You! Don’t Press that Button! - Chap 61

Liras, guided by Karhan to the training grounds, slowly looked around with his usual leisurely smile. Although it was a place he had visited many times before, a strangely different feeling clung to his skin. When Karhan said he would call Doel first, Liras reached out his hand to stop him.

Although he had never seen this person before, he could find him. A deep certainty rose from within that he would surely recognize him. If his dream was ‘true’.

He examined each trainee one by one, his eyes shining. As he slowly shifted his gaze, trying to find a familiar aura, his keen senses were drawn in as if falling into a black hole. Dark hair, reminiscent of the night sky, caught his green eyes.

Despite seeing this person for the first time in reality, he felt as familiar as someone he had known for a very long time. Liras couldn’t take his eyes off him, his heart throbbing steadily.

Karhan’s eyes narrowed at the sight of Liras staring blankly at the training grounds. The Liras he had known since childhood had never acted like this before. He was always mischievous and skilled at hiding his emotions using that playfulness.

But the Liras who came to his mansion today was different. He showed his raw, unfiltered self. This behavior, so unlike his usual self, seemed strangely unstable.

Karhan, who had been standing quietly, hesitated before speaking.

“Lord Liras?”

As he called out carefully, Liras made an “Ah” sound and turned around, plastering his usual smile on his face.

“I just had something to think about.”

“I’ll call Sir Doel for you.”

“No, it’s fine. This is enough.”

Liras waved his hand as he spoke.

“I just wanted to see his face for a moment.”

For someone who said that, his gaze had been quite intense. But since Liras had drawn the line, Karhan didn’t insist further. He could only nod and end the conversation.

Liras, who had been watching Karhan, smiled gently and said,

“I’d like to stay for a few days. You have a room for me, of course?”

Realizing that his dream and reality were the same, Liras thought he only needed to confirm one more thing. The existence that hadn’t appeared in the dream but was deeply connected to Karhan in reality. He needed to confirm that.

Karhan’s stiff expression cracked at the sudden announcement that Liras would be staying for a few days. His gray eyes turned towards Liras with curiosity, but the green eyes were looking elsewhere, avoiding his gaze.

🐤

After being thoroughly washed, I sprawled out on the bed like melting ice.

In my bird form, half-submerged in warm water and being scrubbed hard, I shed a few tears. The attendant’s hand momentarily paused upon seeing the droplets of tears, but soon resumed kneading my body. The meat juices and sauce from the steak that had stuck thickly to my feathers must have dried in the meantime, as it took quite a while to clean.

I stared blankly at the ceiling. Suddenly, I didn’t want to do anything. Was it because Karhan, the only friend I had made in this world, was ignoring me? My mind was in turmoil, and I kept sighing.

Surely he must have heard my voice shouting inside his office, but Karhan didn’t even poke his head out. He didn’t even tell me to go away. He completely treated me as if I didn’t exist. The anger that had filled my head was replaced once again by feelings of hurt and disappointment.

“…That’s too much.”

When I buried my face in the pillow, the words didn’t escape but echoed in my ears as a muffled mumble.

I hadn’t seen Karhan’s face for two days. Thinking he might come at least once, I went down to the dining room faithfully, but not even a strand of his navy hair was visible. When I asked the attendants, they only told me he was in his office all day.

I heard that he occasionally went down to the training grounds to observe the knights and exercise, but he didn’t come to see me. Did he go to the training grounds to meet Doel? Have they become so close that he doesn’t need to see me anymore? My lips pouted.

“If they get along well, that’s good for me.”

I said out loud, trying to act as if it didn’t bother me. If they start dating quickly, I can safely escape from this world without getting hurt or dying. Like dust existing in the mansion, I can quietly stay stuck in a corner, and one day when I open my eyes, I might see the ceiling of my desolate studio apartment.

If that happens, I won’t be able to see Karhan again, right? And Doel… Suddenly, imagining that, my eyebrows curved downward and I involuntarily made a crying face. Making a “hueng” sound, I pressed my face into the pillow again. I had been like this all day without a single joyful thing happening.

I needed to quickly think of something else to shake off the depression before it consumed my entire body. Although there was nothing I had to do or was needed for in this world, I could create something. For now, the immediate thing I had to do was eat! Eating was the only thing I did regularly.

I washed my face lightly and neatly arranged my hair. In the mirror, I saw that the corners of my eyes and mouth were lower than usual. I raised my hand to forcibly lift the drooping corners of my mouth and eyes.

It’s not like this relationship will continue anyway. Let’s cheer up. I put on a bright smile and opened the door.

“Are you going to the dining room?”

“Yes. I’m going to have my meal there.”

The attendant skillfully followed behind. Although I hadn’t been in this mansion for long, I had already become familiar with it. I could go to the dining room, the training grounds, and Karhan’s office without needing guidance.

The large dining room door opened, and an empty space came into view. Karhan wasn’t there today either.

I stopped myself from biting my lip without realizing it. Thinking that I should get used to this kind of neglect now, I sat down. My gaze naturally shifted to the seat next to me. It was where Karhan always sat and looked at me. I closed my eyes tightly and shook my head.

After waiting for a while, the back door opened. I heard the sound of a trolley being pulled. As the dishes were placed one by one, strangely, the number of plates had doubled from usual. I opened my eyes wide and examined the table. Silver cutlery and dishes were placed across from me.

There was one more person besides me who was going to eat.

At that realization, my heart pounded. Only Karhan and I ate here. Doel could only come if invited with Karhan’s permission, and Arthur didn’t bother coming to the dining room in the first place.

In my mind, I already saw a vision of Karhan coming to eat in front of me. The muscles that had been pulling my mouth corners down seemed to regain strength as they lifted up again. My eyes curved with joy, and my legs, hidden under the table, swung back and forth with anticipation.

Although all the food was set out in front of me, I didn’t pick up my fork and knife. I didn’t want to be seen eating first when we were dining together after so long. I rolled my eyes around, eagerly expecting the large door to open. As if understanding my feelings, the golden doorknob went down.

The huge door slowly opened, and a large hand appeared through the gap. The hand that peeked out was slightly different from the shape I knew, and the color seemed lighter than usual. I thought maybe Karhan had become skinny from staying in his office so much, but then my face froze at the sudden appearance of a green head.

“Hello.”

The owner of the unfamiliar hand was none other than Liras. Why is that guy here? The corners of my mouth that had lifted up came back down as if finding their original place, and my eyes lost their smile, turning into straight lines. My brow furrowed involuntarily at the unbelievable situation.

Despite seeing my expression harden instantly, Liras didn’t erase his bright smile. Instead, he waved his hand more lightly and strode over. The place I had believed without a doubt to be Karhan’s seat was taken by Liras. He paid no attention to me, frozen and unable to do anything, and casually cut his meat as he spoke.

“The skill of the Barthes household’s chef is quite excellent.”

I know. Although I had never eaten steak at a fancy restaurant before coming to this world, I could tell that the mansion’s chef was amazing. I barely managed to suppress a sigh that was about to burst out with my remaining sanity.

So Liras had come.

Because I had been cooped up in my room, I hadn’t heard the news that someone had visited the mansion. Karhan had no intention of coming to the dining room, and I felt embarrassed for getting excited for nothing. Feeling my face heat up slightly, I lowered my head and cut my meat.

Only the sound of cutting meat was heard in the quiet dining room. It was a somewhat awkward silence. I need to finish eating quickly and go back to my room. Maybe because it was the first time eating alone with Liras, the situation felt uncomfortable. As I was chewing my meat silently, a gentle voice suddenly came from across the table.

“I’ve been watching Karhan since he was a baby.”

I, who had been looking down at my steak, raised my head. Only then could I tell. That Liras’s gaze had been fixed on me all along. His deep green eyes stared at me as if piercing through. I unconsciously gulped at that.

Hearing that sound, Liras’s eyes curved. Ah, how embarrassing. I reached out and took a sip of water for no reason. Even as I fiddled with the cup and glanced at him, his burdensome gaze was still directed at me. Despite his eyes not being attached to his chin, he skillfully cut his meat without looking at his plate.

“I was very interested because Karhan is one of the few mixed-bloods.”

“Mixed-blood?”

Are his parents from different countries? My eyebrows twitched with curiosity.

Liras carelessly took a bite of meat and reached for the wine. Unlike me drinking water, his glass was filled with a liquid the color of deep blood. He swirled it once and then slowly sipped it. Even as he tilted his chin slightly while drinking, his gaze never left me.

Why is he being so burdensome? I rolled my eyes uncomfortably. He seems to have something to say but only observes me. With a bit of unease, I touched the fork with my thumb.

“As I’ve watched him for so long, he’s a very precious existence to me. So I’m asking this, did Karhan have a lover? Even if it’s just someone you suspect, please tell me.”

It was a light question considering how much he had built it up. I curved my eyebrows strangely and tilted my head, wondering if I had heard correctly.