Antagonized Bachelorette Enjoying a Simple Life - Chapter 74
Catherine hurriedly apologized before Chezare could push her away.
"That's not why. It's not that I don't trust you. I just thought if I asked you to make me stronger, you'd end up protecting me even more strictly instead of pushing me hard to train. That's why I came to Giovanni Busperfield specifically to learn magic from him!"
The atmosphere turned strangely quiet. She wondered if the person holding her was really Chezare and peeked up, confirming his silver hair once more. His response came only after a long pause.
"I just said so, didn't I? I already expected as much."
If she wasn't imagining it, the faint sighs that had laced his words were completely gone now. Soon, a warm energy enveloped the backs of her hands, which were pressed against Chezare's abdomen. It was unmistakably his hands—no need to check.
"Then why are you holding on like this? I was just trying to look out the window."
……Out the window? Not trying to leave?
Catherine stared past the floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the drawing room at Lemor, still gliding through the city skies, and Queen beside him. Overwhelmed by sudden embarrassment, she tried to wrench herself away in a fit. Or rather, she tried—but Chezare gripped her hands firmly, preventing her escape.
Stuck unable to move forward or back, Catherine stammered in a way that was unlike her.
"S-sorry. I thought you were just leaving."
"Well, no need to apologize."
She cautiously lifted her head again. Chezare was looking down at her face with his characteristic gentle smile.
"Ahem!"
Demian let out a massive fake cough and moved his feet quickly.
"Damn it… I'll step out and rest. Yeah? Call me when you're done."
Click. The door shut, and silence settled over the drawing room. Even with Demian gone, the embarrassment somehow doubled. Catherine strained with all her might to pull her hands free, but Chezare held her tighter, as if playing a prank.
"If you'd asked me to teach you without caring about my lifespan, I would have done exactly that."
He probably would have. Catherine wasn't blind to that possibility. She just hadn't wanted to choose it.
"I don't want that."
"Why?"
Explaining the reason felt like thorns growing in her mouth, but she knew honesty was best in moments like this.
"I don't want you treating me like that… even if it's just fulfilling my request."
What kind of childish nonsense is that? Catherine thought so herself. But hearts were stubborn things—what could she do?
Chezare released her arms, turned to face her directly, but didn't let go of her hands.
"I can't understand at all. What do you mean by that?"
"……I don't really know either."
Ha. Chezare let out an exasperated laugh.
"You're driving me mad."
You said you weren't mad. Catherine glanced at him warily and gently shook her arms. He looked down at her expressionlessly but didn't pull away from her shaking.
"……Are you upset? Sorry. I know I was too selfish."
"You know, and yet?"
"You said you weren't mad?"
"I'm not. I'm just asking."
His voice sounded too stiff for that, but he'd emphasized it twice, so for his sake, she decided to believe him.
In the midst of this, Catherine suddenly remembered Belial, whom she'd forgotten about, and quickly spoke up.
"Chezare. I saw Belial here. She's living as Giovanni's partner."
Chezare's face turned serious in an instant, stilling her shaking arms.
"……Are you sure?"
"It was exactly the face I saw in the Abyss. People called her Bel, with long blonde hair and an enormous stature."
Chezare affirmed her description immediately.
"That's Belial."
"Is Giovanni her contractor?"
"High probability."
But she hadn't sensed that same feeling from Giovanni as she had from Percival. Whether he could sense it too was unknown, which made Catherine uneasy.
'A human who sacrificed ten thousand offerings to summon the archdemon Belial.'
If asked if Giovanni seemed like that kind of person, Catherine could say no without hesitation. If he were that cruel, so many people wouldn't follow him.
Reading her anxiety, Chezare spoke in a calm tone.
"Since I shattered the Abyss right away back then, Belial and Behemoth won't know about you. Asmodeus has that reclusive nature where he hoards interesting things to himself, so he won't be gossiping around for a while either."
After a brief contemplation, he even praised her choice.
"So actually… it might be better to stay close to Belial. You did well coming alone, Catherine. If you'd traveled with me, Belial would have meddled endlessly."
He was saying the darkest place was under the lamp. Catherine found his argument quite plausible. The praise was probably just to soothe her worries.
"Chezare."
"Yes?"
"I have one question. It's something I felt a few days ago when I met Behemoth's contractor……."
Chezare's gaze sharpened.
"Behemoth's contractor?"
His question carried a hint of doubt and thick wariness. Catherine stared at him, momentarily stunned.
Huh? I didn't mention it before…….
She hadn't. Damn it—why did it have to come out now, right when she'd deceived him to come to Busperfield? Catherine swore she hadn't hidden it out of some petty desire like 'not wanting him to know about an ex.' She'd just kept putting it off and forgotten.
"Yes. Percival Benedict Parhenrine from the Papal Court is that contractor."
"How do you know that?"
"We ran into each other by chance in Beaton Blue. The moment our eyes met, I knew he was Behemoth's contractor. Probably the same for him."
Catherine realized instantly. Chezare's expression had turned quite sour. Sour enough that his glare could peel a melon rind. It was the first time she'd seen that face since her magic nullification ability was first exposed.
"You call him awfully familiarly."
The tone felt sarcastic at first glance. But Chezare wasn't the type. Catherine reassured herself and quickly changed the subject.
"What I wanted to ask is… I didn't feel anything like that from Giovanni at all. So, that means he's not Belial's contractor, right?"
Chezare replied with a face as cold as if frost had settled on it.
"Theoretically, yes. But considering Belial's high pride and that she's cooperating, it's hard to be certain. If it were a relationship like mine before I met you—contracting with no one—it might be different, but she clearly has a contractor."
He pressed her for an answer, reeking of displeasure.
"So, why do you call the Lily Knight so familiarly?"
Maybe because he called Percival 'the Lily Knight' instead. It made Catherine want to deny their connection even more strongly.
"Familiar? We're acquaintances, but I don't think of him that way at all."
"Acquaintances?"
Chezare narrowed his eyes. He was openly showing his displeasure now. Catherine felt like she was struggling to clear up a lover's misunderstanding about an affair and explained step by step.
"We met once before. It wasn't anything major……."
At most, they'd exchanged insincere words a few times. They'd almost run away together once, he'd barged into her room, they'd stuck together cloyingly for days—but now, they were nothing. Catherine felt no lingering regret toward him.
"So we just knew each other's faces and names. That's it."
"The man who came to your mansion—was that him too?"
Chezare's question was sharply pointed. It left a nagging guilt, like getting caught in an affair scene.
"Yes, that's right."
"Then you must have met on the Lilith Ship too."
His following gaze was like one nabbing a second affair scene.
"……Yes."
"Why didn't you mention it until now?"
She hadn't felt the need. But that excuse sounded lame and stupid. So Catherine floundered without answering.
"Are you hiding it?"
No, not that…….
"Why no answer?"
Because any response would sound like an excuse! Catherine shot back.
"Why are you prying so much yourself?"
If she added even the slightest real emotion, it was that she didn't want to talk about another man in front of Chezare. It would be the same if it were a servant from Orleans.
This is so unfair. She hadn't seduced Percival or anything—why the interrogation?
"There's nothing between Percival and me. He might feel something, but I have zero— not even dust on the table level. So why do you keep asking like I'm the one cheating?"
"So the Lily Knight still has lingering feelings for you."
Chezare showed no sign of backing down.
Did it come out that way? But actually, it felt a bit true…….
He did declare he'd act all clingy. Percival on the Lilith Ship had indeed been true to his word, annoyingly persistent.
"No, what I meant was… I can't read minds, so I don't know……."
Ah! Suddenly, Catherine realized her true feelings.
That's it. Percival kept saying weird things, so I naturally started minding Chezare.
Chezare had been shocked enough by Yaong the monster being with her; learning a holy knight like Percival was sniffing around would shock him more. Somehow, shadows were darkening in Chezare's gaze. His eyes still urged her to keep talking, no nonsense.
Before he truly got upset (though she had no idea why), she decided to convey the truth.
"When he came to the mansion before. He kept saying he was willing to keep in touch, that he'd probably keep visiting, that I should move……."
"……That bastard said that?"
Chezare's voice turned vicious. Well, he was the Papal Court's ace and Behemoth's contractor, after all. No big issue. Catherine nodded.
"So I just didn't want to get any closer. He's a holy knight, and you're a demon too……."