43 Mean Again

The concern in the boy's eyes made Odette fall speechless. It was not as though her mind blanked out. In fact, there were many questions and remarks present in her mind yet none seemed appropriate enough to her.

He frowned following that, sitting up on the bed.

"Why are you standing up? You should be laying down," Adrian rebuked.

How annoying! Should she just get rid of him? The string of reluctance in her chest pulled her back from making any decisions based on her messed up emotions.

Odette's silence made Adrian worried, leading him to voice out, "What's the matter, Lady Odette? Are you still in pain? Should I call for the doctor? The doctor is seriously good! The last time I was in pain, the doctor took it away completely."

Odette's jaw tightened.

"I believe you were warned against entering my room," she coldly reminded before sitting down on the bed, finding her state to be pathetic.

"Annie did mention that. She called you a monster, but how can that be true? She was just being silly. And how can I leave you alone when you were crying like that?

And you were all alone in pain. That was so sad. It felt scary when I was in the infirmary alone. I didn't have my mother to hug me. That's why, I hugged you. It took away all the pain, right? My mother said that my hugs are healing." He boasted at the end, wearing a proud expression.

Those innocence filled eyes of his made Odette let out a humorless chuckle and question, "Are you pitying me now?

Her voice was slightly raised.

He tilted his head, looking a little confused. Then, blinking his eyes, he asked, "Pitying? What's that?"

"You are badly making me want to ruin you earlier than I planned," Odette mumbled after sighing.

"Did you say something, Lady Odette? I didn't catch that."

"That you talk too much," she commented.

He grinned widely at that and excitedly responded, "That's because I like to talk to you so much!"

Then, lowering his gaze, the light in his eyes got dimmer before he added, "And also no one else talks to me. Dennis is a meanie, and Annie is always busy."

Following that, a yawn left his mouth, and tears gathered at the corner of his eyes. His bloodshot and drooping eyes were an indicator for his lack of sleep. Odette hated how she cared about it.

"Leave now, Adrian. You can take the morning off," she ordered before adding with a sharp tone: "And from next time, don't do something so unnecessary and troublesome."

Adrian pouted.

"You are being mean again, Lady Odette."

He then stubbornly expressed, "And what kind of hero would I be if I left you alone in times of your pain? After all, I like you a lot and want to marry you."

His childish words caused the corner of her lips to twitch.