It was like his brain short-circuited whenever Celine showed her softer side.
Her vulnerability made him feel an unexpected urge to protect her, even though he knew he shouldn't let his guard down.
As he cursed himself for being so careless, she noticed his frustration and decided to leave the cabin, thinking she was disturbing him.
But just as she was about to go, he reached out and touched her arm.
"Where are you going?" he asked, his grip a bit tight.
"Ouch, you're hurting ," she exclaid.
Reign quickly let go of her hand, startled by her reaction.
"I'm just going back to my room," she explained, rubbing her arms where there were red marks from his grip.
"How about that... Fred guy? Are you eting with him?" he asked, revealing the real reason he had stopped her.
Celine blushed at his question, noticing that it still bothered him.
She found it a bit cute, and her heart started to race, though she didn't show it on her face.
"Why? Why does it matter to you?"
"It doesn't matter, so just stay in your room," he commanded.
Celine smiled at his insistence, finding his concern endearing.
"Alright," she said with a soft chuckle. "I'll head back to my room. Thanks for looking out for ."
CLICK!
She closed the door behind her and leaned against it for a few seconds, closing her eyes.
A smile spread across her face, and she didn't quite understand why, but she felt a warm, happy flutter inside.
'He's not that bad after all,' she giggled softly, her cheeks flushing with a gentle pink.
With a contented sigh, she walked back to her own room, her heart feeling lighter.
Along the corridor, she saw Seki standing outside her room.
She walked past her offering a polite smile since they were traveling together.
"Celine-sama can I ask you sothing?" Seki called out.
She paused and turned to her. "What is it?"
Seki took a deep breath before speaking. "I want to talk to you about sothing... important,"
Celine noticed a slight tremble in her voice, showing her anxiety.
"Sure, do you want to talk inside?" Celine suggested. The cabins were soundproof, so they didn't have to worry about anyone overhearing.
"Yes, thank you, Celine-sama," she said, bowing her head in gratitude.
"Don't be too formal. You can just talk casually with ," Celine said, trying to make Seki feel more at ease.
"O--Okay," Seki nodded.
Inside the cabin, the two won sat down in their seats.
The room was small and cozy, with the soft sound of the train outside making it feel relaxing.
Seki sat quietly, her hands fidgeting in her lap as she struggled to find the right words
"What's wrong?" Celine asked softly, trying to break the silence. "You seem a bit anxious."
After a few monts, Seki took a deep breath, but her voice still ca out hesitant.
"It's about Nobu," she began slowly. "He's been... bothering lately."
Celine raised an eyebrow, leaning in slightly. "Bothering you? How?"
Seki sighed, speaking just above a whisper. "He confessed his feelings for a while ago. I thought he was just being impulsive, but he keeps bringing it up. He won't let it go, and it's making uncomfortable."
"You don't like him?" Celine asked.
"Of course not! He's way too old for ," Seki said firmly. "Even if we were the sa age, I wouldn't even think about it."
Celine scratched her head, "Wow, it sounds like you really can't stand him. " she said with a hint of pity towards the poor shinobi.
"It's not that," Seki shook her head. "He's a good and dependable person, but I can't act like everything is fine when he looks at like that."
"I see..." Celine paused, her thoughts drifting to Reign.
She wondered what would happen if she told him that she was suspecting him of having a crush on her.
Would he change his behavior?
It would be okay if he really felt that way, but what if she was wrong? The idea made her nervous.
"How about just rejecting him outright?" Celine suggested, thinking it was the simplest solution.
"I can't do that," Seki shook her head, looking worried.
"What happens after? We still have to travel to the East together. If he decides to take revenge on for rejecting him, I could be in real danger."
Celine's eyes softened. "I understand. It's a tough situation"
"Yes. I've tried to be polite, but he just doesn't get it. I'm worried about what he might do next if this goes on."
Celine reached across the table, gently placing a hand on Seki's. "You did the right thing by telling ."
Seki's tense shoulders relaxed a bit. "Thank you, Celine. I wasn't sure who else to talk to. It's comforting to know soone understands."
"Of course," Celine smiled warmly. "We'll handle this. We just need to think about how to approach it. "
Seki nodded, more at ease now. "I appreciate that. But I don't know how to talk to him without making things worse. Any advice?"
Celine paused, thinking. "Maybe start by setting so boundaries? Let him know how his actions are making you feel, and that you need him to stop until you can sort out your emotions. It could buy you so ti,"
Seki considered it, nodding slowly. "That sounds like a plan. Hopefully, that works."
"If it doesn't, let know," Celine reassured her. "We'll make sure you stay safe. You're not alone in this."
"Thanks, Celine," Seki smiled, grateful. "Should we tell Sunny about this?"
Celine hesitated, before shaking her head.
"Not yet. Let's try to handle it with Nobu first. If he crosses the line again, then we'll tell him. It's better to deal with it quietly before involving Sunny."
In reality, she was wary of telling Reign.
Given his personality, he might just take matters into his own hands—violently and bloody.
It was a scary thought, but has a very high chance of happening.
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