Appetency

FOURTEEN

   Laurent looks up at the system, still hovering in front of him with codes full of warnings and insistence as he waited in Valentino's carriage.

"We already discussed that I would going to capital for a while now. Why are you acting up?" Laurent scoffs. "Aw, don't tell me... you feeling buggy?"

[YOU WILL MEET THE MAIN PROTAGONIST.]

"Well, no need to shout it at me. And, so what? Amren is nothing but a small obstacle for us to get rid of. Don't piss me off."

The system turned pink and blue erratically. Perhaps it's irritated. Laurent could never remember what the colors meant, not that he ever asked .

He reached up though and prodded at the screen, watching his fingers go throw it.

"You're glitching out, calm down."

[I NEVER GLITCH.]

"Yeah, right. Liar."

[I DO NOT LIE.]

The shade of the screen turns into a bright orange. His system floated around back and forth as if it were frantic, though Laurent couldn't be too sure.

And he would've continued mocking at the system if it weren't for Grand Duke Clemonte coming into the carriage. Valentino brings in a gift as well, smiling at Laurent expectantly.

Laurent abruptly fixes up his posture, already grinning to the point his cheeks hurt.

"Your Excellency," Laurent chirped, already being greedy and snatching up the gift. "This is mine, right? Did you get me that bracelet I wanted?"

Seeing Laurent this happy as he tore into the box made Valentino satisfied. As soon as the carriage moved, he saw how quickly Laurent was to switch seats, sitting right beside him with an eager gaze.

"Can you put it on?"

He lifts his wrist up with warning. Valentino doesn't hesitate to help him with it.

This was good. It's what Valentino wanted. Laurent had been a little distance over the past few weeks, but he was probably confused as to why Valentino was showering him with attention now.

Thankfully, Laurent was back to his usual self.

So, he was more than happy to see Laurent abruptly holding his hand and leaning closer to him as soon as the bracelet was on his wrist. Laurent probably used it as an excuse to do this.

"Are you sure I can't keep you company all the time?" Laurent asks. "Didn't you invite me because you missed me?"

"I'd rather you stay with me as well, but I worry I might not give you enough attention with how busy I'd be. But don't worry, Claude will be with you in case you need anything."

Already, the immediate disgust on his face was shown. The agitation isn't anything new since Valentino long known about his dislike towards Claude.

It's nothing more than simple jealousy though. It makes Valentino's smile turn wider just as Laurent's expression grew uglier.

"I don't need anyone to watch over me."

"I know, but it makes me at ease if there is."

"But Claude-"

"You don't need to worry about him. If he does something you dislike, just let me know or you're free to handle him yourself."

Laurent looks to be unsure. Valentino supposes he's still not used to how much leeway that's being given to him since whatever Laurent did to Claude resulted in a scolded.