C234: Chance Encounter (1)
Back to the regular release time (I hope).
It was almost two hours later that Rudger came down from the second floor. Hans, who was waiting with his arms folded below, grumbled when he found Rudger coming down with a trudging step.
"Why are you so late? I thought I was dying while waiting."
"……I'm not late because I want to be late."
This was even the result of somehow reducing the time otherwise it would have taken longer.
"I don't know what the hell happened up there, but you dressed up nicely."
Hans glanced at Rudger's clothes.
Rudger is usually well-dressed in luxurious clothes, but this time he felt that he put more effort into it.
Garments decorated with finely crafted silver in black-based material. The combination of only two colors, black and silver, rather than looking boring, created extreme antiquity through moderation.
The embroidery was colorful, and from the color, it even suited the character of Rudger Chelici.
He wasn't aware of it, but the guests who had already gathered around were admiring Rudger's appearance.
"Who is that? Where the hell did he get those clothes?"
"Wait. He's Rudger Chelici, right?"
"Rudger Chelici? Is that the person who published the magic paper about mana emissions?"
People began to recognize Rudger one by one.
"Brother, I think we need to get out of here quickly."
"I should."
Rudger also tried to escape after checking the people's reactions.
Once he went outside and was trying to decide where to go, he faced the two people who were going to enter the store.
"Huh? Teacher Rudger?"
"Miss Selina and teacher Merylda?"
Selina and Merylda opened their eyes wide when they saw Rudger since they didn't expect to run into him in such a place.
"What brings you here, Mr. Rudger?"
"I'm here to get new clothes."
"Indeed. Mr. Rudger seemed very interested in clothes, so there is nothing strange about visiting here."
In fact, Rudger often changed his clothes at Theon, so it was no wonder that they thought he was interested in fashion.
'It's a habit I've developed during the time I disguised myself.'
For Rudger, it was comfortable to mistake him for being interested in fashion, so he did not deny it.
Then Merylda tapped Selina with her forearm.
When Selina looked back at Merylda with a look at what was going on, she said with a look.
'What are you doing? You're just going to miss this chance?'
"Ah."
Selina also realized something late and opened her mouth wide.
'Uh, what do I do?'
Merylda shook her head and sighed quietly as Selina looked embarrassed, then she smiled and said to Rudger.
"Mr. Rudger, I didn't expect to see you here."
"Yeah."
"Selina and I originally came out to shop today. But what should I do? I suddenly remembered that I have an appointment."
"An appointment?"
"Yes, I can't believe I just remembered an important appointment that I made in advance. I must've lost my mind. Hohoho. I'm not sure what I ate this morning."
Shouldn't you take dementia medicine at that point?
Rudger thought, but didn't said it out loud.
"Teacher Selina, I have to go now."
"What?"
"Goodbye."
Merylda disappeared so fast that Selina and Rudger didn't even have time to hold her.
The atmosphere was about to get awkward, so Rudger took Selina's hand and went out of the House of Verdi, thinking that this would not work.
"Excuse me for a moment."
"What?"
When Rudger held her hand, Selina couldn't say a word properly and was dragged out by him. Naturally mixed in the crowd, the two could not stop until they reached a moderately quiet distance.
Rudger glanced back and wondered if there was anyone chasing him from the store, but fortunately, there was no one like that.
"Miss Selina, are you all right?"
"……."
Selina did not answer. She was staring at Rudger's hand holding her hand with a bright red face.
"Teacher Selina?"
"What?! Did you call me?!"
"Are you okay?"
"What?"
"You're blushing. Are you sick anywhere?"
"Ah, ah!"
Selina hurriedly let go of Rudger's hand and soon patted her cheek with both hands.
Her cheeks were full of heat to the point that her face looked redder than her pink hair.
"It must be because it's hot."
"Well, it's gotten a lot hotter these days."
"Yes. That's right."
"I'm sorry, I think you had something to do in the clothing store, but you got caught up with me for no reason."
"Oh, no! I'm fine! I'm rather grateful."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing!"
Selina held her hand and opened it. She was holding Rudger's hand with this hand until a while ago and it still felt the vivid touch and warmth.
Then she suddenly realized why Merylda stepped aside. Selina instinctively thought she should not miss this opportunity.
"Excuse me, Mr. Rudger!"
"Yes. What's wrong with you? You spoke so loudly."
"Are you busy right now?!"
Rudger pondered for a while and came up with an answer to Selina's question.
"I'm not particularly busy. I came out here to rest."
Selina's face glowed at his words.
"Well, then. Mr. Rudger. Would you like to have a meal with me?"
"……."
"You can't?"
Rudger pondered for a moment about Selina's nervousness.
Hans stepped down quickly and had already left this place.
'I don't think I can ask Hans to guide me now.'
He didn't mind going around alone. However, it was strange to refuse an offer when he met a colleague for the first time in a long time.
He didn't exactly have a good reason to refuse.
"Yes, I will."
A bright smile bloomed on Selina's face, who was almost depressed because she thought she would be rejected. At the same time, flowers seemed to bloom around.
"Well, then! Let's go eat together!"
"All right."
Selina took a deep breath for a moment and held Rudger's hand. Rudger watched the scene without saying a word.
"This way!"
Selina said, turning her head deliberately to avoid showing her red face. In fact, she couldn't hide the red earlobes through the gap of the pink hair that shone brilliantly in the sunlight.
'Oh, my God. I'm holding hands!'
Selina had to struggle to suppress the corners of her mouth, which kept on going up, while dragging Rudger's hand.
She was worried that Rudger might shake her off with a straight face. Still, she was courageous because she couldn't miss the chance she got after a long time.
Fortunately, Rudger didn't refuse to hold hands. It may be out of consideration for her, but Selina's mood seemed to fly in the sky just from that.
"I found a good store. Let's go that way."
Selina took Rudger's hand and led the way while Merylda, who was watching the scene from afar, clenched her fists.
"Good job Selina!"
She was worried that Selina couldn't use this chance properly. Besides, she already tried to contact Rudger several times recently but she failed every time and was a little depressed.
If she missed this opportunity, Merylda thought it would be hopeless for Selina.
"You've grown, Selina."
Merylda, who shed tears of emotion at the growth of her fellow teacher, who was just like a baby bird, has yet to completely relax.
'Selina has taken the courage to take a step forward, but it cannot guarantee that things will flow perfectly since this meeting is a complete coincidence that no one expected. Will Selina be able to do well after that?'
She could have expected Rudger's lead, but when she thought about it, the chance for that was very low since Rudger didn't seem interested in dating for now.
Should she say that he seems like a person who invests his whole life in research?
'It's too greedy to ask such a person to take the lead.'
Selina's role was heavy, and Merylda was obliged to watch her. She naturally mixed in the crowd and followed Rudger and Selina.
It would be easy to lose them because there are many people, but Selina's pink hair was quite rare, so it was easy to find it in the crowd.
Merylda started following them but she wasn't the only one.
'Who is that woman?'
Hans, who disappeared, looked suspiciously at Merylda, who was chasing Rudger and Selina.
'You're also a teacher at Theon. Why are you following him?'
Merylda suddenly said she had an appointment from the moment she faced Rudger, leaving Selina behind. Her behavior was so unnatural and suspicious.
'For a teacher, her attitude is quite suspicious.'
Hans suddenly had an uneasy thought.
'Does she doubt brother?'
Seeing her tail Rudger like that, it seemed possible.
'And that pink-haired girl, she's the one from the festival.'
Hans was one of the people who knew about what happened on the last day of the festival.
Selina is said to be okay now because she barely remembers what happened that day, but Merida, who is with Selina, did not look as pure as she was.
'Maybe she's after something.'
Hans was troubled.
He had to take that purple-haired woman away from his brother, but it was impossible for him to do it on his own since she must be stronger than him.
'Ask for help first, and I'll continue to follow.'
Hans immediately ordered a mouse to bite a note in his mouth.
"Go and tell him."
The mouse cried at Hans' words and disappeared into the alley.
Hans, who had sent the mouse away, made up his mind and carefully followed Merylda footsteps.
A strange chase has begun.
* * *
"Mr. Rudger, it's here."
The place Selina guided him was a restaurant along the busy boulevard. Perhaps quite popular, the restaurant was crowded with customers even outside.
"I made a reservation since I heard this place is very popular. Come in."
Selina, who was going to quickly show the benefits of the restaurant she found out, faced an unexpected big problem.
"What? What do you mean there's no reservation?"
"Your reservation is today correct?"
"Yes, it's lunch time today."
"Let's see. Is Miss Merylda here?"
"Uh……"
Selina was stunned when she saw the booking was made under Merylda's name.
"Well, I'm here because I'm her companion."
"I'm sorry. According to the store regulations, the person who is on the reservation list must be present."
"Then how long does it take to get inside?"
"There are more than 30 parties waiting outside. I think you'll have to wait at least two hours."
"Oh, my God."
Selina felt like the sky was falling. If it weren't for Rudger, she would really have slumped to the floor.
"Is there a problem?"
"Mr. Rudger."
"Oh my god!"
When Rudger stepped up and asked about the situation, the store clerk, who recognized Rudger, opened his eyes.
"Please wait a moment!"
He hurried inside immediately, talked to the chef, and came to Rudger and Selina panting.
"Miss you're lucky. A spot was just freed."
"What? Until a while ago, all the seats were occupied……."
"Just now some customers canceled their reservations! You're really lucky. This is a rare opportunity!"
"Wow. Really?"
Selina was purely happy but Rudger knew that the answer changed because the employee saw his face.
Maybe he brought an empty table from the supply room of the restaurant. No matter how much he thought about it, it was clear that the employee recognized him.
In fact, there were some other employees besides him who were actually guarding the entrance.
'You don't have to do that.'
Still, Selina was pleased with it, so it may be a good thing in the end.
"Guests, have a nice meal."
Rudger tapped the shoulder of the employee who bowed his head as he entered the store to tell him that he did well.
The employee opened his eyes wide at the sight, and soon bowed his head even more.
"Mr. Rudger. I'm so glad there's a vacancy left. I think I'm really lucky today!"
Selina had a feeling that today was the day.
"I'll use this momentum today and show you for sure! Be prepared!"
"Oh, yes."
Was it a promise?
'Don't you usually say look forward to it?'
Selina was not aware of her slip of the tongue and was in high spirits so Rudger decided to just shut up.