Chapter 58.2
Chapter 58.2
We loaded the toys onto the carriage and started moving again. Once again, he didn’t tell me our exact destination. However, considering the amount of gifts, the toys, that filled the cart and Damian’s mention of “children,” I had a rough idea. If it wasn’t a close acquaintance with many children, someone remarkable enough to evade even Ronen’s information network, including mine, then he was likely going to a temple, an orphanage, or perhaps the guild where he had once received help as a mercenary.
‘Probably not the guild.’
If he were going to the guild, he would likely prepare gifts for the guild members themselves rather than for their children. Damian’s secret, a place that could reveal something about him. Certainly, there was less information about Damian Ditronil than about others. That’s why I had readily agreed to come along. However, I couldn’t easily guess what the secret was. I glanced at Damian; he wore a relaxed expression. He exuded the air of a carnivore that had just enjoyed a satisfying meal.
“Is the place we’re going related to your ‘secret’?”
“Yes. Are you curious?”
“It seems a bit conspicuous for a secret.” Damian asked subtly, but I pretended not to hear and muttered to myself. Despite my blatant attempt to change the subject, Damian didn’t seem to mind at all. He showed no sign of being offended. “I’ve concealed it with magic. There’s no chance of being discovered.”
When did he use magic? I was puzzled, as I hadn’t seen him use any magic while we were together. When I stared at him intently, Damian simply smiled, as if asking what was wrong.
‘So, he doesn’t intend to tell me.’
A man as perceptive as him couldn’t have missed the meaning of my gaze. He seemed to be trying to brush it off with a smile. “He’s really different….”
Seeing Damian’s nonchalant behavior brought another man to mind, someone who reacted almost religiously to my questions and gazes. “Who are you comparing me to?”
Damian immediately responded to my unintentional murmur. See? He’s incredibly perceptive. I turned my head slightly to avoid his gaze. Just then, I felt something touch the underside of my chin. “Amelia, you have to answer me.” Damian gently grasped my chin and turned my head so that our eyes met. His languid gaze felt oppressive. Somehow, he seemed to have guessed who I was thinking of.
‘That’s impossible…’ I had only murmured without saying anything specific. There’s no way he could have known. He was probably just reacting to the fact that I was comparing him to someone else. Damian’s hand on my face wasn’t forceful. It was a light touch. Yet, this time, it was difficult to avoid his gaze.
“I wasn’t comparing you to anyone…”
“Really?”
Damian tilted his head slightly, bringing his face closer. He seemed determined to keep asking until I told him the truth. “…Ricardo.” I finally mumbled in a small voice. Damian must have heard me clearly. He twitched an eyebrow in displeasure the moment I answered.
“Ricardo.” Damian murmured Ricardo’s name softly. Why is he looking at me like that? I hadn’t even made an unfavorable comparison. I had simply murmured his name because their reactions were so different. So why did I feel like I had done something wrong?
“…Are you angry?”
“Me? Of course not.” Damian asked back when I cautiously inquired. He shook his head and denied it, but… his eyes looked dangerous. Those eyes…! I could have ignored Damian’s reaction, but the look in his eyes lingered in my mind. Suddenly, Damian scrutinized my face. Then, with a light laugh, his demeanor softened. “I’m not angry, so don’t be scared.”
“I’m not scared.”
“Are you afraid of me?”
“Not at all.” I quickly replied with an even more composed expression. I had only flinched for a moment; I wasn’t actually afraid. “So, now that you have your answer, please let go of my chin.” I poked at Damian’s hand, which was lifting my chin with his index finger. Slowly, his hand fell away. Until now, he had been acting completely different from Ricardo, but his reaction to hearing Ricardo’s name was similar.
Ricardo, too, never bothered to hide his displeasure whenever he heard Damian’s name. “You seem to have gotten quite close to him.”
“Are you talking about Ricardo?”
“Ricardo.” Damian echoed Ricardo’s name slowly, mimicking me. I didn’t understand why he kept repeating his name. “When did you become close enough to call each other by name?”
“You call me by my name, so there’s no reason I can’t call Ricardo by his.”
“That’s true.” He smiled as he had before, but somehow, it felt unnatural, as if he was forcing the expression to mask his true feelings.
“You two seemed quite friendly.”
Weren’t you? I swallowed the rest of my sentence and stared at him. Ricardo had already told me they weren’t close, but Damian seemed to treat him rather familiarly, which is why I had asked. The words they exchanged were often harsh, but close friends sometimes used rough language with each other. However, Damian’s expression was subtle.
‘…Maybe not?’
As Ricardo had said, they probably weren’t on good terms.
“There’s no way Ricardo and I are close.” Sure enough, a firm statement followed.
“He and I are ill-fated.” Damian said the same thing as Ricardo, then gave a bright smile. At this point, I was curious about what had happened between them to make them dislike each other so much.
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