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 23

Cheka shivered at the sudden drop in temperature.

“It is not exile. Be careful with your words, Lady Cheka.”

From the respectful “Miss” that honored her intelligence, he shifted to the simple “Lady.” That change was proof that, inside Heliosphere, his friendship toward her had dropped in rank.

Fleck knew. When Heliosphere’s regard for someone fell, it would never rise again.
He understood it now with his own body, and that coldness cut through him like a blade.

Please, Lady Cheka, pull yourself together! Fleck thought, but he was not in a position to say it aloud.
All he could do was walk forward, supported gently by Heliosphere, who said, “Now, let us go.”

The two of them turned away, but Lady Cheka called out, “W-wait, please!” trying to cling on.

Yet, with the words, “The talk is over. Excuse us,” Heliosphere cut the conversation apart like an ice blade, leaving her frozen in place. She turned her gaze toward Fleck, as if to ask, Why? Why is this happening?

Fleck could not answer her. Because he himself had been wondering why all along—why he, the former fiancé, was still standing at Heliosphere’s side.

Heliosphere did not quicken his steps. Instead, he began explaining to Fleck about the girl they had just met. She was a fellow student, but from the Magic Tools Department. Her focus was the development of devices to lessen the drawbacks of special constitutions, like Heliosphere’s. That was why he had cooperated in her experiments with prototypes. Nothing more than a face he knew—less than a friend.

That was how it sounded to Fleck. It felt like Heliosphere was hammering down a warning: She is not a potential fiancée, nor anything else. Do not overthink. Do not meddle.

So, Lady Cheka was only an acquaintance of Heliosphere’s. When Fleck realized this, he felt relief spread through him. That was selfish Fleck, at it again. I see, I understand, he told himself, forcing a smile to show he accepted it.

For some reason Fleck could not guess, Heliosphere suddenly brushed back the strands of hair near his eyepatch.

“Fleck.”

“Uh… yes, sir!”

The soft tone was so unlike the earlier exchange with Lady Cheka that Fleck misunderstood it for a moment. Flustered, he quickly patched his face with a false smile.

“I forgot to say something,” Heliosphere continued.

Fleck tilted his head. Say what?

Those endlessly soft, sky-blue eyes poured into him.

“Good morning, Fleck.”

At that tone and expression, Fleck suddenly remembered. When they were children, he would always whine, insisting they sleep together. And every morning, he would beg, Say good morning to me first thing, Ryo! Heliosphere would always say, Of course, and grant the wish.

He granted everything. When Fleck feared bad dreams, he held his hand. When Fleck wanted matching   sleepwear, he gifted it to him. Heliosphere had always granted every wish.

Those childhood memories made selfish Fleck want to blurt out, good morning, Ryo! with his usual cheer.

But the calmer Fleck, the one who had walked through life-and-death as a civil official, stopped him.
Heliosphere felt kind only because he was a knight—and Fleck was the one he was sworn to protect.
Nothing more. Do you understand, selfish Fleck? Understand it well, selfish Fleck.

Forcing down his true self, Fleck spoke with calm, careful words.

“Good morning, Lord Rocca.”

“…”

For some reason, a faint air of displeasure slipped from Heliosphere. Fleck could not guess the reason. With the knight’s arm supporting him, he could do nothing but keep walking, step by step, toward the place they were headed.