<Chapter 20>
#2. A Hamster in the Snake’s Den (10)
Calix remained silent at his question, which came with bright, inquisitive eyes. No employer would personally accompany each employee for their clothing needs. The whole point of hiring staff was to save precious time. If he spent this much time and money on all employees, even the wealthiest family would surely go bankrupt.
“Why are you asking that?”
“Well… I’m just curious.”
Calix leisurely took a sip of water while Melty waited for an answer with gleaming, observant eyes. It wasn’t a particularly difficult question, but it wasn’t easy to answer. To be precise, Melty Crosel was simply an “exception,” but if he answered that way, he wasn’t confident he could handle the follow-up questions.
‘Even if I tell him he’s an exception, he’ll obviously ask “why” next…’
He particularly wanted to avoid the question marks that would follow. If he had to list reasons why he treated him specially, the first would be because his gift had diagnosed Melty as someone valuable to him. The second would be that he was fluffy and cute, even for someone from the hamster clan. But neither of these reasons sounded convincing enough to say out loud.
He couldn’t give an answer to something he himself didn’t fully understand yet. After contemplating briefly, Calix finally found a way to dodge the question.
“Well… not for everyone, but I tend to look after those directly under me. You’re now my assistant, right? Even if not, you’re still my personal chef.”
“I see…”
Melty nodded while chewing on another piece of yokan, his eyes gleaming meaningfully. Angel was also included among those directly under Calix. Sipping his drink through a straw, Melty gently swung his feet back and forth.
When Calix had dragged him out of the mansion, Angel hadn’t tried to stop it, which had upset Melty a little, but thinking about it now, he understood.
‘They say the more you love someone, the more you have to give in…’
Recalling the “lessons on love” he had diligently learned from his noonas, Melty decided to forgive Angel unconditionally this time. Above all, he was determined to cheer him on with all his might, especially since that moment when he had encouraged Angel’s unrequited love. So, having decided to give him a little push, Melty began to subtly gauge Calix’s reaction.
“What is it? Why are you rolling your eyes like you’re curious about something else?”
Calix smiled wryly as he noticed Melty sneaking glances at him with a grin. It was obvious that he wanted to ask something. Whether he couldn’t hide it or simply didn’t know how to, it was so apparent that Calix couldn’t just ignore it.
“This isn’t something I’m asking because I’m curious, but what’s your ideal type, Calix-ssi?”
“…What?”
Calix blankly opened his mouth at the unexpected question. Frowning immediately, he pressed his fingers firmly against his temples.
“What did you just ask?”
“Your ideal type. I mean… do you happen to like anyone?”
“Huh?”
For the first time in his life, Calix was at a loss for words, completely unable to follow the situation. He frowned at the sight of Melty fidgeting with his cup shyly. He had already figured out that Melty was different from others he’d dealt with before, but he wished he could open that small head of his just once to see what thoughts were going through it.
“Why such a sudden question?”
“Well… curiosity can come up suddenly, can’t it?”
“Does the topic of conversation usually jump around like this?”
“If you don’t want to answer, then don’t.”
Melty grumbled with a disgruntled voice, pushing his lower lip forward. He glanced sideways at Calix, then tightly closed his eyes and stuck out his tongue in a teasing gesture. Calix had experienced cursing and fist-fighting before, but this was the first time he’d been teased by a full-grown adult right in front of him. Only a deflating sound escaped through his lips.
Naru, who had settled comfortably on Melty’s wrist and was watching him, turned its head toward Calix and flickered its tongue.
‘I told it to follow him well, but not that well…’
Calix pushed his hair back and sighed, then smiled slightly at Melty, who was still glaring at him after putting his tongue back in.
“Why? Didn’t you say I didn’t have to answer?”
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to… but don’t you like smart people?”
“What?”
“Smart people who are good at their jobs, do you dislike them?”
Despite saying he didn’t need to answer if he didn’t want to, Melty’s sparkling eyes were clearly waiting for a response. Looking at those shining eyes, Calix unconsciously swallowed and scratched his cheek before replying.
“I haven’t really thought deeply about it. Well… there’s no reason to dislike people who are good at their work.”
“Right~”
A bright smile spread across Melty’s face, as if he liked the answer. Calix unconsciously averted his gaze from the dazzling smile attack and cleared his throat loudly. Melty, who was inwardly repeating “great~” to himself, drank his beverage more energetically. Calix unknowingly had a faint smile on his lips seeing Melty’s good mood, and he rested his chin on his hand as he asked.
“Are you that happy that I like smart people who are good at their jobs? While we’re at it, why not know the reason too?”
At Calix’s question, Melty fell into serious thought. He had heard enough times, even in his sleep, that one shouldn’t carelessly interfere in others’ love lives. So he had only planned to make a slight mention.
But contrary to his expectation that Calix would immediately think of Angel, who was always by his side assisting with work, when he mentioned smart people who were good at their jobs, Calix showed no signs of catching on. After pondering for a moment, Melty sighed deeply and opened his mouth.
“You know, love is unpredictable, but it’s not bad to look for it in places close to you.”
Until just a moment ago, he had been talking about “ideal types,” but now he was going on about “love.” Calix’s eyebrows twitched at the conversation flow that he simply couldn’t follow. Melty, misinterpreting Calix’s eyebrow wave, folded his arms and raised his nose high.
“Love usually comes before you even realize it. So if you’re treating someone specially or paying particular attention to them, that’s a sign of love.”
Calix uttered a formal exclamation as he watched the young adult proudly discoursing on “love.” He didn’t forget to give a light round of applause. Thanks to that, Melty’s mouth, which seemed ready to ramble more, shut tight. Melty looked at Calix with half-closed eyes, clearly displeased.
“What’s with that lifeless look?”
“I have absolutely no idea why I’m listening to this conversation.”
“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”
“Yes, I really don’t know.”
“Phuuu.”
With an exaggerated motion, Melty sighed and placed the back of his right hand on his forehead. Shaking his head from side to side, he continued with an expression that exuded generosity, like a merchant offering clearance sales just before closing shop.
“If you don’t catch it before it’s gone, you’ll regret it.”
“Catch who exactly?”
Melty’s hesitation was brief. After looking around, he leaned forward as far as he could. Responding to his fluttering gesture beckoning Calix closer, Calix also leaned toward him. Staring blankly at his face, which had come close, Melty whispered as quietly as possible.
“Angel-ssi.”
“……”
Calix was speechless again at the name Melty uttered. Unlike the frozen Calix, Melty, who had pulled back to his original position, was visibly excited. Calix, turning his head with mechanical movements to look at Melty, reached out his hand. Then he delivered a small flick to Melty’s forehead.
“Ouch.”
Melty covered his forehead with both hands and hunched his shoulders. Naru, who had been quietly resting on his wrist, moved its body fully and rested its face on the back of Melty’s hand that was covering his forehead.
“Your imagination is quite impressive. I have no idea how you arrived at such a conclusion, and I don’t want to know, but if you mention that again, then…”
Calix’s voice gradually became quieter as Melty looked up with a gloomy expression while rubbing his forehead with both hands. It was his freedom to have strange thoughts, but such misunderstandings were unpleasant. However, he couldn’t finish what would happen “if you mention that again.”
It was just a light tap on the forehead for his absurd flight of imagination, but seeing him rub it diligently as if it hurt made Calix uncomfortable. He didn’t really have any punishment or plan in mind to begin with. Still, Melty’s imagination this time made him shudder just thinking about it. Unlike others, he was paying Angel a substantial salary, but that was only because he was working him that much harder. Apart from giving him more work than others, Angel wasn’t receiving any special treatment.
‘If anyone’s getting special treatment, it’s this guy.’
Flowers had been planted in the garden, which he would have completely cleared away rather than managing it tediously. The kitchen, which used to be empty outside of meal times, now always had desserts ready. Even though he had determined through his gift that Melty would be of great help to him, it was the first time he had postponed work and come down to the village like this.
As his thoughts reached that point, Calix stopped, feeling something odd. In his mind floated the image of Melty proudly discoursing on love. Shaking his head lightly to clear away his words, Calix moistened his throat with water. It was merely goodwill shown because Melty Crosel would be helpful to him. Having organized his thoughts, Calix nodded toward Melty.
“If you’re done eating, let’s head back now.”
Calix, after placing a generous amount for the meal and tip on the table, got up. Following behind him, Melty tapped the ground with the toe of his shoe. The grudge from his unfairly flicked forehead hadn’t quite disappeared.
“He’s right… Strong denial is actually strong affirmation. Right?”
Melty whispered to himself in a very small voice so Calix wouldn’t hear, and looked at Naru who was wrapped around his wrist, flickering its tongue. In response to Melty’s smiling question, Naru’s head tilted slightly to the right.
