They Say When You Drink, You Become a Dog (4)

The clear chirping of birds and the sunlight piercing my eyes were more than enough to wake a person. And since I didn’t have such a distorted sleep pattern that I could continue sleeping in this situation, I was able to open my eyes.

“Ugh…”

As I got up, clutching my throbbing head, a quiet stillness greeted me. This is my room. Somehow, I managed to return safely to the dormitory. It seems that knight, Christina or whoever, brought me back well. I should thank her when I see her later.

But before that…

‘I’ve gone crazy, really! I must have completely lost it!’

Recalling what happened yesterday, I couldn’t hold back anymore and pointlessly beat the innocent blanket. Remembering what happened yesterday, I feel like jumping out the window if I could.

This wasn’t my plan. My original goal was to use the power of alcohol to vandalize property, pick fights with someone, or act out in front of Reinhardt. But in the end, I didn’t succeed in any of those. On top of that, at the end, I fell for his leading questions and spilled all my thoughts.

“From now on, I should never plan to drink alcohol…”

What is this? Not only did I fail to attempt what I had initially planned, but I ruined everything. At this rate, there’s only the final measure left. It’s too much to do today since it’s the weekend, but tomorrow is the moment of decisive battle.

This operation had a strong variable called alcohol. I admit it. There’s an old saying, right? When you drink, you become a dog. Our ancestors were never wrong. Yesterday, I was a dog running wild, having lost my reason.

“I shouldn’t have done such a thing~”

The song I’m humming spontaneously is perfectly appropriate for this situation. It’s strange. Why can’t I control my expression? It’s as if I’ve done something irrevocably crazy. No. That can’t be. If I use the trump card I’ve prepared. This is a clear evil deed no matter who says what, to the point where I could be punished as a caught-in-the-act criminal!

‘Will I be unfairly treated this time too?’

A sudden question. Until now, whenever I tried to do something, nothing ever worked out properly. If, just if. If I’m unfairly treated this time too… Then…

Just imagining it makes me dizzy. If I’m not careful, my villainess plan might completely fail. If that happens, there’s really only one thing left. To imitate what the original Ariel did. It’s the last resort, selling my conscience and everything.ly speaking, I don’t want to go that far. I don’t need to go that far to make someone a villainess. I sincerely believe that. That’s why I’m currently proceeding with my villainess plan using my own methods.

But really, what if everything I’ve thought of becomes useless? Should I then, even at the cost of my life, imitate the actions shown in the original story?

“My Lady. Are you awake?”

A careful knocking sound, knock knock. I thought it might be Meurie, but the voice I heard from beyond the door was not my personal maid’s, but my roommate’s.

“Yes, I’m up.”

Quickly tidying up my disheveled hair and clothes, I finished grooming myself at lightning speed. Originally, I wouldn’t have cared about such things and would have walked around scratching my belly, but after being scolded to dust for living like that at the mansion, I was at least mindful of this much.

When I opened the door and came out, there stood Mari, looking utterly fresh. It’s strange. I’m sure I didn’t oversleep. Why does she look so fresh? Don’t you need sleep? Anyone would think it’s past 10 o’clock.

“How are you feeling? Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“Um, if it’s okay, this…”

Mari gently held out the tray in her hands. Wondering what it was, I looked down, and Mari hurriedly explained.

“I-it’s honey water. Since it seems you drank alcohol yesterday…”

Wow, wait a minute. I think I’m going to cry. No. I need to maintain my composure here. I need to show the coolest appearance in the world, befitting a duke’s daughter. No, is that already impossible? I’m not a snowman, after all.

“…Thank you.”

Somehow, I managed to thank her and safely drink the honey water. If I may say something slightly cheeky here… I didn’t drink that much yesterday, so I don’t really need honey water! Actually, my head doesn’t hurt at all right now.

But I didn’t want to ruin the thoughtfulness of her preparation, so I decided to quietly accept it. After all, there’s the effort of someone preparing it early in the morning. Mm-hmm.

Ah, the honey water is delicious.

“Are you feeling alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”

Probably because the situation isn’t exactly honorable, an awkward smile naturally appears. Of course, even if I was drunk, I didn’t cause trouble in front of Mari…

[“Try harder!”]

[“Y-yes…?”]

[“Watching from the side, it’s frustratingly maddening. Why are you just enduring? Mari, people should be honest with their feelings. Even if you deceive everyone in the world, you should be honest with yourself!”]

Somehow, I said something strange. Why did I say such things? It’s probably in the same context as the drunken rant I gave to Reinhardt. It must have been out of frustration that the two weren’t making any progress.

No, but I’d like a chance to explain. Honestly, watching from the side, I do have the desire to save the world, but even before that, it’s frustratingly maddening. I even doubt if the two have any interest in each other.

According to the original story, they should have already caught each other’s attention, knowing each other’s names and paying attention to each other. But now, if you ask them about each other, you’d only get a bland response like “Oh, there was such a person.” It’s like sitting down with popcorn and cola prepared, only to have commercials playing for an hour. This isn’t the result I want!

That’s why I said those things. Anyway, I was just asserting my rightful consumer rights. It’s a losing game to worry about whether such things exist in this world. Get lost, loser.

“After hearing what you said yesterday, I’ve thought a lot.”

“Pardon?”

Wait a minute. Something about the atmosphere feels ominous. What I said yesterday? Was there anything besides that? Hmm, hmm… Fortunately, I can’t remember anything else. Then, if she’s saying she thought about what she heard… What could it be?

“You told me to be honest with my feelings. To be honest, it was the first time I’d heard such words.”

Mari spoke, still unable to hide her confused expression. Is this the result of pondering for a whole day? I’m scared, not knowing what will come out. I could instinctively tell that whatever was going to be said next was something I couldn’t even imagine.

“You were right. What have I been hesitating about all this time? I should just move as my heart tells me to.”

“Pardon?”

“Lady Walpurgis. May I make one request?”

Oh, something feels odd. Why is she suddenly setting this mood? Mari closed her eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and then carefully began to speak.

“Yesterday, you called me Mari, didn’t you?”

Ah. Come to think of it, I did. Thinking about it, calling someone suddenly without any honorifics could make anyone feel bad. This seems like something I should apologize for.

Of course, Mari is a commoner, and I’m a duke’s daughter. It wouldn’t be strange for a noble of a duke’s daughter’s status to call a commoner by their name. Huh? Come to think of it, it seems like I don’t have anything to feel guilty about? What’s this, there’s no problem in the end? Then why is she acting like this?

“If it’s alright with you… um…”

Mari was taking an unusually long time to say what she wanted to. No, don’t drag it out like that. I’m dying of anxiety. If you have something to say, just say it clearly. It was like that in the original story too. Say what you need to say! Mari Cola! Like that.

“Ah, would you call me just Mari from now on?”

“Pardon?”

Huh? What did I just hear?

“I, I think it’s okay to be called like that. If, if it’s alright with you, My Lady, I’d be happy if you called me like that from now on…”

Ah, no. Is this how it’s going to be? What am I hearing right now?

I’m not so stupid as to not understand what this situation means. Right now, Mari has invited me into her circle as if it’s the most natural thing. No, why? How come? Was it because of the cookies I ate last time? Or what? Did I experience some favorability-raising event without knowing?

Unable to accept the sudden situation, my brain finally declared a strike. I don’t know anymore. Mountains are mountains, water is water. Where am I, who is this? It’s also a morning where my head isn’t working strangely well. Yes, it should be okay to be a bit mindless for a while.

Thinking that, I let go of my mental strings.