Chapter 22 - Embarassing Memory

As if respecting the existing hierarchy, the servant spoke first to Greda, who was still faithfully accompanying Lev as he painted. He whispered something in Greda's ear, then retreated back into the mansion. It turned out that the servant didn't just come and whisper something, he also gave her a mysterious ball.

[Name: Dr. Magidev

Category: Mass Production Item.

Description: A magical device developed by magicians in the magic tower. Although each country has its own type of Magidev, their functions remain the same: to enable real-time long-distance communication.]

It turned out to be Dr. Magidev… if Lev had to put it bluntly, he would call the item a cell phone. While phones on Earth require someone to top up their credit, mana crystals are needed to activate items like Magidev. 

Also, just like phones on Earth, the person who has to pay for the mana crystals is the one who wants to call the other party. 

"Young Master, you have a call from Miss Lyudmila." 

Greda handed the Dr. Magidev to Lev. 

Seeing the white light on the Magidev flashing, Lev knew that the other party was waiting for him to answer the call. 

Lyudmila Razanov. 

Besides Lev and Boris, there was another child of the couple Andrei and Irini; she was Lyudmila Razanov, the eldest child. 

Lyudmila is much older than Lev and Boris because Irini gave birth to her when she was still a teenager. This was typical of the early marriages of nobles, who were often betrothed before they even turned twenty.

The reason Lyudmila doesn't live in the capital is because she is currently residing in the Razanov family's territory. She is managing the dukedom that Andrei has neglected. 

Considering that the eldest sister was someone actively seeking new knowledge, including how to manage a territory, it was only natural that she wanted to stay there to replace Andrei, even though she was already married.

Then a question arose: why did Andrei tend to stay in the capital for his entire life? Was there something he was hiding? Or was it because he couldn't manage his own territory? There was no point in thinking about it any further.

"You don't need to answer that call. Just send a message saying I'm fine and tell him not to worry. The shorter, the better. I don't want him to waste too many mana crystals."

Just using the magidev alone consumes a lot of mana crystals—if converted into aurum gold coins, it could sustain a low-ranking noble family for a month, or around 100 coins.

If Lev answered the call from his eldest sister, he would surely receive words of comfort, just as he had in his previous life. Since he already knew what his eldest sister wanted to say, it was better not to answer it in the first place.

Lev lowered his hand holding the brush and looked up at the sky. He felt a touch of nostalgia for the past.

"What did I do back then when I received a call from her?"

He then recalled that he had responded angrily to Lyudmila's words of comfort. Whether due to stress, feelings of inferiority, or perhaps his childish mindset, he had replied to Lyudmila's words of comfort with harsh words.

Considering how much Lyudmila cared about him, there was a desire to pick up the magidev, speak, and apologize. However, since he was about to destroy this family, he dared not face his eldest sister.

"If she ends up hating me, it's better that she never liked me from the start," Lev thought to himself.

After fiddling with the magidev—sending a message as instructed—Lev assumed Greda would bring Dr. Magidev back into the mansion. But she just stood there. 

As if sensing something was bothering her, Greda rubbed the back of her hand holding the walking stick. 

"Is something bothering you, Nanny?"

"Before I go back inside, I have a question." 

"What is it?" 

"I don't know if I should talk about this or not." 

"Why? Just say it if you want to." 

"I heard that the Marquess Taranin family once had plans to cancel the engagement with you." 

"Is that so?"

"Aren't you sad, Young Master? Don't you love the Marquess Taranin's only daughter, Miss Elizavet?" 

"... I did, but not anymore." 

When he heard the name Elizavet, Lev began to think about events from the past. About how he, in his innocence, had fallen in love with Elizavet at a tea party in a nobleman's house, and how he had tried to approach her, armed with a bright future and pride in his background. 

'Should I be ashamed of that past?' He wondered whether he should act as if such a past never existed or think openly that it was just a natural occurrence that anyone could do when they were young. 

After receiving a half-hearted response from Lev, Greda returned to the mansion. 

Due to Greda's trivial question, Lev began to think about things he didn't want to remember.

He ended up pouring his thoughts onto the canvas. Just as he was about to tear up what he had just drawn, someone spoke to him from behind. 

"What are you drawing, Young Razanov?" 

Just as Lev was contemplating it, the person he was thinking of appeared before him. They were a father and daughter—Mikhail and Elizavet. 

The one who started the conversation was Mikhail. He studied the painting Lev had created on the canvas, leaning forward. 

"Wow, did your heart just get broken? Why are you drawing a man abandoned by his partner?"

Indeed, Lev had unconsciously painted the figure of a man abandoned by his partner with another man. The hands of the man in the painting were seen reaching out to the woman who had left him, looking pitiful. 

The painting he had created was a reflection of what had happened in his previous life, specifically when he had been abandoned by Elizavet.

Lev's response was not to shout angrily or tear up the painting he had drawn in embarrassment. He remained calm and replied, "Hm. Isn't it natural to be abandoned by your partner if you're no longer useful?" 

Upon hearing this, Mikhail and Elizavet were startled. Especially Elizavet, whose body seemed to turn pale white as if she had lost her soul. 

"If there's nothing else you want to say, I'll go ahead and leave."

Lev put all the paintings he had drawn into his magic pouch. 

Then he walked away from the father and daughter. 

Seeing that Lev didn't care about him, Mikhail's pride was deeply wounded. 

"Luckily, I decided to meet with you first before discussing the engagement with your father. Seeing the attitude you showed toward us, I assume you don't want to engage with Elizavet. Would it be okay if I gave Elizavet to your younger brother? Don't you love Elizavet?"

Upon hearing this, Lev stopped in his tracks. He turned around and looked at the faces of the father and daughter. 

Lev knew that Mikhail was like all other parents—he wanted his child to have the best possible partner. Regardless of the fact that Elizavet was his only child, the more outstanding the prospective son-in-law he chose, the more useful that son-in-law would be in safeguarding the Marquessate's territory.

Then, why a son-in-law from the Razanov family? 

Lev knew the reason why. 

Before taking his leave from the father and daughter, Lev offered some parting words, 

"You shouldn't rush into a relationship with the Razanov family. Instead of having to ask for the engagement to be broken off later, you should wait until next week." 

"What do you mean?"

"I'm sure you won't want to form a relationship with this family later. But don't worry. I'll still help you when the time is right." 

After finishing his words, Lev left them both with question marks on their faces.