Chapter 40
Even flowers without thorns are scary.
This is something that happened some time after we communicated to the other country that we had decided to accept the alliance. There were various opinions about this matter flying about, some in criticism and some in approval of the pros and cons, but it seems everything settled for going with the alliance for the time being. Apparently there is still many people who are confused about having the one who held the position of our enemy until now suddenly becoming our ally, but Prince, hang in there.
And I was bewildered about Maribelle, who was in front of me.
I had bent my neck so as to match her line of sight, and she was clinging to the tip of my nose.
It was the first time I met her in my Dragon form, but I was astonished at her touching me without hesitation. I’m slightly larger than a Fire Drake, so whoever it was they would end up hesitating unwillingly upon seeing me, I believe.
Although it was faint, I noticed that her small body was trembling.
“W, we… are friends, right?”
In her feeble voice, there was none of her usual haughtiness.
When I nodded as she asked if we were friends, Maribelle exhaled softly.
“Even, if I am not myself…? Won’t you, come to hate me? Will we be as we are now?”
She was quite shaken. I wondered what had caused Maribelle to have such uneasy feelings.
It was not like I had no idea of what this may be about, but the answer to her words was already determined.
[Whoever you are, my feelings towards you won’t change. You told this me, who am not human, that we were friends. And even right now, you are touching me like this. You have accepted me. I definitely won’t come to hate you.]
Even if I come to be hated, or if she does something catastrophically hateful, there is no way. I can affirm it. This is not limited to Maribelle, but includes all of the people I have met, and who have acknowledged my existence.
“…Really?”
Her pupils that had been facing down looked up at me. Her clouded, deep blue eyes which were the same as the Vice-Captain’s were wide open, looking as if she would cry at any moment.
At that point I noticed that she was not wearing makeup. Even though she is someone who will very seldom leave her room without makeup on. As I was observing this, I thought, ‘if she kept her hair short, and I was told she was a beautiful boy, I wouldn’t even be able to tell otherwise,’ …Let’s exorcise these evil thoughts.
[Did something happen?]
When asked so, she shook her head and laughed weakly.
“No, it’s nothing. Forget it.”
It’s clearly not nothing. I couldn’t leave her alone at seeing her being that disheartened. But if the person herself said it was nothing, then I can’t unreasonably ask.
Oh, but I certainly want to ask about Sir Lance, or about Sir Lance, or maybe about Sir Lance.
[But]
“For- forget about me, I say! Rather than that, black is stunning!”
She diverted the talk so obviously, I wonder if she didn’t want to talk about it so much?
[Is it weird, I wonder?]
“No, it’s not as wild as I thought it would be, it’s pretty! I like it.”
I like Maribelle because she sincerely comes knocking into you with her bare emotions.
— Ah, it’s no good. I really want to ask about it after all.
[Did something happen with Sir Lance?]
I wonder if I overdid it at asking with a straight ball. 1
Mari
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belle looked up at me with wide eyes.
“…Perhaps, did you see us?”
[… I saw you from here. I heard you say, “Brother Lance, you idiot!”]
Since it came to this then let’s inquire to the end. I won’t sleep at night if it bothers me. I’m kidding.
At my words, she brought both hands to her shyly reddening cheeks.
“No…! So you were watching us.”
[Are you perhaps, related by blood or something?]
‘She called him Brother, so maybe they are siblings from a different mother, and that is what is troubling her,’ is what I thought for a moment, but Maribelle shook her head.
“No, we are not siblings! That, it’s remnants from when I was little and he’d come play with me. He treated me well, like a real brother would. But because it is somewhat embarra.s.sing now, I don’t call him Brother in public.”
I see, so that’s how it was. Also, perhaps the fact that Lance calls her Miss and uses polite speech with her is to match that. My heart hurts as if I had uncovered a secret between just the two of them. I’m sorry Maribelle. I didn’t know there were such implicit rules between you two.
[Maribelle, I’m cheering for you.]
Although I’m a Dragon, I think it’s okay to support her love because I’m a female as well. It might be good to act like a girl sometimes. But, for as much as I was all excited, on the contrary, I received a blank look in return.
“Cheering for me, why?”
[You like Sir Lance, right? However you grew up as brother and sister, and therefore it is an insurmountable wall, you are troubled over it.]
Maribelle made a surprised expression and seemed confused.
If I haven’t seen wrongly, her eyes shine brilliantly when she talks to Lance, with the expression of a maiden in love. If that’s not love, then what is that called.
As I was thinking, ‘Weeell, she’s a girl in looove,’ this time I was surprised as I received a completely unexpected answer.
“Wait, wait a little! When did I say I wanted something like mutual love! And also from where did you get such an imagination!? It’s strong enough to lead you to wrong impressions!”
Although there are parts where I ended up adding a little too much teasing, yet I ended up being denied in a frantic manner.
[Eh, I’m wrong?]
I received a yell of ‘You are wrong!’ Eh, there’s no way. Because even looking at her att.i.tude up to now, she clearly seemed to be aware, and wasn’t it like she was all ‘I hate him, I hate him, I like him’? It’s possible if we are talking about Maribelle the Tsundere.
But Maribelle said with a more serious face than I had thought.
“Sir Lance, …Brother, if I like him, well I do like him! But it’s just a yearning! It’s just that! Isn’t Brother really cool as a man?! He’s a gentleman, and also dependable, so I also feel like–”
She suddenly made a startled expression, clamming up in a state of panic.
[Feel like what?]
“It’, it’s nothing! Forget it please! Rather than that I want to know about Vito!”
As she forcibly diverted the talk once again, I didn’t ask about Lance’s matter anymore. Well, Maribelle got a little energetic so let’s think of this as a good thing
As the Captain’s health improved, and due to him saying that it was all right to turn into a human again, I was able to take on my human form again after a long time, yet as expected I felt a stronger sense of discomfort than before but there is no helping it.
In that manner, accompanied by the Captain, I made my way towards the inside of the castle.
But since the length of our legs was different, he was willing to keep my pace.
“Where are we going?”
“The alliance was established.”
He suddenly says that without answering my question. He is as ‘my pace’ as ever. I nodded for the time being.
“So, an exchange meeting will be held.”
“I see.”
I wonder if that’s the reason the surroundings were noisy recently.
Certainly, because we were enemies until now, it is necessary to create an event in order to become friendlier. Such a c.u.mbersome thing, I thought if it was that Majesty he wouldn’t do it, but he also seems to have some expectations. To doubt is my Trademark. An Exchange Meeting to commemorate the Alliance may sound good, but I hope that nothing troublesome happens. And although they may suddenly be told to please get along with the opponent they had been fighting with, I’m a little worried about things becoming more than just getting awkward.
“It’s today.”
“…How sudden.”
I was honestly surprised.
“It was decided long before. Only you didn’t know.”
“Well, I guess so.”
I was at a place far from the castle all along, and I paid no mind to rumors so there was no helping it.
When I said that it’s about other people’s affairs, the Captain stops walking, and turns to look back at me while laughing with a sweet smile.
“Behaving like an outsider is wrong, Vito.”
At some point Chiffon and Ariade were standing in front of me, and while I was letting out a befludded ‘huh?’ they grabbed both of my arms and forced me to walk.
“Eeh? Chiffon? Ariade? Why?”
“Walking walking~”2
“Ufufu~”
Their smiles were scary somehow. I wonder where on earth are they taking me, I ended up utterly lost, not being capable of thinking of a reason. 3
“See you.”
While being seen off by the smiling Captain, I was taken away by Chiffon and Ariade.
The room we reached was Madelein’s room. While I was finally taking a breath at being released by the two of them, the tall woman who was in the room approached us with a smile as she noticed us.
“Oh my, oh my, my lovely Lady. It has been a while.”
“Lady Minette?”
Bright red hair that seems to burn and pick-up lines that rival Stefanos’. No doubt, it’s Lady Minette.
I recognize that she is dressed in an uniform of more ornate garments than usual. Probably because of the Exchange Meeting that will be held later. But, why is it men’s clothes. She doesn’t wear women’s difficult to move in dresses that seem to be made to go to a ball? But, it suits her so I can’t issue any complaints. Surely she is a so-called belle who cross-dresses as a man. How cool.
As I was fascinated by Lady Minette, Madeleine appeared from the back of the room.
“So you came, Vito.”
Her long hair had been tied into dumplings, and she wore a cream colored dress that spread fluffily. She’s beautiful. But I don’t say it. If I were a man I’d be proposing immediately. Or I’d be asking for a meeting for the marriage conditions… wait, am I Lady Minette?!
“By the way, that girl is not here? That pink haired sweet girl.”
” Maribelle? That child won’t a.s.sist today. Because of having things to do or something.”
I hadn’t heard anything about that. Or rather I hadn’t heard about the Exchange Meeting itself. If you all knew then somebody could have told me!
“Such a pity, although I’ve wanted to take a look at her, who can be admired as one more of the sweet flowers.”
“You’d better be careful because she has thorns.”
Madeleine laughs in amus.e.m.e.nt.
“I love every thorn. Moreover isn’t it said that love is something that won’t burn if there are no obstacles?” 4
Ugh, is Lady Minette made of love? I feel embarra.s.sed just by being near her. As expected, to be able to say such affected speeches she is not an ordinary person. In the first place won’t you meet the obstacle of being of the same s.e.x all the time! 5 As I was suppressing my feelings of wanting to rebuke her, Lady Minette was suddenly facing me.
“Of course, Vito is also adorable.”
I can’t tell whether she’s joking of being serious. Well it’s surely a joke. And Lady Minette is a woman. Calm down, me. No matter how much she suits men’s clothes, she is a ‘her.’
And when I thanked her with a stiff face, I ended up being told, ‘So honest.’
“Yes yes, let’s stop the talk here. Vito, won’t you come over here please.”
When she prompted me to the back of the room, there was a large enough amount of something to doubt one’s eyes.
“Uhm, this is?”
On top of the bed, there were cloths colorful enough to make the eyes become sore scattered on the narrow place. I said cloths but they are clothes. I said clothes, but… they are dresses.
“What do you mean, of course this it is to get dressed. Don’t tell me you are planning on going to the party in those clothes?”
Party? What’s with having such a stylish ring to it.6 Wasn’t it an Exchange Meeting? When I asked so, it seems it’s nominally an Exchange Meeting but it’s a party.
Eh, wait a minute what did you say?
“M, me?”
“Isn’t that obvious? You have the leading role so what will we do if you don’t attend!”
“The leading role!? No, such a thing. Because it’s not possible…!”
I haven’t heard anything about this!
What Ariade is bringing is a gorgeous outfit full of dazzling splendor. I don’t want to wear such a difficult-to-move-in thing. As a woman, as a female I yearn for it a little, but I dislike gaudy garments! I want to run away. I absolutely want to run away. But behind me Chiffon and Ariade are standing like a wall, I can’t escape. And thus while I considered that I was cornered by Madeleine in the meantime.
“Don’t say something selfish!”
“Wouldn’t it be fine if Chiffon, or Ariade, wear it! It would surely suit them better!”
When I aim my eyes at them, they evaded my gaze.
“Everything is experience, Vito.” (Ariade)
“Sorry, but we have to serve as maids.” (Chiffon)
“I, I’ll also do the serving…!”
I’ve worked as a servant until now. That’s right, I also have to do the serving because I’m a servant! However, when I cling to Chiffon Ariade peels me off her and returns me to Madeleine.
“It’s unprecedented for the leading role to do the serving or the like! The other party’s higher-ups are also coming, so please do it properly!”
“But that looks so difficult to move in! If something happens what will I do.”
“Becoming a Dragon and counterattacking should be fine, shouldn’t it.”
So rash!!7 That’s too negligent Madeleine! Are you still the egg of a magician!
“Good grief, as a girl, don’t you want to wear it? And it’s cute, this one.”
“It’s because I’m a Dragon. That’s different from being a girl.”
“That won’t deceive us!”
She ended up getting angry at me.
It is certainly cute. It is beautiful. And while I think that it is splendid, it’s not a thing I’d wear myself!
“Th, then I’ll also wear men’s clothes like Lady Minette.”
If Lady Minette’s wearing them then it should be okay if I wear them too! If so declared, I was amazed.
“What are you saying. If it’s you then they may fit you in its own way, but this time it’s a no-no.”
Madeleine heaves a big sigh at me, I wonder if she grew impatient at me because I won’t quite back down.
“…Minette, won’t you help me?”
“Understood. Whenever you ask me to.”
Wai-, I think that’s cowardly! It’s obvious that Lady Minette and I have a large difference in const.i.tution! It also won’t do to return to a Dragon form in this kind of place, it’s really cowardly when it’s four-to-one!
In a voice that didn’t seem like mine, a shriek resounded.