My Unrequited Love Is an Absolute Secret - Chapter 30

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 30

Robin’s maximum concentration span was thirty minutes, so study time never lasted long.
“Still, you got way more right than last time. Good job.”
Jessie praised him while ruffling Robin’s hair.
In truth, merely studying this much wouldn’t come close to meeting the entrance requirements for a private elementary school.
Especially if Robin aimed for an elementary school under the Riverside Foundation like theirs.
‘There’s always the option of donation-based admission, I suppose.’
The real question was whether Robin could adapt within that environment.
That’s why Harry’s parents were so deeply concerned.
“Once you get to school, you’ll learn even more interesting things.”
“Really?”
Robin’s eyes widened at Jessie’s words.
As if questioning whether that was truly the case, Robin suddenly glanced over at Aemerus.
Aemerus nodded in agreement.
“That’s right. I learned Spanish at school too.”
Robin seemed somewhat tempted, as if learning Spanish had been enjoyable.
He asked hesitantly.
“Can I learn things like that too when I go to school?”
“Of course.”
Aemerus watched as Robin’s lips moved slightly.
But before he could continue, Jessie suddenly lifted Robin into the air, cutting the conversation short.
“You studied hard, so now it’s time to play. What movie do you want to watch?”
Robin cheered loudly at Jessie’s suggestion.
‘He seemed to have more to say.’
Aemerus watched quietly as Robin selected a movie with his head pressed against Jessie’s.
Jessie seemed completely unaware that Robin was hiding his true feelings, not wanting to spoil the rare time spent together.
‘He didn’t need to inherit this trait from Harry too.’
Aemerus smiled wryly to himself.

***

Robin had fallen asleep less than thirty minutes into the movie he’d so carefully selected.
Only Robin’s soft breathing and the movie’s soundtrack filled Harry’s House.
Jessie sat alone with his thoughts, gently stroking Robin’s hair as the boy rested his head on his lap.
Soon after, Harry arrived home.
“I’m back.”
As she dragged out her words, exhausted, and changed into her slippers, she noticed two unfamiliar pairs of shoes and tilted her head in confusion.
“Did Jessie come without telling me? But who does the other pair belong to?”
It didn’t seem like Aemerus would still be here.
But in the next moment, Harry came face-to-face with Aemerus, who had come to greet her.
“Did you wait for me because you couldn’t find the jacket?”
Aemerus chuckled at Harry’s joke.
“As if.”
“Then?”
“I lost track of time playing with Robin.”
“What?”
Robin had been playing with Aemerus instead of Jessie.
It was truly hard to believe.
As Harry searched for Robin to confirm the facts, she belatedly spotted Jessie sitting on the Living Room sofa.
“Jessie!”
“Hey. As you can see, Robin’s asleep, so I couldn’t come greet you.”
Jessie pointed with his hand at Robin, who was sleeping with his head resting on his lap.
Robin looked adorable, sleeping soundly without knowing anyone had arrived.
Harry covered her mouth with her hand and stifled her laughter.
“Both of you must have had your hands full with Robin. Wait, but where did Mom go?”
“To the Restaurant. Your father’s back has been bothering him.”
“I see.”
Only then did Harry understand the situation and pressed her forehead with her hand.
She was worried that kind Jessie had been forcibly detained.
“Still, even so, you’re already busy enough…. I’m sorry. Don’t you need to get going?”
“It’s fine. Besides, I have something I want to talk to you about.”
“Something to talk about? What is it?”
Jessie’s gaze turned toward Aemerus.
He would have preferred to talk with Harry alone, but the situation didn’t allow for it.
Despite lowering his voice as much as possible, Robin had woken from his sleep.
“Lili…?”
“Hi, Robin. Did you have fun playing?”
Robin nodded with a dazed expression.
Since it was already late at night, it seemed better to just let him sleep as he was.
As Harry tried to pick Robin up, Jessie stopped her.
“You’re going to put him to bed, right? I’ll do it. You must be tired from working today.”
“It’s fine….”
“I’m fine too.”
“Then I’ll ask you a favor.”
“Leave it to me.”
Jessie chuckled and led Robin into the room.
Both of them seemed accustomed to this situation, as if they’d done it more than once or twice before.
Aemerus watched quietly as I collapsed onto the sofa in exhaustion.
“Is your father very ill? It’s not serious, is it?”
“It’s not that bad. Actually, my parents went to the Country Music Club your uncle runs last weekend, and….”
I glanced sideways at Aemerus.
I finished speaking, praying it wouldn’t sound like I was blaming him.
“Robin kept wanting a cowboy hat, so my parents entered the Dance Competition to get it for him, but they overdid it a bit.”
I was too embarrassed to tell anyone how my father got hurt.
At least I could confide in Aemerus.
‘How ridiculous, really.’
I shook my head in disbelief.
Aemerus smiled faintly when he saw me.
“I’m glad I gave the gift today.”
“Huh? What?”
Instead of answering my question, Aemerus gestured toward the cowboy hat Robin had left on the sofa.
“Oh my goodness!”
I was startled when I spotted the hat, then burst into laughter.
“Is it a children’s size? It looks a bit smaller than mine.”
“That’s right.”
I turned to face Aemerus with the hat perched on my head.
Despite being a children’s size, it fit me reasonably well.
“How does it look?”
“It suits you well.”
His answer came without a moment’s hesitation, and I naturally assumed it was mere flattery and laughed it off.
“Anyway, thank you. Now I see why Robin is so attached to you.”
“Yeah. Robin and I are friends now.”
“You became friends that quickly?”
My expression brightened as I removed the hat and set it on the table.
“Anyway, I’m relieved. I was worried earlier because you looked upset.”
“Oh, that was….”
“Why?”
Even at Aemerus’s words of concern, I couldn’t easily open up.
I was someone who generally refrained from complaining about my hardships in front of Jessie.
But I was worried whether I was confiding in Aemerus too easily.
My hesitation lasted only a moment. When I saw Aemerus calmly waiting for my response, my lips opened of their own accord.
“It’s nothing serious. Just a customer who came to the Ice Cream Shop today.”
Once I started talking, the words tumbled out as if I’d been holding them back forever.
“Someone who bought ice cream last week showed up with a hospital diagnosis, claiming they got gastroenteritis from eating here. Can you believe it?”
“That’s strange.”
“Exactly!”
As I spoke, frustration welled up again, and I tugged at my hair.
“That person didn’t eat ice cream all day, right? They could have eaten something else that caused the problem, but they’re insisting our shop is definitely at fault and won’t let it go.”
“Won’t let it go? How?”
“By saying Asians spread diseases anyway, so why wouldn’t we spread gastroenteritis bacteria? Ha!”
Living in the United States, you encounter this kind of thing fairly often.
But no matter how many times it happens, racial discrimination never becomes something you get used to.
“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Perhaps because someone was genuinely angry on my behalf like it was their own problem.
I felt my mood lift a little.
“Did you deal with that customer alone?”
“No. Fortunately, the Ice Cream Shop Owner was there, so I handed them off right away.”
The customer spoke with the owner one-on-one and left not long after.
It wasn’t hard to guess that the owner had pressed some compensation into their hands.
“The owner said if that customer comes back, just don’t sell them ice cream. He said we never know when their ‘Asian allergy’ might flare up again.”
I snorted, and Aemerus gently patted the back of my hand.
His touch was awkward, as if comforting someone was unfamiliar to him, and I almost laughed.
“You have every right to be angry. If my apology on behalf of others helps ease your frustration, I’d apologize a thousand times.”
“No, don’t do that.”
An apology that isn’t directed at me personally is meaningless anyway.
That’s when Aemerus suddenly made a suggestion.
“How about I make you some hot cocoa?”
“You? This is my house.”
Despite my bewildered look, he shrugged without a hint of embarrassment.
“You just sit there and tell me where to find a few things I need.”
At the prospect of not having to lift a finger, I found myself giving in.
“Fine. But I’m going to supervise to make sure you do it right.”
We moved to the kitchen.
Sitting in front of the island counter and controlling Aemerus like a remote-controlled robot was quite entertaining.
“There’s cocoa powder on the shelf right above your head.”
“You really hid it up high.”
“Otherwise Robin keeps sneaking tastes of it.”
But the shelf that was high for Robin and me was far too easy for Aemerus to reach.
‘Must be nice being tall. And those broad shoulders.’
As I stared at his back, a random thought struck me, and I giggled.
“Why are you laughing?”
“You’re absolutely certain you didn’t pad your shoulders at all?”
Harry teased, and Aemerus, who had been dissolving cocoa powder into hot water, turned to her with a disgruntled expression.
“I’m telling you, I didn’t.”
“How would I know? Since we’re on the subject, why don’t I check right now?”
Harry rose from her seat and approached Aemerus.
‘What? Why isn’t he dodging?’
She grasped his shoulder without permission, yet he simply remained still.
And her direct impression of his shoulder was,
“It’s so firm….”
It was solid enough to eliminate any shadow of doubt that he’d added padding.
“What are you two doing?”
At the sound of Jessie’s voice from behind, Harry startled.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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