I’m Really Not Trying to Be Chased by the Heroine as the Villainous Playboy! – Chapter 292

Chapter 145: The Elders’ Inquiry

The next evening, Roy brought Alice to the rooftop of the West Wind Restaurant, invited.

Dressed in a sleek black military uniform emblazoned with a gold-pressed sword and shield, Roy looked handsome and dignified, perfectly embodying the standard appearance of a Lionheart noble.

Alice, on the other hand, remained in her usual maid attire, serene and demure, adorable yet unassuming. Her delicate features and pure aura, however, drew gasps of admiration from the servants.

Elegant elven servants stood in two respectful rows, greeting the duo’s arrival with the utmost decorum, all according to the highest standards.

Upon entering, Roy quickly realized the atmosphere at the dining table wasn’t as solemn and serious as he had anticipated.

This private dinner not only included them but also extended invitations to all of Nia’s friends, including Amy, Jennie, Vanilla, and Choc, who had arrived before them.

Among them, Nia, dressed in a light green gown, was chatting and laughing, quite relaxed.

Jennie and Amy marveled at the understated luxury of the Verdant Council and its unique forest decorations.

Vanilla was as obedient as always, while Choc devoured the appetizers like a starved pig, making Roy, the host, blush with embarrassment.

Nia was the first to notice their arrival, standing up eagerly to greet them.

“Why are you guys so late…”

The girl was about to flash her habitual smile, but suddenly froze in place, her smile stiffening as if an invisible wall had blocked her.

Roy inwardly sighed, subtly tightening his collar to cover the lingering tingling mark that the princess had left on his neck yesterday.

Seeing the apparent grievance on the elven girl’s face filled Roy with guilt.

“Tsk tsk, the whole school is buzzing about you visiting the Lionheart Mansion yesterday. I didn’t believe it at first, but now it seems like you…”

Nia feigned a cheerful laugh, yet as she laughed, her expression drooped, biting her lip and falling silent.

Alice glanced back and forth between the two, confused about why Nia’s mood had suddenly plummeted.

And behind Nia, despite knowing about her entanglement, Jennie and Amy were equally at a loss in the face of this scene.

What was supposed to be a joyous banquet had turned awkward.

Until a somewhat cold voice came from the other side.

“Nia, it seems all your friends have arrived.”

Nia seemed to find the excuse she needed, avoiding Roy’s gaze as she replied to Janthea, “Yeah! The banquet is about to start!”

“Don’t rush. Before that…”

The chieftain of the Verdant Council shot Roy a frosty glance, her cold gaze straightening him up instinctively, making him hold his breath.

“You two come here first.”

With that, Janthea turned away.

Roy and Nia followed her, distancing themselves from the others, taking a seat in a corner of the outdoor restaurant.

During this time, Nia unconsciously quickened her pace, avoiding Roy’s gaze.

In response, the young man could only sigh.

Just because he persuaded Charlotte, didn’t mean Nia would accept this kind of relationship.

After all, Nia was at heart a conservatively-minded elven girl; in many ways, she might be tougher to convince than Charlotte.

But for now, they first had to pass Janthea’s hurdle.

If even the chief of the Verdant Council couldn’t persuade her, they could forget about Nia’s issues altogether. Roy thought self-deprecatingly.

However, upon noticing that the boy and girl across from each other weren’t holding hands like last time, but rather kept a subtle distance, Janthea felt a slight heaviness in her heart.

To be honest, she found it hard to agree with this love triangle. But she couldn’t accept her daughter turning into a loser either.

How could chasing after boys be a halfway endeavor? Always so brave in everything else, why did it turn into such a cowardly affair when it came to dating? Back in her day, if I felt like holding hands, I just did!

Inwardly, Janthea was wildly critiquing the boy’s practical performance, while on the surface, she maintained a serious demeanor.

“First of all, congratulations on completing the Trial of Blue.”

“Competing against upperclassmen is no small feat, and defeating the All Things Wither priest, even slaying the Withered Child…”

At this point, Janthea cast a deep glance at Roy.

The growth speed and peak power of the False King’s blood far exceeded that of other bloodlines; Janthea had experienced this firsthand through an old friend eighteen years ago.

Upon hearing of Roy’s victory over the evil god’s priest, she was surprised yet felt it was to be expected.

After all, he was the descendant of Rolin.

But killing the Withered Child? Now that was a different story.

Turning the tables in such dire circumstances required not only exceptional strength but also the courage to fight to the death and a stroke of luck to have coincidentally made a contract with the true ancestor—

And most importantly, a decisiveness that did not waver in the face of fate.

Perhaps Rolin once had such moments, but in Janthea’s memory, her old friend’s impression had always consisted of the loneliness and despair buried beneath a faint smile.

If it were the young man before her now, perhaps he could carve out a path entirely different from Rolin’s.

With this thought, Janthea couldn’t help but confess, “I admit, you have surpassed Rolin.”

Even if she had a hint of the answer, hearing Janthea’s confirmation made Roy and Nia finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Yet Janthea’s next words tightened their nerves once more.

“Nia, I won’t force you to come back, but I’ll ask you one more time: are you sure you want to stay at the Academy?”

Nia was slightly taken aback, hurriedly smiling, “Mom, what are you talking about? Of course, I want to stay!”

“Even if it means you won’t find happiness as you wish?”

As if frozen by Janthea’s icy inquiry, the elven girl became speechless.

Roy instinctively wanted to speak but clenched his fists, resisting the impulse.

Unlike last time, when Janthea was stubbornly decisive, he had no right to interrupt a mother’s reasonable concern or to hinder Nia’s own will.

Whether to stay or go should be a decision for Nia to make herself.

But seeing her daughter’s silence only made Janthea furrow her brows more deeply.

So she turned her attention to Roy.

“Roy, what do you think?”

Nia secretly cast a gaze, curious.

Roy replied seriously, “Whether to stay or leave, I respect Nia’s choice.”

Upon hearing this, Janthea’s expression darkened, while Nia drooped her shoulders, looking slightly dejected.

“But if Nia is willing to stay, I will never let her down.”

“The chief’s earlier assumption doesn’t hold. As long as Nia wants to stay, I will definitely ensure her happiness.”

Nia turned to look at the girl beside her, her eyes widening, a spark of hope rekindling.

Janthea’s mouth curled up a bit, only to swiftly suppress it again.

While she wanted to believe in the boy’s promise, she wouldn’t ignore the implications that lay behind Roy’s words.

“That’s quite a strong statement. Did you say the same to the other girl?”

That question struck like a dagger to Roy’s heart, nearly making him lose his composure.

“While I haven’t said it like that, I have confidence to make her just as happy. We won’t mistreat either of them.”

“Anyone could say that.” Janthea’s gaze turned sharp, her tone ominous: “Do you know? According to elven custom, back in the First Era, those who cheat would have their limbs severed and hung from trees, feeding vultures.”