The Grand Festival (2)
The Astrea Family was currently ford through the union of the Sword Saint Gerald and the genius wizard Historia.
However, their story did not start with a beautiful tale of pure love. Rather, it was a story of a grotesque, struggle of lust, desire, and war to determine which woman would claim Gerald as her own.
Gerald Astrea, the head of the Astrea Family, was once a notorious womanizer. A man of status and fa who always had a woman by his side, a true casanova.
Historia was one of the won who loved Gerald, and she sohow managed to capture his heart and drive the other won away.
Yet, it did not change Geralds past or his lascivious nature, which coveted every beautiful woman he laid his eyes upon.
rlin Astrea despised her father for it.
Considering his status, it wouldnt have been unusual for him to have several concubines, but rlin could never forgive him for being physically involved with other won while still married to her mother.
Moreover, Historia only seed to have resigned herself to the situation and told her husband to exercise self-restraint. To rlin, it was frustrating that her mother simply gave up and let things slide solely because she was the legitimate wife.
Therefore, rlin longed for a love that was pure and beautiful, like a flower, not one that was mired in lust like mud.
However, as she focused solely on her swordsmanship, graduated from the academy, and joined the Imperial Knights, hearing lustful conversations of n made her idealistic hopes for pure love seem more like a distant dream.
Is it that hard to find true love?
Having never had romantic feelings for anyone even after becoming a knight, the concept of pure love beca sothing rlin could only yearn for.
That was why Isaac and Luces relationship at the academy, full of youthful innocence, seed so beautiful to rlin.
She believed they embodied the pure love she had dread had only ever dread of.
Moreover, rlin was secretly happy that such a person was Whites ntor.
However.
Why would you show such a sight, Sir Isaac
After seeing Isaac and Dorothy spend ti together like young lovers during the Grand Festival preparations, rlin wished to deny reality.
In the end, was Isaac no different from her despicable father, Gerald Astrea, a man who hid his lascivious nature behind a kind facade?
No, that was a rude thought. There could be misunderstandings rlin hadnt been made aware of. Yet, she couldnt help but be wary.
Isaac was a good-looking man with a gentle personality. It wasnt surprising that Snow White, who was a teenager and didnt care about social status, might have a crush on him.
That was why rlin was secretly wary of Isaac.
Even though their relationship was limited to teaching the basics of scythe combat and swordsmanship, she had grown fond of him during the ti they spent together.
Whether or not Isaac was attracted to won was a separate issue.
* * *
rlins chilly deanor was understandable.
No matter how close White and I were, the extre difference in our social statuses couldnt be ignored, and the act of leading her by the wrist was problematic in and of itself.
Even if I was an escort knight, I would have been cautious of soone like .
I did it only because I trusted White, but if it had been any other Princesses, by now we would be deeply discussing whether or not to cut off my wrist. The situation could have escalated uncontrollably.
And
She saw it.
rlin thought that Luce and I were in an intimate kind of relationship.
After accidentally seeing with Dorothy during the Grand Festival preparations, she seed confused. I could tell by reading her psychology.
She thought I was possibly a womanizer and was wary of my physical contact with White.
I wasnt too affected. It was nothing new.
I felt boundless affection for my favorite characters.
What rlin thought of my actions of showering them with affection hardly mattered.
Im sorry, White.
White let out a muffled Ah, when I let go of her hand.
However, rlin continued to glare at . She was so wary.
White was flustered by the unexpected tense atmosphere. She forced a smile and waved her hands quickly enough to leave an afterimage.
N-no! Dont be sorry! I was so happy that Isaac brought here! Also, um, rlin?
rlin had no intention of making White uncomfortable. She reluctantly bowed her head once and stood next to White.
Without another word, we all walked out of the stadium.
White seed flustered by the subdued atmosphere.
Even after lunch, rlin Astrea kept a close watch on .
Whenever I tried to make even the slightest bit of physical contact with White, she would intervene and stop .
Not knowing what sweet words might pop out, I also paid attention to my words and actions.
This is getting uncomfortable.
At least now her wariness had died down. Perhaps it was because passersby were admiring Whites beauty, and she was internally growling at them as a bunch of horny people.
Today, Whites beauty was even more radiant than usual as she was fully dressed up as the face of the first year of the Magic Departnt.
Princess White, your dress
Ack?!
Suddenly, the sound of fabric tearing resounded from behind White.
It seed that even with her slender body, the tautly pulled fabric couldnt take it anymore.
Ahhh!
White scrambled to her feet, trying to look at her back.
rlin took out a thin coat from her magic pouch and draped it over Whites shoulders.
Ah, thank you, rlin! Senior Isaac, do you mind if we go to the dressing room?!
Lets go.
We made our way to Orphin Hall.
As soon as we entered, we noticed the graduate student, Marco, hunched over and trudging along. The dark circles under his eyes suggested he had been up for several nights.
I wondered why he was so busy even though it was ti for the Grand Festival. It was regrettable, but it was unavoidable since he was a graduate student. We passed by him.
White, rlin, and I went up to the first-year floor and entered the dressing room, a space prepared for use during the Grand Festival.
The spare clothes. are here. rlin, could you help get dressed?
Sure.
White took a set of clothes hanging on the rack and went behind the blackout curtains with rlin.
White stuck her head out and looked at .
These clothes are difficult to put on by myself Senior Isaac, Im sorry, but could you wait a bit?
I nodded and leaned against the wall. While I waited, I decided to concentrate on circulating mana in my magic tool.
Sounds of fabric brushing against skin ca from behind the curtain. White groaning ugh, indicated that the pretty clothes were difficult to take off. It seed even rlin was struggling to help her change.
It was going to take so ti.
By the way, Senior Isaac. Uhm
Just then, White spoke from beyond the curtain.
Like it was the right mont to bring up a conversation that would be difficult to have face-to-face. It was clear what she was about to discuss.
Its due tomorrow.
Ah, ehehe! R-right? Its tomorrow? Of course, I rembered!
I beat her to it. White had been concerned about it all along, her excited voice ca through.
The due date of the debt overlapped with the Grand Festival. White had only earned enough gel to get by and had not yet paid off her debt. It was also unlikely shed be able to fully repay it by tomorrow.
Even if she did well during the Grand Festival and won a prize, the due date of her debt would co first before the end of the festival. And she knew what would happen if she failed to repay the debt.
To White, I was a resolute person. While usually kind and gentle, I could also seem cold-blooded, capable of cutting ties easily, even though I didnt see myself that way at all.
What are you going to do?
I-I can pay it back! Ill definitely pay it back tomorrow!
How?
I already knew she was thinking of taking a loan from the Academy Bank.
White was still a low-ranked student. In other words, she could only choose a high-interest loan at the unreasonable Academy Bank. She wouldnt be able to manage the skyrocketing interest.
Excessive debt was a shortcut to expulsion, especially for a low-ranked student like White. Debt adjustnt? Holding on? Such things would not even be considered.
Even though there was a possibility that she would be given special treatnt for being a Princess, it was doubtful that White, who hated being indebted, would readily accept it.
I was about to suggest that she sell so of her valuable training tools, but I stopped. Doing so would blur Whites resolution to beco stronger, even if it ant becoming a debtor.
Anyway! I just wanted to say dont worry, I can pay it back. I have a way!
She was basically saying Dont prepare your heart to leave my side.
Since she was absolutely terrified to see soone abandon her.
She was so pure. I sohow felt guilty.
I only ntioned the due date because I wanted White to do her best. Of course, Id be by her side, and I had to anyway, considering what was to co.
Dont borrow gel from sowhere else. You wont be able to handle it.
Oh! T-that cant be! Youre talking nonsense, I wasnt thinking about digging myself into debt?! How could a low-ranked student like get a high-interest loan from the Academy Bank?!
I didnt even ntion the loan, you fool.
Now that the due date was near, it might be okay to talk honestly. I had no intention of leaving, and I didnt care whether she paid it off or not.
Would physical labor be okay? By now, White should have at least reached the minimum threshold for what I wanted her to do.
I might end up making her do tough tasks like anaerobic exercises, but she would understand later that it was for the future.
There was no better pretext than paying off the debt. There was also a good purpose for both of us to beco stronger together. It was truly a win-win situation.
After a brief pause, I brought up the conversation.
You dont have to pay it back with gel. There are many ways to take responsibility. If not gel, theres physical
Swing!
The curtains flung open, and the escort knight with a green ponytail, rlin, popped out.
Why did she co out?
I was flustered. Whites surprised voice ca from inside the curtain, rlin?! But rlin ignored her and quickly walked towards .
A chill ran down my spine at her eerie gaze.
What the hell? Shes terrifying.
rlin, where are you going?! M-my clothes!
Excuse for a mont. Gran, stay with Princess White. Report to imdiately if anything happens.
rlin grabbed my wrist and dragged to a corner of the dressing room. Her brown falcon familiar, Gran, was summoned into the air and flew beside White, closing the curtains with its beak.
Thud.
rlin then pushed into a corner and forcefully placed her hand next to my head against the wall.
Huuu.
rlin exhaled deeply, her head hanging low. She seed to be having a hard ti, drumming her fingers.
Should I pretend to be perplexed?
rlin? Whats going on all of a sudden?
Sir Isaac, I also feel very burdened by the debt Princess White owes you. This must also be a social experience that Princess White must overco.
rlin clicked her tongue with a sorrowful expression.
But indeed, you are just the sa as other males. My suspicions werent wrong. I had developed so affection for you, given you were teaching Princess White well and even taught her basic weapon skills
What are you talking about?
Dont feign ignorance!
rlin suddenly lifted her head and was about to shout, but she lowered her voice quickly.
Suggesting to pay off her debt with sothing physical, thats clearly sothing indecent?!
She cut off my words to suit her own interpretation.
Even you cannot tolerate using Princess Whites kindness and sense of responsibility to satisfy your own selfish desires.
rlin? White was still behind the curtain, looking desperately for her escort knight and calling out
After seeing with Dorothy during the festival preparations, rlins perception of drastically changed. The pure-hearted Isaac in her mind transford into a lascivious Isaac. The gap between these two perceptions couldnt be wider.
Because of this, rlin had even considered the possibility that I might make an indecent proposition if White failed to pay off her debt, and upon hearing my words, she imdiately assud her suspicions were correct and confronted . It was a ridiculous misunderstanding.
I might be a harem lover, but I was certainly not a beast who had been preying on Whites innocence.
And now, it seed rlin hastily jumped to a conclusion and pushed her misunderstanding onto , which didnt sit well with at all.
I narrowed my eyes and spoke with a sharp tone.
I dont know what youre talking about. So, are you going to pay back tomorrow?
Thats
White was determined to take responsibility for her own actions. If rlin were to pay it all off, it would be an insult to Whites hard work and commitnt.
rlin knew that better than anyone. Actually, it was doubtful that rlin could pay it back in the first place.
rlin, whats going on there? I cant wear this dress by myself!
rlin did not respond despite Whites pleading voice, she just locked eyes with .
I observed her reaction, curious how she would respond given her haste to condemn based on her misunderstandings. I intended to clear up the misunderstanding, but I was intrigued.
rlin avoided my gaze and continued with an exasperated look on her face.
Would it be possible to extend the due date or forgive the debt?
Hmm, it seed that she was willing to negotiate in a way that wouldnt undermine Whites resolve.
Oh well.
Why should I?
Im an outsider, so I cant use gel, but I can, just a little let you touch .
rlin knew how attractive she was during her years at the Academy and the Knight Order. I hadnt expected her to go this far, though.
Is she suggesting that she will tolerate touching her body? She must think that all n would be tempted by such an offer.
rlin hung her head again, trying to hide her flushed face.
To go to such lengths.
Haa.
I let out a heavy sigh. rlin glanced at with a sharp look in her eyes.
Im not interested in your body, rlin.
What?
Her gaze turned lethal.
Ah, I may have misspoken.
I quickly corrected myself.
I think theres been a misunderstanding. I was going to have White help with mana circulation. Its tough but beneficial for both of us, so I thought of it as a way to settle the debt.
What?
rlin looked flustered.
I never had inappropriate thoughts towards White. Ive been seeing and teaching her every day for a while now, and Ive grown fond of you, rlin I didnt realize you thought of that way.
S-sir Isaac?
Im a little disappointed.
I deliberately looked down, looking sorrowful, which made rlin break out in a cold sweat. She seed troubled about what to say next, clearly overwheld.
I continued, seizing the montum.
And why would you say sothing like that? Do you think your body wouldnt be defiled?
N-no, thats not
Dont ever bring up anything like that in front of again. Even if your role is to protect White with your life, that doesnt diminish your worth.
I lectured her like a teacher instructing a child. Perhaps Id beco accustod to this manner of speaking from teaching White.
rlin, her face filled with shock and confusion, trembled violently.
I gently lowered the arm she had propped against the wall. It swung limply in the air.
Unexpectedly, it seems I have incurred a moral debt.
rlin was now feeling obliged to apologize and make ands. This might be a good ti to lighten the mood.
Okay, rlin?
Yesss.
Her response was lifeless.
That should be enough. I imdiately softened my expression to a gentle smile.
Alright. Lets forget this ever happened. White seems to be in a bind, you should go check on her.
rlin?
Im sorry, Sir Isaac. I dont know if this is alright, but Ill give you the opportunity to slit my throat soday
I didnt see the need for such an opportunity.
I smiled awkwardly and reassured her that it was fine and there was no need for such harsh reflection. rlin let out a sad sigh.
rlin turned and went behind the curtain. Then, an apologetic voice ca from inside the curtain,
Princess White, I have committed a grave offense
rlin? Whats wrong?!
There was a lot of back and forth behind the curtain. rlin glossed over our recent conversation and quickly concluded her reflection.
***
Let us now comnce the highlight of the Jeblem! Let the Arc Ball Race begin!!
The voice of the announcer echoed through Mrchen Academy.
The Arc Ball Race began.
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