TMLYSISAT CH 11

Perhaps because his hand had been holding the cold glass of alcohol, it felt even cooler than the sofa. Without realizing it, I rubbed my cheek against his hand.

“What’s your name?”

Ridden’s voice echoed dully inside my head.

“Chase, Chase. I’m not Charles….”

“That’s right, Charles.”

For some reason, my voice sounded as though I were wandering through the depths of the sea. My throat was burning, and my head didn’t seem to be working properly.

“I really hate lies.”

“……Lies?”

Ridden tilted his head. The longer he stared at me, the more intoxicated I became.

Perhaps because of that, words that should never have made it past my brain started spilling out recklessly. Without realizing it, I lowered my head.

“Duke, you… hate me, don’t you?”

“……What?”

“You even threw away the chocolates I gave you… I know you hate me because I bruised your noble behind on my first day… but could you please forgive me just this once…?”

……I really couldn’t afford to get kicked out.

“So… are you throwing a tantrum at me right now?”

“Not at all…. I mean, if I were you, Duke, and there were someone like me around, I’d probably get so frustrated that I’d throw him out the window. I’m really that frustrating, aren’t I?”

“At least you know yourself well.”

Ridden casually replied as he downed his drink.

Listening to him, I felt as though I really had become the biggest piece of trash in the world.

Without realizing it, I muttered,

“I really wanted to serve you well, Duke. But I keep making mistakes, and I feel so pathetic because of it……. The ducal household has delicious food, the pay is good, and all the servants are kind.”

Ridden said nothing, but I continued talking without restraint.

“Even you seem kinder than I thought you would be, Duke. I’m happy living here at the Akarut household. If I get kicked out of here, I really have nowhere to go, but I keep making stupid mistakes….”

“…….”

“Duke, I don’t want to leave this place….”

I sniffled without realizing it.

Ridden, who had been silently listening to me, suddenly leaned his face close to my lowered head.

“You… don’t tell me you’re crying?”

“I’m not cryiiing….”

“…….”

I sniffled once more.

“I’m just saying… this is how I feel.”

Even though I had already said everything, I was still afraid to hear his answer. Fearfully, I slowly raised my head and looked at Ridden.

And……

Ridden, whose eyes met mine, looked as though he had just been struck by something.

I blinked at him without realizing it.

Why was he making that expression?

Without a doubt, this man was incredibly difficult for me to understand. Of all the people I had ever met, he was the most unique—truly someone I had never encountered even once in my life.

Besides, I knew nothing about him beyond the rumors. What kind of person he was, what sort of thoughts he lived by.

But one thing was certain.

Ridden Akarut and I were completely different. We were entirely different kinds of people.

And for some reason, I suddenly felt that I would never be able to understand this man.

After getting completely drunk, I woke up on the sofa in Ridden’s room.

Ridden was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he had gone somewhere early in the morning.

Moreover, all the remnants of last night had already been cleared away.

Holding my head, which felt like it could split apart at any moment, I hurried toward the dining hall.

I couldn’t miss breakfast.

Fueled by that one determination, I arrived at the dining hall to find Peter and Flynn waiting for me.

“You… didn’t make any mistakes yesterday, did you?”

I casually nodded at Peter’s question while eating the strawberry ice cream Flynn had specially made for me.

……Wait, did I?

If I had made a mistake, then I suppose it counted as a mistake.

Peter shook his head and said,

“How am I supposed to believe anything you say?”

“I can hold my liquor pretty well.”

“That kind of confidence is exactly what makes it dangerous.”

Peter shrugged as if he hadn’t heard a word I said.

It was ridiculous, but he wasn’t exactly wrong, so I quietly continued eating my ice cream.

“Abel came looking for you last night, saying you hadn’t come back.”

Peter scooped another serving of ice cream and put it into my bowl.

“I actually ran into him on my way here. He looked really worried.”

At that moment, Flynn peeked his head out from the kitchen and asked me,

“Ch-Chase, d-do you want breakfast? I just need to prepare it.”

“I’d appreciate that, but… aren’t you busy?”

“I-I can do it quickly. Just wait a little!”

Flynn’s face immediately brightened at my answer, and he quickly disappeared back into the kitchen.

“……But aren’t you supposed to go to work?”

I found it strange that Peter wasn’t going to work and was simply sitting there watching me eat ice cream.

Peter lightly shrugged before answering.

“Abel asked me to.”

“……My brother?”

“Yeah. I told him I had some free time this morning, and he said he was worried about you eating alone, so he asked me to stay with you for a while.”

“You didn’t have to….”

I felt a little sorry for Peter, who was stuck in the dining hall because of me.

“It’s fine. I’d just be sleeping pointlessly during this time anyway.”

Peter said that as he stretched.

Of course, I felt bad for him, but I preferred having someone with me while eating rather than being alone, so I didn’t tell him he could leave.

Instead, I hurriedly ate my ice cream so I wouldn’t take up any more of his time.

Just as the bottom of the bowl became visible, Flynn came out carrying the food.

Tomato soup, warm bread, and a little meat.

“You, you must be h-hungry. P-please eat.”

“Thanks.”

The moment I smelled the food, I suddenly felt hungry.

And after taking a spoonful of soup, my appetite returned instantly.

Flynn watched me eat, looking proud of himself, then said he had to get back to work and slipped into the kitchen.

“You’re going straight to work?”

“Probably. When I looked earlier, the Duke wasn’t there either.”

“……Are you sure that’s okay?”

“It’s fine. Actually, because of that incident, Mr. Henry gave me permission to go out.”

Peter replied with a hint of envy.

“Use it before things get even busier.”

“That’s what I’m planning to do.”

“I’m jealous.”

“Then you should have a pleasant drinking session with the Duke—”

“Tch. I’d rather not have it at all.”

Peter shook his head.

Well, if I were him, I definitely wouldn’t accept it either.

Anyway, after quickly finishing my meal in the dining hall, I headed toward the Duke’s office.

Even as I walked toward Ridden, all sorts of thoughts ran through my mind.

I was probably the only idiot in the world who would drink with someone of such high status and then shamelessly whine at him without fear.

I swallowed nervously and knocked on the office door.

It had only been four hours since I had left work, and now I was back again.

Thanks to that, my heart was pounding like crazy.

I paced nervously outside the door until the Duke told me to come in, then cautiously opened it.

Ridden was sitting at his desk, reading a newspaper.

I timidly approached him and asked,

“Duke, shall I bring you your meal?”

“Charles.”

“Yes.”

“Do you remember what happened yesterday?”

A page of the newspaper fluttered as he turned it.

“I remember….”

“Good. You suddenly passed out, so I thought you had died.”

Even without looking in a mirror, I could feel my face burning red with embarrassment.

With my face completely flushed, I managed to answer him.

“I-I’m sorry….”

“I heard that enough times yesterday, so forget it. Let’s just have a meal together.”

Ridden folded the newspaper halfway and casually tossed it onto the desk.

Then he looked at me.

I had just eaten, though…… But even if there was already food in my stomach, Ridden probably wouldn’t care in the slightest.

And at this hour, the servants would have already finished their meals and gone to work.

He clearly knew all that and was asking anyway.

Besides, if he wanted to eat face-to-face with me, he probably intended to punish me like last time for drinking and whining at him.

I nodded and answered,

“Understood. I’ll have the meal prepared right away.”

“No need. We’ll go straight to the dining hall today.”

What was going on?

Although I found it strange, I followed closely behind Ridden.

Perhaps Ridden had already informed the dining hall, because the table was filled with an abundance of delicious-looking dishes.

Ah, so that was probably why the dining hall had been so busy earlier.

Maybe because I remembered what had happened last time, my stomach immediately felt heavy.

Flynn cautiously approached me and tugged at my sleeve.

“Ch-Chase… b-but didn’t you just eat?”

“I did, but….”

“I-I didn’t know you were the one eating with the Duke today. I-I’m sorry….”

Flynn looked so apologetic that he didn’t know what to do with himself.

But was this really Flynn’s fault?

Ridden probably hadn’t told him.

“Flynn, I’m fine.”

I smiled to show him that everything was okay, but Flynn just kept fidgeting anxiously.

“What are you doing standing there? Sit.”

Just then, I heard Ridden’s voice from where he was already seated.

I hurried over at his call.

Every dish spread across the table was expensive.

Apparently, quite a few servants had eaten like this before, because no one seemed particularly surprised to see Ridden and me together.

Meanwhile, Ridden picked up his fork first.

I swallowed nervously as I watched him.

Of course, it was true that I loved food…… but there was far more food this time than before, so this meal was definitely a burden for me.

Had he increased the portions after seeing how much I ate last time?

What a strange way this man had of tormenting people.

Still, I forced the corners of my mouth upward and speared a piece of salad with my fork.

Yes…… It was still much better than the days when I had nothing to eat and went hungry.

Let’s just think of it as being blessed.

As I felt the crisp texture of the salad, I glanced up at the Duke.

The Duke was looking at me too.