Chapter 87: CH 86

Chapter 86

Translator: Yonnee

RP: Haebaragi_syk

—

Right. It’s good that her strategy worked. But on the other hand, she had no idea what he’s saying right now, so… she’s getting a little nervous.

If she were completely honest with herself, she’s suspicious of his sudden kindness. It was a complete one-eighty from when he was watching Reina with daggers in his eyes until just a couple days ago.

With tears still streaming down her face, Reina stared at him. Then, Ethan held her shoulders gently, looking at her at eye level.

“First, go home and rest today.”

“……”

This wasn’t some kind of trap, was it? He’s not going to say, ‘I told you to leave, so why didn’t you stay that way? Intern Reina, do you not know how to listen to someone else’s words?’ was he?

“Can you go home alone?”

Dazed and bewildered, Reina nodded blankly, but he continued to look at her with such worried eyes.

‘S-Seriously, what’s going on…?’

She only pretended to be pitiful so that she wouldn’t get scolded, but even so, she didn’t know it would work this well…

As her eyes were furtively narrowed in suspicion, Reina tried to observe his face.

But then.

“No, you don’t seem like it. I’ll take you there myself.”

“…Huh?”

Yet another unexpected thing was thrown at her. Reina briefly forgot that she was supposed to be crying as she asked blankly.

“W-Where…?”

“I’m worried that you might collapse on your way back, Reina. So, let’s go together.”

No way… her house?

“No… For you to go so far…”

Was there maybe blood trickling down her face? Or was her face in such a terrible condition that he couldn’t help but offer such courtesy?

One of her hands crept up her face and neck. However, there were no signs of blood anywhere, just tears.

‘But why are you being so sweet…?’

Right now, he’s not just a little worried, but ‘very very’ worried.

Whether he knew what’s going on in her mind or not, Ethan continued to speak in a worried voice as he led her to a chair where she could sit.

“We have to make sure you’re not hurt. Your body might be in shock right now, and irregularities may arise later.”

Right, that’s how human bodies tend to be…

“Ah. No, it’s better to go to the lounge first.”

His quibbling indecisiveness right now was making it clear that his attitude had changed to the point of radicality.

“Can you walk? Or do you want me to carry you on my back?”

Yeah, this was obviously a change that’s beyond measure.

‘…This is just making me nervous again.’

* * *

Ethan had changed.

Well, it’s true that she wanted him to change, but this… this was too much.

“Reina.”

“…Yes, Deputy Director Ethan.”

“Are you going home?”

“Uh… Yes.”

“Then, shall we go together?”

Reina nodded awkwardly to his request—which was asked ever so naturally—to accompany her.

One might say this:

It’s not ‘my love’, but how fortunate was it that they’re in an amicable enough relationship that they could leave work at the same time and talk with each other? It’s better than ‘hate’.

But the thing was, he’s changed so much that it’s beyond the scope of comprehension, and it’s to the point that Reina’s feeling more awkward than delighted.

“Reina.”

“…Yes, Deputy Director.”

When her direct superior called her name with a rather heavy voice, she answered awkwardly. And at that moment, his expression sank, and he soon stopped walking.

‘Wh…What now? What’s wrong with your expression?’

She was already so doubtful of how nice he’s been to her in the past few days, but was it all a trap?

Fifty thousand thoughts sprinted through her mind. As she stopped in place as well, she began to observe him with the watchful eyes of a sharpshooter.

Ethan turned his head and looked back at the warp gate that they had just passed, then looked at Reina again. His eyebrows were furrowed.

“Was there something you left behind, sir?”

She was getting more and more frustrated by his series of actions, yet she nonetheless asked him cautiously with a respectful tone.

In response, Ethan shook his head slightly. His lips looked as if they had moved slowly, letting out a sigh that couldn’t be heard.

“Reina. We’re not in the Imperial Palace anymore.”

“Y-Yes, and?”

Her light purple eyes blinked in a daze at the sudden remark. Ethan stared into the eyes that looked like magic to him, then spoke hesitatingly.

“Well… I mean—”

Reina tilted her head to the side in confusion. It was very uncharacteristic of him to hesitate like this, but he soon forced himself to speak with great difficulty.

“This isn’t the Imperial Palace anymore. You don’t have to call me ‘Deputy Director’.”

“Ah…”

Only then did she understand what he’s getting at.

“It’s just that… There’s no better way to keep private and public matters between us separate, so… That’s why I’ve been calling you ‘Deputy Director’.”

The moment she said ‘private and public matters’, Ethan’s already pale face became exceptionally ashen. Briefly dazed by his reaction, Reina immediately had a eureka moment inwardly.

‘Ah…! Maybe it’s because… of what he said the other day…?’

That sounded plausible. At that time, he had coldly drawn the line between ‘public and private’, and it’s enough to embarrass anyone he’d tell that to.

‘So that’s why you said sorry!’

Reina understood everything now.

Finally, as if she had finished working on a puzzle, she felt such a relief now that she knew the underlying reason behind his behavior. In other words, it’s the scariest when you don’t know the reason, whether good or bad.

Perhaps because she now understood what he meant, but a bright smile automatically graced her features as if to express how relieved she was.

“That’s really all there is to it. So you don’t have to worry.”

Now relaxed, Reina was now the one reassuring him.

But as she said so, her words only made Ethan’s mood sink further.

“Um… I’m really fine with it though. That’s why, please don’t take it to heart, Deputy Director.”

When he lowered his gaze slightly, a melancholy tone leaked through his lips.

“…But I’m not fine with it.”

“Pardon me?”

As she heard his droopy voice, she couldn’t help but ask again. Then, he looked up with a clear gaze and stared straight into her eyes.

“I don’t like it when you call me Deputy Director, Reina.”

“…Eh?”

Then what’s she supposed to call him? No way… Your Excellency?

“When we’re outside, you can call me as you usually do. Or you can just call me Ethan.”

“Cough, cough…! W-What?”

As she ‘usually’ did, he said. Then…

“My… love?”

“Yes.”

“……”

“Reina, I would like it if you call me ‘my love’ again.”

“……”

Uh… Maybe there’s a chance that Ethan’s head was overloading right now due to how smart he was. Or maybe he hit his head somewhere and got amnesia…

‘You’re the one who told me to be mindful of separating public and private matters…’

But now he’s telling her to call him ‘my love’?