Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Date with Agnes #01
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-Side Story 1. Date with Agnes-
"In just five more minutes, it'll be 8 a.m..."
I gazed at the clock tower's face, starting to feel a bit excited.
Why? Because today was the day I was going to have fun on a date outside with Agnes!
-"Tomorrow... we're doing special tutoring outside! Meet me at 8 a.m. in front of the clock tower in the southern park!"-
Honestly, when she first mentioned the special tutoring, I was worried.
It wasn't just regular tutoring, and since it was punishment for the previous incident, I thought she might really lay into me.
"Worst case, I even steeled myself to endure by recalling the memories of torture from the 3rd round..."
But my worries turned out to be utterly foolish.
The special tutoring that started two days ago was nothing like what I'd imagined—it was basically a date!
Training with Shaomei and then showering together... spending happy times like that.
Or studying magic with Violet and casually leaning back to watch the sunset together...!
Yesterday with Agnes, I spent the whole day lying on her lap pillow, listening to her sweetly recount the empire's history.
"And today, borrowing two hours from Shaomei for an outdoor lesson... a date in this perfect sunny weather? It's the best!"
In my previous life, Kaiyen always ruined dates, but this time, he's being kept in check by my women. Nothing can stop us now! Hell yeah!
"Sorry, Arthin! Have you been waiting long?"
Just then, I spotted Agnes running toward me from afar.
"Nah, I just got here too. What's with all this stuff?"
"Hehe, but this is the first time in this life we're meeting outside, right? I packed a bunch of things I want to do and things I want to do for you..."
Agnes was wearing her usual neat cadet uniform with a light shawl draped over it, her hands full with a picnic basket.
Even in her ordinary outfit with just a simple black shawl, she exuded an elegant beauty.
"...Huh? Wait, her eye makeup and lips are a bit shinier. No way?"
Agnes had put on some light makeup? The Agnes who always dressed modestly and restrained as a knight?
"D-don't stare like that... Does the makeup not suit me? The maids recommended it."
"No, no! It's not that—it's just you're so beautiful, I was shocked!"
I really was surprised.
The glossy lips and subtle eye makeup enhanced her natural beauty without overpowering it.
"In the previous life, I wanted to show you this side too, but I was too shy back then... This time, I really wanted to look pretty for you."
Seeing Agnes's joyful smile as she giggled, I felt happy but also a twinge of guilt.
...Agnes must have waited for me to return, right up until the world ended.
Ah, no gloomy thoughts on a date like this.
"What about a dress? The one from the party in the last life was gorgeous too."
"Ah... that... That dress was specially ordered by the imperial family back then... And..."
Agnes blushed slightly, glancing at me shyly as if embarrassed to say more.
"I want to wear the first dress of this life at our engagement ceremony..."
...Huh? Engagement ceremony?
My brain froze for a moment at the unexpected words, but once I grasped their meaning, my face flushed just like hers.
"H-hey, a dress for the engagement...! Yeah, you have to wear it!"
"Hehe... Can I look forward to it, Arthin?"
"Of course! I'll make sure you get to wear it. Got it?"
An engagement ceremony? Getting congratulations from everyone? Me?
Yang Hee-min, the orphan, had been alone even on his birthday or Christmas as an adult—celebrations felt so foreign.
"Me... getting celebrated... in front of everyone..."
"...Arthin? The basket's heavy—could you take one?"
"Ah! Sorry, I spaced out!"
I snapped back and reached to grab both picnic baskets.
"No! Just one is fine! That way..."
Agnes placed only one basket in my hands as I tried to take both.
Then she extended her free hand to me, interlocking our fingers with a playful smile.
"See? If your hands are full, you can't do this, right? So let's each carry one and go nicely!"
Ugh! That playful expression on Agnes's face was killer for my heart.
Knowing it's one she shows only to me makes it all the more precious and valuable...!
"Come on, let's hurry! I have a lot I want to do today!"
Agnes pulled my dazed self along deeper into the southern park.
*
"Ta-da, here it is, Arthin! What do you think?"
The spot Agnes led me to was a sunny, peaceful grassy field near the southern park.
"No people around, and there's a flower garden blooming down there... How'd you find a place like this?"
"This? Jorba told me! He said it's a great hidden spot for dates and told me all these academy date courses even I didn't know about!"
Big Brother Jorba, thank you.
I silently thanked Jorba in my mind as I opened the picnic basket, spread out the mat, and set up the parasol.
"This looks big on the outside, but it's packed inside—an artifact, huh...?"
"Hehe, I told you, right? I brought tons of things I want to do and want to do for you."
Sure enough, after pulling out a large mat big enough for both of us to lie side by side and a parasol to block the sun completely, there were still all sorts of items inside.
"Ah! No, Arthin! Peeking is a spoiler!"
Agnes freaked out when I glanced inside and quickly shut the picnic basket.
"Haha, sorry. If you prepared this hard, I'll look forward to it."
Of course, as someone who loves dates, anniversaries, and events, I grinned, took off my shoes, and sat on the mat.
Agnes sat beside me and gently rested her head on my shoulder.
"First, like this—leaning on Arthin and enjoying the breeze."
"...How long?"
"Until I'm satisfied."
Not bad at all.
"In the last life, I was too busy for relaxed times like this..."
Why not enjoy it? I smirked and carefully placed my hand over Agnes's where our fingers touched.
A leisurely morning, gazing at the flower garden with Agnes, feeling the breeze brush our cheeks—it was pure bliss.
*
"Okay, next is this!"
"Already over?"
"Hehe, I prepared something better than just sitting and enjoying the breeze?"
About ten minutes later? Agnes yelled "Done!" and rummaged through the picnic basket.
What she confidently pulled out was...
"『The Kind Knight and the Young Lady』 Volume 2?"
"Yeah, one of the novels I've been really enjoying lately!"
Unlike real-world novels, there was no flashy cover, but the small rose illustration hinted at the genre.
"Romance novel... right?"
"Yes! I want you to read it to me, Arthin. Like how I read you the empire's history book yesterday!"
Romance novels were indeed one of Agnes's rare hidden hobbies.
After quiet time together, now a reading session...
"Sure, I'll read it super vividly—get ready?"
Hey, I'm a reader who's devoured all sorts of novels and even transmigrated—piece of cake.
"Ah, start from the bookmark? I've read up to there already!"
"Got it, let's see..."
I cleared my throat, put on my best dramatic voice, and began reading the romance novel.
"The story's... pretty straightforward. A romance between a count's daughter and her knight guard, huh."
The tomboyish lady protagonist falls for a cool commoner knight who appears one day, her heart wavering, while heirs from ducal families, handsome royals, and a mysterious demon male lead all come courting her...
...Demon? Does this get past the censors?
"Romance fantasy worlds sure have broad tolerances..."
I'd barely read any romance fantasy in reality, so I was getting hooked on this proper taste of the genre.
"At that moment, Knight Lordrack seized Arwen's hand. 'I didn't like seeing your gaze stolen by those men, Miss.' Then...?"
As I read enthusiastically, Agnes grabbed my idle hand tightly.
"Why'd you stop, Arthin? Keep reading."
"Ah, sorry. Let's see, then Arwen's heart began to pound. So..."
Without suspicion at her urging, I continued reading.
The story was building to its climax—the knight confessing his love.
"Then Lordrack pulled Arwen into an embrace by her neck. Arwen was startled, but for some reason, she didn't feel like resisting...?"
Whoosh!
Agnes wrapped her arms around my neck with a mischievous smile, and that's when I realized what she had in mind.
"...I want to hear your answer to my vow from last time, Miss Arwen."
"What vow... Lordrack?"
"...The vow that I want to protect you forever."
Before I knew it, Agnes was role-playing as the heroine Arwen, gazing at me.
"...Lordrack gazed silently at Arwen. And slowly, he brought his lips closer to hers."
Agnes drew slowly nearer; our lips were moments from touching.
"...Gulp."
Such a romantic date—I'd never imagined it, and I felt myself falling for Agnes all over again.
"Then... Arwen..."
"Arwen...?"
Blushes colored our faces, our breaths growing ragged—we could feel each other's clearly.
But neither of us stopped. Instead, we swallowed hard and turned the page.
"...Too shocked, she kicked Lordrack right in the... family jewels...?"
What? Kicked where?
Deep in the story, I jolted and instinctively cupped my groin, staring at Agnes.
"I wasn't gonna kick! Really! With this flow, it should've been a kiss! What was the author thinking?!"
"Ah, no... I just got too into it..."
Honestly, I'd been so immersed I was a bit scared—now I breathed a sigh of relief.