My mood had been sinking to the bottom, but hearing Hezze's voice warmed me a little. "Mm, see you tomorrow." Only after her silhouette disappeared did I reluctantly walk toward the parked car. I tapped on the window, and the glass slowly lowered. The moment it did, an unnaturally pale face filled my view. My breath caught, my lips tightening involuntarily. Captian sat quietly in the back seat, wearing that eternally unchanged black trench coat, his eyes as deep and frozen as an ancient well, completely devoid of human warmth.
A chill raced through me. I had assumed Ronan would come pick me up. Who would've thought the Great Demon King who always appeared without warning would personally show up? When the window first lowered, I almost lost my soul right there. Right now, he looked like some cold demon emerging straight from hell, wrapped in an eerie green glow like a phantom flame. His eyes were as dark, vicious, and merciless as always, brimming with icy hostility. Terrifying.
I licked my lips, my entire body trembling instinctively. All I wanted was to run back into the school and never come out again. But… I hadn't done anything wrong, so what was there to flee from? If I ran, I'd only give him an excuse to torture me. Sweat trickled down my forehead. Forcing a smile, I spoke in the sweetest voice I could manage: "Mr. Anderson, why are you here?"
"You don't want to see me?" Captian stared at me, his frosty gaze sharp enough to freeze flesh.
He had clearly noticed the change in my expression earlier from happiness to shock, then to fear. The happiness was before I saw him; the other two came after. Was his face truly that frightening?
Panic surged within me as I shook my head immediately. "No, no. Mr. Anderson suddenly coming to pick me up after class… I'm so happy I almost fainted."
Happy enough to die on the spot, really.
"Is that so?" His darkened gaze seemed to pierce straight through me.
I grew even more anxious and cleared my throat, touching my nose awkwardly.
"Get in." His thin lips parted, and even through his calm tone, I could hear the faint irritation.
I had wanted to sit in the front passenger seat, but the oppressive aura radiating off him made that impossible. I reluctantly sat in the back seat beside him. The warmth from his body was strong; even through layers of clothing, I felt it clearly. Breathing grew difficult, so I leaned toward the car door, trying to create some distance.
"Who was that just now?" he asked, eyes locked on me.
"Hezze. A friend I made today," I answered honestly. Captian could find out everything anyway even if I stayed silent.
He hummed softly in response and gently curled a strand of my hair around his finger. "You made a friend on your first day. Seems you're adjusting quite quickly to campus life."
I let him play with my hair without daring to move.
"Hezze is nice. I didn't have a textbook today, so she let me borrow hers."
"Mm."
The Rolls-Royce sped steadily along the road, and as I looked out the window, I realized we weren't heading toward the mansion. My heart skipped. I couldn't help asking, "Mr. Anderson, where are we going?"
My voice was soft and sweet, carrying the fresh warmth unique to an eighteen-year-old girl gentle and airy like cotton candy.
Captian's Adam's apple tightened. He placed a hand directly on my waist. "We're going to a Western restaurant."
I blinked. "Why?"
He leaned in, kissing the teardrop mole under my eye, his voice slightly husky. "To celebrate your first day of college."
My face flushed instantly whether from the kiss or the words, I wasn't sure. Celebrating the first day of college? I truly didn't understand how his mind worked.
The Rolls-Royce stopped in front of a luxurious Western restaurant. The staff at the entrance clearly recognized the car. Their expressions shifted as they rushed forward to greet him, bowing like obedient dogs. I frowned slightly at the sight.
When the door opened, Captian stepped out, surrounded immediately by the staff.
"Mr. Anderson, we've prepared the most private and elegant space for you. All other guests inside have been cleared. You can enjoy the finest dishes and wine in peace."
Captian simply acknowledged them, standing tall and striking at his full height. I stepped out as well just in time to hear what the staff said. Which meant: inside the restaurant, it would be just me and Captian. In such an awkward atmosphere… how was I supposed to swallow food? Even the eldest daughter of the Bailey family would suffocate under this pressure.
My fingers twisted anxiously as I hesitated.
But Captian stood at the entrance, eyes dark, silently watching me. A chilling warning lingered in his gaze.
"Go in."
A shiver ran through me. Only then did I force myself to step inside.
The restaurant was lavishly decorated; beautiful chandeliers hung overhead, casting warm light across the room. It was completely empty except for a single white dining table in the center set in European style, with a pair of chairs facing each other. Seeing it made my heart tighten. His reason for bringing me here couldn't possibly be good.
Captian, surprisingly elegant, pulled the chair out for me, gesturing for me to sit.
I froze. He… pulled out the chair? Politely?
Oh no. Something terrible must be brewing.
Fear prickled through me. I bit my lip, feeling my face pale.
"Sit," he said, brows drawing together slightly, tone carrying command.
I fluttered my eyes helplessly before reluctantly sitting down. Captian sat across from me.
Suddenly, music filled the restaurant a soft piano melody that washed over me, easing some of my tension. I glanced around and noticed a white grand piano near the floor-to-ceiling windows, with a waiter in a suit playing gently. I didn't know much about music, but the melody was soothing.
Before long, the waiter served two plates of steak with wine sauce. I had never eaten anything so upscale. Embarrassment flickered across my face, though I hid it as best as I could. After all, I was now the eldest daughter of the Bailey family. How could someone like that have never tasted steak before?