episode_0074
by fnovelpia
“There’s been a lot going on.”
Beatrice’s words were over as she tried her best to make excuses to clear up the misunderstanding. It seemed that what had happened in the palace had not yet been made known to the outside world. Leticia only knew that there had been an engagement ceremony and a reception at the palace.
Leticia sipped her coffee, looking back and forth between the two men.
Beatrice’s roommate, Leticia, was a very mischievous person. Knowing this kind of person, Karl wasn’t surprised.
A noble from the Kingdom of Primira who got involved in a marriage between the Empire and the Principality? It’s a story that would make an academy student in her early 20s who loves gossip prick up her ears. And a close friend who knows the parties involved in this situation that could potentially develop into a love story.
To such a person, there could be no more interesting material than this.
“So you’re saying you hugged her? Because you were so touched to see her safe?”
“Yes… .”
Leticia was now using formal language, as if trying to distance herself from Karl. Karl, in turn, was speaking to her in a more formal tone. The tone was extremely businesslike and wary of each other.
“But why did you lose consciousness there?”
“I know that too… .”
“He aimed, he aimed. He’s so sinister.”
“What?”
Leticia coughed dryly as she watched Carl react sharply to the word “sly.”
“I couldn’t help it. But I couldn’t just throw the knife on the street, right?”
“So you brought me into the bedroom?”
“Our dormitory. We have to speak straight.”
“Bedroom. Living room. Instead of leaving the sofa, intentionally, put it in the bed.”
“What if I put you to sleep on the sofa and you see me and get startled? I’m afraid you’ll get startled when you come out to drink water in the morning~”
Beatrice didn’t say a word. It was as if she had no choice but to let Leticia sleep in her room out of consideration for her. Of course, Leticia immediately asked back when she had become so considerate.
As I watched the two people making excuses with all their passion and sincerity, I almost felt like laughing. However, Leticia suppressed her laughter and maintained a serious expression.
Before I knew it, the sunlight was pouring in. I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration as I looked at the men and women sitting around the living room table, which was very luxurious compared to Leticia’s hometown.
The side profile of Carl, sitting with a troubled expression, looked even more dazzling in the sunlight. His dangerous face, which seemed to have made many women cry, surprisingly had a gentleness and softness to it.
‘Beatrice is more than capable of falling for Holladan.’
I understood. I felt sorry for Beatrice, who had no choice but to look down on the man who was engaged to her friend.
But that was only for a moment, and when he saw Beatrice sitting next to him with his sword, his thoughts changed. She had changed into her uniform and was making excuses, so she couldn’t even dry her hair with her magic tool. If she had used magic, it would have been dried right away, but Beatrice, who was in the knighthood, couldn’t do that.
Thanks to that, her wet hair made her beauty stand out even more. Her pure white skin and red lips were beautiful, almost sexy, thanks to the wet black hair.
Even though the sunlight shone brightly on her, it made her clear skin stand out without even a single red blemish or freckle.
Leticia suddenly felt that it might be inevitable that she would fall for the scheming Beatrice instead of the lovely Archduchess Chloe.
Those two put each other to the test.
They encourage each other. To do bad things. To betray. To intoxicate with the thrill of crossing the line of forbidden acts. Leticia looked at the two with shining eyes. It didn’t seem bad to witness such an intense scene of depravity.
Judging from their reactions, it didn’t seem like they had completely crossed the line yet, but that made me want to tease them some more.
“What about Chloe?”
“Huh… ?”
“If Maynor had fallen, you could have just called Chloe and had her come and get him.”
“……”
Beatrice’s face turned red at the question that hit the nail on the head. She fidgeted and rolled her eyes around. Carl and Leticia narrowed their eyes at her.
“That’s right, Chloe lives in the same first class dorm. And isn’t it normal for her to call you her fiancé?”
“……”
“That, that, that… .”
Beatrice’s mind was busy trying to come up with a plausible answer. If someone asked her why she brought Karl here, she didn’t really have a reason to give. She just wanted to do it, that’s all. There was no reason. She just did what she wanted.
Karl seemed to like Beatrice’s flustered reaction, so he smiled with satisfaction and answered on her behalf.
“Chloe is not allowed.”
“Yes?”
“I became engaged to Chloe Deminus only according to my father’s wishes.”
It was a shocking answer. Leticia and even Beatrice looked at him with wide eyes.
“I don’t want to be cozy with someone I don’t have feelings for yet. I just live up to everyone’s expectations in formal settings.”
“Oh, I see.”
“So, there won’t be anything that will separate our friends like Miss Leticia is worried about. They weren’t close to each other to begin with.”
The expression that they were not related was harsh. It was excessive to treat them as if they were just going to cut them off. Beatrice also knew that. Still, she felt good. What she did as an unknown was much more effective than she had expected. It could have just been an excuse to avoid this situation, but that didn’t matter. It was good to hear.
If it was the sword’s words, even a lie would be fine. If it whispered pleasant words, even a lie would be okay.
“Then, is your true heart on Beatrice’s side?!”
Leticia sometimes seemed oblivious, but she would sometimes say important things at crucial moments like this. Beatrice waited for Karl’s answer with some… no, a lot of anticipation.
“That’s….”
“Of course! You must have hugged me because you care, right? You wanted to use the weak appearance of collapsing to create a contrast effect?! Different from your usual strong appearance!”
She pushed forward like a machine gun. She asked questions, knowing exactly what answers she wanted.
“It was an unusually long day… I was tired from fighting and drinking… .”
“Alcohol?”
“Yes, at that moment when I was tired and dazed, I saw that Beatrice, who had disappeared in the commotion, was safe, so without thinking-”
“What, alcohol!?”
I heard it accidentally, because of the alcohol, so ‘by chance’. So Beatrice shouted.
“Are you saying you made a mistake because you were drunk right now?!”
“I think I drank too much… .”
I didn’t drink much.
“If it were Daniela instead of me, would you have done the same? Didn’t she disappear from the palace with you?”
“That, I think so-”
That’s the worst answer. At least for now.
“Get out.”
“… Beatrice.”
“Why don’t you go to the first class dorm and check if Daniela is okay?”
He also added that he should hug her in the same way. At first glance, it sounded like a voice of annoyance mixed with contempt, but upon closer listening, it was a trembling voice mixed with embarrassment and shame. However, Karl did not have the time to distinguish it at the moment.
“That, that’s what I should do.”
“That’s what I have to do!?”
“You said to go.”
“Ha-!”
Beatrice’s patience had finally reached its limit. She sighed deeply and went into her room.
Boom! The closed door seemed to be gently knocking, signaling for me to come in and be comforted.
But just like before, Carl didn’t seem to notice. Leticia caught him as he cautiously got up from the sofa and walked towards the front door.
“Are you going to continue like this?”
“Beatrice told me to go out?”
“No, that’s not what I meant!”
Carl shook his head as he watched Leticia stomp her feet. As if he didn’t understand at all. Before Leticia could say anything else, Carl left the room.
“Hey, over there-!”
Clank-
“Wow… You’re not worth your money, really.”
I stared blankly at the front door, which was now firmly shut, and muttered.
*
“Ah.”
Karl frowned. As soon as he left the second class dormitory.
Swish-
I stopped walking and looked back at the building I had exited.
It wasn’t as well-built as the first-class dorms, but it was a building that had been built with some effort. He counted each floor by eye, trying to guess where Beatrice and Leticia’s rooms would be. He hoped that Beatrice would be watching him from the terrace.
‘What have I done?’
As soon as I left Beatrice’s side, I came to my senses. I realized what a mistake I had made.
I acted like a fool, without any sense or tact. Looking back, it was clear. Thinking back on Beatrice’s expression and her voice, I could clearly see how I should have responded.
It was obvious, but I couldn’t do it. It’s strange.
Only then did he realize that he had disappointed Beatrice and held his head in his hands. Even thinking about it to himself, he felt quite ashamed.
This can’t be happening.
After the encounter, Karl was able to objectify himself well. He knew all too well the charm and value of this body as a male. That’s why he always took the initiative when talking to women.
He knew his weapon, and he knew how to use it. So it was a piece of cake for him to know what the woman he was facing wanted and what she wanted to hear. It was also because Karl himself was a woman before he became possessed.
He easily learned how to shake the hearts of women by speaking and acting. It was as natural as a child learning to walk. So there was no way he could not know Beatrice’s true feelings.
I can’t help but wonder, what on earth is going on here?
“……”
He clenched his fist without saying a word.
The sword never behaved so pitifully except when it faced the saintess. The saintess was an exception. From the first time he saw her, he couldn’t help but stutter and couldn’t even make eye contact properly.
So, when he talked to the saint, he was always passive and could only barely respond to her words. Seeing him like that, Louis always teased him and called him a coward.
But I didn’t know that I would show Beatrice such an embarrassed look, as if I was addressing a saint.
Carl thought something strange had happened. He tried to dismiss it as just some random incident. He took a deep breath and turned around to walk away from the second-class dormitory.
Woohoo-
After walking for a while, I stopped walking because of the sound of a portable magic tool echoing inside my uniform. I took it out of my jacket pocket and interpreted the wavelength.
I wondered who it was from early morning.
Did he ever tell Beatrice about his magical tool technique?
I looked back on my memories.
My vain hopes were shattered when I heard the other person’s voice.
-bantling.
-… What… is going on?
I was just wondering, but the steam leaked out. I could only answer weakly.
-Where are you? Come to headquarters.
-Already? The Duke said he had something to talk to the church about, so he asked me to come back around dinnertime-
-If you don’t want to come, don’t come, but will you regret it?
Louis’ voice was somehow excited.
-I’ll go. But please tell me why.
-Oh, that’s right.
In this case, it’s best to just say you’re going. That’s because you have to give the playful Louis a satisfactory answer first to satisfy his curiosity.
-Karl! Where are you~ Come quickly!
A woman’s voice was heard beyond the magic tool.
The sword froze in place. It was because of the woman’s voice.
-What? Why aren’t you answering? Didn’t you want to see me?
It was a voice I knew well. It was a voice I had always longed for, and a voice I wanted to hear forever.
It is not enough to describe it as beautiful. It was like a wonderful heavenly voice. If there were angels, I thought they must have voices like this.
“……”
Even though it had been a very long time since I heard it, my thoughts remained the same.
-Alana.
-Yeah!! That’s right. Phew~ I thought maybe I forgot your voice while I was away.
I can’t forget it. I must not forget it.
Because she is that kind of person to Karl.
The person who is more precious than anything else in the world.
The person I would want to risk my life to be by my side, the only person I would be okay giving everything to.
The heroine that I have loved the most since I was a reader, and that I have vowed to make my wife while living as Carl Maynor.
Saint Alana.
A reunion much earlier than expected shakes Carl’s heart again.
Just by voice.
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