Chapter 178

Chapter 178

I Became a Gallery Manager in Another World.

Episode 212: Estelle Is Smiling (3)

“Young lady! It’s alright. Relax and be comfortable.”

“…Yes.”

At Frederica’s voice, Estelle nodded her head slightly and closed her eyes.

Swish-

Frederica, who was holding Estelle’s ankle, carefully brought the feather.

“Then… shall we start? You can feel it, right?”

“…Hnn… yes… it’s ticklish.”

“Hehe, that’s a relief. Then, I’ll slowly move upwards.”

Every time the feather fluttered, Estelle bit her lower lip and wiggled her toes adorably.

Rustle- rustle-

Slowly, Frederica moved the feather upwards, checking the range of sensation that had returned.

“Ugh… hnn… !…huuh!…Th-there!…It’s too ticklish, Frederica!…Pyahahat!”

She seemed to be trying her best to hold back, but eventually, Estelle couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Hehe! You can feel the previously recovered areas perfectly without any problems! Good! Young lady!”

Frederica smiled happily for a moment and then carefully moved the feather a little further up…

To the area where Estelle’s sensation had not yet returned.

“Ugh! Hnn… huu… ugh..!….Haa… it seems to be up to here. Huu… yeah, above that… I can’t feel anything.”

“….”

At Estelle’s apologetic reply, my expression unknowingly hardened.

‘It’s much less than expected… the range that has returned.’

There wasn’t a problem with the exorcism itself.

As Sextaurus proved, the effect of the ‘final version’ was tremendous.

[Sextaurus]

Maximum number of climaxes per day: 197 times

Almost 200 climaxes.

If it weren’t for Yuris’ ‘recovery’, she might have really died from overexertion, as her body teetered on the brink of its limits while pouring out pleasure.

That’s why I thought that this time too, like when she first broke through the wall of 167 times, Estelle’s sensation could be restored considerably…

‘…What on earth is the problem?’

I barely managed to get over a thick wall, but this time, it felt like I was blocked by a thin ‘membrane’.

Still, it felt much weaker and more flimsy than the wall, so I probably could break through it if I forced it…

But for some reason, I had a strong gut feeling that I shouldn’t.

A bad premonition that if I tried to tear through the ‘membrane’ recklessly, something precious of Estelle’s might disappear.

“Hey! Sir Ian! Why do you have such a serious face! Look, the young lady is getting better like this, isn’t she? Right, young lady?”

As if she read my hardened expression, Frederica tried to change the atmosphere with her usual bright voice.

“…Yeah, you’re right, Ian. It’s okay, so don’t make that face…”

“See! The young lady says it’s alright too! If Sir Ian continues to ‘treat’ the young lady steadily by her side, she will be able to walk on two feet again! Don’t be too impatient!”

Frederica’s continued sincere encouragement seemed to ease my mind a little.

‘Right. Let’s not rush.’

Estelle was definitely getting better, even if it was little by little.

Didn’t Elfrida say it in the first place?

That the fact that ‘exorcism’ was happening in this way was a miracle in itself.

“You’re right. I should be grateful that she’s getting better, even little by little… I was too greedy.”

“Right? I’m glad that Sir Ian thinks so! So… please stay by the young lady’s side for a very long time, preferably for the rest of your life! Ah, of course! It would be even better if the young lady gets well as soon as possible!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep being with Estelle until she’s completely healed. Right, Yuris?”

“Yes! Of course! Even for a lifetime, Yuris doesn’t mind at all!”

The word ‘lifetime’ slipped out unintentionally from everyone’s lips.

‘…Lifetime?…Ian by my side for a lifetime?’

Estelle’s eyes shook with anxiety.

Thump- thump-

Her heart began to beat uncontrollably fast.

The fact that Ian cherished me so much made me so happy.

As if my whole being would be filled with Ian.

The love I felt for Ian grew uncontrollably.

But…

Clench-

How long would I be able to rejoice so purely like this?

Ian and Evelyn.

The two of them, who looked better together than anyone else in the world, would surely promise eternal love and get married amidst everyone’s blessings, reaching a happy ending like a fairy tale.

‘It’s okay… yeah, if it’s now… it’s okay.’

If it’s now.

Still.

I felt like I could sincerely bless their happiness.

Evelyn was my precious friend, and Ian was the person I loved.

If they were happy, I could be happy too.

But how long could my weak and ugly heart endure?

Someday, their child would be born, and I would witness the dazzling sight of that child growing up.

Would I really be able to watch with a smile?

When Ian, with a happy smile, handed me a child who looked just like Evelyn.

Would I be able to sincerely rejoice and congratulate them?

If… just if…

Some unfortunate accident happened to Evelyn and she leaves Ian’s side.

Would I really be able to purely grieve and comfort Ian?

Perhaps, even for a fleeting moment, a dark and dirty ‘joy’ resided in a corner of my heart?

Throb- throb-

I was suffocating.

My chest felt tight, and I felt like I was going to throw up.

Just the thought of harboring such vile emotions made my stomach churn.

‘…I, I don’t want to become that kind of person. Absolutely not.’

So…

There was only one way.

‘…Let’s leave. For everyone’s sake. For my sake.’

Let’s quietly leave their side.

To a place far away so as not to disturb their happiness.

To a place where my existence wouldn’t become their shadow.

So that I didn’t hurt the two precious people.

So that I could sincerely wish for their happiness.

So that I didn’t despair at my own ugly self.

Surely, it would be unimaginably sad and lonely.

Every night, I might cry myself to sleep with the pain of my heart being torn apart.

‘…It’s okay. I can endure it.’

But if I carefully savored the dazzlingly beautiful and warm memories that Ian left me, so that they didn’t break…

I would surely be able to endure it somehow.

‘…What about Sister Frederica?… Will she follow me?’

Sister Frederica, who had always been by my side…

It’s a selfish thought, but I wish that at least she would follow me.

Because in this world, Sister Frederica was now the only person I could call ‘family’.

Uncle Ramsey had his family, so even if I asked him to come with me, he wouldn’t. So, I’d have to hire a new cook.

‘…Sister Frederica can’t cook.’

The new house would be much smaller and cozier than this large, empty mansion.

Just the two of us, Sister Frederica, there…

No, maybe my sister won’t come either, so I might end up living alone.

‘That’s… okay too.’

After all, everyone ended up alone eventually.

I knew that better than anyone else.

When a lot of time had passed, and calling Ian’s name no longer hurt my heart…

At that time, let’s gather the courage to visit their house.

Those two kind and gentle people would surely forgive me for leaving without a word.

Maybe by then, Ian and Evelyn’s children will be calling me ‘Aunt Estelle’.

“Heh…”

Imagining such a future, my eyes unknowingly grew hot, and a small laugh escaped my lips.

I knew it would be sad and painful, but it was a much better ending than staying by their side and hurting them.

So…

Just one last time.

Let’s reveal my true heart, which was inevitably selfish and ugly.

‘I’m sorry, Evelyn…’

Hoping that you, in the distant future, and Goddess Elise would forgive me for creating memories that I would cherish and live with for the rest of my life, even after I l;eft this place.

Clench-

Suppressing my trembling heart, I tried to act nonchalant and lightly grabbed Ian’s collar.

“…Ian.”

At my call, Ian turned to me with a puzzled expression.

“Yes, Estelle? What’s wrong? Is something bothering you?”

“…Uh-huh, there’s just something I want to ask you.”

“Ask? Yeah, tell me anything I can do.”

“….”

I was scared, hesitant, and my heart felt like it would burst, so I countless times considered stopping right now…

But I forced myself to calm my trembling heart and opened my mouth.

“Soon… there’s a summer festival opening, would you like to go with me?”

“Huh? Summer festival? Ah, it’s already that time of year. Of course, I’d like to. Let’s go together.”

My voice was very hoarse and trembling, but it reached Ian this time as well.

However…

“Wow! Summer festival! That sounds great! Sir Ian! I want to go with you too!”

“Yeah, yeah. Ah, now that it’s come to this, Frederica, would you like to join us too?”

At Yuris’ words, Ian smiled brightly and naturally invited Frederica as well.

It was such a friendly atmosphere, as if going all together was the most natural thing in the world from the beginning.

‘Ah… as expected… I…’

Although it wasn’t the way I had hoped, enjoying the summer festival all together like this would surely become a pleasant and happy memory.

Perhaps this was for the best.

So that my ugly greed wouldn’t be discovered by others.

Now that the atmosphere has become like this, I can no longer bring up the idea of going just the two of us────

Thump-!

“No… Ian.”

This time, instead of his collar, I grabbed his hand and looked straight into Ian’s eyes as I spoke.

“Without anyone else… I want to go with just the two of us.”

My voice no longer trembled.