By Zephyria 
What on earth is this bastard talking about?
The news that he would tell him Detective Simmons’ whereabouts was the best news he could possibly hear. However, he couldn’t simply accept the offer. What was his ulterior motive?
“Didn’t you say before that you didn’t know?”
To Chrissy’s wary question, Nathaniel replied nonchalantly.
“Yes, I still don’t.”
Just as he thought, of course, Nathaniel added:
“But I’m saying I can find out for you.”
This was something Chrissy had suspected as well. That was why he had tried every possible method to ask him to ‘find out.’ It was the answer he had desperately hoped for, yet he couldn’t accept it readily.
“Why the sudden change of heart? I recall you refusing flatly before.”
To Chrissy, who wouldn’t take the bait easily, Nathaniel asked back, his voice still laced with a smile.
“Didn’t you just say it yourself? That your heart has changed.”
“I mean, why.”
A moment of silence followed. As he waited for an answer in the awkward and strange atmosphere, Nathaniel slowly parted his lips.
“Your answer should be either ‘yes’ or ‘no’.”
The mood was not one where he would easily give a straight answer. It was certain that this man had a scheme, but what was it? Chrissy tried his best to see through Nathaniel’s thoughts, but as expected, it was impossible.
“Can I be sure that you’ll keep your promise?”
When he asked sarcastically, Nathaniel’s eyes narrowed further.
“I believe ‘I can’t trust you’ is a line that should come from me.”
‘You’re the one who lied.’ That was what he was saying, and frustratingly, it was true. Up until now, Nathaniel had followed the rules and had never deceived Chrissy; rather, it was always Chrissy who had tried to break the rules and use tricks. So, it must be absurd for him to hear ‘How can I trust you’ coming from the very person who had acted so brazenly.
Looking back at his past behavior, he felt almost ashamed. Even if he disliked Nathaniel Miller and considered him a vicious lawyer, what he had done to him was rude and outrageous. And yet, he had even thought his own actions were justified.
Blinded by prejudice, he hadn’t even been able to make a proper judgment. No, he hadn’t even wanted to. Thinking about it that way made him feel pathetic.
Perhaps he should make a different choice this time.
Nathaniel was still waiting for his answer. The anxiety about the man’s ulterior motive didn’t disappear, but reflecting on his past experience, he didn’t want to commit the same mistake again. With a sigh, Chrissy finally spoke.
“I can’t keep taking time off work.”
He continued in a tone softer than usual.
“I have to go to the office. Instead, I’ll stay at your house.”
At Chrissy’s words, Nathaniel frowned as if he wasn’t particularly pleased.
“That doesn’t sound like a very good idea.”
In response, Chrissy pointed out with an expressionless face:
“I have no choice. I’m an employee. I can’t just decide when to work or take a holiday whenever I feel like it, unlike you.”
He hadn’t intended to criticize or scold him, but now that he’d said it, it sounded that way. Feeling suddenly embarrassed, Chrissy quickly added:
“In exchange, I’ll cooperate with you as much as possible. This is the best I can do.”
There was a limit to how many sick days he could take. When he presented the optimal method he had come up with, Nathaniel stared at him silently before speaking.
“Cooperate… as much as possible.”
Repeating Chrissy’s words in a slower-than-usual tone, as if on purpose, he gazed at Chrissy with narrowed eyes.
“That means you’ll follow the method I’ve thought of, right?”
“……If possible.”
Because of what he had said previously, Chrissy had no choice but to answer this way. It was then that the corners of Nathaniel’s mouth curved upward in a gentle arc. Just as Chrissy wondered if he had said something wrong, Nathaniel spoke.
“Then let’s do this. You’ll commute with me.”
An awkward void opened between the two. It was after two or three seconds of silence that Chrissy reacted.
“……What?”
To Chrissy, who could only mutter that one word, Nathaniel continued nonchalantly.
“Didn’t you say you couldn’t just wait for me quietly at my house? Then there’s only one way. To act with me as much as possible.”
Then, as if confirming, he asked:
“Am I wrong?”
Chrissy could only blink, completely dumbfounded. He wasn’t wrong. But that didn’t mean he was right either. How did the conclusion end up like this? Commute together? Did he mean he wanted to spend every single moment with him except for working hours? Why go that far?
“That sounds a bit… excessive.”
In the end, Chrissy stepped back. He was in a position where he had no excuse for distrusting the man and becoming heavily indebted as a result, but he couldn’t pay back the debt in this manner.
“I’m a prosecutor. Commuting with you wouldn’t help my reputation.”
And not just anyone, but the notorious ‘Miller.’ It would surely become a scandal. Moreover, since they had been entangled in the previous case, all sorts of speculations would run rampant.
“I don’t want things to get noisy. So please think of another way.”
While refusing as gently as possible, his mind became complicated. He had never imagined he would have to choose his words while considering Nathaniel Miller’s feelings.
As he waited silently for a reaction, Nathaniel slowly swirled his wine glass, lost in thought. It was as if he were truly considering Chrissy’s words and pondering a way to be considerate of him.
“Then let’s do this.”
After drinking the wine, Nathaniel spoke.
“I’ll drop you off in a place where you won’t be seen by others. Will that work?”
“What…….”
As a flustered Chrissy blinked, Nathaniel continued.
“You don’t like being seen with me. So, I’ll drop you off in a place where others won’t see. Doesn’t that solve the problem?”
It was a valid point, but along with it, Chrissy realized that no matter what, the conclusion wouldn’t change. Why, for what reason…
Why was he trying so hard to keep Chrissy within his sight?
The question only grew, but even if he asked, he wouldn’t get an answer. In that case, the choice available to Chrissy in this situation was fixed.
“……One week.”
Finally, he spoke.
“I can’t do this for long. Find Detective Simmons’ whereabouts within a week. If you can’t find him by then, I’ll stop accompanying you.”
Chrissy stated the maximum period he thought he could manage. At the firm tone, Nathaniel’s eyes narrowed, and a faint smile appeared.
“I’ll have to hurry then.”
Speaking quietly as if he liked Chrissy’s answer, he picked up his knife and fork again and resumed his meal. Chrissy also tried to bring the bread he was eating to his mouth, but there was one thing left to confirm.
“The children are really safe, right? I… I don’t have to worry anymore, right……?”
To the voice that trailed off lacking confidence, Nathaniel replied shortly.
“Don’t worry, they’ll be returning home soon.”
Chrissy stared at him in silence for a moment. The old him would have been stubborn, saying, ‘I can’t believe it until you show me.’ But this time, he didn’t.
“……Alright.”
Saying only that, he pushed the remaining bread into his mouth. The bread, which had tasted of nothing, suddenly felt sweet. While he slowly chewed the bread, Nathaniel finished the chicken dish and began eating the roasted potatoes. Only after eating an amount that was easily five times what Chrissy ate did Nathaniel finally speak.
“Shall we have dessert in the drawing room?”
He did.