"Yes?"
I was stunned by that ridiculous statement, and he burst into laughter.
“Are you planning to just brush it off?”
Having said that, he slowly brought his face closer to mine.
“T-That's really rude!”
I quickly stepped back and spoke decisively, he immediately stopped laughing.
"Okay, now you look like the Royal Brother-in-law I know. Just keep that attitude. Don't walk around with that expression like before."
“What did you say?”
“I mean don't wear that expression everywhere.”
“The look on my face… what does it matter?”
Mathias smiled cunningly.
“Do you know how crazy walking around with that expression makes men crazy?”
“W-What are you talking about?”
At that moment, I remembered his attitude the last time we met. His sticky breath as he buried his face in my hair to smell it made me shiver.
"Let's see. Are you angry at each other?"
What he said sounds a bit like my situation. Although calling it anger is a bit reluctant. I deliberately spoke in a strong voice.
“What are you talking about?”
"There's that wound on your neck. Where did it come from?"
He pointed to the wound on my neck and asked. I quickly hugged my neck with both hands. How should I make up this story?
"I-I fell. The injury was from the fall."
Mathias laughed inexplicably. I don't understand why he laughed. A feeling of fear suddenly came. He held his stomach and chuckled for a moment then said:
“It's not like that……”
His eyes sharpened. I feel extremely insecure. Even though I knew this was a place where I couldn't retreat any further, I still tried to dodge back.
His face came closer to mine. I quickly looked around. At that moment, I caught Vertuccio's eyes, but he still kept an expressionless expression looking into space, as if this was normal. Luckily there was no one else around.
“I-I don't understand what you're saying.”
I try to pronounce clearly so my voice doesn't shake. Mathias pretended to know everything.
"That guy is a man after all. You two must be having a lot of fun, right?"
I squinted my eyes because I didn't understand what he was saying. Just what the hell is this person talking about?
Then he extended his white, slender index finger. His hands slid across my chest, collarbone, and neck, just a tiny distance away from my skin. The hairs on my body all stood up.
"Here, then here. Why are you revealing such embarrassing marks?"
I quickly looked down at where he was pointing. Then I was startled in horror. Red spots were everywhere, as if bitten by insects.
I didn't know what it was, but I didn't want this man to see, so I quickly pulled up my collar.
"Now that I've covered it, it won't be of any use anymore."
Mathias chuckled. I suddenly remembered that I ran out without even adjusting my clothes. The shame of letting the second prince see that appearance made my face heat up. I bit my lip tightly, tears almost falling again.
“Hmm, looks like that idiot is still doing a good job as a man, huh?”
Hearing the words "a man's role", I remembered what had just happened with Cesar, making my cheeks heat up even more. I shivered as that warm and hot feeling still enveloped my body.
“What are you saying?”
“If you already know, why pretend?”
Ah I slowly grabbed a lock of my hair. For some reason I couldn't move, it was like I was tied down. He, just like last time, slowly buried his nose in my hair to smell it. As if it was my natural action.
"I heard that people who are less intelligent will develop other things better, is that true? Is that true?"
“His Royal Highness, what exactly are you talking about……”
"Seeing that you're still hanging around that crazy guy, he must be very good at it, right? Does he act like an animal every night?"
The moment he pointed between my legs, I suddenly realized what he was referring to. The extreme shame made me unable to think.
“Chat,” a voice rang out. I slapped Mathias' cheek.
Immediately, Vertuccio moved menacingly. I felt pressured like he was going to do something to me right away.
“Ah, it's okay.”
However, Mathias raised his hand to stop Vertuccio. He rubbed the cheek that had just been hit.
"The royal brother-in-law's actions are really strong."
I don't want to be in the same place with this scoundrel for another moment. My gasps grew louder. I quickly stood up to leave.
But Mathias grabbed my wrist. I looked at him, wanting to let go.
He spoke softly:
"That's why I asked. Why are you crying?"
“……”
Truly a person who cannot talk. I took a deep breath, then forcefully pushed his hand away.
“I have no obligation to tell you.”
After that, I turned around and quickly left there. I silently blamed my limping gait that day. I wanted to turn around to see if he was chasing me, but if I turned around and saw Mathias, I would be even more scared, so I could only look straight ahead and walk.
After walking for a while, I turned around and saw no one. Luckily no one was chasing me.
Just for a moment as he bandaged my wound, I thought he wasn't a bad person. But maybe I was too naive.
“That trash……”
Truly someone I don't want to mess with. How could he be so vulgar and disrespectful? Too angry, I stomped my feet on the ground while uttering harsh curses.
At that moment, I saw a figure appearing in my sight.
“……”
If I'm not mistaken, that is.
“……Cesar?”
It's Cesar.
Why did he come to find me? But the strange thing is that when he saw me, he was startled and hid behind the fence.
However, the problem is that the fence is a thin mesh, does not grow flowers or vines, so it cannot completely cover Cesar's large body.
When I was about to get closer, there was a "crack" sound. The wooden fence that Cesar was holding was crushed into powder.
“Ugh……”
Seeing him confused, not knowing what to do, I felt a sharp pain in my chest.
He kept staring at me but tried to hide, and at the same time kept poking his head out to peek at me. Even though where I was standing was where I could see all that action.
Normally, he would run right to me, clinging to me like a puppy. But now I'm so restless and confused. I was wondering why, when I suddenly remembered the last words I said.
'Don't follow me!'
Ah, it seems like that was the first time I got angry at him. Furthermore, I told him clearly not to follow me, but he still followed. He's scared. That's why he's so restless.
Somehow, seeing that scene, part of the knot in my heart disappeared. Of course, I'm still not angry.
I just couldn't leave Cesar, who was so confused, and go by.
“Cesar.”
When I softly called his name, he was startled and stood stiffly. Then he slowly poked his head over the fence to look at me.
I could read many emotions on his face. Insecurity, worry, restlessness, sadness and fear…….
This idiot. The one who should be crying is me. Why are you showing that expression? You, you did that to me, and yet…….
But I've always been like that. Which means I have a soft spot for Cesar. So, I unconsciously reached out towards him. It was useless, because just a moment ago I thought I couldn't, I didn't want to see Cesar at all.
“Cesar, come here.”
My words were like a trigger shot, he rushed out. No, not just rushing out, but coming in too strongly. He threw his whole body into my arms.
“Ce-Cesar……”
Finally, I fell backwards, hitting my ass on the ground, and Cesar buried his head in my lap, his body trembling.
I took a breath, intending to use a strong voice to scold and admonish. But, at that moment, something hot dripped down my skirt.
Those are tears. Cesar was shaking and sobbing.
“Cesar……?”
Witnessing that scene, I felt my heart ache.
“Ren, Ren is angry……”
He sobbed, his shoulders shaking. Sobbing, clear tears falling.
That scene, really……. How lovely.