71
Something you’ve always wanted to say?
Since it seemed like she was trying to have some kind of serious conversation, I was about to get up but sat back down. I could see Viola taking a small deep breath. Her face, which kept looking only at the floor, was getting redder and redder.
Could she be sick somewhere?
Getting a bit worried, I couldn’t take my eyes off her as I watched, when her small mouth moved and opened.
“I… I like you, Edgar.”
So that’s what she was taking so long to say.
I smiled bashfully.
I thought that the shy Viola must find it difficult to express even saying she likes me as a friend.
“I like you too, Miss Viola.”
So I readily answered,
“No. Not as favorable feelings, but romantic feelings.”
An unexpected answer came back.
“…Excuse me?”
“I like you, Edgar. I’ve always liked you.”
…Huh?
For a moment my mind went completely blank. I had to doubt my ears. What am I hearing right now?
“Me? Why me?”
I asked directly in my panic without realizing it. Viola’s eyes, which were quietly gazing at me, held a sparkling light.
“Do you remember what happened when we were at the academy?”
This is bad. I don’t remember.
I smiled gently for now. While I was doing that, the shy Viola continued her story.
“Back then I wasn’t adapting well to academy life and was isolated… Edgar, you approached me first and gave me courage. Even when I was in difficult situations sometimes, you came to help me without hesitation…”
“…”
“Of, of course you weren’t only kind to me. But still, that kind and warm Edgar somehow became dear to me… I’m sorry. Did I make you feel burdened?”
“Ah! Not at all. I just never imagined…”
Really, I never imagined it.
I hadn’t even thought in that direction.
That’s because while Viola was one of the people I knew fairly well, it wasn’t like we met often either.
That she would have feelings for me…
〈Hmm. Miss Viola seemed to show enough signs of liking you, young master…〉
Redward’s words suddenly came to mind.
‘…’
Setting everything else aside, the biggest problem was just that I was oblivious. I felt like I had nothing to say even with two mouths.
Viola, having calmed down somewhat, gently conveyed her true feelings.
“Actually, I thought Edgar liked Miss Riette. So I just gave up and only watched from afar… but I heard rumors that Miss Riette got a lover. Edgar didn’t seem to mind much either… so I gathered my courage.”
It seems like there were no such signs in the original story either, but my changed choices must have influenced her too. After that, she showed signs like Redward said, but I didn’t notice at all.
My feelings were complicated. Did Cedric know her feelings from the beginning? Is that why he was so wary?
〈I don’t like you being alone with that woman.〉
…Not knowing that.
I must have made that guy anxious again.
“Thank you for gathering your courage… for telling me you like me, Miss Viola.”
“…”
“But I don’t think I can accept those feelings.”
This isn’t something I’m forcing myself to say because of loyalty or burden toward Cedric. This was what I was saying after seriously reflecting on my true feelings.
It’s true that I have favorable feelings toward Viola, but that wasn’t love.
Of course, if the situation had been different from now, my relationship with her might have developed into love. However, I definitely liked Cedric now.
Viola asked carefully.
“Do you already have someone you’ve set your heart on?”
“Yes.”
“…Could it be Cedric?”
I was momentarily flustered by the name that came out so easily and opened my eyes wide. How did she know? Viola burst into gentle laughter.
“I thought so.”
“…”
“I should have gathered courage a little sooner. Since I knew Edgar’s inclinations, I guess I unconsciously took a complacent attitude. No one knows how feelings might change.”
“…I’m sorry, Miss Viola.”
I brushed one cheek for no reason and observed her mood. Seeing me fidgeting, she quickly shook her head.
“No. But I feel relieved having said it.”
“…”
“You’ll continue to… stay friends with me, right?”
“Of course.”
At my answer, Viola smiled like bright sunlight. My heart warmed and I smiled back at her.
“Then, shall we really go back now?”
“Yes.”
We shyly exchanged glances and got up from our seats. On the way out of the reception room with me, Viola asked.
“Edgar… how did you and Cedric come to understand each other’s hearts? You’re dating now, right?”
“Ah, that’s…”
I was pondering how to answer that and trailing off when I stopped short at the figure I saw as soon as we left the reception room.
“Oh, Cedy.”
Cedric, who had been leaning against the wall, turned around. He seemed to have been waiting for us to come out.
Viola looked back and forth between me and Cedric awkwardly, reading the situation, then just gave a greeting nod and stepped aside first.
While I was quietly watching that, Cedric’s subdued voice was heard.
“What did you two talk about?”
His gloomily shadowed face turned toward me.
At that moment I stood at a crossroads of choice – whether to honestly confess everything or brush it off appropriately.
On one hand, I thought telling him I received a confession, even though I rejected it, might make him anxious for no reason, but on the other hand, I was also convinced that not saying anything itself would make him anxious.
My rapidly spinning mind still came up with the answer to tell him everything.
“I, got… confessed to but rejected it.”
The rest was almost machine-gun fast. But I couldn’t prevent the crack from appearing on Cedric’s face as I had worried.
“…”
“I rejected her clearly. Really.”
Since he seemed doubtful, I emphasized that part once more. Cedric, who had been standing in heavy silence for a while, moved his lips.
“When are you going to answer my confession?”
I was going to do it today anyway…
I was going to surprise him like a present.
“When can I get an answer back?”
“…”
“I tried not to rush you… but I don’t know. I’m too anxious, Eddie. I’m really so anxious I feel like I’m going crazy.”
I could feel his exhaled breath becoming rough.
“I tried to be satisfied just with you giving me a chance. Even if I heard you say it wouldn’t work with me after all, that it couldn’t be helped. But… what do I do about getting greedier?”
“…”
“I wish I was the only one you looked at. I wish there was no one else in your life besides me.”
“…”
“I know this side of me is selfish. I know, but… can’t you just keep alive one guy who can’t even breathe properly without you?”
The end of his pleading words cracked and trembled.
And I had to just listen, not knowing how to comfort him.
No, actually I know there’s just one word… just saying ‘I like you too’ would be enough. Knowing that fact makes me hesitate even more.
Ah. The plan I worked so hard to prepare…
But, right.
Comforting the anxiety of the person I like is more important than the plan. I can’t confuse that important order. It would end up being a somewhat anticlimactic confession, but it couldn’t be helped.
I quietly sighed once. Then I pulled his hands toward me and kissed his fingers, calmly conveying my heart.
“I like you too. I felt it clearly while spending time with you. Actually, I was preparing to confess more impressively. That’s why I couldn’t tell you until now… I’m sorry for making you anxious.”
“…”
“You might think I’m saying this because I’m being pushed into it, but it’s not like that – it’s all sincere.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded and looked up at him. He was blankly staring at me as if it felt unreal, then dropped a tear. He really does cry a lot.
“Crybaby.”
“You’re the only one who makes me cry like this…”
When I wiped his tear-stained face with my thumb, Cedric leaned his cheek against my hand and rubbed it.
“I would have been fine if you just told me anytime. Making people burn with anxiety.”
“S-sorry. But I wanted to convey my feelings more properly…”
“You can confess to me once more later.”
“I already did, what more should I do?”
“Do it.”
“…I don’t know, I’ll think about it.”
It’s fine to do it as a surprise event when the other person doesn’t know, but doing it again when they already noticed everything is a bit embarrassing.
Cedric soon gradually relaxed his stiff face and then quietly raised the corners of his mouth in a smile.
“So now… I don’t have to hide that I like you?”
“…Yeah.”
My cheeks seemed to get hot so I rolled my eyes awkwardly. Cedric, with his watery eyes lowered, wrapped his arm around my waist and left a tickling kiss on my forehead.
“I love you, Eddie.”
To that, I couldn’t help but curve my lips into an arc. My heart beat pleasantly.
“Yeah. I love you too.”
The fact that I can now answer without hesitation that I love him, that I feel the same way, hits me so hard it makes my chest feel tight.
It was an infinitely happy moment.
* * *
The Seraphium Cult collapsed in an instant. The Gloria Trading Company that the cult had in its grasp was disbanded, and the black market that had connections with the cult was also caught not long after.
The Emperor, who had been closely watching the abnormal flow of divine artifacts, heard the story from Castian and secretly lent a hand to the Lowell Trading Company, making things resolve even faster. And the one who contributed most to this matter was Terion, the internal whistleblower.
“Isn’t it about time to ‘let me meet’ him?”
Terion, sitting calmly in the prison, asked. Castian, who had gone down to the underground prison to check on his condition, raised the corner of his mouth.
“You’re an impatient fellow. The vice-leader of the Lowell Trading Company is also supposed to visit today, so wait a little longer.”
“Will you let me meet him when he comes?”
“Well, that’s the promise.”
Castian pulled over a chair and sat in front of the cell. Terion’s pitch-black eyes, which seemed like no light could penetrate them, stared at Castian. Those eyes were exactly like darkness.
Soon Castian’s lips slowly opened.
“So…”
“…”
“Why do you want to meet Edgar?”
When Terion first approached saying he wanted to make a deal, the condition he presented was to let him meet someone. And the person Terion kept saying he wanted to ‘meet’.
That was none other than Edgar de Lowell.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
Communication and Angst’s colleague, Cliffhanger, has taken over the control station.