Chapter 79

Taking everyone's opinions into account, I decided to include numbers and letters in the title. I'll gradually add them, so please wait patiently.

"Did you get anxious about that and end up here?"

"Yeah."

Cecilia nodded as she held a sandwich in her hand, the day after she had an outburst of anxiety with Lean. The place was the usual greenhouse, and the person she consulted was Gilbert, of course.

He, who had finished his lunch earlier than her, casually flipped through the pages of a book that seemed difficult to understand.

"So, do you think it's okay?"

"I don't know. From my perspective, it seems like you and those two are getting along, but if you ask me about the difference, I honestly can't tell. After all, feelings are invisible to everyone, so it's entirely possible that 'they're just pretending to get along, but actually dislike each other.'"

"Yeah..."

Cecilia, with a worried look, brought the sandwich to her mouth. The sky seen through the greenhouse glass was a beautiful autumn day.

"Well, in the end, you can only believe in your own feelings and move forward, right? There's no answer, after all."

"...Yeah."

She nodded deeply. It's normal not to understand people's feelings. You can only pretend to understand what they're thinking, how they feel, and what they're thinking about.

If that's the case, as Gilbert said, you can only believe in yourself and move forward.

(But, I'm not good at that kind of thing. I might step on a landmine without realizing it...)

She was vaguely aware of her own dullness. Even when she lived at home, she was the only one who didn't notice that the soldier Hans and the maid Sharon were dating. Everyone else had a vague sense of it, but she only thought, "They get along well."

(When it comes to people's feelings, I don't even know what Gilbert is thinking...)

Cecilia glanced at him from the side as he looked down at the book.

Gilbert was not originally expressive. He used to get angry, laugh, and even cry when he was young, but he usually had a calm face. Therefore, Cecilia had never understood what he was really thinking or feeling.

(I don't know what he's going to do about the Colson family either...)

It seemed he was being told to return to his birth family, but Cecilia didn't know what conclusion he would come to. She wanted him not to go, but she wasn't sure if it was okay to say that.

After all, he hadn't even consulted her about it, so maybe it was none of her business to even think about it.

"What's wrong? Is something bothering you?"

Noticing that she was looking at him, he raised his head from the book and looked at her.

Cecilia blinked.

"Um..."

"If there's something, just say it."

'Because it'll be troublesome later if you don't,' he added, and Cecilia's gaze wandered.

Was it okay to ask? If he hadn't consulted her, maybe he didn't want to talk about it, or maybe he didn't want her to know. However, it was also possible that Gilbert thought it wasn't worth mentioning or had simply forgotten.

"Why are you so worried about it?"

"Gil, um..."

"Hm?"

Finally, Cecilia opened her mouth, and Gilbert tilted his head. She turned to face him squarely and opened her heavy mouth.

"Um, I heard that there's talk about you returning to the Colson family..."

"Who told you that?"

"Lean... or rather, Jade told Lean?"

"Ah."

After a look of surprise, he nodded as if understanding.

This reaction. It seemed that the talk about returning to the Colson family was real.

Cecilia clenched her fists tightly on her lap even tighter.

"So, um, what do you plan to do... I wanted to ask..."

"Are you worried?"

"It would be a lie to say I'm not."

Perhaps due to nervousness, she found herself using polite language.

After looking at her silently, Gilbert's expression softened.

"Don't worry. I won't leave your side."

"Really?"

"Really."

Hearing his clear words, the tension in her body eased. It seemed she had been more worried about him leaving than she thought.

"Okay! That's good!"

"Mm."

With a relieved smile, Gilbert also smiled, looking a bit happier.

(Huh? But, why...?)

There was a slight sense of discomfort.

She couldn't quite put it into words, but it felt like something was missing. If he was going to deny something, it should have been more...

"Cecilia"

"Hm? Huh. Yes?"

Before the discomfort could take shape, it was blown away.

(Did he just...?)

She thought she heard her name, but maybe it was just her imagination.

Blinking, Cecilia heard him say it again.

"Cecilia"

"Yes?"

"I like you."

"Ah, yes. ...Wait, what?"

He smiled as usual, but the way he called her name was not 'as usual.' Just that small difference made the 'I like you' that followed sound different from usual.

(What did he just say...?)

Her head was in a whirl, and her ears felt hot. She couldn't understand why he called her by her name.

Leaving the dazed Cecilia behind, Gilbert stood up. She usually would have stood up with him, but her confused body couldn't muster the strength.

When she looked up silently, their eyes met.

Seeing Cecilia's flustered face, he looked even happier than before.

"Shall we head back to the classroom?"

"Ah, ...yes."

She managed to answer and took the hand he offered.

His hand, which he returned the grip with, felt colder than usual.

Was his hand cold, or was her body hot?

If you enjoyed it, I'd appreciate any points or feedback. (Sorry for saying this every time)

I'd also appreciate it if you could support the comic and book versions. (Sorry for saying this every time)