Chapter 32: Chapter 36: Welcome Back

The next day, Fran still couldn’t find a good opportunity to leave.

He racked his brain, but it was clear this couldn’t continue.

If all else failed… he would have to go to Yuli, report to her, and make up some excuse to go out. Then he could find a chance to contact his teacher.

Giving her a heads-up like that would likely make things much easier.

But…

He couldn’t be certain that Yuli would trust him completely.

If he aroused her suspicion, the risk would far outweigh any potential reward.

‘What should I do?’

As he wrestled with this dilemma, he suddenly turned and found Yuli standing right behind him.

Fran jumped, stumbling back two steps. Yuli tilted her head, confused.

“What’s wrong, Fran? It’s time to eat. Shall we go?”

“Ah…”

Hu…

Fran let out a breath of relief. She had just come to get him for a meal.

He nodded nervously. Yuli was a bit puzzled; the boy had seemed so lost in thought just a moment ago. But then she remembered her own behavior from yesterday, and, well…

She didn’t have the heart to ask. Perhaps Fran was just frightened by what had happened, and this was some kind of stress reaction to her presence.

‘Mm… that sounds even worse.’ She thought. ‘I don’t want Fran to hate me.’

‘I have to control myself from now on. Yes… I absolutely must.’

They left Fran’s room, one following the other. They didn’t hold hands this time, and Yuli dared not make any more intimate gestures.

Fran cautiously observed Yuli’s movements. ‘Strange…’

‘She doesn’t seem to be leading me to the dining hall. Where… where is she taking me?’

‘This isn’t right. Are we going the wrong way?’

A sense of foreboding rose in Fran’s heart. ‘Could it be…’

‘Have I been exposed?’

‘Where does this path lead?’

Hiss—

Yuli suddenly stopped. She stood before the door to a room and glanced back at Fran, noticing his face seemed a bit pale.

‘Is he sick? Why does he look so terrified right now?’

She didn’t dwell on it and pulled the door open.

Fran held his breath. If he wasn’t mistaken, behind this door should be the tor—

Eh?

A black dining table and two chairs. And on the table… was food?

Fran was momentarily stunned. Yuli stepped aside, allowing him a clear view of everything inside the room.

This…

This was just an ordinary little dining room!

A maid inside the room nodded to them. Yuli led Fran in and waved her hand dismissively. The maid retreated, pulling the door closed behind her.

“Hee hee. From now on, let’s have our meals here~ I like eating with people I’m close to. The main dining hall is just too crowded. I’m not used to it.”

Yuli pulled out a chair, habitually explaining the situation to Fran.

“Oh… I see.”

Fran nodded awkwardly. He hadn’t expected this at all.

He sat down, still feeling a bit out of place. Seeing that Yuli had already picked up her knife and fork, he could only follow her lead.

‘Just eat something…’

The two of them ate their breakfast in silence.

Mm~

As Yuli ate, she kept stealing glances at Fran, her attention divided.

‘Ah, so cute…’

‘Even the way he eats is adorable.’

“If there’s anything you want to eat in the future, just tell me. I’ll have someone make it for you to try, Fran~”

Yuli smiled, lifting a small foot clad in white silk and rubbing it against Fran’s calf.

Clatter!

Suddenly, Fran slammed his knife and fork down, startling Yuli. The girl drew her foot back, looking at him with surprise and confusion.

“Fran, you… what’s wrong?”

“It’s… it’s nothing!”

Fran didn’t know what was wrong with him either. Even if he was feigning reluctance, he shouldn’t be making such a sour face.

But… whether it was from the excessive anxiety of his earlier paranoid thoughts, or from the frustration of being bullied by Yuli yesterday without fighting back, he now found her affectionate words utterly repulsive.

But…

Looking at Yuli’s hurt expression, as if she had no idea what she’d done wrong, Fran didn’t know what to say.

He had to find another excuse. “I… I came here to be a servant. Miss Yuli, you can entrust the cooking to me as well. I won’t just sit here and eat for free without doing anything.”

“Oh… is that so…” Yuli nodded meekly. She had always been exceptionally patient with Fran, and now she was a little afraid of making him angry again, so she went along with his words.

“Alright, Fran. You can go help in the kitchen. Let me taste your cooking. I’m looking forward to it…”

‘That should be okay, right?’

Yuli watched Fran’s face for any change. His expression showed little emotion, but at least it wasn’t as frightening as before.

“Mm…” Fran nodded, then seized the opportunity. “Miss Yuli, I’d like to go out this afternoon. Is that alright?”

“Oh, that?” Yuli nodded傻傻地. “Of course. You don’t need to ask my permission to go out. You’re free to come and go as you please. But you can’t stay out overnight. I’d worry about you!”

“Yes… I understand.”

After that, Fran said no more, which put Yuli in a terrible mood as well.

After a long while, Fran finished his meal, silently cleared his place, and quietly left.

‘Hmph…’

‘She says I’m a maid, but I haven’t done a single thing.’

Fran laughed at himself sardonically.

****

When the sky darkened, the sun had set, and night began to fall, Fran slipped out of the manor.

This time, no strange maids appeared to stop him, and the guards at the gate paid him no mind. It seemed Yuli must have given them instructions.

Fran took two deep breaths as he walked the streets of Purburg at night.

He had chosen to go out in the evening because it was quieter and more discreet, and a visit to a tavern would seem more plausible.

Crossing the New Bridge, the boy turned his head and glanced toward the nightclub district.

He narrowed his eyes, staring at the bizarre pairings of Francian prostitutes and Teutonic soldiers. He watched the women, held in the arms of enemy soldiers, still smiling and fawning over their conquerors.

How pathetic…

Heh…

Fran turned away with a self-deprecating sneer. His mind was consumed with thoughts of himself and Yuli—all the false pretenses, the fake affections, those moments that the foolish woman saw as sweet.

It was sickening.

‘I’m such trash. Trash, trash…’

‘I absolutely, absolutely cannot become like those women.’

His heart screamed and his stomach churned, but on the surface, he could only pretend that everything was normal.

He looked around, and after confirming no one was following him, he slipped into the tavern through a hidden back entrance and opened the secret door.

Creeak—

As the hidden door swung open, a familiar figure appeared before him. Fran felt a sting in his nose, and tears welled in his eyes.

“Teacher… I… I’m back.”

“Ah, welcome home~”

Alina sat there peacefully, as if she had known all along that he would come. She smiled at him.

“I knew you could do it. Welcome back, Fran!”