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Translator: Nonon
Proofreader: Silavin
POV: Gray
During a break in the first-year division matches, I was with Lady Apricot at a place in the arena where drinks were sold.
At first, Lord Burnt wanted to buy things in my stead, but Lord Clo asked me specifically to buy the drinks. I didn’t realize it at that time, but it seems that he might have seen through my desire to explore the arena.
“Tappynaoca… what kind of egg is this?…”
“My disciple, it seems to be a processed starch extracted from cassava.”
“Cassava… From my knowledge, it should be poisonous. Did Lady Emerald invent this?”
“No, that part should be fine. Oh, clerk, can I trouble you to get me one of those drinks? The smallest one will do.”
As I was curious, Lady Apricot bought that drink. It was different from what I had ordered, so I thought Lady Apricot would be drinking it, but…
“Here you go, my disciple. Give it a try if you are curious. This is a rare opportunity, so you will regret it if you let this chance go.”
“Eh, ah, thank you very much.”
She accepted the drink from the clerk and handed it over to me.
She’s as considerate and kind as ever, showing me different values than Lord Clo and Lady Violet.
“Oh, but, just let this be a secret from Mr. Clo and Ms. Violet. If I buy something different from what we planned and you drink too much, my day will turn into Dysuria (lecture).”
“Yes, I will absolutely not say a word!”
“Hmph, good answer.”
I nodded in response and moved a little away from the selling area to not be a nuisance.
Looking at the strangely thick straw and gazing at the black mass that had sunk down, wondering in half-fear if it really was a drink, I noticed that Lady Apricot was looking at me with a smile, so I cleared my throat and tried to drink again, when…
“Hello.”
That woman spoke to us.
The one who called out to us was a woman with characteristic blonde hair and red eyes, who possessed a different type of beauty from Lady Violet. She had the kind of appearance that could be described as bewitching.
“Lady… Mary Sue?”
“So you remembered me when we met the day before yesterday. You were kidnapped by Ms. Cyan, so I couldn’t greet you properly.”
Yes, Lady… Mary Sue.
She was the cause of Lady Violet’s downfall at this school.
Of course, I know that Lady Violet wasn’t innocent either. It’s a fact that she was harsh towards Lady Mary, she couldn’t see her surroundings and didn’t hear out Prince Vermillion, her former fiancé. However, although it might be selfish, I can’t get myself to like Lady Mary, just like His Highness, and I feel wary of her.
“I was unable to greet you before. Good day, once again. I am Gray and I serve Lord Clo Heartfield. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
I bowed while holding the drink containing tapinaoca (tapioca). Since it was brought for me, I wanted to drink it quickly, but it wouldn’t taste good if I drank it now.
Lady Apricot greeted her after me and Lady Mary also greeted her back. Lady Mary’s manners had a different kind of elegance to them than Lady Violet.
“In addition, congratulations on the victory earlier. From what I have observed, becoming a champion shouldn’t be a problem for you either.”
“Fufu, thank you very much, but as they say, success also depends on the timing, so all I have to do is make sure that luck doesn’t forsake me.”
“That is a wonderful attitude. It is very admirable… I’m sorry, but did you have any business with us?”
After a bit of polite conversation, I felt like I had to avoid continuing the conversation for too long, so I tried to quickly get to the point.
“You’re Mr. Clo’s Son, right?”
“… Yes, albeit I’m adopted.”
Then, Lady Mary smiled alluringly, and approached me so naturally and quietly that I didn’t even notice her for a second. Her red eyes, which became more visible as she got closer, gave me a strange feeling that they were peering into my very being.
“How does your Father look in your eyes?”
“What do you mean?”
“For example, do you admire him? Do you respect him? Does he know strange things?”
“… I respect him and think that he’s an admirable person. As for knowing strange things, I myself am not very knowledgeable and a lot of things seem strange to me, so I wouldn’t know.”
“I see. Then how’s the relationship between him and his Wife?”
“I think they get along well. Although it does feel like they have yet to take the next step.”
A mysterious voice and breathing.
As she brought her face closer and I felt her breath on my skin, I was overcome with a strange sensation and for some reason, I answered her questions honestly. It was as if only Lady Mary and I were in this space—
“Lady Mary, do not bully my disciple too much.”
And, before my senses could become any stranger, Lady Apricot grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me closer, bringing my consciousness back to normal and reminding me that I was in a boisterous arena… what was that just now?
“Fufu, I had no such intentions. I’m sorry, Cottie.”
“No, I’m sorry too. You might just be asking questions, but my apprentice is at a sensitive age. He’ll be nervous if a beautiful woman like you approaches him.”
“Oh, thank you. I’ll be careful.”
Lady Mary bowed slightly and apologized with a smile that could be taken both as embarrassment or composure.
I couldn’t read her true intentions from her expression, but I strangely didn’t care about it and didn’t feel the urge to question her either.
“Are you interested in Mr. Clo? If you’re fine with me, I can answer your Enigma, but he already has his Eve. If you’re interested in him as the member of the opposite sex…”
“Fufu, no. That’s not what I meant. I just thought he was a strange person and got interested in him. I do think that it was a little indecent of me.”
“Strange? You mentioned that earlier too, but what exactly do you mean? Mr. Clo doesn’t eat poison, doesn’t try to kill people he confesses his love to and he doesn’t wear an artifact and soar in the sky like the residents of Shiki, so he’s very normal compared to them.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t really understand what you’re talking about.”
…? Are there no other people like that outside of Shiki? Come to think of it, I haven’t met many people who act like the people of Shiki since coming to the capital. It hasn’t even been a week, but I already miss them.
“You see, by strange I mean…”
“Mary!”
As Lady Mary tried to continue, we heard a male voice from somewhat far away.
We turned towards the voice and saw a slender, refreshing-looking man with white hair and tawny colored eyes, who was slightly taller than Lord Clo. I’m pretty sure he’s the person who acted alongside Lady Mary in the play we saw the day before yesterday. I think his name was…
“Senior Eccles.”
Right, Eccles Forsythe.
He’s from an Earl’s family and one grade above Lady Violet.
“Sorry to interrupt your conversation, but it was time for Mary’s match and she wasn’t in the waiting room, so I was looking for her.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t notice it was time already.”
After Lady Mary apologized to Lord Eccles, she turned towards us and bowed.
“I’m sorry, you guys. It’s my turn so I have to go.”
“No, don’t worry about it, I look forward to seeing your great feats.”
“Yes, with your permission, I will also cheer for you.”
I also thanked Lady Mary, and after expressing my gratitude we exchanged a few words and promised to meet again “if another opportunity came by.” …I would like to be in a better frame of mind the next time we meet.
Also, Lord Eccles seems bored and he has his hand on his neck. I wonder why. Is it a habit, or does his neck hurt?
“Oh, and also.”
Right before leaving, Lady Mary looked at what I was holding,
“That drink is delicious. I like it too.”
Said so and left with a smile … I don’t know why, but for some reason her smile felt a bit unfair. Maybe charming is a better word.
And the drink with tapioca in it had become a little warm.
I decided to drink it before returning and when I did, I found the drink to have a strange sensation to it and a good taste. I must thank Lady Apricot for buying it for me.
However, I am a little disappointed that a strange memory tainted this instance. If possible, I wanted to keep this experience as a memory with just Lady Apricot.
◆
“You guys are late, Gray, Apricot. Was it crowded?”
“No, that was not the case, however…”
“? Did something happen?”
“… If I had to say it in one sentence, I was defiled.”
“”Huh?!””
“My disciple, I’m sure you must be talking about that strange feeling, but you should have chosen different words.”
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