Chapter 86: CH 85

Chapter 85

Translator: Yonnee

RP: Haebaragi_syk

—

And now, back to the present—

“Are you alright?”

“…Uwah!”

Realizing who it was that caught her, Reina screamed and struggled to get out of Ethan’s arms.

Then, whoosh, Reina was promptly set down on the floor. Completely bewildered, she cautiously regarded him.

“…I’m sorry.”

She had no idea what she was apologizing for, but she just decided to say sorry first. Ethan’s been in such a bad mood these days, so it might be better to bow and raise the white flag first.

Apart from that, she also needed to apologize for taking too long to find the book he wanted.

“I’m so sorry…”

Ethan’s neat eyebrows became crumpled together when her despondent apologies continued. Seeing this, Reina spoke even quieter as she looked into his eyes.

“I found almost every book, just one left… It happened to be on top of the bookshelf over there, and I just…”

However, was it because she very nearly got hurt badly?

As she grasped her situation, her body started to tremble badly. At the same time, her voice as she tried to explain also quivered a lot.

“T-That’s why, I was just trying to get it, but…”

‘No, stop it! Don’t cry…! It’s not the time to cry, you tactless vocal cords…!’

Try as she might though, her voice refused to cooperate. In the end, she began to cry loudly.

“Hiic… I-I wasn’t trying to make a ruckus, I just… hiic! I really… I really wasn’t…”

She couldn’t understand what’s making her so sad. Her detestable tears just kept on dropping like chicken sh*t.

“Ugh, hiic… Really, I just, I tried to do well… uwaaaah—”

The more she tried to explain, the more she couldn’t read what was going on in his darkening gaze.

“Haa… Reina.”

‘Look… He’s angrier now…! Please, just stop crying, Reina Chantra!’

“Uwaaah… I’m sorr, hiic, I’m sorry…”

However.

Contrary to Reina’s dreaded expectation that the look in his eyes would freeze over, Ethan’s reaction now was… surprisingly warm.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Huu, wha…?”

It didn’t end there.

As soon as she looked up at him with wide, round eyes, he placed his warm coat over her shoulders—his coat that was full of his pleasant scent.

‘W-What’s going on…?’

What’s with the coat? And why wasn’t he scolding her?

“Hiic… D-Deputy Director…?”

“You must have been really surprised. I’m sorry.”

At a momentary loss because of the unexpected comfort and apology, Reina soon began to analyze Ethan’s behavior.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

That line, and that out-of-the-blue apology…

‘Do you regret that you’ve been too harsh on me?’

Still, it was good practice to knock on a stone bridge before crossing it.

Reina cried a little more on purpose. You know, just in case.

“Uwaaah…”

Still restless, Ethan reached near Reina’s eyes, but he clenched his hand into a fist before he could touch her. Yet again, he seemed to want to wipe her tears away, and it looked like he didn’t know what to do.

‘…It really looks like what I think it is.’

Despite being in the midst of sobbing, the wheels in her brain were turning tirelessly. And, after she had fully grasped the situation, she began to shed even more tears—like a fountain.

“Uwaahh, it hurts…”

She’s making quite a ruckus considering they were inside a library right now, but it seemed like the librarian was gone. Since it’s only the two of them here, shouldn’t it be okay?

“It hurts? Let me see. Did something hit you while you were falling? How much pain do you feel?”

The moment she complained, Ethan began to examine her condition bewilderedly. He looked all over for any sign of an injury, and as Reina was gradually spun around due to his hand, she continued to whine.

“I’m not injured… But my heart… hiic… My heart hurts so bad…! Uwaaah…!”

It’s a bit different from before.

Feeling grumpy, pathetic and betrayed—it’s all mixed up. Finally, she was able to express her resentment completely.

“Haa… I’m sorry Reina.”

Sweeping a hand over his face as he conveyed his sincere apology, he immediately pulled Reina into an embrace…

“……?”

What?

Leaving the tear streaks across her cheeks as they were, Reina stared blankly at the wide chest in front of her eyes, inwardly screaming.

‘W-What the heck?! Why… What’s with the hug all of a sudden? I didn’t expect this turn of events…?!’

Soon enough, as though to soothe a child’s tears, his warm hand started patting her small back. At the same time, Reina froze in his arms even more.

‘No, I mean… I purposely cried more to make him comfort me, but…’

But did he really need to comfort her to this degree…?

“Don’t cry. You’re going to lose your voice at this rate, hm?”

Look at this. Even his tone changed. What’s with all the affection spilling through your lips now, sir? As if he was comforting a younger sibling.

“You must have been very shocked.”

Yeah, well… She’s plenty shocked now. She’s shocked to see him change so quickly!

“You should go home early today. I’ll report to the superiors.”

And now this? He’s letting her get off work early? Did he go insane or did he… Huh? Wait a sec.

“…Go home early?”

Those three words sounded like a sweet lover’s words to anyone at all… She’s going home early?

“Yes. After such a shock to your body, you must be very tired. So you should just rest today.”

…Really? Seriously?

“And… I’m sorry Reina. It’s my first time, so I… I’ve been so clumsy.”

First time? What’s he saying?

“I won’t do that again. I won’t allow myself to hurt you again, Reina.”

‘Hurt, who? Me?’

“……”

She was completely out of it. None of the words he’s saying were registering in her mind.

‘What the hell… is going on here exactly?’