Chapter 179

Chapter 179

I Became a Gallery Manager in Another World.

Episode 213: Estelle Is Smiling (4)

“Without anyone else… just you and I, I want to go alone.”

Estelle’s unexpected request momentarily left me speechless.

‘I’ve really held back a lot until now!! I even held back when the fireworks went off the moment I was about to confess to Ian at the summer festival!!!’

The words Evelyn had said, tearfully, some time ago, flashed through my mind.

Of course, the summer festival was something I spent with Evelyn every year, like an annual event.

Although I hadn’t said anything yet, Evelyn must be certain that we’d go to the festival together this year too.

But…

My gaze turned back towards Estelle.

As if everything would disappear if I let go of this hand…

Unlike the usual Estelle, her small hand, full of strength, conveyed desperation.

‘If Estelle is saying this much… there’s something going on.’

Honestly, I was not sure why she wanted to go just with me alone…

For Estelle, who usually strongly disliked crowded places, to suggest going to the summer festival first, it felt like there must be some ‘special reason’.

“….”

For a moment, I imagined in my mind how it would feel if I were in Estelle’s position and got rejected.

Flinch-!

It wasn’t easy.

If I were rejected now, I probably wouldn’t be able to muster up this kind of courage again in the future.

Not to mention the festival, I might even become a Poporing who refused even ordinary outings and just stayed holed up in the corner of my room.

‘…That won’t do.’

I didn’t want to see Estelle’s heart, which had barely begun to open, firmly shut again.

“Huu… Yuris, over there…”

I called out Yuris’s name, wanting to hear the opinion of Yuris, with whom I had initially promised to go together, but…

“As for Lady Yuris, Frederica took them out just now.”

Estelle said calmly, still holding my hand.

Only then did I realize that the two of them had disappeared from the room.

It was such a secret and swift movement that I hadn’t noticed at all when they left.

“So? Ian. What’s your answer?”

“….”

Estelle asked, as if urging me.

In her voice, a tremor could be heard, which she was trying to hide but couldn’t.

That slight tremor weighed even heavier on my heart and…

‘I’m sorry! Evelyn! I’m truly sorry!

In my mind, I prostrated myself before Evelyn and groveled and bowed my head.

It felt as if I could see Evelyn’s enraged face, but there was nothing I could do.

‘How could I refuse this!’

Didn’t the old saying go, ‘Forgiveness is easier than permission’!?

Preparing myself to be slapped three or four times by Evelyn, I nodded towards Estelle.

“Okay, Estelle. Let’s go together. This year’s festival, just you and I.”

Thump-! Thump-!

At Ian’s answer, Estelle’s heart pounded as if it would burst.

‘…I… I really… did it? The summer festival… just with Ian?’

She knew well how selfish and shameless this request was.

She felt nothing but sorry towards Evelyn, and towards Yuris and Frederica, with whom she had promised to go together.

But….

She absolutely did not want to give up the time she could create one last memory.

Squeeze-!

As Estelle unconsciously put a little more strength into her hand, Ian gave a slightly awkward smile.

Summer Festival.

Even if that day, which she would spend alone with Ian, was just a short dream on a summer night.

Estelle desperately wished that the dream would not break.

The night before the summer festival.

Buzz-!

The crystal ball placed on the desk vibrated incessantly, fiercely asserting its presence, but I deliberately ignored it.

“Hukh-aaham… Ian oppaah? The crystal ball keeps buzzing, it’s noisy… Are you really not going to answer? Poporing is sleepy…”

Poporing, who had somehow climbed onto my bed, pulled the blanket over her head and was rolling around, whined in a voice full of sleepiness.

“…There are… circumstances.”

If I answered the crystal ball now, it was clear that Evelyn’s questions like ‘Why did you ignore it?’ and ‘Are you really going to the festival with me tomorrow?’ would follow…

Honestly, I wasn’t confident I could properly make excuses for those questions.

“Haa, Poporing… When you’re home alone tomorrow, absolutely don’t open the door for anyone. No matter how much they ring the doorbell or knock on the door, don’t make a single sound and act as if no one is home. Understand?”

I gave Poporing a firm warning.

Since I started living with Poporing, I had received a promise from Evelyn that she wouldn’t visit my house again, even while getting beaten up while stopping dozens of times right before the climax.

In a situation like this, the possibility of her breaking in herself was high enough.

“…Ian oppa, do you think I’m a baby… Hukh-aaham… Sleepy…”

Buzz-!! Buuuzz-!!!

Just then, the crystal ball started vibrating violently again…

‘I’m sorry, Evelyn! I’ll explain everything later. Please, just spare me!’

At the same time, Estelle’s room.

“Milady! How about this outfit! I think it would look really good on Milady!”

Estelle’s fashion show had already been going on for several hours, but Frederica’s face was full of life without a hint of fatigue.

“F-F-Frederica! Isn’t this… a bit too revealing!? The back is too low-cut… And, and the bottom… is short…

Estelle blushed and lowered her head at her reflection in the mirror.

“Too much?! This level of exposure is standard these days!”

“…N-No!… Still… this!… N-No! It’s… too shameless to wear… outside!”

“Ah, what a shame… If it were this outfit, Sir Ian would surely have been captivated…!”

At Frederica’s genuinely regretful voice, Estelle’s wings of imagination spread without realizing it.

‘…Wh-What kind of face… would Ian make if he saw me wearing an outfit like this?’

Frederica, who had been looking at Estelle like that with satisfaction, became even more excited, listing this and that while fussing.

“Haha, still, Milady is right. Even if it’s not for Sir Ian, I can’t show Milady’s appearance like this to other men… Then, how about this dress? I think the subtle yet elegant colors would really suit you well!”

“…Yeah, that’s a bit better. Frederica. But…”

“Yes! What is it, Milady? Did you perhaps change your mind about the underwear set you chose earlier?”

Frederica replied in a voice filled with excitement.

Clearly, Frederica must be expecting that my relationship with Ian will finally take one step further.

I felt so sorry as if I was letting down that expectation, but…

I couldn’t postpone the conversation any longer.

“…After I go to the festival tomorrow, there’s something I want to tell you.”

On the day of the summer festival.

“Are you okay? Aren’t there too many people? If you’re uncomfortable at all, you need to tell me right away.”

When I asked with a worried expression, Estelle shook her head as if she was okay and replied.

“…I’m okay. Because I’m… with you. …Ian, can we go over there?”

The place Estelle pointed to with her finger was towards the stalls lined up along the street.

“Of course. Is there anything you want to eat?”

“No, just… I want to look around a bit. Oh…?”

Just then, Estelle’s gaze lingered for a moment on a stall selling large cotton candy.

“It’s a cotton candy stall… Do you want some? Shall I buy you one?”

“…Uh-uh, it’s okay. I was just surprised to see it after a long time.”

Estelle refused, but being quick-witted, I could tell that a slight hint of regret remained in her eyes.

“Ah, but it’s a festival. I feel like eating one too, so let’s buy one and share.”

I bought a pink cotton candy, tore off a small piece from the end, and handed it to Estelle.

“Hmm, it’s delicious. Here, Estelle, try some too.”

“…Th… Thank you. Ian.”

Estelle thanked him and carefully took a bite of the cotton candy.

Was it because of the sweetness that melted and spread in her mouth as the cotton candy dissolved?

A bright smile appeared on Estelle’s face.

“Yeah. It’s delicious… Next… let’s go that way. It feels… like it would be interesting.”

“Understood. Milady Estelle.”

“…What, really… Don’t tease.”

At my playful tone, Estelle chuckled and lightly hit my arm.

‘Ian…’

Since losing the sensation in my lower body, I had avoided places like this out of fear of other people’s gazes, but…

Strangely enough, today, I didn’t feel uncomfortable or scared at all.

Rather, I was so happy and enjoying myself to the point where I didn’t even know how time was passing.

…Surely, it must be because I’m with Ian.

Every moment I laughed with Ian, talked with him, and experienced new things with him was so precious.

“…Really? …Can I really have it? Ian?”

“Yeah, it was a game I intended to win for you in the first place.”

“…Thank you. Truly… I’ll cherish it my whole life.”

Especially when Ian gave me the big doll he won by hitting the target, I almost cried without realizing it, but…

‘…No. I don’t want to cry.’

I didn’t want to shed tears.

This was a precious time I was spending with Ian, perhaps for the last time.

Without a single stain, I wanted to fill it only with happy memories.

“The sun is setting. If we find a spot now, I think we can watch the fireworks from a good place…”

“…Um… Ian.”

“Yeah? What is it, Estelle?”

“…Thank you. …For listening to my unreasonable request… For bringing me out here. I was really… happy.”

“Ah, what unreasonable request. I enjoyed it too. Seeing you like this makes me happier. Let’s come often from now on.”

“…….”

“…Huh? Estelle?”

Screech-! Clatter-!

At that moment, a loud noise echoed from behind us.

When I turned my gaze towards the direction of the sound, a carriage was stopped not far away.

Screech-

Following that, the carriage door slowly opened, and a middle-aged man, handsome in a suit but looking somewhat sad, got out.

“….”

The man looked around as if desperately searching for something…

“…!”

The moment his gaze landed on us, he stopped as if frozen in place.

“Ah… Ah… Ah…!!”

Like someone who had witnessed a miracle before their eyes.

The man’s eyes trembled violently, then, as if drawn by a magnet, he slowly approached us.

“Is it really… you…?”

The man’s steps were unstable like a drunk person’s, and his hand extended in the air was visibly trembling.

“…Is it really… Estelle…! Is it… really you?”

“Estelle… Do you know him?”

“…N-No… Ian, I don’t know him…”

Swish-!

At the sight of the man reaching out his hand towards Estelle, I instinctively grabbed his wrist and blocked his path.

“I don’t know who you are, but please don’t lay a hand on Estelle.”

“…Ah? …Who are you…. No, no. Haa…”

The man seemed to have just noticed me then, and showed a momentarily flustered expression, but…

Soon, he calmly cleared his throat, placed a hand on his chest, and bowed respectfully.

“I am truly sorry if my sudden actions startled you. Young man. That was not my intention. …I am Jeffrey… Jeffrey Blackdahlia.”

“…Je…ffrey… Blackdahlia…?”

Hearing the name, Estelle stared blankly at the man’s face.

And then, as if unable to believe it, she whispered in a trembling voice.

“…Uncle…?”