"Did you come for anything in particular?"
Maintaining the minimum politeness, I pushed myself to not immediately throw him out.
He should consider himself lucky I had slept enough. Now that my head was reposed, I felt great enough to tolerate him.
"No. It's just that it has been some time since I saw you."
"…."
"It has only been two days…"
"Yeah, yeah. Hey, know what? Since I came back from some insignificant matter, now we will see each other more often."
The man propped himself up, proudly standing, while smiling happily.
"Aren't you happy?"
'Ah, that's true. I had forgotten he was also a mage.'
"What were you doing to be away this long?" I asked, avoiding his question.
"You want to know? Well, give me something I return I will tell you. How about that?"
I looked at him, blazed, before standing up too. Then I walked to the door and opened it.
"No, I actually don't want to know. I am sorry to interrupt our conversation, but it is quite late."
"Ah!? But it's only noon. And you will not go eat?"
"No, I am full. Please, go ahead." I said as I extended my hand—pointing toward the exit —kindly inviting him to leave.
"No, please! Come give me company, I have no friends! I am so pitiful, look at me."
The young man with blue hair looked at me with puppy eyes while pouting, his hands crossed under his chin.
He was trying his best to appeal to my pity.
Which I had to admit, kinda worked. I was weak against childish faces …which is why my brother always acted like a child around me when he needed something.
He, too, was a mastermind at manipulation.
"Don't you have Mainu?"
"No. He never wants to go with me, he says there's too many people." Daniel began to say before stopping and turning toward me, his eyes full of stars and expectations, "Unless…you come with me! That's right! If you come with me, there's no doubt he will come."
"What makes you think that?" I asked with a frown.
"Well, because he likes you, obviously."
The man, as he said that, looked more somber. His tone dropped and his cheerfulness diminished.
'Ah, maybe he's feeling jealous?'
I would feel unpleasant too if the boy, and future husband, I liked fell in love with another girl. But that never happened to me, as I never fell in love.
But I wonder why made him thought Mainu could love me.
"And what makes you believe so?"
Maybe it was because of Mainu's recent behavior that must have confused him. Which is also why he found that sudden interest in me.
But I knew that couldn't have been because Mainu was in love, and certainly not me. It must have been because of something I wasn't aware of—which I didn't care to know.
"Because I know, that's it. So, are you going to eat with me or not?"
Scrutinizing him, I thought about how his interest would vanish soon, seeing that Mainu didn't actually love me, as he believed him to be.
The boy would probably lose interest in me soon and go find some other toy elsewhere until the boy of his heart gave him the attention he wanted.
'Well, I can't get rid of him even if I wanted anyway…'
I would make an effort to entertain him for a few days. He might even give up before that.
"Okay. But let me go dress first. And do not go elsewhere. You stay here. Okay?"
I didn't like it when uninvited guests moved freely in my own home without monitoring.
I went into my bathroom, washed my face, and then walked into my open wardrobe, where I took some random dress.
Once ready, I walked out.
"Come on. Get up."
I didn't even try to pretend anymore. Since he was obstinate in pestering me, he would get his full share of me.
"Done?"
"Yeah, let's go. Hurry or we won't have any tables left."
"Sure."
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Chicken and vegetables, please. Thank you." I said to the food service worker, politely smiling.
Behind me stood Daniel, his head above mine—his hands on my shoulders—as he glanced at what I was asking for.
"That's it? Aren't you hungry?"
"Didn't I say that I wasn't before? And stop that, hold yourself!"
"Nah. Don't want to. Can I have the same thing as her, please?"
"You! Take something else."
"But I want that."
"No, you do not. Stop acting childishly."
I was going to scold him more when someone behind told us to hurry up, tired of waiting.
I turned back and bowed a bit to apologize.
"Gave him the same thing, please," I said to the lady before dragging Daniel to an empty table.
"Stop acting like that, or I will not eat with you. Ever. Again. Understand?"
"Loud and clear, captain."
I rolled my eyes, exasperated.
I missed Aaron and his good vibes, his silence, and his mature demeanor.
Daniel was worse than a child, despite him being seventeen soon.
'Well, with how he was raised, no wonder he was a bit messed up in there."
Daniel Berdoro, another lover of Mainu's harem, was from afar the main character with the saddest background.
Having been brought up from the streets—where he lived with his prostitute and mistress mother—to the Earl house, at a young age, he was since then mistreated and bullied in all aspects.
He never tasted warmth and naturally fell in love with Mainu's natural charm and seductive personality.
"Sit and eat," I said, feeling kinda sympathetic.
Sympathy and not pity because I wasn't in a good position to feel pity towards anyone.
My own life had been nothing but miserable. I wasn't a pampered princess who had the luxury to cry upon other's people misery.
"I think he should arrive soon."
"Who, Mainu?"
"Yes. He usually comes at this time. Unsurprisingly, at the same time, you come."
"You are being delusional."
"Why? Don't you like him?"
"Why would I like him?"
While eating, I looked back at Daniel after a pause, my voice full of inquiry.
When did I ever show interest in Mainu?
"Everyone likes him. He is just like that."
"I am not everyone."
"Yes, I see that." Exclaimed a voice behind me, his breath close to my ears.
I perked up, taken by surprise.
"You aren't with Aaron today?"
"He's at his internship. You should know it, it's the period for the knight faction." I said, as I tried to keep the tiniest of dignity that I had left.
I overreacted.
"Oh, that's right, I forgot. How are you, Georgia?" Sylvester said as he put his plate on the table, ignoring Daniel.
Daniel, contrary to how he acted a few minutes ago, remained calm and ate his food in silence, barely looking at us.
He looked upset.
"I was fine until a few seconds ago."
"Oh, did I scare you? I apologize."
"… It's okay. Thank you. And you?"
"Well, I am feeling great now that I see you. Habitually, you are always at the end of your meal when I arrive, so I cannot eat with you."
"But today, I finally had the privilege to." He continued with a smile.
When Mainu smiled, his eyes squinted and took the shape of a fox's eyes. His canines showed a bit, giving him more childishness.
However, despite his cute expression, he wasn't so sweet inside.
"Good evening, Daniel." Said Mainu, finally acknowledging Daniel's presence —even though he seemed displeased.
"Good evening, Mainu. " Replied Daniel without adding anything else, suddenly less talkative.
'I see that both of them do not like their partners to be too close to other people…'
Those two despite liking each other didn't even notice it, acting all jealous around other people and throwing tantrums.
But that wasn't so surprising coming from an angsty BL novel. In fact, I was more surprised they didn't act more crazy and obsessed.
I only hope that their romantic relationship won't hinder me. I didn't want to end up in all that mess.
As we discussed, or to be more precise, as Mainu led the conversation for three, time passed progressively, and soon we had finished.
"Guys, it's not that I don't appreciate your company, but I have to go back now."
"Let me accompany you." Said Mainu, standing up too.
"No, do not worry. It's safe, and I would like to take some rest, it's better if I go alone."
Then, before they could react, I left. Uncaring about the basic etiquette.
Anyway, we were at the academy, there was no need for all that complicated stuff.
I walked back into my dormitory, under the night sky of the academy, illuminated by the lights of the street lamps.
I trotted slowly, taking a longer road to help myself digest.
After eating, the more I strolled, the better it was.
" AAAAAA!"
While I was leisurely doing my little promenade, I heard a scream a little farther from where I was.
It was a high-pitched scream, higher than those of humans. Like the voice of monsters in horror movies.