I don't know why he talked to me, but it doesn't matter anymore. I only wanted to live like an ordinary girl, but that was impossible now. In the past, I always dreamed of marrying Claude as my husband, but now I feel nothing.
Has my love for him faded? But my heart still races when Claude is beside me. Even my eyes keep stealing glances at how handsome he looks today. My mind and body are completely out of sync.
The words that left my mouth were harsh, but my heart kept calling his name over and over. My body still longs for his embrace. My body and mind have completely different opinions.
Luke kept talking to me, even though I only gave him harsh remarks. Yet my heart was happy when it heard Luke continuously trying to have a conversation with me. It exhausted me, leaving no energy to open my mouth.
Not long after I ignored the handsome man beside me, we arrived at our destination. It would be the first time in my life that I was getting married to the man I love. As we walked toward the place where we would register our marriage, I suddenly heard something from behind me.
"Hey, little girl."
I turned to see who it was, but I saw no one. I was certain someone had called me "little girl," but why couldn't I find anyone behind us? Luke was escorting me, and he looked at me with a confused expression.
I was sure it wasn't Claude, but I didn't want to play a guessing game, so I asked the handsome man beside me, whose arms were still wrapped around my waist.
"Did you call me?" Even though I knew I wouldn't get the answer I wanted, I still asked.
Claude responded with a question instead of answering mine.
"What do you mean?"
I looked back once more but still saw no one behind us. We were the only ones registering our marriage this early, so who could it have been? I didn't want to think negatively—maybe it was just my imagination, even if it felt far too real.
We continued walking without discussing the incident because I didn't even know how to explain it to Claude. Could I say a ghost was playing a prank on me when I wasn't even sure if it was a ghost?
I don't usually believe in those things, but Lia once told me that there are other entities in this world besides humans, animals, and plants. Remembering her words gave me goosebumps.
I hugged Claude's arm tightly in fear. We finished the marriage certificate process quicker than I expected. Then Claude suggested we have lunch together.
"How about we have lunch at a restaurant? I already reserved a place for us—it's also to celebrate our new journey," Claude said, looking at me with hope in his eyes.
I tried my best to control my expression because, right now, my lips were fighting not to curve into a smile. It was exhausting, and I almost lost control of my body. Fighting against your own body is harder than facing a boss in the most popular role-playing game today: Web Legend. A smile nearly escaped, but I took a deep breath to force it away.
I turned to Claude and said, "Alright, we'll have lunch at the place you chose. But don't imagine that I accept you as my husband, because there's no love between enemies. So don't forget to act accordingly."
I didn't want Claude to see my flushed cheeks, so I got into the car without accepting his help.
No—Claude must never find out how I truly feel, or it will become my weakness in front of him. I still didn't know the reason he agreed to marry me, so I couldn't lower my guard around him.
I stayed silent during the drive, busy calming my excited heart. Claude's shoulders drooped, and I could almost see an invisible dejected tail behind him.
Why did he look so sad? I didn't understand at all, but I didn't want to ask, even though I was a little curious.
We remained silent on the way, and soon, we arrived at the restaurant Claude had chosen.
No.
No.
This is impossible. Claude brought me to a place he hated most in his past life. He always found this place disgusting, with its overwhelming romantic atmosphere—like pink bubbles surrounding the restaurant.
He never even brought Lily here, not once. That alone proved how much he hated it. Had Claude lost his mind? Was he insane? Why would he bring me to a place he despised in the past?
Claude never liked romantic things—not even with Lily. He never gave her a single flower. He hated romantic gestures so much that he would gag just thinking about them.
I looked at him in disbelief. My heart was pounding uncontrollably because this was a place I had always wanted to visit in my past life, but I never had a boyfriend to accompany me.
My heart overflowed with joy, and I didn't know how to handle it. It felt like a dream—but it was reality, not a hallucination.
My lips couldn't stop curving up into a smile, but I tried hard to remain expressionless. Claude even chose the most romantic table, and I kept glaring at him to hide the joy threatening to shine through my face.
I couldn't back down—this was a war, not lunch. My joyful feelings almost escaped. I couldn't let Claude win.
Claude asked about the food. "How is it?" He even looked nervous, as if he had prepared the meal himself and was awaiting judgment.
I only nodded without responding. It was already difficult enough to maintain a cold appearance while my heart was blooming inside.
We ate silently, even though Claude clearly wanted to speak. He chose to remain quiet so as not to disturb me.
"What do you think of the restaurant? Do you like it? If you adore the atmosphere, we can have lunch here every day."
Claude eagerly suggested making it a regular outing. Why was he so enthusiastic, even after I had told him I didn't want to spend time with him? He was far too persistent.
I don't hate determined men, but I don't like it when Claude is the one being this stubborn. He looked at me with teary eyes, silently begging me not to say no. But I wouldn't let him soar too high—because the fall would be painful.
"You want us to eat here all the time? It's far from your company and our house," I said, glaring to shut him up. But Claude was surprisingly shameless.
"It's not far at all. If we use my car, the trip will be short. But if you don't want to come here, we can go somewhere else," Claude replied without backing down.
I let out a deep sigh and answered, "Why are you so persistent? I already said I don't want to spend any more time with you. Please stop being this stubborn—it's leading nowhere."
"It's not that I'm persistent—it's that you keep refusing my offers. Why? Do you hate me now?" Claude asked with moist eyes, but I didn't feel sorry for him.
"I don't need to answer such an obvious question. Love or hate—it doesn't concern you. Where were you when you trampled on my feelings and never looked back, even when I was crying desperately? So don't play the pitiful card. It won't work on me."
Claude looked at me, stunned, his mouth slightly agape.
---
Small Theater
Author: You're such a tsundere, Mio. Hehehe.
Mio: I am not a tsundere.
Author: Then… do you love Claude in your heart?
Mio: NO.
Author: Then… do you hate Claude?
Mio: N...O hesitates
Author: So that means you love Claude, right?
Mio: "..." Where did that conclusion come from?!
---