Chapter 52
And then, an awkward silence followed.
I glanced at Hale for a moment, then nudged Zeios with my elbow and whispered,
“Wanna go out for a cup of tea?”
“Sure.”
Zeios answered as if he’d been waiting for me to say that.
Right. So you felt just as awkward as I did in that weird atmosphere, huh?
“Dad, you look busy, so we won’t take up more of your time. We’ll get going.”
Grabbing Zeios by the wrist, I stood up and started toward the door.
Just then, I felt a faint but intense pressure coming from behind me—like a burst of heat.
“…Senika!”
Hale hesitated before calling my name. I stopped and turned back.
He didn’t even bother hiding it anymore—his face was openly full of displeasure.
I deliberately put on the most clueless-daughter expression I could manage.
“Yes?”
“You’re still recovering. Don’t stay out too late.”
“I’m not a kid anymore.”
“You just woke up a little while ago.”
“Don’t worry too much, Father. Zeios will be with me.”
I smiled brightly at him, then tugged Zeios’s wrist and left the office.
As soon as the door closed behind us, I let go of his wrist. Maybe I’d held on too tightly. And besides, it wouldn’t look good if anyone saw us like that.
I walked on, thinking about where to have that tea.
Should we just go to my room? I’m too lazy to go somewhere else.
But… having Zeios in my room might not look good. He’s a grown man, after all. The elders would definitely raise their eyebrows.
So, the garden it was.
As we walked there, neither of us said a word. The silence stretched long enough to feel awkward again.
Glancing sideways at him, I spoke first.
“Don’t you think my dad’s kind of cute?”
“…Is he?”
“You can tell he’s jealous of you. Isn’t it adorable? You didn’t notice I was teasing him using you?”
“I noticed.”
Of course he did. Zeios always caught on faster than I did. So he must’ve just gone along with my little act.
Normally, Hale would’ve seen through my teasing instantly. But jealousy had clearly clouded his judgment this time.
“Pfft.”
Thinking about it again, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Senika.”
“Mm?”
Suddenly, Zeios stepped closer. Instinctively, I took a step back.
Not because I was scared—just startled. He was so much taller and broader that when he moved close, it triggered a prey’s reflexive reaction to a predator.
But he didn’t stop moving forward.
Soon, my back met something hard and cold—a wall. I had nowhere else to go.
Well, at least he wasn’t pinning me between his arms or anything. So, this wasn’t that kind of romantic cliché moment… right?
“W-what are you doing?”
“…”
Or maybe it was that kind of scene? Why were our faces getting closer and closer?
This definitely felt like something straight out of a romance novel.
I swallowed nervously. Having such a handsome face this close was… overwhelming. My heart was racing far faster than usual.
Sure, my dad was handsome. Joshua, too. I was surrounded by good-looking people all the time. But—
You don’t have any immunity built up to him yet, do you?
Even people I saw daily looked newly handsome every time—so seeing someone with a different kind of good looks up close was… almost too much.
Wow… I didn’t realize I was this weak to good-looking faces.
When we were kids, I hadn’t noticed. But now that Zeios’s looks were basically complete, he looked… kind of, well—sexy.
The slightly upturned eyes, the long lashes that curved beautifully downward, and beneath them, those vivid crimson irises.
People always said the eyes defined one’s impression—and I finally understood why.
“Do I make you comfortable?”
His smooth voice broke my trance as I’d been quietly examining every inch of his flawless face.
I pursed my lips, rolled my eyes for a second, and then met his gaze again.
“Uh… I wouldn’t say comfortable, exactly, but if that’s how it seems to you, that’s great.”
At my answer, Zeios blinked slowly and let out a faint, incredulous laugh.
“I can’t tell with you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Whether you really don’t notice things—or just pretend not to.”
You ever consider it’s both?
Still, his tone wasn’t accusing—it sounded more amused than anything.
So I chuckled softly and teased back,
“So what? You got a problem with that?”
“Yes.”
“…”
I thought he’d deny it—but his blunt reply shut me right up.
Well, what could I say? If he found it frustrating, that was his problem. It’s not like I tried to be oblivious.
Besides, no one had ever called me clueless before. Maybe it was just him who found me frustrating.
I was about to protest when he spoke again—faster than I could.
“You really should be careful around me.”
With a soft voice, he tucked a stray lock of my hair gently behind my ear.
Instantly, the atmosphere shifted.
That subtle, graceful touch sent a flush shooting up my neck.
Without thinking, I shoved him away and clutched my ear where his fingers had brushed.
Why does this feel so different?
When I grabbed his wrist earlier, it was nothing. But now—just one gentle touch, and I was burning up.
Zeios stepped back easily, meeting my glare with a casual shrug.
“Ugh…”
There hadn’t been anything overtly suggestive about his gesture—so why were my ears so hot?!
“You… what did you just do?”
“Fixed your hair.”
“And? You didn’t do anything else?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
“I don’t lie to you.”
That tone—so utterly sincere—only made my face hotter.
Because that meant he hadn’t been joking.
At this point, one thing became crystal clear: Zeios was dangerous.
Now I finally understood why Father had been so wary of him.
I may not have any dating experience, but…
I wasn’t dense enough to miss this.
He said I was oblivious—but I wasn’t. I’d figured it out.
He liked me.
Sure, maybe it took me a while to realize it—but it’s better than being totally clueless until he confessed, right?
“You—if you touch me again, you’re dead!”
“That’s a bit harsh.”
“Harsh? You should be grateful I’m not kicking you out of the mansion!”
Even though I was the one embarrassed, I shouted to cover it up.
My whole body felt overheated, so I fanned my face with my hands and stomped ahead.
His light footsteps followed closely behind.
I definitely can’t take him to my room. Being alone with him is way too dangerous!
I wanted to take back the whole tea idea, but since he didn’t seem like the type to back down, I just kept walking until we reached the garden.
There, as always, Joshua and the guards had already set up a small tea table under the white gazebo.
Guess their sense of timing had improved. Wait—hold on.
If they set this up because they overheard me talking about tea… then they must’ve seen what Zeios did to me earlier too?!
Embarrassment hit me first—followed by confusion. Why hadn’t anyone stepped in to save me?!
“This is my first time here,” Zeios’s low voice broke my thoughts.
“Oh, really?”
“I don’t usually have permission to wander around.”
True. It was my family’s estate—it would be rude for a guest to roam freely.
I quickly pushed away the thoughts from earlier and led the way to the gazebo.
I hadn’t been eating much lately, but the sight of the beautifully arranged tea and pastries made my mouth water. They’d really gone all out.
“Sit.”
I gestured to the seat across from me. Zeios neatly removed his shoes and sat down.
I hadn’t realized before, but the gazebo was kind of small—it felt even smaller with him sitting there.
“Try it. The head chef brewed it himself—it’s really good.”
I poured him a cup and handed it over. Without hesitation, Zeios drank.
Most people would hesitate a bit—what if I’d poisoned it or something? Not that I ever would, but still.
“How is it?”
“It’s fine.”
“That’s it?”
“Drinkable.”
Drinkable? That tea wasn’t just drinkable—it was amazing!
When I kept looking at him expectantly, he just gave me a weary glance, like what kind of answer do you want?
Forget it. Why do I even bother?
“By the way,” I said, putting down my cup, “what exactly did you do to me?”
Ever since I’d found out Zeios came here as the Black Dragon Clan’s representative, that question had been stuck in my head.
What had he done to make my illness vanish so completely?
“What do you mean?”
He looked genuinely confused.
“What method did you use? My pain disappeared overnight!”
“Ah.”
He finally seemed to get it.
But instead of answering, he smiled faintly—an unreadable, knowing smile—and stayed silent.
“Come on, tell me already.”
“You’ll be shocked.”
“Oh, please. How shocking could it be?”
I snorted. Sounded like he was just being dramatic.
If someone said that to me, I’d probably get offended—but Zeios didn’t even flinch.
Maybe he was just patient—or maybe he was hiding something.
“Come on, I’m curious. Tell me?”
His crimson gaze lifted to meet mine.
The look in his eyes was so deep and intent that I stiffened slightly—but I didn’t look away.
Ahem. N-no reason to avoid eye contact, right?
“I kissed you.”
…Yeah, I take that back.
I definitely had a reason to avoid it now.
