Chapter 162
Despite my scolding, Claude didn’t budge. Instead, he gestured towards the gate and shamelessly retorted,
“I didn’t go in.”
“…What?”
When I had retorted, Claude rolled his eyes, as if he had perfectly interpreted my words in his favor and was clueless about what he did wrong.
I was about to argue that ‘don’t come’ didn’t mean ‘just don’t enter’ when I stopped. I noticed he wasn’t looking at me anymore.
“…What’s wrong?”
Following his frosty gaze, I turned to see Simeyez and Epine.
“…Who are they?”
“Huh?”
“Are they bothering you?”
His gaze sharpened instantly upon seeing them, and they visibly tensed up, trembling under his stare.
I quickly denied it.
“No, no, it’s not like that. We’re friends.”
“What?”
Yet, for some reason, Claude seemed even more shocked by my response.
“…You made friends?”
He muttered in disbelief, as if it was conceivable for me to be bullied but impossible for me to make new friends.
At this point, I felt slighted.
“…Why? Is it so strange that I have friends?”
“Not what I meant…”
He sighed, making an excuse as he swept a hand over his face.
“It wasn’t my intention.”
“…But it seems that way.”
“No, it’s not.”
With his shameless denial, I had nothing more to add. So, I changed the subject.
“So, what brings you here?”
“If not for you, why would I come here?”
“……”
“I came to pick you up. Let’s go home.”
Despite his gruff response, he extended his hand to me.
Maybe because it was unexpected to see him here, his hand, which felt so familiar when we were alone at home, suddenly seemed strange.
Instead of taking his hand, I just looked down at it, prompting him to raise an eyebrow, wondering what I was doing.
Then it suddenly hit me.
“Oh, right! I have plans today!”
But as soon as I spoke, veins throbbed on Claude’s forehead.
I instantly cowered.
“I… I’m off tomorrow, so I was going to go downtown with them for a bit… I didn’t know you’d come to fetch me…”
My words trailed off as I gauged his reaction, but his expression remained stern.
“I-It won’t take long. I’ll be back soon, okay?”
“……”
“Please, Lord Claude…”
Caught in an awkward situation, my arm was suddenly grabbed. Pulled with a swift motion, I found myself enveloped in his embrace.
As if sliding over a fence, he wrapped his arm around my waist, smirking as if he had just played a trump card I couldn’t possibly refuse.
“I bought something delicious to eat together.”
“……”
“It won’t taste good if it gets cold.”
He must believe my brain is ruled by hunger. Otherwise, why would he confidently use food as bait with such assurance?
Truthfully, I wasn’t particularly hungry, thanks to snacking throughout the day.
But even such a pathetic attempt at temptation changes the game when it comes from Claude.
With those tender eyes looking down at me, that characteristic smirk on his lips, and his voice filled with a playful note.
…I simply couldn’t refuse him.
“Right, Rose? You’re still not coming with me?”
“…I’ll come.”
I mumbled my concession. Laughter echoed above my head as if he had anticipated this.
Thus, he probably considers me as someone governed by gluttony. It’s humiliating and unfair, yet I can’t deny it.
Having achieved his goal, he seemed to have no further interest in staying. Snatching up the bag I was holding and slinging it over his shoulder, he gestured with a nod, urging us to head home.
“Ugh, fine. I’m coming.”
I grumbled, turning to leave but then hesitated. I had caught the gaze of dozens of pairs of eyes that had been watching us.
Surprised or intrigued, the Guides had not left their spot and were observing us. Even Simeyez and Epine, with whom I had been chatting moments ago, were among them.
“What are you waiting for?”
Above my frozen stance, his arm casually draped over me. Looking down, he seemed unfazed.
He was used to the attention. Despite his dislike for people, he was indifferent to the scrutiny directed at him.
“…Let’s go.”
I managed to reply.
A familiar sense of déjà vu slowly crept back.
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