Things happened.
“…………I never guessed he will approve”
Addie blurted out as he took a peek at his back.
Behind him was the Student Council President, Patrick. His hairs fluttered in the wind, his form seating on a bike pa.s.senger bench was mystically elegant.
Why this development? Rewinding time for few minutes, the resolute Mary had ushered Patrick; the place they arrived to is the school’s vacant land. Aka, bicycle parking lot.
Patrick was curious with the bikes parked in the corner and asked Mary and Addie for some enlightenment.
By right of the original plan, Patrick and Mary should ride the bicycle together. Although in the game without getting off from the grandiose carriage, Alicia would recognize his figure as she journeyed back. *
But a bona fide highborn Patrick was, he clearly had zero experience pedaling a bike. And it was intolerable for Mary to offer a ride.
In consequence, Addie, Mary’s attendant, was entrusted to do it instead, howbeit whether this was a correct choice or not……….. No, essentially her preference to commute using bicycle was at fault.
“By the way, to give Patrick-sama a ride, I possibly have done something irreversible …… What do I do if Dice House sues me……”
“No need to worry. Just answer ‘I permit it’. Thereto I have wanted to try riding a bike for once.”
“That’s surprising. Are you interested in bike?”
“Ah, Alicia….no a certain person has indulged me that the wind felt spectacular.”
“Ha, ha, a certain person I see.”
Being mindful for Patrick who feigned a cough, Addie played along.
Adjacent to them, Mary likewise adopted a lackadaisical stance listening on their conversation, but within her innermost mind she credited Alicia for the astonishing change in Patrick.
It’s beyond her prediction; this Student Council President could develop a curiosity over commoners’ object ——I bet the pure and obtuse Alicia wouldn’t envisage it either———It seems Alicia has slowly grown into a large existence for Patrick.
The game textbook system was ‘player maneuvers Alicia as she undergoes her school-lives’. We only perceived Alicia’s mentality, what the opposite ‘person’ perception of us could solely be gauged from the intercourses and auxiliary discernment was based on numerical value; turns out, in reality Patrick falls in love deeply than his impression let on.
A solid composure, the scene he calmly and coolly whispering amorous poetries was actually a sheer craftiness, this is way interesting than I deduced, Mary spouted so inadvertently.
Then she suddenly caught a figure at far front, a back she has frequently seen.
Her golden mop ruffled in the wind, a girl with graceful steps. Donning St. Karelia n.o.bility’s uniform yet blithely roaming alone was without a doubt Alicia’s figure.
Other students would never go home by foot and on no occasion wander unaccompanied.
Fixated on Alicia’s back, Mary began to put some powers on her grips unto the bike’s handles.
According to the game’s event we’re going to blow past her. Espying our pleasant repartee, she guessed wrong and henceforth evaded Patrick.
It’s going to work.
………..It’s going, to work.
………………………Is it going to work?
As there’s a subtle alteration to the game’s setup, she felt insecure.
Right now, while observing the situation, Mary and Patrick should be cuddling inside the horse-cart. It spurted a misconception on Alicia’s part, which I can understand.
But now? Patrick was riding with Addie; Mary was cycling her own bike.
Alicia in game was “what an engaging bond they have, don’t tell me they……..” misinterpreting things, but like this it’s not Mary and Patrick who would be misunderstood rather………
“No, let’s stop it at that, Mary…….I ought to believe in myself.”
Sensing a shiver washed over her, Mary scolded her own self.
What to do losing my confidence now. The plan was already in cue, ‘rolling oneself to her limitation’ that’s what it means to be Albert House’s offspring.
Yes, it’s going to work. This scene will successfully transmit ‘a misunderstanding’ to Alicia.
…………..Well, even though it’s a different kind of ‘delusion’.
In order to dishearten Alicia and Patrick’s relationship, sacrificing Addie is a sound argument. He’ll become the ultimate sacrificial p.a.w.n.
Whilst Mary was riveted on her thoughts, they pa.s.sed Alicia.
“Oh, Patrick-sama”
“Hm Alicia? Sorry Addie, please stop”
“Yes!”
*screech* with such sound, the bike came to a halt, reflexively Mary clenched the brake.
“Good day everyone”
Alicia bowed.
Her curtsy was somewhat awkward and unnatural; nevertheless from their perspectives who’re similar with her makings it incited their smiles.
In fact, Patrick generally would’ve scolded anyone doing such chaotic curtsy; still he only nodded in reply. Not only that, his gaze on her was somehow tinged with compa.s.sion, his ‘default’ emotionless and compose deportment melted unto a sublime tenderness.
Detecting his stare on Alicia, the three tilted their heads in confusion.
“To ride a bike, did something happen today?”
Her question wasn’t in the least bit strange.
At last, there’re two upper-cruster students of the renowned St. Karelia, riding commoners’ transportation.
Receiving Alicia’s query, Patrick signaled a light cough as if it was aimed at Mary so she may solve it. Ostensibly, he couldn’t reveal ‘Because of Alicia’s story, I became interested in it.’
Mary’s eyes unconsciously widened towards Patrick’s palpable conducts (intents). In the game he’d have spewed fulsome sugary utterances which charmed the woman players, howbeit now, ‘in a dilemma between being sweet and his pride’ this image of him befuddled me as well**.
It’s not the time to be in trance!
So Mary elucidated (lied) “We just wanted some exercises” and sophisticatedly laughed whilst withdrawing herself from them.
“Ohohoho, excuse me, I need to talk with Addie,” she grabbed her personal attendant’s hand and dragged him away. She acted like a match-maker saying ‘later, youngsters.’
They steered clear of those two hearing distance, thereafter she stepped Addie’s feet who uncomfortably was looking elsewhere.
“Oh dear, what a perfect couple they are………..right Ojou, please stop stepping on my feet, look at them.”
“I’ve one question. Why did you stop? Knowing my plan, why did you stop?”
“Hahaha, Ojou look at Patrick, he’s rubicund red. Well, well, Alicia is a rustic cutie, it’s an unprecedented type.”
“……….It seems we need to discuss this further. With dear father”
“I apologize! Although it’s Ojou’s plan, I can’t possibly disregard Patrick-sama’s order.”
I sincerely apologize! Addie deeply bowed in a smooth motion; Mary touched her forehead to restrain her headache.
Certainly, Addie, a servant can’t neglect the highborn Patrick’s order. She understood. Yet, as long as it’s by Mary’s instructions, what’s going on inside his head, I wonder.
And as I thought his hierarchy order is a complete mess. It’s sensible for Mary’s father, the elder of Albert House to be in the top, then again for his daughter to be inferior than Patrick………..
Being glared skeptically by Mary, Addie realized he’s standing in a thin ice and forged a laugh.
“Come on Ojou, those two are calling for us. Fix your mood and let’s go back.”
Ok? Addie simpered.
Against that humorless smile, Mary lost her impulse to be bitter and concluded their parley with an exhale “Alright,”
Soon after, Mary and Patrick went back.
———–Underway Addie pondered; I had defied my master, in worst case a punishment……. or hopefully none. Somehow it solicited him to straighten his spine;nonetheless it’s not the time to think of it…… hence, by postponing his rumination again and again, they attained this kind of predicaments or so he suspected.
“I apologize to keep you waiting.”
Two smiles overlapped, Addie and Mary greeted Alicia.
Allegedly, their raillery had gone abroad, as at the moment Mary called them they immediately reverted to their usual self’s, Alicia in her cheeriness and Patrick in his embarra.s.sment meeting Mary’s gaze.
“Then Patrick-sama let us go back. Good day, Alicia-san, see you tomorrow at school…”
“Ah, about that…..”
Mary was intercepted by Patrick when she was about to bid Alicia goodbye.
Naturally, Mary was shaken and sent him a puzzled gawk. Patrick coughed once.
Thereupon it transpired to this…….
“I see, it really feels different when you pedal it by yourself. It’s not wrong to say this as an exercise.”
“Patrick-sama is amazing, to able to learn it in one go. Plus even giving me a ride”
“You’re jumping into conclusion; it’s easier compared to mounting a horse.”
To them who’re outwardly frolicking while opposing the wind, Mary let out an audible breath.
Parenthetically, she elbowed Addie’s hip who squeaked in riposte next to her.
“’Lost in a compet.i.tion, lost in a match, and lost in a bet’, it describes my whole emotional state.”
“I emphasize with you, but Ojou, please properly hold unto me.”
“Right, if I were to fall being ‘miserable’ probably won’t cut it.”***
Ha…….with a sigh, May encircled her hands on Addie’s waist.
By the by, Mary was perching on the bicycle pa.s.senger bench Addie pedaled. ****
Adjacent to them, Patrick and Alicia standoffishly rode a bike together to the point that bystanders will think of them as a family or depict it as a youthful spectacle.
In reality Patrick and Alicia were truly exultant, and every so often the bike shook Alicia would cling to Patrick………..Such bitter-sweet scenery.
On other hand in Mary and Addie’s case, Mary’s eyes exactly imitated a dead-fish and she unceasingly bemoaned her defeat, Addie smiled stiffly sensing a dark aura looming behind him.
A different unnoticeable on first glance, yet when ones scrutinize deeper, it’s heaven and earth. After all, a concentration of tremendous black aura was drifting from the aforementioned.
After shortly crossing the downtown; they reached their destination and stopped their bikes.
“Thank you for sending me, Patrick-sama. Mary-sama and Addie-san also, thank you very much.”
Since Alicia profoundly lowered her head, “Don’t worry about it” Mary a.s.sured so with a smile.
‘Relishing herself within the zephyr, repeatedly jabbing her elbow to Addie’s waist, threatened him with ‘dear father’ blackmail material, and receiving a defeat’ smile, at first glance was exceptionally refine……………notwithstanding with further inspection, her eyes were lifeless.
Anyway, not realizing Mary’s quandary, Alicia grinned heartily and seeing that Patrick looked fairly contented.
An innocent girl and a protective prince, it’s the accurate portrayal. Lest Mary’s poisonous emotion be discovered, she heaved a small sigh. I lost, no I feel like I lost before the compet.i.tion start.
What the h.e.l.l I’m thinking me ————– not only sending Alicia to her destination ——– I was told off by Patrick “From here on, it’s fine”.
Far from meddling, it’s like we’re accompanying them having a jolly date. Rather than a loss, we resemble cheerleaders encouraging him.
Thenceforth, Mary sent off the jovially-conversing pair with blank eyes.
“What I’ve done, me…….”
Mary mourned, feeling partially responsible for it, Addie placed a troubled face.
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