I’m Really Not Trying to Be Chased by the Heroine as the Villainous Playboy! – Chapter 540

Chapter 87: The Empire’s Border

“The journey is long, and by the time we return, school will have already started. I can’t delay your studies because of my personal matters.”

Roy was dumbfounded.

The other party’s reasoning was so valid that he couldn’t even come up with a retort!

Having been playing around too much lately, he had forgotten he was still a student, and the next semester was just around the corner!

But is this really the time to talk about studies? No matter how important school is, it can’t compare to a life!

“That’s true, but the road is dangerous. More hands on deck wouldn’t hurt.”

Xue Nuo’s eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Is this kid worried about her?

Suppressing the urge to smile, Xue Nuo took a sip of milk tea and said gently, “No need. Besides my personal capabilities, there will be guards from the Empire’s embassy accompanying us, so you don’t need to worry about safety.”

Actually, she wanted to bring Roy back to her hometown to have a look.

It’s just that the Winter Festival is really not a good time.

Word has it that Winter will come as the royal representative to comfort the border. Xue Nuo had a nagging feeling that she didn’t want.

Considering how Winter has always been unfriendly towards Roy, to avoid involving her beloved student in any incidents, Xue Nuo had to give up the idea of bringing him along.

“Sorry. Next time there’s an opportunity, I’ll take you to the Empire, but there are many things to handle during the Winter Festival, so you’ll have to bear with it this time.” Xue Nuo lowered her eyelashes, letting out a small sigh, appearing quite guilty.

Now Roy was a bit anxious.

I’m not the one feeling wronged, but if I don’t go, it’s you, Teacher Xue Nuo, who will suffer!

Should I just play the rebellious student and secretly follow her?

It’s strange; Charlotte and the others barged into Coral Island so rudely before, yet it didn’t provoke protests from the South Sea nation afterward.

Xue Nuo is a reasonable person.

Unlike when she once questioned the relationship between men and women, when she could still argue with pure love, this time, there was really no compelling reason for him to go…

Hmm? Actually, there might be a way!

Roy suddenly remembered that in the original story, Xue Nuo initially didn’t want to take Alice along either.

The wronged little maid, with her small face and tearful eyes, had struck a soft spot in the normally cold-hearted Xue Nuo, who couldn’t resist and had to relent.

It’s all about being soft-hearted!

But Alice is a little girl, and he’s a big guy! It’s too embarrassing to put on a watery-eyed, wronged look!

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll come back right after the Winter Festival ends. See you next semester.”

Seeing that Xue Nuo had started to set expectations, Roy gritted his teeth and finally made a decision.

After all, Xue Nuo was the only one here; so, embarrassment is just going to have to happen!

The boy suddenly lowered his head, covering his eyes, and choked out, “Teacher Xue Nuo, do you really not want to take me with you?”

“…?”

“Even if we can meet again next semester, I just don’t want to be apart from Teacher Xue Nuo…” Roy paused, forcing out a hoarse tone, looking pitiful, with a苦笑: “It’s just that if I’ll be a burden to Teacher Xue Nuo, then forget it.”

Oh my, even I’m getting goosebumps here!

I wonder how this will turn out…

Peeking through his fingers to see her expression, Roy was stunned.

The Silver-Haired Girl’s eyes widened, looking like she didn’t know what to say, her expression guilt-ridden and flustered, as anxious as a wolf mother who accidentally hurt her cub.

“No, that’s not what I meant. Please don’t cry, okay?”

The Silver-Haired Girl stood up and walked over, awkwardly hugging the boy and gently ruffling his hair. Her voice was still cold, but gentle like a mountain stream, for fear of making him unhappy.

This effect might be a bit too good?!

Feeling her concern, Roy was overwhelmed with guilt.

“Well, can you take me with you then?”

“This… but your studies…”

“I’ve already gone over the material; I won’t fall too far behind.”

After thinking for a moment, when she saw the boy’s shoulders start shaking, Xue Nuo finally relented, letting out a troubled sigh: “You really are impossible.”

With that, Xue Nuo finally agreed.

However, feeling the affectionate ruffles on his head, Roy felt like his masculinity was being gently rubbed away…

——————————

The Frostwind Empire is located at the northernmost edge of the Veszyra continent, vast in area but constantly under extreme cold, with long winters and short summers. The harsh environment has shaped a resilient and reserved national character, as well as an army that can rival the Lionheart Kingdom.

In the early Third Era, during the First Demon Tide, when the entire human world faced catastrophic defeat, only the northern Empire held out until the end, stopping the demons’ offensive and buying precious time for the human coalition’s retreat to the Academy City, laying the groundwork for the future great counterattack.

At the westernmost border, the territory of the border dukes has stood for generations: Frostwind Fortress.

As the name suggests, this is a fortress perpetually standing amidst frost and snow. It’s one of the cities closest to the demon realm, the front line in the initial battle against the demons, and the only fortress still in constant contention with the demon races across two Eras.

In an era of peace and stability, with the demons separated outside the Desperate Defense Line, the demons have almost become fairy tale monsters compared to the cultists and magical beasts. Only Frostwind Fortress had faced off with the attacking demons twenty years ago, still vividly recalling those ferocious demonic entities and remaining watchful.

The Andwiye family has guarded Frostwind Fortress for generations, defending the Empire and the frontiers of the human race.

It is said that long before the Empire was founded, the first Duke Andwiye and Empress Rose were like siblings, depending on each other through life and death on the battlefield, even having some ambiguous off-record relationship.

But regardless of how, their feelings cannot be doubted; otherwise, Duke Andwiye wouldn’t have given up a comfortable life in the warm inland after peace shattered and vowed that his descendants would guard the border for eternity, nor would Empress Rose have granted the border military authority, honoring him as the Empire’s only Duke for eternity.

However, hundreds of years have passed, and while the extraordinary bloodline has been passed down, the bond between their families has ultimately dissipated.

Inside the carriage, Prince Winter of the Empire peeked outside at the stern-faced border soldiers, noticing only cold indifference in their eyes, devoid of any respect.

Such an eyesore…

A bunch of burly soldiers; can’t even send out a squad of young maidens?

Oh well, it’s rumored that Frostwind Fortress has soldiers everywhere; there probably aren’t many girls worth looking at at the border.

It wasn’t until he entered the castle that he finally found a few maids waiting to greet him.

But even in their eyes, there was a clear hint of rejection and indifference.

Maintaining his royal demeanor, Winter was secretly displeased.

After instructing his personal guards to guard the room, he stepped inside, and as he looked down at Frostwind Fortress from the window, his expression finally lost its smile, murmuring softly.

“There’s no need to keep disobedient dogs alive.”

Just then, a shadowy figure appeared behind him.

“Your Highness need not rush; everything is already prepared.” A short, elderly, pale wizard bowed slightly in a somewhat comical manner, rasping a smile: “Soon, Frostwind Fortress will belong to you.”