Chapter 238 - How Am I?

Max flinched once he heard Jubelian’s words. ‘Just the way I am…? Don’t tell me she found out what I’ve been thinking about.’ Jubelian had taken him by surprise, and Max was uneasy that she was aware of the thoughts he had kept secret. Afraid that she might run away, he held her hand tight. ‘There’s no way she would know,’ he told himself.

“Isn’t there something you want to tell me?”

Gulping nervously, he clenched his fists. ‘She’ll be disappointed if she finds out.’ Calming his anxious mind, he feigned ignorance. “What are you talking about?” Jubelian turned to meet his eyes, and looking at those periwinkle orbs, Max began to feel guilty. ‘Damn it, I can’t do this.’ He was about to turn away when she grabbed him by the chin.

Forcing him to make eye contact, she ordered, “Don’t look away. I find it extremely unpleasant when you look elsewhere with me right next to you.”

Captivated by her confidence, Max nodded, “Fine.” The lady’s face brightened into a smile, and Max felt his mood improve. It was as if he was being praised for listening to her.

“Anyway, you didn’t answer my question.”

“Question? Oh, you mean…”

“What have you been up to? You haven’t visited me for the past few days.”

‘Is that what she has been talking about?’ Max let out a sigh of relief. Her being upset about him failing to answer that question had been the last thing on his mind. “Actually… I’ve been busy with training.”

“Training? Why? You didn’t spend so much time on it until now.”

Seeing her confusion, Max had no choice but to admit, “Well… I heard that your ideal type is a man stronger than Master.”

Jubelian groaned. “That’s because I was afraid of my dad setting me up with someone. That was just so he wouldn’t be able to find anyone. After all, there’s no one stronger than him in this empire.”

Nonetheless, Max was not satisfied. ‘She must be trying to make me feel better… So why am I so irritated?’ Hiding his feelings, Max forced a smile and asked, “Is that all? For your ideal type, I mean.”

Shaking her head, Jubelian answered, “I said the man must also be the most honorable and wealthiest in the empire and from a reputable family. Oh, he must be very skilled at what he does as well.”

The corner of Max’s lips curled up to a smile. ‘That’s totally me.’ Without a doubt, Max was wealthy, of honorable origins, and from a reputable family. Moreover, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him a genius swordsman of the century as he was close to becoming a transcendent being. ‘It’s only natural that she would like me,’ narcissism overtook him.

“But honestly… I only said those things thinking of my dad. He’s probably the only man in this world who has all those things. He’s perfect!”

Max realized the source of his discomfort. ‘She thinks of her father as the best in this world…’ Objectively speaking, his master was a decent man. Still, Max believed that he was not too far behind in terms of all the aspects Jubelian had mentioned. ‘I’m already superior to him in terms of wealth, appearance, and origin. There’s nothing that I lack—’ He had no choice but to stop his thoughts as he was reminded of his tragic loss in the duel. ‘Yeah, well, it doesn’t matter since I’m better than him in other things.’

Deciding to use his other strengths to appeal to her, Max began, “Jubelian, I am to become the next emperor.”

She nodded, “I’m aware.”

“I also have a lot of money and a decent appearance as well.”