Translator: Lilia
Editor: Lilia (Bless your hard work!)
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Chapter 17
After wandering around aimlessly for a while, I entered an unused room. I stretched out on a chaise lounge by a window to pass time.
Haa-, my shoulders were stiff. That person really had a habit of popping up out of nowhere.
Surely he didn’t have some sort of special skill that let him track my movements, right?
If not, there was no way he could’ve come at such perfect timing. That scarily awesome noble Alpha. Please don’t mind me, and have tea with William-sama instead, beautiful man to beautiful man. The combination of those two must be breathtaking.
But even though I was the one who ran out, there was an uncertain feeling in my chest.
Maybe it was just my imagination, but there was a throbbing pain in my chest whenever I saw Iyuri-san talking and laughing with other people.
Why? Even though we’re friends. It was a weird feeling.
For now, let’s forget about it. It was just my imagination. Even if I went back now, I would just be in the way.
As I laid in the sun and slowly dozed off, my body felt lighter. Was I dreaming?
No, wait, my body really was floating…maybe I was bestowed with some special skill!?!?! No way.
Even though my body was floating, it also felt like it was being held by someone? I opened my eyes a little bit, and saw Iyuri-san’s face right in front of mine.
What the-! That surprised me!
I flailed in panic, and Iyuri-san, worried that I was going to fall, clutched me tighter.
“I’m sorry for surprising you. If you slept in a place like this, you would catch a cold,” he said in a worried tone.
Rather than that, what are you doing here? What happened to having tea with William-sama?
“Ah? Where’s William-sama? If you’re here…”
“He went back without finishing his tea. I followed your scent here.”
Hey, hey. Even though I was so worried about it… wait, no. The word that couldn’t be ignored in this situation was…
“Hm? Scent? Oh, come to think of, William-sama told me there was an erotic air about me. Whether it’s the smell or the atmosphere, I didn’t notice at all!”
“He told you something like that? Nobody other than me can smell your scent, and only Solvay knows about our relationship. Did your charm unintentionally spread out? I’m jealous.”
“What’s up with a smell that only Your Majesty can smell?!?!? Jealousy!?!? Don’t go around saying such foolish things with your friends!”
Iyuri-san touched his forehead to mine and, while staring at me with those entrancing green eyes, whispered, “Please call me by my name. Even though we’re friends, of course I would be jealous.” Then he added, “Even though we’re friends, I love you,” as he smiled sweetly at me.
If we were friends, we wouldn’t say such things like “I love you,” though!?!?!
It felt like something was jumping up and down in my chest like never before. My heart was beating loudly like a drum.
We’re friends! F-r-i-e-n-d-s!
“It’s because we’re a fated pair, right?” As I said this while sighing, Iyuri-san looked at me with a sorrowful face. Don’t look at me like that!
I pretended not to notice, and told Iyuri-san, “Put me down,” and he put me down on the floor. “Sorry, I… really don’t understand what’s going on.”
“I don’t mind taking it slow. It doesn’t change the fact that you are my fated pair.”
“Yeah…”
Right now, I didn’t really understand, but would there be a moment when I suddenly understood? I wonder. As expected, it didn’t click for me.
Iyuri-san’s eyebrows lowered, and he gently stroked my cheek. My heart fluttered.
Should I go see a doctor? For my pounding heart and shortness of breath.
“I’m going back to my room. You should return to work as well. Thank you very much for bringing me this far.” As I was about to quickly bow and leave, he suddenly grabbed my hand. Again, my heart fluttered.
“I’ll always be thinking of you.”
“Eh? All of a sudden?”
“Please don’t forget it.”
He kissed the back of my hand.
Suddenly, my face and body felt hot all over. This guy, is definitely doing it unconsciously, right?
So greedily, so overwhelmingly… is it okay? For me to be so greedy all of a sudden. I’m being swayed by a former virgin. Although, I’m also a former virgin. To think he had such a troublesome personality. At the beginning, he was stone-faced. Well, even now, there were still times he was expressionless.
“I don’t know about that!”
Even if I wanted to pull my hand away, I couldn’t. Let – go – of – me!
“I’ll escort you there.”
“There’s no need to escort me.”
“Even if we’re almost there, it’s still dangerous.”
“Danger!? Like what!?”
“Any kind.”
He happily took my hand and started walking. I didn’t understand at all!
Nothing dangerous happened while I was escorted to the entrance, so when we got there, I bowed my head, thanking him.
“I wanted to spend more time with you but… may I come tomorrow as well?”
“You don’t have to come so often. If you do, please invite Miluka-sama and William-sama as well. I’d feel bad if you just came for me.”
When I said this, Iyuri-san had an indescribable expression on his face.
I’m also showing concern for you! Understand!
And then I suddenly remembered:
“Ah, wait a moment. I’ll give you the side dishes for tonight.”
That’s right, perfect timing. It would be troublesome to have to come back specifically for these, so I’ll give it to him now. I made it this morning.
Half-jogging, I went to the kitchen, quickly stuffed them into a basket, and returned to where Iyuri-san was.
Iyuri-san happily accepted the basket, saying, “As always, thank you for this,” and gently took one of my hands and kissed the back of it.
I give up. Let’s just assume that this person is a kissing spirit1. Yeah.
I quickly pulled my hands back, and made a shoo-ing gesture.
“Thank you. Tomorrow, I’ll make your favorite kufa.”
When I said that, Iyuri-san’s face lit up, and he said, “Wonderful! I’m looking forward to it,” and he returned to the Main Palace.
Ah, darn it, I forgot to give him the pudding. I wonder if it’ll be okay tomorrow.
Or maybe, I’ll ask Solvay-san to bring it to him later.
“Ollie-sama, I’m going to prepare dinner.”
Solvay-san, who had come with me to see him off, said this to me briefly, and headed back to the main kitchen of the Inner Palace. Now that I thought about it, I wanted to see the main kitchen at least once. Before the selection period ends, let’s try to bargain our way in~. As I turned around to head back to the sitting room—
“Ollie-sama! Please help me!”
William-sama, pale-faced, rushed into the entryway. What’s going on!?!?!
He grabbed my hands and pulled hard.
“What’s happened!?”
“A kitten has fallen into the well!”
“A kitten!? Into which well?!?!? I’ll come help immediately!”
“That’s right! It was impossible for me alone, and then I suddenly thought of Ollie-sama.”
William-sama dragged me down the path in a panic. After a while, we came to a run-down well that hadn’t been in use for a while. So that’s where it is.
I approached the well and listened carefully. I couldn’t hear the cat crying. Was it too weak to even make a sound?
Instead, I could only hear the sound of drops of water echoing. And what’s more, it was quite deep. I couldn’t see the bottom. I was wondering how to get to the bottom, when…
“Ollie-sama, over here!”
William-sama was carrying a rope ladder with both arms. Nice!
Securely attach the end of the rope ladder to the metal fixtures on the well, and make sure it wouldn’t come loose, and then drop it inside.
WIth this, it’s ready!
As I put my foot on the first step of the rope ladder to climb down, William-sama called down to me worriedly.
“Ollie-sama, please be careful!”
I nodded and slowly descended.
It really was deep. Ah, but if I concentrated and looked closely, was that the bottom? Wait, the kitten!
I slowly climbed down further and further. Finally, I stepped onto the bottom.
Since it was an old well, there wasn’t much water at the bottom, but it was still muddy. I let out a sigh of relief.
And the cat? Where was it? I strained my eyes and frantically looked around.
“William-sama! It doesn’t seem like the cat is down here!”
I looked upwards while shouting out to him.
There didn’t seem to be any holes in the bottom of the well. I couldn’t hear the voice of the cat, either. Even the slightest sound should echo through the well.
Then, I heard a chuckle come from above.
Why was there a laughing voice?
As I was thinking how strange it was, suddenly William-sama called out to me in a happy-sounding tone.
“You’re such a nice person. The kitten stuck in the well was a lie. It was an excuse to get you to come out here. Aah, that’s a relief. With this, only Miluka and I will be left as Empress candidates.”
Ha? What was that? Could you say it again? What lie? Excuse? What are you saying? This guy?
“Miluka and I discussed this. So that the two of us would become candidates. What I was telling you during the day was a complete lie. I’ve never felt that way about Miluka. Actually, I like that about her. That kind of personality.”
Wait a minute… was I tricked?
“Sorry to ask this of you, but please stay quietly in there for some time. Your presence is a hindrance to us. At first, we ignored you, thinking you wouldn’t cause any harm, but I didn’t expect you to become so intimate with His Majesty… it was very unexpected.”
You say this, but how was I supposed to know it would happen!
I immediately reached out for the rope ladder that I had just climbed down.
—It’s not there! It was there just before!!
“William-sama! Where’s the rope ladder?? Please lower the rope ladder!!”
I raised my voice and called out. I had a bad feeling about this.
“There’s no way I would lower it. After all this work I put into getting you down there. The goal was to keep you there, right? I’ll bring you some food, I won’t forget about you. I’ll give you enough just to keep you from dying. Also, if you yell, you won’t want to know what will happen to your precious father or home.”
“Hahaha…” A creepy laugh rang down the well.
!? !? C-coward!
Even if I tried to calm down, I couldn’t.
W-what’s going to happen now? Help…
But, but right now, if I screamed for help, my father and house would be…
As I desperately tried to figure out what was happening to me—
“Well, farewell for now. I’ll put a mesh lid over the well so you don’t suffocate.”
As William-sama said that, I heard the crash of a cover being slapped over the well.
- QC Note: as in, a supernatural being. ↩︎
