"Ugh… I think I'm starting to get the hang of it… See~? I told you I'm a fast learner," she cheered with glee, now able to walk with a stick as support.

"Good for you then," Eliot replied without so much as glancing at her.

"Wait, you didn't even look."

"...," He said nothing, just kept walking forward.

"Tch," With a click of her tongue, she forced herself to move faster and positioned herself in front of him. "Ugh," she groaned in exaggerated 'pain' from the sudden movement.

"Don't waste your time. It won't work on me," he admonished, then continued on his way without stopping.

"What? You won't even console me?" she asked with a frown.

"You have access to mana, don't you?"

"I do," she replied.

"Then you can fend for yourself. The way I see it, you're stronger than I am."

Seeing he wasn't stopping, she dropped the act and followed after him.

"Stop walking so fast! You… person," she held back at the last moment, biting down the insult.

"Can't you take a hint? I want you to leave me alone. Go hunt for your friends—I'm done babying you," came Eliot's stern reply.

"Hah," she scoffed, then gritted her teeth. "Men shouldn't be this petty! Are you not ashamed of yourself?!" she roared, finally unable to hold back her irritation. From the moment she'd woken up, he had been acting distant and treating her like a pest, which was starting to annoy her greatly. Apart from the fact that she had never once in her entire life been unwanted, for the first time ever, the adorableness she always used on everyone to get whatever she wanted proved completely useless in front of Eliot. He wouldn't even look at her, and when he did, he acted like she was nothing—like she didn't even exist.

"Sadly, I'm not like most men. I pride myself on my shamelessness, to be honest," he continued without turning around.

Annoyed, she found a way to get in front of him even with her injury, then blocked his path.

"What's your problem? I said sorry, didn't I?" she asked, her tone dripping with irritation.

"...And I accepted your 'sorry.' Now get out of my way," he said flatly.

"Heh," she gasped, her expression a mix of frustration and an overwhelming emotion she was feeling for the first time in her life.

This inexplicable urge to slap him across the face.

"One moment you're helping me, the next you're being a complete jerk," she said, her voice rising. "Wait… is this some scheme to get my attention? I heard some desperate people do this when they want someone to look at them in a certain way. Is that it? Your way of getting my attention?" she asked accusingly.

"You wish," Eliot gave her a dry look. Then, without warning, he suddenly grabbed her shoulder firmly and pulled her so close she blushed despite herself. "Look at me."

"What are you doing?! Let me go this instant!" Nora demanded, her face flushing red.

"Sure, but first look into my eyes and tell me if you see even the tiniest bit of interest for you," he said calmly. She stared into his eyes, searching, but all she saw was a blank, indifferent look.

In annoyance, she tried to kick him in the balls, but as though sensing her motives, he suddenly let go and moved away.

Bam!

She collapsed from the imbalance.

"Kyaa!" she let out a cute yelp of pain which Eliot promptly ignored as he continued walking.

"Ahh," she groaned, then reached for her stick. Using it for support, she stood up again, this time seething with pure irritation.

"Do you even know who I am?!"

"Fortunately, I don't," was his response.

"GAHHHH!" She cried out in frustration at how insufferable he was, watching him continue being completely inconsiderate of her condition.

"Just in case you didn't hear me before—my aid stopped the moment you woke up. What happens from this moment on is up to you," he continued on his way.

"Wait, please! You can't leave a girl by herself in this place, not to mention in my condition!" she pleaded, desperation creeping into her voice.

He sighed audibly and stopped, then turned to look at her. "Fine. Come on," he said. She smiled with relief and moved forward as fast as she could. The moment she reached him, he scooped her up in a princess carry without warning.

"AHHHH!" She yelped from the sudden movement, instinctively looping her arms around his neck.

"W-what are you doing?" she asked, her face flushed bright red.

"Helping you. Isn't that what you want?" He didn't even look at her as he spoke, just began walking forward with her in his arms.

"...Jerk," she muttered, hiding her face against his chest, embarrassed at being carried this way.

"I heard that. Do you want me to drop you?" he asked calmly.

"E-Eh? No, I… didn't say anything," she said quickly.

"Good. I'd appreciate it if you shut it."

'Why is he being this way with me? I already apologized, but… he's still acting like this,' she thought, conflicted emotions swirling within her.

"Do you hate me now?" she asked, her voice a bit muffled by his clothing.

"Hate you?" He echoed, this time looking down at her.

"Mm," she nodded against his chest.

"Why would I hate you? I don't even know you," he said, looking away again.

"Maybe because I'm a noble? I… I heard most commoners blame nobles for their conditions, so they hate them," she said quietly, and he looked her in the eyes again.

"I didn't say I was a commoner, did I?" he asked.

"But you also didn't say you're a noble. Plus, it's the only plausible explanation for your behavior. Yesterday you were so friendly, today… not so much," she said with a solemn expression.

"...I don't hate you. I just…" he trailed off with a complicated expression crossing his face. "I don't know. Heh, sometimes I don't even understand myself. I don't know why I helped you that night—maybe it was just empathy, or maybe it was because of some ulterior motive I'm yet to come to terms with… So maybe I do hate you," Eliot explained, sounding exhausted. "Sighs."

"Ulterior motive?" That was all Nora picked up, her eyes squinting and her ears turning red with implication.

"What?" he frowned.

"I finally get it! You didn't help me because of some selfless reason—you just couldn't help yourself! The moment you saw how beautiful I was, you couldn't look away, so you took me for yourself!" she declared with widened eyes, as though she had just uncovered the entire truth.

Eliot looked at her for a long moment, then flicked her on the forehead.

"Seriously? That's all you got from everything I said? You read too many novels," was his reply as he continued walking. "You're not even the most attractive person I've seen, trust me," he added, which made her frown deeply.

"So you're saying I'm below your standard?" Her eyes squinted dangerously, like those of an offended cat.

"Where is this conversation even headed?" Eliot asked, then smirked slightly. "Let's get one thing straight, princess. You're not even remotely my type. You don't move me in the slightest, so get those thoughts out of your mind."

Now she was REALLY pissed.

"Heh," she scoffed indignantly. "Well, aren't you full of yourself! Who do you even think you are?"

"Eliot."

"Fine, Eliot. Let me make it clear as well—even if my life depended on it, I will never have anything to do with you," she promised firmly.

"Sure thing. Not like I'm dying to be with you," he replied nonchalantly.

"Hah, I've never met anyone as disgusting as you," she snapped, punching him in the chest. He suddenly stopped walking, and she gasped, realizing she might have gone overboard.

"Alright, it's about time you zip it. One more word and I'm throwing you," he said with such conviction that she couldn't help but gulp nervously, instinctively tightening her hold on him.

"Good girl," he patted her head condescendingly, which made her seethe with anger even more, but there weren't many options at this point. She was still injured and dependent on him, no matter how infuriating he was.

Eliot was just about to continue walking when his eyes suddenly shot wide open. In one swift motion, he dropped Nora.

The next instant:

Blood.

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