Wrong Genre! - Chapter 13.1
“So that’s why you seemed different from the first time we met.”
Unlike before, when pointed questions were being thrown, Yuri now replied simply. The sharp blue eyes had also, at some point, softened.
Rueg, startled by such a flat answer, could only stare, mouth slightly open, as Yuri pushed the plate toward him and spoke.
“Go ahead and eat. It’ll get cold.”
“……”
“Are you full? If so, would you like some dessert…?”
“…Aren’t you going to ask anything else?”
At Rueg’s question, Yuri looked a bit confused. But then, as if understanding what Rueg meant, a short sound of realization was uttered.
“I was only curious about who it was that asked to be friends with me.”
“……”
“As long as you’re not Versha Verdic, that’s enough for me.”
As if to say Rueg could relax now, Yuri handed him the dessert that had just arrived and smiled.
‘Just what did Versha do to her for Yuri to say as long as it’s not Versha, it’s fine…?’
Rueg’s curiosity made him fidget restlessly, but then Yuri spoke up.
“Can we keep having meals together like this in the future?”
“…With me?”
“Yes. I really enjoy eating with friends.”
Those blue eyes watched Rueg, as if asking whether he minded.
At the natural question, Rueg slowly shook his head.
“I like it too.”
“……”
“Eating together with someone else like this.”
Rueg took a spoon for dessert and lowered his gaze with a gentle smile.
Back when Versha was so busy as an aide, leaving early in the morning and coming home late at night, Rueg had to be alone in that big mansion.
There were servants, but they never sat at the table to eat with him. They said there needed to be a clear line between employer and employee.
“It’s really been so long since I’ve eaten together with someone.”
At those words, Yuri’s expression instantly hardened, even after intending to smile back just as Rueg did.
‘…So it really has been a long time since he’s had a meal. I guess my suspicion about him being neglected wasn’t wrong.’
Yuri once again misunderstood Rueg, staring at him. But Rueg, not knowing anything, just continued innocently.
“But… is it okay for you, Yuri? I mean, with my sister—Versha, she… it seemed like things were bad between you two…”
Rueg fidgeted with his fingers as he asked, as if worried.
To Yuri, every little gesture seemed like proof that Rueg had grown up being wary of Versha, solidifying the unsettling feeling.
“You’re not Versha Verdic. You might look surprisingly alike, but the two of you are completely different people.”
“……”
“And the difference is easy to see.”
As if telling Rueg not to worry about such things, Yuri smiled gently.
At that relaxed expression, Rueg’s eyes grew round.
For some reason, it felt like one of the masks Yuri always wore had just come off, and Rueg couldn’t help but give a wide, bright smile in return.
* * *
After finishing breakfast, Rueg said goodbye to Yuri and headed for the Crown Prince’s Palace.
“Was it really that obvious…?”
He tried to act like nothing was wrong, but he couldn’t stop worrying about how quickly his true identity had been seen through.
“I thought I did a pretty good job mimicking her voice, too…”
Maybe it wasn’t a matter of voice?
“Maybe it’s better if I just don’t talk much from now on.”
Better that than getting found out by others for wandering around babbling like an idiot.
With that conclusion, Rueg took a step forward, when suddenly his vision twisted.
He couldn’t keep his balance and staggered, catching himself against the wall.
“Ugh…”
When he’d woken up that morning, he’d thought his body felt heavier than usual.
Still, he had an appetite, and food didn’t taste off, so he didn’t think he was really sick. Apparently, that was a mistake.
“Now that I think about it, I guess it was about time I got sick.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
