Chapter 67: CH 66

The two-week-long Cressen summit was finally over.

Well, that’s just a better way to label the excursion. It was nothing more than a get together of rich little golden spoons who used state taxes to fund their trip.

“You’re going back to the Chantra estate right away, Reina?”

“Yep.”

“Don’t do that. Let’s play more.”

“All we’ve been doing for the past fourteen days was to play.”

“Ahh.”

“Why are you whining now?”

“Don’t gooo.”

Letting out a long sigh at Paul’s ridiculous attempt at being cute, Reina calmly slapped away his hand.

“Let’s stop now and go our separate ways, hm?”

“Separate ways? I only have you, Reina, but you’re so mean to me.”

“My dear friend, I’m a bit sick of seeing your face for so many days straight, yeah?”

But seemingly immune to harsh words as he was, Paul continued to whine no matter what kind of reaction Reina gave him.

“Reinaaaa, let’s play more, please? You don’t have anything to do at home anyway. All you’re going to do is sleep.”

“Nope, I’ve got a lot of things to do though?”

Reina then left her whining friend behind and hurried away.

“I have so much work to do right now.”

And the most urgent priority of them all was one man.

Ethan.

“Just because you didn’t see me for two weeks… Please don’t tell me that my capture progress went back to zero…”

Somehow, the chill that went down her spine just now gave her a bad feeling.

* * *

As soon as she parted ways with the group, Reina headed straight towards the Liam family’s mansion.

If she were perfectly honest, she’s expecting to be rejected right at the gates because she didn’t send word in advance about her visit.

Surprisingly though, she was escorted to a luxurious drawing room.

Between now and back then, fourteen days ago, there’s something about Ethan’s attitude towards her that changed, kind of.

Before, the atmosphere he gave off was like a glacier that would sink its frost to the depths of your bones. But now, it was like a deep, azure sea that was still very cold, but lesser so.

His scent, which filled the drawing room, also became softer.

“Your skin looks more radiant.”

‘…You think so? Yeah, me too.’

Cressen’s water was actually quite good.

But she really shouldn’t agree truthfully.

Reina had to look like she suffered while missing him, so she shook her head.

“That can’t be, my love.”

Sitting with his legs crossed, Ethan tilted his head at an angle. He lifted his teacup and said forthright.

“I heard that you’ve gotten closer to several other people.”

Furtively latching onto maaaaybe a smidge of envy from him, Reina’s eyes widened as she replied bewilderedly.

“Are you jealous, my love?”

“…All I wish is for you to find a new ‘love’.”

Ah. She got her hopes up a little because his expression became a bit stiff, but it looked like it’s nothing.

Relaxed by the usual jealousy-but-not-really-jealousy, Reina waved a hand once.

“My love is good at nonsense, too, huh? I’m completely yours.”

“Nonsense?”

“Hm? What is?”

“What you said just now.”

“My love?”

“No, after that.”

“That I’m completely yours?”

“…Before that. Didn’t you say I’ve done ‘nonsense’?”

“Oh my, I would never say that though?”

“…….”

Ethan frowned slightly as Reina shrugged and brushed it off. Glancing at him sideways, Reina smiled and winked.

“Anyway, I’m yours and yours alone, my love.”

It seemed like there’s something that wasn’t sitting right with Ethan again, and with a hint of displeasure in his eyes, he spoke.

“What business do you have here?”

“My business is you though, Your Excellency?”

His expressionless face turned strange.

‘Huh? What the heck? Just now… he looked very angry?’

Was it just her imagination?

Just to test whether it was real or whether she really saw that suspicious expression pass by in a blink of an eye, Reina spoke once more.

“My love, isn’t it a little hot?”

When she fanned herself with her hands to show how warm she felt, a direct reaction was elicited from him.

“Is it hot?”

“Yes. Aren’t you hot, my love?”

He shook his head, and it really did seem like he wasn’t feeling warm at all.

Well, the fact of the matter was that the room really wasn’t hot. Rather, it’s the perfect temperature for a chat together.

But he was deceived by her lie, and it came to a point that he turned his head and motioned to call for a maid.

Reina quickly threw the next line.

“Huh? That can’t be… How can you not be hot, when my heart is burning so hot because of you, my love?”

‘How ‘bout that, huh? A zinger right off the bat after not hearing any for fourteen days straight? C’mon now, let me see your surprised face and let me hear your burst of laughter.’

Throwing out a pick-up line like that after so long, Reina smiled at him expectantly to see—

Griiit.

“……?”

Huh? What? The sound of gnashed molars?

The unexpected sound made Reina look up suddenly, and she saw his taut expression, complete with bulging jaw muscles even.

‘Eh? You’re really gnashing your teeth?’

But why’s he making that face? It’s not a line that would normally make him angry?

Utterly confused, Reina called him again carefully.

“My… love?”

However, the only response was the same sound that made it seem like she’s testing his patience.

Griiiit.

‘W-Why…! He’s seriously gritting his molars hard…!’

Reina was genuinely taken aback.

She could solemnly swear— Ethan had never once been so angry at any of her pick-up lines before!

Of course, back in the early days, Ethan often crumpled his eyebrows or laughed… But he never got angry.

But that’s what he looked like now! And with the matching griiiit sound, too!

Reina was utterly flustered by the unexpected development. With her head still down, she looked up furtively with only her eyes, not raising her head.

But then…

‘W-What the…? What’s up with that expression!’