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Chapter 71
“…You really don’t know anything.”
Riana shook her head.
To think a woman who confessed and got turned down once would turn from fan to hater—wow. His “love cells” were nowhere near awakening.
Well, no wonder he tossed Deborah aside using his promise with me as an excuse.
She clicked her tongue and shrugged.
“That’s why we’re doing a rehearsal. We’ll see if she eats it or not.”
—Though in the end, she’ll have no choice but to eat it.
Riana recalled the face Deborah had made back at Genevieve Castle.
Even the obsessive, regretful male lead of a 250-episode romance fantasy wouldn’t look that desperate around episode 200.
With a face like that, how could she refuse?
Certain the rehearsal would succeed, Riana kept explaining:
“Our stage is the backyard of Genevieve Castle. Not many people go there, but Deborah knows it well.”
Bring our heroine somewhere she feels safe, and the success rate goes up.
It was the spot where Deborah and Allen used to have picnic lunches. So even with no table, eating there won’t feel weird.
“In a bit, the researchers’ lunch break starts. After lunch, Deborah usually gets coffee to go from the café. She prefers sipping it while working rather than sitting in the café.”
“You really prepared all this…” Gray let out a small, weary laugh.
Riana ignored him and continued.
“You show up in front of the café. Tell her you’ve got something to give her and ask her to come with you—take her to the backyard. Then hand her the basket and tell her to taste it right away. Say it goes well with coffee.”
“That’s it?”
“Yep. I’ll handle everything else. Your part ends there.”
“Doesn’t sound hard.”
“Told you.”
Riana’s eyes curved like someone already sure of success. Her smile was as bright as the noon sun.
Gray tightened and released his grip on the basket, trying to steady his pounding heart. It thumped so annoyingly he couldn’t even get words out.
What exactly was she planning to do to Deborah Millicent? If this rehearsal worked and the real thing worked too, then what?
He had a lot he wanted to ask, but—as always—he turned into an idiot in front of Riana. He chewed his lip dumbly, and when she moved to leave, he grabbed her back in a dumb way.
“Then I’ll—ack!”
He reached out without thinking as she turned away—and only later realized what he’d done. Her hat was in his hand.
Riana glared at him, hair now messy.
“What are you doing! Do you know how hard it is to pin up long hair neatly?”
“…Ah.”
Snapping back to himself, Gray shoved the hat back down on her head.
Which only messed up her hair more. Riana snapped:
“Do you break out in hives if you go even one day without picking a fight with me?”
She shot him a final dagger look, took the hat in hand, and spun on her heel. Just before stomping off, she glanced back and rolled her eyes.
“Anyway, this has to succeed. If it fails, I’m not letting it slide!”
“…Okay.”
Only after he answered did she walk away. True to her simple nature, her scowl quickly softened.
Gray watched her until she disappeared. He even picked apart the afterimage that lingered like a trick of the eye—until he felt pathetic. Then he turned away, squeezed his eyes shut, and thumped the back of his head against the pillar connected to the stable roof.
“I’m really losing it.”
If all he could think about—forget the errand—was tying her to his side so she could never leave…
Then I’m already crazy, huh.
Thud. Thud. Thud. He banged his head a few more times.
His eyes opened when the stable door slammed wide.
Someone was in there?
He’d sensed something, sure, but figured it was the horses.
Normally he could tell human and animal apart. Chalk up another stupid mistake thanks to Riana.
He bit the inside of his cheek, owning the blunder.
Two men came out—both in stablehand uniforms.
Because Gray was leaning against a pillar, partly hidden, they didn’t see him. Bad luck for them.
“You saw that lady just now too, right, sir? What did I tell you yesterday!”
“…You weren’t wrong about her looks.”
“Right? Makes the rumor sound real all of a sudden, doesn’t it?”
Riana had been standing near a windowless wall. But there are always vent gaps somewhere.
Imagining those two jerks pressing eyes to a crack to peep at her made Gray’s nape ache.
“But I was right too,” the older one said.
“Right about what?”
“Didn’t you see her come all the way here to giggle with a knight? I told you she was loose.”
“Hey, don’t say it like that.”
“Tsk. What if she ends up pregnant…”
The more they talked, the foggier Gray’s head got. The basket slipped from his hand.
Come to think of it, the voices were familiar—yesterday’s bastards.
Hold it once and it’s patience; hold it twice and you’re a saint.
But I’ve never had such stuck-up ambitions in life.
Gray narrowed his eyes, fists clenched. The edges of his vision went black. Only the target and himself remained in the world.
He strode forward, caught up to the stablehand, and grabbed his collar, yanking him around.
“W-who are you?”
Face to face—then fist to face.
Thwack!
The man dropped. Gray pinned his breath over the man’s throat, then hit again. And again.
He kept going until just looking into Gray’s eyes would make the man piss himself from fear.
“M-mommy!”
The junior stablehand jumped in fright.
Gray didn’t even see him. It had been a while since freedom spread through his muscles like this.
He’d been made for this.
He’d always thought the cruel instinct built into his bones was disgusting. Turns out it could be used to protect someone precious.
A grin spread. The junior went pale.
“C-crazy! H-help!”
People gathered fast.
Mostly knights, of course.
“Gray! What in blazes are you doing! Stop at once!”
Instead of obedience, a hearty laugh came back.
Enjoying himself while beating someone bloody—one knight gave up on talking and charged.
He grabbed Gray’s arm; another knight grabbed the other. Meanwhile, a third knight hauled the bloodied stablehand away.
“Are you insane? Who told you this kind of thing is allowed here?”
Gray bared raw killing intent and growled:
“Then since when is it allowed for men to insult a woman behind her back?”
The supported stablehand spat blood and yelled:
“See! I’m right! Look how mad he is—what are you two, huh? That Isolation Tower maid must be some cheap thing spreading it around! And you’re a fool for playing along!”
“Son of a—he still hasn’t learned!”
Gray shook off the four knights hanging on his arms in one go and sprang forward like a spring.
His boot was about to smash into the stablehand’s face when—
KWA-ANG!
A shovel blade slammed into the back of Gray’s head.
He flew and crumpled. Clang— The shovel handle, now bent, fell at the deputy commander’s feet.
“D-Deputy Commander!”
The knights rushed to the unconscious Gray.
“Is he dead?”
“Normally a hit like that would kill a man…”
“He deserves it, that bastard!”
The stablehand kicked the ground and shouted. The deputy commander’s sharp gaze speared him.
“W-why—what!”
The man shrank as the one who’d just flattened someone with a shovel stepped toward him. His lower half stank; his limbs trembled, but his mouth still ran.
“Y-you’re all finished! A bunch of violent thugs! I’ll complain to the ducal house—no, to the royal family—and have you all thrown in jail!”
“We’ll see who files complaints after we figure out who’s in the wrong.”
The deputy jerked his chin. The stablehand was “helped” away by the knights—escorted, really.
At last the deputy looked down at Gray. Even limp, Gray’s brows were knotted and veins stood out.
“Ha… What am I supposed to do with this kid.”
