TCHB 36

Chapter 36

“Why is Young Lord Richard here of all places…?”

Her mouth fell open slightly. As her blinking eyes moved, her long, snow-white eyelashes fluttered like wings.

“Because I missed you?”

Since she only ever showed her genuine self, I answered honestly as well, tilting my head just a little. Shuri had always stared at my face in a daze, after all. But this time, as if determined not to fall for it, she widened her eyes.

Ah. That didn’t work.

Disappointed, I smiled sheepishly and stepped closer to her. Since the head-tilt trick failed, I’d have to try another approach.

“Shuri. I honestly don’t know what I did wrong. If you tell me, I’ll fix anything. So… could you stop putting distance between us, please?”

Just as my mother had taught me, I trembled my eyes slightly, doing my best to look pitiful as tears welled up. This method seemed more effective, because her silence stretched on for quite a while.

“…Young Lord Richard. First of all, stop crying, and if you’re going to line up, come stand properly to the side.”

Shuri reached out, grabbed my wrist, and tugged it lightly.

…She grabbed my wrist?

It wasn’t intentional, but being so out of my mind after seeing her that I couldn’t even stand in line properly actually worked in my favor.

So this is why the male leads and second male leads in the romance novels my mother made me read were never perfect and always had at least one glaring flaw.

Either way, I felt good just because she reached out first. I gently slipped my wrist free and naturally laced my fingers with hers.

Shuri looked utterly baffled, as if she couldn’t understand how things ended up like this. Her expression gave everything away. I suddenly wondered if she knew that herself. If she did, how would she react?

“Y-Young Lord Richard…”

“Kiel.”

“Ri—”

“Call me Kiel, okay?”

I set aside the urge to point out how transparent she was, wanting to see her reaction, and bent down slightly to close the distance between us.

Just as my mother taught me, I met her gaze and smiled with my eyes. Perhaps because of the closeness, or because of that smile, she couldn’t get a word out and just opened and closed her mouth soundlessly.

To think I’d find even this adorable. I was definitely far gone.

Watching her open and close her mouth like a goldfish, I let out a quiet laugh.

I wasn’t sure whether I should be grateful that oblivious Shuri was finally recognizing me as a man, or regretful that she still didn’t know how much I liked her.

“Shuri, are you conscious of me?”

“What are you even saying?!”

She shouted and turned her head away. Adorable. She was drawing a line, so she couldn’t admit it, but denying it outright would have been a lie.

The emptiness I’d felt while she was gone seemed completely filled. Just being like this put me in such a good mood that I swung our joined hands back and forth.

“By the way, Shuri, why did you come here?”

“…To eat the limited-edition cake.”

Of course. Most people lining up were probably here for that reason. Just as I expected.

When I asked if she planned to wait in line, she answered yes in a dazed sort of way.

“Then let’s go in.”

“…What?”

I lightly tugged on the hand I was holding and led her along. When we left the line, her face clearly screamed I’m panicking! if expressions could talk.

As we headed for the shop entrance, the person guarding the front recognized me and bowed. I’d have to have a proper word with the manager later.

The moment I led Shuri inside, I barely stopped myself from frowning. I should pressure them to redo the interior.

I escorted her to an empty seat and pulled out her chair for her. Since she wasn’t used to this kind of treatment during her travels, she looked awkward.

Once seated, Shuri started staring at me intently.

My forehead, my eyes, my nose, my lips. She didn’t even seem aware she was doing it. I was the one dying under her gaze.

Every place her eyes landed felt like it was burning. I covered my mouth and avoided her stare.

Looking at and holding hands with someone I like, and being looked at and held by someone who likes me.

My mother once told me there was a clear difference between the two. Back then I’d brushed it off, but now, under Shuri’s gaze, I understood it perfectly.

I could have met that piercing gaze warmly, but if I did, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to control my emotions.

“…Shuri. If you’re curious about something, you can just ask.”

Please don’t stare like that—I’m going to die….

Realizing herself, Shuri laughed awkwardly.

“How did you get in without lining up?”

Just as I was about to explain, I was interrupted.

“Young Lord!”

Damn it. The manager.

Shuri, clearly disappointed that she’d missed the most important part, shot the manager a resentful look.

Manager, get lost. I glared at him, but he only smiled brightly.

“What is it.”

I spoke coldly to the very person who had ruined my mood. He flinched and took a step back, seemingly sensing instinctively that Shuri was extremely important to me and that this could turn into a real disaster.

“I heard you had arrived, so I came to greet you. But this lady is…?”

Heard I arrived, my foot. He was just curious because I’d shown up with a woman for the first time in my life. The manager had always been overly familiar with me.

Curiosity killed the cat. A saying clearly made for him.

“It’s none of your— memorize her face.”

I was about to say it was none of his business, but instead made sure that Shuri would be able to come in alone even when I wasn’t around.

Honestly, I wanted to give her not just the shop but the land itself, especially if she came all the way for limited-edition cake, but that would probably burden her.

More importantly, changing ownership secretly was impossible without her seal. A truly regrettable situation.

“What would you like to order?”

“The limited-edition cake. And tea—pick whatever suits it.”

“Yes. Please wait just a moment!”

The manager hurried away, probably sensing that this was the moment to escape.

Quick-witted bastard.

I really should mess with his identity or something and force him to renovate the interior. As I was thinking that, Shuri looked at me.

I’m curious about our relationship!
Finish what you were saying earlier!

That was written all over her face.

“This place is my land. I bought it.”

And the shop came with it, but I left that part out and merely rolled my eyes lazily.

She stared at me in shock, then looked dejected for a moment, then surprised again. Her emotions swung back and forth so wildly I couldn’t imagine what was going on in that small head of hers.

“Do you come here often? You seem close with the manager. I didn’t know you’d buy a shop just because you wanted cake, Young Lord Richard.”

Even her misunderstanding was cute. Still, this needed correcting.

I didn’t buy it because I like cake, but because I wanted to give it to you when you came back.

“I didn’t buy this place because I wanted cake.”

“…Then why?”

“Because I thought of you. I wanted you to come here with me, so I ended up buying it.”

I looked at Shuri, filled with longing. Something I’d only imagined had come true.

“Every time I saw cake, I thought of you.”

I added with a deliberately awkward smile. Every word was sincere.

“How have you been, Kiel?”

Pure and kind as ever, Shuri couldn’t help but worry about me when I was like this.

I loved that about her—while selfishly wishing it applied only to me.

“Well… it was a bit hard. Looking for you, helping with my father’s work. The hardest part was you not being there. And I like it when you say my name, Shuri.”

It was the truth. Hearing my name from those small lips made me happy. When I smiled without realizing it, she smiled back at me.

…Is she a fairy? Shouldn’t I tell her not to smile so easily? I was more serious than ever.

“Shuri. Do you hate me?”

I set aside the fairy theory and asked.

“Well… maybe a little? Or a lot?” she answered with a giggle.

I lightly brushed her fingertips. When she tried to pull her hand away, tickled, I gently covered the back of her much smaller hand with mine.

“Shuri. Do you know why I didn’t go inside right away when I met you?”

Remembering how she’d spoken playfully, I continued. I hadn’t asked expecting an answer.

“It was because I wanted to talk to you more. Shuri, when you don’t tell me what’s wrong, I don’t know why you’re acting this way. But I don’t want to keep living while keeping distance between us. I’ll do better, so… will you give me a chance to make up for it?”

I wasn’t sure I had the right to ask this, but I couldn’t let her go. I still didn’t know why she’d suddenly left. Even her note only said that she was leaving.

If I’d done something wrong, I wanted her to tell me. If she did, I’d fix it no matter what, so she’d never feel uncomfortable again.

Just like earlier, I fluttered my eyelashes, trying my best to look pitiful and miserable. Pity wasn’t such a bad thing.

Some people in the slums survived on pity. It also easily loosened others’ guard. It might not feel good to receive, but it was a very useful emotion.

“Do whatever you want.”

It was practically permission. If she had truly meant to refuse, she would have drawn a clear line immediately.

“Yeah!”

My face relaxed on its own. When I let out a foolishly happy smile, she froze, as if she couldn’t believe I could look like that.

Honestly, I couldn’t believe it either, so I understood her reaction.

While Shuri was still flustered, the cake and tea arrived. The manager winked at me before leaving. I almost froze my face cold, but held it back when I looked at Shuri.

“Is there anything else you want to eat or do? Let’s do it together today.”

She nodded, looking pleased after taking a bite. The way she chewed looked incredibly happy.

“Want more tea? Or more cake? Or something else?”

Resting my chin on both hands as I asked again, she looked at me with a subtle expression, then seemed to sink into thought. Cute.

“Wow… isn’t that a rare sight?”

At that moment, Richen Seight appeared out of nowhere, grinning as he ruined the atmosphere. I ignored him completely. Shuri in front of me was far more important than dealing with that idiot.

“Shuri, should we order more cake?”

When I raised my voice, she blinked her big eyes. Her white eyelashes trembled. Even though it must have startled her, she answered calmly.

“Well, we should eat a proper meal too, so let’s just order a little more.”

“Hah! Yeah, that suits you perfectly. Why don’t you just become a maid? It fits you!”

I saw no reason to respond to the idiot who was offended at being ignored. What did he want me to do?

Richen Seight.

To me, he wasn’t even worth as much as a single ant passing by.

I wasn’t interested. Why should I waste my time on someone like that? If anything, he should be grateful I didn’t sew shut that deceitful mouth of his for polluting Shuri’s ears.

“Se—”

“Shuri. Do you need a maid?”

I cut her off immediately, not wanting that filthy name to leave her lips. She seemed to realize Richen’s presence then.

Ignoring him was one thing, but letting his name come out of her mouth was worse. The Seight ducal house was trash backed by the emperor.

“If you need a servant, I’ll do it. I didn’t realize this before, but it’s nice taking care of you like this. The way you eat is cute too.”

Smiling gently, I reached out and wiped the cream from the corner of her mouth. Without taking my eyes off Shuri, I stuck out my tongue and licked the cream away.

I could feel someone staring at me from the side, but I didn’t care. If anything, I needed to brand that bastard with a clear warning.

She was someone I cherished and loved. Touch her, and his life would be in danger.

“Richen Seight. If you don’t want to die, shut your mouth and live quietly. Don’t show yourself in my sight or the sight of anyone around me. Live as if you’re already dead.”

Before I twisted his neck with my own hands.

I grabbed Richen by the collar and released my killing intent around him. His face went pale under the unbearable pressure, and he struggled desperately to escape.

“You look like a flopping piece of frozen fish. Live like that—struggling desperately not to catch my eye. And if you dare lay a finger on anything around me again…”

You’ll lose that fragile life.

When I finished and roughly let go, he fled, legs shaking. Watching him scurry away like a sewer rat, I took out a handkerchief and wiped my hands.

This handkerchief needs to be thrown away. I clicked my tongue.

Looking back, Shuri was still lost in thought. After watching her for a moment, I called out to her.

“Shuri.”

“…Shureer.”

“Shureer Klambek.”

“…Poppy.”

After calling her several times, she finally seemed to come back to herself.

“Are you okay? That bird—no, that bastard—must have startled you. Sorry.”

I watched my words carefully in front of her. Anyone else would have denied reality seeing me like this, but I didn’t hesitate.

Shuri’s precious ears needed protection.

She asked why I was apologizing and said she was fine. The satisfaction filling me just from being with her made me smile.

“…Thank you.”

And as I watched her walk out of the shop first, I murmured softly.