TL/Editor: raei
Status: 5/week mon-fri
Illustrations: none
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Ian quietly listened to Elia's story.
"It's just... with the black wizard's attack and everything... Father and the Duke must be worried, so maybe I should return to our domain..."
It was an understandable concern.
Elia was a young woman who had just entered her twenties.
Even in this world where people married early and grew up fast, twenty was still just twenty.
An age busy worrying about the future.
With nothing set in stone yet, she was thinking hard about what kind of future she should live.
And Ian understood exactly what kind of worry this was.
Because the Ian from his past life had already gone through these sa concerns.
"If I may ask - are you wanting to return ho because of the black wizard? Or because things aren't going as planned?"
"..."
Elia didn't continue.
Ian sensed it.
Though both were factors, the decisive reason must be her sense of failure.
"If it's because of the black wizard, staying at the university would actually be safer. Traveling with diocre guards could be dangerous."
"...Thank you for the advice. But I want to go back to our domain."
"As I thought. It's because of your worries."
What an unnecessarily sharp man.
Since things had co to this, Elia decided to speak her mind freely.
"When the black wizard attacked, I felt so worthless I couldn't stand it."
"Worthless?"
"Yes. While you and Kira were desperately fighting to survive... I was just frozen in fear, unable to do anything."
Ian comforted her in a calm voice.
"That's perfectly natural. It's normal for untrained people to freeze up when attacked."
"Then did Kira receive combat training?"
...That wasn't it.
Kira was naturally brave, and had grown used to combat from traveling with Ian.
"She didn't, and neither did I."
"Ian. If you're going to say everyone has different strengths, I already know that. I was just disappointed in myself for failing to et my own standards." Ｒἁℕȱ𐌱ÊS̈
Her own standards, huh.
Ian thought about it. It seed Elia had set herself an incredibly high bar and was now berating herself for failing to clear it.
She apparently wanted to show herself as capable in various ways.
"I'm not sure what areas you think you're lacking in."
"...Really?"
Elia spoke with a slightly mocking tone.
"I can think of countless things - failing to manage my followers who caused trouble, not noticing the black wizard disguised among them!"
"..."
"Even the dinner I tried to treat you to was diocre! And freezing up when the monsters appeared! Everything! Don't you think I'm completely inadequate?"
Elia glared at Ian as she spoke.
"If I were Kira, would things have turned out the sa?"
Ian shook his head.
"I don't understand why you're comparing yourself to Kira."
"..."
Elia stared at Ian with a truly dissatisfied expression.
Why compare herself to Kira?
Because Kira was so much better than her!
Until now, Elia had thought of Kira as soone roughly equal to her - a kind of rival.
Soone irritating and botherso, but whose abilities she acknowledged.
But...
During this festival, Kira's performance had been in a league Elia could never reach.
Not just her ability to handle black wizards.
But her skill at capturing people's attention and...
...even her techniques for gaining Ian's interest. Everything.
If their positions had been switched, would things have turned out like this?
"Ian. Tell . If I were to ask you out right now, could you say yes?"
"??? What's with this sudden..."
"Just answer!"
Ian was baffled but answered anyway.
"I'd say it's too sudden."
"So that's a rejection?"
"...Yeah?"
"Then what about Kira?"
Ian looked at Elia with a strange expression.
What did this Imperial Princess eat? Why's she suddenly playing matchmaker...
"I'd reject her too."
"WHAT?!"
Ian felt slightly annoyed.
Like, I just said no, why are you so shocked? Did I commit so terrible sin?
This must be why won hate guys who confess mindlessly.
Ian had inadvertently received so mirror therapy...
"But why?! It's Kira! You've been close for so long...! And you'd still say no?!"
"What, do I have to date everyone I'm close with?"
Ian had zero intention of building an other-world harem.
Dating multiple won at once - sure it's called a harem, but isn't that just being trash? (He really didn't know)
In the Holy Empire, it was common for nobles to have multiple wives.
But with inheritance disputes increasing and Church of Heaven's Faith's Faith priests disliking it as a barbaric remnant, polygamy was gradually declining (though illegitimate children were on the rise).
"Why won't you date her! What don't you like about her?!"
"...I'm not sure what conversation we're having anymore. Is whether Kira and I date or not really that important?"
Ian didn't know it, but this was quite shocking news to Elia.
She'd thought Kira had stolen Ian too...
But Kira hadn't won Ian's heart either?!
'Wait...?'
Then who was the woman who had captured Ian's heart?
Just what seductive fem fatale had succeeded in tempting him...
"Ian, do you have a girlfriend? Or perhaps you prefer n..."
Are you taken?
Are you actually gay?
At Elia's questions, Ian got annoyed and answered imdiately.
"I have a girlfriend. I'm dating Countess Talian."
"Countess Talian...?"
Who's that?
Naturally, Elia didn't know the young countess from so remote corner of the Duchy of Araz.
Elia imagined her own version of 'Countess Talian'.
'She must be an incredibly seductive woman...?'
Like, with waterlon-sized breasts~ and eyes dripping with sensuality...!
Lucy, who was eating at ho, would have said 'Huh?' at such delusions.
"But why are you asking about this?"
"Ah."
Elia, who had been shocked by the unexpected answer, finally ca back to her senses.
She'd been trying to say how she fell short of Kira in every way, but surprisingly found one area where they were even, which had confused her.
"I was trying to say that Kira is really... attractive..."
"Are you talking about ?"
"?!"
At the young woman's voice from behind her, Elia jumped in surprise.
There stood Kira with her usual beautiful smile.
"H-how long have you been there?!"
"Since you were praising as attractive."
Kira casually claid the spot next to Elia.
"What were you two doing? A date perhaps?"
Ian answered.
"Counseling session."
Ian gave Kira a brief summary of the situation.
He explained how 'Elia was disappointed in herself, and it was partly because Kira had set the bar too high...' in roundabout terms.
"So we were talking about that when."
Kira smiled softly.
As expected. Ian was such a good person.
Kira had received Ian's help several tis herself, so she already knew this.
'Ian. If you want... Yes. I can help too.'
Ian wanted Elia to avoid getting hurt.
If so, Kira would gladly cooperate.
Even if it ant revealing her own secrets.
"Lady Elia. I'm not as amazing as you think."
"..."
Elia, who had thought it was just empty comfort, was startled by Kira's next words.
"I know you dislike ."
"N-no, that's..."
"I must seem quite detestable at tis? Acting pretty and all."
"No, absolutely not! How could I...!"
"That acting - it's real."
"?!"
Kira smiled a slightly relaxed smile.
Gone was her usual sharp and confident deanor, replaced by a gentle and soft smile.
...For so reason, Elia thought this Kira looked far more beautiful than usual.
"I learned how to make expressions from my father since childhood. I know exactly how my expressions appear to others. My usual expression is, well.
A kind of bluff."
"...A bluff?"
"I'm not actually outgoing. I like being alone with my thoughts... if anything, when I'm with others, I get nervous feeling like I'm being judged every mont."
"!"
Feeling judged every mont.
That was exactly how Elia felt when dealing with her followers.
"I was born a liar. If I hadn't t Ian... I would have kept lying until eventually being sold to so foreign harem. Ah, that's not my thought - it's what a space-ti wizard said."
"Kira..."
The 'Kira Laventa' wizard that you envied and admired... was actually a fake created through acting.
That's what Kira was saying.
Ian was slightly surprised.
He'd expected Kira to help, but hadn't expected her to be this proactive.
After all, Elia and Kira hadn't exactly been on good terms.
'But Kira went that far...'
Ian seized the opportunity to speak to Elia.
"Everyone makes mistakes as they live. Lady Elia. Not properly understanding your followers, failing to deal with the black wizard - they're all just mistakes."
"Ian..."
"The perfect superhuman you imagine doesn't exist. Even Kira here beca the current Kira through countless failures and trial and error. Being fascinated by surface-level illusions is unbecoming of a wizard."
Elia hung her head low.
If she looked at Ian's face right now... she felt like she might cry.
She felt unreasonably upset.
Why hadn't Ian enrolled earlier?
No.
Why hadn't she t Ian earlier?
If Ian had been close to her earlier...
She might not have had to feel today's sadness.
'I really... don't want to lose him.'
She couldn't stay depressed when Ian was comforting her like this.
Elia lifted her head with a much more relaxed expression.
The young man with black hair swaying in the wind was looking at her.
"You're right. Ian...! I am studying magic after all!"
"Yes. Please stay. Elia. As the Imperial Princess that people can trust and rely on."
All kinds of emotions swirled in Elia's chest as she looked at Ian.
But none of them were negative.
#
"That was quite bold of you~"
Before parting at the won's dormitory, Elia had a brief chat with Kira.
Kira had confessed that she normally put on an act.
Depending on how it was used, this could beco a weakness for Kira.
It could beco a weapon for those who disliked her to slander her with.
Kira smiled quietly and said to Elia:
"That's because it was my true feelings."
When Kira extended her hand.
Elia gently pushed it away.
Kira's expression stiffened slightly.
"There are too many eyes here~ There are many who wouldn't want us to be friendly~"
"...What do you an?"
Elia let out a small laugh.
Kira was an excellent wizard but not an excellent leader.
"Commoners trust and follow you, while nobles trust and follow . If we're seen as close friends, wouldn't that weaken their faith in their leaders?"
Elia whispered in Kira's ear:
"Clear your schedule later~ Let's go out secretly, just the two of us~!"
Kira had shown her true self to Elia.
Elia didn't dislike that Kira. If anything, she was starting to like her.
A friend who shared genuine feelings - very different from her followers' blind expectations.
She wanted to get to know Kira better.
...And incidentally, gossip about Ian too.
"See you next ti~!"
After parting with Elia, Kira returned to her room and sat on her bed.
Though she'd cleared up past misunderstandings and had a heartfelt conversation with her...
This actually hadn't been planned.
If she hadn't heard Ian's 'words', she might have been much more cautious about opening up.
'Though I said I didn't hear anything.'
That was a lie.
She had been watching everything since Ian and Elia went up the tower.
[Ian. Tell . If I were to ask you out right now, could you say yes?]
[I'd say it's too sudden.]
[Then what about Kira?]
[I'd reject her too.]
'That's... right...'
It was an obvious answer.
Why would Ian, who was going well with Countess Talian, ss with Kira and abandon his girlfriend?
It was such a sensible, wholeso decision.
'Ian is... really a good man...'
As a woman, she even felt proud of such an answer.
...But.
'What was I expecting? You idiot.'
Kira slowly curled up, covering her face with her palms.
...Though she should be blessing Ian and Lucy's relationship.
She hated and despised herself for being unable to do so.
---
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