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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: The Kneeling Visitor
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Even without seeing it, the atmosphere was far from normal.
While playing with me, Luciano sometimes turned serious.
But he had never gotten angry to this extent.
The last time he had exploded with emotion like this was...
‘When I gave him the muffin.’
That meant the situation inside was the worst.
I wasn’t sure if I should go in and intervene, or just leave them be.
“Get out right now!”
While I hesitated in front of the door, a loud shout rang out.
I instinctively took a step back.
My gut told me I shouldn’t stay and listen.
‘First, let’s hide somewhere!’
The moment I tried to move, the door flew open, and I froze solid.
The one who opened it was Luciano.
His face was rigidly tense, but upon spotting me, he flinched.
Luciano quickly schooled his flustered expression.
Back to blank-faced, he turned his head toward the inside and said,
“I personally opened the door for you, but do you still have no intention of leaving?”
I followed his gaze, and now it was my turn to freeze.
My heart began pounding like mad.
Sure enough, there was a guest inside.
Kneeling in a shocking pose before the chair where Luciano had presumably been sitting.
Head bowed so low I couldn’t confirm the face, but the sheer bulk made it obvious who it was.
The burly guy who had dumped a pile of gifts on me earlier.
The instant I recognized him, cold sweat trickled down my back.
The bag stuffed full of gifts on the table.
The man on his knees.
The picture was crystal clear.
He was apologizing to Luciano.
Of all people, the one this guy was apologizing to had to be Luciano!
‘If it was Luciano, you should’ve said so!’
I got mad at the guy for no reason.
I couldn’t shake the ominous feeling as I recalled our earlier talk.
“I...”
“Enough! I don’t want to hear a word.”
The burly man started to speak, but Luciano cut him off coldly.
The man belatedly noticed me and flinched.
He glanced my way, then clamped his mouth shut without acknowledging me.
So I didn’t greet him either.
“What are you doing? If you’re here, come in.”
Luciano addressed me in a nonchalant tone.
Acting like the guest was invisible.
“There’s a guest, so I’ll... I’ll go wait somewhere else.”
I stuttered like a broken machine.
I’d bantered so informally with Luciano that switching to polite speech in front of others was awkward.
As I edged backward, Luciano snapped,
“Where do you think you’re going?”
No, leaving seems better.
The vibe is off.
“No, finish your talk. I’ll wait elsewhere.”
“I said don’t go.”
Luciano stayed utterly casual.
As I stood there awkwardly, he turned to the guest.
“Looks like our conversation’s over. How long do you plan to hog the seat?”
At Luciano’s blunt dismissal, the man—who could barely lift his head—drooped even lower.
His pitiful state made my expression slip despite myself.
I’d been on the receiving end of that treatment from Luciano once too.
The man rose with a resigned look.
“Then, I’ll take my leave for today.”
He bowed deeply toward Luciano.
That’s when the man shuffled toward us with listless steps.
“Hey.”
At Luciano’s voice, the man perked up and raised his head.
“Yes!”
He looked thrilled just to be called.
And in that bright face, I belatedly realized his identity.
Or rather, side by side with Luciano, I had no choice but to recognize him.
Their personalities and auras were so different I hadn’t clocked it at first glance.
But together, their faces were uncannily similar.
Seeing him would definitely bring Luciano to mind.
Harrison Orlando.
Luciano’s cousin and the original story’s sub-male lead.
‘No, wait. Is this when Harrison’s supposed to show up?’
No, it isn’t.
This should be years from now—why so early...?
-Whatever you messed up, if you’re apologizing, just do it quick.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
‘It’s because of me.’
With Harrison’s personality, he should’ve hemmed and hawed much longer before apologizing, but he came right away after my nudge.
Unwittingly, I’d fast-forwarded this encounter by years.
And that was absolutely not a good thing.
“Take those useless things you brought and get out.”
Luciano pointed coldly at the table.
The paper bags holding the apology gifts.
Harrison, buzzing with hope for even a scrap of conversation, deflated at the order to take them back.
It was like seeing floppy ears and a tail.
“No, these are just...”
“I don’t need them. I’m not even bothered to toss the trash.”
Luciano’s demeanor was ice-cold.
Harrison gathered his prepared gifts with a gloomy expression.
Then he approached with heavy steps and bowed again right before us.
“I’ll come see you again next time.”
“Don’t come. And don’t shove that garbage my way!”
Luciano ground out the last part.
Laced with contempt, it sent chills down my spine.
Even though it wasn’t aimed at me, my chest tightened.
My bad premonition had been spot on.
‘Yup, I screwed up.’
I could guess why Luciano was furious.
Probably food inside those bags.
Following my advice, Harrison had bought sweets.
Just because Luciano scarfed down my food without issue didn’t mean he’d lost his wariness about eats.
He still wouldn’t touch food from anyone else.
And yet this guy shows up with food as an apology gift.
To top it off, it’s Harrison.
No wonder the mood tanked.
Harrison’s green eyes clouded with despair at Luciano’s chill, his shoulders slumping.
He gave me a slight nod too, and our eyes met for a split second.
My heart lurched at those forlorn eyes.
Reflexively, I nodded back.
I felt mortified—the situation had gotten worse because of me.
Harrison passed us by without a separate greeting.
I couldn’t tear my eyes from his back, like a massive dog ditched by its owner.
Guilt glued my gaze there.
“Espin.”
Only Luciano’s frosty voice snapped my head around.
He wore that displeased look again.
Probably peeved I was paying attention to some rando.
He stared at me a moment, then retreated inside and sank onto the sofa.
“Sit.”
The air felt heavy, so I meekly took the seat across from him.
He still stewed in the irritation Harrison had left behind.
I could read Luciano’s mood, but...
“What happened?”
All I could do was play dumb.
Luciano didn’t answer, just fixed his gaze on me.
His face looked pretty conflicted.
His pressed lips showed no sign of parting.
“Don’t wanna talk?”
Luciano nodded, owning up to it honestly.
Then, visibly uneasy, he murmured an apology.
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine. Happens.”
Unexpected, maybe?
Luciano shot me an odd look before asking,
“You’re not bummed I won’t spill?”
Sure, my vibe was a tad off from normal.
Not long ago, when he wanted space, I’d glommed on and coaxed the talk out of him.
Whenever I sensed something bugging Luciano, I’d dig till I got answers.
Couldn’t let a kid bottle it up alone.
But today felt different. I shouldn’t push.
No way he’d wanna say it himself.
From the original novel, I knew their history cold.
Why Harrison felt sorry.
Why Luciano loathed him.
Harrison was the son of the uncle who’d tried poisoning Luciano as a kid.
Harrison’s arrival must’ve dragged those nightmare memories back up.
“Not bummed at all. Spill when you feel like it. Or never. Up to you.”
Luciano’s gaze on me turned even stranger.
Like he was miffed I wasn’t prying, but relieved too.
His headspace looked more tangled than before.
Kids overthink everything.
“Lu.”
“Yeah.”
Couldn’t watch him sulk solo, so I called out—and got a surly grunt.
Kid at heart, after all.
“Not that I don’t care about you.”
“Then why stop asking?”
You said you didn’t wanna talk.
He didn’t clock the contradiction in his own words.
Oh well.
‘All grown-up act, but he’s just a 12-year-old kid.’
“Don’t wanna force it when you say no.”
I kept my voice as soft as I could.
Luciano’s eyes lingered steadily.
“You pried before.”
He always nailed the point, leaving me speechless.
“Back then, prying worked. Now? You won’t budge even if I do.”
No denying it—Luciano clamped his lips shut.
A weird conflict started flickering in his eyes on me.
Torn between burying the story and spilling to me.
“I’m always Team You. Ready to talk? Go for it. Not? No sweat.”
It’s consideration.
Don’t take it for apathy.
I met Luciano’s eyes with full sincerity.
“Thanks.”
His face eased with the quiet reply.
