Chapter 157
“Tomorrow, we’ll gather in front of the temple’s main gate and travel together by carriage. The trip will last three nights, so make sure to prepare everything you need and arrive on time.”
I had already participated in this volunteer work several times, but I had never wanted to go less than I did now.
I couldn’t go to the bookstore.
I was so curious about what happened next that it was even appearing in my dreams.
I stopped by the bookstore, told Mr. Ruben the unfortunate news, and returned home as usual.
And today, that man was standing in front of the iron staircase again.
My steps quickened slightly. By the time I reached the end of the alley, I was practically running.
“I told you not to wait.”
I carefully took hold of two of his fingers. As expected, all the warmth had left them. Why did he do this every day when he knew I came home late? It wasn’t as though he were stupid.
“Aren’t you cold?”
“I am.”
I was surprised. Even while we were dating, I had never heard him say that he was cold.
I had naturally expected him to say that he was fine, so hearing that he truly was cold made me anxious. I felt upset and even slightly irritated. I hurriedly brought him inside.
But there was nothing in my house that could drive away the chill. It only blocked the wind, and it was just as cold indoors.
I quickly took off his coat, laid it neatly on the sofa, and led him into the bedroom.
I wrapped the thick blanket around his body like a cloak.
I was so consumed with the thought of raising Gerard’s body temperature that I hadn’t even turned on the lights.
The darkness belatedly became uncomfortable, and just as I was about to turn on the light, he caught my arm.
“Oh.”
By the time I came to my senses, I was trapped in his arms.
Holding me with one arm, he rustled around and took something out.
“Eat.”
A rich scent of chocolate rose from the wrapped box.
Why chocolate all of a sudden?
It had been a long time since I had eaten such a snack, and I had skipped dinner to stay at the bookstore, so my appetite returned for the first time in quite a while.
When I merely stared at it, Gerard personally untied the ribbon and opened the box.
Inside eight compartments were bite-sized chocolates neatly decorated with gold leaf and pieces of sugar.
Could I really eat them?
Although I hesitated, I picked up one chocolate and bit into it. A sweetness intense enough to make my entire body reel spread across my tongue.
They didn’t merely look pretty. They tasted good too. I chewed while looking down at the chocolate bearing my bite mark.
“Is it good?”
Since it was still in my mouth, I answered by nodding.
“Eat more.”
At his words, I put the remaining half into my mouth and chose another chocolate.
Gerard gently stroked my diligently chewing cheek with his thumb. The touch tickled too much, so I tilted my head slightly away to avoid his hand.
“If I’d known you would like them this much, I would’ve bought them for you sooner.”
“It’s fine.”
In truth, I preferred snacks to proper meals.
Of all the countless gifts Gerard had given me while we were lovers, the only ones I never refused were small treats like these.
If I didn’t eat them then, they would quickly go bad, and the truth was that I wanted to eat some too.
But since eating snacks made me even less likely to eat dinner, Gerard, who was sensitive about my diet, rarely bought them unless it was a truly special occasion.
Even when I wanted them, rather than asking him, I counted the money I had.
Chocolate was much more expensive than bread, but it wasn’t completely beyond my means.
I had gathered my resolve and bought chocolate from a confectionery, but all I received in return was disappointment.
My tongue had already grown accustomed to the expensive chocolates Gerard used to buy.
After the shock of that day, I never bought chocolate with my own money again.
The piece now in my mouth was my first chocolate in exactly three years.
