Excited about the food that was coming, I paused to recall what Rene had just said, my shoulders tensing up as I shuddered.
Wait... what did he just say? He thought I had changed, but there are still parts of that haven't?
He just casually dropped a line that could co straight from a childhood friend romance without a second thought!
Rene... don’t you have more of a talent for being a host than being a prince?
If this world were a gender-reversed one, he'd probably be called the nation's beauty!? Is this what they an by a man with a magnetic allure?!
Ugh. If I were watching this from behind a screen, I could enjoy it with pure thoughts, but being the one on the receiving end of that line gives chills down my spine!
...Forget the food. Maybe I should just run away. My instincts are telling I’m about to scream at any mont.
But no. I’ll hold on for just a little longer. If I think about it, that line is actually what I was hoping for.
I’m just going to think of it as trying to please my superior. If I imagine a forty-year-old manager saying sothing like that, I think I can make it through.
“Ugh.”
Imagining that made it even worse. My stomach turned, and I felt sick.
“If you’re going to openly gag like that, I’m hurt too.”
“...Don’t mind . I ant to hurt you with it.”
“You’re still just as picky as before.”
Thinking back to the conversation we had at the Patran Festival and the things he was saying now, it was clear that Lucy had once been quite close to Rene.
I still don’t understand how Lucy, who caused chaos even beyond Benedict's prestige, could beco close with this dark, sly man.
Did Rene have so kind of special taste?
There wasn’t much detail about it in the ga. However, in the no-kill route, he showed so kindness to the protagonist who helped him get back on track.
But I hope he’s not a masochist, right? I already have enough trash in my life begging to be stepped on. Adding another one to the pile doesn’t make sense!
“Are you still holding on to what happened back then?”
Back then? What happened? Did Lucy finally lose it and punch him after all the insults?
“I don’t plan on apologizing. I don’t think I did anything wrong back then.”
Well, that makes sense. Hitting a kid who insults people with every word is justifiable retaliation.
“And above all, it wouldn’t make sense for to apologize now. Our positions are completely reversed now.”
...Wait? Reversed? It sounds sincere, but I don’t understand because I lack the information.
“What’s with that expression? Did you really forget about it?”
I haven’t forgotten. I just don’t know.
“Hah!”
Rene abruptly stood up from his chair, glaring at with his lips tightly pressed together before muttering a curse under his breath.
“I’ll take care of the paynt. Enjoy the al comfortably.”
After Rene left in a hurry, I was left alone in the room, bewildered. I thought about the scene that just occurred.
Rene’s eyes, which seed genuinely hurt. What had happened between them to make him look like that?
To answer this question, I’d have to delve into Lucy’s mories, but it would take so ti for my body to recover completely.
Until then, I didn’t want to remain in this frustrating uncertainty, so I got up and headed toward the corner of the room.
Let’s see. If I think about the height difference between Joy and , this should be around here.
“Ahhh!”
When I pressed what I assud to be a button near my cheek, a feminine scream rang out, and the darkness disappeared.
With the disturbance in the caster’s calm, the magic faded away.
“Lu... Lucy?”
“Hello, you fool. Was playing detective fun?”
“Wha... how?”
“Well, maybe it’s because you’re a fool?”
Your aesthetic sense kept pointing out how weird the place we were in was, and you even showed your vulnerability, pleading with not to notice your weak spot. I knew you’d be following from the start.
“Joy, didn’t you say I wouldn’t notice?”
“Well, the First Prince didn’t notice! This isn’t my fault! It’s Lucy’s fault for being so amazing!”
“Are you really saying he didn’t notice? Maybe he was pretending not to?”
“If the First Prince knew, he would have dropped hints! That’s just the kind of person he is!”
“You two fools. Sit down. Soone’s going to pay for everything, and a bunch of food’s about to co.”
Joy, who had been sitting beside Lucy, couldn’t do anything about her flushed face. It was embarrassing enough to secretly follow her friend, but to have been caught from the start?
Ugh. I feel like dying. What does Lucy think of ?
“Fool.”
“Yes!?”
Hearing Lucy’s voice, Joy quickly lifted her head, bit her tongue, and squird with self-loathing.
I want to disappear right now. Anywhere, just not here.
If I could et Lucy after calming down, I could probably explain myself more calmly, but right now, it’s impossible!
“Wham!?”
The sharp pain on my forehead snapped back to reality, and I stared blankly at Lucy, who was laughing.
Calm down. Calm down. Not saying anything would be rude. I’ve already ssed up enough, I can’t ss up more now!
I need to switch to my noblewoman mode and apologize, explaining why I acted this way!
“I’m sorry, Lucy. I heard you were eting the First Prince today, and I beca so worried I followed you.”
Expression. Tone. Body language. Perfect! This is the ideal noblewoman appearance! If I can maintain this imitation, maybe I can get through this worst-case scenario...
“It’s fine. It’s not like it’s the first ti you’ve done sothing foolish, right? Actually, I’m glad you’re foolish. It’s really fun to watch how dumb you look.”
“R... Really?”
“More than that, fool. What do you think this is?”
Lucy laid out various tools on the desk—so of the things she had picked up while with the First Prince.
Birthstones symbolizing the month Joy was born in. Several artifacts that Joy had always wanted. And on top of that, a number of items that would clearly be useful to her.
“Wait, the reason you were going around all those shops...”
“There was a fool who couldn’t refuse anything I asked. I made good use of him.”
Calling the First Prince a fool. That’s sothing Lucy could only get away with.
Joy, who had been smiling wryly, t Lucy’s confident face and found herself patting Lucy’s head without realizing it.
“...Ah! I’m sorry! I... that’s...”
“Hmmm. You touched without asking for permission. So, you’re a mature kid after all?”
“Why is being mature brought up here?!”
“Well, never mind. I’m nice, so I’ll forgive you this ti. But next ti, there’s going to be a more expensive price to pay.”
“Yes. Yes, of course.”
Is it okay for now? Hesitating, Joy kept fiddling with Lucy’s hair, marveling at how soft it was.
Lucy’s hair is really soft. How does she manage it so it feels even silkier than silk? I’ll have to ask one of the maids when I get the chance.
“How long are you planning on doing that?”
Lost in the softness of Lucy’s hair, Joy only snapped back to reality when she heard Arthur’s voice.
“Lucy Alrn. I’m grateful for the gift, but I need to ask you sothing first. What happened between you and my brother in the past?”
Arthur! Why ask so directly?
Didn’t you see the mood earlier? This is a sensitive topic! You need to ask more carefully!
This is why n just don’t understand won!
“I don’t know. How would I know?”
See! She’s avoiding the question!
“Is this sothing you can’t talk about?”
“I don’t know what delusions you’re having, but I really don’t know. How can I rember anything from that creepy ti?”
“You really don’t know?”
“No. So, what’s up with that gloomy prince? Was he that angry about being tricked? What a narrow-minded person.”
Huh. She really doesn’t know!?
Why?! The intense emotions the First Prince showed earlier clearly indicate there was sothing significant between them! But why doesn’t Lucy know?
“Lucy. You really don’t know anything?”
“What? Don’t you believe ? How rude, you fool.”
“Ah! Ahhh!”
Even as Joy was being pinched on the cheek by Lucy, she kept thinking about the intense emotions the First Prince showed earlier.
I still don’t want anyone else to take my precious friend Lucy!
But at the sa ti, this is so unfair to the First Prince!
“Shut up! Shut up!”
“Didn’t you have sothing to say first?”
“Excuse , Lucy.”
“Pffft. Fine. I’ll forgive you this ti, noblewoman without any pride.”
Joy, still feeling physically embarrassed, took a deep breath and faced Lucy again.
“Anyway, sothing definitely happened between you and the First Prince in the past! Lucy just forgot about it!”
“So, am I wrong?”
“Don’t touch ! Anyway! If you forgot, just rember! I’ll tell you about the ti when the First Prince and Lucy t! Please, think about it!”
I know it’s better if Lucy doesn’t rember the past with the First Prince!
But this outco isn’t good for either of them! Tragic endings are the worst!
“Ha ha ha!”
As Joy was speaking passionately, suddenly Lucy burst into laughter, blinking in confusion.
What? Why is she laughing?
“Oh, it’s just fun that you’re a fool.”
“What does that an?”
“Want to know? You might get hurt, you know?”
"...Yes. Yes, please."
“Well, what do I do? I really don’t feel like answering.”
Seeing Joy’s blank expression, Lucy laughed again for a while before resting her chin on her hand and giving a seductive smile.
“Keep rambling. It’ll keep you entertained while we eat.”
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