Translator: mii
Editors: sleepchaser, ASplashofMusic
After leaving the venue, Alfred and I return to my room, where I collapse on the sofa.
Alfred grabs the jug of water on the table and pours me a glass. I take it and empty it in quick gulps. He then refills the glass, which I also finish. I’ve finally been revived. It’s as though the water is spreading through my whole body.
Water really has amazing restorative powers.
I didn’t know that water can taste this delicious.
After I gulp down half of my third glass, I let out a sigh of satisfaction. “…I have revived…”
Seems like I was a little dehydrated. Now that I think about it, I only had a sip of tea and a piece of candy before the party.
It’s clear that drinking alcohol while dehydrated and running on an empty stomach is a really bad idea. Of course it’d make me feel sick. I made a mistake.
After setting the jug back on the table, Alfred looks down at me in wonder, a drawn-out sigh leaving his lips. “You… You should have at least drank some water back there.”
“I couldn’t! People kept coming up to me to talk! One after the other!!”
This is why I can’t handle such big, crowded parties.
People keep talking to me, so I don’t manage to eat or drink anything. Well, it might be because I’m not used to it. I haven’t grasped the best timing to squeeze in some time for food and drink.
On the table sits a large plate of fruits and nuts prepared for the guest. Since we haven’t eaten anything during the party, Alfred and I eat them together.
It’s quite strange. So many gorgeous treats and sweets were laid in front of me at the party, but I end up stuffing myself with only these fruits and nuts.
I open the expensive-looking wine bottle in my room. Delicious.
Then soft rhythmic music sounds from outside. Most likely from the party.
“Ah, I wonder if the ball has started.”
“Ball?”
“Yeah. After chatting time is dancing time…”
“So we’d have to dance?”
“That’s right. It’s hard. And everyone has to continue dancing until the very end.”
The people of the upper class were surprisingly aggressive when it comes to playing. Haa, I can’t keep up with them.
“I see. So it’s hard, huh,” Alfred says, laughing at me.
But this isn’t something to laugh about.
“Don’t laugh! There will be times when you have to dance as well!”
“Really? I’m not sure about that, though…”
“There will be! …Maybe. Wait, don’t tell me you can’t dance?!”
“I’ve never danced before.”
“What?! That’s not good! Come here. I will teach you!”
What if the future hero has to dance in the future but can’t?
I have to teach him so that he can handle any situation.
That is a part of my mission after all.
“You don’t have to, you know?”
“No! You’ll be in trouble if I don’t teach you!” I say, pulling at his arm.
“No, I don’t think I will…” Despite this, he slowly gets up from the sofa as if assenting to my idea.
I take his left arm and place his hand against my waist. Then I grab his right hand and raise them to chest-level. Lastly, I put my left hand on his shoulder. This is no doubt the most basic dance position.
“Err… What dance uses this song again?”
“Why do you sound unsure? Can you really teach me?”
“You’re so annoying! Of course I can! I have been trained by Lowendal!”
…If I forget the steps, then I just have to match my movements with the rhythm and the movements of others. And people would be none the wiser. Lowendal told me this in a secretive tone, accompanied by his trademark wink.
After instructing Alfred for a while, I am once again convinced that he is the future hero.
Witnessing his extraordinarily fast learning speed, I fully realize the difference between him and me.
As I’m absorbed in my thoughts, I accidentally step on Alfred’s foot.
“Oww…”
“Ah, I stepped on you. Sorry, sorry.”
Well, he’s stronger than me anyway. A light step on the foot wouldn’t injure him.
“You don’t feel sorry at all, do you?”
“I am—ahhh!”
All of a sudden, he lifts me, causing my feet to leave the ground, and vigorously whirls me around.
I widen my eyes in surprise, but the feeling of being spun in circles, along with his light hold on my waist, is quite fun. The fluffy floating feeling too .
“Aha, haha! As usual, you’re crazily strong!”
Alfred also lets out a laugh himself.
“…You finally laughed.”
“Huh?”
“You looked so tired the entire day.”
“I-is that so?”
“Yeah.”
Is that true? I’m not really sure.
It’s true that I felt tired.
But—
The song ends, a slower-paced one taking its place.
“The song changed. Can the dance we’re practicing use this song too?”
“…Alfred.”
“Hm?”
“Will you… accept Luzé’s offer?”
I have to ask.
It’s not like I will… mind if he really chooses her. After all, he will earn more money by playing with Luzé. A much easier job than the one I hired him for. His job for me is labor-intensive and dangerous since he will have to fight with demons.
Alfred puts me down and stares at me. Then he breaks into a mischievous smile. “Do you want me to accept it?”
“W-well… you can do whatever you want. Luzé only demands that you play with her, so it’s clearly an easy job. On the other hand, your job for me is harder… It has its risks and dangers. Plus, she said she will pay you much better than I do, so…”
“So I can quit my job with you and defect to her side?”
“T-that… I… I-if… you want to do, then…”
That’s not something that I can decide.
“Hmm… Then, I can go?”
“Y-you can… do whatever you want.”
“Hm…”
Silence fills the air.
As I mentally prepare myself for Alfred’s response, Alfred finally breaks the silence with a small sigh, looking a little embarrassed and troubled. “I won’t go. I didn’t accept your job because of the pay.”
“Huh?”
“I accepted it so that we can stay together like this, okay?”
Alfred suddenly lifts me again, a gasp of surprise leaving my lips. I hold on to his shoulder to stabilize myself in his hold.
His face then approaches mine. Too close. I can see his eyes narrow as another laugh escapes him.
I hope he can stop saying such things out of nowhere like this.
Alfred breathes out a sigh once again. Then he chuckles. Only this time, it was not out of happiness but distress “…Don’t cry. You sure cry a lot, huh?”
“I’m not crying!”
That’s right, I haven’t cried yet. Although I do feel ready to cry, I manage to suppress it.
“I see. Well, if you get the urge to leave your house and hang out at the church all day like before, think about renting a room at Cheddar-san’s.”
“At Cheddar-san’s?”
“Yeah. The trio of kids will be happy if you do. I’ll also be happy. So, what do you say?”
I open my mouth, about to answer “I’ll go!” on reflex. But I swallow the words down, restraining the impulse.
“Lian?”
“I will… One day…” I murmur.
One day. After I’ve overcome that “day.”
It’s still impossible now. But after I manage to overcome the disaster… after I save everyone in that peaceful village…
“…That’s fine too. One day… One day, when I’m able to leave that mansion and show the real ‘me’… it won’t be bad to work at the ranch.”
That’s right.
When that time comes, I don’t have to act as Lian anymore. I can finally return to being “me.”
And then—
“Ah, yes. I wonder if I should change my name too. Let’s replace the name ‘Lian Owen’ entirely! That would be great,” I say, already trying to come up with a new name. “Oh! Since I’m going to move to Cheddar-san’s house, I should change my surname to Cheddar.”
“Lian…” says Alfred, gazing at me with a frown. He looks like he wants to say something.
All of a sudden, I realize how weird my words are.
Before Alfred can verbalize his question, I flash him my usual fake smile to pass off my words as a joke.
“I will carefully think of a suitable new name for myself. You can also help me brainstorm. If it’s good enough, I’ll use it. Ah, and I want it to sound cool and strong. To give the impression of being dominant over everyone else. What should we go with? I want a name like ‘Gorgond’—”
“Your surname should be ‘Fram.’ Not ‘Cheddar.'”
“Fra…”
What’s this guy saying?
That would mean we—
“…Stupid.”
“Why are you calling me stupid? I’m being serious here.”
So you’re being serious?
“That’s even worse! I’ve always found you stupid, but I never thought that you were this stupid—”
Alfred plants a peck on my lips.
Then he deepens the kiss, rendering me unable to say anything more.
And still holding me up, he starts walking.
Before I notice, I’m already lying on the bed.
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