I Won't Go Back To My Family Who Abandon Me novel Chapter 53

˜Shall I ask him to come with me?'

It was the first day of the Swordsmanship tournament and Leticia was standing in front of Enoch's door. She kept raising and dropping her hand.

Leticia was just going to make a casual request, but she was strangely nervous and let out a long sigh. The door suddenly burst open just as she was going to try reaching out to knock again.

Leticia was so startled that she couldn't even scream and almost fell backwards. Enoch quickly grabbed her before she could fall.

"Are you all right?"

Perhaps from the surprise, Enoch looked stiffer than usual. His eyes were busy checking to see if she was injured anywhere.

Being in Enoch's arms unexpectedly, Leticia was so shy that she covered her face with her hands.

"I'm all right."

Why did she keep falling like a child who hadn't taken a proper step yet? She wished she could disappear.

Enoch only released Leticia from his arms when he was sure that she was fine.

"What brings you here?"

"Oh, well... Uh..."

As soon as she was faced with his soft gaze, Leticia hesitated and started to smooth her dress with her fingers. It wasn't anything important, she didn't know why she was so nervous.

Time with Enoch always gave her a sense of security. She could feel her mouth going dry, because she had never suggested they do something together first.

"I heard today's the first day of the tournament, would you like to go with me?"

She finally said it!

Leticia looked up at him while clenching her hands on her sleeves.

Enoch rubbed the nape of his neck, as if he was uncomfortable. Leticia immediately noticed his awkward expression. She couldn't hide her disappointment and her shoulders drooped.

"It looks like you have other things to do..."

She wanted to go with him.

As he lowered his head weakly, he quickly told her.

"It's not because I don't want to go with you."

"It's okay, you must be busy."

She understood, but that didn't make her feel any better right now.

Leticia stood there with a sullen face, and Enoch spoke to her in a soothing tone.

"It's because I have training."

"Training?"

Today wasn't the day he went to the palace for training. She knew Enoch trained every morning on his own, but she was confused because it was too late in the day for that.

˜Come to think of it...'

Leticia kept her mouth shut for a moment and looked at Enoch.

He was wearing the same clothes she had seen him wearing during his sword training.

˜No way...?'

As the thought passed through her head, Leticia looked surprised and asked.

"Are you participating in the tournament?"

"...."

There was no answer when she asked if she was correct.

Leticia frowned at Enoch's furtive glance, then he tried to explain himself.

"The Knights have a separate competition."

It was kind of like an initiation.

Since it was unfair for them to participate in a tournament with ordinary people, the members of the Imperial Knights had a separate competition.

˜I don't want him to get hurt.'

Leticia knew it was inevitable as long as he held a sword.

Even though she understood, her mind could not deal with the situation, and in the end she turned her head away from Enoch.

As she turned her head away, Enoch's heart dropped. As soon as he realized what she was worried about, he firmly said.

"I won't get hurt, I won't."

"But..."

It didn't sound very reliable, because he couldn't help if he got hurt.

She felt a small arm hug her drooping shoulders. Before she could turn around in surprise, Elle piped up.

"If he gets hurt, it's his loss. Leave my brother behind and let's go."

"Shall we?"

"Leticia."

Feeling nervous for some reason, Enoch quickly reached out to Leticia. However, Leticia gently avoided his hand.

Without time to be puzzled by the way she rejected him for the first time, Elle stuck her tongue out at Enoch tauntingly.

"We're busy now."

She quickly took Leticia away with her.

Behind them, Enoch called out to Leticia anxiously, but she was only dragged further away by the victorious Elle.

***

It was the first day of the tournament, and there were already a lot of people around. Leticia and Elle walked around while holding hands tightly, because they were worried they would lose each other if they even looked away for a moment.

"Why didn't Ian come with you?"

The thought suddenly came to Leticia, so she carefully asked. Elle just shrugged nonchalantly.

"He didn't want to come because he's busy studying for the second exam that's coming up."

"Ah..."

It's like that.

Leticia walked slowly, unable to hide her regret.

"I wish he'd come with us."

"I know, but you can't force someone to come when they want to study."

They didn't want to interfere with Ian, who had always lived apathetically with a look of disinterest in everything he did. He was finally making an effort with enthusiasm for the first time in a long time.

"I'm glad I got my sister all to myself."

"Me, too."

At that, Elle pouted her lips with a discontent look on her face.

"Lies, you were sad you couldn't go with my brother."

"Oh, that's not it."

"It's because you like my brother."

"....!"

"....?"

As if shocked by Elle's words, Leticia suddenly stopped and gasped.

Elle looked at her curiously.

"Don't you like my brother?"

"How did you know that?"

"How could I not know?"

Why did she say it like that?

Elle managed to swallow the laughter that was bubbling up. She pointed to Leticia's face and said.

"It's written all over your face."

Her face was already red, which informed anyone watching of the answer.

Leticia covered her face in embarrassment, and tearfully said.

"Is it really that obvious...?"

It was an unspeakable shock to Leticia, who thought she had hidden her thoughts well in her own way.

Elle didn't give Leticia time to calm down.

"How can you not tell when your face turns red just by asking if you like my brother?"

"Then did Lord Achilles notice?"

Her blue eyes teared up in anxiety. Elle quietly watched her and sighed instead of answering.

Her brother was quick-witted, not a slow man. He was actually a frighteningly clever man, and it was clear that he was looking for a clear opportunity to strike.

"He probably doesn't know."