Their romance storyline only begins on the second playthrough?

Chapter 46 I Want to Be a Normal Person

It turns out that Ivina was illiterate.

Thinking about it carefully, it makes sense. How could someone with such a naturally flawed brain possibly study properly?

At this moment, Rhodes remembered the Duchess's comments about Ivina's shortcomings—

Indeed, that is the case.

Physically weak, incapable of pleasing others, and with a bad temper; even uneducated, lacking manners, illiterate, and using casual language...

Let's set a small goal.

Let's raise this child well and then teach her some basic knowledge.

Well, it's more accurate to say that these are necessary. After all, if we're taking her out of the Duke's mansion, she needs to learn at least these basic human common sense etiquette.

Rhodes' tone shifted from gentle to rational, his eyes fixed intently on Ivina:

"Miss Ivina, I want to tell you the truth."

"What's the truth?"

"Miss Ivina, do you still remember what that witch said?"

She said the witch wanted to use your symbiote to create disaster, and that this would be detrimental to the city.

In fact, this was my original purpose in coming to the Duke's mansion. I wanted to take you away from the mansion and get you to a safe place, away from the witch's harm.

"There is a very powerful elf in our academy who can protect you."

Rhodes laid out his purpose, or rather, he understood that the only way he could move things forward was to make things clear.

Otherwise, if things turn into a messy period of complicated and ambiguous relationships, and in the end nothing develops, it will be terrible.

Upon hearing this, Ivina's shy face gradually regained its fair and smooth complexion.

She lowered her head and remained silent for a moment:

"Hmph... Of course I know, otherwise you really would be a perverted lolicon."

Ivina turned her head away, but her tone was gentle and coquettish.

"You're actually quite honest; if I told you, you'd have ulterior motives. Humph, you just want to lure this sheltered girl to the mountains to be your wife, don't you...?"

"It's a sinister plot, but a sinister plot to keep you alive."

"Feed..." Ivina's face flushed red again, and she quickly grabbed a photo frame from the table next to her and held it in front of her face.

"You, you can't keep saying such disgusting things, it's really disgusting."

"Are you unhappy? I'm sorry."

"No, not at all! Friends wouldn't say such mushy things, okay? We're just friends."

Ivina's ears were burning red, and she pursed her lips. "Also, don't call me 'you' or 'Miss' anymore, just call me Ivina."

"Okay, Ivina."

"I heard you!" Ivina nodded, but after a moment, she calmly lowered her hands, placing them on either side of the chair, and whispered:

"I understand your purpose, but it's basically impossible for me."

Don't think that just because I've made you my friend, it means I can leave. That's a completely different matter.

For me, this place is both a cage and a sanctuary.

I...at least not now, don't think you can completely put my mind at ease and let me leave the Duke's mansion after handing everything over to you.

Each word fell.

This is the case.

If Ivina didn't know Cecilia's identity as an "enemy," she could still entrust everything to Rhodes and pin her hopes on stepping out of the Duke's mansion in the future.

The problem is that she knows the truth, and she also knows that this boy... will not absolutely protect her.

Therefore, how could she possibly have the courage to give herself to him and leave the Duke's mansion?

Even if you tell yourself, "It's okay, being abandoned is fate," in the end, you're just comforting yourself.

Who wants to be abandoned?

Rhodes nodded slightly upon hearing this.

He had guessed it, but he didn't expect to solve the task in a day:

"That just means our friendship isn't strong enough."

So, let's spend the next few days nurturing our relationship.

My goal is to get you away from here, and I will do it.

"..." Ivina remained silent.

But if you knew the truth, would you still say that?

These words appeared in her mind in an instant;

But she didn't say it, only remained silent for a moment:

"That's so cheesy... You think you can win me over? Dream on..."

Ivina paused for half a second and added, "However, there's something I need to tell you."

"Huh? What is it?"

Ivina hesitated for a moment in silence, then finally spoke:

"I want to successfully participate in my coming-of-age ceremony."

Upon hearing this, Rhodes' eyes widened in surprise.

"Huh? Attending a coming-of-age ceremony?"

Suddenly, his plans were completely disrupted.

After all, the witches might make their move on the day of their coming-of-age ceremony.

Based on his experience from the first playthrough, Rhodes remembered that the only witch who made a move was the [Plague Witch] who had been promoted four times. If that were all, it would be fine, but the Duke himself had been promoted four times, and he also had the trump card [Lilith] in his hand.

However, the problem is that this playthrough is clearly different—

Because Cecilia also appeared.

In other words, this coming-of-age ceremony is a crisis that one should absolutely not attend.

"Why?" Rod asked.

"Early socialization training." Ivina nodded. "During the preparation stage for the coming-of-age ceremony, many people will come to the duchy."

"Vassals from the surrounding areas, or nobles of equal status, will all come."

"Because this banquet is a rare and special occasion, a time when the eastern nobles still have the opportunity to gather and discuss matters during this turbulent period."

Therefore, the people who came were not just there to attend my coming-of-age ceremony; in a real sense, they were there to discuss the future trade and support of their noble families in terms of goods, agriculture, and land.

Naturally, the people who come will be all sorts of people, and there will be a lot of them. There will probably be some kind of physical altercations or competition.

Ivina paused slightly.

"So, if I can't face these strangers in a familiar place, I think I'll never be able to leave the duchy and elope with you."

He didn't care that Ivina was deliberately teasing Rhodes with the word "elopement".

But he truly took the other words to heart.

"But even so, it doesn't mean you have to attend a coming-of-age ceremony, right? Even if you don't actually attend, many people will come in the next few days, and you can totally adapt to this stage."

Ivina bit her lip:

"Another thing is that I... I want to attend my coming-of-age ceremony and have the courage to tell everyone... I am a normal person."

Ivina's words were like a raindrop falling into a stream, stirring up ripples of emotion.

Even if Cecilia hadn't said those things, she actually wanted to successfully participate in her coming-of-age ceremony.

Because that was one of the few opportunities she had to tell others that she was a normal person.

Otherwise, if Rhode takes her out in the future, she can't let him get scolded, can she...?

She looked at Rhodes cautiously, waiting for his answer with a mixture of anticipation and fear.

Will he agree or not...?