The men laughed endlessly, apparently enjoying the fall of others.
- He's crazy. The Myers family has always been close to the temple for generations, right? Even the largest temple is in their possession. And he still reads something so dangerous, knowing the risks.
- He insisted that it was not his book and tried to run away. But if it wasn't his book, why was it found in his room in the first place?
- Although it is shameful. He, like no one else, obtained holy water before.
“Now we’ll have to spend the rest sparingly.” Save every drop.
While talking about how they would use the holy water, they placed their hands on the glass door. Tilia finally sighed softly. This minute seemed like ten years to her.
"It's finally over."
But just when she breathed a sigh of relief and was about to straighten her back...
- Hey, forget about this Myers. Brad, is your sister really that beautiful?
- What if she is beautiful, are you going to exchange your sister, a student of the Royal Academy, for her?
-...Well, it's not entirely impossible, right? Your family is wealthy.
At the very last moment before leaving, George made another trash comment, and Tilia's face turned stern. It seemed like her blood relative was determined to seduce this guy Brad's sister.
“Please let the carriage run over him when he gets out...”
As Tilia prayed fervently and slowly lifted her bent body, she realized that Ilex had an even colder expression than her. He looked at the floor, seemingly lost in deep thought. Whatever he was thinking about, it had to be pretty harsh judging by the dangerous aura he was emitting.
Tilia involuntarily turned the book over in her hands, watching him.
"He must have heard everything."
Their voices were loud enough that her name was mentioned directly. Knowing how smart he was, he probably figured out her marital status from George's words.
The thought that he now knew of her pitiful circumstances sank her spirits into the mud. He was someone she had treated as a rival for the past four years, even if she had never beaten him. For him, of all people, to see her like this...
"...That's enough."
Tilia stared at the worn toes of her shoes, then raised her head as if nothing had happened. She walked towards the counter, her heels clicking harshly on the floor.
“Who cares whether he knows or not? This is not real life. Both he and I... we are nobody to each other.”
She focused only on the counter in front, lifting her chin defiantly. It wasn't a real emotion. This suffering was just an illusion. She would soon forget about it, so there was no reason to be ashamed...
But she was unable to complete her self-assertion.
Ilex caught up with her with several long strides and took the crumpled book from her hands.
There wasn't even time to be surprised. He shoved the book he'd taken from her into the ones he had and walked straight to the counter. Before Tilia could even protest, he had already paid for everything.
What the hell?
Tilia, amazed at how quickly everything happened, frowned.
- Ilex Davenport.
She quickly walked up to the counter, coldly calling his name.
- Did I ask you to buy them for me?
It was as if he considered himself the main character of some romance novel.
With a forced smile she said to him:
- If you want to play a prince on a white horse, find yourself another girl.
- I don’t have a white horse, and I’m not going to become a prince.
He spoke indifferently, putting his wallet back into his jacket pocket.
- However, there is one condition in exchange for their purchase.
Easily taking the heavy paper bag from the smiling cashier, he glanced at Tilia.
- Share something with me.
What kind of scheme was this?
Tilia looked at him with suspicion and wariness on her face before asking directly:
- What exactly?
If he had said anything about having tea together, she would have kicked him in the shin and left immediately.
But an unexpected dessert came out of his mouth.
- Ice cream.
...Did she hear correctly?
Tilia couldn’t believe her ears and asked again:
-What do you want to share?
- Ice cream. There's an old ice cream shop not far from here. The girl I was dating told me about it, but after we broke up I never got to go there.
-……
Tilia stared at him in shock, listening to the unnecessary details.
She suddenly felt ridiculous for being so hypervigilant, waiting for him to suggest something where he could easily slip something into her food.
She involuntarily snorted and told him:
- No, thank you. Eat alone.
“I can’t go there alone,” Ilex said sharply, his face cold, “do you know how nice this place is?”
“What does this have to do with the fact that you can’t go alone?”
- If I alone go into that store hung with flowers and order ice cream...
Ilex pressed his forehead, as if this thought alone was unbearable.
- You won't understand. You're a girl. I'd rather die.
-……
“You just thought, “Then why don’t you just die,” didn’t you?
This smart asshole. Tilia looked down from the sparkling Ilex and replied:
- Then go with the girl you broke up with.
- We broke up. Why should I get slapped?
-...Anyway, I don't want to. Ask another girl.
- That's why I'm asking you now. Because you're not the type to wear a bejeweled dress just for ice cream.
Ilex, with a serious expression on his face, held out a paper bag full of books.
- In exchange for buying this, share some ice cream with me.
At some point, his expression became serious.
- I really... want to eat it.
***
-……
Tilia looked at the ice cream that was placed in front of her, then raised her head. Across from her, Ilex had his nose practically buried in the small dessert plate, concentrating solely on eating the ice cream.
Why did I come here?
Tilia sighed so deeply that the ice cream in front of her melted.
I should have just left. I should have pretended I didn't need it and walked away.
But whether it was a spontaneous decision or she was captivated by those ridiculously serious eyes, she came to this ice cream store with her own feet.
This shiny, sleek, flowery, ridiculously girly ice cream shop.
Tilia looked at Ilex displeasedly and asked:
-...Is it delicious?
He didn't even answer. He simply nodded absentmindedly, completely engrossed in the chocolate ice cream in front of him.
Well, at least it's a relief.
Each table was separated by glittering lace curtains.
“If they weren’t here, I wouldn’t even go inside.”
Tilia, who had been looking at Ilex gloomily, suddenly extended her hand as if she had just remembered this.
- Give me the books.
- I already put them under your chair.
Tilia awkwardly lowered her hand, looking at the paper bag at her feet that she hadn't even noticed.
She casually glanced at the ice cream he had ordered for her. It was decorated with decorative flowers and the ceramic spoon on the tray had a cute little bunny on the handle.
"…Yes. If a guy came here alone, it would be quite pathetic.”
Tilia grinned and took a cute spoon and tapped the bright flowers with it.
The flowers scattered with a bang. She thought they were real flowers, but it turned out to be elaborate chocolate.
"Interesting".
Without thinking, Tilia put the spoon in her mouth, her eyes widening in surprise. This was on a different level from what she usually bought for herself.
It melted in your mouth immediately, but didn't have that buttery taste that chocolate has. First of all, it was sweet, but not cloying.
“Is it because it’s expensive? It's really tasty."
Tilia glanced at Ilex, who never looked in her direction and was busy eating ice cream. She slowly pulled the spoon out of her mouth.
Looking at such delicious ice cream, she could understand why he wanted to eat it quickly.
“Even though he has so much money, he couldn’t come here for a long time. No wonder he was so impatient..."
Tilia carefully placed the spoon back next to the ice cream, watching Ilex.
She seemed not to interest him at all.
The store behind the lace curtain was empty, without a single customer. The ice cream on the waffle is already about a third melted.
-……
Looking at Ilex again, Tilia lowered her gaze to the plate of dessert.
Should I eat it? Nobody will pay attention to me anyway.
After a pause, Tilia scooped up a small spoonful of ice cream and carefully placed it in her mouth.