Chapter 2
“Stay and eat,” at those words, Cedric once again looked at me with a bewildered expression, staring blankly…
“Ah, let’s go together.”
He hurriedly followed behind me as I left the room first.
Until now, I had never been the first to suggest staying for a meal, so his reaction was understandable.
Despite being called childhood friends, it was always Cedric who clung annoyingly, and I was always the one pushing him away…
‘I feel a bit sorry. I shouldn’t do that anymore.’
Now there’s no inferiority complex toward him within me.
There’s no longer any reason to be wary and draw lines.
Then, wouldn’t it be fine to become real friends now?
‘As long as Cedy doesn’t dislike it.’
Thinking that way and looking at Cedric, he truly was a wonderful connection and a cool friend. When it came to choosing a friend to keep by your side and be proud of, no one could beat Cedric.
Until now, it had been an ambiguous relationship to confidently call friendship, but from now on, I hoped we could become friends who could truly open our hearts and share everything.
I immediately told Mother that I wanted to invite Cedric to dine with us, and Mother was greatly surprised but gladly gave permission. Usually the head chef prepared meals, but today Mother specially prepared the food herself.
“You two finally made up.”
“Mm, we weren’t really fighting.”
“Really? I thought you’d had a fight and were sulking.”
Mother laughed merrily. As we continued eating somewhat awkwardly, Mother brought up something that seemed to have just occurred to her.
“Come to think of it, the New Year Ball will be held soon.”
The New Year Ball.
One of the major events hosted by the Empire. It was a ball held annually in the Great Hall of the Imperial Palace, where twenty-year-old noble children gathered for matchmaking while getting to know each other’s faces and building connections—roughly a week-long social gathering.
That’s why it was also called the coming-of-age celebration.
Naturally, being a ball, time was given for dancing, and most people decided on their ball partners beforehand.
In other words, if you tried to find someone on the day itself, you wouldn’t have a suitable partner.
The ball for nobles who had come of age mentioned in the novel… In other words, this New Year Ball was the very same ball where the novel’s version of me had asked Riette to be my dance partner but was rejected because of Cedric.
“Have you two chosen who you’ll dance with that day?”
“…Hmm.”
At Mother’s question, I slowly put the cut meat in my mouth while looking across the table. Cedric showed no reaction.
‘But Cedy will definitely ask Riette to be his partner.’
Just like in the novel.
And I won’t interfere with the two of them.
“I do have someone in mind.”
“Oh my, really? Who?”
At my answer, Mother’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. Feeling shy under that gaze, I smiled slightly and answered.
“Miss Viola.”
Viola was a female Beta whom I first met and got to know during my time at the Imperial Academy. While we exchanged regular correspondence, we weren’t deeply close, but I chose her because of something from my recovered memories.
〈If you don’t have a dance partner, would you like to partner with me?〉
〈…Alright.〉
When I had asked Riette to be my partner, Cedric also asked Riette to partner with him, putting Riette in a situation where she had to choose between the two of us.
Riette took Cedric’s hand.
And I was left alone.
At the time, I thought Cedric was really trying to make a fool of me. Cedric never showed any signs of liking Riette normally, yet he suddenly interfered.
Well, now I just think that Cedric back then was probably anxious about me stealing Riette away from him.
Anyway, Viola was the kind person who accepted my carelessly thrown words when I was greatly disappointed at the time.
Even though it was a spur-of-the-moment proposal I made when I met her at the palace during the ball period without a pre-arranged partner, she readily accepted.
It was a scene from the novel and something that hasn’t happened to the current me yet, but I’m grateful that she accepted. I also feel concerned about having approached her so lightly.
So this time, I planned to make a serious proposal and discuss it properly.
As I was lost in such warm thoughts, Cedric’s sharp retort interrupted.
“Viola? Why her all of a sudden?”
“…All of a sudden? I’m close with Miss Viola too.”
Being somewhat close still counts as being close, after all.
“What about Riette?”
“Why are you bringing up Riette here?”
“……”
“Riette won’t be left alone either, but if you’re really worried, you should ask Riette to dance with you first.”
“……”
“……”
Hmm. Why?
Cedric’s expression is getting worse and worse.
Why is he glaring at me like that?
‘Did I say something wrong?’
This is strange.
I don’t think I said anything I shouldn’t have…
His gaze was so fierce that I unconsciously averted my eyes.
Soon Cedric moved his tightly closed lips. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but… he ultimately didn’t speak.
An awkward and heavy silence.
As the atmosphere grew heavy, Mother, who had been observing me and Cedric carefully, stepped in as if to mediate.
“Cedy, is there a particular child you want to dance with?”
The silence grew even longer.
Cedric glared at me for a long while…
“No. There isn’t.”
He curtly gave his answer and resumed eating.
What was that? That somewhat displeased reaction.
‘Hmm.’
According to the novel, Cedric would definitely ask Riette to dance.
I hadn’t seen any mention in the novel’s content of Cedric having someone else on his mind besides Riette, and I’d never actually heard rumors of him having a secret affair with anyone.
Moreover, Cedric was someone who, like me, formed relationships narrowly but deeply.
No matter how little attention I’d paid to him until now, if he had developed a secret relationship that changed his behavior, I think I would have noticed that much.
‘What’s the problem?’
From my perspective, his lukewarm attitude was simply puzzling.
* * *
A few days later, I invited Cedric and Riette to the mansion. Riette, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, approached with a very happy face and hugged me tightly.
“Eddie! I missed you.”
“Yeah. Welcome, Riette.”
“I was really worried after that day.”
“Sorry… about kicking you out then too.”
Remembering what happened on my birthday made me feel somewhat embarrassed.
That day, after recovering my past life’s memories and feeling confused emotions stirring wildly, I had kicked both of them out of the mansion, telling them to leave because I wanted to be alone.
The atmosphere couldn’t have been colder.
My parents were shocked too… It’s a dark history that will never happen again.
“It’s fine now that you understand.”
Riette replied warmly with a bright smile. Smiling back at her, I soon guided the two of them to the salon.
“Make yourselves comfortable. Riette, I prepared lots of the sweets you like.”
“Wow! They look delicious.”
Riette exclaimed in admiration at the sweets prepared on the three-tiered tray. Soon, as Cedric and Riette were about to sit separately on the sofas facing each other, I unconsciously felt meddlesome and quickly intervened.
“Sit here.”
I guided Riette as naturally as possible to the sofa where Cedric was sitting. To make the two of them sit together. Then I sat across from them, feeling satisfied inside.
Riette tilted her head briefly but fortunately didn’t seem to mind deeply.
The problem was Cedric again.
Like last time, he narrowed his eyes and began glaring at me with suspicious eyes.
‘Hmm. Why is he glaring again?’
I did it with good intentions…
Ah, perhaps.
‘Was he embarrassed to be sitting close to Riette?’
Oh no. I lacked consideration.
‘Next time I should just sit with Cedy.’
Until now, I had always taken the seat next to Riette. Just not doing that would be sufficient.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
Suddenly Cedric’s low voice interrupted my thoughts. Startled by that voice, I looked up.
“I was just spacing out a bit.”
“……”
“A-anyway, let’s eat quickly. The tea will get cold.”
Ugh. How could I look anywhere when he’s so scary?
I don’t know why he keeps acting like this since last time.
I moved my bottom toward the tray, turning my back on that inexplicable gaze.
Even while I handed them empty plates and poured tea into teacups, Cedric continued to glare at me with burning eyes, so I had to keep my gaze fixed only on Riette almost every moment.
“Oh! Do you remember those kids?”
That’s when Riette opened the conversation.
“Master Med and Miss Asaka, those two. The two who raised their voices and fought at Miss Seina’s birthday banquet.”
Riette’s eyes, resembling pink rose petals, sparkled up close, and they were so pretty that I found myself staring blankly at those eyes.
“Yeah. I remember.”
“After fighting like that, apparently the two of them hit it off.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah! They decided to dance together at the ball too.”
“I see.”
“Really, you never know how relationships will flow. When I meet them later, I’m definitely going to ask what happened between them! Come to think of it, have you two decided who you’ll dance with at the New Year Ball?”
Riette, who had taken a sip of warm tea to calm her excitement, soon asked as if just remembering.
‘Ah.’
At the situation being mentioned earlier than I expected compared to the novel’s content, I hesitated briefly. But my answer was already decided.
“I want to dance with Miss Viola if possible.”
“Huh… Miss Viola? Really?”
Suddenly Riette showed a startled reaction, then glanced sideways at Cedric. Where in my answer came the behavior of reading Cedric’s mood? It was such an incomprehensible reaction that I just smiled awkwardly.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
