Chapter 12: Conflict

This incident marked the beginning of the conflict between me and the hero’s party.

Silence.

Angelina barged in, and now she’s just standing there, staring at me with my sword still pointed at Luna’s throat.

Whimper…

Shink!

I sheathe my sword, as Angelina suggested.

If Luna weren’t a princess, or if she’d kept provoking me, I would have killed her.

But now, seeing her smug expression, I regret lowering my weapon.

“Just leave, Your Highness. I don’t want to argue with you anymore.”

“Argue? Oh, have you given up? Well, even if he’s not mine now, you should know you don’t stand a chance.”

Grind

I clench my teeth.

Creak… slam!

“…What were you talking about, Yerin?”

“It’s nothing, Angelina. Don’t worry about it.”

“No, I think I should know. You’re being defensive. It’s about Allen, isn’t it?”

“…!!”

Am I really that easy to read? I can’t control my expression when it comes to Allen…

“…Wait a minute.”

“…?”

That scent… it’s familiar… Allen!

“Angelina, did you see Allen?”

“What are you talking about, Yerin? You’re just upset after arguing with the princess. Let’s just rest and then go back to the—”

“Don’t lie. I recognize that scent. Allen’s scent. He always smelled of potions. That unique blend of potion ingredients and… Allen.”

“…!”

“Did you… go see him when you said you had somewhere to go?”

So, he is in contact with the others?

Or… is it only Angelina?

What’s their relationship? Is it… more than I think…?

“N-No, it was a coincidence. I just happened to run into him…”

“What coincidence? He knows we’d be at the festival. Why would he come here? Unless… oh, he was here…”

“…? What do you mean?”

Gesture

I point to the note on the luggage.

“Hmm… ‘The festival looks fun. You’ll be returning to your original world after today, right? Safe travels.’…?”

“Aaaaaargh…!!”

Hearing those words again… it feels like he’s rejecting me, denying my existence in this world.

Allen, please… don’t leave me…

“Aha, so he’s saying goodbye because Yerin will be returning to her original world after the ceremony?”

“I’m… not going back. I’ll apologize to Allen, beg for his forgiveness…”

“What?”

“…Unfortunately, in his current state, I don’t think he’ll accept our apology.”

Why does Angelina keep acting like she knows everything about Allen?

“Let’s go back to what you said earlier. You met with Allen, right? Where?”

“I saw him at the cathedral. I go there often, so I didn’t think much of it. I just… happened to see him.”

“So, you just… saw him? Did you talk? You wouldn’t have been gone so long if you just saw him.”

“…We talked, but… I can’t tell you what we discussed.”

“…What?”

What did she just say? She’s keeping it a secret?

What is their relationship?!

“Tell me.”

“Huh?”

Grab!

“Gah?!”

“Tell me! What did you talk about?! Why are you hiding it?! Tell me!!!”

“W-Wait, Yerin… you’re too agitated after talking with the princess. Calm down… let go of her…”

“Shut up! You don’t know how I feel! Just tell me what he said! If there’s a way to make him forgive us, tell me!”

“Gah…”

Creak…

“Yerin, are you here? It’s almost time for the festival… What are you doing?!”

Whack

Lilia bursts in and pulls me away from Angelina.

“Yerin! What’s the meaning of this?! Why are you assaulting Angelina?!”

“Cough! Cough!”

“…And… that expression… why are you so angry? So anxious?”

“It’s… nothing. Let’s go to the festival.”

Footsteps

I’m so frustrated.

Every time I try to do something, someone interferes.

And everyone keeps acting like they know everything about Allen.

“…The cathedral, she said.”

Angelina said she saw him at the cathedral during the break.

Allen often went to the cathedral with Angelina to pray, so that must have been her purpose as well.

Then… if I keep going to the cathedral, will I see him?

“I’ll start tomorrow.”

It’s the last day of the festival, and I have nothing else to do.

Visiting the cathedral a few times won’t hurt.

And if I see Allen there, if I can apologize to him in person… it might actually work.

Please, Allen… let’s meet again.

Let me show you how sorry I am, let me apologize… please!

“Are you okay, Angelina?”

“Cough…！ …!”

“…Hmm… something’s not right.”

Being grabbed by the throat by Yerin was startling, but I didn’t resist.

I was hoping I might experience the same warmth and excitement I felt with Allen.

But there was no excitement, only discomfort and pain.

It seems… only Allen can do that to me.

“What happened? Why did Yerin attack you? Did you have a disagreement?”

“N-No… she’s just… stressed and overreacting. Don’t worry about it.”

“But… it’s unusual for Yerin to lose control like that. She’s always been so patient, even more so than Allen! Is she… changing, like Allen?”

Yerin relied on Allen a lot, so his absence must be making her anxious.

But I’m also surprised by her reaction. What did the princess say to provoke her like that?

She’s been emotionally unstable, but not to this extent… and I can’t ask her about it.

“Lilia, I think I know why Yerin is so upset.”

“Oh? Tell me about it on our way to the plaza. The festival is about to start. Come on, get up.”

Lilia offers me a hand.

Grab

“Let’s go. We didn’t have time to check on our rooms, but we’ve rested enough. And Helena isn’t even here yet. We should hurry.”

Footsteps

We walk towards the festival plaza.

“It’s… about Allen. About me meeting him.”

“Hmm… I thought Yerin saw him yesterday. Did that exacerbate her feelings about his disappearance?”

“I don’t know… the princess said something to provoke her, but even after I tried to calm her down after seeing Allen, she wouldn’t…”

Stop

Lilia suddenly stops walking.

“You saw Allen, Angelina? Tell me more.”

“B-But the festival is about to start! It’s a long story…”

“Oh, right… never mind.”

Footsteps

We start walking again.

“What did the princess say to Yerin? It must have been something serious to provoke her like that.”

“…I only heard the last part… I was interrupted… but…”

Stop

Lilia stops again.

“…’Not mine now, but you don’t stand a chance…’ Did the princess say that… about Allen?”

So, Lilia is surprised that the princess would say such a thing about Allen.

“Yes. And then Yerin grabbed me by the throat, demanding to know what I talked about with Allen. That’s all. Let’s go.”

“…Oh, sorry. I just…”

Footsteps

We continue walking.

It’s understandable that she’s curious about Allen, but her reaction… it’s strange. Even Yerin wasn’t this interested.

Is Lilia… also concerned about Allen?