Chapter 4

(Lilianne)

"Achoo!" I got a tissue from my bedside table and blew my nose.

Jonah sighed. "And to think that the Game's tomorrow." And he handed me a bowl of hot soup. Then turned to Chrollo and said with a sharp tone, "I thought you said you were going to watch over her"

Early this morning, Jonah came to wake me up as usual but the first thing that greeted him when I woke up was a sneeze and a body temperature of 39⁰C. So I'm currently under room-arrest and bedridden. Although, one thing I didn't understand was...

"And what are you doing here?" Chrollo's mere presence inside MY room has made me feel very uncomfortable and uneasy. After all, my room is my sanctuary.

Chrollo smirked. "First off, I did but she keeps on trying to run away from me from the simplest to the most complicated of methods. And lastly, I'm obviously watching over you. "

Somewhere inside me, my heart skipped a beat.

Why do you even bother?

I scooped up a small amount of soup with my spoon and sipped.

"Oujo-sama" Jonah called. "I think your fever may have gone up. Your face is getting red."

I almost choked at the soup. I have to regain my composure.

(Chrollo)

I watched as Lilianne Vin Roze, the youngest among the Vin Roze siblings, almost choked on her soup at the mention of 'Your face is getting red' by her most trusted servant and bodyguard, Jonah.

I didn't notice the smile that crept up my lips. She seemed so ordinary and human right now, so vulnerable like the little girl she looks to be. It's like the Lilianne who approached and stopped the bloodbath almost a week ago was a whole different person. So elegant and strong-willed, standing tall with pure confidence like a goddess who knows it all, past, present, future, how the world was created and so on. Giving such an aura of authority and here in front of me, that very same person is sneezing cutely and suffering of fever and a clogged nose.

I snickered at the thought.

"What are you snickering for?" I guess I was caught. Lilianne glared at me and I just waved her away.

"Nothing." And I looked around her room from my seat. "Such a spacious and luxurious room."

An exceptionally sparkling tiled floor, walls covered with rose imprinted wallpapers, a chandelier with transparent and black crystal shards, a canopy bed with silk covers, a big window with intricately designed silk curtains, a couch, even a table with two chairs suitable for having a private tea time with a guest.

"Jonah, I think I'll be fine now if I rest. You should train. I don't want Valmet or Fritz getting the better of you. Is that understood?" Lilianne was back to her cold and commanding self. She handed the empty bowl to Jonah.

Jonah bit his lower lip. I can't blame him if he wants to protest. He doesn't want to leave Lilianne, especially in that state. And he obviously doesn't trust me either.

"Is that understood?" Her voice came in sharper. She really makes sure her commands penetrates any thick skull, like an unstoppable spear, even breaking through something like the shield of Aegis.

"Yes, oujo-sama. But what about you?" Jonah's voice was coated with concern.

Without hesitation, Lilianne pointed me. "Him. He's here anyway. He saved me once. That should be enough. If I die now, then everything doesn't matter anymore. Feel free to throw in the towel and live a normal life with your remaining life span."

"Oujo-sama..." Jonah was surprised by Lilianne's harsh words combined with a nonchalant tone.

I would admit that I was also surprised. It reminded me of Lilianne's words when she offered for me to fight for her,

"I have no interest in the family fortune or the power I will inherit... but I have no intention of dying either."

Perhaps she knows that her words got through to me? Or is she making a gamble right now? Because I doubt she even trusts me to begin with.

"Train every one of our men. Make them spar against each other. We're not going to rely on the Troupe for our victory. Train in the surrounding forest of the estate but remember to stay within our boundaries. Don't clash with the other groups until tomorrow." Her orders were firm. She knows well what she's saying.

"I understand, oujo-sama." With that, Jonah bowed and, after glaring at me for a second, left the room.

A few seconds later, before I can say anything, "Get out." Lilianne's tone was so sharp the command dashed straight to my central nerves.

I stared at her, puzzled.

(Lilianne)

"I'm going to take a nap. I don't like you being here." I lied back down and pulled up the bed sheet. "Get out and leave my room. Stay outside, by the door if you want but don't come in unless I grant you permission."

Feeling my nose utterly clogged again, I pulled out a sheet of tissue and blew my nose. I threw it to the small bin Jonah placed beside the bed.

"Oh, you're still here? I thought I told you to get out." I noticed that Chrollo hasn't moved an inch at all and just stared at me blankly.

He chuckled and grinned mockingly at me. "Allow me to remind you, o high and mighty Vin Roze, that neither I nor any of my Troupe members are your subordinates... hence, you cannot just order me or them around like your puppets."

I swear to god... This guy just hit a nerve. My eye brow twitched with annoyance as I tried to keep my face straight. Without saying another word, I lied back down and covered myself with the bed sheets.

"Achoo!" I sneezed again and reached for a tissue and blew my nose.

After disposing of the snot-covered tissue, I tried my best to go to sleep, closing my eyes from time to time until the eyelids closed out of weariness.

(Chrollo)

Resting my head on my hand with my elbow on the table, I watched as the adorable and vulnerable little girl before me fell asleep at last. Unknowingly, a smile crept to my lips.

This is partly my fault, I guess...

I thought back on what happened last night.

"Shouldn't you be asleep?" I asked the figure lying down on a clearing, above the soft green grass, staring at the starry night sky.

"Shouldn't I ask you the same thing?" She replied. Her long silver blonde locks scattered across the greenery.

"My Troupe and I are taking turns for the look out and I so happen to sense the very person we're keeping out of trouble right here, out in the open." I sat beside her lying form.

She didn't say anything for a while and there was only the chirping of the crickets, the song of the nightingale and the cold night's breeze rustling through the trees.

"This is my favorite spot. The estate is so big... no one else knows. I guess my presence gave it away." She spoke with a different tone. It almost seemed... friendly.

I stared at her with a blank face that conveyed a million emotions, mostly it was surprise. Her aura isn't so authoritative. It's simply mellow and... lonely. It matches beautifully with the peaceful atmosphere.

"That's Ursa Major" I pointed out in the sky with a small smile.

"Eh? The constellation?" She looked like an innocent little girl.

I nodded and lied down beside her. "Yeah. And those stars of the Ursa Major" I pointed out the seven brightest ones. "That's the big dipper"

"Wow~!" At that moment, I glanced and saw how her purple eyes sparkled brighter than any of the stars that night... and I wished for that moment to never end.

(Lilianne)

I have no idea how long I've slept. I was never such a sleepaholic anyway so taking naps were never my specialty. I sat up and yawned and stretched, feeling more refreshed than earlier.

"You're awake"

I nearly jolted. Chrollo was right beside me.

"You slept through lunch so Jonah left your food here in case you wake up."

"Eh?... Oh, thank you." I said, regaining my composure. With my nose feeling clogged again, I took a sheet of tissue and blew. "Ugh... This sucks... I really hate getting sick."

"If that's the case, why did you even went out so late at night?" Chrollo asked me mockingly, like it's so obvious to avoid going out if I hate having this happen.

However, I just ignored his taunt and threw the tissue paper away.

"Pass me the soup" I ordered icily.

Chrollo chuckled. "Didn't I tell you already? You don't have the ability nor right to order me around. "

A vein probably popped out of my forehead in irritation.

"Right, then-"

"But, if you ask nicely I might not mind passing you your food." He smirked mockingly.

Playing with me like this... It makes me want to hit him... no, KILL HIM even!

Realizing my reaction made me and my heart stop. I felt my lips slightly tremble. All thanks to my foolishness last night... this is what's going on. I bit my lower lip to seize the trembling.

Then with slight struggle to suppress my frustration, I ordered with an ice cold and sharp tone, "Get out"