episode_0029

“…!? Wh-what? You… with you? You and Lilith getting married!? W-w-what kind of!? Wh-wh-what are you talking about!?”

Seraphina Serion, who always maintained a cool and rational attitude no matter the situation, stammered, her voice trembling, as if she were Eligio Gremlina.

It was the second time seeing her so greatly agitated.

Seraphina, with trembling eyes, looked at me.

It seemed as though she couldn’t believe that Lilith’s words were truly fact.

…Is it that shocking that I decided on Lilith as a marriage partner?

Well, whenever the two met before, their relationship seemed somewhat bad.

But I didn’t know she would show this kind of reaction.

I still don’t fully grasp the situation, but I should still give an answer.

“It’s true. I’m currently dating Lilith with marriage in mind.”

“Th-that’s…!”

Upon hearing my answer, Seraphina couldn’t close her mouth.

Even as her eyes shook and she stammered, her expression, which she had kept cold, twisted.

“You! When you met me last time, clearly..! Clearly… Clearly…”

Seraphina suddenly raised her voice as if she were about to shout.

“You’re talking about the conversation you had when you met Ropel in the dormitory last time, right? I heard about it, so I know. Think carefully about what Ropel said back then.”

But soon, at Lilith’s words, she bowed her head and fell silent.

Then she held her head with one hand and swept down her face.

With the teacup she was holding, neither drinking nor putting it down..

It seemed she was recalling the conversation she had with me in the dormitory last time.

And finally, she wore a hollow expression, as if realizing something.

“…Is that how it is…From the beginning…Everything…”

After some time passed, she tremblingly and with difficulty put down the teacup she was holding.

“…My apologies, Ropel… I… I… well… ended up misunderstanding…”

“Yes, it seems to me you had a great misunderstanding.”

Upon hearing Lilith’s reply, Seraphina gritted her teeth for a moment.

But it changed back into a cold yet calm expressionless face.

I know that expression of Seraphina well.

It could be called her own mask-like expression, which she uses when hiding her own emotions.

Seeing Seraphina’s reaction like that, it seemed I, too, had greatly misunderstood her.

… I always put it aside just in case… but surely… she…

“To think the person you talked about back then was Lilith Tistina… I thought you two were close, but this is quite surprising.”

Her endlessly trembling voice had regained some stability.

Her face also became her usual characteristic expressionless face.

It seemed she had regained her composure and returned to her original state.

Anyone who didn’t know Seraphina well would interpret it that way.

But I could tell.

Right now, she is forcibly maintaining an expressionless face.

And doing so with great difficulty.

Only now could I understand.

I had greatly misunderstood Seraphina.

I really, I ended up misunderstanding her words in a strange way.

I thought she said that simply as a friend, happy that I was dating and had found a marriage partner.

But surely not.

To think that my misunderstanding was that she only thought of me as a friend.

“..Could you tell me? As I recall, you and Lilith were certainly close.

But you were only friends, and it didn’t seem like there was anything more than that.”

A tremble could still be felt in her voice.

Unlike her outward appearance, it was clear she hadn’t yet calmed her heart.

“Did perhaps a discussion take place between your families in the near future?

Was there… was there something like family pressure?

Please answer! A… no, I would appreciate it if you would answer.”

She even asked the same question as last time.

That must mean she is that desperate.

That is why I couldn’t help but hesitate slightly in my answer.

Because the words coming from my mouth now would be something she absolutely did not want to hear.

However, I had to.

“I am dating Lilith of my own will.

Wanting to be together even in marriage is also the same.”

Upon hearing my firm answer like that, cold water droplets from Lilith’s eyes shone from her eyes like dew formed in the cold winter.

“A… no… Even so… Still… Just in case…!”

As if wanting to grasp onto something, she tried to continue her question.

But that had no choice but to stop due to Lilith’s sudden impulsive action.

Because she suddenly grabbed my chin and pulled it towards herself.

And then very naturally, she put her lips together.

It didn’t just end with a light peck; she also pushed her tongue into my mouth.

To the extent that vulgar sounds could be faintly heard in the room.

It was a kiss that could only be done between special lovers.

And it continued for a not-so-short time, as if displaying something.

Until a pure white string connected between the two and stretched.

“Do you need any more questions than this?”

Finally, Lilith, who took her lips off, wiped her lips with her hand and asked in a resolute attitude.

“No… What’s happened so far is… enough… has answered me.”

Seraphina also nodded in agreement without any comment, even though, in a way, Lilith had shown a very rude attitude in front of the hostess.

Viewed differently, it also seemed she didn’t want to see any more proof that Lilith and I were dating.

Unfortunately, the banquet continued afterwards.

Lilith still clung to me, and Seraphina merely watched this unfold, maintaining a cold silence.

After the meal ended, Lilith and I soon left Seraphina’s mansion, and she saw us off, hiding her emotions until the very end.

…All the things that happened this evening were nothing but shocking events.

Not only Lilith’s words and actions, but also Seraphina’s reaction…

As we walked back together without saying anything to each other, I cautiously opened my mouth.

“…To think that Seraphina… had feelings for me…”

Honestly, I still can’t believe it.. but now I have no choice but to be certain.

Seraphina Serion, she harbored feelings for me.

She had misinterpreted what I said in the dormitory back then, my words about deciding on a marriage partner, thinking it was about her, and had been happy.

That’s why she showed such a hostile and shocking reaction towards Lilith.

“Phew… Yes, it’s a relief you realized it now. My heart was pounding, wondering if you still hadn’t caught on, Ropel.”

Lilith let out a deep sigh and replied to my words.

“But… will it be okay? It’s a bit awkward to say this now, but… I think we gave Seraphina too much of a shock…”

“Even if not today, it was a fact Seraphina had to know properly someday.

We can’t let her keep misunderstanding forever, can we?

Well, honestly speaking, you, Ropel, are also somewhat at fault in this matter.

You might think differently, but the content of the conversation you had when you met Seraphina in the dormitory.

I’m telling you, you said things so strangely that even if I was there, I would have misunderstood!

And you shouldn’t show such a passive attitude already.

…I guarantee you, things like what happened today might happen several more times in the future.

No, they will definitely happen.”

“…Is that so?”

None other than that Seraphina Serion was in love with me.

She, one of the main heroines in the original game, and the one called the Cold Rose of the Knight Faculty here.

I hadn’t thought of the relationship between her and me as anything more than friendship in the slightest, but that was the reality.

If I think about it a little, there might be other women besides her who are in a similar situation.

Surely I don’t think that would happen, but even Eligio Gremlina or Isabella Kshatri..?

“The women you’re thinking of right now, they’re probably all the same? If you want, I can even guess their names.”

Lilith replied like a ghost, as if she had read my mind.

But surely them?

They, who possess exceptional talents and dreams, and whose appearance is so outstanding that countless students within the academy look up to them?

Me, who has neither ability nor background nor anything?

Even the contents are insignificant…someone like me…?

I can’t possibly imagine it.

“By the way… Seraphina’s reaction is still bothering me…”

“Are you talking about another woman in front of your girlfriend right now? You’ve got some nerve, haven’t you?”

“No, I don’t mean it like that… Well… It’s just that, from what I saw, it seems she was quite hurt…

It’s awkward to say this, but in a way, I also rejected her during this meeting…

So giving her some words of comfort or something like that…”

“Oh? And why is that? Are you planning to meet Seraphina again?

Leaving me, your girlfriend, behind?”

“Sorry, I do think it’s quite shameless to say something like this in this situation.

But still, I have a friendship that I gained while spending time with Seraphina until now.

Because I, too, definitely learned things and had enjoyable moments through her.

So… that’s why… I really don’t have any other ulterior motives… just one time..

“You want to meet Seraphina one more time and talk?”

“H-how did you know?”

“I may not have been your girlfriend for long, Ropel, but I’ve been your friend for a long time.

This much is obvious.

In the first place, in a case like this, even if I tell you not to, you’re the type who would try to send a letter or something, aren’t you?

You’ll do something no matter what, so it’s better to allow it like this and have you act where my eyes can reach.”

“..Thank you, Lilith, it’s a real relief that you understand.”

I hugged Lilith tightly and replied.

She also responded to the hug by warmly wrapping her arms around my waist with both hands.

“Hmph, but this is the only time. But promise me. You must only talk? That means only have a conversation!”

“Haha, of course.

Given who I have as a girlfriend!”

On the way back like that, I chatted happily with Lilith.

But she and I did not know.

What kind of result the events of today would lead to.

What the girl, harboring malice from failed love, was thinking in the mansion we had turned our backs on.