Chapter 72: Change
Fortunately, Sigren didn’t seem to have any intention of staying in the ballroom. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
As soon as we stepped out of the dark, empty hallway, I asked at once, “Did you eat the wrong food?”
“What?”
“That behavior.”
Sigren made a puzzled face. “What do you mean by my behavior?”
“….”
How should I put this? ‘Did you intend to bewitch me?’ No, that was too direct. Let’s use an analogy. Yes, a comparative method.
“It’s like a male peacock spreading its feathers to woo its mates.”
“….”
Sigren’s handsome face scrunched up.
“What’s with that example?”
“Was the metaphor a bit too much?”
“Of course.”
Sigren began walking ahead. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Ah, wait.”
He hadn’t answered yet! I hurriedly grabbed Sigren’s arm and pushed him against the wall so he couldn’t escape.
Sigren leaned back against the wall. Although I felt there was something odd about him leaning there, I decided not to dwell on it.
“Why are you avoiding the question?”
Sigren squinted at me. “It’s surprising to hear such a question now.”
“Why?”
He lightly flicked my forehead and then grinned mischievously. “I did it on purpose because other people were watching you, Fiona. Do you understand my behavior now?”
I foolishly touched my forehead. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Uh… right. I was a bit surprised because it was unexpected.”
“I see that you still haven’t grasped the first part of my behavior.”
It was a very blunt answer. Honestly, the intent was hard to grasp, but Sigren didn’t seem willing to explain it further. He simply rubbed the area around his tie in frustration.
Sigren didn’t like tight ties. When he was unwell or in a bad mood, his dislike was even stronger. I never asked why, but I knew it had to be more than just feeling stuffy.
Eventually, I reached out to loosen Sigren’s tie.
Sigren looked at me as if deep in thought.
“Fiona,”
“Hmm?”
“Why are you still here?”
This guy must be in a foul mood. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“You asked me to help you last time.”
“I know. But are you really going to grant all my requests?”
“If I can.”
“If you can…”
Sigren fiddled with my hair, his expression unusual.
“If it hadn’t been for my request, would you have left?”
“I suppose so.”
My feelings for Sigren were complicated. At first, it was simply a feeling of guilt, but after spending a few years growing up together, those feelings had changed. They were now incomparable to my feelings for anyone else. To be honest, he was the most special.
“Why are you asking such a thing all of a sudden?”
Sigren sighed. “Because there is no favor without cost.”
Wait, has his trust in people diminished again?
I pouted my lips. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“That’s so heartless. We’ve known each other for years.”
I was trying to loosen his tie but decided it would be better to untie it completely. It seemed that Sigren had no intention of going back to the ball anyway.
“Then, let me ask you one more question.”
“What?”
“Why would you do me a favor?”
By that time, I had almost finished untying Sigren’s tie. I answered while focusing on the last knot, “Because you’re precious.”
“….”
With the tie finally undone, I tried to pull my hand away, but he grabbed it. His blue-grey eyes met mine, and there was a trace of resentment in them. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“What’s the matter?”
“You…, really.”
After muttering that, Sigren slowly lowered his head. Even in the dim hallway, his features were clearly visible: dense eyelashes, cold eyes, and a sharp nose. I realized that his face was now very close to mine, and I could feel his lukewarm breath.
“Sigren.”
I called his name softly.
Without stopping, Sigren lowered his head and rested his forehead on my shoulder. At the same time, I exhaled in relief for an unknown reason. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“….”
I could hear his unsatisfied muttering in my ear.
“You… you’re really good at confusing people.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Forget it. You keep doing it, so I’ll do whatever I want.”
“….?”
“May I ask why you say this, Sigren?”
Sigren raised his head, biting his lip, and took his tie from my hand.
“….”
He stared at the tie for a moment before asking, “Fiona, are you free the day after tomorrow?”
It was a sudden change of topic. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Hmm? Yes.”
“Then let’s meet.”
“Okay… but why all of a sudden?”
Sigren responded lightly, as if the previous discontent had never existed. “There is a big night market on the street. Let’s take a look.”
“Only with me?”
“As you’ve said, I don’t have any friends. Who else would I go with if not you?”
“….”
I wanted to ask, ‘Are you still not close with Eunice?’ but I felt that mentioning it now might make Sigren angry.
“Okay.”
It wasn’t strange to go sightseeing together. There was no reason to refuse, so I graciously accepted. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
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