Chapter 42
Bibi suddenly realized that she had never gone to the dining room with Seniel before.
Walking down the quiet hallway, where no servants were around, the memory of crying so openly earlier began to feel a little embarrassing. She felt a warmth at her fingertips. Holding Seniel’s hand and walking a half-step ahead of him felt awkward in a subtle way.
She wondered when letting go of his hand would feel natural.
“By the way, Bibi… how did you know about that room?”
The hesitant voice carried a lot of curiosity. Surprised, Bibi tightened her grip instead of letting go. The pressure made Seniel’s broad shoulders flinch slightly.
Bibi rolled her eyes, searching for something to say. Walking a half-step ahead had turned out to be fortunate.
“Well… um, I thought maybe we could have dinner early, so I came to ask… but you weren’t in the room… so I went looking for you… and then… I just happened to… see the light on…”
Her fumbling excuse had the advantage of hiding her embarrassed face.
But the incomplete nature of her explanation sounded suspicious, even without watching her expression.
Seniel thought back. Hadn’t he closed the curtains? Even if they were open, no one outside could have seen inside.
How could it have been a coincidence?
After thinking carefully, he concluded:
‘If Bibi says so, then that must be it.’
There was no doubt. By now, Bibi’s words were truth and law to him.
Bibi was nervous, expecting Seniel to interrogate her in detail. Fortunately, that didn’t happen. Even though it felt awkward that he let her flimsy excuse slide, there was no need to dig the subject up again and bury herself.
They entered the dining room and sat in their usual spots. The hand she had been holding all along finally let go only as they reached the dining room.
She felt an inexplicable emptiness as soon as she let go. But it was fleeting enough that Bibi barely noticed.
The meal was like any other. Except the atmosphere felt more relaxed. She wasn’t sure if crying like a mess earlier had somehow improved their closeness.
No, cancel that. The meal isn’t like usual.
Bibi rolled her eyes while chewing. Her expression showed both exasperation and a sense of “what is he even doing?”
“Um, Seniel… we don’t need this much food…”
Unable to hold back, Bibi timidly spoke her mind, pointing at the pile of food in front of her. She hadn’t greedily collected the food herself, so the culprit was obviously Seniel.
He had neatly pushed food toward her, and soon she was surrounded by dishes.
“…Oh? I thought you might be hungry, that’s why… but this is too much…”
Seniel’s face visibly drooped. Seeing his downcast expression reminded Bibi of what he had just said—that he only wished her to be healthy, even if it didn’t help him.
“…Now that I think about it, this amount seems okay. Thank you.”
Well… Bibi rolled her eyes at the plates and then changed her mind. There was a lot, but not so much that she couldn’t eat it. When she met Seniel’s eyes, she smiled faintly. Seeing her smile, color returned to his face.
A gentle blush spread across his cheeks, as if painting a subtle, joyful warmth. A smile, seemingly mimicking hers, etched itself on his face.
Hmm. Something feels off.
Was it her imagination? Bibi thought Seniel seemed different somehow.
Normally, after finishing a meal, they would part ways and head to their respective rooms.
“Do you want to follow me?”
Bibi grabbed Seniel. He couldn’t resist her playful, slightly pouty smile.
As usual, Seniel paused, expecting her to take his hand first. It was a strange habit formed because Bibi often acted before speaking.
But Bibi didn’t know that. And she couldn’t have known.
Seniel stared at her retreating figure for a moment before following. The evening sun was fading. A night breeze brushed across his empty hand.
Bibi strode ahead. She didn’t need to check if Seniel was following; the soft sound of his steps behind her was enough.
She paused as she walked, contemplating.
The flowers blooming at her feet caught her attention.
‘We had a recital today… so there’s no need to pick flowers.’
The place Bibi led Seniel to was the mansion’s garden—also where she often “borrowed” flowers.
To her, flowers were less about romance and more like survival supplies—especially for days that were otherwise dull or unremarkable.
Today had been eventful, so she didn’t really need to take any. Even without flowers, she could report back to Kid with some dignity.
Yet Bibi bent down and chose a yellow gerbera.
“Look. This will protect me again, okay?”
“Yes.”
The reason for taking the flower was solely to stabilize Seniel.
Seniel watched her carefully, still unable to understand how a flower could protect her.
But he didn’t question it. If Bibi said so, then it was so.
Bibi glanced sideways, laughing quietly. The sight of Seniel bending down to follow her, looking serious while picking a flower, struck her as oddly funny.
Does he really understand? And how can someone so innocent survive this harsh life?
“It’s a gift.”
Suddenly, the gerbera she picked was held proudly in front of Seniel.
“Let’s live diligently together from now on.”
Seniel recoiled, stepping back as he reached for the flower. She stared at him, one step closer.
“Seniel?”
She tilted her head, questioning, but he didn’t come closer. His hand offering the flower felt awkward. He attempted to drop it as if scratching his cheek.
Ah… God.
Seniel called on a god he had never prayed to, except perhaps in his earliest childhood.
Thump, thump. His heart raced uncontrollably. His emotions imprinted vividly in his mind. His fingertips tingled like a shock.
Her gentle eyes, mischievous smile, the hand holding out the flower, and the tender voice urging him to live together—all rooted deeply in his mind, shaking him violently.
His body felt soaked in sweetness, like sugar water. This wasn’t good. It was dangerous.
“Seniel?”
Bibi approached his pale face. He shook his head, signaling her not to come closer.
His pupils trembled pitifully, and he muttered something that left Bibi thoroughly confused.
“…Bibi. I forgot I had something I needed to do…”
“Huh? Now?”
“I’ll go first.”
And with that, he turned and ran off.
Bibi hadn’t walked far before Seniel vanished from sight. She stared blankly.
‘I didn’t even take it with me…’
Should she bring it to him? She looked down at the gerbera awkwardly.
Seniel entered his room and put on his coat, ready to leave the mansion at any moment. But he didn’t make it far before collapsing to the floor.
[<You should keep better watch over your wife.>]
He couldn’t ignore the warning note that had arrived on the day he left Bibi behind. If he left again, who knew what might come flying at him this time.
“Ha.”
He buried his face in his hands. His heart continued to pound uncontrollably, each beat a torment. Bibi’s face kept flashing in his mind, and he felt an aching helplessness.
He frowned and pouted, frustrated at his own inability to act despite realizing his love.
“Ha.”
If willpower alone could suppress Kid, Seniel would have done it countless times. But Kid awoke easily from Seniel’s body.
Upon waking, Kid let out a frustrated sigh. Ridiculous.
All the fragmented memories and emotions rushing at once made him grit his teeth.
[It’s a gift.]
Bibi’s grinning face and her words prickled Kid’s chest in an intensely unpleasant way. Sharing these emotions was unbearable. Ridiculous, what a gift.
The more time passed, the worse Kid felt.
[Let’s live diligently together from now on.]
Short bursts of memory and emotion repeated relentlessly in his mind. Ha, a grand love? With whom? Live diligently together?
He always felt unpleasant when emotions were shared, so this reaction was natural.
Unlike a predator like him, Seniel’s emotions were usually either overwhelmingly sad or unbearably anguished.
Kid could hardly enjoy such weak emotions.
Yet today, it wasn’t just unpleasant—it was downright infuriating. Even discounting his usual reactions, the intensity of his anger was far beyond before.
“Damn it.”
And the memories kept repeating, taunting him.
Normally, even with shared emotions, they didn’t loop endlessly like this.
It was the first time memories repeated this way—but he didn’t bother analyzing why.
He felt miserable, and there was no time or need to care. Excuses or reasoning didn’t suit him.
Kid roughly ran a hand through his hair and stood. He didn’t approach the door immediately, instead scouring the room obsessively.
Specifically, he stopped in front of the vase, staring at it intently.
Growing impatient—or perhaps overwhelmed by rising emotion—he couldn’t continue the delicate task of searching.
But he didn’t leave the vase alone either.
Clang! He threw it to the floor.
Squinting one eye, he flung the door open violently.
The hallway was so quiet it felt eerie, but Kid strode out without fear.
In truth, he had no reason to feel this bad. This was the exact moment he had been waiting for.
When someone Seniel cared for deeply appeared, Kid would take it away. That was his goal.
His intimidation of Bibi had been solely for that purpose—nothing else.
Despite the long-awaited moment, Kid rushed toward Bibi’s room empty-handed. A predatory anger flared in his eyes, similar to his own hunger for life.
The door to Bibi’s room opened effortlessly. Kid stepped inside the unlit room casually.
Thump, thump. His steps echoed loudly. Bibi, who had been asleep, slowly opened her eyes.
“…You’re here?”
Her voice was groggy, and she naturally lifted the blanket beside her.
But Kid focused entirely on her face, not noticing the empty space beside her. Her calm expression made his frown deepen further.
“Looks like you two had quite the date.”
The mocking voice so close jolted her awake. Glowing red eyes flickered in the darkness.
“W-what?”
She had been quiet for days, and now this. Bibi scrambled to get up but couldn’t. She was trapped by Kid, who had one hand on the bedhead and the other beside her.
