Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Confession #03
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"Still no intention of accepting our proposal, Miss Violet?"
Clink.
The sound of the teacup being set down echoed through the coldly quiet salon. However, Agnes's expression as she spoke wasn't cold—it was filled with regretful eyes.
"...I'm sorry. I just... I don't think I can do it."
Violet, at the receiving end of that gaze, calmly shook her head with sad eyes, staring down at her own teacup.
Catching the sparkling light from the chandelier, the black tea reflected her face like a dark night sea. Even Violet herself couldn't understand the emotions captured on that reflected face.
"...Sister, I think it's definitely not a bad proposal for you either. You know how much Big Brother Arthin cherishes you, right?"
Lin Shaomei was right. How many dangers had Arthin overcome for her sake? How many people had he turned into enemies? She couldn't even count the times he'd saved her from the brink of death.
The image of Arthin, with furious eyes, passionately defending her against the entire church that branded her a spy of the Demon King and a fallen witch—even though she couldn't properly wield the power from her contract with the Lord of Hell—overlapped with the knight from the fairy tales she'd dreamed of as a child.
But... but that was exactly why.
Violet clenched the hem of her skirt tightly with her left hand under the table.
"...I'm sorry. I just... I can't be sure."
"...You mean about Big Brother Arthin loving you?"
Violet shook her head calmly at those words. Then, she lifted her gaze—which had been fixed on her black tea ever since the conversation began—and looked at the two of them.
"I just... I can't be sure that I love Arthin as passionately as you two do."
At those words, Imperial Princess Agnes took a bitter sip of her black tea. Lin Shaomei found Violet's attitude frustrating—not just a little, but quite a bit—but she couldn't show it outwardly.
"...You two thought of Arthin right away and confessed your true feelings to him."
But I couldn't. Those words tasted so bitter that Violet couldn't voice them.
"It wasn't like I realized my memories of Arthin right away either. I saw him fighting, and that's what brought back our memories."
Agnes said that as she placed her hand over Violet's right hand. Violet flinched at the warmth but couldn't bring herself to pull away.
...Of course, Agnes didn't feel much closeness toward Violet. Lin Shaomei treated her like a blood sister and carried a heavy guilt about her, but Agnes rarely had deep ties with Violet even in past regressions.
"It's not your fault, Violet. The value of true feelings isn't determined by order or time."
Even so, every time Agnes saw Violet's sincere expression toward Arthin, she could feel that Violet loved him too. Whenever Violet's story came up, seeing Arthin's saddened face let her feel his emotions.
That was why Agnes was now sincerely telling Violet to share Arthin's love with her.
"Can one person alone repay everything we've received from Arthin? I... I don't have that confidence. So, Violet, I want you by my side to repay it together."
She was sincerely saying they should repay their debt—and love—to Arthin together. That it was what she, presumptuously claiming to be his principal wife, should do for him.
"...I'm not as amazing as you two. I couldn't confess first, I can't be a strong pillar for Arthin like Shaomei, nor can I be a shield or support like you, Imperial Princess Agnes."
Violet couldn't stand by their side. Not when she felt like she'd be more of a burden than a help this time too. Not when she couldn't tell if she was more amazing than these two who were truly sincere. Seeing them sincerely persuade her for Arthin's sake made her feel pathetic for her jealousy.
"...I'll be going now."
In the end, unable to overcome her low self-esteem, Violet stood up abruptly and hurried toward the door like she was fleeing. Lin Shaomei wanted to grab her, but the moment she saw Violet's expression, she had to pull back her outstretched hand.
"Violet... still, think it over again. Arthin needs you."
Click.
Agnes's final words, heard toward the closing door, weighed too heavily on Violet. She hated herself so much for it.
Why couldn't I approach him first? Why couldn't I say I love you first? Why couldn't I recognize him first?
She felt like she'd burst into tears if she stood still, and that she'd keep blaming herself endlessly once back in her room, so Violet started walking. She just kept walking aimlessly.
Ah, I have class today. I need to submit my assignment too—if I don't do the preview and review properly, without Arthin, Grandma won't acknowledge me.
"...Lett!"
Her head was spinning. If it had been raining, she might have cried her heart out, but she hated the clear sky so much. As Violet thought that, dark clouds began gathering little by little.
"Violet!"
At that moment, someone grabbed her wrist, and Violet's head slowly turned toward that person.
"Hoo, finally. I finally found you."
There stood a youthful young man with red hair. Even without the reliable back she'd seen in her memories, that smile he gave her still made her think he was as dashing as her knight.
"Violet, there's something I need to tell you. Something I have to say right now."
Tap. Tap. Pat pat. Pour...
The rain began to fall. Their clothes grew coldly soaked, but neither thought to seek shelter.
"I didn't want to hurt you. Every time you remembered me, I didn't want it to be sad memories instead of happy ones. That's why... I haven't been able to say it properly until now."
Violet couldn't understand what Arthin was saying. In her memories, Arthin wasn't someone who made her sad.
You were always happy memories for me. You were the warm presence that let me dream happily even on dark nights. She wanted to say it, but her throat choked up, no voice came out, and only a sad expression echoed on her face.
*
When I arrived at the salon, Violet was nowhere to be seen. After hearing from the two that she'd just left, I frantically searched for her using detection magic.
A moment later, spotting her on a deserted forest path, I called out to her joyfully. No response—whether she didn't hear or not—I approached, grabbed her wrist, and laughed that I'd finally found her.
"I'm not as great as you all make me out to be. I'm lacking, fragile. Always pretending to be something I'm not, a fool... but with you, Violet, my heart always felt at ease."
The moment I saw Violet's sad expression, I couldn't suppress the overflowing emotions bursting out. The feelings I'd suppressed and killed off during past regressions kept erupting.
Why am I overreacting like this? I just wanted to calmly confess my feelings at first—like I did with Agnes and Shaomei—smiling happily and saying I love you.
"This might be my selfish whim, an arrogant confession, irresponsible words. Even so... I wanted to tell you."
When Violet's expression looking at me differed from my memories, I thought it just hurt that a friend saw me differently.
That was probably wrong. I didn't remember every greeting from the person who first greeted me each regression hurting.
"I like you, Violet. More than I even thought."
But Violet's first greetings always strangely ached in my chest. I'd thought it was just the sense of loss for a close friend, but I never felt that toward Jorba.
And when I first saw Agnes this regression, I might have unconsciously realized it. That it was lingering attachment to the love I harbored.
So this time, I didn't want to let it slip away. This time, with shared memories, I wanted to be a little greedy.
So I decided to speak my true heart. To bare my unrefined, pure emotions.
"...I, I couldn't be someone that undeserving. Right? Arthin, you seem too worked up."
Violet smiled, brushing back my rain-soaked hair. A strained smile. With her low self-esteem, she lacked confidence in herself.
Yet she'd come straight to me after regaining her memories. What did she want to say then? I don't know. How could I, who'd lived decades in celibacy, be sure?
"First, let's go inside and get out of the rain... Arthin?"
I quietly pulled Violet into an embrace. Whispering softly into her ear as she nestled in my arms.
"Remember the promise from the 3rd regression? You said you'd grant any wish for me."
But I could be sure about my feelings. The heart I'd lost and discarded in regressions—I'd get my reward this time.
"So, grant that wish now."
"Stay with me forever, Violet."
Violet squirmed in surprise at my words, but I held her tight, not letting go.
I don't care if someone calls me a harem creep. If they point fingers calling me a lecher, I'll ignore it now.
I'll never let anyone take what's mine again. I vowed it firmly to myself.
**
"Oh my...!! Look at them hugging so passionately...!"
Claire was peeking from behind a tree, secretly watching Arthin and Violet embrace.
While casually strolling the walkway behind the dorms, she'd ducked under a large tree to avoid the rain and stumbled upon this romance-novel scene. Dreamy Claire couldn't hide her flushed face.
"A confession while embracing in the rain...!! Even Her Highness must have fallen for that! Right, Kaiyen?"
Crack!!!
Turning to Kaiyen, who was watching the scene beside her, Claire jumped at the loud snap. The tree branch Kaiyen held had been torn off by his grip—utterly unrealistic.
"...yet..."
"K-Kaiyen? You okay, Kaiyen?"
Claire panicked as the usually serene Kaiyen, like a storm-tossed sea, unleashed intense emotions. She called to him, but it didn't reach his ears.
I liked him first. I was by his side first.
'He called me his partner, said we'd kill the Demon King together.'
Rumble, crack!
"Eek! Lightning on the tree! Kaiyen, run!"
Claire didn't know. That lightning was the spirits' wrath resonating with Kaiyen's emotions.
Claire pulled at the unresponsive Kaiyen with all her might, but he stood frozen like a statue, just staring at Arthin and Violet.