Page 147 of The Wishing Game

What...

"What's this?" I whisper.

"Chocolate. You like it."

"Yes, but why do you have it? We didn't pack any."

"I packed some for you," he immediately replies, folding his arms across his chest and proudly pushing his chin up.

My lashes flutter in confusion as I look back and forth from Ze to the chocolate squares.

"Butwhy?" I ask again.

Now it's his turn to frown, staring at me as if he doesn't understand why I'm questioning his goodwill when that's exactly why—Ze isnotknown for his goodwill.

"You like it," he reasserts. "The journey is long and harrowing. It is good to have something you like along the way."

He states it as if it's self-explanatory.

"How did you know? That I like it?" My voice is softer, a smile trembling on my lips.

"It is all you eat, human," he huffs. "When you are not eating that cow of yours, of course."

"Of course," I repeat, amused.

"It would not have been ideal to bring a cow with us on this journey," he continues. "I could have carried it, of course. That would have been no hardship. But I am not sure whether the vegetation in this realm would have agreed with it," he muses quietly.

"You would have carried a cow on your back?" I blink numbly.

"Do you doubt my strength, human?" He thunders.

"No, no, of course not. I wouldneverdoubt your strength. But cows are not small..." I trail off, not sure how I should react to his statements. Should I laugh? Should I thank him? Should I tell him that no one carries cows around like he described?

"They cannot be bigger than you," he says with unnatural certainty—despite never havingactuallyseen a cow in person.

"Did you... Did you just say I am the size of a cow?" My eyes widen, and I barely keep myself from bursting out into laughter. This man...

Ze shakes his head, coming closer.

"You do not have enough meat on your bones," he says as he circles around me, his eyes studying my body intently. "It is quite strange," he continues as he pokes a finger at my chest, right above my breast. "This part of you is disproportionately larger than the rest."

"Ze," I squeak, jumping back. "You can't just touch my breasts as you like."

His brows shoot up as he gazes at me, and he looks the picture of innocence.

"I am just stating a fact," he adds nonchalantly. "But do not fret, human. I like you as you are," he states confidently, nodding to himself. "After much deliberation, I have handpicked you as my person, and I happen to have very sound judgment."

"Right... Because you are so glorious and awe-inspiring and I bow in front of your magnificence," I reply drily, shaking my head at his antics.

"You forgot the most important thing," he suddenly interjects, placing one finger up.

"Huh?"

"Nice. I am nice to you." He smiles to himself.

I blink in confusion.

"Yes. That is true." I nod. "I'll even give you extra points for the chocolate." I chuckle as I bite into a square.

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