Chapter 39
“Yes, last week we got a message from the north. They’ll come to pick you up next week.”
What?!
Next week… next week?!
I couldn’t believe it, and my eyes went wide.
We had just finally reached the point where we could have normal conversations…
I still couldn’t be sure that Cassio would protect me if something happened!
“W-why… why is that?”
Dave carefully asked, reading my anxious expression.
This was a problem. I couldn’t just let Cassio go. I needed to get closer to him, even a little more.
“My Lady?”
“When exactly next week? What time?!”
“Eh, eh?”
“What time are they coming?”
Startled by my urgent shouting, Dave flinched, then obediently answered.
“Well… probably a week from now, in the afternoon. You’d need to greet the Duke in the morning…”
Damn it! That means I only have one week left!
“Uwaaah…”
I clutched my forehead, despairing, when a pitying voice came from above my head.
“Are you so upset? Don’t be like that. Anyway, you two will meet again later…”
“Cassio!”
But Dave’s consolation didn’t reach my ears. I immediately went up to Cassio and grabbed his shoulders firmly.
Then I dragged him under a large tree to put some distance between us and Dave.
Cassio didn’t resist; he was dragged like a paper doll. When we were far enough that Dave couldn’t hear our conversation, I leaned Cassio against the tree and placed my hand on the trunk beside his face.
Although Cassio looked down at me, I trapped him in my arms so he couldn’t move.
“You… really going to leave just like that?”
“I have to.”
“Ugh…”
I pressed my palm to my forehead in despair. How could he answer so plainly without any hesitation? Why didn’t he seem reluctant?
My anger boiled inside me. I made up my mind.
I had to make him say he’d feel sorry to leave me. That would make it feel like even if I committed some deadly sin later, he’d feel a little pity.
“I’ll come here every day for a week.”
“You already do.”
Ugh… he shut me down again.
“No, I mean…! When I come, don’t act annoyed at me.”
“…….”
Cassio kept his mouth shut and stared into the air, as if silently saying he couldn’t promise. That made me even angrier.
“Ah, I don’t care! Even if you dislike it, I’ll stay by your side all day.”
Alright, let’s force ourselves to get closer over this week. Even if he’s indifferent, I’ll cling to him persistently.
I tried to think of a topic that might interest him.
“You said you like lemon tarts, right?”
And I said it with determination.
Maybe impressed by my boldness, Cassio creaked and nodded.
“Good. I’ll make a lemon tart for you on the day you leave.”
“Huh…?”
“I’ll bring a lemon tart as a farewell gift.”
Cassio’s expression shifted subtly.
Why? Does he not want something I make?
“Why…?”
“Huh?”
But Cassio was asking why.
Then, those obsidian-black eyes were fixed on my face.
“Why are you giving that to me?”
“B-because I want to?”
“…….”
Cassio stared silently, as if trying to see right through me.
His unmoving black eyes made me stiffen.
“I don’t like receiving things without a reason.”
“But there is a reason.”
“Then tell me why.”
“Because I want to be closer to you!”
This time I said it confidently. But Cassio’s face only tightened further.
“Then why do you want to be closer?”
“Because… he fell for you at first sight.”
I only opened my mouth, but the answer came from somewhere else—Pepe, who had climbed onto my shoulder, was the culprit.
Unfortunately, Pepe’s tiny voice clearly reached Cassio’s ears. Slowly, his expression turned from shock to embarrassment.
“W-what nonsense are you talking about? No, that’s not true! I don’t like you. Maybe he just went crazy after eating the wrong cookie.”
I quickly stepped back from Cassio, waving my hands, trying desperately to show that this wasn’t true.
But the more I moved, the more Cassio’s face crumpled.
I think I experienced, for the first time in my life, the perfect definition of feeling utterly defeated.
“Hey, why that face? I really don’t like you! Hurry and stop frowning.”
“So that’s why you said you’d give me the tart?”
“N-no! I said it’s a farewell gift!”
“Haa…”
My words didn’t reach him at all. Cassio even sighed heavily.
Just then, Pepe’s mischievous little voice rang out.
“Oh no… looks like he doesn’t like you. Chloe, did you get rejected right after confessing?”
“Hey!”
“My ears almost fell off!”
He used his paws to flick his ears, and it was annoyingly cute. I clenched my fists so hard my hands trembled.
Then, when I inadvertently looked up, I met Cassio’s gaze. He crossed his arms in an X over his chest.
W-what is he doing?
Cassio scanned me up and down, with a strangely certain expression. Seeing that, my heart started racing nervously.
“I don’t like you.”
“……What?”
I stared blankly, and Cassio spoke with unnecessary seriousness.
“And… I probably won’t like you in the future either.”
“Gah…!”
I was too shocked to speak. Was he writing his own novel right here?
I could only shout in disbelief and anger.
“I don’t like you either! Don’t get the wrong idea!”
As our voices got louder, Dave immediately rushed over.
“Alright, alright, that’s enough. Why are you two suddenly fighting?”
Only after Dave separated us could I finally regain my composure.
Haa… I should have handled that more maturely here. But I got so frustrated I reacted without thinking, like a five-year-old.
I tried to hide my embarrassment and shouted loudly.
“Don’t even think such weird thoughts! I never had anything like that!”
“Huh? Weird thoughts…? What do you mean?”
Dave asked, but neither Cassio nor I answered. There was no need for him to know any of this.
“Anyway! I’ll come again tomorrow, so be ready. Got it?”
“Eh? Tomorrow too? Why does My Lady…?”
“Ah, I’m just coming to see him because he’s leaving. We’re friends. Just friends!”
I emphasized the word “friends” to make it clear to Cassio that I didn’t like him.
“See you tomorrow! I’m leaving now.”
I shouted, jumped up, and walked toward the mansion.
Phew… I felt my breathing faster than before.
Dave watched until the whirlwind that was the Lady of Erayton disappeared from view, then let out a deep sigh.
‘What exactly does that girl want, clinging to our young master like this? She says she just wants to be friends, but she’s treating him way too roughly. Huh?’
Dave thought as he looked down at Cassio.
Soon, his eyes and mouth widened in surprise.
‘Why… why are the ears red?’
Dave looked at the small owner’s red earlobes in confusion.
“My Lord?”
“What?”
“Huff….”
Dave had completely misread it. Cassio’s ears—and even his cheeks—were red.
