NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 168.1
“What? Nothing happened.”
Kien confessed to me? But I’m not foolish enough to tell Jade.
Our family despises criminals. Come to think of it, Kien came from a criminal background…
“Jade, have you ever received a confession?”
“Who confessed to you?”
Jade responded sharply.
“How dare they?”
“Ho-how dare? Well, someone could confess to me…”
“Shouldn’t they ask for permission from me or father before trying anything?”
“Where’s such a rule? Wait a moment. So, if I ask for permission, would you grant it?”
“No, I can deal with it before it reaches that stage.”
What kind of handling? I rolled my eyes. Quick judgment again. Pretend I didn’t hear.
‘Jade is sharp after all…’
Deceiving him now is impossible.
“Are you worried about rejecting or about not being able to grant permission?”
Suddenly, Cedric came to mind.
“If it’s difficult to decide on your end, tell me. I’ll handle it. If the cause of concern is eliminated, that’s the end.”
“There’s nothing for you to handle! Besides, by what means?”
“Even if one is a prince, you never know what tomorrow brings, right?”
Isn’t that a direct hit at Cedric?
“I didn’t get a confession from Cedric.”
Jade visibly sighed in relief.
“That’s fortunate.”
“So, Cedric isn’t allowed?”
Jade smirked.
“Ask your heart.”
“…”
My heart felt heavy, like being pierced by a large needle. Nevermind. Change the subject.
“…Don’t you, Jade, have someone you want to date?”
“You ask a lot.”
“Just curious.”
“Well, not right now…”
“Why?”
“You’re already a handful.”
“Why is it always my fault?”
I sat up abruptly. Ugh.
I thought he was seriously listening, but he’s treating me like a fool again.
“Jade, I had my coming-of-age ceremony.”
“And?”
“Don’t you have anything to say to me?”
Jade paused.
“What should I say?”
“You said you were disappointed.”
“…”
“You went to the South to investigate the epidemic without telling me?”
“It wasn’t contagious.”
Recently, Jade went to the South as a provincial representative.
Turns out, he went to investigate an epidemic that started in the estate of Count Gallian, where Ko lived.
‘No wonder the Duchy didn’t know about such a major event.’
Every day he told me to be careful, but he went to such a dangerous place without telling me. I glared at Jade.
“Why?”
“Do you think you’ll pass the disease onto me? You always nag at me… Some diseases are airborne and it’s risky to visit villages with epidemics…”
I grumbled. Jade stifled his laughter.
“Our family doesn’t get sick easily.”
“…”
“Why? I’m not joking.”
Jade grasped my chin.
I stared straight into Jade’s red eyes.
“If we become siblings in the next life, make me the older sister. I’ll also nag you one-sidedly.”
“Even if we are reborn, you’ll probably be younger and treated as a younger sister by me.”
“Then in the next life, I’ll be born bigger than Jade.”
“That’s ambitious.”
Jade pinched my cheek.
My lips pouted out.
“Ugh!”
I motioned for him to let go. Jade released my cheek.
“Do you want something?”
“Why the sudden topic change?”
“You came to my rarely visited room and acted so sweetly, I thought you’d want a gift for the first time in a long time.”
“…”
What does Jade consider as ‘acting sweet’? I held my tongue.
“I don’t want anything, really.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know what you’re worried about, but it’s not your fault. Accepting something from someone is not a sin, whether it’s affection or attention.”
“…”
“Being hurt is their problem. You don’t have an obligation.”
Jade sometimes says things that are surprisingly straightforward.
“I’m not sure. I’ve already received so much. Just being part of this family with Dad and Jade feels like too much…”
“So, you haven’t thought about the next step and are afraid to take it.”
Is my deductive ability the worst in this house? Look at Jade, he’s a genius.
“Leticia, when I hear such words, I become overjoyed. Dad feels the same. We’d like to keep you in this house as our precious youngest forever.”
“…”
“So, take a step when you have the chance.”
“What if I fail?”
“Curious?”
Jade smiled with his eyes. He’s grown so much and now has a smile resembling Dad’s. I raised my eyebrows.