They were now seated at a quiet restaurant on the edge of the town, the noise of the academy far behind them. The air inside was warm and smelled faintly of roasted meat and spices.
Clint sat slouched in his chair, poking at the food on his plate before finally speaking.
"So, it's your blood, huh? That's why that stupid mana pad acted like that?" he asked, narrowing his eyes across the table.
The duke didn't answer right away. Instead, he calmly lifted his wine glass and took a slow sip, the faintest trace of a knowing smile tugging at the corner of his lips. That small gesture alone was enough to make Clint sigh heavily and throw himself back against the chair.
"Unbelievable…" Clint muttered, grabbing his glass of juice and downing it all in one go. "Now they think it's me. Damn it, this is going to be troublesome." He stared at the empty glass in his hand with a look of betrayal before raising it up and glaring at the duke.
