By the time I was done, well... done perfecting the drawing as best as I could anyways. Most of the other students had sauntered off for lunch break.
I wiped the sweat off my brows, handing the sketchbook over to him before he folded his arms. I blinked blankly at him, wondering why he wasn't accepting it when I noticed my hands were pretty dark due to the lead from the pencil.
So he's refraining accepting anything just because my hands are a little dirty? ... What a purebred noble.
"... I'll gift it to you tomorrow then." I shut the book before noticing his rather disappointed expression.
...
"Lucien! Let's eatt~" Strawberry called out to me as he jumped on my back excitedly.
I instinctively shifted my weight to support him, stumbling a little before straightening myself. From the corners of my eyes, I noticed a brief change in the expression on Castford's son face but when I tilted my head, he had the same annoyed expression on his face.
"Well... Guess this is where we part. See you later." I waved at the boy as Strawberry slid off my back and helped me pack up.
Just as we were about to leave, I felt a tug on the hems of my shirt and glanced over my shoulder to find him latching onto it. My expression seemed unfazed but I was honestly shook.
It's so cute how he tries to remain stubborn and act like an adult despite still being a cute kid. Guess I can't help it... I'll give him a hand.
"Oh yeah... I did promise you some ice cream. Was that what you were trying to say?" I smiled at him, patting his head as he seemed a little flustered at my respond.
"... Th-that's right! It's splendid that we are on the same page. I shall accept your generosity this time." He folds his arms, puffing out his chest as he completely forgets I was still patting his head.
"You're only getting him ice cream?" Strawberry glances longingly as I flinched.
The option bar isn't showing, huh... Bit it was something between the two of us... it might seem a bit like I'm doting on one of them but...
"Sorry... I'll treat you to one another day. I only have enough for two of us." I shoot Strawberry an apologetic smile as his smile falters and I flinch.
"... Is that so... It's alright. You're still spending time with me before break is over right?" Strawberry smiles sweetly, but I felt this sort of pressure to agree or something might happen.
"Y-yes..."
"Okay, then! I'll just join you two for ice cream. I'll pay for my own." Strawberry links arm with me as the other boy latches onto the cuff of my other sleeve.
***
"I'll get chocolate for myself then. What do you want?" I glanced at the blue haired boy as he catches my gaze and quickly lowered his head to avoid my glance.
"..."
"Just get him whatever. I'm picking strawberry. But let me take a bit of yours. The two flavors mixed together tastes better." Strawberry pays the ice cream man as he scoops the ice cream onto a cone and hands it to Strawberry who accepts gleefully.
"Hmm... if you can't decide, jhow about blueberry flavour? It's unique and I'm certain it'll suit you." I patted his back lightly as he met my gaze and blushed before nodding.
Shoot... I meant to say "suit your taste" rather than "suit you". What is that even supposed to mean?
Nevertheless, I paid for the ice cream and handed him his ice cream before heading over to sit on a bench shaded by a nearby tree. Without putting in much thought, I sat down and took a bite from the ice cream before shivering.
Gah—! Brain freeze!
"Oh, Lucien... Eat properly, it's melting onto your fingers." Strawberry frowned as I pried my eyes open after the brain freeze soothed over.
"I didn't notice... I guess I'll—" Before I could finish my sentence, Strawberry had licked my fingers which were coated in the chocolate drizzle.
"Ah... You don't need to do that... I'll just wash my hands at the—" I tugged my hand away in a hurry before accidentally pulling back too hard and covering the other boy with the chocolate ice cream.
I paled as he sits in silence to process what had just happened. Fearing he would cry, I whisked him to the nearest bathroom and tossed the remainder of the ice cream since it was no longer edible.
Despite cleaning him as much as I could, the thought of how his clothes must feel really uncomfortable for him came to mind. He didn't seem too angry as expected, which was a good thing, but I felt unsettled since it was my own fault to begin with.
"Hey... sorry... Why don't we take a bath together?" I bent my knees to meet his eye level as his cheeks suddenly flushed.
"Wh-what?!" He stammered as his face gradually turned a bright red.
It took me longer than a second to process that my words must have sounded weird out of context. Hence, I tried to reassure him and grabbed ahold of his hands.
"I— I'll take responsibility!" I exclaimed loudly as two men who happened to be using the bathroom gave us strange looks.
On the other hand... the other party was... blushing so hard I thought his face might explode.
"C-calm down? Anyways... let's head back first." I linked our hands together as I led him out of the bathroom and headed back to the bench where Strawberry had been waiting for us.
"... Uhh... Sorry, I have to head back first." I rubbed the back of my neck apologetically as Strawberry blinked at me and studies the two of us with a rather serious expression not suited for a child with such a sweet face.
"Why?" he sounded rather harsh as I flinched.
"Why...? Uhhh... because—" I lifted my gaze to meet his when the option box popped out of thin air.
Ah... Of course... Eh... there's a warning...?
Choices you select here are irreversible and may lead to devastating results. Be warned.
What the—
I stared at the warning box feeling a little hesitant. It seems like I can't restart... at least not for now anyways... What are the options though...
[... I need to take responsibility for my actions.]
[... I made an irreversible mistake and need to face the consequences to make up for my inadequacy.]
... What~ these options seem rather similar but what's with the second option? Makes me sound so posh which isn't me at all. In the end, the two options are rather similar so I suppose it shouldn't matter which I select.
I reached out to touch the prior option but halted when I was reminded of the warning box. I withdrew my hand and studied the two options again, weighing the two options. Surely one of them was the wrong choice... otherwise there wouldn't be two options.
But which could be the wrong one? Agh—! I can't decide! What exactly is this devastating result?! It sounds ominous as f*ck! Will it lead to death? But we all die in the end... Or will I be hung before even experiencing the story?
I paled at the thought of being sent to the guillotine. These kinds of story always have that sick ending. I have no idea why but they just do. But the male leads don't seem that bad...
I took a brief glance between the two of them as my heart squeezed in my chest. I can't be stuck at this option menu forever either so... With a heavy finger, I squeezed my eyes shut and selected one at random.
I sure hope its the right option!
"— I made an irreversible mistake and need to face the consequences to make up for my inadequacy." the words flowed out of my mouth so smoothly as the expression on Strawberry's face darkened.
I flinched, swallowing nervously as I dreaded the thought of leaving it up to chance and perhaps f*cking up all my efforts. However, Strawberry reined back his ominous expression before smiling sweetly at me once more.
"Okay then! I'll let sister know~ It must have felt so icky, right? Getting all those ice cream on you?" Strawberry smiled at the boy as he hides behind me.
"Uh... thank you... I'll see you later then." I squeezed Strawberry's shoulder lightly before grabbing my bag and the boy's before handing him the parasol and walking back to the church hand in hand.
As we headed back to the church, the boy stops in his tracks and caught my attention as I immediately followed suit. I turned to face him, crouching down to meet his eye level as he turns his head to meet my gaze.
"Was it okay to do that...?"
"... I'm sure he'll understand. Anyways, I can't let you stay in such sticky clothes in such hot weather. Why don't I read you a story after we wash up?" I patted his head as he nods.
***
Meanwhile
In the distance, Strawberry narrows his eyes at the two figures who walked in the direction of the church hand in hand. His face was scrunched into one unreadable one as he folds his arms.