After uttering that phrase, his demeanor changed. He became sharper, his movements more calculated and refined.
But it's still not enough.
He no longer wore his usual angry expression.
My internal clock signaled that it was now lunchtime.
"Let's take a break here."
"…" He nodded his head. Of course, he wouldn't speak because he couldn't.
There was a shady spot with a bench near the training grounds. I naturally just sat there, enjoying the bologna sandwiches Jane prepared for me.
I glanced at my body. Strong, enhanced by divine power and the Philosopher's Stone, could easily tear a rift in the earth.
In the distance, I saw Peter standing, staring at me. I gestured for him to come closer. He ran over like a crazed puppy, looking at me with those big, pleading eyes that made the situation even more awkward since he couldn't speak and was standing in the hot sun.
"Sit," I commanded.
He complied immediately, sitting on the ground.
"Not there, on the bench!" I patted the bench lightly. At my command, he quickly stood up and sat beside me. But isn't this too close? He was practically pressing against me, though he held his head down.
I handed him a sandwich and smirked. "Cheer up, Bozo."
For some reason, he didn't really look like the "Blondy Prince" he was known as.
Instead, he looked like someone experiencing kindness for the first time. He accepted the sandwich with reluctance but quickly devoured it like a chipmunk.
Watching him, I couldn't help but chuckle. Noticing my amusement, he glanced at me with wariness, which only made me laugh harder.
'It's fun teasing him,' I mused to myself, gazing up at the sky.
"Lady Nephi!" I heard Jane calling from a distance, waving at me. She bounded over, looking bright and cheerful.
'Are you an angel?' I inwardly thought while smiling broadly.
"I've prepared your dessert for you...! Stay away from her!" she said, handing me a small pudding.
She then pointed at Peter, sitting next to me. "Do you think I've forgotten what you've done to the Lady? You have some nerve asking her for help!"
I held my hand out in a scooping motion. "My pudding."
Peter's eyes narrowed at Jane, his glare sharp enough to cut through steel.
"Hah! I don't care what you do to me, but if you lay your hands on my Lady, you'll get it," he spat, his voice dripping with venom.
With a sudden movement, Peter stood up, his glare intensifying. He unleashed his mana, the air around him crackling with energy. Jane, unfazed, met his challenge head-on, her own mana flaring to life. The ground beneath us trembled as their energies collided, winds whipping violently around us. The force of their clash sent my pudding tumbling to the ground.
That was it.
My anger, already simmering, reached its boiling point. Without a second thought, I unleashed a shockwave of wind that ripped through the training grounds, flattening the grass and rattling the trees. The sudden gust extinguished their clashing energies, leaving Peter and Jane staring at me in shock.
"…Lady!" Both of them were startled and surprised.
"My pudding," I said sternly.
Jane quickly pulled another pudding from her pocket. Peter looked at me blankly for a moment before pouting like a child. I happily ate the pudding Jane brought while she sat between us, smiling.
Peter looked annoyed, but I ignored him; he wasn't my priority.
After lunch, we continued training until noon. I sent his sword flying again and rested mine on my shoulder.
'Pretty good, I guess?' I said, noting his progress. He was picking up the pace faster now compared to before.
"Let's retire for today." He nodded in agreement.
I walked back to the mansion to eat dinner, but he was following me. I turned back and faced him. "You. What's your deal?" I genuinely didn't understand his actions.
[Eros laughs at your question.]
Peter smiled faintly, something I'd never seen before. This guy looked so weak. I recognized those dead fish eyes; they were the look of someone who had already given up on life.
I knew I shouldn't hate him due to prejudice, but what about me?
[Xipe asks you to calm down!]
'"Am I supposed to pity them? Give them a chance? But what about me? Have they even wondered what I had to go through?"
For some reason, Josephine's mind was resonating with mine.
"What have I done to deserve this? I only took you in because I wanted revenge on you! But why do you look at me like you're the one who's gone through more?"
Josephine's tears wouldn't stop flowing. "I hate you more than you know. I hate all of you!"
Peter tried to get closer, but Jane kicked him in the face. "How dare you make my Lady cry!"
Peter stood up but didn't run away. Instead, he looked like he was willing to receive any punishment.
"Stop," I said, wiping my tears.
[Hecatia asks if you're fine.]
'I'm fine. It's just that Josephine really synced with me, so I couldn't control my emotions.'
"But Lady-"
"It's enough." Jane couldn't argue back.
"Take him inside and feed him dinner. I'll... retire for tonight." I walked into the mansion.
"Lady?... Lady!" Jane tried to catch up, but I had already locked the door to my room and collapsed onto my bed.
I had to sleep now because I couldn't suppress my emotions properly. Tonight was going to be a lonely sleep for me.