52
I spent some time recovering at home.
It sounds nice to call it recovery, but it was practically confinement.
I wasn’t allowed to leave the mansion at all, and even when I went out to the front garden for a brief walk, I was required to have someone accompany me.
I said I was fine since I wasn’t injured anywhere, but my parents insisted it was dangerous because they didn’t know what else might happen, so they kept me firmly tied to the mansion.
‘I understand they’re worried, but…’
And Castian…
〈I know a thing or two about those who target divine artifacts.〉
With a serious expression, he said he needed to meet someone named Lionel from the Lowell merchant group and left that very day, so he’s not staying at the mansion now.
When Castian was staying at the mansion, he was bothersome and burdensome, but it was still somewhat nice to have someone to talk to anytime.
‘I guess this is why they say having siblings is good.’
At least I’m fortunate to have Riette and Cedric, who frequently come to visit under the pretense of checking on me.
Oh, there was someone else who visited the mansion recently. It was none other than Miss Viola.
〈I heard you got caught up in some trouble. Are you alright?〉
She came bringing gifts specifically for my parents and worried about me. Seeing how gentle and caring she was, my parents liked her too.
〈Thank you, Miss Viola. For coming all the way to the house like this.〉
〈Not at all! I, I actually wanted to see you, Edgar… That’s why I came. The visit was just an excuse.〉
She said such considerate things too. I was truly grateful for that warm heart. I was recalling those pleasant memories when suddenly I heard a voice from outside the door.
“Eddie. It’s me.”
It seems Cedric has come to visit. I closed the book I was reading and told him to come in, and Cedric opened the door and peeked his head in.
“Ret didn’t come with you today?”
“Yeah. She said she’s playing with Gareth today, so I should come alone.”
“Ret… she’s become heartless.”
“That’s how everyone gets when they have a lover.”
Cedric, who had entered the room, placed the fruit basket he brought on the bedside table.
He brought another basket full of precious fruits today. They must be fruits he picked from his family’s territory.
I looked inside the fruit basket and chuckled.
“You talk like someone who’s had a lover.”
Cedric quietly smiled at the corner of his mouth and let it pass.
I secretly stole glances at him, then pretended not to look and casually took out a fruit.
…After this incident, our relationship felt like it had returned to how it was before. As if we’d never been awkward, as if we’d completely forgotten about all the previous events. Because Cedric was talking with me the same way as before.
‘Maybe.’
When Cedric saw me come in after playing with Castian that time and said those harsh things, perhaps it wasn’t what I thought. Maybe he was angry because he thought I was ignoring his advice to stay away from Castian since his intentions were impure?
〈Who decided you could just forget?〉
〈You can’t make something that already happened into something that never happened.〉
…Back then, well.
It’s not like he said anything wrong.
‘Maybe it really was all just my overreaction.’
The idea that he likes me. Really, me too.
It’s excessive self-consciousness. Yeah, that must be it.
And I preferred it this way too. Having pointless conversations, talking about other people’s love lives, and occasionally bickering—that kind of friend.
I wanted to remain friends with Cedric.
Without any complicated thoughts… with a comfortable heart.
Coming out of my reverie, I took a bite of the fruit I’d been examining. Sweet juice burst from the soft flesh.
“Oh, this is delicious.”
“Really? I’ll bring more next time.”
“Thanks. You eat some too.”
“Ah.”
Cedric leaned his head forward and opened his mouth as if he’d been waiting. When I brought the fruit to his mouth, he took a small bite and pulled away.
I stared for a moment at the spot dented in the shape of his neat teeth, then took another bite of the flesh myself.
“Cedy. Want to take a short walk in the garden?”
“You must be bored just staying in your room.”
“Yeah.”
“Alright. Let’s go.”
Cedric stood up first. I quickly put down the half-eaten fruit and prepared to go outside.
“Redward, I’m going for a walk with him.”
“Understood. Please take good care of the young master.”
The latter words were what Redward said to Cedric. Like Father and Mother, everyone was far too worried.
“The weather’s really nice.”
The sky outside was clear without a single cloud. A cool breeze was blowing too.
The small trees growing in the garden were occasionally swaying their leaves that sparkled in the sunlight.
“Ugh. Can’t even go out to play on such a beautiful day.”
I plopped down on the garden bench and complained. Then Cedric, who had approached the seat next to me, chuckled.
“You don’t go out often anyway.”
“That’s true, but…”
“Contrarian.”
“Isn’t everyone like that? When they tell you not to go out, you want to go out for no reason, and when they tell you not to do something, you want to do it for no reason.”
“Yeah. I’m a bit like that too.”
Cedric, who quietly agreed, gazed into the distance as if recalling something. I was admiring his smooth profile like a sculpture when I absently tapped the ground with my toe.
“……”
I wanted to talk with him properly once more and wash away all the things weighing on my mind.
I wanted to confirm that we were friends.
“…Cedy.”
After hesitation, I finally spoke up, and Cedric, who had been enjoying the calm silence and savoring the breeze, responded softly with a “Yeah.”
After taking a silent deep breath, I continued.
“What I said before… about forgetting. I said that with the intention of being considerate of you.”
There was no particular reaction from Cedric. He just silently lowered his head to look at the ground while I spoke.
“Since you said you liked someone. I know it’s already spilled milk and an irreversible accident, but… I meant let’s pretend it never happened. Honestly, it’s embarrassing between friends.”
“……”
“But since you wouldn’t acknowledge my sincerity… that’s why I got angry so hastily too. Sorry. I want to apologize for what happened then.”
“……”
“Won’t you accept my apology?”
Finally, silence fell. In the meantime, a gust of wind swept through, brushing past the leaves on the trees.
…What are you thinking about right now?
‘Ah. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought it up at all.’
That regret came belatedly. I wondered if I’d touched something I shouldn’t have while trying to scratch an itch.
Then Cedric’s mouth moved and opened.
“The person I like…”
“……”
“Do you even know who that is before saying such things?”
It was a gentle reproach.
I unconsciously furrowed my brow.
“I don’t know. You haven’t told me…”
“It’s you.”
“……”
“It’s you, Eddie. The person I said I liked.”
“……”
For a moment, I felt as if someone had grabbed my throat and choked me. I couldn’t think of anything for an instant, and my body stiffened.
It’s you, Eddie.
Those words kept echoing in my head like an echo.
“…Ha.”
When my constricted breath was released, a laugh mixed with bewilderment came up. I forced the corners of my mouth up and tried to smile.
“Hey, why are you suddenly being so embarrassing?”
“……”
“It’s a joke, right?”
Cedric was still only looking at the ground.
Not denying or affirming anything.
From the moment he started listening to me until now, when he’d spouted this nonsensical drivel, he’d been doing that the whole time.
“…Cedy.”
“……”
“Say something.”
This isn’t right.
“…Cedric Soliwen.”
“……”
“We’re friends!”
With my breath finally becoming rough, the end of my shouted voice cracked pitifully.
I resented the guy who was trying to take away the friend I’d just become close with.
“That… that kind of thing, I can’t accept it.”
“Then why did you like Ret, who was your friend?”
“……”
“How is that different from this?”
Cedric’s voice gradually rose as he answered back, just like mine. Fed up, I grabbed his collar and pulled him toward me. But as soon as I met his quietly closed eyes, all my strength drained away.
Without even knowing what that surging emotion was, I glared at him with gritted teeth. Cedric, who had been looking at me with an unshaken face, slowly removed my hand.
“Thank you for opening your heart to me as a friend. I’m sorry for making you hear such things.”
“……”
“But, Eddie…”
“……”
“I can’t give up my feelings for you.”
I didn’t want to hear any more, so I squeezed my eyes shut. Into my ears came his cruel declaration, falling quietly like a soliloquy.
“We can’t go back to being ‘friends’ anymore.”
“……”
“I can’t do it. I… can’t do that.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
Oohh!