Chapter 159 - 157
His eyes...
They looked familiar.
I stared at him for a few seconds.
Wait...
It’s him.
The lunatic who had accidentally crashed into me after meeting with Principal Varek.
The same man who had bombarded me with bizarre questions.
"You really didn’t feel anything when we collided?"
And...
The same man who had refused to let go of my hand.
’I knew he looked familiar!’
I pushed that memory aside and smiled politely before holding out my hand. "Nice meeting you again, Sir Kayden."
"Please," Kayden accepted the handshake without hesitation, his fingers wrapping gently around mine. "Drop the formalities. You can simply call me Kayden."
Before I could respond, he lifted my hand ever so slightly then pressed a light kiss against the back of it.
"..."
"..."
’People still do this?’
For a brief moment, my brain completely stalled.
Is this greeting still alive? I thought this only happened in romance novels.
I know I’m living in a monarchy but isn’t this too much?
While my brain was busy malfunctioning, Kayden was busy appreciating the fact that he was holding my hand.
Behind us, Gawain’s face went completely blank.
The kind of expression people made moments before committing a crime.
Meanwhile, Remington was silently pumping both fists in the air. Colt, despite usually being the serious one, discreetly gave Kayden a thumbs-up.
Kayden didn’t react but the tiny smug smile threatening to appear at the corner of his mouth said he had definitely seen it.
I decided to ignore... whatever that greeting had been.
"I didn’t know the client Principal Varek failed to carve energy stones for was you."
I smiled at Kayden.
"So that’s why you wanted to meet him that day."
Kayden smiled politely. "Is that why he sent you here instead?"
Beside me, Gawain quietly narrowed his eyes.
’Liar.’
He knew Kayden had done something to Principal Varek. The old man had been far too eager to send Blanca here, and Kayden’s conveniently innocent question only confirmed his suspicion.
Still... He simply let Kayden keep up the act.
"Although I’m still a student, I’m an experienced carver," I smiled professionally. "So shall we begin?"
...
...
’He’s doing it again.’
My smile remained perfectly polite.
’Why isn’t he letting go of my hand?’
I subtly pulled but he wouldn’t let go.
’Sir... the handshake is over, the meeting has officially started, and you may release the merchandise now.’
Kayden continued smiling as though this was completely normal.
’If I don’t let go... maybe she’ll just keep holding my hand.’
Behind him, Remington quietly gave him another thumbs-up as Colt nodded once in approval.
’Excellent strategy, Boss.’
Gawain watched the entire exchange in silence and without saying a single word, he walked straight between us and bought his hand down.
Chop!
"There," Gawain calmly stepped between us like a human wall. "That’s already enough introductions."
He looked directly at Kayden while smiling although his eyes were not.
Kayden looked at his now-empty hand before looking back at Gawain. "...You’re as subtle as ever."
"I try."
"You don’t."
"I know."
An awkward silence settled over the foyer.
Kayden let out a nearly inaudible sigh before effortlessly recovering his composure.
"Well..."
He looked back at me with a polite smile.
"You must be starving after such a long trip."
He gestured towards the left hall. "Why don’t we have lunch first?"
Before I could answer, Gawain already answered for me. "No. We can eat after finishing your energy stone."
Kayden’s smile didn’t falter. "Guests should always eat first."
"Clients should respect schedules."
"Meals are important."
"So are appointments."
The two men smiled at each other.
Anyone watching would think they were having a pleasant conversation.
I, however, was fairly certain they were only one sentence away from drawing weapons when my stomach chose that exact moment to ruin the moment.
Grrr...
Every pair of eyes turned towards me as I smiled awkwardly. "...My stomach has voted."
Kayden’s expression immediately softened.
"I believe that’s our answer."
He stepped toward me and held out his hand.
"Let’s have lunch first, shall we?"
I looked at his outstretched hand then at the countless hallways branching off in every direction.
...Yeah. This mansion was enormous. I would surely get lost within five minutes if left alone.
"Sure," I placed my hand in his. "Lead the way."
Kayden smiled with suspicious satisfaction. "Of course."
He confidently started walking leaving the rest behind us.
"...Umm..." Colt cleared his throat. "Boss?"
Kayden kept walking. "Yes?"
"The dining hall..." Remington pointed in the opposite direction. "...Is that way."
Silence.
Kayden stopped as he looked at the hallway Remington was pointing toward.
"Pfft!" Gawain quickly covered his mouth but his shoulders started shaking as he coughed into his fist.
"...Are you laughing?" Kayden asked without turning around.
"No."
"You just made a noise."
"I inhaled incorrectly."
"...Boss..." Remington buried his face in both hands. "You literally got lost."
I turned to look at Kayden but he only avoided everyone’s eyes with remarkable determination.
’...He really does have a terrible sense of direction.’
I glanced at the hallway he’d confidently chosen then at the one Colt had pointed out.
"...You know what?"
Since he still hadn’t moved from where he was standing, I gently tugged on the hand he was still holding.
"Come on."
He obediently followed without the slightest resistance.
For someone who looked so intimidating...
He was surprisingly easy to pull around.
Once we were back beside the others, I looked at the twins.
"Can you lead the way?"
"Of course, Miss Blanca," Colt stepped forward without another word. "I’ll take us there."
"My Lady, you can let go of that bastard’s—"
Remington’s eyes widened as he immediately slapped a hand over Gawain’s mouth.
"Mmph?!"
"Haha!" Remington laughed a little too loudly. "You must’ve missed what the kitchen looks like!"
"...MMPH!"
Gawain shot him a murderous glare and immediately started struggling.
"Mmph! Fuck—mmph!"
"No swearing in front of the lady," Remington whispered as he tightened his grip over Gawain’s mouth.
Then, with surprising ease, he wrapped an arm around Gawain’s shoulders and began dragging him down the hallway.
"Gawain must be extremely hungry right now!"
"MMPH!"
"He gets cranky when he’s hungry."
"MMPH!!"
"He says the funniest things too."
"MMPPHHH!!"
Colt didn’t even glance back. He simply continued leading the way as though this was a perfectly ordinary occurrence.
Judging from how little he reacted...
It probably was.
I watched Remington dragging a very unwilling Gawain farther and farther away.
I looked at Kayden. "...Should we stop them?"
Kayden followed my gaze before calmly shaking his head. "They’re just catching up."
"...Like that?"
"That’s how they usually do it."
"Oh."
I accepted that explanation surprisingly quickly.
’If a megalodon could wag its tail like a puppy then apparently this counted as normal male bonding.’
I took a step to follow after the others only to realize Kayden was still holding my hand.
"You can let go now."
"...Can we continue holding hands?"
"...Why?"
His answer came so naturally that it didn’t even sound rehearsed.
"...Because I might get lost again if I don’t keep you by my side."
His purplish-blue eyes met mine.
Completely serious.
No teasing.
No smile.
Just quiet sincerity.
"..."
My brain immediately short-circuited.
...
Is he...
...flirting with me?
No...
Wait.
This was the same man who apparently needed landmarks to find his own dining room.
There was a very real possibility...
He was being completely serious.
Which somehow made this even harder to answer.
I searched his face for any hint that he was joking.
Nothing.
He genuinely looked like he was asking for directions disguised as a request.
...I can’t tell.
Is this romance?
Or survival instinct?
Help!!!
I cleared my throat. "I-If you say so..."
His expression softened ever so slightly. "...Thank you."
Ahead of us, Gawain somehow managed to pry Remington’s hand off his mouth just long enough to mutter, "I’m going to kill him—!"
Remington immediately covered his mouth again. "Not before lunch."
"Mmph!"
"Boss is making progress."
"MMPH!!"
"I’ll take that as your blessing."
Colt sighed from the front of the group. "...Can everyone continue arguing after we actually reach the dining hall?"