24. Marriage?

24. Marriage?

One day has passed since that day.

Today is the first weekend at the academy. A day with no lectures, where one can rest comfortably only twice a week.

Strangely, this world’s concept of dates was almost identical to my past life. 7 days make a week, 30 days make a month… and weekends were the same.

I thought, isn’t this world too convenient? But for me, it’s easy to understand, so I’m just happy.

If the way of counting dates were different, I would still be confused about what day it is even now as an adult. I would have struggled alone and eventually asked others for the date.

It’s embarrassing to admit, but I understand well that I’m not very bright.

For example, when I was young, I learned how to keep ledgers as the next family head, but the training sessions were canceled shortly after. My father’s deep sigh as he looked at the documents I wrote is still vivid in my memory.

… I tried my best.

Thinking about it, it seems the training intensity increased dramatically from then on.

Or maybe not.

As I lay idly on the bed, lost in thought for a moment, I heard a giggling sound from the desk next to me. It was Priscilla’s laughter.

“Hehe….”

“Priscilla?”

“Yes!”

“What are you looking at so intently?”

I sat up and moved closer to Priscilla. Naturally, I wrapped my arms around her neck and body, resting my chin on her shoulder, and looked at what she was holding.

In her hand was a letter. A letter written in a very elegant, old-fashioned script. I couldn’t help but admire the magnificent handwriting, which seemed like something a high-ranking noble would use.

… I am a noble too.

In both my past and present lives, I’ve always written sloppily, so this was my first time seeing such handwriting. My sister’s handwriting was cute rather than elegant, and my father and mother never showed me their writing.

The attendant who taught me how to write had a similar style… but it was when I had just reincarnated and was very young. Since I couldn’t understand her writing at all, the attendant, unable to bear it, changed to a round, easy-to-read script to teach me.

The explanation is long, but the conclusion is simple. Whoever it is, they write very well.

“It’s a letter. Who sent it?”

“My sister!”

“Your sister?”

“Yes!”

Priscilla told me in a very bright and energetic manner. The fear she had shown towards her sister just a few days ago seemed to have completely disappeared.

Without being asked, Priscilla began to praise her sister profusely. Of course, this also meant that their sisterly relationship had improved, so I listened attentively to Priscilla’s words. Her voice was filled with happiness.

Priscilla continued.

“… So my sister said she’d be going to the territory for the weekend! When I woke up this morning, she had left a letter beforehand, so I was reading it.”

“Ah ha….”

I see.

I lowered my head while hugging Priscilla from behind and sniffed the scent of her neck. It was a common practice among beast-kin when they were close to someone.

When I sniffed, Priscilla shivered slightly, but she didn’t say much, as if she had gotten used to it. A pleasant scent wafted past my nose.

It feels good.

… But I feel like I’m forgetting something.

A letter… a letter?

Ah!

I almost forgot that I was supposed to send a letter to my sister. My dear sister must be eagerly awaiting my contact, and it wouldn’t do for her sister to completely forget about it.

I realized this only after seeing Priscilla’s letter. Since I thought of it now, it would be best to send the letter right away, but….

My attempt was thwarted when Priscilla stopped me.

“Miss Skadi! If you have time, would you like to go to the cafe together?”

“A cafe?”

“Yes! I heard there’s a place in the academy with delicious drinks!”

“Hmm… I don’t mind, but.”

If I refused Priscilla’s request, I couldn’t bear to see her tail wagging so vigorously behind her, even though she wasn’t a beast-kin.

“Then let’s go quickly!”

Priscilla, who had jumped up, grabbed my hand and led me outside. Of course, since my strength was greater, Priscilla stumbled backward with a grunt.

… It will take several days for the letter to reach home anyway, so it should be fine to write it later. One day out of several days, it should be okay to be late.

I hugged Priscilla, who almost fell, and decided to postpone sending the letter to my sister.

Sorry, Freya. Please wait a little longer. You know I love you, right?

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Yes, yes…!”

And so, I went out with Priscilla.

——

“Hmm….”

“What’s wrong?”

“I feel like someone is watching me.”

On the way to the cafe within the academy branch. As I walked forward, feeling the cool breeze and the inexplicable coldness, I felt a gaze from somewhere.

I had always felt eyes on me before, but this gaze… it felt like stalking? It was clearly different from anything else.

Priscilla glanced around for a moment and tilted her head.

“Isn’t it just your imagination?”

“I don’t think so.”

Beast-kin are a wild race, so their instincts cannot be easily dismissed. I realized this when I was young, catching a large monster that swam through the snow like water.

My ears perked up and my tail reacted, which was a sign that there was something noteworthy nearby. I focused my senses around me to find the being watching me…

“Come on, let’s go quickly!”

… But just as I was about to focus, Priscilla grabbed my wagging tail and broke my concentration. I turned my head towards Priscilla.

Priscilla, with a slightly flushed face, rubbed her face against my tail.

I was about to scold her, but I couldn’t bring myself to ruin her happy expression. I sighed and decided to leave Priscilla be.

Well, even if someone came, I could just cut them down with my sword.

I hugged Priscilla, who was holding my tail, tightly and walked on. The gaze that had been watching me had disappeared at some point.

“We’re here!”

“Oh….”

The cafe was not far away. Walking along the main road, turning left at the plaza, and entering an alley, it was right there.

The claim that it had delicious drinks wasn’t a lie; even though it was quite early in the morning, I could see people coming and going from the cafe. Priscilla, without hesitation, led me by the hand and dashed inside.

Jingle jingle, the sound of bells flowed into my ears. The pleasant smell of coffee wafted past my nose. Atmospheric lighting illuminated the interior of the cafe.

And then….

“Sorina, so this time… Heek?!”

“Huh?”

I saw Golden Sun surrounded by several students, chatting about various things. In the moment of surprise at our sudden encounter, the students around Golden Sun suddenly disappeared, and her side became empty.

Golden Sun, now alone, and I made eye contact across the room. Although I couldn’t see her eyes, I felt it sensorially.

Her eyes seemed to ask, ‘Why are you here?’ I probably had a similar expression.

… Even then, Priscilla was diligently watching my tail.

Although a little embarrassed, I sat down in the chair in front of Golden Sun without minding. Priscilla also sat beside me, so we ended up sitting evenly around a circular table.

After sitting like that for a moment, Golden Sun spoke first.

“Hello? Fancy meeting you here.”

“Yeah. You were talking to some people earlier, I hope I didn’t interrupt?”

“Interrupt… probably not?”

Golden Sun shrugged.

… What if you’re not sure?

Excluding Golden Sun, who was already drinking her beverage, Priscilla and I each ordered a drink. I ordered milk, and Priscilla ordered coffee. My milk came with cookies.

I picked up a cookie with chocolate chips embedded in it.

“Here, say ‘ah’.”

“Huh?”

“I said, say ‘ah’.”

And then, I naturally offered the cookie to Golden Sun. Golden Sun looked at my hand for a moment, then, without hesitation, took the cookie I offered and ate it with a munch.

The sound of the cookie breaking with a crunch.

“M-my cookie too!”

Seeing that, Priscilla suddenly picked up a cookie and offered it to me.

… Is it correct to call it ‘my cookie’ when it was the cookie I ordered?

It probably doesn’t matter. I happily ate the cookie Priscilla offered.

As we happily fed each other cookies, and I was about to try Priscilla’s coffee, my tail suddenly puffed up.

It was a warning signal.

I quickly turned around. Priscilla was hit by my swinging tail and fell over, but she seemed not to have hurt much, judging by her giggling.

Standing behind me was none other than a small kid with flowing golden hair and shining golden eyes.

The fact that she was wearing the academy uniform on her small body already exuded an imbalance-

“Marry me!”

The words that followed were enough to make me even more flustered.