Chapter 163
“Eat some meat, Rose.”
Claude pushed a plate filled with meat towards me.
“Okay.”
Just as I was about to put a piece into my mouth with my fork, he pushed another plate my way.
“Eat some vegetables too.”
“…Okay.”
After finishing the meat…
Chewing on the meat, I reached for the vegetable plate this time. As soon as I randomly picked a green vegetable with my fork, he urged me again.
“Don’t just eat vegetables. Eat some meat too.”
“…”
I stopped my fork in mid-air and looked up.
Sitting next to me and scolding me for not eating properly, he had pushed all the plates towards me and was propping his chin, completely engrossed in watching me eat without even touching his own utensils.
Catching my puzzled look, one of his eyebrows quirked up, seemingly oblivious to the unreasonable demand he was making.
“…”
I continued with the fork still in hand, picking up a piece of meat as well.
Fulfilling his request, I stuffed both meat and vegetables into my mouth, cheeks bulging. Watching me, the corners of his mouth lifted in satisfaction. He must be pleased now.
…Why does he look so content over this?
I was somewhat bewildered.
Watching him obsess over my meal was unmistakably the Claude I knew. But whenever he was outside, he seemed like a stranger—like someone else.
Thinking over this disparity…
“I wish you wouldn’t come to the Guide Division next time.”
I blurted out impulsively.
As expected, Claude’s previously relaxed expression immediately tightened.
“Rose, did I ever cause trouble in the Guide Division, demanding to get my Guide back?”
“…”
“You always disliked it, so I just waited quietly until your day was over to pick you up. Isn’t that something other Espers do too? Do you dislike even that?”
“…”
He wasn’t wrong. Besides Claude, there were other Espers waiting for their Guides in front of the Guide Division.
It’s just that among them, Claude stood out the most and felt the most out of place.
Still, I disliked it. I didn’t know why.
Did I dislike the rumors about how ‘that’ Claude was unusually attentive to his imprinted Guide by coming to the Guide Division? Or was I worried that he, with his Guiding allergy, might accidentally come into contact with another Guide?
…But wasn’t his Guiding allergy cured?
It was confirmed that he could now receive Guiding from Oscar. Whether it would work with other Guides was still unknown.
Of course, he shouldn’t make contact with other Guides in the future. If rumors spread that he could receive guiding from other Guides despite having an imprinted Guide, the truth of the imprint would be quickly exposed.
So, is this why I wish he wouldn’t come to the Guide Division to fetch me?
“I know right. Why do I dislike it…?”
“…”
“Just because. I don’t have a particular reason…”
I replied disheartenedly.
It was strange. All day long, I’ve been feeling unsettled and endlessly downcast.
Meanwhile, Claude stared at me intently, supporting his chin with his hand.
His red eyes quietly surveyed me, as if trying to discern the reason behind my slump today.
But how could he find out a reason that even I am unaware of?
A brief silence settled over the lively dinner table.
Silly Rose.
I knew I was being unreasonable. Claude dislikes people, and especially despises Guides even being near him.
Despite this, for him to come to the Guide Division, surrounded entirely by Guides, and be treated like a zoo monkey was surely not pleasant. Yet, he endured it for my sake.
And yet here I am, complaining about it, stubbornly insisting without even being able to articulate why I dislike it.
As I sullenly poked at the meat with my fork…
“Alright, if you say so, that’s that.”
Claude shrugged at the end of the silence.
“…Thank you.”
“Eat more.”
“It’s not because I dislike you, Lord Claude. You know that, right?”
I hurriedly added, worried he might misunderstand. After all, it was perfectly reasonable from his perspective.
Watching me nervously, Claude chuckled.
Then, with that unique smirk of his, cocking one corner of his red lips in an arrogant smile, he said…
“There’s no way I wouldn’t know. You’re completely smitten with me.”
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