Chloe realized she had failed again.
Hiccuping, she realized she had once again become a child begging for candy. This reaction would only provoke Kovishik's annoyance and accomplish nothing else, yet she could not stop herself from spiraling in that direction. Her tears broke free before her reason could hold them back. Mixed into those unwilling tears was some anger toward Kovishik, though she still did not understand why.
She sat on the ground and wailed without restraint, ignoring everyone's attempts to comfort her. She knew Kovishik would turn and leave at once without offering a single word of consolation. She knew that afterward, people would laugh at her again—not just the servants, but also her father and sister. Xina would not even need to say anything harsh; she only had to cast Chloe a condescending glance as she passed by, and Chloe would immediately feel a sharp pain.
But Chloe had to pour out her feelings like this, had to sob her heart out. If she did not exhaust herself completely, that tormenting emotion would weigh on her until she could not breathe. Rather than bottle up her worries like Xina and spend every day gloomy and miserable, she would rather turn all those painful, tangled, irritating thoughts into screams and tears. Then, after a good night's sleep, everything in her life would become vibrant again.
Kovishik's body went rigid for a moment. Amid Chloe's sobbing, a bewildered terror suddenly engulfed him, because Hesta said nothing. She simply stood where she was and watched him.
"Ch... Chloe, get up." Kovishik struggled to turn his wheelchair toward Chloe. "Don't sit on the ground..."
In the midst of her wailing, Chloe heard Kovishik's voice. Somewhat confused, she still spared a glance in his direction. Her crying abruptly stopped—because Kovishik had held