Chapter 86
‘Then there’s only one thing I can do in this situation.’
The one disguise that Estelle wouldn’t notice.
Covering both my hair and eyes…!
But I couldn’t explain everything to Claude.
Partly because I didn’t even know how to start, and partly because I wasn’t confident I could explain it without looking weird.
“You have strange tastes.”
Meanwhile, Claude’s misunderstanding was snowballing.
All I could do was silently shed tears inside, powerless to do anything.
“Anyway, you should take off that hood and glasses. Professor Bob might like your eccentric taste… but you’re way too noticeable to everyone else.”
“Ah… yes.”
Oh dear.
Looking around, I realized Claude was right—everyone’s eyes were on me.
Normally, I’d have thought it was just because I was standing next to the famous and handsome Claude.
‘And honestly, I was thinking that just a moment ago too.’
But think about it.
If a famous person arrived and people turned to look, then there’s someone dressed in eccentric fashion?
Even I couldn’t take my eyes off them.
Instead, more people would be busy gawking at the strange person.
‘No wonder… I felt like the stares were double the usual amount.’
It was my fault. All my fault.
I quickly removed the hood and darkened glasses.
“So, what brings you to the exhibition?”
“I was invited by Professor Bob. So I came to greet him.”
Claude pulled a card from his pocket.
It was an unusual gold card, decorated with artistic and elaborate patterns.
‘Huh? That’s…’
I had just seen it a moment ago.
It was the invitation that Cial was holding—the one Professor Bob had personally given.
Seeing Claude’s invitation, I was momentarily flustered.
“That invitation allows one guest, right?”
“That’s right.”
“B-but is it okay for me to come in with you like this? You probably had a companion already…”
If the invitation allowed one companion, Claude would have brought a partner like Cial.
But he came in with me to save me from trouble.
Leaving his partner behind!
‘Kya! How could this happen!’
Someone is suffering because of me!
I wanted to pull my hair out.
No, it’s probably because of the venue—anywhere else and I might have already done it.
“S-should I leave now?”
I looked back and forth between Claude and the door, helpless.
Click.
At that moment.
I suddenly heard a tiny, faint laugh from Claude.
I widened my eyes and looked up at him.
Claude gave a small, fake cough, acting as if he hadn’t laughed, and answered.
“It’s fine.”
“Huh? But…”
“I didn’t have a partner in the first place.”
“…Huh?”
He didn’t have a partner?
So he came alone?
I blinked, completely bewildered.
Then Claude said to me:
“Oh, yes. I would like you to be my partner today.”
Huh?
What…?
Suddenly?
And so, I ended up as Claude’s partner, somewhat clumsily, and we moved forward to view the artworks—though my eyes were secretly searching for Estelle.
“So, what brings you to the exhibition?”
“Well, um…”
Claude seemed to know that I wasn’t particularly interested in the exhibition.
He quietly asked me as we approached the first artwork, which everyone else had already seen.
I briefly explained the situation:
Cial had been invited to the exhibition with Estelle as a companion.
And I, worried about Estelle, had followed her.
Claude nodded, finally understanding everything.
“Aris mentioned that Professor Bob liked a certain freshman. That must be her.”
“You know about it?”
“Yes. Her name was Cial, right? One of the students our family was considering sponsoring. Unfortunately, another family got her first.”
Oh.
I had heard from Estelle that Cial was talented in painting, but the Xenophesia family considered sponsoring her?
She must be extraordinarily gifted.
“She seems polite and good-natured too.”
“Indeed. Such a shame we missed her.”
Claude shrugged.
Though he said it was a shame, it was already in the past—he didn’t seem to hold any lingering regret.
As we moved past the first painting toward the next, I heard a familiar voice.
“Reina? How did you get here? And next to you is….”
I turned around in shock, like a child caught doing something naughty.
It was the sweet, adorable, very lovable voice I had heard this morning.
‘C-caught!’
As expected… it was Estelle calling me.
“Well… the thing is…”
What should I say?
“I was too worried and followed you”? Too much like a stalker.
“I just happened to pass by”? Everyone knew you needed an invitation to get in—there was no way that would work.
While I was wracking my brain for excuses,
“Claude?”
“It’s been a while.”
Estelle’s gaze fell on Claude, who was beside me.
She seemed puzzled by his presence here.
Furrowing her brow, she tilted her head.
“Why is Claude here… oh, right. He’s the Duke’s younger son and the Knight Commander, isn’t he?”
Nodding as if she understood, Estelle muttered to herself.
Immediately, Cial’s face went pale.
“E-Estelle…! You can’t just call him that…!”
He whispered in a small, trembling voice.
But unlike Cial, who shivered at the sight of Claude, Estelle stood confidently.
She reassured Cial before glancing between Claude and me.
Then, narrowing her eyes, she asked Claude:
“So… why are you two together?”
Her tone was sharp, almost accusatory.
I and Cial were the ones caught off guard by her words.
Cial even stopped breathing in fear.
Claude, however, seemed completely unfazed.
“Just like you are that gentleman’s partner…”
He looked down at Estelle and said.
“You’re my partner, Reina.”
He gently wrapped his arms around my shoulders, pulling me close.
Estelle’s gaze slowly landed on Claude’s hand resting on my shoulder.
And then…
Click.
“…Partner?”
Huh?
I thought I heard teeth grinding somewhere before Estelle even spoke…?
I looked around.
‘There’s no one else who could be grinding their teeth.’
Cial had been restless since earlier, but Claude and Estelle had no reason to be angry… what?
Why were they glaring at each other?
And just a moment ago, they were having a normal conversation!
I was bewildered.
Claude and Estelle were glaring at each other as if trying to kill.
I even felt sparks flying invisibly between them.
‘This is exactly like a shrimp caught in a whale fight.’
I shivered, thinking I needed to break this tense atmosphere quickly.
Otherwise, both Cial and I would be crushed like the shrimp.
I gently twisted my body to slip out of Claude’s embrace.
And I squeezed between the two, whose atmosphere had turned hostile.
“Alright, alright. I don’t know why this is happening all of a sudden, but calm down. Estelle, calm down too.”
I turned to calm Estelle after holding back Claude.
Just a moment ago, she had been glaring at Claude; now, her shoulders slumped, and she looked sulky.
“…If I had known Reina was coming, I would have come with her.”
Estelle muttered in a disappointed voice.
It was a voice full of hurt and longing.
Now I understood why Estelle had glared at Claude.
‘She wanted to come with me!’
But she hadn’t received an invitation herself.
She was just going as a companion with a friend, and suddenly I appeared with someone else.
How disappointed she must have felt!
