Episode 144
Second day of the festival.
Erica introduced her mother, Lilian, to Diphelia and Bantlo.
Despite it being their first meeting, thanks to Lilian’s unique warmth, the three easily continued the conversation.
Their main topic was mostly about Erica, which naturally led to discussions about her fiancé, Vargan.
Erica maintained a cheerful demeanor.
Gone were her usual cold eyes and attitude.
Occasionally, she even took the lead in conversation instead of Lilian, enjoying various sights and experiences of the festival, sharing laughter.
And today was no different.
Inside a stylishly decorated cafe.
Erica popped a cake topped with sweet cream into her mouth.
The moment it hit her tongue, she felt the creamy texture wrapping around her taste buds alongside the fluffy bread.
Currently, Erica was sitting alone with Bantlo.
Lilian and Diphelia had briefly stepped away, leaving the two there first.
Erica set down her fork and said, “I’ve never tried the cake here, but it’s not bad.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I always just grabbed drinks, never bought any pastries here before.”
A whimsical atmosphere blending modern and medieval cultural styles filled the cafe.
Erica lifted her white coffee cup to her lips.
With every small motion, there wasn’t a single gap.
She enjoyed her refreshments neatly yet naturally, as one would expect from a lady of the Portlet Family.
Bantlo, watching Erica, noticed the usual cheerful glimmer in his eyes had dimmed.
“What happened with Vargan yesterday?”
“Nothing at all.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
Erica gently rubbed her fingers on the coffee cup. Though it seemed she was lost in thought, she firmly maintained a smile at the corners of her lips, as if to shake it off.
Unlike Erica, Bantlo was sipping iced coffee. As he tilted it to his lips, the sound of ice clinking punctuated the rise of the drink.
Bantlo set down his coffee.
“Erica, you don’t have to struggle to lie in front of me.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden…?”
“Do you know you didn’t put sugar in that coffee?”
Indeed, the sugar packets before her remained untouched. Erica replied that the cake was sweet enough so she didn’t bother, but Bantlo shook his head.
“The sweet-toothed you wouldn’t pass up sugar for this level of sweetness.”
“Not everything has to be sweet for me.”
“If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to. It’s just… I thought you looked like you were carrying a lot on your own.”
“I only spoke up because I had to show you.”
“…….”
Her fingers, which had been rubbing the coffee cup, came to a halt.
The smile she had been forcing at the corner of her mouth slowly faded away.
Since drifting away from Vargan, it had always been Bantlo who listened to Erica’s worries.
Erica had only shared her past with Vargan with him, and Bantlo never spilled it to anyone else.
Whenever she complained about Vargan, Bantlo simply listened in silence.
Noticing her expression, Bantlo spoke up.
“This doesn’t sound like a complaint about Vargan.”
Realizing there was no need to hide anything in front of him, Erica said it casually.
“I asked Schugenharz for a divorce.”
“…Divorce?”
“Not immediately, but it’ll take a while. I’ve got a heavy debt to repay.”
No matter how much Erica had cursed Vargan, she had never mentioned the divorce before.
Also, Bantlo, who had witnessed the restoration of Erica and Vargan’s relationship at the Academia, was quite surprised by Erica’s statement.
Erica briefly recounted what happened the previous night with Vargan.
They had booked a store to drink, hastily gulped down wine, and finally revealed her true feelings.
Although Erica’s lips barely moved, she soon recited the words of the divorce proposal and her two debts.
“…So Schugenharz agreed.”
“I doubt it was just a simple acceptance.”
“…….”
Erica’s eyes recalled the moments from the previous night as her mouth recited the past.
“It seems like he had his usual attitude. Even at that moment, he made a proposal.”
“A proposal?”
“He said he’d help me repay the first debt. The way he said it, it seemed like he’d been waiting for this.”
“…What kind of proposal did Vargan make?”
“Um… what did he say…”
She paused for a moment.
She looked like she was thirsty but didn’t bring the coffee to her lips.
“He said… until the divorce, we’d pretend nothing ever happened.”
“Pretend nothing ever happened?”
“Yeah… to ignore both the good times and the sad ones. To act as if we were meeting for the first time…”
“Erica, that’s….”
“An outrageous proposal. I brought up the divorce because I don’t want to forget my past with Laila, but he wants me to forget it for a while… Still, I figured it would at least help me repay one of the debts I owe him.”
She said she would try, even though she wasn’t sure if she could, and finished her last sip, ending the conversation.
At her words, Bantlo’s tightly closed lips instinctively twitched.
Such trivial things… for example.
The reason why Lilian, Diphelia, and she ended up celebrating the festival together was because Vargan had subtly encouraged her.
Looking back at his reactions then and the current situation, it was clear that Vargan had said those things for Erica’s sake.
Though he must have known the talk of divorce would come up, and perhaps it was to soothe Erica, who would also be struggling… it’s hard to imagine Erica would happily suggest joining a festival. He must have arranged it so she could be with those she cared about.
Moreover… the content of the proposal he made.
No matter how you think about it, it didn’t sound like the reaction of someone wishing for a divorce.
If Erica was the only one who heard about it, that might be one thing. But now she knows. Vargan truly values Erica.
Though it may have been when I first heard the information. Now I know. Vargan truly values Erica.
And, Erica as well……
“…….”
Bantlo is deep in thought.
Is it right to bring this up?
What could directly connect to her happiness?
He can’t be completely sure that his judgment is entirely correct. After all, he must take risks.
…….
But.
At least, this doesn’t seem like the right time.
If those two end up like this. If the unknown black oil surrounding them isn’t removed.
It feels like it would never be wiped away in a lifetime.
It seemed like Erica would suffer for life because of this.
He carefully opened his mouth.
“…Erica.”
Bantlo has affection for Erica.
However, it is conceptually as a ‘friend’.
It can’t develop into the concept of romance.
The reason he could assert and hold onto his feelings like this is absolutely not because Erica didn’t look like a woman.
From the first moment he saw her at the school where they learned magic together, he thought she was a beautiful woman.
Though she struggles with others, she constantly tries to treat her people well.
Losing some decorum with sweet foods, showing smiles.
Even her little actions or way of speaking felt lovely to him.
But that didn’t last long.
He buried his feelings, chiseled away until they couldn’t maintain their shape.
“It might be hard for you to accept, but I hope you listen.”
The reason Bantlo buried and carved up his own feelings.
It was Erica’s image when she cursed Vargan.
No matter how much Erica emphasized her disdain for him in front of her,
The severe sadness felt every time.
The light pink lips that don’t speak of broken engagement.
Ingrained like a brand. It subtly conveyed her true feelings toward Vargan, which he could never shake off.
The kind smile always worn by Bantlo made him wish only for her happiness.
“…….”
Erica looks at him, serious to the core.
Then she feels something uneasy and trembles her voice lightly.
“Why are you like this, Bantlo…. I’m starting to get scared…. Is this something that must be said now?”
“I’m sorry, Erica. But I really hope you listen.”
“…….”
Erica did not nod.
She didn’t respond with words.
But Bantlo, for the first time, is about to do something she is reluctant about.
Bantlo says to Erica.
“Isn’t there a reason why Lord Vargan harmed Laila?”
“……What? What are you talking about….”
He brought up the words he had only faintly harbored before.
“I’m sure there’s some ‘misunderstanding’ in their relationship.”
*
The exciting festival period flies by in an instant.
Before long, the festival reaches the early morning of its fourth day, trying to shake off the sleep with the sound of chirping birds.
Alicia woke up even earlier than the birds and was busily preparing. She rose earlier than her usual waking time.
Although she followed Vargan and only slept 2 hours a day, she barely got even 1 hour of proper sleep.
Lying on the bed, with her eyes closed, the noisy beating of her heart disrupted her sleep.
Tick-tock.
The flowing time only made Alicia more restless.
She took off the blanket and washed up cleanly.
Light the fire and wash clean.
A typical act of changing clothes.
But to Alicia now, each and every step felt monumental.
Today was the day she had arranged a schedule with Vargan.
The day they promised to explore the festival together.
Alicia adorned herself with the necklace Charlotte had gifted her.
A precious item she wore even while sleeping. She only took it off when washing, worried it might rust despite being specially processed.
As she looked in the mirror, the blue gemstone sparkled.
Alicia gazed at her reflection.
“…Huh?”
Something about her expression seemed off. She pressed her fingertips against the corners of her mouth and moved her face around, but nothing felt right.
Her school uniform was likewise uncharacteristic.
It wasn’t something she wore every day, but rather a new outfit she had prepared as a spare.
The wrinkles and fit of the clothes didn’t satisfy her.
Upon closer inspection, her hair seemed disheveled as well. She had prepared herself exactly the same as usual…! Why…!
While she pondered, those thoughts, too, reflected in her eyes within the mirror.
Her flustered expression somehow appeared ‘happy.’
“…”
As she faced that happiness, her once overexcited heart began to calm down.
How could a servant act like this?
Knowing that the Young Master hadn’t been feeling well lately…
Alicia felt regretful.
Since the very first day of the festival that Erica and Vargan returned from together.
She felt pity for her master Vargan.
She hadn’t asked what had happened.
Having heard a hint of Erica’s past from his younger sister Riel, she was usually curious and asked many questions, but her mouth was sealed shut.
He tried to hide his sorrows, not revealing them.
Perhaps that was why Alicia felt even more sympathy for him.
So much so that, on the very first day of the festival.
After Vargan returned from parting with Erica.
Late at night, without exchanging a word, as she quietly observed him in his room during a sword inspection, Alicia spoke up.
⎯Young Master… are you alright?
Vargan replied, telling her not to say unnecessary things, continuing with the inspection, yet Alicia could sense almost everything about his reactions.
He was struggling.
“…What should I do?”
She had no idea what had transpired, but it was undoubtedly related to Erica, and it was something beyond her capacity to mend.
Even if she disregarded status and family.
Alicia couldn’t even dare compare herself to Erica.
The sheer disparity made her accept it solemnly.
Could she even comfort him, a person like her?
“…Probably impossible.”
Alicia touched the blue necklace.
With a small infusion of mana, the blue glow brightened.
The reflected light in the mirror shone back at her.
… A pit of sorrow created by Erica.
There was no way someone like her could fill it.
However… perhaps she could pave over it enough so that he could step over. If merely helping him gather some strength was within her power.
She might be able to do that.
“Okay.”
With newfound resolution, Alicia finished her preparations and stood up. Though still trembling, the time was almost at hand.
Soon, it would be time to go outside and greet her master.
