Chapter 114
That’s… a pretty pathetic reason, isn’t it? Eliza beamed.
“Number 1, will you be my friend too?”
“Nope. Just do it.”
“I’ll do it since you helped me.”
Hands in his pockets, swaggering off, Johann looked back at me.
“You’re not planning to run off to her asylum and leave me behind, right? You still need me, don’t you?”
Why does he sound like we’ve already decided to escape?
Under the purpling sky, the shadows on his face made his features look even sharper.
Even his lowered voice—was he being serious?
“I do need you.”
“How much?”
“Until I’m satisfied.”
“I’ll keep satisfying you as long as you want, so don’t even think about running. If you do, I’ll track you down, chain you up, and feed you nothing but grasshoppers.”
Is this guy insane?
I’m not trying to end up like Justina in the original.
“If you run away from me, Johann, I’ll catch you, chain you up, and lock you in a filthy room that hasn’t been cleaned in a hundred years. You won’t be allowed to wash, and I’ll leave you in darkness until you’re about to go mad, then I’ll reach out a hand, just enough to brainwash you into full dependency…”
“Hey, that’s just abuse.”
At my declaration of obsessive madness, Johann made a face like I’d lost my mind.
Eliza, who’d been listening to our sadistic exchange, looked between us in shock.
“Are you two… lovers? You seem close. You look good together.”
Johann shook his head firmly.
“No. I’m the dog, and she’s the master.”
At Johann’s incomprehensible comment, Eliza looked thoroughly confused.
“Uhh… I respect your tastes. So the person I saw in the arena wasn’t your lover, then.”
At her words, Johann turned serious and stared directly at me.
“Lover? Who are you talking about? She’s got at least a couple of guys she’s promised marriage to.”
“There was a handsome guy among the spectators with the same hair color as Kido. I guess I was mistaken.”
Eliza offered an explanation on my behalf, and I just waved my hand, wearing a face that said it wasn’t a big deal.
“That was my uncle.”
“The head of House of Sloth, Farsene? Didn’t you go around asking about him before? Why would a traitorous noble like that be at the spectator stands?”
“He’s dead.”
Johann, parsing through my extreme shorthand, frowned deeply.
“Is that one of those noble euphemisms? Can you make it make sense to me?”
As we were entering the building, Enrique appeared in the distance.
He waved as he walked over.
“Where’ve you been? Today’s the day we get special rations.”
“I’ll eat soon. Hold this for me in the meantime.”
Johann pulled the lollipop from his mouth and popped it straight into Enrique’s.
Enrique’s face visibly stiffened from the unexpected candy ambush.
Johann, looking solemn, warned him.
“It’s precious, so don’t finish it. Kido’s turn is next.”
How did we end up in a pseudo indirect-kissing triangle over a lollipop?
This is so destitute…
Johann then motioned with his eyes toward the squished Choco Pie still in my hand.
“What about that one? Who’s it for?”
“I’m good. Share it with Enrique.”
“You expect me to eat something you mashed with your hands? No thanks.”
Enrique was also staring at the misshapen Choco Pie with a look of horror.
But sharing one lollipop between the three of us isn’t gross? Seriously?
“No one’s gonna eat it? Then I’ll take it.”
Eliza’s eyes sparkled as she swallowed a mouthful of anticipation.
Feeling a little bad for the pitiful princess, I handed her the flattened Choco Pie.
Crunch—
The sound of Enrique biting down and shattering the candy made Johann go pale.
He ran his hand through his jet-black hair, completely mussing it, and looked utterly devastated.
“Enrique, how could you? If you licked it slowly, you could’ve made it last a whole week. You were doing so well.”
“Then take it out.”
Enrique opened his mouth with a blank expression.
Once, we were nobles dining on premium steak made by top chefs. How did we end up like this, sharing crushed sweets in such squalor?
* * *
And then, after the meal, during chapel service.
A completely unexpected person appeared.
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