#67
“Us? Anyone who sees would think Ana and I are incredibly close.”
“We are close, aren’t we? I got Andelion’s permission too.”
I was taken aback by the escalating statements. This could really lead to a misunderstanding. Iria had asked me to become closer friends, but the way she was speaking made it sound like something more serious.
My mouth went dry, not knowing how to escape this awkward situation. The atmosphere now was worse than the silence that had enveloped us moments ago.
“Really?”
At that moment, Persis, who was sitting next to Iria, asked me once more. My foggy mind finally started working properly. I couldn’t let this misunderstanding continue. Why should the relationship between Persis and Iria, which had grown closer because of me, become awkward?
“We’ve become more familiar friends.”
“Yes. A very deep relationship.”
“When you say it like that, it sounds different.”
“Hmm, does it? But I wouldn’t mind a different relationship either?”
The more we talked, the stranger things became. Among the expressionless Yutis and Persis, only Iria smiled happily. From a distance, it would look like Iria had fallen into a different world all by herself.
“Stop teasing him with nonsense.”
“Teasing? Who?”
It seemed the perceptive Rikin had finally grasped the situation. Though I didn’t like Rikin blaming Iria, I felt relieved thinking the misunderstanding would be cleared up.
“So why were you two together, senior and Andelion?”
However, the mood sank once again due to the returning topic. Especially Yutis, who seemed more upset that I had abandoned him to go around with Rikin. I should definitely go along without complaint if Yutis invites me for a meal later.
“For the same reason you and our prince were together. I met him on my way.”
“In that kind of alley?”
“Yes. We both had places to visit.”
Just as no one had believed Iria’s claim about meeting in the middle, there was no one at this table who believed Rikin’s words. At this rate, I wish the food would arrive quickly. I want to eat in a hurry and return to school. Unable to hide my discomfort, I pulled my chair back slightly. I wished I could just stand up and leave.
Fortunately, the food arrived shortly. I inwardly sighed in relief and served myself from the plate in front of me.
The first thing I tasted was the food Yutis had just recommended. Due to accumulated stress, the spicy food attracted me first. The food was hot enough to make my face stiffen as soon as I put it in my mouth, but it was exactly what I needed right now.
Worried that I might be struggling too much, Yutis watched me carefully, forgetting to eat himself. Though he was the one who recommended it, he seemed concerned that it might upset my stomach. Since I had been feeling guilty about Yutis, I gave a slight smile to reassure him.
“It’s delicious. Thank you for recommending it.”
“No. I’m glad it suits your taste.”
Yutis answered quickly and then stiffened his face. It seemed this level of conversation wasn’t enough to completely improve his mood. Thinking I should be nicer to him later, I swallowed the food with effort.
The meal itself wasn’t bad, with some dishes I hadn’t eaten in a while and good flavors. However, due to the awkward atmosphere, I couldn’t tell if the food was going into my mouth or my nose. In addition, I was embarrassed by the various dishes being placed on my plate.
As soon as I told Yutis the food was delicious, Iria and Rikin put all sorts of dishes on my plate. It was a kind gesture to have me try different things, but my stomach had its limits. The food piling up to my throat was making me dizzy. However, I couldn’t just discard the food Iria had given me.
After the meal, we prepared to return to school. Rikin and Yutis left first to call a carriage near the restaurant, while Iria, Persis, and I waited for them. Fortunately, there was a bench in front of the restaurant where we could sit.
Maybe I should have gone with Rikin and Yutis. Before the meal, I felt hurt that Persis and Iria had grown closer without my knowledge, but now I was worried about interfering with the two of them.
The good thing was that I wasn’t sitting between the two of them. It seemed a bit silly to be relieved by just that.
“Hmm, they seem to be running late. Would it be okay if I go take care of something quickly? I need to buy something that I forgot.”
Iria said, standing up abruptly as we sat waiting. As she said, calling a carriage would take some time. I noticed Persis and Iria exchanging glances. They seemed to have something they couldn’t tell me. I wondered if something was happening that I didn’t know about. It was a bit concerning, but they wouldn’t tell me even if I asked.
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back.”
After saying that, Iria walked away from us. Where on earth was she going? An uneasy feeling rose up, making me want to follow her. What broke my anxious thoughts was Persis’s sharp voice.
“You’re close, aren’t you?”
“Pardon?”
“The attendant and that woman. You seem very close to them?”
He seemed to be referring to Yutis and Iria. Even if it was Persis, I didn’t like him referring to Yutis and Iria in that way.
“It’s Yutis and Iria. Call them by their proper names. Even if they’re not present, referring to them like that doesn’t look good.”
“So you care that much.”
“Persis.”
When I called his name forcefully, Persis, who had been looking ahead, turned his gaze to me. Without realizing it, I had spoken as if teaching him like when he was young, but I had no intention of taking it back. This had crossed a line, no matter what. I stared back at Persis without avoiding his gaze. In response, Persis let out a deep sigh and bowed his head deeply.
“Pathetic.”
Caught off guard by Persis’s unexpected reaction, I stood with wide eyes, not knowing what to do. I didn’t understand why he was reacting like this. Was it because I scolded him too harshly?
“Persis?”
When I called out in concern, Persis let out another sigh so deep it seemed like the ground would sink.
“This is no different from before.”
“What do you…”
“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Just, it’s a bit…”
Though he couldn’t choose direct words, Persis tried his best to express his feelings honestly. I couldn’t explain exactly why Persis was acting this way, but I could clearly tell he was feeling awkward.
“Haa, I’m really pathetic. Me.”
I didn’t want Persis to view himself negatively just because I pointed out he was wrong. As he said, this was no different from before. I recalled Persis shrinking in front of me when I scolded him harshly. The image of Persis desperately seeking praise came to mind.
Back then, I thought it was necessary to turn the somewhat immature and careless Persis into a proper leader. But that wasn’t the case. Thinking about it now, I should have encouraged Persis to become a more confident child. He wasn’t someone who should be intimidated in front of me. I worried that I might have ruined Persis.
Looking at Persis, who was still making eye contact with me, my assumption turned into certainty. I felt gloomy and didn’t know what to do. With my hands raised, I pondered what to do in this situation. My hands, awkwardly suspended in the air, seemed foolish.
Just then, Persis straightened his body and turned his gaze toward me. My body, which had been frozen with my hands raised, flinched and shrunk. I could bet everything that my eyes were trembling slightly.
Persis seemed surprised, with wide eyes, as if he hadn’t expected this reaction from me. Not wanting to make him uncomfortable, I hurriedly tried to figure out how to resolve this situation.
“Ana, if it’s because of what I said…”
“No. No, I don’t mean what you said was right.”
I had been reflecting on being too harsh with Persis, but I couldn’t help but point it out again. This is why habits are scary. I still believed that Persis’s behavior wasn’t praiseworthy and was disrespectful to Iria and Yutis. However, I didn’t want to scold him like this.
“Haa, that’s…”
“Ana.”
Persis calmly called my name. I felt his hand touch my slightly raised arm. Persis lowered my hands and gently stroked my arm. The body temperature that had cooled from being outside briefly seemed to rise slightly thanks to Persis.
“I made a mistake this time. I shouldn’t have spoken like that just because I was in a bad mood. I was too childish.”
Hearing such words made me upset again. A person who would shoulder the burden of a country bowed his head because of an insignificant man. This was clearly my fault, no matter how I looked at it. I bit my lip tightly, struggling to suppress the emotions welling up inside me.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
