Chapter 14 (1/2)

Edwin, unaware that Herietta was thinking like that, looked gloomier.

“Of course, it’s okay to say you won’t accept my apology. Even if you say you hate me, I understand. Because I disrespected you, a lady, with my actions the other day. If you say you don’t want to meet me in the future, I’ll do my best to fulfill that wish as much as possible.”

“What are you talking about? What do you mean I don’t want to meet you?”

Herietta, who had been completely intoxicated by this situation, suddenly came to her senses.

“Why would I not want to meet you?”

“Didn’t you avoid me? From that day onwards.”

“What? Did I avoid you?”

Herietta’s voice rose. Edwin nodded.

“I felt you were reluctant to even be around me.”

“Wait, wait! That’s a misunderstanding! I just purposely distanced myself from you because I thought you might be reluctant to be around me…”

Herietta said with a sincere absurdity. Then, this time, Edwin rolled his eyes and was somewhat stupefied by her reaction. Judging from his reaction, it seemed like that was an unexpected answer. Then he frowned.

“Why did you think that way?”

“That’s because…”

Herietta’s words trailed away as she answered. She took it for granted, but when she thought about it, she couldn’t find an answer. Come to think of it, why did she think that way? He never showed any sign of reluctance or avoidance of him being with her, no matter how much she thought about it.

‘Anyway, why does this man look so upset?’

She only knew that he was indifferent to the point that he didn’t even notice her efforts. But what did that look mean? His gaze wasn’t gentle, it even felt like he was blaming her. She asked as she tilted her head.

“Did I get it wrong?”

“Of course…!”

Edwin, who was about to reply immediately, trailed off too. A look of bewilderment was evident on his face. Herietta did not miss the look on his face.

“Of course? Of course what? Are you saying you were reluctant to see me? Or am I wrong?”

“…”

“Hey, which one is it?”

“Well… I do not know.”

Hesitating, he gave her a bland answer. Yes, he looked confused. Herietta, who was going to keep asking what that meant, immediately bit the inside of her mouth. His outward appearance was unchangingly superior and perfect, but on the inside, he looked like a child who was clumsy in understanding and expressing his feelings.

‘That slave. I seem to be seeing him everywhere these days.’

It reminded her of what Hugo said as he tilted his head as if he found the coincidence strange.

‘Whenever I’m with you, I keep seeing him several times a day.’

‘No way…’

She thought it was absurd, but the question that came to mind suddenly snowballed. Herietta’s eyes narrowed.

“No way… Were you sad? You thought I was avoiding you?”

“No.”

“So, that’s why you have been hovering around me lately? You want to figure out what I’m thinking and apologize again?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

Edwin was frank and denied it. He didn’t hesitate for a second to answer. His face, which looked human for a moment, hardened like a marble statue. At first glance, it was an attitude that could be misunderstood as being very indifferent and cold. But seeing him like that, Herietta smiled.

“Really?”