Chapter 25 – Aileen and Leona

R̃ｅad &o;ｎ​ ̂K​aẗ​Ŕе​&a;d̀iηg̀C‌afe‍

Editor’s Note

Edited

In my somewhat less foggy memory, the princess, that is, Aileen Edelweiss, wasn’t the type to consider formalities important.

She’s not one to wield power that could knock birds out of the sky.

…As someone serving her, her playful and troublemaking nature might be more of a headache… but for me, I could say this is better.

However.

Even so, the fact that she is a princess of an imperial family doesn’t change.

In my domain, the infirmary, it might not matter.

But since I was invited, going in a tracksuit seemed a bit inappropriate.

It’s absolutely not because Leona glared at me with terrifying eyes when I was about to go out in a tracksuit.

That made me regret not buying at least some pants… clothes when I was out yesterday.

All I bought yesterday were underwear and a few T-shirts to replace the ones that Charlotte had stretched and stained with various liquids.

Therefore, apart from the tracksuit, what I could wear was…

“What’s wrong?”

“…It’s nothing.”

The air touching my lower body feels very awkward.

I’ve worn shorts or walked around at home in just underwear before, so having air circulating around my lower body isn’t particularly unusual, but.

Wearing a skirt gives me a strange feeling. Why should I, a man, be wearing such clothes?

…It was an unavoidable choice, but it makes me feel a bit self-loathing.

Separate from that, the clothes themselves were very comfortable.

Is it because there’s nothing getting caught that I feel a sense of openness?

No, rather than openness, it’s more accurate to say it’s easier to move. Feeling a sense of openness when going outside… that would make me sound a bit strange.

Anyway.

I followed Leona, dressed in the outfit that comes to mind when thinking of a health teacher, which I should have worn when going to work at the infirmary.

The destination was, as I had inwardly anticipated, the dormitory room where Leona and the princess were staying.

It would be nice if it were in the same building, but the student dormitory is located a bit further away.

Considering that I needed to visit the student dormitory eventually, this seems like a good opportunity.

There’s quite a big difference between knowing the way in the game and finding your way in reality.

Given that most students reside here, it’s a place I’d inevitably have to come to in order to sow the seeds for an ending.

Perhaps it’s a place where I might need to spend the most time.

…And it’s also the place with the most people on a holiday at the Academy.

Maybe that’s why.

As we get closer to the somewhat familiar building, I feel like there are more and more glances stealing looks at me.

No, it’s not just a feeling, they really seem to be looking at me.

…Why?

The only change is that I’m wearing a skirt that barely reaches above my knees.

They just look without approaching though.

Perhaps they want to approach but can’t because of Leona.

…Looking at how they glance alternately between me and Leona before avoiding eye contact… it’s a reasonable suspicion, but since Leona just walked silently, it was hard to tell.

And so, amidst countless gazes, I was able to reach the room where the princess, Aileen Edelweiss, was staying.

A seemingly spacious double room.

Just as I remember from the setting.

That means her roommate is, of course, Leona.

…Honestly, in this situation, wouldn’t it be stranger if they didn’t have feelings for each other?

Fresh cohabitation and an age of curiosity.

Just breathing the same air should increase affection…

Even in a somewhat loose world setting, is the wall between master and servant that high?

Anyway.

Recalling what I’ve experienced so far, it’s uncertain whether the story I had unfolded in the game would play out the same way.

What I can trust is… just the basic profile.

Even the reason why Aileen Edelweiss invited me remains unknown.

But who am I?

I’m someone who, for reasons I don’t understand, was immersed in playing the game and ended up trapped inside it.

Though I don’t know why I was trapped, that is.

…Surely, they didn’t trap me here just because I was grumbling to myself, right?

While I was digging my own pit, Leona, who had knocked on the door, grabbed the handle and said to me.

“She’s not one to care about formalities, so I think you don’t need to be too nervous.”

“Ah, yes.”

Perhaps seeing my concern as worry, Leona offered what seemed to be kind words.

Though her voice was so cold it seemed like ice might drop, that is.

Anyway, what she said was something I already knew.

But it would seem strange if I knew the personality of someone I was meeting for the first time today, so I just nodded.

And so.

I was able to face Aileen Edelweiss.

After exchanging light greetings and sitting down… as if observing me, Aileen briefly looked at me silently while moistening her throat with tea.

Glancing down, I see a somewhat luxurious-looking table that isn’t even in Michelle’s and my room.

On it are various light snacks placed on plates.

As I heard the sound of a teacup being put down, Aileen’s voice reached me.

“Should I call you Teacher Plumeria?”

“Ah, um… call me as you wish. Or just Iris is fine too.”

“Then, I’ll call you Teacher Iris.”

“Yes… well.”

In fact, I was more familiar with the name Iris that I had given myself than the surname Plumeria which I hadn’t chosen, so I didn’t think much of it.

Though I had vaguely thought she might be like that.

As I nodded, Aileen smiled with satisfaction and said.

“I would like it if you called me Aileen as well.”

“Sure.”

When I answered decisively, Aileen, who was momentarily surprised, quickly became bright-faced and chattered away.

Being happy about being called by her name was in line with the setting I remembered.

However, her appearance as she talked about this and that, though I seem to have had similar impressions many times before.

Was on a completely different level than when seen in the game.

Silver hair with a hint of purple that seems like it shouldn’t exist in this world.

Her hair, with purple that’s not so intense it might be called ivory, flutters.

Every time it does, there’s somehow a nice fragrance.

Her features are so lovely that it’s incomprehensible how Leona could resist her love.

Her amethyst eyes, shining like well-crafted jewels, gleamed vividly.

With each blink, it was as if starlight bounced around.

Yet her gestures, from which dignity could be felt, made her not appear merely gentle.

As I felt my mouth unconsciously softening.

Leona, who was staring at me from behind her, said.

“What would you like to drink, Teacher? Most things are prepared, so I’ll try to prepare them as best as possible.”

Then Aileen scratched her cheek with an embarrassed face. Even that gesture looked elegant.

“Oh my, I called a guest but didn’t offer even a cup of tea.”

“Ahaha….”

Wondering if it might be available, when I asked if there was coffee, Leona nodded and headed to what seemed like a kitchen.

Soon, along with the sound of something being ground, the rich aroma of coffee wafted over.

Before long, Leona placed a steaming cup of coffee in front of me.

As I carefully picked it up and took a sip, coffee that was not inferior to what I had at the cafe, or rather, with even richer aroma and taste, moistened my mouth.

I guess no matter how much one might ramble, a princess is a princess.

From the furniture inside to the prepared food.

When I saw it as text, it didn’t particularly resonate, but experiencing it firsthand like this, it was quite plausible.

Well, no matter how much one might describe something as luxurious and excellent through text, can it ever match directly experiencing it?

There’s a huge difference between just hearing “We have a golden calf at our house!” and actually visiting and seeing the brilliant golden calf with your own eyes.

Even if that calf is only as big as your palm.

As I admired the taste of the coffee, Aileen asked as if she had been waiting.

“Does it suit your taste?”

“Yes. It’s very delicious.”

“I’m glad. I had no doubts about Leona’s skills, but I was a bit worried since it’s a foreign land.”

“…Your Highness.”

The grinning Aileen and Leona with her stoic expression broken.

She twirled her thin tail as if embarrassed, and as if trying to hide it, wrapped it around her thigh completely.

Combined with her appearance, it gave quite a strange charm.

…I might wonder what use there is in me feeling attraction, but anyway, it was cute.

After briefly exchanging trivial talk about the Academy.

Around the time the coffee ran out.

While Leona left to prepare new drinks.

Aileen threw a surprise question.

“By the way, Teacher?”

“Yes?”

And it rang an alarm bell in my mind, which had become soft due to Aileen and Leona’s appearance and the taste of the coffee.

“I heard that these days, a lot of students are visiting the infirmary for interesting reasons.”

“Cough! Cough!”

“It seems the rumors are true after all. Leona? Could you bring some water for the teacher?”

“Yes.”

Startled, my body let out coughs as if I had swallowed wrong.

After drinking the water Leona brought and calming down, I raised my head and looked at Aileen.

Her face suggested she already knew.

…Did she ask to confirm what she already knew?

When viewing through the screen, choices appeared so I had time to think, but in reality, there are no such choices and it comes at me directly.

As I sipped water in confusion, Aileen, who was staring at me intently, said.

“Why are you so surprised…? Isn’t that just you handling your duties as a health teacher?”

“I… guess so?”

Yes, there was no particular reason to hide it or be ashamed.

…Whether I feel regretful about it or not, that seems to be the case for now.

Probably.

Aileen, who smiled faintly, cleared her throat with a “hmm hmm” and then looked at me with a cautious face.

“I’d like to hear a bit about that. Would that be alright?”

…Why?

I pinched my thigh to avoid making a displeased expression.

While being grateful that my legs were exposed.

No, by the way, why is Aileen interested in this matter?

I looked at Aileen’s face while rubbing my thigh.

It seemed difficult for me to read anything from her face.

However…

Seeing how the corners of Leona’s mouth, who was standing stoically, trembled slightly.

Perhaps she was involved.

I could make such a conjecture.

I took a deep breath and gathered my thoughts.

As I settled into a comfortable position, both of their bodies flinched.

I wondered why, but couldn’t tell the reason.

Editor’s Note

Ah yes, I wonder…