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Looking at them in the dark, the light of his red eyes were even clearer. His silver hair shone like the shattered sunlight.
He approached her, bent down, made eye contact with her, and kissed the back of her hand.
“It is an honor to be called by you, Master.”
Behind him was Quilt, who seemed to have been summoned along with him.
“Since when did you know about it?”
“…”
Reinhardt paused for a moment at the sudden interrogation.
Narrowing his eyes, he glanced at the unoccupied table which had another dish on it, and then clicked his tongue.
“Did they already come all the way here?”
“The Crown Prince looked for me and asked for my help.”
“Asking to borrow Master’s hand about the insect’s murder case?”
As Reinhardt tilted his chin at an angle, his hair fell down. Reinhardt’s gaze fell upon Ceylon for a moment, then he shifted to Valletta.
‘Murder case?’
There should be something else besides that. Valletta’s eyes twitched and she opened her mouth again.
“You don’t know about the Lost incident that is happening as well?”
Reinhardt’s eyes narrowed and then the corners of his mouth curled up. Seeing that he spared no words, it seemed like he didn’t know about it at all.
In the flowing silence, Reinhardt licked his lips slowly.
“Who knows.”
“You… If you didn’t do it, say it clearly. Don’t let the people around you misunderstand you.”
Reinhardt’s eyes slightly widened at her criticizing voice. His pupils that had dilated slowly decreased. He let out a low laugh, leaned forward, and smiled with his eyes curving.
“It sounds like Master believes in me completely.”
“You didn’t do it.”
The expression on Reinhardt’s face disappeared for a moment at Valletta’s voice, who replied as if it was an obvious fact.
As if embarrassed, he patted his lips with his finger.
“Why do you think so?”
“There’s no way you would leave a survivor.”
At Valletta’s words, Reinhardt smiled with an excited expression. Looking at his twinkling eyes, he looked like he was expecting a compliment.
“You don’t kill for no reason.”
“…”
Reinhardt straightened his bent back as if he was speechless for a moment. His eyes slowly turned from left to right, and then he ran his hand over his flowing bangs. He opened and closed his mouth repeatedly, and eventually closed it again.
‘What’s up with him?’
He had something he wanted to say but she could obviously see that he couldn’t. It felt weird seeing him have such difficulty.
“Have you eaten?”
“I haven’t.”
Reinhardt smiled brightly in response to Carlon Delphine’s question.
The sweet voice that seemed to drip with honey made her ears ache.
‘Is he avoiding answering?’
Valletta raised her head and looked at him as if it was ridiculous. Reinhardt was somehow not looking her way.
“We haven’t either. If it’s okay, how about we have one together?”
“… Are you going to have a meal with me?”
“If you don’t mind.”
“Do you need the alchemy stone that you didn’t get last time?”
Reinhardt, who furrowed his brows, said as he drew a horizontal line in the air. The space widened as he moved his finger.
Carlon Delphine let out a low sigh and waved his hand as he sat down at the table.
“I don’t need it. The seat is empty, so I just want it to be filled.”
“…”
Reinhardt’s gaze slowly turned to Valletta. He still had a dazzling beautiful smile.
However, he also seemed a little perplexed, like a little child who didn’t know what to answer.
“Valletta is also the same, but why can’t you accept a favor as a favor?”
“You have no reason to do me a favor, do you? Did this great aristocat not learn that there’s an ulterior motive for favors that were done for no reason?”
“Is that how you have been taught?”
Pause, the expression on Reinhardt’s face disappeared. He clenched his fist once, then opened it, and his index and thumb met.
Tak.
Reinhardt snapped his fingers lightly.
Ceylon and Quilt’s bodies flinched, knowing that it was a hand gesture when using magic.
Carlon Delphine narrowed his eyes as if gauging him. Fortunately, the magic didn’t happen.
“Sit down, let’s talk.”
“…”
Reinhardt sluggishly nodded.
Reinhardt, seated on one side of the round table, crossed his legs and leaned against the back of the chair.
“Did you somehow find the scene (of the crime)?”
“Master, is the questioning still going on?”
Reinhardt smiled awkwardly, put his elbow on the table and propped up his chin, then turned his head to the side.
The chilly atmosphere instantly relaxed like a spring day.
“If you’re curious about the answer, I will ask first this time. Why do you think I won’t kill someone if there was no reason?”
“You’ve never been like that before.”
Reinhardt ginned as if he was dealing with a child and covered half of her face with his palm.
“Aah… That is Master’s own illusion. Since I can do anything.”
“Remember when my father locked me up and starved me for a week? I heard you were also locked up and beaten until I was released.”
Valletta tilted her head, moistened her throat and raised her head.
Carlon Delphine, who was listening, as well as Ceylon and Quilt’s expressions darkened.
Reinhardt’s facial muscles were, most of all, strangely distorted.
“… Of course.”
“You killed those servants who tattled about what we did, right?”
The end of Reinhardt’s eyes slanted and grinned as if it was something commendable. His red eyes gleamed with cruelty.
“Obviously. I wouldn’t dare to spare anyone who touched you with malice.”
“Aside from them and Count Delight, have you killed anyone else?”
“That does not prove that I will not kill without any reason, my naive Master.”
Just like the soft beat of the song, his voice was carefree and easy going. Valletta let out a low sigh.
How are they even having this kind of conversation?
‘I thought I just wanted to get away from him.’
During the time she was properly separated from him, she learned something.
Just how close they were with each other.
At the same time, she understood the reason why Reinhardt let her go.
Their roots were already intertwined long ago. To the extent that they influence each other.
“Are you scared?”
“… Yes?”
Reinhardt asked stupidly, as if he had heard something absurd this time. It seemed like he was hit on the back of his head seeing that he couldn’t even hide his expression.
Valletta stood up from her seat and slowly approached Reinhardt. A dry look touched her.
Reinhardt, not moving his body, absentmindedly watched her approach. Valletta reached out and grabbed Reinhardt’s hand.
With their hands clasped together, she leaned over and made eye contact with the man sitting there. Her cold hands and Reinhardt’s hot hands intertwined.
“I realized this recently, you have started to care about my gaze, haven’t you?”
The low voice sunk into his ears.
“It occurred to me…”
She tilted her head at an angle and pushed her face forward up to Reinhardt’s nose.
Valletta’s lips slowly opened right in front of Reinhardt.
“You don’t want to be hated by me.”
“… That’s enough, Master.”
Reinhardt’s voice that stopped her was cold. At his indifferent red eyes where no emotions could be felt, there was coldness.
(PR/N: I am ded.)