Crystal's POV:

Rufus and I walked around the palace and reached the garden.

We slowly walked on one path after another. It was almost dusk. The bright glare of the setting sun was enough to make people dizzy. I was trying to come up with an excuse to leave. However, my heart was unwilling to go. I wanted to stay with him for a little while longer.

While I was lost in my thoughts, Rufus, who had been walking ahead, stopped suddenly and turned around. I didn't notice this and crashed into his chest. I looked up at him in shock and thought perhaps something was wrong.

Rufus looked down at me and said softly, "Aren't you tired of wearing a mask all the time? No one else is around here. You can take it off. I don't judge people by their appearance."

"No, I don't think it's a good idea. I'm worried my face will scare you." I was so anxious that I put my hand over the mask on my face. I was afraid that Rufus would rip it off if I wasn't vigilant. Rufus frowned and didn't push me, but he remained quiet after that.

It was only when we returned to the palace and I was about to leave that he asked, "Are you hungry? Why don't you have dinner here?"

I still

the dining hall. They came from nowhere holding silverware and platters of food in their hands. Rufus shot me a smile. Somehow, I could see a hint of smugness in the way his

this guy had devised a pretty

and asked me to stay for dinner on purpose. His only objective was to see

to take a seat at

table and left. I folded my arms across my chest, pretending to be

Just take off your mask

speared a bite of food with it, and put

and answered, "No, thanks. I'm not

more. He enjoyed his meal, pretending that the resentment in my eyes never existed. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website

just walked around this

and stared at Rufus, trying to make him

was so thick-skinned that he continued his meal as if he could

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