Chapter 159

I was surprised.

Yeah, to be honest, I thought about Perez when I saw Larane and Avinox a little while ago.

But that's just a glimpse.

"Tia?"

As I stood still without approaching anymore, Perez walked toward me.

And for a moment he looked at my expression with a smile and asked.

"By any chance, were you finally thinking about me?"

"Oh, no!"

I'm doomed.1

I denied it too loudly.

When did you get to read other people's minds when you looked like a statue with a straight face?

Perez opened his eyes wide due to my strong denial and soon smiled again, bending his eyes finely.

"Why, why are you here?"

Perez answered my question, lifting a box of cake in his hand.

"I thought of you on my way somewhere."

"You always tend to relate me to sweet food, Perez. Of course, I like sweet food, but..."

I suddenly had a question while talking.

“But where are you going, passing the Lombardy mansion?”

"To meet a close classmate at the academy."

As far as I know, it was Lignite Luman, Avinox's brother, who was his best friend at the Academy.

Then he's on his way to the Monak Top.

The Monak Top branch is also in the Capital.

It's near the Palace.

I squinted and asked again.

"Are you sure you're on your way?"

When I poked, Perez kept his mouth shut and just smiled.

That's the face he makes when he can't even lie to me.

“Well, you must have something difficult to tell other people too.”

I said with a shrug.

"Thank you, I'll enjoy the meal."

The cake box handed over from Perez was quite heavy.

"Your hands are big."

I can never eat this alone.

I pointed to the closed door and asked Perez.

“Would you like to go get a cup of tea? With cake.”

"...Can I?"

Perez raised his eyebrows, surprised.

"What! Perez, what's wrong with your reaction?"

“Because I didn’t make an appointment in advance.”

I thought it was because I said a long time ago, 'I'm busy, so contact me in advance'.

I opened the door with a small sigh, beckoning to come in.

"...Did you have guests?"

Perez looked at the teapots of two people still on the table and asked.

"Avinox Luman came and went."

"Avinox? Why?"

"It turned out that Avinox was dating Larane. It's a secret to other people."

Actually, I called him to discuss the Eastern business case and found out about it.

I said it without saying anything important.

"Oh?..."

Perez nodded quickly, surprised.

I picked the right tea leaves and made tea again.

"As expected, Caramel Avenue's dessert is the best."

Eating a lot of sweet custard cream seemed to relieve my fatigue.

Perez also took a bite of the same cake mine and nodded in agreement.

So we sat side by side and finished the cake one after another.

Eventually, there is only one small cream pie left on the plate.

It's embarrassing to blame him for buying a lot.

Perez was patting his stomach with satisfaction and said.1

"Tia, you got something on your mouth."

"Oh, really?"

At the words, I looked around.

But I couldn't see anything to wipe my mouth.

I was thinking about wiping it with my sleeve.

"I'll clean it for you."

Perez reached out and swept my mouth with his fingers.

It was so natural and outspoken that I missed the right time to stop it.

I looked at Perez in a daze.

I could feel Perez's fingers slowly touching my lips.

At that moment, things in Ivan suddenly came to my mind as if they were on fire.

That thing in bed.2

Apparently, my face is on fire, too.

When a woman has cream on her lips, it is common to steal it with your fingers.

At least, that was the case in books or news about romance.

Yeah. It's such a common and sometimes cheesy scene.

My heart was beating too hard, facing Perez now.

Perez's finger brushed my lips were as hot as fire, and I couldn't take my eyes off Perez's mouth, licking the stolen cream.

He must have noticed that, too.

When I see a smile hanging on his red lips.

"..."

I scooped up the leftover dessert with the fork I had put down.

I heard Perez laughing low next to me, but I focused only on the cake.3

Of course, this time, I'll be careful not to get anything in my mouth.

* * *

Gallahan visited Pellet Corporation after a long time.

Not long after returning from Cheshire, there was still a lingering feeling, but Gallahan's face was full of life.

It was because he had such a good thing ahead of him.

Arriving in front of Clerivan's office, Gallahan knocked without hesitation.1

"Come on in."

As if waiting, the voice of Clerivan immediately came.

"Sir Clerivan."