Horselius took Celine's hand and accompanied her outside. Celine's condition was stable for now, but she felt slightly dizzy as she walked, and her vision blurred:"
_Horselius, I... I feel a little dizzy, I don't think I can walk any farther." Celine said in a troubled tone.
_Come on, I'll carry you." the boy replied with a smile.
_Huh?! Yeeeeah... I don't think that's a good idea, especially since just walking with you... attracts a lot of attention."
_I don't care about the students' stares, I'm worried about you! And I have to take responsibility because I'm the reason all of this happened, and because I'm the head boy."
_Alright... You can help me walk slowly instead of carrying me, I'll hold onto your shoulder."
Celine felt embarrassed by the situation she was in, while Horselius seemed serious. The boy pulled her closer and held her left side with his right hand, while placing her right hand on his left shoulder and holding it firmly.
At that moment, Celine felt a strange warmth... His concern for her was filled with a tenderness that no one had ever shown her before. 'But I wonder, what is the reason for his intense concern for me? What makes me different from the other girls? Could he perhaps have feelings for me?? And his tears... He had been sincere and pure with me to the utmost degree... I never imagined that a man could cry so easily just because it was me...' Celine thought.
At the same time, Marcus was holding Lilia's hand, preparing to cross the street leading to the high school.
He had arrived fifteen minutes before the students' dismissal time and had planned to wait in the administration office, but he did not know that his daughter and the head boy had left at exactly that time.
Marcus passed through the main entrance and swept his gaze across the courtyard, and to his surprise, his eyes fell upon a boy holding Celine and walking with her.
The father's mouth fell open and his limbs trembled, while Lilia stood frozen in place after seeing the scene, but she quickly pulled herself together and ran toward them, shouting:"
_Leave my sister alone, you bastard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!."
Both Celine and Horselius were startled to see Lilia running toward them. Celine let go of Horselius and dropped to her knees, opening her arms to hug Lilia:"
_Hello, my dear Lilia! What are you doing here?."
Celine said with a gentle smile:"
The little girl threw herself into her sister's arms and said:"
_I'm glad you're okay, sis. This stranger didn't do anything bad to you, did he???!!."
_Of course not. Hahaha. He's a good person, don't worry."
_I have a different opinion about this person." Her father's voice came sharply from about five meters away.
The girl laughed at her father's reaction and clarified:"
_Don't worry, nothing is going on. It's just that he was helping me walk because I was feeling a little dizzy."
_And how do you explain the two of you leaving before dismissal?! And why didn't you ask one of your female friends for help???!!." Marcus added in an even harsher tone.
Celine opened her mouth, intending to answer her father, but Horselius beat her to it, kneeling before him and saying:"
_You have every right to be upset, sir, I'm the cause of everything. Because of my stupidity, I surprised Celine at an unexpected moment, which frightened her terribly and caused her temperature to rise, and then she lost consciousness. I sincerely apologize for my foolish behavior, sir, and I am prepared to do anything you ask of me. I took her to the infirmary immediately, and she woke up a little while ago, so I took her outside, and I will take care of the lessons she missed. I am truly sorry for what happened."
Silence fell over the place after Horselius's words. Marcus did not know how to respond and looked at his daughter.
Celine took a deep breath, then reassured everyone:"
_I'm fine now, so there's no need to make a big deal out of this. I accepted the head boy's apology and I've moved past it. So please don't worry about me."
Lilia wiped away a tear that had fallen from the corner of her eye and asked one last time:"
_So you're completely fine, right? Nothing hurts anywhere, right."
_I told you not to worry about me, it's just a slight headache."
_Huh?! If it was just a slight headache, then why were you hugging this boy?!!!!!!!!!!."
_Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No, no, no, that's not true!!! It's not like that! He was only helping me keep my balance! It's not what you... think..."
Celine's face turned red out of embarrassment, while Horselius looked away, biting his lip.
Lilia continued:"
_Is this the so-called Herolphus?!."
_Hahaha, no... His name is Horselius, and speak politely, it's not appropriate to address him so rudely."
_But he wants to take you away from me!!! I won't let him do that, and I won't respect him."
_No!!! Take that back! And besides, no one is going to take me away, so don't worry. By the way... why are you still on the ground, Horselius? Come on, get up, it's over."
Horselius stood up with a strange frown on his face. He had felt a pang of pain when Celine said:"No one is going to take me away," while if his father found out about her, he would take her to the laboratory once again. Now he was even more certain that Celine's safety was his personal responsibility, and that he had to ensure it even if it cost him his life.
Marcus studied Horselius carefully, then asked:"
_You! Boy, what does your father do for a living? And where do you live?."
_My father is a businessman, and we live in a villa on the main street." the boy replied.
_Hmmm... Will your parents and the servants worry if you are a little late getting home?."
_No, they know I have responsibilities as the head boy, and sometimes I attend evening meetings with the principal. Besides, my parents rarely come home."
_I see... Then it won't occur to them that a man kidnapped you for a few hours."
_Excuse me?! What!!!!."
_Hahaha, I'm only joking with you. You'll come with us willingly, won't you? No, I mean, will you accept my invitation?."
_It would be an honor."
_I haven't told you where we're going, so how can you consider it an honor?."
_Whatever it is, that's fine."
_Even if it's to the cemetery-"
_Daaaaad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stop! What are you talking about?!!!!." Celine interrupted him.
_I don't mind." Horselius said.
_You be quiet." the girl snapped.
_What bothers you about it? Would you be sad for me if-"
_I said be quiet!!!!!!!!!!."
The father smiled as he watched the two of them bicker, then thought to himself: 'This person isn't bad... I think my daughter gets along with him quite well despite this amusing bickering between them... He seems to care about her, it's good that he handled things properly after she fainted...'
Lilia took her sister's hand to help her walk and stuck her tongue out at Horselius in childish defiance. To Celine's surprise, Horselius accepted the challenge and pulled her other arm toward him. Celine found herself in a ridiculous position, Lilia pulling one of her hands from one side and Horselius pulling her other hand from the other. She looked like a doll that all the sisters in the world were fighting over, and her position was anything but comfortable. 'Poor Barbie, the one Lilia and I used to fight over like this when we were children... I don't know how her arms stayed attached for years...' Celine remembered, then pleaded:"
_Please let me go, I'm not a toy for the two of you. Horselius!!! Are you putting your mind on the same level as a little girl's?!."
_I'm not a little girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!." Lilia protested.
_Alright, young lady, would you please let me go?."
_Tell him to let you go first, and who does he think he is to put his hands on you?!."
_It is my duty to ensure the safety of the students within the school." Horselius explained.
When it seemed that the argument was about to escalate and grow worse, their father intervened:"
_Stop talking and all of you pay attention to the street we're about to cross. Hurry up a little."
Everyone obeyed Marcus's words and followed him until they finally reached the car.
To be Continued...