Chapter 19: Accident – 2

Chapter 19: Accident – 2

…The office was far from peaceful, practically in a state of chaos.

Not just the floor, but various pieces of furniture were frozen solid. If it were quiet and peaceful as usual, that would be an even bigger problem.

Of course… the office wasn’t the only place that wasn’t peaceful, though.

‘…What the hell did she make?!’

When Lucia first arrived at the office, I felt a sense of relief.

Every time I saw that fragile, delicate girl, I worried she might just vanish at any moment.

I was even considering finding out where Lucia lived and patrolling nearby.

With Lucia’s looks… it wouldn’t be strange for people with impure intentions to approach her.

And it wouldn’t be strange for Lucia to be kidnapped by such villains.

Thankfully, it wasn’t the serious situation I’d imagined; she was just a little late because she was making potions.

Relieved by her words, I started asking about the potion Lucia had brought, as always.

…The book I was reading, ‘101 Ways to Get Along with Friends,’ was quickly tucked away in the drawer as usual, so Lucia wouldn’t see its existence.

Anyway, the problem… started with the new potion Lucia had made.

It was a grand and flashy introduction, full of Lucia’s characteristic shamelessness and exaggeration, but the basic gist was this:

The moment it breaks, ice-type magic is instantly cast.

Potion… Honestly, I thought it was peculiar from the first time I saw it.

A substance that could instantly heal, something only priests could use-that alone showed the ‘potion’s’ specialness.

However… I didn’t think it was something that could unleash this much ice-type magic just by throwing it on the floor.

‘Disposable, but with the same effect as enchanted items… I guess you could think of it that way.’

Weapons primarily used by people not skilled in handling magic.

Weapons where magic was pre-enchanted onto them, and magic would manifest just by injecting mana, were quite common.

The clear disadvantages were the low grade of magic that could be enchanted, the fact that only magic of one’s talented affinity could be used, and the mana consumption…

But learning magic was difficult, and it had its unique arcane aspects, so these types of enchanted weapons were very popular.

As I was contemplating the value of Lucia’s potion, I felt someone tugging at the hem of my clothes.

…I turned around to see Lucia fidgeting with her fingers, avoiding my gaze.

“Um… I’m sorry. I didn’t know it would turn out like this.”

“It’s okay. And to be fair… I’m the one who dropped it.”

Of course, I wanted to ask why she didn’t tell me it was disgustingly cold to touch…

But I couldn’t bring myself to, fearing that cute face would well up with tears.

For a moment, I even thought she’d be even cuter if she cried, but I quickly dismissed the thought with immense guilt.

‘My office froze, and my head froze with it… What kind of thought was that?’

Suddenly, a wave of self-reproach washed over me, wondering if I was really so lacking in self-control to have such thoughts. I poured more power into the magic I was casting.

…Until a truly unexpected remark came from beside me.

“Then you’re paying for the potion, right? Since you admitted it was your fault?”

“Huh, huh?”

“No, recently some jerk just took a potion without paying, threatening me with it, you know? Christie… you’re not that kind of jerk, are you? I trust you, okay?”

Lucia held out her hand with a very confident expression.

That self-assured look, as if she’d said something perfectly obvious, was cute. Cute, but…

‘I-Is this right…?’

A natural question arose.

No, it was true that I had ruined the potion by mistake, so compensation was due, but…

I glanced around for a moment, and my eyes fell upon the messed-up, frozen office.

Thanks to all the mist from the broken potion being removed, it was slowly returning to normal, but it was still a mess.

…It was a sight that naturally made me think, ‘Am I not the biggest victim of this accident, with my office in this state?’

“Um, Lucia…”

“…It’s fine. Why are you thinking so seriously? I just said that to make you smile, you were frowning so much.

 Even though I like money and I’m bold, I wouldn’t ask for money from someone whose office is in this state.”

“…That’s what it was?”

“Right? Oh, and Christie, your expression is always so blank, I wanted to make you laugh. And…”

Suddenly, a pang hit me in the heart.

…Honestly, I thought Lucia would shamelessly ask for money.

‘…She was trying to make me laugh, for my sake.’

Suddenly, I felt an urge to hug the girl beside me, who was smiling faintly and playfully.

Honestly, I’m used to grabbing criminals by the collar all the time, so I don’t know if I’d be good at hugging.

Furthermore… she didn’t just see me as a Defense Captain or someone to be wary of,

Nor as the Duke’s only daughter, a shortcut to success. I reconsidered Lucia’s presence.

For the first time, someone approached me because they were interested in ‘me,’ not my rank or birth.

Someone who, though a bit shameless and abrupt… boldly demanded to be my friend.

Because of that, I seemed to become weaker and more flustered in front of Lucia.

…Because I didn’t want this cute girl, this girl who was becoming more precious with each meeting, to disappear.

I always only revealed my true self when no one else was around.

My true self, who preferred dancing and dolls over fighting and swords, and who would immediately reach out to pet any cute animal.

Those aspects-sometimes clumsy, often lazy-were things I never showed to anyone.

Because I had a father I needed to be recognized by and couldn’t disappoint…

And because people had come to trust and follow me.

Because there were people who would waver and be disappointed if I showed a weak, ‘me-like’ side.

Therefore, I never showed my true self, the real ‘me,’ to anyone.

…Recently, it seemed a small exception had appeared.

Someone who brought out the real ‘me,’ and to whom I showed my clumsy, sometimes no different from other ladies, self.

“…And we’re, friends, aren’t we?”

Someone I wanted to hug tightly, and if possible, just adopt as my little sister…?!

“Uh… Christie? Are you okay?”

…Perhaps it was because of those thoughts in my head, but at some point, I was hugging Lucia tightly.

As if hugging a precious doll.

To be honest, Lucia was clearly a girl I’d only met a few days ago, but… I was receiving a lot of comfort from Lucia.

First, she wasn’t afraid of me, and I was grateful that she just saw me as Christie the human, but she was also the first person to ask to be my friend.

Her sometimes playful way of treating me, her daily visits with potions, and her making me feel so comfortable.

All of it was giving me strength in my life.

As I hugged Lucia for a moment, she patted my back and spoke.

“…You know, Christie? People can’t always hide their true feelings.

 But when I see you, you always seem to try to show only a neat and exemplary side of yourself.”

“……”

“Your expression barely changes, so it actually subtly gives it away. When Christie is flustered or happy.”

“…So that’s, how it was.”

It was the first time I’d learned that. No one had ever told me.

Perhaps no one had ever cared enough about me as a person to notice that.

“Even though I haven’t known Christie for long, I wanted to tell you this. Even if others don’t know… I, I prefer the ‘real’ Christie.

 The Christie who gets flustered right away when I play a prank, and who is subtly happy to see me-I like that Christie more.”

“……”

“Honestly, Christie as the Defense Captain is cool, but it’s not really my type. I, hmm… I guess I prefer a softer, more girlish feeling?

 Rather than being too exemplary, I prefer a Christie who gets flustered and is fun to tease.”

“…Really? You’re not disappointed by such a weak side…?”

I knew Lucia didn’t see me as a strong, exemplary person.

But… I couldn’t help but ask.

Because I was afraid she might be disappointed and leave me.

Because I didn’t want to lose the first friend I’d ever made…

I didn’t quite understand why I was acting this way towards someone I’d only known for a few days.

But…

A friend I had sought for a long time, with whom I could share my heart and true feelings.

Lucia was already that kind of presence to me.

Perhaps… that’s why Lucia had become an irreplaceable friend to me in such a short time.

“I never saw Christie as a stiff or scary person in the first place?

 From the first time we met, you kept looking back at me, fidgeting and checking my expression-would someone like that be scary? Rather, you were just cute.

 It was funny how someone who looked so stiff would be flustered by a weak girl like me.

 And after talking a bit more, I became absolutely certain: this person is just a normal, good person. Just with a somewhat intimidating expression.”

“Wait, wait! It was that obvious from the start?”

“Of course? I told you. Christie’s expression barely changes, so even the smallest change is super obvious.”

“…Still, I didn’t think it was that much…”

“I just have good observational skills. Oh, of course, there were some disappointing parts too.”

For a moment, my whole body went cold… almost.

However… hearing Lucia’s voice, full of playfulness, I didn’t think of it in a bad way at all.

“Why don’t you express your emotions a bit more, and talk a bit more? Staying so stiff just makes me uncomfortable for no reason.

 So! Promise me!”

“…What?”

“To act comfortably in front of me!

 When other people are around, be the dignified Defense Captain Christie, and in front of me, be Lucia’s friend Christie! Got it?”

At her words, I hugged Lucia even tighter.

Otherwise, I felt like I’d suddenly show the tears welling up.

“I, I can’t breathe! Chri…sti!”

…Because of that, an accident almost happened where Lucia nearly suffocated.

***

‘Oh, I fucked up!!!’

I got caught up in the mood and ended up healing the protagonist’s trauma.

…I think I just said a few words to cheer up my favorite character when she had a serious expression and suddenly hugged me…

It seems I overdid it.

The problem is…

‘This kind of comfort, that’s originally the protagonist’s role…’

It seems I’ve stolen the protagonist’s future girlfriend.

…I really messed up.