Chapter 274: Pat her [1]
"It’s good to be back again."
Diana commented as she walked by my side.
I didn’t respond to Diana, as my eyes were fixed straight ahead, where a very familiar group stood chatting amongst themselves.
"You should greet your friends."
"My friends—"
Diana paused as she followed my line of sight, and soon spotted Alicia along with Kevin and Noah.
"They seem happy."
Diana smiled while beginning to walk in their direction.
I just stood there, not following her, as I observed the group in silence.
"Follow me."
Hm?
Diana had stopped in her tracks as she turned to look behind.
Her face still had the smile that she always displayed in public.
Though I had changed my approach regarding Alicia and the rest, that didn’t mean that I would force myself into their group every now and then.
I didn’t like to stay with such people, and it was better to use my time in more productive ways.
"Do me a favour, will you?"
Diana, seeing me standing at the same place, walked towards me while holding my arm from the side.
The action caught me off guard, but I didn’t react much on the outside.
"Your friends won’t like it—"
"But I would."
Interrupting me, Diana walked forward while pulling my body alongside her.
I had to use all of my will to control the expression on my face, as the attention of all the students standing nearby was now on both of us.
I was already popular in the academy, so it was normal for the students to stare in my direction.
But now, seeing Diana hold my arm in such a way, raised the attention that I always received by quite a few margins.
Haa...
The situation was getting a little uncomfortable for me, but I couldn’t resist as that would lead to new gossip among the students.
Looking at Diana, who had her eyes fixed forward, I couldn’t help but be amused by her sudden change in behaviour.
She had become a lot bolder within the last few minutes.
To be exact, the moment after her confession, something in Diana seemed to have completely changed.
Though the change was favourable for me... I didn’t like the way in which things were being played out of my control.
Still... it wasn’t like I could ask Diana to hand me control over her actions.
I had to adapt to this new flow.
"You said you didn’t know what you would do regarding your family."
Diana spoke as we closed the distance with Alicia and the rest.
"So... trust me on this. Try to feel things in a new way... for once."
"..."
Was she trying to be some sort of psychological teacher for me?
"Why should I?"
I wanted to understand this girl better.
Just what was she trying to achieve?
She should have known better that there was no way I would want to get included in that family again.
The Frosts too always maintained a hostile behaviour towards me... Victoria being a prime example.
So, taking all things into consideration, I wondered just what Diana thought to be able to have such a high degree of confidence in her actions.
"I will ask once again."
This time Diana had lowered her voice to a mere whisper, making me raise my brow.
It wasn’t like anyone would be able to hear our conversation.
"Do you wish to destroy your house?"
Haa...
The same question again.
I just stared at Diana’s face from the side, while the girl stared back at me... the only difference being that she was the only one among the two of us who had a smile on her face.
"If your answer is going to be yes, then I will stop this instant, and if it’s going to be no... then I will let you decide how to let the relations with your family play out. But—"
Diana took a pause at the end, as she turned her head to look at Alicia, who had now noticed our presence.
Alicia looked surprised seeing Diana having returned to the academy, but the more shocking thing for her would have been the Veltran princess holding my arm while walking out in the academy, like we were... some sort of a couple.
I could see similar expressions on the faces of Kevin and Noah... though Noah’s expression was closer to... jealousy?
That could be it.
Though I could have been wrong with my analysis... knowing Noah’s character, it was plausible for him to be jealous rather than surprised at the current situation.
"If your answer is going to be something like you don’t know what to do with your family, then... let me handle it."
"Diana—"
"A single chance... please."
Interrupting me, Diana stared into my eyes, while having an expression of a desperate plea on her face.
Why was she being so emotional?
I couldn’t understand it.
I knew that Diana was an emotional person, but... wasn’t this too extreme?
The expression that Diana was making right now was closer to someone who was begging for their life to be spared.
"I will owe you a favour if you agree."
This...
Though I had no interest in making unnecessary conversation with these fools... there was no way I would drop a favour from the Veltran princess.
"On one condition."
My words made Diana slow her pace, though she didn’t stop, making me slow down my speed too.
Seeing Diana nod her head, an interesting thought passed through my mind.
"You should know that guy."
I pointed at a person, making Diana frown slightly.
"Noah?"
"Yes."
"What about him?"
"Slap him."
"..."
I could see Diana’s face go blank as I uttered the words.
Though it felt like I was wasting a condition that could have been put to better use... I just felt like making that guy know his place from time to time was a good thing.
No.
It was the best thing.
"Okay."
Hm?
Taking a deep breath, Diana nodded her head while increasing her pace.
That...
Did she hate Noah too?
I couldn’t help but feel curious as Diana had accepted the condition pretty quickly.
I thought she would at least show some resistance.
"Should I do it now?"
"Sure."
I mean... one shouldn’t delay such things.
I could feel Diana’s grip over my arm increasing by a bit, as if she was steeling herself for the subsequent event.
Was she scared of Noah?
That could be it, as at the end of the day Noah was still a Silver 2, while Diana was a mere Silver 1.
"He won’t be able to hurt you."
I clarified my stance to Diana, though she simply nodded her head at my words, without showing any change in her expression whatsoever.
I thought she would be happy seeing me being proactive in defending her?
Haa...
Though I hated to admit it, such a lack of expression from Diana damaged my ego a bit.
Was I being influenced by the will of a teenage mind?
Maybe... I was being a little petty.
Kael’s teenage mind was still being a little dominant in my actions, though considering the outcome to be beneficial to me, I didn’t stop Diana.
After all, I wanted to see the reaction on Noah’s face when one of his potential wives would slap him across his ugly face.
"Did you miss me?"
Diana spoke as she spread out her arms while walking towards Alicia.
"I—"
Alicia couldn’t complete her sentence as she was trapped in a hug that looked a little suffocating for her.
"We were going to head to your place today, as a new assignment had been given. Alicia had been worried about you."
Kevin commented while standing a little distance away from the two girls, who were still interlocked with each other.
"Is that so? Were you worried about me?"
Diana spoke while ending the hug.
"Huh? I—"
"He was."
Alicia interrupted Kevin, who found it hard to reject Alicia’s statement.
"I wasn’t planning on returning, but he somehow convinced me."
Diana looked at me with a faint smile, making the others notice my presence too.
All of them had been taking quick glances at me every now and then, trying not to accidentally make eye contact with me.
It was only now, after Diana’s words, that they seemed to have got the courage to look at me.
"He did?"
Kevin clicked his tongue in a sort of disappointment, making me look at him.
"Thank you."
Just as I was about to show Kevin his rightful place, Alicia softly whispered from the side, making me turn my attention towards her.
Though I couldn’t see her expression, as she had her face downcast, looking at the fingers of her hands, which were interlocked with each other.
"Sure."
"Sure?"
"..."
Diana looked at me with a surprised expression.
"Is that your response?"
"Yes."
My reply was quick.
"Is that how you talk with your little sister?"
Haa...
I could see how Diana wanted to play the situation.
Maybe... I shouldn’t have agreed with her.
