TPCF 51

CHAPTER 51…………….

Didn’t you treat my ankle? There was even a bandage wrapped around it.

That wasn’t me.

Reading the note he handed back, Anita was flustered. If it wasn’t Edmund, then who could it have been? Her brows furrowed as she sank into thought.

No way.

No, that’s impossible.

Anita forced herself to ignore the suspicion forming in her mind.

Hurriedly tearing off another sheet of paper, she scribbled something down.

The possibility that I miraculously woke up and treated myself…

It sounded absurd even to her, so she slashed several lines through it. As she carefully crossed out the words and began writing again underneath, Edmund, resting his chin on his hand, watched her with an amused expression.

Though he had kept his gaze fixed on his book while exchanging notes with her, this time he looked directly at her. Taking the paper she offered, he read it.

By any chance, haven’t you lost a coat recently?

When he drank, he often lost his memory along with his senses. Sometimes it was just his memory, but there had been times he nearly walked into lampposts or almost fell into rivers. Because of that, he had no idea what Anita’s question was really implying.

Still, he didn’t want to admit that he couldn’t remember anything at all. Seeing his junior on the verge of tears with such a forlorn expression, he felt at least a harmless lie was necessary.

Maybe.

Receiving his reply, Anita’s face brightened. Of course. How could Lutger possibly have known to treat her at that time?

But her expression quickly dimmed again. She remembered that his coat was in Lutger’s hands.

She would have to get it back somehow. Even if Lutger ignored her, she at least hoped he wouldn’t go around wearing it. What would Edmund feel if he saw a coat he had lent to a junior being worn by someone else?

Maybe she should just tell Edmund Lutger’s name and let him reclaim it himself. Anita simply didn’t have the confidence to get it back from him.

The more she thought about it, the more pathetic she felt. She wasn’t trying to steal—she only wanted to retrieve what had been taken from her in a rightful way. Was it really something to agonize over like this?

With a thud, Anita dropped her forehead onto the desk. As she slumped there, blaming only her timid nature, someone tapped her shoulder.

Without lifting her body, she turned her head. Edmund was holding out a slip of paper.

What’s wrong?

I think I’m just stupid.

Pressing her left cheek against the desk, Anita scrawled the words. Edmund glanced at her reply, then handed her another note.

I told you before. As long as there’s a magic drink, everything can be solved.

His gray eyes sparkled with mischief—it was his attempt at a comforting joke.

Anita flipped his note over, drew two bold lines across the back, and shoved it into his hand.

X

“Pfft.”

Anita, who had been mashing her cheek against the desk, snapped her head up. Seeing Edmund laugh at the note she had given him, her face soured.

“Why are you laughing?”

He only shrugged his shoulders. Anita dropped her face back onto the desk. Nothing had gone right for her these past few days.