Chapter 33
Desi pulled me into his arms as I approached. He had grown so big that I fit snugly within his embrace.
Actually, he was bigger than most adults now.
Desi was the largest among the adults I had seen. He was larger than the famous hunters from foreign lands and even bigger than the knights.
“When will you ever grow up?”
Desi murmured as he rubbed his cheek against the top of my head. I was still small, so being held by Desi felt like being enveloped completely.
“Desi, you need to lay low for a while. Don’t make any loud noises in the room.”
“Why?”
“Because my room is close to Sister’s, and she might hear.”
Our rooms were on the same floor, so if Desi made a loud noise, Sister might burst into my room.
In the past, she would often come into my room without knocking.
“Got it. She’s unpacking now.”
Desi’s ears twitched. He sometimes made strange comments.
He would tell me someone was coming even when there was no sound. Or he would ask if I had nightmares the night before, saying my breathing had been rough in my sleep.
And he was always right. But I couldn’t never figure out exactly how he knew.
“Yeah. Her room is at the end of the hall.”
“Are you happy your sister is here? You often talked about her, saying you wanted to go to the capital with her. Do you still feel that way?”
“Of course, I’m happy. She said she would try to persuade Father to let me go to the academy.”
“To do what?”
“To let me attend classes.”
Desi tightened his arms around me and whimpered.
“Can’t you just not go?”
“But I want to go to the academy too.”
“Then take me with you.”
“Only students can live there.”
“Don’t they have beds at the academy? I’ll hide there.”
“…I don’t think that’s possible. Also, I heard the rooms are shared, two students per room. If you get caught, we’ll both be in trouble.”
Even as I said it wasn’t possible, I couldn’t really imagine being apart from Desi. I only said the words, but in my heart, I planned to be with Desi wherever I went. I assumed I would take him to the academy with me.
Desi was quick and good at hiding, so I thought he could find a place to live at the academy.
Desi, not knowing my true intentions, nuzzled his cheek against my head, restless.
“I don’t want to be apart from you.”
“But we don’t know yet. Father will probably say no.”
“Then you can’t go?”
“It won’t be easy for Sister to persuade him either.”
Desi muttered curses under his breath, hoping Sister would fail, and hugged me tighter. His strong arms wrapped around me so firmly that I could hardly breathe.
I slapped his arm and broke free from his embrace. Desi followed me closely, his face full of worries.
And I felt good seeing his reaction. I didn’t show it, but I chuckled inside.
Desi was usually stoic and didn’t express his emotions well. Only I seemed to be anxious.
My daily life was calm and uneventful, so there was little for Desi to worry about. Desi was the one who went out into danger every night, while I stayed safe in the mansion.
It seemed only I worried, was curious, and paid attention to Desi. As time passed, my interest in Desi grew, but he seemed indifferent, which made me dissatisfied.
He spent more time outside and didn’t look at me directly. Sometimes he glanced at me with a guilty look, which made my heart drop.
Had Desi done something wrong again? Or was he tired of being with me?
When I asked him what was wrong, Desi avoided answering. Sometimes he even refused to touch me. I just wanted to hold his hand, but he would flinch and pull away.
During nights of the full moon, he avoided me even more. He would give off an aura that told me to stay away.
One day, he came back as cold as ice, like he had been drenched in cold water. When I asked why, he kept his mouth shut.
Each time Desi kept secrets from me, I felt hurt.
I was very attuned to Desi’s behavior changes because I was so interested in him. Especially his facial expressions. I could detect even the slightest narrowing of his eyebrows, the trembling of his lips, or the twitching of his jaw muscles.
So I knew Desi was distracted these days.
Whenever I had the chance, I teased him more. My disappointment came out in twisted ways.
Seeing Desi follow me around nervously made me inexplicably happy. It reassured me that I wasn’t the only one feeling anxious.
Desi looked at me with drooping ears and said he would follow me if I went to the academy. He said he would go wherever I went, watching my reaction.
I snorted at him, though I secretly agreed. Of course, he should come with me.
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