Chapter 220: Can You Give Me a Proper Status?

Jeremy knew Sylas would wake up soon, but this day arrived earlier than Jeremy had expected.

This was naturally good news.

But the dispatch date of this letter was fifteen days ago.

The contents of the letter stated that Sylas would be coming to the academy soon to join the fifth-year reserve list.

Due to the age issue, Sylas could not start from the first year.

Sylas could only enter the fifth-year reserve list, and after choosing a suitable team, could officially become a member of the St. Aetherwing Academy.

The academy happened to have a few vacant spots. This time, Sylas was assigned to the same department as Raphael. Although not in the same team, fortunately, they were in adjacent classes.

The participating team members also had a good relationship with the Valmont family, so Sylas could be considered looked after, requiring no excessive worry.

Jeremy put the letter away.

In short… Sylas had woken up half a month ago and was currently on his way to the academy.

And judging from the letter’s contents, the person escorting Sylas was their cousin—Jelius.

The young master of the Valmont family’s branch line.

Although Jeremy had thought there would be a day they met, for some reason… actually arriving at this moment, he suddenly felt a bit… nervous?

At night, 1:00 AM.

Jeremy suffered from insomnia.

He felt sleepy, yet he couldn’t fall asleep.

Tossing and turning made him slightly frustrated, so he simply left the dormitory, intending to go to Griffin’s place to read for a while.

The space Griffin established in the back mountain had granted access rights to the five of them.

Among those countless doors, each door led to a different space.

One of them led to a place resembling a study.

Although Jeremy didn’t know where exactly it was, the vast majority of the books inside were Ancient fragmented scrolls that he had never read, along with some secret texts and anecdotal records not circulated outside. It was very interesting, no, it should be said it was very useful.

Since he was free right now, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to drop by and take a look.

Just as he reached the ground floor of the dormitory, Jeremy saw Lucius approaching, holding a cup of brown sugar boba milk tea that most people would find sickeningly sweet.

Jeremy was already used to this sight.

This guy was particularly addicted to sweets.

As for why he didn’t buy it during the day and insisted on going out in the middle of the night, it was presumably to maintain his usual aloof and arrogant image.

Although Lucius didn’t seem all that aloof to begin with.

Seeing Jeremy’s figure in his line of sight, Lucius put the milk tea away and walked directly over to intercept him.

Coming closer, Lucius lowered his eyes to look at Jeremy, asking, “You can’t sleep?”

“…A little.” Jeremy massaged his brow.

Lucius raised his hand, his fingertips gently stroking a lock of Jeremy’s hair. “Is it because you’re about to reunite with your family that you feel uneasy and nervous?”

During the day when reading the letter, Jeremy hadn’t avoided his teammates, so they also knew about Sylas coming to the academy.

Jeremy didn’t deny it: “Uneasy, not exactly. Nervous, a little bit. But well, once we meet, I’ll naturally know how to act.”

Jeremy brushed Lucius’s hand away: “Enough about me, why haven’t you slept yet this late?”

His intention in changing the subject was to not dwell on it anymore. Lucius understood the hint and was very tactful not to press further, only staring at the hand that had just been brushed away, his tone somewhat resentful: “…I couldn’t sleep.”

Jeremy asked casually, “Is something on your mind?”

Lucius sighed softly: “I was wondering if I could change the flow of time. The waiting period until graduation is truly far too long.”

Seeing that Lucius had no intention of leaving either, Jeremy also extinguished the thought of heading to the back mountain, simply sitting down on the wooden bench beneath the peach blossom tree.

Then Jeremy asked: “Why are you in such a rush to graduate? Is there somewhere you want to go?”

“…No.” Lucius sat close, naturally resting his head on Jeremy’s shoulder: “Didn’t our captain say that he would consider giving me a proper status after graduation? Right now, I’m burning with impatience.”

Jeremy: “?”

Is this guy crazy?

When had he ever said that?

“If you don’t admit it, I’ll bite you.” Lucius smiled radiantly, but his tone dropped a few degrees.

Jeremy remained unperturbed: “Then bite me.”

The reason he said that was because he thought Lucius wouldn’t actually do it, but the very next second, a warm sensation transmitted from his neck.

Along with… a slight sting of pain and a strange numbness.

Biting is one thing, but why did he have to… lick?

Jeremy shot up, looking at the young man who was smiling as brightly as the spring breeze in sheer disbelief.

“Are you a puppy?”

Lucius’s smile didn’t fade in the slightest. His fingertips brushed across his lips as he retorted with a half-smile: “Who told Jeremy not to admit it? Besides, liars are puppies.”

“…” Seeing that Lucius didn’t seem to be joking, Jeremy searched his memory for a moment.

A few seconds later, he successfully remembered what Lucius was referring to.

When obtaining the Draconis Sword, Jeremy had once told Lucius that at least until graduation, he hoped their relationship could maintain the status quo.

What was this guy’s response back then?

It seemed Lucius had asked in return: [Does Noan mean it will be fine after graduation? Regardless of what it is?]

And did Jeremy deny it?

…It seemed he casually said a “No,” but he indeed had given Lucius hope.

Jeremy’s mood suddenly calmed down.

He looked at Lucius, asking as if questioning Lucius, yet also questioning himself: “Do you really like me?”

This sudden, blunt question made Lucius freeze for a few seconds. After snapping out of it, Lucius chuckled softly.

He replied: “That’s right, I like you very much.”

Lucius’s tone clearly became extremely gentle. Edging closer, he sneakily intertwined his hand with Jeremy’s, locking their ten fingers tightly together. Lucius whispered in a coaxing manner: “So I want a proper status. Is Noan willing to give it to me?”

“…”

The faint fragrance wafting over his face made one somewhat dazed. Jeremy admitted that he wasn’t completely devoid of a single flutter of his heart; after all, whether it was this guy’s appearance or physique, it was as if he was tailor-made to heaven’s aesthetic standards, completely impossible to pick a flaw in.

And that arrogant yet sulky personality… Jeremy didn’t hate it either.

But Jeremy had no prior romantic experience, nor did he previously feel he would have the chance to consider these matters, so he never thought about how he should face it when this moment actually arrived.

He also wasn’t sure if Lucius’s liking was the same as what he understood it to be.

And Jeremy… would also never be able to act like someone in a novel or movie, dedicating his entire life and freedom to the person he loved.

Without reaching that level of affection… could it still be called liking?

Jeremy wasn’t sure, so he asked in return: “What if my answer is that I’m not willing?”

He thought Lucius would give up, but Lucius acted as if he had anticipated it, speaking with sincerity yet mixed with a hint of deliberate grievance: “Then I will wait until you are willing.”

Jeremy: “Even if it takes ten years?”

Lucius: “Until I die.”

“…”

Until… he dies?

Perhaps because the night was too quiet, Jeremy could even hear his own heartbeat and Lucius’s.

Was Lucius nervous, or was he?

Before Jeremy could think deeper, a voice full of resentment rang out: “I can wait a lifetime, but if Jeremy’s partner position is taken by someone other than me, then I will…” Lucius suddenly stopped.

Jeremy lifted his eyes: “Then what?”

“…” Originally, Lucius wanted to say he would kill all those fools, but if he said it like that… he would be despised.

And Jeremy would hate him for someone else, pointing swords and spears at him.

Thinking of that scene, Lucius couldn’t bear it. An extreme repulsion surged in his heart, making it almost impossible to control; frustration and irritation filled his entire mind.

He didn’t think he liked Jeremy to some massive extent, but compared to others, he was more interested in Jeremy, or at least he didn’t feel repulsed.

If one day Jeremy had to marry, then Lucius hoped that the person occupying the position of his partner could only be himself, not anyone else.

Therefore, he wanted to confirm their relationship before graduation.

But why, just imagining that Jeremy’s future partner wasn’t him but someone else, did he feel so anxious?

…Could it be, he was truly that terrible.

So terrible that Jeremy would rather choose someone else over him?

Where was the flaw?

Appearance? Family background? He had all of that.

Or was it because of his detestable personality…

An indescribable emotion surged in Lucius’s heart, impossible to suppress no matter what.

Seeing that Lucius didn’t say anything, Jeremy was just about to gloss over this topic when he noticed the corners of the eyes of the person in front of him had unknowingly turned red… tears falling like pearls.

“??!”

Jeremy was stunned.

“What are you crying for?”

Lucius broke out of his imagined scenario. Snapping back to reality after hearing the word ‘crying’, he frowned slightly: “I am not.”

His right hand was being tightly held by Lucius, so Jeremy had to lift his left hand. His fingertips brushed across the tears, the damp sensation strangely chilling in the dark night. Jeremy said with a complex expression: “Then what is this? Gemstones?”

“?” Lucius fell silent. Even he himself hadn’t expected this; it wasn’t a joke.

A feeling of embarrassment instantly spread. Lucius let go of the hand tightly interlaced with Jeremy’s, turning around intending to flee.

Jeremy found it a bit ridiculous. Watching the retreating back, a certain place in his heart had unknowingly come to care about Lucius more and more.

But who cries after confessing their own feelings?

What nonsense was Lucius imagining just now?

Jeremy sighed helplessly, teleporting forward and grabbing Lucius’s hand.

“I’m holding my engagement party next week, do you want to attend?”

“?” Lucius couldn’t believe it, abruptly spinning around: “Exactly since when did…”

He originally intended to ask who that person was; he clearly stuck to Jeremy every day, since when did they get so close? But before he could finish his sentence, a ring was slipped onto his ring finger.

Jeremy mimicked Lucius’s earlier gesture, tightly interlacing their ten fingers, smiling and coaxing: “If you agree, then stop crying.”

“…”

Understanding the underlying meaning of those words, all the chaotic thoughts in Lucius’s head vanished into thin air at this moment. He felt a bit… dazed.

He was clearly ‘not liking to that extent’, yet at this moment, he was so overjoyed that he was willing to rip his heart out and offer it to the person before him.

Perhaps, whatever Jeremy wanted, as long as Lucius had it, he would give it.

What he didn’t have, even if he had to steal it, he would bring it before Jeremy.

Ever since confirming their relationship, Lucius became significantly more clingy, and even his temper mellowed out considerably.

Normally he didn’t bicker with Leon anymore, and even proactively helped Evelyn water the flowers, or assisted Phoenix with close-combat teleportation training…

When Jeremy wasn’t around, Lucius would just stare intently at the ring. Because of this, in less than two days, everyone in the Eclipse Team, including Asaro and Lomita’s group, knew about the two of them confirming their romantic relationship.

However, to them, this was a matter of sooner or later anyway, so there wasn’t much surprise.

As for where Jeremy’s ring came from… actually, at that time to coax Lucius, Jeremy had used the Star Edge Card to morph it.

Well… the new ring was currently in the process of being crafted. Before it was done, expending a bit of magic power to coax Lucius into being happy was no big deal.

Jeremy wasn’t certain to what extent he could go for Lucius, or whether his feelings were worth mentioning.

But one thing was certain: besides Lucius, he currently didn’t want anyone else to occupy the position of his partner, and he especially didn’t want… to make Lucius wait a lifetime, lonely and hurt by himself.