Chapter 39: I Bet Your Gun Has No Bullets
Elise spoke as elegantly as usual. In front of her, several beautifully patterned flower cakes were neatly arranged.
“Why are there still so many snacks left? Haven’t you eaten yet?”
Peiya glanced at them, they looked completely untouched.
“I’ve already eaten. These were just brought by the maids. You can have them.”
“But I can’t eat all of this. Even if I do nothing all day, I still couldn’t finish it.”
Elise lightly tapped her lips with her finger.
“Really? Then you eat first. I’ll go get you something to drink.”
“Wait…”
Peiya stopped her. She knew it, every time she came, Elise stopped eating properly.
They were friends, so how could she treat herself differently like this?
This bad habit had to be corrected.
“Is there something you need, Miss Peiya?”
Elise stopped and her hand lightly brushed against her chest. Today, she was wearing a simple white dress, but her elegance still stood out.
“Sit down and keep eating. I never said I was thirsty. Why are you rushing around?”
Peiya’s tone became a bit stricter.
Seriously, how could someone not eat properly?
Elise tilted her head in confusion. “But I already finished eating. You just arrived. As the host, this is something I should do.”
Hearing that, Peiya immediately felt unhappy.
Being kind didn’t mean going this far!
“I’m not thirsty. And I have reason to think you didn’t actually finish eating. Are you lying to me?”
“No, I already ate.”
Elise repeated herself calmly.
“Really? Why don’t I believe you?”
“Facts speak louder than words. Anyway, I appreciate your concern. Miss Peiya, do you have anything else to ask?”
Her bright eyes looked straight at Peiya, so clear it felt like they could see through her.
“Uh… nothing. If you want to eat, I can feed you. If not, forget it.”
Peiya waved her hand casually, acting like she didn’t care.
But just as Elise was about to stand up, she suddenly sat back down, as if she had forgotten what she said earlier.
“Then… I’ll eat a little.”
?
“You changed your mind way too fast. I just said that.”
“I just got hungry.”
“Ha, you’re lying, right? Did you just happen to get hungry exactly when I said I’d feed you?”
Elise made a slightly sad face, then nodded seriously. “It’s hard to believe, but facts speak louder than words. I’m hungry.”
???
What is this? That’s cheating.
Peiya felt like she was on an emotional roller coaster. She was only joking earlier.
Was she really going to feed Elise?
Looking at Elise’s lips so close to her, Peiya’s heart started beating fast. She glanced around, there was no one else nearby.
It should be fine… right?
But it still felt so embarrassing.
It wasn’t just nervousness, it was a natural urge to avoid such close contact.
She didn’t dislike Elise, but doing something this intimate made her feel at a loss.
Her thoughts kept fighting with each other. In the end, her feelings won over logic.
Peiya carefully picked up a fork and slowly walked toward Elise.
“Th-then… please open your mouth~”
She turned her head away, not daring to look at Elise. Instead, she stared seriously at the dessert, as if she were handling something very delicate.
She cut the cake into several pieces, chose the biggest one, and gently fed it into Elise’s mouth.
Her hand trembled slightly, and she didn’t let go of the fork right away.
Peiya looked up in surprise.
Elise was holding the fork between her lips, not letting go, her bright eyes staring straight at her.
The dessert was firmly held between her lips, and the atmosphere became tense.
“W-why are you biting my fork? Is the taste not right?”
Elise smiled and finally released it.
“No, I just wanted to remember this moment. After all, this is your first time feeding me, right?”
“Wh-what ‘first time’? Don’t say things that make it sound weird!”
Peiya cut another piece of cake and was about to eat it herself. But then she suddenly hesitated.
She reached for the fork next to Elise… then stopped.
Wouldn’t that be even weirder?
Both forks had been in Elise’s mouth. No matter which one she chose, it felt strange…
Peiya froze, stuck in an awkward situation.
She couldn’t seriously eat with her hands, right?
Just as the silence was about to continue, Elise stood up first.
“I’m full now. Take your time eating, no need to rush~”
Elise took out a napkin and gently wiped her mouth, then quietly pushed her fork a little closer to Peiya.
This series of strange actions made Peiya start to suspect that Elise had set this up on purpose.
Was she being tricked?
“Elise, why did you suddenly stop eating? There’s still so much left. Eat a bit more, we’re going out this morning. How can you manage with just this little?”
“It’s fine, I’m already full. You go ahead and eat. If it gets cold, it won’t taste good anymore.”
Peiya: …
How is she supposed to eat now? That fork has already been used by Elise. Is she supposed to wipe it with a napkin first or something?
“I…”
“What’s wrong? Don’t like it? I thought you wanted to be fed too?”
“No, I’ll eat, okay?”
Peiya held the knife and fork, carefully biting only the very tip of the dessert, trying her best not to touch the part of the fork that had been in Elise’s mouth.
Elise covered her mouth and laughed softly. “You don’t have to do that. If it feels awkward, you can just ask my maid for a new fork.”
“What? Why didn’t you say that earlier?!”
Peiya froze, completely stunned.
Seriously? You can do that?!
Then what was she just doing? Was this like watching a monkey in a zoo for fun?
“But you didn’t ask.”
“…Forget it. I already ate it anyway. It’s not like I mind you.”
Peiya directly put the whole fork into her mouth and started eating the rest of the flower cakes. Honestly, they tasted really good.
She just didn’t expect to embarrass herself like this today…
“I’m done eating. Are we going to get clothes made today?”
“Yes. It’s still early, so let’s go now. The servants will clean up these plates later.”
“Alright.”
Peiya stood up, but her mind was still full of what just happened.
They were just friends, so eating breakfast together should be normal, right?
But somehow, she ended up suggesting feeding Elise, and then even used a fork that Elise had already used…
Peiya felt like her brain wasn’t working properly anymore. Before, she never overthought things like this.
But now, it felt like she was getting deeper and deeper into it.
“Miss Peiya, you look troubled. Is something on your mind?”
Elise noticed Peiya standing there in a daze and waved her hand in front of her eyes.
Peiya’s emotions were mixed, and her expression looked a bit bitter.
Why am I not moving? Isn’t it because of you?
She sighed. “I’m fine. Here, take this. I got the team-up application form for you. Also, one more thing, don’t go see President Maya recently.”
“What happened?”
Elise became curious, especially about that last part, don’t go see President Maya.
It sounded like something interesting had happened.
“It’s nothing. She’s just a bit unreliable lately. When I went to get information, she even gave me the wrong form. And if she talks to you about finding a partner for the festival, just ignore it.”
Elise blinked, then suddenly laughed.
The biggest weakness of someone acting tough?
—They can’t keep secrets.
When emotions rise, the truth usually comes out within a few sentences.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Because you’re cute. Let me guess, President Maya mentioned the dance partner thing to you, and brought me up too?”
“N-no! She just told me to find a partner, and at first she even gave me the wrong form. If I hadn’t checked, I might have handed you the wrong one.”
Elise nodded in understanding. She bent down slightly, a soft, sweet smile forming on her lips.
“Then thank you for getting the correct form for me. But telling me all this… were you hoping I’d praise you?”
“W-what? No, I just said it casually. Don’t think too much about it. Um… the festival… are you going?”
“Probably.”
Elise put her hands behind her back, not denying it at all. That didn’t surprise Peiya, someone like Elise would definitely be popular.
“Then… be careful.”
“Are you going?” Elise asked back.
“I… maybe. But festivals don’t really have anything to do with me. I rarely joined before.”
“Then why not try this time?”
Elise reached out and held Peiya’s hand. “The reason I’m going is because I want to meet someone.”
“W-who?”
Peiya panicked a little. Elise looked at her seriously, a gentle smile forming at the corner of her lips.
“I don’t know. But I’m sure she’ll come.”
“You’re that confident? What if you lose the bet?”
Elise pressed her lips together, her soft gaze falling on Peiya’s face.
“I think that person wouldn’t let me lose. Alright, let’s get ready. If we’re late, we’ll miss our appointment.”