episode_0039

Estelle was furious that Iris and Theo had spent so much time alone together, but that didn’t mean Theo thought of it as a date.

“Ah, this seems like a good price. I’ll buy this.”

Theo was moving only for the sole purpose of buying the goods, and because he had a mission to bring Iris and Estelle together, he was trying even harder not to send such impure glances.

“Ah, yes! Theo-nim is really frugal and always looks amazing when I see him.”

Of course, if you were to ask if Iris felt the same way, of course not.

‘It just so happened that it ended up being a date for just the two of us…!’

Even though it didn’t look like a date at all to anyone, and it was just a shopping spree, she felt excited and thrilled by it all.

“No, well. I would say it’s one of the virtues that you have to have to live as a commoner.”

Even when Iris complimented him, Theo replied that all commoners had this ability, but even so, she knew.

That not everyone takes this ability for granted.

Even though Iris was a crown princess and didn’t know much about the world, she was more interested in the world than you might think. She even ran away from home for a day without telling her father when she was young, and it’s not like she’s never socialized with commoners.

“Theo is always so humble.”

“I see. Well, maybe it’s because I’m not used to receiving compliments.”

Iris tilted her head at the comment that she was not used to receiving compliments.

Theo’s parents were tough on some parts, but they were also the kind of people who would definitely praise someone for doing something well.

Iris found it questionable that Theo, who grew up in such a household, said that he was not used to receiving compliments.

But for him, who had been in Theo’s body for less than a year, it was something he couldn’t help.

Before he came into this body, he was an orphan, and there was no one around him who could praise him even if he did something well.

It was a word he blurted out without realizing it, but even Theo himself didn’t know that it would reflect the past in such a way.

“Well, anyway, I think I’ve seen everything. I bought everything I need, so should I go pick up Estelle?”

Theo said with a smile.

“Yes, that’s fine.”

Although she pretended not to know, Iris still felt regretful.

It was only natural, since it was a rare opportunity for Theo and I to be alone like this.

Most of the time, the three of them, including Estelle, were together, and there were times when Theo was alone, but there were really no cases where he spent time with just one of the two.

This time, it was just by coincidence that we went shopping together.

“Mr. Theo… Don’t you have any plans to date?”

Iris, who was curious about what Theo was thinking, cautiously asked him what he was thinking, even though they were expressing it in this way.

“As for dating, well. I don’t think it’s the right time yet.”

It’s not a bad time.

Having just turned twenty, they were at an age where they could be dreaming of dating and spending time together.

Most people in the academy would have dreamed of it, and it was true that for the nobles to date others and then get married in the free atmosphere of the academy, this often happened to those who had graduated from the academy.

Unlike commoners, most nobles or royalty who entered into political marriages, those who graduated from the academy were equipped with an egalitarian mindset, and so there were even more of them.

“I still have a lot to do… What should I say? Well, I have Iris and Estelle too. Should I say I don’t have time to be lonely?”

Theo’s words, “There is a lot to do,” perfectly summed up his opinion.

For now, his top priority was saving the world, rather than his love life, marriage, or life itself.

In order to do that, he had to be someone with a lot of work to do, as he had to bring Iris and Estelle closer together.

But on the other hand, one of Theo’s true feelings was that he had no time to feel lonely because he was with the two of them.

I always thought that the time spent with the two of them would be painful and tense, but I couldn’t deny that he also enjoyed the time with the two of them more sincerely than I thought.

‘Come to think of it, since so many incidents and accidents happen when you’re together, I’ve never even thought about being lonely.’

But to Iris, who didn’t know about Theo’s feelings, those words came as quite a shock.

‘So, are you saying that we… are not even considered as romantic partners for Theo?’

I have no intention of dating, and thanks to you two, I don’t have time to be lonely.

It was inevitable that she would be shocked by those words, which sounded like Theo’s feelings for Iris and Estelle were nothing more or less than friendship.

‘… I like it.’

From the moment she first saw Theo, she had been strangely attracted to him, and the feelings she now had for him were clearly romantic in nature.

“Oh, Estelle is over there. Estelle! She’s here!”

While they were having that conversation, Theo found Estelle and called out to her with all his might, and Iris, who had gone from being two to three, had to try her best to hide her feelings.

***

Well, what should I say?

After the conversation I had with Iris at the mart earlier, something seemed strange about Iris.

“Iris, are you okay?”

“… … .”

“Iris?”

“Huh? Oh, yes…! Oh, it’s okay…!”

He kept showing a blank look as if he was deep in thought.

“Iris, don’t make people uncomfortable and say what you want to say.”

Even Estelle’s words may sound a bit harsh.

“Oh, sorry. I don’t really have anything to say.”

It turned out to be a more finite reaction than expected.

“Estelle, don’t you think there’s something strange about Iris?”

Eventually, I felt that this situation was too uncomfortable and strange, so I asked Estelle about Iris’ condition first.

If it were the normal Estelle, even if I said that, she would have said, ‘Iris is always weird. The only one who isn’t weird is me,’ and continued to criticize Iris.

“… So. Did something happen?”

Even Estelle was worried about Iris’ condition because she was so new to her.

“… No, I don’t think anything happened.”

But that doesn’t mean that anything special happened or that we had a special conversation.

As usual, we had a similar conversation as usual, and although we did talk about love, I don’t think it was anything special.

“It seems like the only conversation that wasn’t like usual was about love… ”

“Dating? Have you talked about dating? Just the two of you?”

“Oh, yes. That’s what happened.”

Anyway, that was the only thing that was out of the ordinary, so I brought it up, but Estelle was so surprised that she let out a loud noise and started talking.

Of course, even though Estelle screamed like this, there was still no response from Iris.

“What kind of conversation did you have…?!”

Why does Estelle suddenly look anxious? Oh, that’s it.

Anyway, since they’re in lesbian mode, Iris and Estelle will probably continue on at some point.

But when I think about it, I start to feel anxious and think that it might be possible for me to do that.

“It was nothing. Iris just asked me if I had any interest in dating and I said no.”

So, I summarized the conversation, which was really nothing special, and relayed it to Estelle.

“Ah, Mr. Theo, you don’t have any thoughts of dating at all…?”

Suddenly, Estelle asks a question very similar to the one Iris had asked at first.

“Yes, well. I have a lot to do.”

“What do you do when you have a lot to do?”

But what’s different about the conversation with Estelle is that Estelle asks questions that Iris didn’t necessarily ask.

“Hmm~ There must be a lot going on. First of all, I have to do well in the academy exam? Hmm… I also want to improve my swordsmanship and magic skills.”

The most important thing to do is to connect you guys and prevent bad endings to save the world…

Since I can’t say this straight out, I’ll just pick a few things that are right in front of me and talk about them.

“Can’t you do that while dating?”

“Oh, Estelle, do you think I should date?”

I thought they weren’t interested in my relationship because the two of them were so attached to me and relied on me.

Are you just worried that I’m not interested in dating at all and that I won’t be able to date?

“Yes! Of course!”

Oh, I see.

Oh, oh. Aren’t you worrying too much about me?

Even if we are very close.

“Well, I guess I’ll date someday. After I take care of all the things that are right in front of me, I’ll definitely date and get married. It’s not that I don’t want to do that at all.”

There are more things coming up in front of you than you think, so you can’t think about ‘right now’.

I think it’s only natural that I want to date and get married to someone pretty and kind, even though I’m not a virgin.

“So there is a chance, even if it’s not right now?”

“Opportunity? What kind of opportunity?”

“No, should I say that this is a chance for Theo to date?”

“Of course… ? Well, I don’t think that’s something I can decide… ”

No, this is my chance to date…

That’s a bit harsh, man…

Of course, I was single in my past life, and I haven’t been properly treated by anyone even now…

Oh, I see. Ha, that’s life.

That’s right, applause needs to meet to make a sound.

There might not be anyone who wants me… ? Shit…