Chapter 72: Change

Fortunately, Sigren didn’t seem to have any intentions of staying in the ballroom.

As soon as we came out of the dark, empty hallway, I asked at once, “Did you eat the wrong food?”

“What?”

“That behavior.”

Sigren made a funny face. “What is my behavior?”

“….”

How should I put this? ‘Did you intend to bewitch me?’. No, that was too obvious. Let’s use an analogy. Yep, the comparative method.

“It’s like a male peacock spreading its feathers to woo their mates.”

“….”

Sigren’s handsome face wrinkled. 

“What’s with that example?”

“Is the metaphor a little too much?”

“Of course.”

Sigren started walking ahead. 

“Ah, wait.”

He hasn’t answered yet! I hurriedly grabbed Sigren’s arm, and then pushed him to the wall, so he couldn’t run away. 

Sigren leaned back against the wall. 

Although I felt there was something strange about him leaning to the wall, I decided to not care about it. 

“Why do you avoid answering?”

Sigren squinted his eyes while he looked at me.

“It’s surprising to hear such a question now.”

“Why?”

He lightly flicked my forehead. Then grinned mischievously. “I did it on purpose because other people were looking at you, Fiona. Do you see my behavior now?”

I foolishly touched my forehead. 

“Uh… right. I was a little surprised because it was unexpected.”

“I see that you still haven’t grasped the first part of my behavior.”

It was a very harsh answer. But, in all honesty, it was difficult to understand the intent. However, Sigren seemed unwilling to explain it kindly. He just rubbed the area around his tie with frustration.

Sigren didn’t like tight ties. Especially, when he was not feeling well, or when he was in a bad mood, the dislike was even stronger. I never asked why. But, I knew the reason must be more than feeling stuffy. 

Eventually, I reached out to loosen Sigren’s tie. 

Sigren looked at me as if he was thinking about something. 

“Fiona,”

“Hmm.”

“Why are you staying here?”

This guy must have eaten crow meat. 

“You asked me to help you last time.”

“I know. But are you really going to grant all my requests?”

“If I can do it.”

“If you can do it….”

Sigren fiddled with my hair with a strange expression on his face. 

“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 as I had spent a few years with him, growing up together, I felt like it changed. Those feelings were incomparable to other characters now. And 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, the trust in humans in him has gone down again. 

I pouted my lips. 

“That’s so heartless. We’ve known each other for years. 

I was trying to loosen his tie, but I decided that it would be better to just untie it. It seemed that Sigren also had no intentions to go 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.”

“….”

Now, it was done.

I tried to put down my hand, but he grabbed it. His blue-grey eyes met mine. There was a sign of resentment in them. 

“What’s the matter?”

“You…, really.”

After muttering like that, Sigren slowly lowered his head. Even in the dark hallway, his facial features were clearly visible. Dense eyelashes, cold eyes, and a sharp nose. Later on, I gradually realized that his face was too close. I felt a lukewarm breath. 

“Sigren.”

I called his name softly. 

Without stopping, Sigren lowered his head and put his forehead on my shoulder. At the same time, I exhaled in relief for an unknown reason.

“….”

I could hear his unsatisfied muttering in my ears.

“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 while biting his lip. And he took his tie from my hand.

“….”

Sigren stared at the tie for a while. “Fiona, are you free on the day after tomorrow?”

It was a sudden change of topic.

“Hmm? Yes.”

“Then let’s meet.”

“Okay.., but why all of a sudden?”

Sigren answered 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 with you?”

“….”

I wanted to ask ‘Are you still not close with Eunice?’, but I felt like Sigren would be mad at me if I were to spit those words out of my mouth now. 

“Okay.”

It was not strange to go sightseeing together. There was no reason to say no. So I graciously accepted.