Chapter 29: Chapter 29
"..."
"Viktor?"
"Yes?"
"Um, are you all right? Your complexion has been off for a while now..."
"Ah, my apologies."
What an unsightly display during my precious lunch date with Cecilia.
It is all because of that woman.
After finishing our conversation, I had watched from behind a wall for a moment to check on her, and she was no ordinary lunatic. She had been muttering to herself, and then—
At the end, she had burst into crazed laughter.
"Cecilia."
"Yes?"
"If Elysia approaches you, please let me know."
"...Why?"
"I am worried you might get hurt. There is something strange about that woman."
"Does that mean she has been bothering you?"
"...As I have said before, that sort of woman is not my type."
"That is right. Your type is not a skinny woman like that, is it?"
"No."
"Then I should gain more weight."
"..."
"What is it?"
"It seems your skill at stabbing has improved lately."
"That is because of you."
Once again today, Cecilia's smile scored one hundred and twenty out of a hundred.
"Excellent."
Once we had finished eating and risen from our seats, we decided to take a walk around the Academy, since our next classes were both canceled as well.
Inside the Academy, outside workers and faculty members brought in to prepare for the spring festival were busy at work.
"So that is why classes are being canceled."
"Yes. Last year, classes were often canceled like this two or three days before the festival as well. So I spent my time shut away in the workshop or apothecary, conducting research. But now..."
Her cheeks faintly flushed, Cecilia looked up at me with a soft smile.
"Now I am with you, Viktor."
"Because we are engaged."
"Yes. Because I am your fiancée."
Her answer seemed tailored to mine. A small ache rose in one corner of my heart, but deciding this much distance was just right, I walked beside Cecilia at her pace.
"...Viktor?"
"Yes."
"Do you perhaps... have plans for the festival?"
"Uh..."
"Well... if it is all right with you."
"I had been planning to go with you, Cecilia."
"..."
"Was that... not the case?"
"No! Let us go together!!"
Cecilia beamed at me like an excited puppy. Once again today, my urge-to-kidnap-her-and-make-her-mine meter was steadily rising.
I may be able to abduct this adorable creature and lavish affection on her, but I have no confidence that I could raise her properly.
"Viktor?"
"Yes?"
"Um... if you do not mind, may I... prepare our route for the festival?"
For a moment, I recalled the spring-festival route Rushe had described that morning—a route that was, in effect, a guerrilla training course.
Cecilia would not plan something like that.
Trusting in that belief, I smiled and answered.
"Yes. If you are all right with it, Senior Cecilia, I will follow your recommendations."
"Senior..."
"Is something wrong?"
"It does not sound bad."
"Does it not?"
"Yes... Hehe."
**
"Hmm-hmm-hmm."
Humming cheerfully to herself, Elysia stopped outside Boris's dormitory room.
"Boris? Are you in there?"
Creeeak.
When the door opened, Boris greeted her with dark, weary shadows hanging beneath his sunken eyes.
"Ah, Elysia."
"...Boris, are you all right? You have not even been attending class properly lately."
"Hahaha... There is a problem I absolutely must resolve."
"Is that perhaps for my sake?"
Twitch.
Boris forced a smile.
"Of course... I want to be a disciple you and Master can be proud of."
"Boris..."
Gazing at Boris with moist eyes, Elysia pulled him into her arms.
"Do not push yourself too hard, all right? I have been... scared lately."
"..."
"Cecilia, Grand Duke Walterheim... I am so scared without you, Boris."
"Again."
"Boris?"
"No. Do not worry, Elysia... Soon... very soon."
After seeing Elysia off and returning to his room, Boris stared at the magic tome spread open on his desk.
"Soon..."
The haze of mana rising behind his back was gradually turning a deeper red.
**
[Welcome to the Imperial Academy Spring Festival!!!]
Before I knew it, the spring festival had arrived. Academy classes were canceled for three days. Every student was free to enjoy the festival or visit their hometown.
"So I considered going back home, but..."
[Hahaha, enjoy yourself with the young lady.]
[I like twins... Mmph!!!]
Thanks to the replies Jester and Shurian had sent to Walterheim Estate, I was able to stay at the Academy without worry.
"Cecilia."
"Yes."
"Is it all right for you not to visit House Roienthal?"
"Ah."
It was a rare opportunity. At the very least, she could pay a brief visit to the ducal house and offer her greetings to the Duke of Roienthal.
"Not yet."
"Pardon?"
"Not yet. When the time comes, I certainly will."
Cecilia stared straight at me, clenching both fists tightly.
"Yes. When that time comes..."
She looks so determined. Saying anything more would only be needless interference.
I shrugged and stared at the paper in Cecilia's hand.
"Is that the schedule?"
"Yes. I planned it around events you will enjoy over the next three days, Viktor."
"It cannot be just me enjoying myself. You should enjoy it too, Cecilia."
"Of course, there are events I will enjoy as well."
"..."
"I-I really mean it."
When I simply stared at her face, her expression wavered slightly.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"If you are lying... Hmm."
"Why would I lie?"
"Because I think you are the kind of person who worries more about others than yourself."
"...I do not worry about anyone if it is not you, Viktor."
"See? You are lying."
"I am not!"
"Then what about how diligently you looked after everyone at Walterheim Estate?"
"Th-That was..."
"It proves that you are a kind person, Cecilia."
Unable to answer my words, Cecilia puffed out her cheeks and sharply turned her head away, refusing to meet my eyes.
"I do not know!"
"...Um."
"Hmph."
"I-I am sorry?"
"..."
"What must I do for you to accept my apology...?"
"Call me big sister."
"Pardon?"
"Call me big sister."
"...Big sister?"
"Hehe."
"Cecilia?"
Something about that exchange felt off. I stepped in front of Cecilia and examined her expression.
"...You tricked me."
"You fell for it, did you not?"
"You are getting more cunning by the day."
"Hehe."
"It is nice to see, though."
"It is thanks to you, Viktor."
"I hope you will keep smiling like that even after our contract ends one day."
Stop.
Cecilia, who had been walking beside me, came to a halt.
"Cecilia?"
"..."
"Um?"
"I... see."
Her violet eyes trembled for the briefest moment before regaining their calm. Startled by that flicker, I looked around.
Did... did something upset her...?
There was. In the distance, Crown Prince Baron and Elysia were walking toward us.
"Cecilia!"
"Y-Yes? Viktor?"
I quickly took Cecilia's hand and led her into a building where an event was being held.
"Whew."
"Viktor, why did we suddenly..."
"Ah, it looked like there was something fun in here, so I thought we would take a look—"
"Welcome to the haunted house."
"Ah. So you like this sort of thing?"
"..."
No, this is the thing I hate most in the entire world.
**
Seeing Viktor's profile as he walked while tightly holding her hand, Cecilia unknowingly blushed.
Honestly, Cecilia... Making that expression and putting Viktor in such a difficult position...
When Cecilia recalled Viktor's face as he had worried about her earlier, her heart dropped with a thud.
Viktor is trying so hard to ease my heart... I am truly pathetic... I am...
[Kieeek!!!]
"Eek!!!"
"...Viktor?"
At the sight of Viktor recoiling in terror from a woman in white mourning clothes who had leaped out beside them, Cecilia's lips curved upward.
"H-Haha... How c-crude. Who would possibly be startled by a ghost like that..."
"Viktor."
"Y-Yes?"
"Are you... afraid of ghosts?"
"..."
They said silence was an affirmation. Watching Viktor tremble, Cecilia felt as though electricity were coursing through her entire body.
Ah... Ahh... He is adorable.
The sight of Viktor, who had always been as solid as steel, showing weakness awakened the maternal affection buried deep within Cecilia's heart.
"Viktor."
"...Yes?"
"Hold big sister's hand tightly."
Commanding. Was there any other word to describe Cecilia at that moment? Viktor blushed as he took Cecilia's hand.
Cecilia grinned and did not stop there.
Squeeze.
"C-Cecilia... big sister?"
"Adora... No, no. This way, you are not scared anymore, right, Viktor?"
Interlacing their fingers, the two began making their way through the haunted house.
"...What is this?"
The people dressed as ghosts in the haunted house had done their best to scare the countless couples who passed through before them.
But they had never seen a case like the couple who had just passed them.
"...Those two are completely in their own world."
"They ignored us..."
"After all the effort we put into these costumes for days..."
The way they looked at each other, the sound of the other person's breathing beside them, the strength with which they both tightened their grip as though afraid of being the first to let go.
"...Ah."
"This is the end."
As they walked, the two eventually opened the haunted house's exit door.
"..."
"..."
Without either of them saying that it was all right to let go now, they roamed the festival with their fingers still entwined. Rather than follow the plan Cecilia had prepared, they simply looked ahead and walked, and walked.
**
"So."
Looking at Cecilia lying on the bed, Chloe smiled as though she could not believe what she was hearing.
"You spent the entire day just holding hands and walking around."
"Yes."
"Then you came back."
"Yes."
"..."
"Hehe."
"...Did you like it?"
"Yes... I liked it."
"All right... I am glad if you liked it."
"Viktor's hand was so warm. And with our fingers intertwined, I could feel it even more strongly..."
Covering her flushed cheeks with both hands, Cecilia gave a smile as bright as sunlight.
"He tightened his grip because he was afraid of losing me... and he looked at my hand and into my eyes as though he was worried he might break it. That was so... adorable."
"..."
"My heart... almost burst."
"At this point, I almost feel sorry for him."
"Hm? Why?"
"Why on earth does the Grand Duke act as though he has room in his heart for you, only to hide behind this shield called a contract and pull back?"
"...That is... because it is a contract."
"Sigh. Yes, because it is that sort of contract. But..."
"Chloe."
"Yes?"
"Anything beyond that is a matter between Viktor and me."
Recognizing her friend's wish not to speak any further on the matter, Chloe nodded.
"All right. If that is how you feel..."
"Yes. Do not worry. Viktor will eventually look at me."
"It certainly seems that way. But, Cecil, what if, just in case, the Grand Duke were with another woman..."
"...With whom?"
"Hm?"
"Who would Viktor be seeing?"
"Uh..."
"If you are going to make such an assumption, it is important to first name the subject of that assumption, Chloe."
Seeing Cecilia coolly demand an analysis and dismantling of Chloe's hypothesis, Chloe nodded.
"Well... for example, the two people he has been most frequently associated with lately."
"..."
"Princess Luisilla, perhaps?"
"Viktor dislikes that sort of personality."
"U-Um?"
"Viktor likes the delicate young-lady type. A warrior woman like her is not his preference."
"I see."
"I happened to see her in passing, and that was not a woman's body. Really, with a body like that, she dares think she can embrace the Grand Duke?"
"...Um, Cecil?"
"Tell her not to be ridiculous."
After calming the muttering Cecilia, Chloe cleared her throat a few times before bringing up the next candidate.
"Next is the one we hate so much..."
"Elysia?"
"Yes."
"Absolutely not."
"You sound certain."
"With that meager figure, she dares?"
"..."
"Not a chance."
"I see."
"A young lady who eats well and has filled out nicely is Viktor's type."
Cecilia smiled sweetly and pointed a finger at herself.
"Someone like me... Yes."
"...Right."
"So there is no point in such assumptions. Discard them. More importantly, tomorrow... Tomorrow, I absolutely must follow the plan with Viktor..."
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register