<strong>Chapter 31 – She’s Mine Anyway (2)</strong>


    As soon as she free was of Ian’s hands, Louise ran into the depths of the library saying she had something to do.


    “Louise Sweeney is so sweet,”


    Ste said admiringly as she watched Louise hurry away.


    “She’s sweet to everyone.”


    “She’s liked by everyone.”


    “She’s relied on by everyone.”


    “...Come to think of it, I’ve heard a rumor.”


    Ste gave a light smile as if she had just remembered.


    “This year’s top student, Louise Sweeney, is being used and harassed by the president of the student council.”


    She pped her hands and added,


    “Of course it doesn’t seem like you’d do such a bad thing.”


    “What’s wrong with that?”


    It was an unexpected reply. Ste hesitated.


    “Well...taking of advantage of someone, harassing them...”


    “She’s mine anyway.”


    He smiled arrogantly.


    “...What?”


    “Is that surprising? “


    “Oh...of–of course.”


    Ste could bring herself to meet Ian’s eyes.


    Mine. That wasn’t a word used to describe everyday rtionships, but Ian had answered so naturally.


    “I rely on Louise Sweeney and all of the members of the student council to be my hands.”


    The ordinary exnation was quite different from what Ste had imagined.


    “Ah...”


    So that’s what he meant. Ste finally smiled a little. She had almost misunderstood that there was something special between Louise Sweeney and Ian.


    But it was a short relief.


    “Ste Lapis probably knows.”


    His blue eyes pierced her sharply.


    “If anyone else tries to use my hands as they please–“


    His cold voice seemed to squeeze the air out of her and she gripped the hem of her skirt in spite of herself.


    “–how would I feel?”


    “You would...”


    Ste said quietly, fumbling over her lips.


    “...you would hate that.”


    “And?”


    Say more?


    “That would be unpleasant.”


    “And?”


    “You’d be angry.”


    “Right.”


    Ian smiled, apparently satisfied with her answer.


    “Anyway, I didn’t mean to change the subject to Louise.”


    Ian rxed his posture.


    He hadn’t intended to talk to Ste until she dragged him all the way here, saying she had something to talk about.


    “So, are you worried about your rumors?”


    He recounted the anxieties Ste had confessed to him earlier. After the party there were rumors between Ian and Ste. It was inevitable. He’d performed quite perfectly as Ste’s escort.


    “Yes, I just want to attend the Academy quietly, but the people around me...”


    She bit her lip.


    “I’m a little embarrassed because people around me are making a big deal about it. Is there any way out of this...and...”


    “What do you mean, people around you?”


    “You know, students who take the same ss ore and go to the library...”


    “And you asked me to be alone with you in the library?”


    “Ah.”


    Ste said nothing for a moment.


    “I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”


    Her tender voice was a contrast to Ian’s stern one.


    “I thought so.”


    Then he turned and left the library. He had work to do in there, but he couldn’t bring himself to remain inside.


    It was because of Louise. It was because of Louise’s expression between him and Ste. She looked like she could die from happiness. Was Ian’s scandal so exciting to her?


    He didn’t care...right?


    Come to think of it, it must be exciting for Louise. If he had a lover, then their engagement would be annulled.


    <i>‘I’m strangely pissed off...’</i>


    Why?