Chapter 267

Chapter 267

After chatting with Lorant for a little while longer, Little Fa Meng began to feel drowsy, her eyes blinking sleepily.

Before falling asleep, the little one obediently crawled back onto its book, and a soft, fluffy quilt appeared out of nowhere between the pages, allowing it to nestle in comfortably.

The chubby little dragon fluffed up its pillow with a flourish and comfortably burrowed into the covers.

Then, a gentle crescent moon suddenly appeared above the little one's head, and the surrounding pages dimmed. Even in the laboratory, where a Light spell covered the entire ceiling, a soft ‘night’ successfully took shape.

Fa Meng was clearly getting sleepy; after all, it was still a young child, and the excitement had worn off, especially after a satisfying meal, leading to drowsiness.

Soon, Lorant saw small, gradual ‘Z’s appearing above the little one's head.

Lorant couldn’t help but let two black lines appear on his face.

He felt that when this little one inherited his memories, it seemed to have picked up a lot of useless knowledge.

It always created special effects that didn’t have much significance.

Then, the entire grimoire began to shrink continuously until it became a tiny object only the size of a coin.

Lorant leaned in to take a closer look at the infinitely smaller Fa Meng, seeing the chubby little dragon flip over comfortably on his bed, and couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile.

This little one was quite cute!

Having a little one with its own special effects wasn’t so bad after all.

With a smile, Lorant picked up the little one and tucked it into his pocket.

He took one last look at his lab, cleaned up all his traces, and slowly left the Beast Tower.

The people from the Beast Tower hadn’t returned for quite some time. It was unclear if they were truly captivated by those Wingless Flywheels and were having too much fun at the beast pet store to come back.

Or perhaps they just wanted to leave the entire Beast Tower for Lorant to use freely.

After all, even if they didn’t say it out loud, these old-timers who had lived for who knows how long definitely knew in their hearts that Lorant must have something important to do in the Beast Tower recently.

As for what this important matter was… What could make the store owner, who made a living breeding beast pets, choose to go into seclusion?

Was he crafting armor?

Whether it was Jacqueline or Robert, the people of the Beast Tower were very familiar with Lorant, and they truly saw him as one of their own.

Therefore, even though they vaguely guessed in their hearts that Lorant was quietly breeding a completely new type of beast pet, one that seemed to require a lot of rare materials to attempt to breed, the possibility of breeding such a powerful high-level beast pet set the mages' hearts racing.

Yet, they remained silent in the beast pet store, pretending to know nothing.

It was a kind of unspoken understanding between them.

Having not returned to the beast pet store for a long time, Lorant, clutching his new grimoire, couldn’t wait to head home.

The moment he stepped out of the teleportation array, he let out a long sigh of relief.

Even the air in the beast pet store smelled sweet.

Lorant took a deep breath and headed to the kitchen, hoping to find a lucky donut that hadn’t been eaten by others.

After taking two steps, Lorant was still puzzled as to why there was not a single person in the Beast Tower.

But when he pushed open the small door connecting the shop to the backyard, he realized it was already the middle of the night.

During this time, in order to breed the Grimoire, although Lorant had deliberately tried to maintain a regular schedule, attempting to have a disciplined life in the Beast Tower, his routine had gotten completely messed up during the breeding process.

Sometimes he needed to stay up for more than twenty hours to complete a step that couldn't be interrupted, and other times he had to get up just a few hours after falling asleep to check on a potion that had finished brewing unexpectedly.

Lorant's hopes of keeping a healthy routine were dashed.

So, after obtaining the Grimoire, he hadn't even realized that it was a time when everyone should be sound asleep.

Looking at the clock on the wall that pointed to three o'clock, Lorant abandoned the idea of finding a midnight snack and headed upstairs, planning to have a good sleep.

Just then, the door to Lancelot's room opened.

Lancelot stood quietly at the door, looking at Lorant.

His blue eyes scanned Lorant from top to bottom, and seeing that Lorant hadn't lost weight or appeared tired, the knight silently breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're back?" He didn't seem to be addressing someone who had been in seclusion for several weeks; his expression was as normal as if he was greeting a family member who had just come back late from the night shift.

His attitude was so natural that Lorant subconsciously nodded.

"Yes... um, wait, why aren't you resting?" Lorant blinked and asked.

It was three in the morning; even if the noise from Lorant's return had woken him up, Lancelot shouldn't be dressed so neatly.

Lancelot naturally took from Lorant's hand a bag of items that were inconvenient to store in a storage ring, which he had brought to the Beast Tower.

"I just got back," Lancelot explained as he saw Lorant's gaze linger on his soft armor, "I went to Pokara a few days ago and only returned tonight."

With Lorant gone, Lancelot had felt bored. After experiencing the daily routine of being chased by Emma and Nia, the knight quickly decided to head out.

He would return every few days to check if Lorant had come back, and if not, he would head back to Pokara to oversee the live beasts capture team, which had doubled in size thanks to the addition of adventurers.

Riding on the tail end of the beast tide, this team was in its final active phase.

The conditions Lorant offered were very enticing, and after the beast tide ended and they returned to the military department, they wouldn't get such a good job again.

This motivated the practitioners to work hard.

Originally, the eighth-level practitioner team formed by the military department was tasked with dealing with powerful beasts, and later, several adventurer teams were formed to capture lower-level beasts while gathering intelligence at various forts.

Even the designated hunting grounds were vast, and it was impossible to monitor every corner.

Who would have thought he'd run into Lorant right after returning? This lifted his spirits since he'd been worried about something.

After explaining, Lancelot set the items on the nearby table.

"By the way, since you've just returned, have you eaten? Would you like a midnight snack? I can make you a sandwich to try," Lancelot said with a smile, blinking confidently at Lorant, "My cooking skills are quite good now, even Ruth praises them!"

"That's just her being polite. Your sandwiches are either too sweet or too salty—either way, I end up needing three cups of juice to wash them down," Lorant replied without hesitation, "I don't want your sandwich to finish me off in the middle of the night."

Lancelot didn't say anything, but his expression dimmed, as if he had been struck by Lorant's words.

Lorant could even see that the tail, which had been wagging happily, had drooped down.

Lorant was instantly deceived by this pitiful look, "Alright, alright, I take it back. If you're hungry, I'll make the snack."

Lancelot nodded without a second of hesitation, so quickly that Lorant couldn't help but suspect the heartbroken look from earlier was all an act.

He's getting way too good at playing the sympathy card! Where was that cold, aloof attitude he had when they first met?

"Hey! Did you just sneak a smile? You were totally doing that on purpose, right?"

"Don't be so harsh. I'd feel sad if my cooking isn't recognized by you." Lancelot lazily walked over to Lorant's side. He stretched out his hand, intending to put it on Lorant's shoulder, but curled his fingers slightly, controlling himself from making any sudden moves that might startle the young shopkeeper.

Since they had decided to close in, every minute before the prey stepped into the trap was crucial.

Lorant didn't notice any of that. After dark, the light spells on the second floor dimmed slightly to set the mood. Without Lancelot's sharp night vision, he missed many of the expressions on the knight's face.

Reminded by the knight, Lorant thought of the smell of donuts from earlier and realized he was a bit hungry too.

So the two of them went down to the small dining room on the first floor. Since they couldn't find any donuts, Lorant simply made a few egg sandwiches, something he used to prepare at home often.

The two sat facing each other at the small table, holding thick sandwiches as they began their late-night snack.

"The renovation in the backyard is almost finished," Lancelot initiated the conversation. "The only rooms left to start construction are yours and mine."

Lorant's chewing slowed, his mouth full.

Before the beast tide began, he had gathered everyone in the house and the engineering team's designers to discuss it in detail. However, Lancelot had refused to coordinate with the engineering team's designers and never clarified what kind of room he wanted until the very end.

Back then, Lorant had hoped to find a chance to get Lancelot to make up his mind so the construction could begin. But then the beast tide suddenly hit, and Lancelot had been stationed on the front lines of Lopulo, with hardly any opportunity to return.

Their encounters became much less frequent, sometimes going several weeks without seeing each other.

Because of this, after meeting again, the awkward atmosphere between them faded away, and Lorant no longer thought about anything else when he saw Lancelot. He only cared about checking if he was injured or not.

The slightly strained atmosphere between them completely vanished amidst the beast tide.

It wasn’t until Lancelot mentioned it just now that Lorant realized the backyard renovation was almost done, and Lancelot still hadn’t decided what he wanted for his room.

"By the way, your room..."

Lorant was about to say something when Lancelot interrupted him.

"Lorant." Lancelot put down the sandwich in his hand, his deep blue eyes staring intently into Lorant's without a single blink.

The knight's prominent brow bones gave his gaze an inexplicable depth. Anyone would blush under his direct stare.

Lorant naturally felt a bit embarrassed and was about to turn away when Lancelot stopped him.

The knight reached across the table and placed his hand on Lorant's arm. His expression was solemn, which made Lorant sit up a little straighter, trying to appear equally formal.

"Do you know why I said I wanted to discuss this with them later?" Lancelot took a deep breath, as if preparing himself mentally. "It's because I wanted to talk to you first."

Lorant seemed to realize something, his gaze darting away from Lancelot's eyes.

But this time, Lancelot didn’t want to leave things unclear like before.

He had gradually come to understand that Lorant was aware of his feelings. Back at the Candy Rabbit's estate, he had already confirmed this.

Lorant wasn’t unaware of or resistant to his feelings, as Lancelot had feared.

Not only was he not resistant, but it seemed he wasn’t completely disinterested in him either. He even playfully teased him with his words and actions.

Lancelot is a sharp and intelligent man, but at that moment, he was caught off guard by a surge of emotions, leaving the usually shrewd knight momentarily unable to make a sound decision.

While in the Lopulo Mountains, Lancelot spent his days clearing out beasts, but also found ample time for deep reflection.

He wondered if his attraction to Lorant was based solely on his appearance, much like the other noble lords he knew.

Or if it was some kind of desire to conquer, driven by Lorant’s exceptional qualities.

But Lancelot quickly dismissed this idea. During those days apart from Lorant, his image would appear in Lancelot’s mind almost daily.

Beyond that initial dream, Lancelot often found himself dreaming of Lorant.

It was a vision of the two of them building a life together.

Occasionally, there were less pleasant images, where he stood opposite Lorant, chatting politely and distantly, while a woman whose face he couldn’t quite see stood beside Lorant, holding his arm.

After being awakened by a nightmare for the first time in his life, Lancelot thought about it very seriously.

It was then that he realized, in all the futures he had planned, Lorant was always by his side.

Even if one day the beast pet store were to turn to dust, Lancelot had already considered the outcome of the two of them wandering the world together.

However, he could not bear the thought of maintaining a 'partner' relationship as 'good friends.'

Then, one day attending the other’s wedding, watching them marry and have children, bringing others to the banquet.

The mere thought stirred a wild, restless feeling inside Lancelot.

He could not accept such an outcome.

Once Lancelot fully understood his feelings, he could calmly evaluate them. To the sharp and well-educated Count, Lorant’s not-so-subtle expressions became clear as day.

Lancelot was confident that Lorant’s feelings for him were not just ordinary friendship.

After all, Lorant was just a young man who had never experienced much in the way of romance. The two of them had been so overwhelmed at the time, blinded, thinking they were being flawless in observing each other’s reactions.

But now, with a clear head, their feelings were as clear as words written on a white page.

Love is one of the hardest things to conceal. Even if unsaid, it flows unconsciously from the eyes and every subtle movement.

Lorant was always open and generous in his actions, but in matters of the heart, he was surprisingly stubborn.

Lancelot feared that Lorant might not understand his feelings or, worse, not like him and be unable to accept a same-sex partner. If he truly confessed his feelings, it might be impossible to maintain their current relationship.

But Lorant had always vaguely known Lancelot’s thoughts.

Yet this stubborn guy never made a real move, only teasing the knight in secret, enjoying the interesting reactions Lancelot had whenever he was deliberately provoked.

Like a little cat stretching out its paws to play with a flame, attracted by the warmth but also afraid its fur might get singed.

Expecting yet not daring to fully open his heart.

So Lorant maintained this tangled feeling, occasionally idly provoking Lancelot, hoping he would be the first to show his soft underbelly.

"I want to talk to you about the relationship between us," Lancelot stared intently into Lorant’s eyes. "After all, isn’t it a bit strange for a partner to always live together?"

"W-what’s strange about that? Isn’t that what you initially said, that you wanted me to leave you a room in the beast pet store?" Lorant said, twisting Lancelot’s meaning with a shifty gaze.

Lancelot didn’t get angry. He smiled at Lorant, his eyes full of indulgence and patience. "Of course, I did say that."

"But if you say that you don't want me to be a part of your life anymore, to disturb you both, I can understand that as well." The knight lowered his eyes slightly, revealing just the right amount of vulnerability, like a sensitive and understanding person.

"Do you dislike me?" Lancelot's voice was gentle, yet in the silence of the night, it reached Lorant's ears clearly.

"Of course not!" Lorant’s head snapped up, looking somewhat flustered at Lancelot, thinking that the teasing he had been giving him lately might have caused a misunderstanding and upset Lancelot.

Lorant hurriedly wanted to explain, but days of non-stop work and the excitement of seeing Fa Meng had dulled his usual sharpness, making him feel a bit sluggish.

"No, I mean that kind of emotional dislike," Lancelot interrupted Lorant again, leaning slightly forward, his beautiful eyes staring at Lorant with a somewhat aggressive intensity. "If you don’t feel that way, would you consider letting me court you?"

Lorant's cheeks flushed red instantly.

"P-pursuit?"

"Yes, Mr. Lorant," Lancelot leaned forward a little more. "Would you accept my pursuit? Lancelot Cavendish’s pursuit of you? I mean, officially."

"Th-th-this... I..." Lorant was so flustered he could hardly speak. He hadn't expected Lancelot to be so direct and felt his mind go blank.

"Well, if you don't refuse me now, I'll take it as your agreement," Lancelot said, his eyes briefly sweeping over Lorant's burning red ears, not giving him much time to react.

Lancelot wore a triumphant smile, satisfied, as he gently curved the corners of his mouth, his gaze on Lorant becoming even softer.

Lorant barely remembered how he made it back to his room, feeling dazed and disoriented. He mumbled a quick goodnight to Lancelot, left him to clean up the mess from their late-night snack, and stumbled upstairs to bed.

The next morning, he hadn’t yet realized the major shift in his life that had happened the night before until he stepped out of his room, went down the stairs, and saw Lancelot and the table full of ominously colored, unidentifiable food.

Lorant crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at Lancelot.

"Cavendish Earl, is this 'pursuit' of yours an attempt to murder me with a bowl of blackened oat porridge and a charcoal-like loaf of bread?"

After a good night’s sleep, Lorant was fully awake and realized how poorly he had handled things the night before. He decided to give the earl a piece of his mind. He wasn’t going to make it easy for the earl to win him over!