Chapter 10 - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Before I knew it, a week had passed.

Every single day, my heart fluttered. No, it would be more accurate to say I was on edge.

Because Ruwellin Rashiane kept tempting me every single day.

At first, I thought it was because he was crazy, but now I was convinced. That man was sane. He was just pretending to be crazy to shake me up.

He deliberately said strange things, looked at me with meaningful eyes, and touched me. When I tried to avoid him, he would follow me and cling on, and when I showed signs of annoyance, he would step back, maintaining a moderate distance.

He always knew exactly the right line to walk. It was incredibly irritating and, at the same time, frightening.

undefinedHow did an innocent, upright, and honest man become like this...?undefined

Even now, he was smiling softly as he looked at me, holding a freshly made fruit skewer.

"Here, Roz. I bought it for you."

"...Thank you."

I took the fruit skewer he offered. The fruit skewer, loaded with strawberries, cantaloupe, kiwis, and various other fruits, was heavy.

undefinedWhen did he go buy this?undefined

We had just been walking side by side. I hadnundefinedt noticed him stepping away at all. How strange.

Anyway, since he bought it for me, I should eat it gratefully. I bit into a strawberry. It was very sweet and delicious.

"Is it good?"

"Yes. Itundefineds very sweet."

"Iundefinedm glad."

He smiled brightly. Watching him, I suddenly became curious.

"Duke, didnundefinedt you buy one for yourself?"

"No."

He looked at me with a strangely expectant gaze. I hesitated for a moment, then asked.

"...Would you like some of mine?"

"Yes, please."

He immediately moved closer. His ready agreement caught me off guard, and I blinked. It felt like walking right into a trap.

But I had already offered, so I couldnundefinedt take it back. Holding out the skewer to him, I said.

"Go ahead."

"You feed me."

"...What?"

"Feed me."

I was speechless. Why should I feed him? He had his own perfectly capable hands.

As I glared at him, he made a slightly sad face.

"You donundefinedt want to?"

"Itundefineds not that I donundefinedt want to..."

"So you do want to?"

"......"

I was going to say, undefinedItundefineds not that I donundefinedt want to, itundefineds just strange,undefined but he cut me off and twisted my words. Feeling like I had been had, I hesitated, then sighed and brought the skewer to his mouth.

He opened his mouth wide and bit down on the cantaloupe. The way he ate, with his mouth full, was incredibly... no, thatundefineds not the word.

undefined...Cute?undefined

Was it possible for a man well over 185 centimeters to be cute? But somehow, he really did look cute. Damn it. My heart was not at peace.

He, of course, didnundefinedt know how I felt and smiled as he chewed the fruit.

"Itundefineds delicious."

"...Iundefinedm glad."

"Share more with me."

In the end, I ended up feeding him the entire fruit skewer. How on earth did this happen?

* * *

"Roz."

After the fruit skewer was gone, Ruwellin licked his lips and called my name. The way his pink tongue licked his pale lips was incredibly... I shook my head. Iundefinedm going crazy.

"Yes."

"I have something Iundefinedve been curious about."

"What is it?"

When I asked, he looked me straight in the eyes and spoke.

"Why did you save me?"

"......"

"I thought you, Rosnia Hyll, might hate me, the Duke of Rashiane."

Of course, he would think that. Our families were not on good terms.

He probably also knew that I had watched him from afar, but we had no personal relationship. Yet, I had saved his life, taken him into my villa, cared for him, and even fed him.

From his perspective, it must be puzzling. I thought for a moment about what to say, then opened my mouth.

"Would you believe me if I said I just happened to find you collapsed and couldnundefinedt leave you to die?"

"I would believe you. Because I know youundefinedre that kind of person, Roz."

undefinedThat kind of person?undefined

"What kind of person do you think I am?"

"A kind person. A person with a warm heart."

...Was that a compliment? It was just a statement of fact, but hearing it from him made me feel strange.

"Iundefinedm not that kind of person."

"You are."

"Iundefinedm not."

"You are. Iundefinedm sure of it."

He was so adamant that I couldnundefinedt argue further. I just kept my mouth shut, and Ruwellin spoke again.

"But aside from your kindness, I thought there might be another reason you saved me."

"Another reason?"

"Yes."

He nodded and looked at me with a searching gaze.

"Do you perhaps... know something about me?"

My heart sank at his question. Know something about him? Of course, I knew. That he was the male lead, and that he would one day clash with my brother and eventually execute him.

But I couldnundefinedt tell him that. I shook my head.

"I donundefinedt know anything."

"Youundefinedre lying."

"Iundefinedm not lying."

"Your eyes are shaking."

At his words, I quickly lowered my head. I could feel his gaze on me.

"Roz. Tell me. Please."

"......"

"Why did you save me?"

What should I do? If I kept dodging the question, he would only get more suspicious. And if he started investigating on his own, he might uncover the truth about the original story.

I had to come up with a plausible answer. But nothing came to mind. As I was panicking internally, Ruwellin spoke first.

"Is it because you like me?"

"......Huh?"

"Do you like me?"

He was looking at me with a very serious face. I could tell he wasnundefinedt joking.

But why would he ask that? Did I act in a way that made him think I liked him? I just saved him, fed him, and bought him clothes... Oh.

undefined...Now that I think about it, it does look like I like him.undefined

Why did I save him? Why did I feed him? Why did I buy him clothes? Why did I kiss him?

The answer was simple. Because he was the male lead. And because he was my favorite character.

But I couldnundefinedt say that. So I had to come up with another answer.

"...I donundefinedt dislike you."

At my answer, Ruwellinundefineds eyes widened slightly. I continued, flustered.

"I just... I just donundefinedt dislike you. Thatundefineds all. Donundefinedt misunderstand."

"Misunderstand what?"

"That I like you!"

As soon as I shouted that, he burst into laughter. A loud, hearty laugh.

I felt my face burning. Why was he laughing?!

"Why are you laughing!"

"Because youundefinedre cute."

"Iundefinedm not cute!"

"You are."

"Iundefinedm not!"

"You are. Very much so."

I was at a loss for words. He was looking at me with such fond eyes. My heart was pounding like crazy.

undefinedIundefinedm going to die. Iundefinedm really going to die at this rate.undefined

I turned my head away from him and started walking quickly. He followed me, still laughing.

"Roz. Wait for me."

"No."

"Roz."

"I said no."

"I like you, Roz."

At those words, I stopped dead in my tracks.

What did he just say?

I slowly turned around. He was standing there, smiling at me. A very gentle, very tender smile.

"W-what did you say?"

"I like you, Roz."

"......"

"I like you. I think Iundefinedve liked you for a long time."

He took a step closer. I took a step back. He took another step closer. I took another step back.

"W-wait a minute. What are you saying all of a sudden..."

"Iundefinedve liked you since the first time I saw you."

"That was four years ago!"

"Yes. Four years ago."

He nodded calmly. My mind was in chaos.

Ruwellin Rashiane liked me? For four years? That couldnundefinedt be. He was supposed to fall for the heroine at first sight.

"Youundefinedre lying."

"Iundefinedm not lying."

"You have to be lying!"

"Why would I lie about something like this?"

"Because..."

Because youundefinedre the male lead. Because youundefinedre supposed to like the heroine, not me.

I couldnundefinedt say that. So I just stood there, speechless.

Ruwellin took advantage of my silence to close the distance between us. He gently took my hand.

"Roz. I like you."

"......"

"I really, really like you."

His voice was sincere. His eyes were sincere. Everything about him seemed sincere.

But I couldnundefinedt believe it. I couldnundefinedt afford to believe it.

"I... I need to think."

I pulled my hand away and ran. I ran as fast as I could back to the villa.

I didnundefinedt look back. I couldnundefinedt. If I looked back, I felt like I would be trapped.