Chapter 98
“The fact that I fell for your plans so perfectly, did that amuse you? Did you enjoy it? Because I didn’t find it fun at all. I feel like the biggest fool in the world because of you, Lord Claude.”
“Rose, I…”
“To increase the guiding surface, even gaining weight!”
“…What?”
Claude’s face scrunched up as if he couldn’t believe what I was saying.
“All this time, you must have been frustrated, having a Guide whose height is only as tiny as a mouse bean? As much as that is, for you to shamelessly make me gain weight!”
This punk!
The more I spoke, the angrier I got.
You’re not some witch from Hansel and Gretel offering a gingerbread house to fatten the kids up before devouring them.
All this time, I wondered why he was so obsessed with feeding me, and here he was with such a sinister motive! And to me, who has always been sincere about eating!
“What are you…?”
“Why? Planning to deny this too?”
“What kind of creativity… How did your thoughts even jump there?”
Looking at Claude’s astounded expression, I felt even more upset.
How is it not true? How many things has he secretly plotted just to receive guiding from me!
“If you’re going to make me gain weight, then don’t criticize me for being chubby!”
“When have I ever…!”
Claude was indignant, trying to retort.
But before he could even start to make excuses, I presented irrefutable evidence.
“You did! You asked if I had food pouches in my cheeks and kept poking me with your finger!”
“That was…!”
“You said Shana and Irene were pretty, but me, I’m already ugly even if I don’t gain weight!”
“I…!”
“You keep threatening to throw me to the mutants at the gate if I keep up with my petulant attitude!”
Eventually, I was ranting so wildly that suddenly, wham, my shoulders were grabbed.
“It wasn’t like that! Don’t jump to conclusions and just listen to me for once!”
Claude yelled like a bolt of lightning, fury reaching the top of his head.
I froze right there.
“…….”
“…….”
Claude’s hands trembled with rage. The grip on my shoulders tightened painfully.
It hurt.
What am I even doing here? A wave of realization washed over me.
Just a few hours ago, Claude treated me like I was the most precious treasure in the world, with such careful touch.
But now, he’s yelling terrifyingly, hurting my shoulders as if he might crush them.
“Wh-why…”
Tears welled up from the overwhelming feeling of sorrow.
I look really ugly when I cry.
While k-drama heroines cry beautifully with a single tear rolling down, I cry with my entire face crumpling, red as a newborn baby, nose running more than tears.
I didn’t want to cry, but it’s not like I could stop it.
Finally, Claude sighed, seeing me drop tears like chicken droppings.
“What did I even do to make you cry again…!”
“Why do you keep yelling…”
I whimpered in a shrinking voice.
It’s unfair to him, but it can’t be helped.
If I yell, it’s trivial to him, but when he yells, it scares me.
So, no matter how much I shout and scream, he shouldn’t yell at me.
I know it’s selfish, but I can’t help it.
Claude looked at me, crying miserably with tears and snot, at a loss for words.
***
Claude was silent for a while.
I, too, didn’t say anything.
The room was filled only with the occasional sound of my sniffles.
How much time had passed?
“…I’m sorry.”
After a long time, he said it as if squeezing the words out.
I doubted my ears for a moment. ‘That Claude’ apologizing?
“I’m… not good at many things.”
“…….”
“When I first came to the Center… I hadn’t fully formed my sense of self. I could only survive on the logic of power… That’s why it was more familiar to suppress and control when dealing with someone.”
“…….”
“…I’m… I’m new to receiving guiding too… And being with someone small, weak, and uncontrollable like you is hard. I can’t predict what you’ll think or do, and just a moment’s lapse feels like I’ll lose you again… So my only thought was to keep you close…”
“…….”
“So I never considered the betrayal you’d feel when you learned the truth.”
I’m sorry.
Claude murmured softly.
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