(EP-141.2) #1
141 – Pincer #1
Mirna seemed to have a plan of her own to build a bridge with the Belhawk Family. It was quite smart to find a breakthrough in a crisis and turn it into an opportunity.
Mirna continued.
“Theo Gospel, I’m sorry I misunderstood you.”
This time, I could actually feel the sincerity in her apology. She also sounded much calmer compared to before.
Seureuk.
“Well then, can you sit here?”
I patted the seat right next to the sofa I was sitting on. Meanwhile, hearing such a sudden request, Mirna’s hair stood upright in surprise.
“Wh, what are you going to do if someone sees?”
“Who would see us? It’s just us here on the second floor-.”
I pointed with my finger to the screens surrounding our seats.
“Everything is blocked from view.”
“But….”
“Then should I go over there?”
I got up from my seat and sat next to Mirna. The fragrance emanating from her was refreshing, like a cool breeze.
It smelled like apple mint.
Was it the scent of shampoo or a special perfume?
Anyway, that wasn’t important right now.
What was important would be the uncertain and apologetic Mirna becoming restless for other reasons.
“Miss Mirna, may I hold your hand?”
“…….”
Mirna didn’t say anything. But after a moment, she timidly nodded her head ever so slightly.
It was a very small nod, but to my sensitive fairy senses, it felt like a grand gesture of permission.
Seuk.
I turned to face the same direction as Mirna, and our hands gently intertwined.
Mirna’s hands were slender, soft, warm, and pleasantly squishy – like a work of art made by meticulously crafting every positive element together.
Pareureu.
I could feel Mirna’s body trembling slightly from our connected hands. It would be nice if we could talk to each other, but I didn’t know if it was because the atmosphere became so silent that this felt more pronounced.
─Yesterday, the Professor-.
─What to do on vacation?
The silence made even the conversations from the cafe’s first floor sound loud and resonant.
The warm weather. The rays of sunshine. A discrete space with a screen on the second floor of a café. Two individuals, a man and a woman holding each other’s hands. And a subtle warmth and fragrance wafting in the air.
Such a cozy situation was yawn-inducing.
Seureureu.
I was starting to feel sleepy since I couldn’t sleep well last night, because of the many things that happened. Pushing aside the drowsiness, I said.
“Sitting like this reminds me of that time.”
“……!”
I could feel that startled Mirna. It seemed that she had recalled the events I was referring to.
In fact, Mirna had been deliberately avoiding any mention of that day since the incident in the secret room. It seemed that I had caught her off guard by bringing it up first.
Looking around nervously, Mirna furrowed her brows at me.
“We agreed that what happened that day would remain our secret. You didn’t tell anyone, did you?”
… Well, I had already told Elga.
But Mirna didn’t know that nor did she know what kind of relationship I had with Elga.
If she had known, there wouldn’t be a Mirna and Professor Stella duo sitting at this table today, but rather a Mirna and Elga combo. And, my body would have been torn apart…
I just pretended not to know anything.
“I didn’t tell anyone. Besides, there’s no one else here but us.”
“Hu-.”
Mirna seemed relieved that I hadn’t revealed the secret to anyone.
If the fact that Mirna had engaged in intimacy with a man before the wedding spread, it would bring various consequences to the devout Draco Family. So I could understand.
Then Mirna suddenly narrowed her eyebrows, as if she just thought of something.
“Are you absolutely sure you haven’t told anyone?”
“Are you doubting me again? After you just apologized earlier?”
“… No, that’s not it.”
Mirna was startled and mumbled in justification.
“It’s just that, lately, Lady Lioness keeps mentioning premarital chastity in front of me, and it’s getting quite strange. She’s not even a devout follower. I wondered if you had said something….”
… That Elga. I’d deal with her later.
With a desire for revenge against Elga burning inside me, I casually shook my head, pretending to know nothing.
“I haven’t said a word.”
“Really? You haven’t told anyone, not even Lady Lioness or Queen Tarantera? You haven’t said anything during the Sunday worship confession?”
“… Really. If Mirna-nim still doesn’t believe me this time, I don’t have anything more to say.”
Seuk.
I tried to withdraw my hand that was holding Mirna’s, but she tightly held onto it and didn’t let go.
“I-I believe you. I didn’t misunderstand. I was just curious, that’s all!”
Mirna babbled in a highly flustered manner. At this point, it went beyond being annoying and started to feel cute.
Then, she soon let out a sigh, as if lamenting her situation.
“I also don’t know why I’m acting like this. I don’t want to. But I keep getting obsessed with you, Theo Gospel.”
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