The Desire to Hide (7)

The capital’s festival continued day and night.

All day long, people were partying on the streets, talking and singing.

At the same time, many people flocked to my mansion.

Of course, thanks to the hard work of the guards, no one entered the mansion.

Sometimes, there were people trying to climb over the wall and peek through the window, which led to difficult situations.

“That’s why you have to keep the curtains closed on all the windows in the mansion. “Understand, right?”

Celica asked the children with a voice full of worry.

Everyone seemed to dislike it, but I couldn’t refute it and just agreed.

At least they decided to build the wall high so that people couldn’t easily climb over it.

I decided to live with the curtains closed until the public announcement was completed.

Since there were no fluorescent lights, the mansion had to be lit only by candles.

“They say they will build a high wall in a week, so be patient.”

“Yes. The problem is that people are making noise. “I can hear a strange sound beyond the wall.”

That part couldn’t be helped. No matter how high the wall is built, it cannot block the sound.

If the wall is built higher than it is now, it will have a soundproofing effect, but the higher it is, the more people will raise their voices.

In particular, those who do not like us will be even more evil.

“Wouldn’t things get a little better once the festival is over?”

“Well. In fact, it may become even more noisy because there are only people left.”

Celica was right.

Right now, most of the sounds I hear beyond the mansion are shouts of resentment or protest against me.

However, if you treat them carelessly, the capital could become infamous.

‘Do celebrities always experience this kind of thing?’

Even in their hometown, fans of popular singers, actors, and celebrities follow them.

I heard that some of them follow you home or try to break into your home.

Of course, in my case, there are mostly haters rather than fans.

“Everyone, let’s be careful. It will calm down a bit over time.”

Since it is festival season, the streets are always chaotic.

If you show up outside now, you will soon be surrounded by people.

I am sorry to my colleagues, but I have asked them not to go out for the time being.

“Yes. I understand…”

In particular, Tyria looked full of regret.

I had wanted to visit the capital or wander around for a long time, but the situation was not conducive.

Maybe I should take her out later when the situation calms down.

We have already become too famous for that. I probably won’t be able to walk the streets comfortably.

Should I just move to a rural village when everything is over?

While my worries deepened, Erina was quietly looking at me.

“…”

A colder expression than usual. Eyes full of dissatisfaction.

I could feel how stressed she was.

I wasn’t in a good mood this morning either because people’s shouting woke me up.

“Let’s just stay inside the mansion until the festival ends. “If you don’t have anything to see, don’t go to the garden.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“Yes…”

Except for Kayla, everyone else answered in a weak voice.

I felt uncomfortable, but what can I do? It is unavoidable for safety.

The afternoon passed by in a boring way.

All afternoon, the children ran around the mansion to play, and Celica ran around to calm them down.

Tyria went into her room and spent time reading letters from her family and writing replies.

Kayla trained in her room as usual, and when she finished, she snooped around in front of the room to see if she wanted to talk to me.

Then, a fight almost broke out with Erina, but time passed as they were stopped as usual.

As the sun was setting, the guests who had been waiting arrived.

“You came as expected.”

“Shit. “I thought I was going to die because it was so noisy.”

Catalina was full of frustration as soon as she entered the mansion.

It looks like he got into a fight with people who were making a fuss outside.

“But nothing special happened.”

“Okay. “I did yell at one person, though.”

“…Wouldn’t that be the same as if nothing happened?”

Malcolm, too, seemed to have given up on trying to stop him and nodded in resignation.

If it ended with just yelling like he said, then nothing major would have happened.

“Julia said she would be coming soon. “He came to my house for a while.”

“Even though you are very busy, you said you would make time to come. “I was told that I would have to go back to the request center after dinner.”

Ironically, the busiest person among us is Julia.

I felt sorry because she was actually the one cleaning up after our accident.

I asked Serika and the kids to prepare a delicious dinner, and Tyria followed along, offering to help in the kitchen.

Only Kayla and Erina stayed by my side, and Catalina looked at them intently.

Kayla quickly turned her head as if her gaze was burdensome, but Erina did not flinch and just looked straight ahead.

The moment the two people’s eyes met, Catalina smiled and crossed her legs.

“It’s a shame because I hurt my left arm. If it weren’t for that, we would have had one more fight.”

“…”

“I know I’m lucky. It will come back together as soon as it gets better.”

“…I’m going to lose anyway.”

Erina, who had always kept her mouth shut, suddenly opened her mouth.

It was a very small voice, but I could clearly hear it.

Unlike before, where he always ignored me or gave cold answers, it was quite an emotional response.

Then Catalina smiled as if she was happy.

“Okay? How do you know without trying?”

“Because you are that bad.”

“Stop. Erina.”

I, who was worse than I was, calmed down Erina.

I knew how sensitive she was now, so it wasn’t a good idea to get into a fight with her anymore.

But of course Catalina had no intention of stopping.

“Okay? “You can join right away if you want?”

“Sister. “Stop it now!”

“What is so serious? “I’m just saying let’s have a round of sparring.”

“It’s not even fully healed yet! Do you really want one of your arms to fly off?”

Likewise, Malcolm stopped him in a more serious tone than before.

If I sparred while I was still injured and couldn’t get my body back on track, I could have lost my arm forever.

Catalina also laughed out loud and patted Malcolm on the back, as if she didn’t really intend to fight.

“Okay. You’re right. “I’ll stop.”

Unlike before, Catalina retreats after hearing Malcolm’s words.

As expected, he seemed to have had a change of heart after getting injured and was accepting his request.

“It doesn’t matter when, come at me right away.”

Then Erina grew and pushed Catalina away.

“Erina. “I told you to stop.”

When he lowered his voice and looked at Erina, he flinched and lowered his tail.

“But that person first…”

“Okay. Catalina started the fight first. But let’s stop.”

Finally, when I gently comforted him, he leaned his shoulder against me with a pouty expression.

Of course, Kayla, who was watching, looked displeased, but didn’t even care.

Malcolm, who was looking at this, said with an expression of interest.

“You really seem to get along well. “I’m jealous.”

“Well, we’re not an ordinary relationship.”

“No matter how many lovers we have, this is the first time we have ever been this close to each other.”

Honestly, there has never been a relationship as unique as Erina and I.

To be honest, our relationship was so deep that even calling them lovers would not be enough.

And Malcolm was looking at us with envious eyes.

“Seohyun and Erina said they hadn’t even been together for a year.”

“Okay. A year is slowly approaching.”

“I wonder how we became lovers. Wasn’t there definitely an opportunity?”

Ironically, there was no special occasion for Erina and I.

Erina was born for me, so she had affection for me from the beginning.

Since it was created through customization that reflected my tastes, I couldn’t help but be naturally drawn to it.

“Well. Honestly, there is no particular reason. I have to say it was love at first sight.”

“Is that so? Actually, considering Erina’s beauty, it makes sense, but… “

Malcolm glanced at my face and smiled awkwardly.

According to his response, I don’t have a very handsome face.

Honestly, even though I’m not ugly or obnoxious, I’ve never been praised for my appearance.

At least I don’t remember being liked by women, so it was difficult to say he was attractive.

And it was difficult to see Malcolm as a very attractive person.

He scratched his head with a puzzled expression, as if he knew it himself.

“Are men really capable?”

Of course, Erina was strong, but I was also strong in my own way.

And in Kayla’s case, it wasn’t wrong since their relationship began when she saved them from the devil’s army.

“Anyway, try your best. Because there is a lot of time.”

“Well, I understand.”

While Malcolm and I were talking, Catalina was looking at Malcolm with an unknown expression.

“What. “What are you talking about?”

“No. Sister.”

As the conversation was coming to an end, someone knocked on the front door and came in.

Of course, the guests were Julia and her servants.

When the guests who had been waiting finally arrived, the meal preparations were completed as if they had been waiting.

“Julia. You seem very busy.”

“Okay. “I’m so busy that I can’t even sleep because of someone.”

A voice full of resentment, half joking and half sincere.

Nevertheless, Julia willingly sat down at the table to eat.

“Then let’s start eating soon.”

A table where everyone sits together.

The meal began in a rather cozy atmosphere.