Chapter 68

Today, because the cafeteria is closed, I had planned to spend the day making sweets and relaxing as I pleased.

"You know, you really should give this up."

"I agree."

"Pu po! Pi pa pi!"

"That's rude. I'm sure Haniwa said something bad about me just now, didn't you?"

For some reason, a mysterious tea party was being held in my room at the marquis's mansion.

Evan, Haniwa, and the sudden arrivals, Ranhart and Al, were sitting around the table with me, making a total of five people.

"Grace, say something too. I'm not that bad, right?"

"…I, I don't know."

Ranhart, who was sitting next to me on the opposite side from Evan, casually put his hand around my waist.

I peeled his hand off with a snap and placed Haniwa between us as a guard.

'You said you really didn't like it when I cried.'

'You should have come to me. I would take good care of you.'

The memory of my recent crying and his words wouldn't leave my mind, making me too embarrassed to look at him.

Ranhart seemed to understand this and, since earlier, had been intentionally touching me and saying sweet things, enjoying my reactions.

"Pu pi! Pi pe!"

Of course, Haniwa was furious and had created a strong arm.

Ranhart, realizing it was a bad move, pointed his index finger at Haniwa and created a barrier made of water.

"With this, you can't come over here."

"Pu... pu..."

"Wait? Ranhart, you can use magic?"

"Just a little. Enough to not cause trouble."

Thinking about it, I realized how much I didn't know about Ranhart.

If I said that out loud, he would smile with his well-shaped lips.

"Then from now on, get to know me better."

"Um, well... should we introduce ourselves to each other?"

"You really are surprisingly lacking in charm. Hey, let's go on a proper date."

Honestly, I wasn't in the mood for that, and I was also thinking about the cafeteria. Most of all, I couldn't bring myself to feel like going out with a man, so I was about to decline, but then—

"I'll use the favor you owe me here."

"I'll go all out for the date."

And so, next weekend, I ended up agreeing to go on a "proper" date with Ranhart.

◇◇◇

As the days of working at the cafeteria passed, time flew by at an alarming speed.

"Miss, what dress will you wear for tomorrow's date?"

"Date... What exactly is a date..."

Before I knew it, it was the night before my date with Ranhart, and I was racking my brain.

"I've never gone out with a man without any ulterior motives, so I don't know what to do."

"Doesn't that make you feel a bit empty?"

"Stop it."

Until now, going out with Lord Zain was for the sake of following the plot of a novel, and going out with Ranhart was to pretend to be cheating.

As Evan said, if I let my guard down even a little, I felt like I would be crushed by emptiness and guilt.

"If there's anything I can help with, please let me know. Oh, should I make another list?"

"I don't need that at all."

I remembered the day I went out with Lord Zain for the first time, when Evan's list of "10 Goals to Get Closer to Lord Zain" was seen.

"–Do you want to do this kind of thing with me?"

Misunderstood by him, I panicked, cried, and ran back home in the carriage.

It was a terrible black history, but I realized that the fact that I didn't cry when I was kissed the other day was more due to a change in my feelings than any real growth.

"Indeed, with Lord Ranhart, it seems like he would try to get closer even if I didn't prepare anything."

"That's not what I meant, though."

While calmly pointing out the flaw, I moved to where Yana was seriously helping me choose a dress.

"What would you do if he seriously confessed to you?"

Evan's questions didn't stop, and he asked me this over my shoulder.

"He won't confess, so it's fine."

The other day, I accidentally got flustered, but Ranhart had said before that "it's all just a game." If I took his sweet words at face value, it might cause more trouble.

I felt annoyed with Evan, who had asked the question with a disinterested "Hmm" and "Oh," but then he said, "Oh, right."

"By the way, I met the Duke yesterday."

"Really?"

Indeed, Evan had said he had something to do in the afternoon and went out, but I didn't expect Lord Zain to be there too.

Although I had various concerns, I opened the jewelry box with a calm face.

"He asked if I could participate in a hunt early tomorrow if I had time, but I declined, saying I had to guard you and Lord Ranhart on your date."

"..."

I knew he was right and that it was the truth, and in a sense, it even felt like assistance, but I could feel my heart beating irregularly.

"Did he say anything else?"

"Just that you two seem to get along well."

"…I see."

I resented my thirty-seconds-ago self for asking such a thing and put away the yellow diamond necklace that was at the front of the box.

Here's a little advertisement...!

Today, the original manga "Hey, Say You Can't Live Without Me" has started distribution.

It's a yandere story where the perfect boyfriend and the surroundings gradually become strange. I really want you to read the first three chapters, which are absolutely amazing! >.<

It's being distributed in advance on ebookJapan (the first chapter is free), so please check it out ;;

Also, on Comic Si-More, the second chapter of "Despite Being a Contract Marriage with Plans for Divorce, I Am Being Obsessed by the Cold Duke" is now available!

Thank you very much ( ᵕᴗᵕ )