Ch.71Paralysis Poison (3)

I waited beside Kirsy and Judy for Asena’s conversation to end.

So many thoughts were racing through my mind that I felt like I might burst into inexplicable laughter.

There couldn’t be a stranger relationship than having Kirsy, who had cried in my arms yesterday begging me not to leave, standing next to the woman who was to be my bride.

Unlike yesterday, Kirsy seemed calmer, but her actions still revealed her lingering emotions.

She stood between Judy and me, as if trying to protect me from her.

She also pressed herself completely against my side, making people around us take notice.

“…Kirsy, step back a little.”

“……”

Even when I gently asked her, she gave no response.

“Kirsy, listen to your brother.”

I softly stroked her opposite cheek with one hand, trying to coax her again, but she simply felt my touch and ignored my words. She didn’t even mind when her cheek changed shape under my hand.

In a way, her desperate feelings were palpable, yet it also seemed like cute sulking. I just lightly pinched her cheek and gave up.

“……”

At the same time, my eyes kept glancing at Judy. No matter how much I pretended to focus on Kirsy, my attention kept drifting toward Judy.

This was the first time I’d seen her since telling Grandmother I would marry her. Seeing her looking as awkward as I felt, it seemed she was conscious of me too.

Starting as friends and then being bound by a somewhat forced political marriage, I had no idea how to treat her.

It wasn’t that I disliked her, but the emotional distance had narrowed too quickly, making it hard to breathe comfortably. Perhaps it was a distance I would need to get used to, one that would someday become essential.

While wondering how to approach her, I ended up just staring at her blankly.

Should I greet her normally?

Or should I break this awkward atmosphere with a gentle joke?

I wanted to make a joke, but being new to this situation, my mind went blank and I couldn’t think of anything funny.

Everything I thought of seemed foolish and likely to make things worse.

“Brother.”

As I continued staring at Judy, Kirsy, who had been silent until now, called out to me.

“Uh…yes?”

“…….”

“…What is it?”

“…..”

Kirsy called me but couldn’t say anything. Could it be that she called me because I was looking at Judy for too long?

Was she so afraid of me leaving that even this bothered her?

But just because she was uncomfortable, I didn’t want to avoid looking at Judy. It would be strange not to look at my future wife.

I stroked Kirsy’s cheek again as she continued to sulk, and awkwardly cleared my throat.

I needed to break this awkward atmosphere with Judy first.

“Ju-“

“-Brother.”

Just as I was about to call Judy, Kirsy interrupted again.

“…Lend me your ear.”

At Kirsy’s request, even Judy, who had been standing awkwardly, glanced at me. Our eyes met momentarily, and we both slightly turned our heads away.

Kirsy frowned at witnessing the awkward exchange between Judy and me.

She grabbed my shoulder and pulled my ear down.

“Kirsy, you’re hea-“

“-Brother. Don’t do that.”

Not understanding the context, I questioned Kirsy.

“…Do what?”

“That thing with Judy right now.”

“I’m not doing anything…?”

“You’re awkwardly looking at each other…!”

“…Well…it’s awkward so it can’t be helped… She’s becoming my fiancée-“

“-Brother. Seriously, stop it. I hate hearing the word fiancée.”

“…But a fiancée is called a fiancée…”

Just as I was about to respond with this obvious statement, I could see Kirsy’s expression more clearly due to our proximity.

She was looking up at me with a face that seemed ready to burst into tears. Though inappropriate to think at this moment, I couldn’t help but find it cute.

In the end, instead of making her cry, I decided to give in with a sigh.

She seemed to need more time. We could prepare for the farewell gradually.

Yes. Having served as a parent figure to them, it must be hard for them to accept that I’m leaving because of their actions.

But I believe someday they’ll be glad I’m with the Ice Family.

They’ll realize how powerful it is to have a communication channel with a rival family.

I finally stroke her face with one hand.

“Ah.”

Kirsy squints at my touch. My hand that caressed her face was wet with tears.

“..Stop crying. How can you still be such a crybaby?”

“……Then you could just not leave my side.”

“The day is too long to start this conversation again. Calm down. Understand?”

“…..”

In the end, I gave up on speaking to Judy. The class was about to start anyway, so it wouldn’t be too late to talk after everyone went in.

At that moment, Asena started walking toward me, apparently finished with her conversation.

I patted Kirsy once and began walking toward Daisy. Though she would soon enter the classroom too, I felt I should at least say goodbye.

Her apparent discomfort also played a part. I felt I should take perfect care of her to improve her mood.

….Well, even this gives me complicated feelings. Though Daisy denied it, she seemed quite unhappy since the engagement news, making me feel awkward.

She had shown me many favors as my favorite character and mental support, but now I realized that could become poison.

Of course, her mood didn’t seem seriously bad.

Still, seeing her like this, could it mean she had some feelings for me too?

If I had to guess, perhaps she felt betrayed like… finding out a stray cat you liked actually preferred someone else? I’m not sure.

“Is the conversation over?”

I casually asked Asena as she approached me, and was about to pass her to go to Daisy when—

-Tap.

“?”

Asena grabbed my wrist. And in that state, she led me away.

“…? Where are we going, Asena?”

“Brother, you’re my escort now.”

“…Huh?”

Asena pulled me along as if in a hurry.

When I stopped moving, she was pulled toward me by the momentum.

“Asena, you need to explain.”

Confused by the situation, I looked back at Daisy, but she silently entered the classroom.

She seems more upset than I thought… I would need to properly address her anger when the opportunity arose.

“…I’ve temporarily changed escort assignments. You’ll escort me, and Judy will escort Daisy.”

Asena spoke loudly enough for Judy to hear. Judy slightly rolled her eyes and then nodded.

I knew she agreed so readily because of the awkwardness between us.

“Why?”

Curious about the reason, I asked Asena.

She gently placed her hands on my shoulders, stood on tiptoes, and whispered in my ear.

“…Brother, as you know…I’m against your marriage.”

“……”

“I don’t like that it’s with the Ice Family, and I hate even more that you’re leaving.”

“…Asena, but I still have to lea-“

“-I know. I know you’re leaving.”

Unlike Kirsy, Asena seemed to accept it more easily than expected, which made me ask stupidly:

“…Huh?”

“I want to stop you desperately…but how can I when you’re determined to go? We’d just end up fighting.”

“…….”

“I hate that more. So…I understand. But, brother.”

“….Speak.”

“…If you’re going to leave us…you could at least give us time to prepare.”

“…..Time?”

“Rather than leaving us all at once, gradually…build final memories…and let us prepare to accept the farewell.”

“….Asena, even so, there’s still more than a year and a half left.”

“And we’ve known each other for 10 years.”

“……..”

“So escort me first. So we can be together a bit longer. Can’t you do that much?”

Asena’s breath tickled my neck. Her gentle tone continuously lowered my guard.

I had been thinking the same thing. Given how difficult Kirsy found this situation, I thought we should prepare for the farewell in stages.

But since Asena suggested it first, my heart quickly leaned toward her idea.

Asena continued to explain.

“….And, I don’t want to see Judy Ice right now.”

“…..”

“You were even hurt recently. Just stay by my side.”

I slowly nodded. I couldn’t find any reason to refuse. As I nodded, I took Asena’s hands off my shoulders and said:

“…Alright. So…how long do we need to switch escorts?”

“…I haven’t thought about that. Until I can accept Judy as…my sister…?”

“….I understand.”

I nodded and looked at Judy, intending to tell her about this arrangement.

“Ju-“

“-Judy. As I said earlier, your escort will be Daisy Hexter from now on. Since it’s awkward for us to face each other after the marriage talks, let’s stay like this for a while.”

Asena interrupted me and explained the situation to Judy. Judy nodded silently again.

Once this little incident was settled, I spoke to the twins.

“Now, go to class. I’ll wait here.”

But the twins simultaneously shook their heads.

They stood on either side of me, each grabbing one of my arms.

Asena held firmly but casually, while Kirsy wrapped herself around my arm.

Asena spoke:

“Brother, I’m skipping class today.”

****

“…This is so nice.”

Kirsy said, lying on my lap.

Somehow we ended up on a green lawn, watching clouds drift by.

Asena sat properly beside me, resting her head on my shoulder, while Kirsy lay on my lap.

The twins had skipped class.

I told them several times that they shouldn’t, but I couldn’t withstand their joint attack.

They made various excuses: we should get along well since we switched escorts, missing one day of class wouldn’t be a big problem, they were already top students, we hadn’t gone out since I got hurt, the weather was nice today, and so on. Eventually, they dragged me out.

And honestly, once we were out, it felt good. With the snack basket they had prepared and the mat spread out, it reminded me of old times.

The three of us used to take many such walks.

When we were at the Praester Territory with nothing to do, we would walk to the wide plains and spend time gently clinging to each other.

Though it seemed like we weren’t doing anything, the occasional conversations were fun, and even without talking, organizing our thoughts or just blankly looking at the beautiful scenery would melt away stress.

We became so accustomed to these walks that the most peaceful moments for us were when the three of us gathered to look at the wide plains.

I just realized we hadn’t taken such a walk since coming to the Academy.

I thought I had been taking good care of my siblings, but now I realized we hadn’t even gone for a simple walk.

While reflecting on this, I stroked Kirsy’s hair as she lay on my lap.

“….I wish we could stay like this forever.”

Kirsy suddenly said. Normally, I would have just let it pass, but I knew she said it with intention.

She was asking me once again not to leave her.

“….You know that’s not possible.”

“…..”

“…Still. My heart will always be with you two.”

“……”

Kirsy lifted her head from my lap and sat up.

Then, with her back to me, she began rubbing her eyes.

It wasn’t hard to realize she was wiping away tears.

Then suddenly, she spoke in a bright voice.

“Brother! Let’s all take a nap together.”

“Suddenly?”

“Why not? We used to do it a lot at home.”

“That’s true. But today isn’t a holiday. You two need to go back to class.”

“I said we’re skipping today, didn’t I?”

Asena also expressed what she wanted.

“….Brother. I want to drink tea.”

“…Sister, I already suggested taking a nap first.”

“…But we always drank tea when we went for walks.”

As I hesitated, sparks began to fly between the twins.

I hated seeing them fight in this situation, so I stepped between them to defuse the argument.

“Come on, stop it. Let’s drink tea and then take a short nap. Okay?”

“…Okay.”

“Good.”

“But Kirsy. I’m not really sleepy right now.”

“…..Then just lie down with us.”

“That much I can do.”

Asena skillfully took out teacups and a teapot that had been carefully packed in the snack basket.

After gently removing the cork stopper from the teapot’s spout, she began pouring the tea.

The fragrant aroma made my body feel relaxed.

“Here, brother.”

“Thank you.”

“For you too, Kirsy.”

“Thanks.”

I smelled the tea aroma and then crawled over to a nearby tree to lean against it.

Lying in the tree’s shade, smelling the tea fragrance, and looking at the wide plain, I couldn’t feel more at peace.

Kirsy also sat next to me, neatly stretching her legs.

-Sip.

“Oh. This smells good, Asena. What kind of tea is it?”

“It’s white tea made from tea leaves Grandmother gave me as a gift.”

“Have you made up with Grandmother?”

“……Not yet.”

“Hmm.”

I continued moistening my lips and said to Asena.

“…Make up with her soon. Grandmother is saying these things for your sake.”

“……”

“…Asena?”

“…Yes. I’ll do as you say, brother.”

A cool breeze blew by.

Truly, being here reminds me constantly of the Praester Territory. I didn’t think about it then, but now that I’ve left, I’m starting to miss home. There seems to be no place as peaceful as that.

Fortunately, coming to plains like this gives me the illusion of being home.

Perhaps that’s why.

Though I wasn’t sleepy earlier, I started feeling drowsy.

“…Suddenly feeling sleepy. Kirsy, I guess I’ll take a nap too.”

“….Okay. Should I wake you if you wake up early?”

“Sure.”

After making this light promise, I closed my increasingly heavy eyelids.

*****

-Rustle.

As Caden fell asleep, the twins got up.

“….Hey…how long will the drug last?”

Kirsy asked anxiously.

“…About three hours.”

Asena replied calmly.

She had secretly added diluted poppy extract to Caden’s tea.

Certainly, after joining hands with Kirsy, it became easier to create opportunities with him.

She didn’t want to go this far, but she felt she had no choice as she was going mad with jealousy.

She had seen everything while talking with Daisy. Caden creating an awkward atmosphere with Judy.

…Awkward was a nice way of putting it; in other words, he was creating an exciting atmosphere.

Asena was secretly…so envious. That they could naturally feel excitement together.

Just thinking about it made Asena’s head burn. She had to use all her strength to contain that anger.

Though she packaged this moment to Caden as time to prepare for farewell… of course, that wasn’t her true intention.

Asena climbed on top of the sleeping Caden very naturally.

“….You can’t go anywhere, brother.”

And looking down at him sleeping soundly, she said.

She began lowering her face.

At that moment, Kirsy’s hand stopped her.

Interrupted, Asena shot a sharp glance at Kirsy.

But Kirsy didn’t back down. Despite this being her first time seeing Caden asleep like this, she swallowed and spoke directly to Asena.

“……I want to do it too.”

“….For your first time. Can you even do it?”

Kirsy swallowed without answering. Her eyes spoke for her.

Asena finally said.

“…. Just keep watch.”

Asena slowly lowered her head and spoke. Though she didn’t like that Kirsy would also taste his lips, there was no choice now.

Next, Asena tucked her hair behind her ear. Then without hesitation, she pressed her lips against his.

-Mmph.

Then she pushed her tongue in, parting his lips.

Kirsy turned her head away and began keeping watch.