I Will Not Fall For the Villain’s Flirtations - Chapter 2 Part 4
“Do you want to go out and eat with me?”
“What?”
“I’ll buy something delicious. I promised you, didn’t I?”
Was he serious about that?
But going out freely was not allowed in the temple. Not only did one have to obtain a permission slip in advance, but even that attracted considerable attention for the novitiate.
“It’s okay. I can just eat over there.”
“Why? I was really looking forward to having dinner with you, Du.”
I wonder how he always managed to choose the same greasy words. I loosened my stiff neck and opened my mouth again to refuse.
“I don’t want to so you eat al—”
“I was planning to eat meat.”
“……”
My mouth involuntarily shut. Without realizing it, my eyelids were trembling.
“What kind of meat?”
“Well, I’m fine with seasoned chicken, fully cooked pork, and juicy beef. I’ll eat anything Du wants.”
“……”
Just like Pavlov’s dog, as soon as I heard the chime, my mouth watered. Subconsciously swallowing my saliva, I bit my lips tightly and looked at him.
“You want… everything?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have a lot of money?”
In response to my question, he laughed as if he had heard a very amusing joke.
I was almost smitten by his apparent ease without even hearing an answer. I barely remembered that he could be a spy.
Of course, as a citizen of the Holy Kingdom, it’s kind of annoying when spies have a lot of money.
“Do you want to go?”
“Yes, I want to go.”
I replied like a child in front of candy who forgot about the prevention education against kidnappings. I answered and stopped speaking. Keene didn’t miss the opportunity and extended his evil smile, offering his hand.
“Come here.”
Our held hands were warm.
Yeah, maybe he’s not a spy. Even if he is, he could be a decent double agent.
Keene still hadn’t revealed his true identity. So, I don’t know whether he’s good or bad.
At least he looked handsome on the outside, and although he has a few loose screws, he was kind, and he’s going to buy me meat.
What could possibly go wrong with having a meal together?
“It might make you dizzy.”
Dizzy? Why?
Then, I remembered that he often used teleportation magic. Is it, perhaps, a feeling similar to magic circles?
I hadn’t prepared myself mentally. As soon as I thought a bright white light surrounded me, I was abruptly pushed into a familiar world of confusion.
For some reason, I felt more dizzy than when I boarded the magic circle. If the magic circle felt like getting on a roller coaster with safety devices, teleportation felt like holding onto a roller coaster without any safety measures, hanging in mid-air.
“Aaah!”
Eventually, I had to grab onto something to support myself.
Unconsciously, I pulled the nearest person closer. And while burying my nose into his familiar embrace, I waited for the dizziness to subside.
“Were you that dizzy?”
After hearing the laughter in his voice, I realized that my feet were back on the ground. But regardless of that, my mind was still spinning, so I couldn’t move rashly.
“So, Du likes hugs, huh?”
“…I’ll only be doing this for a moment. Just a moment.”
It was harder to endure the pain in my head than the anguish in my ears. That’s why I couldn’t push him away, even though I heard such absurd things.
“It’s okay to keep doing it for a long time.”
“……”
“Though Du might be a little embarrassed.”
After my vision, which felt like I was wearing ill-fitting glasses, returned to normal, I could understand what he was meaning to say.
We were standing in the middle of a shopping district. In other words, we were embracing each other tightly among the bustling crowd.
“Eek!”
I belatedly regained my senses and pushed him away with a loud shriek. Despite my considerable strength, the distance between me and his firm chest widened by only about an inch.
“Are you feeling better now?”
“No… Just, you should have said something.”
Hiding my flushed cheeks, I stood silently on a side street. Each time people passed by witnessing our unexpected hug, they would glance at us and smirk.
“I don’t think saying anything would have made a difference.”
“…Next time, drop me off in a less crowded place.”
Wasn’t this kind of magic originally meant to be used somewhat secretly? Who would show off advanced magic like teleportation in such an exposed location?
“Next time? Are you setting an appointment for later1it actually said “??? ???” (after applying or applicant for after) which refers to the act of applying or requesting something after a specific event, such as a meeting or introduction?”
“…Let’s go.”
I pulled him along, grabbing onto his sleeve, while cutting off his nonsense. Then Keene naturally opened his mouth.
“Why are you grabbing onto my clothes? Hold my hand.”
“What’s wrong? Let go.”
He subtly grabbed my little finger, glanced at me, and asked in a timid voice.
“You really can’t hold me?”
He had the expression of a child who wanted to protect his last remaining toy. Rather than throwing a tantrum, he looked at me with pitiable eyes, as if trying to persuade me.
It’s different from when he threatened me with an evil smile.
Confused, I turned away after giving up. Trying to understand this man was a lost cause from the beginning.
My immunity to handsome men had not grown, making it difficult to reject those perfect symmetrical features. Why did fate have to give such looks to a guy like him?
Well, it’s just holding hands, it’s not like it’ll wear out. I could afford to concede this much for the sake of harmony.
“You have to let go as soon as we arrive!”
“Got it.”
He nodded and smiled brightly, tightly holding my hand.
Regardless of whether it was hot or cold, his hand, unlike my always-cold hands, was warm as if it had been basking in a bonfire. It made me feel awkward, feeling as though the warmth traveled from his hand to my chest.
The touch of our intertwined fingers was ticklish in a strange way. How long had it been since I held a man’s hand? Even in conservative societies, it was rare to touch someone like this, even if they were dating.
I was about to withdraw my hand when he realized it and playfully shook our clasped hands back and forth before cheerfully speaking.
“This is my first date, and I’m happy because it’s with you.”
“…It feels like you’ve been on many before.”
He looks like the kind of person who throws masculine airs and tries to be intimate from the first meeting. Even now, it seemed natural for him to hold someone else’s hand.
“It’s my first time.”
“You’re saying something that not even a passing dog would believe.”
“Are you jealous?”
“…Where’s the restaurant?”
For the sake of my mental health, it’s better to cut off his baseless words early. I must have gone crazy for a moment. I can’t believe I followed along with this nonsense!
As I started to frown with regret, Keene, who was grinning like a mischievous puppy, pointed to a spot.
“It’s over there. It’s a place with delicious meat.”
His words stopped me from thinking that I should escape right now.
As I followed his finger and looked across the square, I noticed a restaurant with an elegant facade. A unique restaurant in Liche, where the very concept of eating out is not common.
“Wow.”
I was so amazed that I forgot to argue with him and started walking faster. The interior of the restaurant I eventually saw was even more beautiful.
With a wine-colored carpet and numerous chandeliers, this place was on a different level than the brunch cafes I occasionally visited to lift my spirits. It resembled a dining room in a luxurious mansion.
From the majestic mahogany dining tables covered with a white lace tablecloth to the elegant candle holders and delicate porcelain figurines scattered around.
The overall setting, combined with classical flowers of various colors adorning the walls, added a touch of extravagance.
If I compare it to the memories from my past life, it was not even anything special, yet my mouth couldn’t close. I felt like a country mouse stepping into a vibrant metropolis for the first time.
“Do you like it? If you don’t, we can go somewhere else.”
“I want to eat here.”
The words that came out of my mouth were not thought over but were merely driven by a primal instinct. Keene chuckled softly at my words.
He seemed to have been here frequently. The owner recognized him and greeted him with words of honor, even escorting us to a private dining room.
Wow, man, this guy seems really wealthy. How can a spy have so much money?
No, no, I take it back. He’s a kind person who buys meat. He might not even be a spy.
After brainwashing myself with great difficulty, I cleared my throat and approached one side of the table. Keene had already pulled out a chair for me and was acting gentlemanly.
“Choose whatever you want to eat.”
Then he pushed the menu towards me and rested his chin on his hand, watching me. His decision to leave the choice entirely up to me was somewhat satisfying.
“Hmm.”
But it wasn’t easy to choose a dish. They all looked delicious, which made it even more difficult.
As I frowned and stared at the menu for a while, he chuckled and spoke.
“You can order a course. I didn’t make a reservation, but they’ll do it for us.”
“I don’t have time to wait for dishes the size of mouse droppings to come out one after another today.”
I firmly replied, recalling the scenes that unfolded when I went to dinner parties with my parents.
This meat must be quite expensive. I can’t waste time like that!
But I want to eat salmon sashimi, steak, grilled lamb ribs, and seafood dishes. What should I do?
Keene made the decision for me.
“Order everything.”
“But it would be a waste if we couldn’t finish it. The price of each dish is like a day’s pay for most people…”
“Do it, Du. It’s okay to be selfish for a day.”
He might even be a demon. His appearance and his voice, which strangely possessed a charming quality, were excessively seductive.
“Well, then, just for today…”
Yeah, I haven’t been ordained yet, so I’m not a priest.
- 1it actually said “??? ???” (after applying or applicant for after) which refers to the act of applying or requesting something after a specific event, such as a meeting or introduction