Drawn Mochi Volume 3 Chapter 14.1: Honey Trap and Trap Breaking *9

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“…Before Ms. Croix stops being Ms. Croix?” (Tougo)

　I asked back, and Ms. Croix looked only at me and gave a gentle smile.

“You took me to the flower garden, didn’t you?” (Croix)

“Yes.” (Tougo)

“That time. I thought it had been a long time since I had seen flowers.” (Croix)

　I don’t understand what she is saying.

　If it’s flowers, Ms. Croix should have seen many.

　For example, at the time of the party at the Royal Castle, the venue was decorated with flowers. There were flowers in the garden, too. And most importantly, there were flowers on the way to the flower garden. How could she not have seen them? But…

“There is a difference between looking at flowers and seeing flowers. I went for quite some time not seeing flowers and suddenly thinking they were beautiful. It was natural and not particularly painful. Yes, I noticed them…” (Croix)

　She realized that she had not seen what was there. I can imagine the shock… I have been in a similar situation.

　But maybe at that time, her heart had not yet starved itself, and that’s why…

“If the human heart lives on waste, surely my heart would have starved to death long ago.” (Croix)

　…I guess I’ll never really understand how Ms. Croix feels, I guess.

　It is only when you are told that there is a flower that you realize that there is a flower, and then it takes you another moment to realize that the flower is beautiful. It must be very painful to be aware of having such a heart.

“…but when I am here, my dead heart seems to start moving. But after I’m back on duty, I’m sure that my heart will die once again when I think about that…” (Croix)

　Ms. Croix said so and looked down.

“…I can’t stay here any longer.” (Croix)

“…Um, then why don’t you just stay here forever?” (Tougo)

　I didn’t know what to say to her, and I didn’t know if it was the right thing to say, but I said,

“You don’t have to go back. Then you won’t get hurt, will you?” (Tougo)

　Then, Ms. Croix looked at me blankly… but immediately started to laugh.

“No, you really don’t have a sense of danger.” (Croix)

　I’m aware of that… But I don’t want to leave her like this.

　Food for the heart should be available for everyone. You can’t have a starving heart when you have food for it. That’s why…

“I’m going to say this now.” (Croix)

　But Ms. Croix said this to make me give up.

“My mission was to seduce Fay Bullard Redgarde and extract information about the Redgarde family.” (Croix)

“Huh? Through me?” (Tougo)

“Yes. I approached you with that intention.” (Croix)

　Approached us… The time when you came to get a drink at the party, is that right? That’s when you approached us… and that’s it?

“I was going to get a drink, bump into him a little or something to get him to talk, and then I was going to charm Fay Bullard Redgarde and extract the information. That was the plan. …but plans have changed. There was a little boy who looked me right in the eye before Fay Bullard Redgarde did.” (Croix)

　…yes. I was charmed. I was.

“Umm… information, that means it’s about the Red Dragon, right?” (Tougo)

“Yes. I’m a hired hand to extract information about the Red Dragon from you. Being the adopted daughter, is just a formal cover.” (Croix)

　The feeling is overwhelming. Until now, both Fay and Laocles were wary of that.

　But at the same time, I feel a little lonely. It’s too short a relationship to say I feel like I’ve been betrayed.

“Was it right to say that here?” (Fay)

“Yes. In any case, the job was a failure when I couldn’t seduce this boy properly.” (Croix)

　Ms. Croix said so and sent a half-hearted glare my way.

“You look like a naïve boy, but you’ve got some serious magic power, don’t you? I’m sure it was working when I met you at the beginning. It should be working, but for some reason, it just keeps going in the direction of painting, even though you’ve had a positive feeling about me since the first time we met…” (Croix)

“Um, I’m sorry.” (Tougo)

　I think it’s probably because I think that I have to draw attractive things. Yep.

“That’s right. What a little tease you are. Since you’re a reasonable prey, I thought I’d set a honey trap for you, and even though I thought I got a positive response, the trap was broken before I knew it… No, you can’t be caught in a typical standard trap in the first place, I’m sure. I’m sure others tried to catch you, but you just slip right through.” (Croix)

　Ms. Croix said so and sighed.

　I’m not sure if I’m being described as a weirdo. I may have a little bit of weirdness in me, but I don’t know. You don’t have to talk about me like I’m some eel…

“…Well, it’s okay. My employer this time isn’t paying me well, and he even tries to get me to do work outside of my fee. It’s probably best to just walk away.” (Croix)

　Ms. Croix said so and slipped out of the bamboo mat.

　…Eh, she escaped!?

“Eh, umm, you were tied up, weren’t you…?” (Tougo)

　Then, Ms. Croix laughed with a slightly devious expression.

“You are not informed how to tie people up. It’s easy to get out when it’s this level.” (Croix)

　So that’s how it is. I’m amazed. She seems like a professional.

“I’m going to leave now. I’m sorry I got you into this.” (Croix)

　And then, with only a blanket on, she was about to go away.

“Wait!” (Tougo)

　I called out to her. Then, reacting to my voice, unicorns and pegasi blocked her way and tried to push her back toward the hammock.

“What is it?” (Croix)

“I still have to draw a picture of you.” (Tougo)

　When I said this, she looked a little troubled.

“Don’t worry about the commission. Just tell them that Croix suddenly disappeared and that will be enough. About the Scheele family, if I escaped, the information about their house might be leaked. You guys. I don’t think they have time to worry about you. I’ll be hiding for the time being…” (Croix)

“I don’t mean that. I’d like to paint you. Though, I’m not sure what to do with the money.” (Tougo)

　When I said that, Ms. Croix… Had a blank expression.

“I fell in love with you at first sight. So I want to draw something that I’m satisfied with.” (Tougo)

　The horses opened a path for me when I approached Ms. Croix. I went through there and arrived at Ms. Croix.

“So please stay here a little longer… Can’t you not leave this soon?” (Tougo)

　I hold Ms. Croix’s hand and look straight into his eyes.

　…Even though I knew that if I looked into Ms. Croix’s eyes I might fall under charm magic, I still wanted to look into her eyes and say it.

“Oh, you…” (Croix)

　Then, Ms. Croix got upset, quickly looked away, turned her head… gently shook my hand off.

“No. Like I said earlier. I’m a dangerous spy that targeted you, you know?” (Croix)

“It’s fine.” (Tougo)

“No. …Besides, if I stay here, I’m going to become useless.” (Croix)