Although that urge to "do something" had faded, a feeling akin to reluctance still lingered in his heart, leaving Xenophilius Lovegood feeling stifled.
He studied Wizet and saw that the usually composed young man had pressed his lips tightly together, his fingers rubbing unconsciously against each other...
Clearly, these were signs of Wizet's unease and awkwardness.
For some reason, seeing this stirred a subtle emotion within Xenophilius Lovegood, diluting much of the reluctance in his heart.
He knew very well what Wizet had accomplished by now.
Yet Wizet, who could handle the Paris Region Incident with such ease, showed this expression when facing him and feeling his scrutiny...
Xenophilius Lovegood had to admit that seeing Wizet so uncharacteristically constrained and uneasy actually filled him with an indescribable... sense of satisfaction and comfort.
That was more like it!
He murmured to himself, This Wizet still has the manner of a young man, after all!
Since that was the case, his best strategy at the moment was to maintain this noncommittal attitude.
He even forced the corners of his mouth downward to make his expression more severe, then narrowed his eyes slightly, adopting an inscrutable air.
Finally, he coughed twice to draw Wizet's attention, lest such a performance go to waste.
After all, Wizet had become so uneasy after he had said only a few words. He might as well let the young man worry over it himself!
Of all these actions, the one Xenophilius Lovegood found most difficult was forcing down the corners of his mouth.
That was because he could already picture Wizet's next reaction—in the next few hours, Wizet would surely be restless, repeatedly mulling over every inflection and word he had used...
At that thought, Xenophilius Lovegood could not help the corners of his mouth from rising.
However,