Chapter 12 - What Is This Place? (1) (1/2)

Chapter 12 – What Is This Place? (1)

Heish trembled with fear. He felt like a weak deer who was about to be mauled by a predator. Before this, Clodan had never looked him in the eyes. He held no interest in Heish and as an extension, in whatever he did. So Heish had assumed him to be laid-back in nature. But now he finally realized, it wasn’t that he was laid-back; Heish just wasn’t worth his time.

“O-oh! Clodan, look at the time! Please teach me the rest tomorrow.”

He closed the book gently and slowly leaned forward to kiss her on the forehead.

“I won’t be available tomorrow.”

Rei fell silent, disappointed by his response. But Clodan cleverly turned her attention towards something else before she could ask him any questions. He lifted his head and gazed right at the figure behind her.

“Ah, Lord Heish, you’re here.”

“Heish?”

As soon as Rei turned around, Heish regained the freedom to move at his own will. But when he tried speaking, his voice still didn’t come out.

“When did you get back? I was so worried! D-don’t stay out for so many days without sending any word.”

All Heish could do was stare at her. No matter how hard he tried, no words would come out of his mouth.

“Heish.”

Clodan stood up and hugged Rei from behind as it was the most natural thing in the world to do.

“Are you tired? You’re not answering your sister’s question.”

“Clodan!”

Rei gazed at Clodan in surprise as she shyly pushed at his arms, trying to get him to let go of her. To be hugged so intimately in front of her brother… It left her feeling flustered. Heish felt his insides churn in despair. He wanted to protest, but what could he do? His lips were sealed shut.

“What I w-want to say is…that…”

She couldn’t speak any further. There was no way she could talk calmly while being hugged like this! She blushed furiously and stuttered out a sentence.

“I’ll go to my room now. T-tomorrow, or maybe later—”

She gave up. It was impossible for her to speak coherently. She hurriedly grabbed the book on the table and ran past Heish with an unbelievable speed, not even looking back once as she entered the dark hallway. Heish was furious with her. How could she behave so cold-heartedly? Did she not care for her brother?!

But before he could ramble about his sister’s faults in his mind, the shocking reality of the situation caught hold of him instead. He was alone and in the same room as Clodan. A chilling silence befell the room as the once warm atmosphere between the two lovers dissipated into nothing. Heish opened and closed like a fish, but he couldn’t break the silence at all.

“Is the business going well?”

Heish let out a deep breath as he felt the restriction lift off of him. As soon as the Clodan’s insincere question fell from his lips, Heish began to stutter like a broken record.

“Y-y-y-you…you… Just n-n-now…”