Chapter 22
It must have been fun to have many people sharing delicious food together.
It definitely should be that way…
Raising my teacup, I rolled my eyes.
How could things have gone so wrong?
Today had been different from the moment I opened my eyes in the morning.
Or maybe it had been since last night, when I’d had an unusually long night.
*****
When I was about to fall asleep, Raynan’s soft voice lingered in my ears.
“Renee.”
The voice sounded so close, like he was right next to me, that I jumped up and looked around.
“What is this!”
I finally woke up in the morning and looked in the mirror, horrified.
I looked at myself in the mirror and was horrified.
My face was pale and haggard with dark circles, and I looked pitiful.
I panicked because I’ve never looked this bad from a night of no sleep before, but it didn’t last long.
Since it looked like this, I quickly realized that I would be able to have a comfortable day.
The first person to see my pitiful appearance like this was none other than Roman. He must have been upset about missing me all this time, so today he was waiting for me at the door.
Roman, who had been approaching with a fearsome force as if he had made a plan, was startled as soon as he saw my face and took a step back.
I was also surprised by his strength, but even that didn’t seem to have caught my eye. Roman’s words of concern were followed.
Oh my god. I never thought Roman would be worried.
Edwin, of course, had a stronger reaction than Roman. His face burned as he fussed over me as if I had some sort of serious illness.
Edwin said carefully as he placed me on his bed and patted me, saying that it must be a serious pain.
“Today’s tea time….”
“Ah, tea time….”
Only then did I remember tea time with Raynan. I had an ominous feeling that if I spent time alone with him, I wouldn’t be able to sleep properly again today.
I wondered how to make it seem natural.
When I was wondering if I could just ignore it for a day since even Roman was worried, Edwin asked.
“Shall I go with you?”
My eyes widened at the unexpected suggestion Edwin gave me.
“Are you sure you don’t mind?”
I knew Edwin had a hard time with Raynan, so I looked at his face closely and asked.
“Yes! If Renee collapses, I’ll carry you and run to the doctor right away!”
Edwin clenched his fists and answered vigorously.
Will you be able to carry me? It wasn’t that my body was bad enough to collapse in the first place.
Even if he did, it didn’t seem to occur to him that it would be quicker to call a doctor.
But Edwin’s expression was so determined that I smiled and nodded.
“That’s very reassuring, but if you ever feel uncomfortable or want to leave, just let me know.”
“Yes.”
“Do you promise?”
“Yeah.”
If there was even one more person, it would have been less uncomfortable.
And that one person was Edwin, which was a lot better than ten random people.
Whatever the reason, it was true that it was good if Raynan and Edwin had more encounters.
The stiff atmosphere between the two will become softer once they get used to each other at least a little.
I realized that it would be good to bring more people together.
So maybe it was a good idea to ask Roman to join me. I had to meet with him anyway, and it was safer in a crowded place.
Especially since Edwin is there, he won’t threaten or scare me or do anything threatening.
Unfortunately, Roman rejected my offer, but Raynan and Edwin readily invited him to join them.
Roman nodded his head in agreement.
Also, It would be fun if a lot of people gathered together. I had a good feeling that things would work out well.
*****
I spent the entire teatime hiding my face in my teacup and glancing up and down
I didn’t expect this kind of atmosphere at all…
There were so many people that it wasn’t fun, but there were more people to keep an eye on.
No wonder. I said things would work out the way I wanted. It can’t be like that, it can’t be.
I sighed into my teacup and shook my head slightly.
The tea time atmosphere was much more awkward than expected. Even though we were in the same space, it felt like everyone was thinking differently.
There was none of the cheerful conversation I was expecting. I seemed to be the only one uncomfortable with the silence.
In this way, it’s not much different from being alone with Raynan.
Raynan’s persistent gaze made my body tingle. It was clear that he had heard my last ridiculous greeting yesterday.
Otherwise, there would be no reason to look at me more persistently than on other days.
I was careful not to accidentally make eye contact with Raynan, so I turned my head to Edwin.
“Edwin, these are your favorite snacks, why don’t you eat them? Should I bring something else?”
Even though there were obviously a lot of foods he liked, Edwin’s eyes were only focused on Roman.
When I asked Edwin, who had not even touched the fork, he looked back with a bright smile on his face.
“Huh? no? Is it delicious?”
I haven’t even eaten a single bite, but it’s delicious. Was I wrong in saying it looked delicious?
“Try this too.”
I pushed the plate in front of me, and only then did Edwin pick up his fork. As he was smiling happily at the sight of him eating deliciously, a dissatisfied voice was heard from somewhere.
“Why don’t you ask me?”
“Yes?”
Without realizing it, I turned my head in the direction where the voice came from.
This was why I tried so hard to avoid eye contact. As if he had been waiting, he caught my eye.
As my body stiffened and my eyes blinked, Raynan spoke in a dissatisfied tone.
“I’m not eating either.”
The tension in the room snapped at the out-of-place complaint.
It was because it felt like he was complaining that he wasn’t being taken care of.
Did I hear that correctly? When I tilted my head, doubting my ears, Raynan asked again with a serious face.
“Why don’t you ask me?”
I can’t believe I heard it correctly. My mouth dropped open in absurdity.
Although he drinks tea, I have never seen Raynan eat anything else.
But why does he talk as if he didn’t eat anything today?
Putting aside my absurd feeling, I raised the corners of my mouth and asked.
“Doesn’t it suit your taste? Should I bring something else?”
“No. I normally don’t like sweets.”
“… I see.”
My answer was delayed as I tried to keep the corner of my mouth from quivering, but fortunately, no one seemed to mind my awkward smile.
“Roman, why aren’t you eating?”
I felt like I had to say something to hide my expression. When I asked Roman, who had been staring at his teacup the entire time and had no intention of even touching the refreshments, his body flinched.
As Raynan and Edwin’s gazes gathered at my question, Roman quickly waved his hand.
“You don’t have to worry.”
“Then the tea must have cooled down, so maybe you could get some…”
“No! It’s really okay.”
He said, and downed the tea in one gulp. It was clear to anyone who looked that he wasn’t okay.
“So what do you two have to say separately?”
Raynan put down the teacup he was holding and asked, crossing his arms.
It felt like he was saying it through gritted teeth, but I guess I was mistaken.
“Yes. What is it?”
Edwin asked with his hands tightly held between his arms, as if trying to imitate Raynan’s posture.
Your arm looks uncomfortable…
“Nothing to say… Other than that, it’s nice and relaxing to have tea in the garden like this.”
Roman spoke awkwardly and changed the subject, but no one responded to his words.
In fact, Roman lowered his head as their eyes became even sharper than before.
Roman, who seemed to be thinking for a moment and sighed repeatedly, suddenly raised his head.
“Renee looked so tired that I wanted to ask if she needed any help.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Yes. Why Roman?”
Although they had not interacted much before, the two got along quite well.
Despite Raynan and Edwin’s harsh interrogative questions, Roman’s face was not disturbed at all.
“What on earth happened yesterday to make your face look like that…”
Roman’s words caused Raynan to spit out a cough, and I looked up at the sky and pretended not to hear.
Roman’s words caused Raynan to spit out a cough, and I looked up at the sky and pretended not to hear.
I know I should just act normal, but no matter what I do, I don’t think it will look natural.
“I told you, if you get a good night’s rest, that weird face will go away!”
Edwin’s strong voice defending me instantly broke the awkward situation.
The sight of Edwin standing up, pointing at me, and speaking energetically brought out a very small laugh from the two adult men.
Why? Is my face really that weird? Or is it because of Edwin’s confident appearance?
I let out all my curiosity with a small sigh. Even if I found out, it wasn’t any good for me.
“I guess so, right? That strange face will be gone tomorrow, right?”
In the end, I unconsciously glared at Roman as he pointed out Edwin’s words again.
Roman flinched, but then opened his mouth to say something. However, he froze at Edwin’s small words.
“Roman, I hate you.”
Roman gaped as if he was greatly shocked, and when Edwin turned his head, his face became even darker.
“Yo-young master Edwin?”
Despite Roman’s earnest call, Edwin clung to my arm without even looking at me.
“Renee’s not fine.”
“Yes, she’ll be fine tomorrow, Roman, it’s just that you don’t understand.”
“No, young master Edwin told me first…”
Edwin’s face relaxed a little at my reassurance, and I could hear Roman’s voice, which sounded frustrated.
I quickly turned my head and looked at him fiercely, and Roman, who was looking at Edwin and me alternately, drooped his shoulders and nodded.
“Yes. I still lack a lot. I will use more appropriate words from now on.”
Raynan, who was looking at Roman bowing his head to Edwin in a polite tone, slowly stood up.
“I see. Roman is still far behind.”
He came closer to me, placed his hand on the backrest, and bent down.
I backed away in surprise at the sudden approach of his face, but my hands were stuck on the backrest.
“Don’t you think so?”
“Um, are you asking me?”
“Yes.”
Why are you like this? Roman is higher than me.
While I was hesitating to answer with a confused look on my face, I felt a weight on the seat next to me. It wasn’t just the weight.
Raynan was sitting right next to me and was still staring as if waiting for an answer.
“Uh, so…”
“Renee is so kind that she can’t say anything bad.”
The voice of Edwin, who was occupying the seat next to me, saved me.
“I see.”
Even though he knew it was nonsense, Raynan nodded with a serious face.
Anyway, just as I was sighing in relief at the thought of being free from the difficult question, Raynan and Edwin’s eyes turned to one place.
Roman, who received attention, smiled casually, but his eyes wavered as if he was anxious.
“Even though Roman bullied her a lot, Renee never said a bad word.”
“You bullied her?”
“He chased Renee a lot. He said he was always busy, liar.”
“Young master Edwin, a liar… I was really busy, and I had something to tell Renee….”
Neither Raynan nor Edwin seemed to be listening to Roman’s desperate excuses to Edwin.
“Did Roman do that?”
Edwin asks, putting a hand on my shoulder, and I turn my head toward Raynan. But then I was forced to face forward again.
It was because I was surprised by his face that came so close to me.
“Roman was chasing you?”
Please don’t talk to me this close.
His voice rumbled in my ear, his voice overlapping with last night’s.
It felt like I was back in the night, when it was clearly daylight and all I could hear was his breathing.
