Chapter 26
I don't know what was misunderstood, maybe because what I said sounded so philosophical. The young waiter, who had been quite cold to me, quickly became more interested in me.
He even sat down next to me and looked at the view from the rooftop with me.
“You’re right,” he said. “In the end, it’s just another form of life.”
...I don't remember much about what happened after that.
It seemed that the wind on the rooftop was too strong, and even my shawl couldn't keep out the chill. I was afraid that if I stayed any longer, my excuse of "feeling unwell" might actually come true, so I slowly went downstairs.
Just before leaving, I reminded him:
“I am Ray Adrian. If you require payment, please contact my butler after the auction.”
Because he was indeed as the manager said, exceptionally handsome, and possessed a certain indescribable special charm beneath his appearance, I had a very deep impression of him, and even this unimportant memory was retained in part.
...
"It's you, isn't it?" I confirmed again. "I asked the housekeeper a few times afterward, but you didn't seem to show up."
“The Adrian family doesn’t have a presence in this city,” he said, changing the subject. “You must have come here on your own… Where are you staying? I’ll take you back now.”
“No,” I refused him, “I want to stay with you. You said you would take responsibility.”
“My situation is not easy, and you will not benefit from following me,” he said coldly. “It is unwise to risk your life, Miss Adrian.”
“I know,” I said. “I heard you have a grudge against the Phantom Troupe.”
He didn't speak.
Because I wasn't familiar with him, I didn't intend to reveal everything about myself. I kept my connection to the Phantom Troupe a secret and found another excuse:
"However, if you send me back, my fate won't be much better than if I fall into the hands of the Phantom Troupe with you."
He remained unmoved, his expression indifferent.
我压低了声音：“你有听说过吗……虽然这个消息没有广而告之，但还是有很多人知道，我的母亲希望把我嫁给暗。杀家族揍敌客的长子，他是个很可怕的人，和他相比，我宁愿和你待在一起。”
Just as I was considering whether to fabricate some vivid and embellished stories to smear Illumi's image, hoping to gain the young man's sympathy and make him more willing to continue leading me, he countered with a question:
"eldest son"
"Yes." I nodded.
“I’ve heard that Adrian and the Zoldyck family are very close,” he added.
I said cautiously, "The rumors are true, but their children are really scary. I can't go back."
He fell into thought, his eyes slightly lowered, while I stared at him intently, and made a new discovery:
This guy's eyelashes are curled, long, and very thick.
He has a delicate, almost feminine appearance, but he's not as gloomy as Illumi. To put it metaphorically, Illumi is like an old black-and-white photograph kept at the bottom of a cabinet, while he is like a translucent ice sculpture that reflects light.
Although he always led me to run away in alleys, it didn't feel like I grew up in the dark at all.
Why did he know Hisoka and the Phantom Troupe?
I can't imagine it.
“Alright,” after a long wait, I heard him finally give his conclusion after much thought, “In that case, let’s act together for now. But there are a few points I hope you will remember. If you violate them, I will abandon you no matter what.”
He said that if I were really in such a difficult situation as he claimed, he could help me leave the Zoldycks, but until he successfully helped me achieve that, I would have to follow his instructions at crucial moments.
Besides, I cannot contact the outside world at will, and I must discuss any special circumstances with him.
"You actually agreed..." I didn't nod or shake my head first, but looked at him strangely. "They're the Zoldycks. If you include my mother Adrian, it'll be even more troublesome."
Although I guessed there was a chance of success before I even spoke, it was still incredible.
“You made the request first, Miss Adrian,” he pointed out. “I was merely considering whether or not to grant it.”
I smiled slightly: "Well... anyway, if you're willing to agree, I'm fine with it too."
Reaching out to steady the hand still gripping mine, I asked, "Since we've already agreed, you don't need to be so careful anymore. Can you let go of me now?... Speaking of which, it's not fair that only you know my name. What's yours?"
“That kind of thing isn’t important,” he said.
“We might end up spending an unexpectedly long time together,” I added.
For some reason, he shook his head firmly: "No way."
I stared at him for a while, considered it for a moment, and quickly gave up the idea of asking.
"...Is there anything around us?" he suddenly asked. "Before you ask any questions, your gaze always seems to drift to some strange place."
This statement subtly echoes the image of someone from the past.
I cleared my mind for a while.
“That’s amazing,” I said. “Someone else has asked the same question before.”
What was my answer back then?
I said, "Nothing, I just can't help thinking about random things when I'm chatting."
The blond youth in front of him didn't reply, but instead asked calmly, "Is that so?"
But the question didn't contain a hint of doubt; rather, his tone was more like saying—
You are lying.
A few years ago, the Phantom Troupe leader who impersonated my brother gave me the same answer.
Oh, how familiar!
I couldn't help but put my hand behind my back and secretly twist the cold ring on my hand.
The blond youth ignored my subtle movement, turned around, and prepared to leave, not forgetting to say:
"Let's go, to a safer place."
“…As for that side,” I changed my mind, put my hand down, and said, “I don’t recommend you go there, because it seems to be the only road nearby, and you could easily be caught up.”
He turned around in surprise.
I smiled sheepishly, opened my palm, and showed him my fingers, which were still bleeding:
"To be honest... I really didn't understand why you were so relaxed in front of me just now. You've been tampering with things since that house over there. They might follow the clues here. ...Sorry, what I said about wanting you to apply the medicine was just a joke."
"You—" He widened his eyes slightly, as if he had never expected me to do such a thing.
So, all the Zoldycks are black-hearted, but Illumi's heart is the blackest.
Being with him, I naturally became a little bad without even realizing it.
It's not entirely my fault. I didn't mean to do it; I just couldn't help myself.
I raised my hands in surrender:
"Anyway, that's pretty much the gist of it. Let's change direction and escape, otherwise... running into your enemy wouldn't be good, right?"
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Completed works in this column include "My Volleyball Club Boyfriend," "After My Online Romance with Killua," "[Hunter x Hunter] Monster Love Diary," and "My Control-Type Boyfriend is Under My Control."
My upcoming novel is titled "What's Wrong with Liking Rukawa Kaede?"
Dating Non-Humans
"The Xianxia Otome Game Restarts for the Fourth Playthrough"
"Falling in Love Inside Your Phone"—please add it to your favorites if you like it!
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