Chapter 86
Cheshire’s eyes, fixed blankly on Nina, wavered in a disordered ripple.
Though it was Nina who had been caught off guard, it looked as if he were the one flustered.
“I just know.”
“Just… know?”
“Yeah, just.”
“What do you mean just? Do you think I’m stupid?!”
What on earth was this guy?
Nina’s eyes sharply lifted, blazing blue burning furiously.
Cheshire blinked absentmindedly, swallowed dryly, and raised both hands.
“Sorry, don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad!”
“Sure looks like you are…”
Only then did Nina realize all the stares directed at her, and she snapped back to her senses.
Oh no, what did she just do?
The ice, the ice from earlier!
“Ahem. Sorry for yelling.”
She coughed awkwardly and apologized. Cheshire, thankfully, nodded generously.
“It’s fine.”
“But really, how did you know?”
“Well, actually… I once knew a girl who was just like you.”
“Just like me?”
“Yeah, just like you. So I thought maybe….”
His voice trailed off, and Cheshire looked at Nina with a strange expression.
It was as if regret and longing mixed together—a gaze both painful and tender.
It struck so painfully that Nina found herself speechless.
Did he… have a daughter who looked like me? From the way he talks, did she… die before?
A daughter, or a girl like a daughter.
Maybe she also hated kiwis, just like Nina.
She couldn’t know the full story, but with that thought, Cheshire’s past actions made sense.
Was that why he was interested in me?
The idea that he was seeing another child in her felt unsettling. But Cheshire looked so tormented that Nina couldn’t help but feel the urge to comfort him.
And besides, even if it felt like taking advantage of someone’s wound, if this brought her closer to Cheshire, wasn’t that a good thing?
“I see… That’s kind of amazing. I hate kiwis too.”
“Yeah, funny, right?”
“You must’ve cared for her a lot, that girl.”
“No.”
“…Huh?”
The unexpected reply made Nina stare at him in surprise.
Cheshire smiled faintly, his eyes narrowing.
“I couldn’t.”
“Why?”
“Because she killed my son.”
“…”
“But Nina.”
Cheshire leaned closer to the frozen Nina. In his pale lemon-colored eyes swelled a twisted longing.
“That wasn’t her fault.”
“…”
“I just realized it far too late. Even though I was an adult, I was a fool… pathetic, huh?”
Nina shook her head dazedly.
Not only was it something she could never have imagined, but she couldn’t understand why he was telling her this much.
And more than that—why did her heart ache so terribly, as if she herself were that girl?
“It’s o-…kay.”
The words spilled out of her mouth before she could think.
“It’s okay. You’re not a bad person.”
She didn’t even have time to think what a stupid thing I just said.
Cheshire stared at her silently, then suddenly placed a broad hand firmly on top of her head.
The weight of his palm made Nina’s head bow down.
“Uncle?”
“Ah, sorry. You’re just too cute, Nina.”
“…”
What the heck was he doing, making things so serious then suddenly saying that?
Nina, dumbfounded, spoke in a chilling voice.
“Uncle.”
“Hm? What?”
“…Nothing.”
It wasn’t fear that made her hold back—it was pity for him.
Convincing herself of that, Nina began shoveling down waffles and parfaits as if to devour them all.
Cheshire, startled by her suddenly aggressive appetite, blinked.
“Were you that hungry? Want to order more?”
“Yeah.”
“Then what flavor—”
“The most expensive one.”
“The most expensive, huh? Let’s see.”
Fine then. I’ll bleed his wallet dry.
While Cheshire innocently flipped through the menu, Nina stared at him with grim determination.
Good thing I skipped lunch.
Nina couldn’t remember exactly how many parfaits she demolished in her quest to drain Cheshire’s wallet.
By the time they finally left the shop, she was slipping into a sugar crash, drowsiness pressing in after the overconsumption of sweets.
“Mmm, that was good. It tasted even better eating with you, Nini.”
Yet Cheshire, far from looking troubled over his emptied wallet, seemed perfectly satisfied.
He didn’t even look tired, unlike Nina.
Yawning and rubbing her eyes with small hands, Nina glanced up at him.
“Come to think of it, isn’t it about time for your nap, Nina?”
“…I don’t take naps.”
She retorted hotly.
This child’s body was so inconvenient. Not that she had ever truly been an adult before, but still.
“Really? You look sleepy.”
“I’m not. If I take a walk, I’ll be fine.”
“Alright. Then shall we walk a bit?”
The teasing tone made her suspicious, but Nina decided to ignore it.
Compared to the overcrowded festival streets, the area around the hotel was quiet.
As they strolled past rows of luxury shops and restaurants, Cheshire slowed his pace so Nina wouldn’t have to scurry along.
To keep herself awake, Nina kept peppering him with questions.
“So, how long have you known Uncle Ravi?”
“Since he came to Rohas. So… seven years now.”
“If you and Uncle Ravi fought, who would win?”
“We’ve never seriously fought, but… probably Ravi.”
“Really…?”
Nina’s eyes widened at the surprisingly honest answer.
She couldn’t imagine Ravian losing—but she couldn’t imagine Cheshire losing either.
“Why? You think I’d win? That feels good to hear.”
“That’s not exactly what I meant.”
Cheshire scratched his head, glancing down at her.
“Why do I feel like you’re looking down on me?”
“I’m not. You’re really strong too.”
“You think I look strong?”
“Is that even a question…? Yeah. You look like the kind of guy who could take down dozens with just a rusty steel pipe.”
“Well, that’s… oddly specific. Is that a compliment?”
“Yeah, it is.”
And it was true—she’d seen him do it.
Keeping that thought to herself, Nina suddenly remembered something.
The gangsters across the sea, from the Three Kingdoms, were unmatched even compared to Anubis, the largest crime syndicate on the continent.
Not because they were stronger, but because of their brutal savagery—doing inhuman things without hesitation.
And Cheshire had defeated them in war. He had to be incredibly strong.
If he said Ravian could beat even him, then how strong must Ravian be?
And the one who had put Ravian into a comatose state was…
Was my father really that strong?
Only now did Nina realize she had always vaguely known that, without thinking too deeply.
Back then, Father said Ravian had been ambushed by one of his subordinates.
Of course, Nina had known that was a lie. But aside from knowing Leopold was behind it, she hadn’t been able to learn the details.
She had only guessed it might have been poison.
After all, an Emperor would have the means to obtain a toxin that could put a royal into such a state.
She had also suspected Diana was involved, but her last words had instead convinced Nina it was Leopold.
“If not for you, His Majesty wouldn’t have done that, and Ravi wouldn’t have ended up like this…!”
Diana had clearly been suffering because of what had happened to Ravian.
Though Nina didn’t know why.
If it wasn’t poison, then how exactly did Father put Ravian in that state…?
