The Villainess in the Romance Fantasy Is Strange - Chapter 68



68. Nineteen, the time to become an adult (4)

“… … That, that’s what happened. Cain.”

What makes it happen like that?

I narrowed my eyes and looked down at Leah, who was startled and fidgeted with her fingers interlocked, then slowly avoided eye contact while watching me.

The girl who usually made eye contact with me easily became so passive that she couldn’t even make eye contact with me. It seems like she knows very well that making plans on her own was a mistake.

‘… … Right, mine.’

What kind of conversation did Iris and Leah have that led them to conclude, ‘We have to go on a trip together this weekend,’ and then unilaterally inform me of it? Regardless of the outcome, I was extremely curious about the detailed story.

But, even if you ask, he won’t give you an honest answer. If he had wanted to, he would have told you a long time ago.

“… … .”

Since I had some time before the special duel finals, I called Leah to a quiet place to give her the roses I bought earlier as a surprise gift. What the heck, I ended up getting the surprise gift.

I wonder if this can really be called a gift… … Let’s put that aside for now. That’s not what’s important right now.

“Lady Leah.”

“… … Yeah.”

Since she kept avoiding my gaze, I called her name softly, telling her to look this way. Leah, who felt something prickling, just nodded while wiggling her fingers.

I had a lot of questions since I was only informed of the results without any explanation, but I let out a small sigh and tried to talk first.

“Did you know there was a family event this weekend?”

“Uh… … . Was there a family event or something?”

“There was. There was a lunch schedule with the Elebeth family.”

He had been emphasizing this for the past two weeks, saying that the host was his father, the Earl of Macmillan, the head of the Elebeth family, and that he had to make sure not to forget the relatives from his collateral line. Could it be that you had forgotten that in the meantime?

When I asked with my eyes, Leah’s face gradually turned pale as if she had only just remembered.

“Is this weekend the day you said a lot of relatives would be visiting?”

“yes.”

“Huh, what should I do? I’m going to travel a bit far that day. I told Iris that I’d go somewhere with nice scenery and show her the surrounding scenery with my video transmission magic tool… … ?”

Is this what they mean by making a fuss about something like this?

“Well, I guess there’s nothing we can do about it. The best way would be to go see Iris right now, ask for her understanding, and pretend this never happened.”

“Oh, no!”

“……yes?”

That’s surprising. Why are you screaming?

As I opened my eyes wide and looked at her, inwardly surprised, Leah, the person who had shouted, looked even more surprised than me and added in embarrassment.

“That, that won’t do. Pretending it never happened… … . That won’t do.”

“No, why not?”

“Uh, that’s… … .”

Leah, who had been wiggling her fingers, glanced at me with a strange look.

“… … Ah, Iris is really looking forward to it.”

“Expectations? What expectations?”

“That’s right, she said that since she was little, her dream was to leave the system and travel to other regions. That makes sense, Iris is part of the royal family, so she probably hasn’t been able to see the outside world as much as we have.”

“Well. Well, that’s true… … .”

“… … So. When I told you that I was going on a trip with you, you were really, really jealous. You seemed so pitiful that I couldn’t take you there myself, but I promised to show you the sights. I promised to bring my video transmission device and show you the surroundings whenever I had time.”

“hmm….”

“If I break that promise now, Iris will be so disappointed. The friendship and good image we have built up could be ruined, and more than anything, I could lose my chance to get in line with the royal family because of this small promise I broke. I don’t think we should cancel this trip.”

Leah looked at me as she muttered rapidly, as if she was making a prepared excuse, without giving me a chance to respond.

It’s a look that says, ‘If there are any flaws in my logic, feel free to refute me.’

“… … .”

Well, now that I hear it, it’s not like there are no loopholes at all. It’s not like it’s wrong either, but what on earth is this uneasy feeling?

I think that you didn’t come to a conclusion through logical thinking, but rather that you already came to a conclusion and created the logic to reach that conclusion and told me about it… Am I getting ahead of myself?

‘… … That’s right.’

Yeah, why is Leah doing that to me?

There’s no reason for her to cheat on me, so it’s actually a delusion to suspect her of something like that.

Having come to that conclusion, I reached out and placed my hand on Leah’s head.

“… … Ugh.”

She flinched for a moment and shut her eyes tightly, as if she thought I was going to grab her by the scruff of the neck. When I gently stroked her bangs, she opened her eyelids belatedly and looked at me.

“Yes, I understand what you mean, Leah.”

“You understand… … ?”

From noble mtl dot com

“Since you insist so strongly, you should go on a trip. Of course, before that.”

I was going to say, ‘I’d like to apologize for not being able to attend lunch and to ask for the Count Macmillan’s understanding first.’

“Oh, really? Thank you, Cain… …!”

As if she had been waiting for me, Leah smiled brightly and came closer to me, hugging me tightly.

“… … Hmm.”

Because of that, I was lost and was wondering what to do with my floating hands.

He smiled bitterly, hugged me, and patted me on the back.

“There’s no need to be so happy since you haven’t received permission yet… … .”

“Ugh… … It’s okay. If you really feel like it’s not going to work out, you can just sneak out the day before and that’ll be it.”

“If I do that, the Count or my mother won’t leave me alone.”

If we exaggerate a little, you might think, ‘This is the shameless son-in-law’s misdeed of kidnapping his bride before the wedding ceremony and running away because she didn’t allow him to go on a trip.’ It wouldn’t be strange if they came after us right away and punished us with an iron fist.

“Then why don’t you write a letter and leave it in my room?”

“What are you trying to write?”

“Well, I’m going on a trip with the person I love. Please don’t come to see me for a while… … or something like that?”

“… … .”

Far from being resolved, it seems like both families will be turned upside down… … But I guess there’s no problem in terms of justification. After all, they say that love is a powerful anesthetic that paralyzes a person’s reason.

“Lady Leah.”

“Yeah, why?”

After holding her for so long, I suddenly felt playful. I gently stroked Leah’s back and asked,

“This time, let’s go on a trip just by ourselves.”

“Yeah, what if you go on a trip?”

“Are you planning on showing off your pretty underwear like you did at the hunting festival two years ago?”

“……huh?”

As the sound of a fool leaked out, Leah’s movements in my arms suddenly stopped.

Leah, who was staring at my face with blank eyes as if her thoughts had stopped for a moment, slowly reddened her cheeks as she realized the meaning of my words…

Then, all of a sudden, he suddenly got angry and pushed my shoulder.

“Wh, what are you talking about? That’s… … ?! Why, why am I, why am I showing you my underwear… … ?!”

“Oh, I can’t see you this time?”

It was half a joke, but it’s a bit disappointing that the other side is serious and denying it.

As I replied with a tone that seemed to contain some regret without me knowing, Leah seemed to be quietly observing my expression. She swallowed hard and asked me subtly.

“You, you miss me so much… …?”

“yes.”

“… … No matter what happens, definitely?”

I didn’t think it was necessary to give the same answer twice, so I just nodded.

“Okay, okay. Then, I’ll get ready… … . Ka, Cain, get ready too.”

“What do you mean, ready?”

“Well, I mean, nice underwear. It would be unfair if I were the only one wearing pretty things… … If we’re going to do it, shouldn’t we do it together?”

I think that men’s underwear is ultimately the same, but since you insist on it, what can I do?

When I nodded to show that I understood, Leah seemed to be trying to hide her flushed cheeks. She hugged me closer and buried her face in my chest.

“Oh, right. Lady Leah.”

“… … Yeah, why?”

“I have something to drill.”

After patting Leah on the back to make her fall off for a moment, he took out the gift that he had put in the inside pocket of his coat.

The gift was a rose that I had just bought at a flower shop. It was a pretty paper-covered rose that had a handle made from the stem.

It even has a pink ribbon at the end that resembles Leah’s hair color, making it look like a pretty rose.

“Huh? It’s a, a flower… …?”

“Yes, this is a gift from me.”

“Oh, yeah. Thank you… … .”

Leah opened her eyes wide as if she had never expected it and accepted the rose in a daze.

“Wow… It’s pretty. Where did you get these flowers?”

“I bought it at a nearby flower shop. I’m sorry I couldn’t give you something better.”

“Uh, no. It’s really pretty, I really like it. Thank you so much.”

Leah, who had been muttering in an excited voice as if she was in a good mood, suddenly became gloomy.

“Oh, but… I didn’t prepare a gift. I’m sorry, Cain. I just received it… … .”

“No, it’s okay. We didn’t even talk about exchanging gifts in advance.”

“Still, I’m so sorry… … .”

It’s strange to expect something in return when giving a surprise gift. I shook my head, meaning that I really didn’t have to care. Leah felt bad about just receiving what she said, biting her lower lip as she pondered over something.

“… … This, for now.”

Suddenly, he raised his head, licked his lips with his tongue, and came closer.

side-.

He lifted his chin up, brought his eyes to mine, kissed me on the lips, and then quickly pulled away.

“This is… … a temporary gift. I will prepare the real gift separately and give it to you later.”

I thought it was too much for a temporary gift, but I didn’t dare say it out loud.

If a kiss is a temporary gift, the real gift is something greater than that.

“… … Did you just have a strange imagination?”

But as if she had noticed my true feelings after looking into my eyes, Leah pouts and pokes my stomach.

I shook my head and pretended it wasn’t true.

“No, I didn’t.”

“No way… … ? It was written all over your face.”

“… … .”

You’re really quick-witted.

At that moment, when I had nothing to say and was just pretending not to talk, I heard someone else’s voice outside the door.

─Are you there, Cain Reinhardt?

The voice I heard a few times earlier is the special sparring staff member. He must have come to announce that the final stage is ready.

“I think it’s time to go, Leah.”

“Uh… Okay. Do I have to win?”

“Yes, I understand. I will definitely win and dedicate the glory of victory to you, Lady Leah.”

I was about to give a conventional answer and get ready to leave when Leah suddenly grabbed my sleeve.

“Ah, Cain.”

“yes?”

“What if, Cain wins in the final duel? Then.”

Leah glanced at my face, then blushed brightly and muttered.

“… … This time, let’s go on a trip together. I’ll do anything Cain asks me to do.”

“… … .”

This is it.

No matter what happens, I have to win no matter what.