"Are you and Monsieur Neuvillette dating?" a young woman asked, looking at you with an excited expression.

You gave a small chuckle, shaking your head with a confident grin. "No, we're just friends," you said easily, waving off the idea like it was the most natural thing in the world.

But before you could even savor the relief of shutting down the conversation, you heard it—

"Ahem."

The sound came from directly behind you, low and unmistakably familiar. Your heart skipped a beat as you slowly turned your head, only to find Neuvillette standing there. His arms were crossed loosely, his expression composed as always… except for the very slight side-eye he was giving you.

You froze. Oop—shouldn't have said that.

Because you and Neuvillette? You clearly weren’t just friends. Not with the way he looked at you sometimes. Not with the way you found yourself lingering around him a little longer than necessary.