Chapter 14
And with a sly smile, he predicted she would definitely crumble.
“…Sol, nothing lasts forever in this world.”
* * *
“Petty.”
Solitaria’s face was flushed as she glared at Heinrich, breathing heavily. Heinrich didn’t seem to care at all. He sat comfortably by the sunny window, sipping his tea.
No wonder… after her thrilling first victory, Heinrich had started a very childish revenge.
It was so trivial it was even more infuriating.
For example, he would purposely bring carrots to the table and put them in front of her at every meal, even though he knew perfectly well how much she hated them!
And lately, he seemed to notice how she flinched when he held her hand, so he would take her hand very slowly, almost as if marking her. On top of that, he stuck right by her side and never left, just like now.
Not even for a single moment, from the time she opened her eyes to when she closed them!
“This is my room, get out.”
“Sol, you always said you stuck by my side every day to repay your debt.”
“When did I ever!”
“You always said it with your face. Don’t you remember?”
And if she gave him even the slightest hint, he would droop his eyes and look at her so pitifully. His eyes seemed to say, “I’m just repaying a debt, won’t you let me?”
He would even tear up as a bonus.
She fell for it every time, but today she was determined to end his so-called “debt repayment,” which was really just a petty revenge…!
But the ending was always the same.
“I’m leaving. I’m really going to live on my own.”
“Sol, I can hear you.”
“I’m mumbling, so don’t listen!”
When Solitaria shouted at Heinrich’s comment, he just shrugged and put on a sorrowful expression.
“You used to say it was fine when you were the one sticking close. You’ve changed, Sol.”
“How is this the same as before?”
Watching her express her feelings and rebel more than before, Heinrich struggled to hold back his laughter.
Of course, the one who had changed didn’t realize it at all, but it was better if she stayed that way.
“Don’t look so scared. From now on, I’ll stay away for about three hours every day like you want. I’m looking for a teacher for all those things you said you wanted to learn.”
It was something Solitaria had asked Sophia for not long after she woke up.
She thought she needed to learn something so she wouldn’t get taken advantage of when she lived independently later.
Now, that meaning had changed a little… a lot, actually.
“Is it possible to learn all that in just three hours?”
“What? For someone who said she wanted to take every culture class, isn’t three hours too short?”
Heinrich smiled as he replied to Solitaria’s question. For some reason, seeing his expression made her shiver all over.
“…What do you mean, I always wanted to learn.”
“Then should I take the classes with you?”
“No! Absolutely not!”
Solitaria shook her head fiercely.
Three hours… Yeah, three hours a day would be enough. She realized there was nothing to gain from upsetting him, so she smiled.
It was a genuine smile. She was so happy her lips trembled with delight.
“Is being apart from me really that great?”
Heinrich narrowed his eyes at her, who looked like she was about to burst with joy.
“Oh, Master, of course not.”
“Say it with your mouth relaxed.”
“If it’s three hours, with the time to go and come back, that’s four hours…”
Solitaria counted on her fingers, calculating the time Heinrich mentioned.
Even if the class was three hours, with the time to and from, if she walked slowly, she could be apart from him for about four hours. Her heart swelled with hope.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go as she hoped.
“I’ll take you there and bring you back.”
“…Aren’t you busy?”
“What’s there to be busy about? If I really get busy, I’ll just work while you sleep. It’s not the first time.”
“You were in my room even at dawn?”
Her voice was filled with shock.
“What about my privacy!”
“We never had that to begin with, did we?”
“It’s different now than before!”
“Should I add ‘how to win an argument’ to your classes?”
“You’re teasing me, aren’t you?”
Heinrich smiled, and Solitaria could only open and close her mouth.
In the end, the angry rabbit kicked the wolf out of the room. Of course, in ten minutes, she’d probably open that tightly closed door and call him in. But for now, Solitaria was still fuming.
She glared at Heinrich with a fierce look until the door closed, but he just shrugged as if it was nothing.
Maybe it annoyed her so much that Solitaria turned into a rabbit and dove under the blanket. She kicked at the blanket with her hind legs.
It looked like she was trying to hide under the covers, but through the slowly closing door, Heinrich saw everything.
“Heh.”
He sometimes thought he should just give up and let Solitaria win, but then he’d remember that day and get annoyed all over again.
She called her companion’s parents by name, but still called her companion “Master.” Wasn’t that too much?
Raon, waiting outside, frowned as if he’d seen something he shouldn’t have.
“Disgusting.”
As soon as Solitaria disappeared from view, only coldness remained on Heinrich’s face. Raon shivered and grumbled.
Heinrich’s golden eyes, once sparkling, now held no color. They looked like eyes that existed only to destroy everything in the world.
“The teachers?”
“I’ve narrowed down the candidates and sent them to the parlor.”
“Stay here and watch Sol. I won’t be long.”
Heinrich gave Raon his orders and disappeared.
“Did Master leave?”
Not long after Heinrich left, Solitaria poked her head out. She’d been about to call him back, thinking maybe she’d gone too far, but he was already gone.
Of course, if he wasn’t there, Raon was always by her side. So she never really got to be alone, but it was still much better than being alone with Heinrich.
Raon kindly told the searching Solitaria that Heinrich would be back soon.
“What did he go for?”
“He went to pick your teacher.”
“With all those strict and endless requirements, who would even show up?”
Able to teach every culture class, must be a herbivore beastkin like Solitaria, must not be related to Tigris, must not have family power, must be able to live at Hirupus.
Heinrich’s notice had a long list of requirements.
When she first saw those conditions, Solitaria doubted whether Heinrich really wanted to get her a teacher.
“Well, the reputation of Hirupus is as strong as ever.”
“Don’t be sarcastic.”
“Come on, I’m on your side here.”
“Only I get to complain about Master.”
Solitaria was so firm that Raon raised both hands in surrender.
“Honestly, it seems like you’re enjoying this situation.”
“No way, I told you I want to be independent.”
“…”
“…If possible.”
Solitaria answered in a voice as small as an ant, knowing it was basically impossible.
Trying to escape the awkwardness, she quickly changed the subject.
“Master is way too overprotective. And why does he act like such a sulker?”
“…Don’t you think you two are exactly the same?”
“How could you say that?”
Solitaria glared at Raon as if he’d said something horrible.
How! Where!
As she opened her mouth, Raon was briefly flustered, then let out a deep sigh and muttered.
“Miss, how did you ever hide this personality?”
“…Forget it. Want to go watch Master pick my teacher?”
“Didn’t you want to be away from him even a little longer?”
Raon shrugged and followed after Solitaria, who was already walking away without answering.
