Chapter 43
Only after she’d finished dressing did Cynthia look over at Segleninde, who was tearing the tentacle dress in half to strip it off. His face and long silver hair were a mess, yet he didn’t even gasp for breath.
He glared at Cynthia, then suddenly let out a short laugh.
“Feeling better now?”
“Totally, really, completely. But what are you laughing at?”
“Maybe I was bored for so long. Passing the time like this is actually pretty fun.”
He wiped the bizarre slime off her face, combed his hair with his hand, and looked as if nothing had happened. His eyelashes, which once fluttered like angel wings, now rested gently.
Cynthia watched him with a hardened expression, then asked quietly,
“…You say you were bored for a while. Did something come to mind?”
“It just occurred to me that I was alone for quite a long time. So that’s why I invited guests to the banquet? But if I’d known it would be like this, I would’ve invited only you. You’re the most entertaining, after all.”
Hearing him speak this, Cynthia relaxed. He must not have recovered the memory that he was the final villain. At the same time, she felt bewildered by his unexpectedly affectionate remark and threw out the first thing that came to mind.
“You don’t say things like that to just anyone. Especially not with a face that handsome.”
“Handsome, am I? You’ve been saying that since earlier.”
“If you’re asking deliberately, I’m not answering.”
“Why not? I want to hear it.”
This punk. He’s gotten so bold after what happened earlier!
Ever since she triggered the trap, Cynthia had been at her wit’s end, but it seemed he took it as some kind of ‘affection increase’ event. If his affection toward her had indeed risen further, that might be fortunate, but in any case Cynthia was flabbergasted and shot him a glare.
Segleninde had, at some point, moved close enough to be just a short distance away, and he was smiling. He no longer appeared threatening.
“At least what I said earlier wasn’t a lie. I said you’re pretty cute in some ways.”
“…….”
“So if I ever end up in that state again, you help me too.”
Instead of replying that such a thing would never happen, Cynthia gave him a look of disbelief. She felt a surge of desire to outwit and out-talk this arrogant man. After all, she’d been on the receiving end of his antics ever since earlier.
So she asked him outright,
“Do you like me? In love and all that?”
At that question, Segleninde flinched.
Instead of reddening, he scowled. His face was showing a cold smile, yet his lips quivered as he replied casually,
“What kind of nonsense is that? I treat you a bit nicely and you go making all sorts of wild assumptions.”
“No, you see—when you get compliments, you visibly like it, right? Heh heh, what, am I special because I’m your fiancée? How much do I like you? Hmm? Even if you pretend you don’t, it’s useless… Where are you going?”
“I’m going somewhere I can’t hear your nonsense.”
Segleninde turned away and strode off as if her words weren’t even worth listening to. Then he stumbled over a nearby chair and teetered with a clatter. As he caught his balance, his ears flushed red despite muttering curses.
He’d seemed nonchalant when teasing her, but now he was acting like a fool. Cynthia involuntarily laughed, then closed her mouth in surprise.
Even though he was a monster whose job was killing people, yet because he helped her a little. And even if that was merely perceived as an ‘affection rise’ event.
Seeing his growing favor toward her so plainly should not make her heart race like this.
Yet thinking that she had done such things with a man like him made her belly churn again, as if something was rising from her throat. She even got goosebumps down her spine.
Could it be that she was actually growing fond of him? Fond in the physical sense. Cynthia began to worry.
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