Chapter 38: Different people, different feelings

“Let’s go with this place.”

Simon, who had been silently following behind Lila, looked up. It was the same steakhouse that Conflor had brought her to during the Flower Festival.

The lingering warmth of that happy day still remained in his heart.

He wondered when he could invite the shopkeeper out again, no, even an hour, or half an hour would be enough. As long as he stayed by that white-haired girl’s side, it felt like even the wounds in his heart were being healed.

Once that thought appeared, it spread wildly like weeds.

But soon, Simon grew troubled. A festival alone wasn’t enough, he needed a reason convincing enough to invite her out.

Last time, he had used Alice’s magic performance competition as an excuse.

Simon wasn’t a dull person. From his perspective, Conflor treated him like a stray cat or dog she had taken in, giving without expecting anything in return.

It wasn’t that it felt bad, but if he indulged in that kind of affection, he would always remain a greedy child in that dynamic.

If he wanted their relationship to move forward, it had to become equal. Right now, Conflor was always the one giving, while he merely greedily accepted her warmth. If he invited her for his own reasons, he would likely be rejected.

“I’ll have this.”

Lila casually ordered from the waiter.

“Yes, honored lady.”

The waiter bowed slightly.

“And you, Simon? Order for yourself. I can grant a failed person a sliver of insignificant mercy.”

“Thank you for your generosity, Miss.”

Simon took the menu from her, but he had no mood to choose. He really was a failure.

If he stayed this weak, he would never earn equal treatment from Conflor. He wanted to be relied on too, to be asked to do something.

But as he was now, he could do nothing.

Looking at the menu, he remembered the steak from that festival.

“I’ll have this.”

Compared to Lila, the waiter treated Simon coldly, just shrugging and taking the menu without even responding properly.

Lila, bored, idly played with her utensils, staring at Simon with unfocused eyes.

It sent a chill down his spine. For a moment, he imagined this villainess placing him on a plate and carving him up.

He shook his head, not daring to think further.

In reality, Lila was simply daydreaming. She liked this place, but the wait was long, and she had run out of insults for Simon, so she could only pass the time.

After a while, Simon realized she was just quietly fidgeting, not saying a word.

Strangely enough, when she was like this, she looked… quite beautiful.

Of course, only when she wasn’t wearing those mocking, disdainful expressions.

Soon, the steaks were served.

Lila picked up her knife and fork, cutting and eating with noble elegance, though still somewhat absent-minded.

A strange sense of familiarity washed over Simon. For a moment, the red-haired villainess across from him blurred into the image of the shopkeeper.

Like Conflore eating steak while casually chatting about her shop’s future.

Startled by his own thoughts, Simon shook his head. Lila wasn’t even comparable to a single strand of the shopkeeper’s hair, how could he think something so absurd?

“Simon, aren’t you eating? Ah, I see, you’ve probably never had something this good in your life, so you’re stunned. If you behave, I might bring you here again sometime.”

Lila sneered.

That was the familiar Lila.

Her expression oddly reassured him.

“Thank you, Miss. I truly haven’t.”

Simon forced a respectful smile.

“How strange.”

Lila muttered.

She was acting so terribly, yet Simon showed no reaction at all.

Did she hit him too hard earlier? Had she made him stupid?

‘That wouldn’t do.’

If Simon became a completely obedient fool, that would ruin everything.

She needed to test him.

Swirling her wine glass, she watched the red liquid move, and suddenly got an idea.

Simon was quietly eating his steak. The taste was exactly the same as before, but the person across from him wasn’t.

With the shopkeeper, he wished time would stretch endlessly.

With Lila, he just wanted it to end.

Suddenly, a splash.

Before he could react, red wine was poured over his head.

Cold liquid ran down his face, soaking his collar, the sour scent filling his nose.

He looked up into those mocking crimson eyes.

Anger surged within him like a beast. His fists clenched unconsciously.

He knew it, there was no way a meal with Lila would be peaceful.

“Look at you, like a stray dog. But if you wag your tail and beg me, I might let you off. Want to try?”

Lila laughed loudly.

Simon stared at her, then lowered his head.

He couldn’t oppose her now.

The gazes of other diners burned into his back, making him feel utterly humiliated.

“I refuse. I won’t do that.”

He knew begging wouldn’t help, it would only make things worse.

“So my ‘education’ hasn’t crushed your pride yet?”

Lila stared at him, smiling as she felt her lifespan subtly increase.

“Fine. I’ll let this slide. But next time… not just you. Your friend, Alice, right? She’ll also-”

Even dragging Alice into this?

Simon clenched his teeth, humiliation flooding him.

“Thank you for your mercy, Miss Lila.”

His body was soaked in wine. The night wind made him shiver, but the cold was nothing compared to the anger burning inside.

He sat there, head lowered, thinking of how to escape this situation, and how to gain enough strength to resist her in the future.

Seeing his restraint, Lila seemed to lose interest.

“Enough. You can leave.”

She waved her hand dismissively.

“If you disappoint me again, you know the consequences.”

Simon felt as if he’d been granted a pardon.

He stood up slowly, unsteady, and walked toward the exit without looking back.

As he passed other tables, he felt their gazes, curious, disdainful, but he only wanted to escape.

Outside, the cold night wind hit him.

His body grew colder.

But his heart burned hotter.

He didn’t know when this life would end.

But somewhere inside, he still hoped for a turning point.