Chapter 120
When I clapped my hands together, the man smiled awkwardly and rubbed the back of his head.
âItâs Theor.â
âYes, Theor. I remember you. I didnât recognize you immediately because you arenât wearing your uniform. Iâm sorry.â
âItâs alright. Iâm used to being told that I donât leave much of an impression.â
âWhat? Who says that?â
âFriends Iâve known since childhood.â
Theor naturally sat beside me. His handsome face was the sort that could never be described as forgettable.
âTheyâre definitely just jealous.â
When I declared it with certainty, Theor merely raised the corners of his mouth and smiled. He already knew it himself.
I found that slightly absurd. Then why had he brought up how forgettable he was? I had thought he was completely innocent, but apparently, he had a sly, foxlike side too.
âAre you waiting for someone here, Miss Louize?â
âAh, no, itâs not thatâŚâ
At the renewed thought of the dress, a deep sigh escaped me. The smile disappeared from Theorâs face for the first time.
âDid something happen?â
After hesitating, I poured out the frustration I had been keeping inside. Even if it didnât solve the problem, simply getting it off my chest often made me feel much lighter. In fact, it was easier to speak because we werenât particularly close.
After listening to everything, Theor hummed thoughtfully. I didnât know what kind of family he came from, but one thing was certain. He had grown up in a far wealthier environment than I had.
I hadnât told him because I expected him to understand my worries. I felt a bit guilty towards Theor now, but I had merely poured them out.
ââŚIt may be strange for me to say this when itâs our templeâs banquet, but do you truly have to attend?â
Perhaps he had listened more seriously than I expected, because Theor spoke in a considerably thoughtful tone.
I smiled bitterly.
I would avoid it if I could.
I left out the fact that Hartheon was forcing the trainee Purifiers to attend. Theor might tell someone at Melvers, and the story might pass from person to person until it reached a priest at Hartheon again.
âYes, well⌠everyone else is going.â
âThen how about this? My younger sister should have quite a few spare dresses. Sheâs extremely sensitive to trends, so she wonât even look at clothes once theyâre out of season. She asks me to throw them away for her, so bringing one or two wouldnât be a problem at all. She would probably be grateful.â
At the unexpected salvation, my back straightened.
âReally? But I donât have much money, so it would be difficult for me to pay a proper priceâŚâ
Theor opened his mouth as though he were about to say something immediately, then closed it for a moment. He furrowed his brow once, then suddenly cleared his throat. Soon, he turned his head away and avoided my gaze.
ââŚI-It would be difficult for me too if you couldnât pay.â
âI thought so. Even if you rented it to me cheaply, my circumstances are a little⌠Thank you for considering it.â
The amount of money I could afford was so pitiful that I couldnât even bring myself to mention it. I gave up early before I became any more pathetic. Even so, rather than inconveniencing someone I knew, it would be better to return to that shop and buy the dress.
I had to move before the determination I had finally made faltered.
âThank you for talking with me today. Mm, Iâll see you at the banquet if we happen to meetâŚâ
âW-Wait, just a moment! Where are you going?â
âTo buy a dress.â
âThe one you said smelled and was in terrible condition?â
âNow that I think about it, Iâm not in a position to be picky. If I wash and alter it properly, it should be fine.â
When I stood, Theor fidgeted anxiously before rising after me. Then, like someone being chased, he suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs,
âYou can pay me with your body instead of money!â
fundmypink
WHHAAATTT?! Is there a rumor going around about her?? Orr Is it because her purification just that good?