

Without the cane, Fleck felt uneasy about walking. He wanted to explain that it wasn’t a stylish walking stick but a necessary one. Before he could say anything, Heliosphere respectfully took his hand and lightly supported his waist.

“Eh, um, w-wait…?”

In that perfect escort posture, Fleck lost track of what position he was in now. Was this a beautiful illusion, the last thing he saw before dying in the eastern lands?

Seeking an answer, he looked up at Heliosphere. The sky-blue eyes gazed back at him gently.

“You don’t have to get down.”

“Eh?”

“You mustn’t overdo it. From tomorrow, wait in the hall of the Torino mansion instead… I’ll come and pick you up.”

“Uh, um…”

“Do you understand? Good.”

Heliosphere was firm when he decided something.

Fleck knew that being told to step out of the carriage and walk into the mansion was meant to show that there was no rift between master and assistant. And now, being told to wait because of his leg meant: If your leg is weak, then I’ll help you. Just wait for me.

Heliosphere was unbending when it came to these things—always out of care for Fleck. That had never changed since long ago.

Fleck nodded weakly.

“…Yes, understood.”

As if satisfied, Heliosphere squeezed his hand firmly. Seeing there was no wedding ring on that large hand, Fleck felt relieved, and the realization of his own helplessness made him want to cry.

With his hand held and his waist lightly supported, Fleck was escorted into the academy building.
After climbing one flight of stairs, with all the surrounding stares weighing down on him, he finally spoke up.

“Um… Sir Rocca, I-I can walk on my own…”

Again, Heliosphere sighed deeply.

From his reaction earlier, Fleck thought perhaps addressing him by his family name “Lord Nuno” had displeased him. So this time, he tried using the knightly title instead.

“Rocca” was Heliosphere’s knight name, given because the ice crystals he summoned resembled the six-petaled flower patterns called Rokka in the East.

The childhood nickname Rio was a special pet name. The given name Heliosphere was used by family, friends, and close ones. The family name Nuno was a noble title, and nobles of lower rank usually called him “Lord Nuno.” And Rocca was a knightly honorific, used by those who respected him as a knight.

Heliosphere was the youngest in the Kingdom of Kamiokande to receive a knight’s title. Combined with his noble appearance and pure reputation, people from little children to foreign elders fondly called him “Sir Rocca.”