Publishedat 15th of June 2019 09:34:08 AMChapter 83
To tell the truth, I was hoping that the appointed time wouldn’t come, but there’s no way that such good luck would visit someone like me . I’m so unlucky that I’d rather be cursed than whatever I have now . Although, I did develop some expectations since nothing happened at the academy .
My fight with Tuvalu cost me three times as much as it should have .
The Prince was right there to witness that incident . What if he brings that up?
No, I don’t think I was wrong . In the first place, I was just hoping to return the favor to Tuvalu . Even though the outcome wasn’t what I expected, Tuvalu did it to me, so I should do it back .
“… . But, still, maybe I went too far . ”
Of course, not for Tuvalu, for Runa . For Tuvalu, I think it was too light . What’s wrong with wanting him to do some self-reflection?
He insulted my precious childhood friend, so I’m never going to change my stance .
But, I also did the same to Runa . At the time, I wanted to return the blow, so I insulted his precious Tuvalu .
I was the same as Tuvalu then . It was like I hit him with a stray bullet, so of course I feel upset .
It wasn’t right of me to involve Runa, just because I wanted to hurt Tuvalu .
“I should probably apologize, huh…”
Well, I regret what I said about as much as a flea, but I will reflect on making Runa uncomfortable .
Honestly, I should’ve apologized to Runa while at school, but Tuvalu was always around him so I never had the courage to talk to him . It felt like trying to get past a vicious beast to talk to its owner—suicide .
“… . Yeah, this will be a good opportunity . ”
Since I have this opportunity, I won’t have to apologize when I’m back at school, right? I resigned myself to some anger . It should be fine as long as I properly lower my head… probably . Runa isn’t particularly friendly but he is the nice type of character . Although, maybe only to the heroine .
“… . What kind of clothes should I wear to that kind of place?”
I’ve never been to a high-cla.s.s restaurant before . There had never been a need to, since the quality of food at home was wonderful already . However, an unforeseen drawback is that I don’t know how to dress for certain occasions . I don’t like eating out though, so I hope this doesn’t happen again .
It would have been fine if I could consult with my mother but when I think about the contents of the card, I stop myself .
“Furthermore, keep this matter a secret . I want to talk just the two of us . ”
The writer is the grandiloquent prince, after all . It’s best to look the other way when they push troublesome things on you .
I fear he might bring up the topic of my fiancé candidacy again when I meet him too . I don’t want to think about anymore unnecessary worries . Honestly, if anything more happens, I’ll probably become a shut-in and never leave my house .
“If I wear a party dress then it might be weird . ”
When I think about the occasion it’s definitely strange, also they are hard to move in . They don’t look like clothes that I’d go out to play in either . I need something that won’t arouse suspicion from my mother…
“… Maybe one of these is fine . ”
All of the clothes in my closet are high quality . I don’t have clothes that are unsuitable for my older appearance nor do I have clothes that are too cute for my mental age .
As a result, my clothes give off a mature vibe and don’t make me uncomfortable . I never thought they would be useful like this . What a fortunate miscalculation .
“Rather than a dress, maybe this set… yes, looks good . ” [like a set clothes]
I chose a random matching set of clothes and put it on a stand . If I do so, Ann and the other maids will choose matching shoes and accessories to go with it .
One of the problems I had with dorm life was that I couldn’t have Ann help me coordinate my outfits . Well, they usually picked clothes that I liked, so there wasn’t much coordinating . They did have fun with it though .
Now that I’ve picked my clothes, I just have to wait until the appointed day .
I’ll just tell my mother that I’m going out and when I come home I’ll go barge in on Keito .
“Haa… My stomach hurts . ”
I wonder if I’m the only one who feels more agony when I’m on standby than during the actual event .
× × × ×
I said that waiting was the worst, but I change my mind . The actual day is the hardest . I want to go back three days, before I saw the letter would be best .
The effects of Neriel’s healing aura ran out before the appointed day . This is the feeling when you head for the guillotine, trust me, I’m talking from experience .
“You are Mariabell Tempest-sama, yes?”
“Yes . ”
As soon as I entered the restaurant, even though I wasn’t being particularly loud, the workers respectfully bowed . They did it so perfectly that I felt a little grossed out . It didn’t seem human . Maybe I shouldn’t talk since I am cared for by service dolls .
The private room I was guided to had a gorgeous door . It was a double door, as wide as the hallway . It even had a doorman… . Is it really okay for someone like me to be here?
“Mariabell Tempest-sama has arrived . ”
“Enter . ”
When the person guiding me heard the answer, they put one knee on the ground and stayed where they were . The door was opened by the doorman .
Until I entered the room, they kept their heads lowered . It reminded me of a ball from a picture book . When the princess entered the venue, in an instant, everyone fell completely silent .
The person in this room could organize such a ball though, so it’s nothing to joke about .
“Pardon me . ”
I took one step in the room . Yep, there was a disparity between the atmosphere of the room and a kid like me .
Even so, the person sitting in the center of the room in a sofa did not show any sign of discomfort… If anything, he was so majestic that the room didn’t suit him .
“I’m sorry for making you wait… Prince Runa . ”
“No, don’t worry . I was the one who called you here suddenly without telling you why . ”
I will worry . Not as a royal’s subordinate, but as a villainess with a scheme and a capture target . I’m worried .
“Um…”
I approached the couch across from Runa and stopped next to it . Before I sit, I should say what I came here to say first .
“I’m very sorry about the other day . ”
“… . . !?”
I vigorously lowered my head, causing my hair to slip in front of my face and obstruct my field of view .
Victory goes to the one makes the first move… or maybe that doesn’t fit quite right with this situation . However, I am hoping that by apologizing before he starts to scold me, I’ll rekindle the kindness in his heart and he will let me off . He doesn’t seem like the type to stay angry for a long time, so if I curtail his initial anger, maybe he’ll rea.s.sess his feelings .
“… Lift your head and sit . ”
“… . Yes . ”
I swept my hair back in place when I raised my head . I have plenty of experience bowing my head in society . It is the bare minimum to not show anyone anything unsightly . These are the fruits of my efforts as a n.o.ble lady .
I arranged my skirt to sit down in the sofa and was surprised when I sank into the seat . As expected of a high-cla.s.s store—their tables and chairs are on a different level . I have never felt this sensation before even in my room . This is not just any restaurant .
“You’re apologizing about the incident in the student council room, right?”
There isn’t anything else besides that… eh, there shouldn’t be anything else right?
If there is, I certainly don’t remember .
“If it is about that time then Miss Mariabell, you did not do anything wrong . ”
“Eh… . ”
“Actually… Tuvalu said something very rude . I’m very sorry . ”
“Eh, no… Prince Runa, that’s not something you should say . It’s my fault, I ended up getting you involved . ”
I did not expect this development . Is this person lowering his head to me really the Prince? He’s not a body double?
No, no, no . Runsama apologizing to me troubles me . Furthermore, Runa didn’t do anything wrong!
What do I do, this is too unexpected!
“At that time, I didn’t stop him . I should have apologized sooner but… I’m always with Tuvalu at school . ”
Well, that’s true . That’s why I didn’t go to apologize to you, after all .
“I thought about summoning you to my house but… Tuvalu might have found out . He should apologize too but… If I force him to then there’s no meaning . ”
Forcing him to apologize would just dig the hole deeper after all . Although with Tuvalu it wouldn’t just be any hole, it would be a hole straight to h.e.l.l . As expected of a childhood friend, an excellent decision .
It seems like Runa called me thinking the same way as me .
I wanted to apologize for involving him and he wanted to apologize for not stopping his childhood friend . Thanks to Tuvalu being an obstacle, we didn’t get to apologize until now .
Give me back all the time I spent being nervous . I’d like to bill Tuvalu, who was the indirect cause of my anxiety .
“To you and Eilis, I’m sorry for giving you an unpleasant experience . I considered inviting Eilis here too but…”
“I didn’t tell Keito . ”
“That’s what I thought, so I didn’t invite him . I would do the same if my childhood friend were attacked . There’s no need to hurt them meaninglessly . ”
“… Thank you . ”
Right now, looking at Runa, I seriously wonder why Tuvalu turned out the way he did, when he had a great role model beside him . It’s truly a mystery .
I do understand his family situation influenced his personality but even so, he was around such a good human being from a young age… Aaah, that’s why he’s such a yandere . If I think of the heroine as his second target for his yandere affections, then Runa is definitely the first . His little sister will always be his little sister so I’ll exclude her as a target .
“I too should not have acted in such a way and gotten Prince Runa involved . I’m very sorry . ”
Yes, with this, the friction between Runa and I should be resolved .
It’s not like we got along well in the first place but… we were at a good point of neutral acquaintances .
“But, Prince Runa . ”
You apologized to me and I have apologized to you . My apology was from my heart, I meant it .
However, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea .
“I will not forgive Tuvalu-sama . ”
I reflected and then apologized only to Runa . Tuvalu? I hate him from the bottom of my heart . What of it?
“I don’t understand his intentions by saying those things and I don’t want to know . I do feel sorry for involving you but… I won’t forgive him . ”
“… Yes, I understand . ”
I’m not mad, it’s much more than hatred or a grudge . I’m sure that if Tuvalu talked to me with a smile I could reply with a smile . I will disparage him in my heart though . Acting like I am over the events of that day is no problem .
But, I won’t forgive him . I’ll never forgive him . I hate Tuvalu from the bottom of my heart .
I am well aware that he is Runa’s precious childhood friend but, if Tuvalu were to misunderstand that my apology to Runa meant I had forgiven him, I might end up hating Runa too .
“You might think Tuvalu is the worst . No matter what I say or how I try to reason, I can’t justify his words and conduct on that day . ”
The reason why Tuvalu picked a fight with me, was just because he hated me . Or it was because of that event that happened in the past at the castle .
“But, for me, Tuvalu is my precious childhood friend . ”
Even if you don’t hate me, even if you don’t speak poorly of me, even if you don’t forgive him .
However, just like me, Runa’s stance on his childhood friend will not waver . That’s what he is saying .
“If that’s what you have decided, then I have no right to say anything further . ”
Not just me—no one has the right to say anything about your relationships .
There are people who will dislike you because you like someone they dislike . They’ll think you were tricked, or that your judgment was clouded by a common interest, or that you get along because of an equally bad personality . They’ll think things like “birds of a feather flock together . ” To a rather refreshing degree, there are a lot of people who believe that their beliefs are shared across the world .
Yes, like me, Mariabell . Mariabell had that same view and forced the heroine to be friendless . She was poor at studying and had only her splendid craftiness .
“My feelings are my own . I should have ended the matter between Tuvalu and I… I insulted your precious childhood friend in front of your eyes, I’m truly, very sorry . ”
Repeating myself again, I feel like I’m speaking from a higher position . But, I don’t have anything else to say… I really am just sorry for involving Runa, truly from my heart .
I just want to make my feelings completely clear .
“Is that so…”
“I say so impertinently . ”
“No… Thank you . Your feelings, I have received them . ”
I don’t need to ask other n.o.ble ladies to know that this is definitely a strange conversation . The two of us apologized, without the person in question even being here . Even if he were, I wouldn’t forgive him .
He thanked me in the end, but I’m glad he accepted my apology .
I finished my business here but since I came all this way, I drank some black tea and ate some sweets before returning home . It was the prince’s treat .
“The one who invited you was me, so please don’t hesitate . ”
This place is absurdly expensive, you know? The prince quickly signed some kind of bill and that was it . That’s royalty for you . I was a little moved seeing it happen . I am also a n.o.ble but on the inside I’m just a commoner .
Ah, by the way, this was my last memory of my long vacation . Vacation was a little tough . I’d like to say that it was a good vacation in the end but, it was neither good nor bad… It was just normal, maybe .