Wriothesley's POV
While it was just a scheme to get Neuvillette the chance to do as he pleases without dying from embarrassment, I did intend to call Sigewinne for real.
It was a good moment too. She was currently on her lunch break.
The phone rang once, twice-
"Hi Dad!" Sigewinne's excited voice sounded from the other end.
"Hello to you too, princess. How has your day been?" I smiled.
"A lot of fun! A few of our teachers are sick so we had self-study with subs for most of the day. Oh, right! I'm off school an hour early. Can you and mister pick me up at 3 pm?"
I couldn't help but flinch.
"Y-Yeah... Sure... I can come and pick you up... But why Neuvillette as well...?"
How much and what exactly did Clorinde and Navia tell her?!
I swear to god if they went around spouting nonsense-
"Auntie Clorinde and Auntie Navia said you would probably just hang around with mister all day. I thought you might as well come and pick me up together since you stayed home to spend time with him anyway."
Those two...
I'll-
"Oh, on that note. I said this before, but you have my full support if you want to date mister! I won't mind even if you get married. No, actually, go get married soon!" Sigewinne continued.
"Winne-"
"And Dad, don't give me the usual 'it's not what you think'. Please stop staring at mister's butt first."
Oh god, not this again!
"Winne... My dear princess... Please leave your father some face..."
"No." Her reply came immediately.
Ugh...
"We'll be there to pick you up at 3. You can tell me about your day with your aunties then." I say eventually.
"Okay! Love you, Dad! Please give a kiss to mister for me!"
She ended the call before I could protest her request.
I can't just go and kiss Neuvillette, okay?!
"Does she really expect me to kiss-"
"Kiss?" A familiar voice suddenly sounded behind me.
I nearly dropped my phone from shock as my head snapped around to look at the one who had almost given me a heart attack.
Clynes.
F*ck.
Oh oh.
I screwed.
That's it.
I'm done for.
I will be ripped apart by my colleagues as soon as I get to work on Monday.
When did he get here?
How much did he hear?
How much did he see?
"Who is it that you want to kiss, Wriothesley?" He grinned teasingly.
"No one. Sigewinne is just being her usual deadly self again with her comments." I managed to spit out.
"Oh? So you didn't take a personal day to go on a date with that boyfriend Sigewinne was telling me about last time?"
"Not my boyfriend-"
"Not yet." He cut me off, repeating Sigenwinne's words.
Ugh...
This annoying guy...
I wish to strangle him.
"So, where is your not-yet-boyfriend?" Clynes asked, looking around.
"I am not on a date with anyone, Clynes. You will not find any, as you put it, not-yet-boyfriend of mine."
Neuvillette, please shop a little longer!
If Clynes sees you in this context I'll really get killed by an angry mob on Monday!
As I was thinking this I tried my best not to shift my gaze from Clynes to the jewelry story behind him.
It was at this time that I noticed a subtle shift in his gaze.
Oh?
That's interesting.
"What exactly are you doing here anyway, Clynes? Aren't you supposed to be working?" I smirked knowingly.
The corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
"I am working. Just taking a bit of a break."
Hah!
Sure you are.
"Is that so? Then surely you won't mind if I were to turn around right about now, right? I wouldn't, for example, spot someone you are supposed to be following."
Seeing his smile crack after he teased me like that was quite satisfying.
"Wriothesley... Just... Just stay put for a bit. Please?" He ground out through his teeth.
As I contemplated whether or not I should tease him further I saw Neuvillette walk out of the store.
Our eyes met almost immediately and as he spotted Clynes, he frowned.
Then his gaze moved from the both of us, looking past me as he raised an eyebrow.
I foreboding feeling couldn't help but rise within me.
Rightfully so as the next moment, I saw him mouth: Run.
A series of curses left Clynes mouth at the same time.
"Damn it! I've been made. Wriothesley, we'll talk later. I got to go now!"
And with that, he ran off after his target, who I was now sure had been standing somewhere behind me.
As soon as he was gone, Neuvillette walked up to me, looking somewhat amused.
"Your colleague is not subtle in the least." He commented.
"Says the one who clearly sold him out." I retorted.
...
F*ck.
I didn't mean to say that out loud!
Neuvillette's eyes went wide in surprise for a moment only for him to start laughing right after.
???
Why was he laughing?
"Your friend had been found out long before I told the little one to run." He chuckled.
Little one?
Had been found out long before?
Most likely seeing my confusion, he took out his phone to show a recent chatlog from mere moments earlier.
It was from an unknown number to Neuvillette.
(unknown)
-Mr. Neuvillette, if you have a moment, I would require your assistance. I noticed that someone has been following me for quite a while now. I am right across from the store you just entered.
Give me just a moment. I will be right out with you.-
(unknown)
-Thank you! The individual in question is chatting with your date, Monsieur.
My date? Ah, Wriothesley. Alright. Just a moment.-
There was then a minute or so without messages before Neuvillette's reply followed.
I see him. He is indeed most likely following you. I will exit the store and when I say run, you will make your way to the back of the restaurant you are standing in front of right now. Their back door is always open, you can sneak back to the front through there and lose him.-
(unknown)
-Thank you, Monsieur! Will do!
There is no need for thanks. Stay safe.-
...
Clynes that idiot.
And with this, he still wants to do undercover operations more often.
"If you turn around now, you will see your colleague target walk out safely from the restaurant behind you," Neuvillette added.
I turned around to see a kid, no older than twelve walk out of the restaurant in question, look in our direction, wave at Neuvillette with a large grin on his face, and run off somewhere.
A kid.
Clynes had been found out and led on by a kid.
Sigh...
Why the hell was he following around a kid anyway?
And...
Why did the kid in question contact Neuvillette to ask for help?
Obviously, the two aren't that close that Neuvillette would have his number saved, and yet it was him who the kid asked.
"You are not going to tell me anything about this whole incident are you?" I asked Neuvillette.
To my surprise, he simply interlocked our fingers once more and pulled me down slightly only to press yet another kiss on my cheek.
"Perhaps over lunch." He chuckled.