Harem Stealing System
Chapter 43 : Her thoughts

Chapter 43: Chapter 43 : Her thoughts

Eiden was startled by the quest Linda had just thrown at him, but he didn’t let it show completely. With a quick breath and a mental command, he activated Face Master, controlling his expression into one of mild surprise and confusion just in case Linda, like Airin, also happened to be good at reading faces.

He frowned slightly and asked, "What? Dating? No, we aren’t dating. Who told you that?" Linda raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing him. "So you guys aren’t?"

"No," Eiden replied firmly. It wasn’t a lie. He and Lyra weren’t dating. It was just that Lyra was in love with him a detail he had no reason to reveal, especially since he technically wasn’t supposed to know it. Nor did Linda need to know it. That would only complicate things.

Linda lightly touched her chin, her head tilting as she seemed to be thinking something over. Her brows furrowed slightly.

Was it not him she was looking at in the cafeteria? she wondered inwardly.

Then, she looked up at Eiden again and said, "Ohh... I think I mistook something. Sorry."

"It’s fine," Eiden replied. But Linda had already turned and was walking away, seemingly lost in thought. Eiden watched her go, the lingering tension in his shoulders easing just slightly. She sure is sharp... he thought, a shiver crawling down his spine. Are all girls’ intuitions like this? How dangerous... these creatures called females are , he might have been seen through if not for the skill face master which he used to control his expression and kept it at minimum.

Shaking the thought off, he remembered what he had been doing before Linda intercepted him. Oh right, I was about to tail Airie... but got interrupted. He sighed. "Oh well. I’ll do it next time," he murmured to himself, then made his way toward the cafeteria.

Upon arrival, he scanned the room briefly but didn’t find his usual group of friends seated at their regular spot. Guessing they’d left already or relocated, he decided to eat alone.

After purchasing some sweet bread, he sat down at one of the empty tables. The moment he took a bite, he noticed someone approaching Lyra. She was walking toward him alone, her face unreadable from a distance.

Eiden didn’t pause or flinch. He calmly continued chewing, his eyes lazily following her. I’m not the kind of guy in manga or anime who stops eating just because I don’t know why someone’s approaching me, he thought with a dry smirk.

Lyra came to a halt in front of him, concern written all over her expression. "Eiden... are you okay?" she asked softly. Eiden chuckled, tilting his head slightly as he replied, "Do I not look okay?" She gave him a once-over, her eyes scanning him from head to toe.

"That’s good then," she muttered with a breath of relief. He raised a brow, brushing crumbs off his hands. "Why are you asking me that though?"Do you not want me to be okay ? Or were you expecting me to get hurt ?"

Lyra flustered as she frantically waved her hands indicating it wasn’t the case no i wasn’t expecting or wanted you to hurt its just ,"its just ? Eiden added , She hesitated for a moment before answering, "I heard... I heard you were shot on your shoulder and almost got killed by some gangs yesterday."

Eiden burst into laughter mid-bite, nearly choking on his sweet bread. "AHAHAHAHAHA!" He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, still laughing. "That’s a bit too exaggerated seriously you shouldn’t believe everything this rumours soread at college they are bound to be exaggerated. I wasn’t shot or about ro be killed or anything. They tried to kidnap me, sure, but I didn’t even get hit just a bit of shoving and pulling."

Lyra’s face relaxed into a visible sigh of relief. "Are you sure you’re going to be safe?" Eiden nodded casually. "No problem. Besides, they weren’t after me in the first place but someone else entirely i just happened to passed by and without minding my own business i interferd ." She didn’t probe for more details. Instead, she just nodded. "It’s good to know."

Eiden gave a small smile, his voice softer this time. "Thanks for worrying about me." He used Face Master again, crafting a warm, genuine expression that suited the mood. His lips curved upward in a subtle but undeniably kind way.

Lyra’s eyes widened slightly as her cheeks turned a rosy shade of pink. She immediately looked away, unable to meet his gaze. Her fingers began to twist locks of her hair, and her voice came out quiet and flustered.

"It’s... it’s nothing special..." Her hands continued fidgeting with her hair, clearly unsure of where to put her focus. Eiden watched her reaction with amusement, a grin playing on his lips as he thought, I can’t not find this fun. Her reactions are so damn cute.

But then something caught his eye movement in his peripheral vision. Someone was approaching. He didn’t need to guess who.

Linda. She walked closer, her gaze sharp and purposeful. Eiden noticed her a second before Lyra did. Their eyes met briefly, a silent acknowledgment sparking between them.

Lyra hadn’t noticed Linda yet and continued standing there, still clearly flustered. Then

"Lyra, why are you here?" Linda’s voice rang out, startling Lyra so badly she almost jumped. She turned sharply and looked at Linda with wide eyes. "N-N-Nothing!" Lyra stammered, her voice cracking slightly.

Linda’s eyes swept from the flustered girl in front of her to the calm, composed boy behind her. Lyra couldn’t hide her nervousness. Her body language screamed of guilt or at least confusion, while Eiden sat there coolly, still eating his sweet bread like he was observing a particularly interesting drama scene unfold. _{fre.eweb novel\.c om}

Linda’s gaze lingered on him a second longer before her expression shifted towards the flustered Lyra , she then raised one of her brow looking at both the sane time, just then Something had clicked. She then expressed a slight smile as she thought .

I see... so that’s how it is.