267 MISERY LOVES COMPANY

"I WILL TAKE responsibility," Neoma declared firmly. "If no one marries you because of that huge ass burn mark, I will take responsibility, Ruto Stroganoff."

[Oh, shit.]

Why did it sound like a marriage proposal?

[No, it's not like that! There are other ways of "taking responsibility" without marrying Ruto! Plus, I think he's dense enough to not realize that it sounded like I proposed to him–"

"Is that a proposal?" Ruto asked bluntly, with a smidge of playfulness in his voice. "I'm sorry but I won't accept a proposal from a nine-year-old girl."

That was the worst humiliation that she had received in her third life.

[Why was I rejected when I didn't confess in the first place?!]

"I didn't propose to you," Neoma said, pouting. "When I said I'd take responsibility, I mean I will help you find a suitable partner if ever you wanted to get married but can't date because of your burn mark."