Chapter 7: Power outage (part3)
"Seriously, does it take that long to open the door?"
Dmitri grumbled as he gently hugged Hunter into his arms.
"It is obvious that no one would open his apartment door quickly, especially in such a stormy weather."
Leonid responded coldly to Dmitri's complaint and suppressed his annoyance. He cleared his throat slightly and faced Charlotte before saying with a serious face.
"Lady Charlotte, pardon me for being so rude, but can we spend the night at your apartment?"
Charlotte's eyebrows rose in surprise at Leonid's question.
"Charlotte no…no…no"
Daniel murmured in a low voice next to Charlotte's ear, so that she could feel the heat of his breath.
Daniel continued whispering.
"He looks like a ghost. If that's Leonid, I can bet he's dead."
In Daniel's eyes, this man next to the cool guy was just as white as any ghost and the dead.
In fact, even though Leonid lives nearby for about a month or more, it is rare for him to meet one of Charlotte's friends. Why? Because in short, he only watches Charlotte, in addition to going out to the headquarters early in the morning.
Despite all this, this man is still handsome in Charlotte's eyes.
"Please don't take it badly."
Leonid tried to explain after noticing the questioning look on Charlotte's face and the hostile way the clingy cat boy behind her was staring at her.
"Due to someone's mistake, the window got stuck in the middle and water and air leaked into the apartment."
Dmitri felt pressured by Leonid's words. He may have made a mistake against Leonid's window, but it was not an intentional mistake.
"Anyway, we'd like to stay until the storm ends. Is that possible?"
Leonid's eyes narrowed and he pinched himself to look as gentle as possible, and said softly.
"You know we'll be cold if we spend the night in my apartment, so please, Lady Charlotte."
"We know this is surprising, but please, Lady Charlotte."
Dmitri's gentle voice came after Leonid's sharp voice.
On the other hand.
Charlotte was just staring at them, as well as Daniel who tightened his arms around Charlotte and felt uncomfortable.
"Charlotte."
Daniel whispered in Charlotte's ear again, more urgently.
"I don't want this ghost to stay with us, but I don't mind cool guy staying with us, okay? Besides, what kind of excuses do they use?"
"I don't mind, please come in."
After contemplating those cold and beautiful features for a long time, Charlotte finally answered Leonid and Dmitri's request and ignored Daniel's muttering.
She backed away from the door with Daniel, who was clinging to her, so that Leonid and Dmitri could enter.
Leonid, followed by Dmitri, who was hugging Hunter, terrified by the stormy weather, moved inside.
After closing her door, Charlotte quickly headed to her room. On the other hand, Daniel did not stop staring at Leonid, who was heading towards the sofa as he walked with Charlotte towards her bedroom.
"Why did you ignore my wish and let them in? You could only choose one, the Cool guy."
"They are human beings, not commodities."
"Oh really? I didn't know."
Daniel rolled his eyes in protest, then clung to Charlotte tighter.
He stared at her hands, resting his chin on her shoulder as she took the blankets from the closet and then headed into the living room and presented them to Leonid and Dmitri.
Daniel felt a little betrayed, so he brought his mouth to Charlotte's ear and whispered in annoyance.
"Why are you giving them blankets too, when they didn't ask you to? Moments ago I was cold too, yet you didn't give me anything."
Daniel pouted his lips and grumbled.
"You wanted me to freeze to death unlike them."
"When did this happen?"
"Have you forgotten? How could you forget so quickly when you pulled the blanket from me before the power went out and that lightning bolt struck the sky!"
Charlotte moved her head slightly away from Daniel's jealous and complaining mouth, then grabbed him and led him to the sofa, wrapping his body in the blanket again after she sat him on the sofa.
Daniel frowned and felt like a child being dragged by his guardian to his bed.
"Are you trying to pamper me now? Unfortunately, it's too late for that."
From inside the blanket, Daniel crossed his arms.
His jealous expression made it clear that he was very disappointed with Charlotte.
"Please Daniel stop fooling around and let me finish my work."
After Charlotte said that, she moved to the window to open the curtains.
The moment the curtains opened, very bright lightning light entered the living room.
Charlotte's black eyes widened blankly at the angry sky. For a moment, she felt as if her sight had disappeared and then returned again.
Charlotte slowly retreated to the sofa to sit next to Daniel.
When Charlotte sat down, Daniel immediately leaned his head on her shoulder, while watching Leonid intently.
Leonid shows no reaction to Daniel staring at him even though he feels it even with his eyes closed.
"Charlotte, did that dead person really buy a cute puppy like that one?"
"Hmm…"
"Hmm, how come a dead man like him looks so strong plus he's so tall. I bet his personality is pretty bad, am I right?"
Charlotte raised her head and looked slightly at Leonid.
Sitting nonchalantly on the sofa, Leonid looked like a perfect masterpiece, elegantly sculpted from every aspect.
Charlotte stared at those sharp, closed eyes, thin nose, and chiseled jawline.
He was handsome and worthy of praise.
"No, you're completely wrong."
"Really? So is he a very good person?"
"Well, I don't know. To me he's a good guy but maybe a bit harsh as well as bossy."
"Are you saying he's bossy? Okay, I get it."
Daniel rubbed his chin and thought deeply as he stared at Leonid for a long time.
"People like him are so cold."
"Maybe you're right."
"damn"
Dmitri barely stifled his laughter as he whispered.
It was interesting to hear the clear whisper of Leonid, especially since Leonid himself listened without interfering.
"Do you like this, being the center of people's conversations, Leonid?"
Leonid turned his head, opened his sharp eyes at Dmitri, and frowned.
"Can't any of you just keep quiet?"
"fine. "
Dmitri responded immediately and adjusted his sitting position while placing Hunter on his lap and wrapping the blanket around him.
"This is impossible."
"hush."
Daniel muttered as Charlotte immediately closed his mouth.
Charlotte was embarrassed, fighting the faint blush on her cheeks, while Daniel, in return, pretended to quickly fall asleep in Charlotte's arms, her hand still covering his mouth.
Leonid stared at them until it became quiet around him and he closed his eyes again and returned to stasis mode.
In the midst of the calm, the only loud sky outside was the same, the thunderbolts continuing to strike and flash as well as the strong wind and heavy raindrops.
With time, Daniel closed his eyes and actually fell asleep on Charlotte's thighs. The blanket covered him from his head to the soles of his feet. However, he felt so cold that he buried his face into Charlotte's jacket in search of warmth like a child.
Charlotte pulled out her blanket and dressed Daniel. Although her legs felt cold, she preferred to keep Daniel warm.
Charlotte concluded that she was the only one awake, since Leonid and Dmitri were quiet and had their eyes closed.
She sighed softly and raised her right hand, gently caressing Daniel's violet locks as he slept on her lap. Charlotte felt her eyelids heavy with a strong desire to sleep as well, but the thunderbolts had another opinion.
Those loud noises kept making Charlotte flinch several times, causing her to hit her head on the back of the sofa in frustration.
"Are you still awake..?"
The soft voice interrupted Charlotte's attention and her way of venting frustration.
She stopped hitting her head and her fingers stopped in the air, and Charlotte raised her eyes slightly to look at the source of the faint sound.
"Yes… "
Charlotte replied, embarrassed about whether Leonid saw one of her strange movements,
Ugh. She didn't want him to see her as a weirdo. Charlotte clicked the tip of her tongue and pushed back her chestnut locks.
Leonid shook his head slowly upon hearing a "tsk" sound coming out of Charlotte, and a smile appeared on his attractive lips.
He had actually been watching her for a while, noticing all her movements, both justified and unjustified, in addition to Leonid noticing the expressions she made on her face.
"What's wrong with you? You can't sleep in this stormy weather?"
Leonid decided to start a conversation between them, who knows, maybe he could pull out some useful information.
"Or do you not feel comfortable having us here?"
Leonid continued to ask questions and use a low tone of voice so as not to wake Daniel.
"I…"
Charlotte thought in a low voice, so as not to wake Daniel, who was sleeping on her lap.
At first Charlotte seemed hesitant to answer Leonid's question but she finally decided to open her lips and say.
"I'm just awake because I can't sleep, no more, no less."
"Hmm, I see."
Leonid's cold gaze studied Daniel for a moment, then he asked.
"Does he usually sleep like this?"
Charlotte blinked, and it took her a minute to understand what Leonid meant. She shook her head and then nodded as well.
"No…or maybe yes, well to each other we're like siblings."
"I see. Little brother and big sister."
Leonid's icy blue eyes focused on Charlotte's hand, which automatically went back to stroking Daniel's messy hair and pulling him closer into her embrace.
"Okay. That suits you. You seem like a real family."
"Do you really think so?"
Charlotte's lips smiled as Leonid nodded in confirmation of his words.
She felt emotions overwhelming her as she checked on Daniel sleeping in her lap.
"That's very nice, Daniel would have been happy to hear that."
"From what I saw today, I can tell he's clinging to you and would be the happiest person to hear what you said."
"You're right."
Charlotte stopped looking at Daniel, who was sleeping like an angel, and stared at Leonid.
"He's a bit clingy, but I don't mind."
"Sure you don't mind. I mean you don't mind anything. Even with us staying here you still don't mind."
"Huh?"
Charlotte paused, feeling as if Leonid had beaten her moments before.
"Are you trying to say that I don't mind anything, because I'm a weak person?"
"On reflection. Someone with a strong personality wouldn't act the way you do. It would seem completely hypocritical."
The corner of Leonid's lips rose in a mocking manner and he crossed his arms as he relaxed on the sofa and stared at Charlotte's stiff face.
It looks like his night has just begun.
"You don't seem happy about that. Did my words make you angry?"
"No. It's okay."
"Tell me frankly, Lady Charlotte. Do you really mind us being here, or can't you refuse?"
Leonid's smile faded and he stared coldly at Charlotte, who looked away as if bored.
"Answer me."
"I… "
Charlotte tilted her head and looked around until her black eyes settled on Leonid's form.
"I don't know, okay?"
"Do you always not know? How can you live with such a nature and a personality that does not know what to say or want?"
"I don't know. "
"Stop pretending to be ignorant, Lady Charlotte. You know your answer, but you don't want to say it."
"Man. I don't know means I don't know."
Charlotte sighed, blinked for a moment, then stared again at Leonid.
"Got it."
Leonid took a moment to consider Charlotte's features as she looked at him challengingly.
Was she challenging him to find out the real answer behind the phrase "I don't know" that she always uses?
Leonid furrowed his brow and said calmly.
"Okay seriously, do you think I'd believe something like that?"
A low laugh rose from Leonid's throat as he got up from the sofa and approached Charlotte with slow steps.
"Everyone knows that I don't know really means I don't know, but not everyone has and you're certainly not among the first half who don't really know."
At this moment, the world began to stop around Charlotte.
She never expected to see Leonid approaching her and bending over her without warning.
This unexpected surprise made Charlotte's heart beat strongly and quickly. Perhaps if Leonid bent his head more, he would clearly hear her heartbeat.
"Let me guess."
Leonid smiled and extended his hand behind Charlotte's head towards the back of the sofa and leaned against it.
Charlotte's eyes slowly widened and stared at Leonid's handsome face who was very close to her.
Leonid's warm breath hit Charlotte's white and pale skin in the darkness.
"For you, it's not easy to lie and it's not easy to admit the truth, right?"
Leonid continued to speak in a low tone and continued to stare into Charlotte's eyes.
"This is very complicated. What kind of person you are, Lady Charlotte?"
Charlotte remained completely calm and stiff in front of Leonid, unable to respond or even move.
"You know, they say that people who are very good actually hide who they really are."
"But not all good people are bad."
At last Charlotte was able to reply, in fact she would not have responded if Leonid's speculative words had not touched one of her principles.
"Oh Lady Charlotte~."
Leonid felt the flame of enthusiasm ignite in his chest after he saw Charlotte forcefully returning to the conversation.
"Okay, I will say it from my humble side. In my opinion, you are trying hard to show your good side so that no one abandons you. Are you right?"
Leonid kept staring at Charlotte's expression, who narrowed her eyes.
Charlotte was quiet as she stared into Leonid's eyes, then sighed and crossed her arms.
"Master Leonid, you talk too much."
"I think you're right."
Leonid smiled in response, shrugging his shoulders.
"Just so you know, I don't feel annoyed or anything like that with you, so I let you talk as you want."
"This is very generous of you. That you don't feel annoyed with me is truly a miracle in my eyes."
Leonid has always studied Charlotte's behavior. She may seem frank sometimes, but she is not. She may seem secretive sometimes, but she is not. She only goes by what she feels, not what she thinks.
"Let me tell you frankly. Maybe you are right, but of course you are wrong."
"Okay, tell me, what did I do wrong and what did I do wrong?"
Charlotte raised her eyebrows and began to think seriously.
However, the period of thought did not last long until she said quietly while smiling.
"I don't know."
Leonid's smiling expression suddenly turned into a frown and his eyebrows furrowed.
"You're doing it again, and on purpose too."
"Are you saying that I am intentional? Mr. Leonid, you are not only domineering, but also an unjust person."
Charlotte's response was very frank and exaggerated, as if she was doing it deliberately to provoke Leonid, or perhaps to push him away.
"Mr. Leonid."
Charlotte called him in a coquettish voice, and pointed to herself.
"Why do you still look at me like that? Did I do something bad to you? Does the phrase 'I don't know' bother you that much? Well, you're like my family, you both get upset over the smallest of reasons, I can't believe it."
Leonid lowered his eyelids as he only stared at Charlotte's plump, overly talkative lips tonight.
Those lips wouldn't be able to hide the slight trembling with every word you said in Leonid's eyes.
Charlotte is still trying to hold herself together. Which made Leonid sigh and give up.
"At the end of the day, I don't know you well, maybe you did something bad and I wasn't there to see for myself what you did."
Leonid stood upright again, but he wasn't finished yet. After staring for a while at Charlotte, he finally said.
"And maybe I'm only interested in you."
"You what?"
The somewhat soft tone of Leonid's voice pierced Charlotte's ears with such force that her eyes widened.
She calmed down for a moment, then repeated her question hurriedly and with much hesitation.
"W-…what did you say?"
"Lady Charlotte, I am not repeating my words."
Leonid bent his upper torso over Charlotte again, and stared straight into her eyes.
A wry smile slid across his lips, and he felt a dark sense of euphoria crawl through him.
"Did it hit you directly?"
"Huh?! What do you mean by that?"
"Hmm. What else could I mean?"
Leonid raised his hand and pointed, keeping a decent distance, to her heart with his index finger.
Leonid's actions as well as the beautiful smile on his lips caused Charlotte's cheeks to blush.
"no."
Charlotte automatically covered her chest and quickly screamed.
"Sure l-!"
Leonid moved quickly and covered Charlotte's mouth.
He held his palm to her mouth as he narrowed the distance between them to whisper next to her ear.
"Lower your voice."
Charlotte flinched after hearing the cold tone of his voice and feeling his warm breath on her earlobe.
She closed her eyes for a moment and then nodded quickly in confirmation.
"Alright."
Leonid sighed deeply and stepped back while pulling his hand away.
He walked over to the sofa and sat down with his right leg crossed over his left.
He always talked to Charlotte and sometimes made fun of her, but he was always cruel in dealing with her, so how could she still show him such an expression.
"Yes."
Leonid sighed and covered his face. He would definitely never forget the sight of her flushed face and her black eyes reflecting his.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone