Chapter 85
Suddenly, a loud voice echoed in my ear, and I jumped.
Clutching my thumping heart, I turned my head.
“E-Estelle?”
“Reina! What are you thinking about that you can’t hear me? I called you so many times!”
When I turned, I saw Estelle looking up at me with her hands on her hips.
Her lips were pouted in frustration, and her eyebrows were raised like the hands of a clock pointing ten past ten.
‘Aah… so cute. How can someone’s eyebrows really point like ten past ten? And those lips pouting like that? She’s human like me?’
Ah, my nostrils fluttered on their own.
Too cute.
But I couldn’t gush about her cuteness here.
If I did, Estelle wouldn’t just pretend to be sulky—she would actually get upset.
I forced the rising desire in my heart, like smoke creeping upward, back down.
Still, I couldn’t hide my fluttering nostrils or my cheeks that wanted to lift in a smile.
So, as an excuse to apologize, I held Estelle in my arms.
“Sorry, sorry. I was lost in thought. I didn’t hear you calling me, Estelle. I’m sorry.”
“Hmph. I’ll forgive you just this once.”
Of course. The right move was to just hold her first.
I could hide my own face and also soothe Estelle’s feelings.
After barely composing myself, I let Estelle go from my arms.
“But why did you call me? Is something wrong?”
“Well… um…”
Huh? What could it be?
Why is our usually confident Estelle twisting her body and hesitating to speak?
‘Of course, that shy look is cute too.’
Still, I was so curious about what could make her hesitate like that.
But I’m a responsible adult.
I know exactly what a hesitant child needs.
It’s not to rush her—it’s time.
If I wait calmly, she’ll gather her thoughts and tell me.
‘It’s not like I want to stare at that cute face forever.’
After all, I am a teacher at the village school. I know these things.
After what felt like a long wait, Estelle finally opened her cherry-like lips.
I waited, half curious, half excited, for what she would say.
“There’s a Professor Bob at the Academy who teaches painting classes.”
“Uh-huh. And?”
“That professor is holding an exhibition soon.”
“Oh, really?”
Bob the painter.
Even someone like me, who knows nothing about art, has heard his name.
He’s so talented that there’s a rumor he learned painting before words and took up a brush before a pencil.
But why is she suddenly talking about his exhibition?
I tilted my head in curiosity, waiting for Estelle to continue.
“Yes. But I’m the only student at the Academy who received an invitation. One invitation allows for a guest. So…”
Estelle paused for a moment.
“Would it be alright if I went to the exhibition with you, Ciel?”
“Estelle!”
“Ciel.”
In a quiet alley, I was hiding behind a wall, watching a child.
That child was none other than Estelle.
Yes. I was currently following her.
“Would it be alright if I went to the exhibition with you, Ciel?”
When Estelle asked me, I hesitated.
‘Is it safe for two children to go alone? And Bob is a famous painter. Surely there will be many nobles there. What if they discover Estelle’s identity? And what if he’s from the noble faction? What should I do?’
My worries kept piling up, and I couldn’t answer immediately.
But then Estelle acted, and I immediately melted.
“Please…”
So easily.
Looking at me with those huge, pleading, sparkling green eyes!
With those adorable eyes staring at me!
And her tiny fists resting under her chin while she asked!
“Of course! Go ahead!”
‘Yes. No matter how I think about it, Estelle’s sparkling attack is too strong.’
I had been ready to refuse due to all the possible dangers.
But without realizing it, I blurted out my permission.
Having already given permission, there was no way I could suddenly say no.
Finally, after countless worries running through my head, I started to feel victorious in spirit.
‘Yes! Anyway, I promised to reduce Estelle’s stress! It’s better if she goes with a friend to a place she wants to go!’
But my mental victory was short-lived. I ended up crossing a line with all my worries about Estelle.
“Did you bring the invitation?”
“Of course. It’s the most important thing today.”
Following Estelle while wearing a hood and darkened glasses.
‘By the way, this must be Ciel.’
As Estelle said, she really looked gentle.
Even just showing the invitation made her eyes sparkle.
If I were Professor Bob, I’d have been charmed and handed her the invitation too.
“Right. But what’s with the flower?”
“Oh, this? I’m giving it to the professor. I can’t give anything as grand as other invited guests, but I wanted to express my feelings in some way.”
…Even her heart is beautiful!
What a warm-hearted child.
‘Estelle, you really made a good friend!’
Ugh. I was about to cry over how ridiculous I looked…
I pulled my hood over my head and dabbed at my eyes.
“Alright, let’s go in now.”
Ah, while wiping my tears, the children had already started moving!
I hurriedly snapped back to reality and followed them.
Just as I was about to enter the building with them…
“Wait.”
“Ah!”
I bumped into something and fell backward, landing on my butt.
“Your outfit looks suspicious. Who are you? Show me your invitation.”
“W-well…”
A very large bodyguard was in front of me.
I had almost entered the exhibition without an invitation while following the children.
‘Oh no… such a mistake.’
I rubbed my sore backside and got up.
“What’s going on? Why are you acting suspicious?”
“Huh?”
“Hey! Come here and drag this person out!”
Because of my hood and black-painted glasses, standing up alone made me look suspicious.
I waved my hands to explain, but the more I moved, the more alert he became.
I was about to be dragged out by the guards.
“I’m with them. Is there a problem?”
A familiar voice, gentle and steady, from above my head.
“Y-you…!”
I looked up to see black hair and blue eyes.
“If there’s no problem, I’d like to go in. Step aside.”
It was Claude.
“What on earth is that outfit?”
As soon as we entered the exhibition, Claude asked me, looking at my hood and darkened glasses.
“Well… um…”
I avoided his gaze and trailed off.
Even though I was trying to hide my identity…
If someone just wraps a hood around their head and paints the lenses of any glasses black because they have no time to buy sunglasses…
‘No matter how I look, I look really suspicious…’
Very. Extremely. Dangerously so.
But I’m Reina.
And I could confidently tell myself the reason.
It couldn’t be helped.
‘To me, this is the perfect disguise…!’
Amazingly, my adorable, cute, tiny Estelle has a special ability.
It’s the ability to find ‘Reina’ anytime, anywhere, regardless of place or time!
Does Estelle have some kind of radar?
She truly has the talent to find me anywhere.
Even in crowded squares or markets.
Even in bright daylight, dark night, or pitch-black dawn.
One day, my curiosity got the better of me, and I asked Estelle.
“How do you always find me so easily?”
And she said…
She just sees me.
The moment she sees my brown hair and my green eyes, she knows it’s me.
No matter the distance or darkness.
