Be Specific with Your Subjects
"...Uh... what?"
"Exactly as I said. I would like you to reject all future marriage proposals."
My mind was in utter chaos.
First of all, why did she send a letter to my family asking about my relationships with women in the first place?
And why was she trying to interfere with my marriage prospects?
Especially by telling me to reject them all.
...
...
...
...Ah! Could it be?
Come to think of it, the Serion family had a tendency to be exceptionally obsessed with chivalry, likely due to their reputation as a prestigious lineage of knights.
And what was chivalry? It was refusing to stand by in the face of injustice and instead executing righteousness.
Having the blood of the Serion family running through her veins, she must have been influenced by that as well.
Since she was infinitely cold to strangers but warm to her own people, that influence must have been even greater.
Now in our third year, it was the time when marriage proposals were starting to circulate among the academy students.
It would be wonderful if marriage was born out of mutual love and affection, but noble society was not so simple.
Consequently, children of weak noble families were often forced into unwanted marriages.
And while my family's power was weak, my appearance was quite outstanding.
Because of this, I had received proposal letters from nobles I had never even laid eyes on.
Seraphina Serion must have been worried that I, one of her close friends, might be dragged into an arranged marriage against my will.
In a way, one might think she was meddling in another family's business.
But I couldn't think of any other reason why she would try to block my marriage proposals.
Well... but as it happened, that problem was already solved.
Although it was a bit early and not entirely intentional, I had already decided on Lilit Tistina as the woman I would take responsibility for.
The Tistina family was a high-ranking noble house whose influence could not be ignored, so my father wouldn't object either.
I hadn't sent the letter yet, but I was just about to write to my family to tell them I would reject all future marriage proposals.
"Haha, you don't have to worry about that, Seraphina. Actually, I was planning to ask my father soon to reject any marriage proposals that come my way."
"...! You...! Does that mean...!"
"Yeah... It's a bit embarrassing to say it out loud, but I think I've already found the one."
"Funny, isn't it? I thought I'd never have anything to do with this kind of stuff, but it turns out a lifelong partner was right nearby."
"The woman who has stayed by my side as a lifelong friend was the one all along."
"Ah... As expected... As expected of you...!"
"Uh... Seraphina? Are you okay?"
After I answered, I felt a bit flustered.
The face of Seraphina Serion upon hearing my answer—
Her expression, which had been frozen in an icy stiffness when she told me to reject the proposals—
Melted away in an instant, softening into an incredibly warm and joyful expression.
I was even more startled when she clasped my hand, intertwining her fingers with mine, and brought her face close to mine.
"No... Come to think of it, it is only natural... Forgive me. I worried needlessly and made a fool of myself."
"I should never have doubted your upright heart, even for a moment."
Seraphina continued, her face brighter than I had ever seen it, clearly overjoyed by something.
"This is truly joyous news... Thank you for answering my question, my beloved."
"...I'm not entirely sure what's going on, but I'm glad my answer helped."
"Now is not the time to idle. Since that is your answer, I must make preparations quickly as well."
"After all, the sooner we hold the ceremony, the better."
What on earth was she talking about?
Was Seraphina planning to help with my marriage to Lilit?
No... even so, that was way too meddlesome.
Why was she so excited in the first place?
It was true that we had formed a bond in the past, and I had become a friend she acknowledged, but her current behavior was impossible to comprehend.
Her current actions were completely beyond my understanding.
Was the fact that a friend was in a relationship really that joyful?
I hoped she wasn't misunderstanding something.
"No, no... wait a minute, Seraphina. I am indeed thinking about marriage, but isn't it a bit too early?"
"And while I appreciate you being happy for me, please calm down first. You seem way too excited."
I placed my hands on her shoulders and gently caressed her cheek to calm her down.
At that, Seraphina rubbed her cheek against my hand, lowering her voice as if she had calmed down slightly.
"Fufu... My apologies. I have waited for this moment for so long that I lost my composure..."
"And you don't have to go out of your way to help with the wedding."
"I plan to prepare it myself when the time comes. Besides, there are plenty of obstacles I need to overcome first, right?"
"Indeed... Preparing for the ceremony already is premature."
"There is the matter of obtaining the family's approval, and you must also prove to society that you possess the capabilities worthy of your partner."
Since I had resolved to take responsibility for Lilit Tistina's life, there were indeed many problems I had to solve.
Not only did I need to get the Tistina family's approval, but I also had to prove my abilities to show I was a husband worthy of her.
Yet here she was, talking about preparing for the wedding already...
She was getting way too far ahead of herself.
"I understand your wishes. It seems we must take this matter a bit more slowly."
"Right? Thanks for understanding."
"Then I must take my leave as well. Though my heart wishes to enjoy this time with you longer..."
"I have been away for an entire night. By now, the servants are likely in an uproar looking for me."
"Good idea. Hurry back and get some rest for the remainder of the day."
"I shall look forward to the day we meet again with all my heart."
With that, she vanished as quickly as she had arrived, like a passing storm.
Honestly, the side of her she showed me today was completely unexpected.
After all, she wasn't called the 'Cold Rose' for nothing.
Whether in a duel or any other situation, she never lost her cool, composed demeanor.
The number of times she had raised her voice or become as excited as she did today could be counted on one hand.
...Was Seraphina surprisingly interested in other people's love lives?
I figured it would be a good idea to prepare some romance stories she might enjoy for our next meeting.
Since I had just become lovers with Lilit Tistina, sharing stories about us wouldn't be a bad idea.
When she had first seen the reply from his family, her heart felt as though it were crumbling.
It stated that Rofel Teufel was scheduled to receive countless marriage proposals from various noble ladies after graduating from the academy.
These had been planned since before his admission, and unless there was a specific reason, they would proceed as scheduled.
Rofel Teufel was the benefactor who had shown her a new path and helped her reaffirm her way of the sword.
Furthermore, he was the only scabbard capable of sheathing the sharp blade that was Seraphina Serion.
He was the sole sun capable of melting her frozen heart.
The only man in the world she acknowledged.
That such a man would one day meet another woman and hold her hand.
That he would smile at and kiss a woman who was not her.
That he would unbutton his shirt and offer his incredibly lewd body to a woman who was not her.
Unacceptable.
Absolutely unacceptable.
Just imagining it made her clench her fists so hard they nearly bled.
She loathed the mere thought of him marrying anyone other than herself.
Along with that thought, the other insolent she-cats came to mind.
The orange cat with golden eyes, who slyly followed Rofel around and rubbed her body against him like a beast in heat.
The black cat with hints of yellow, who gloomily watched Rofel from afar while mixing mysterious potions.
The red cat with violet eyes, who cowardly used her status to force meetings upon him.
And finally, the golden cat with blue eyes, who shamelessly approached him without a shred of embarrassment for her past.
Around the wonderful and charming Rofel, there were far too many stray beasts that needed to be exterminated.
Although things had been quiet for a while due to his statements during their academy life,
with the final semester approaching, those beasts were undoubtedly licking their lips in anticipation.
Driven by these thoughts, she had headed straight to the academy to find him the moment she received the reply.
In her anxiety, she hadn't even realized an entire day had passed while she waited for him to return to the dormitory.
Fortunately, contrary to her fears, she received an incredibly satisfying answer from him.
He had said he found the partner he would spend the rest of his life with.
And he had said that partner was the woman who had stayed by his side as a friend.
Fufut.
To think he would say such a thing right in front of her.
It was a moment of such sudden, overwhelming joy that she felt lightheaded.
It was enough to make her completely ignore the faint scent of another female lingering on his clothes.
Because of that, she had lost her usual composure and made a fool of herself by trying to prepare for the wedding right then and there.
It was a relief he had stopped her; otherwise, she might have started planning the honeymoon on the spot.
Even now, she could still feel the warm sensation on the cheek he had caressed.
...One day, we will do much more than this.
Gulp.
Seraphina Serion swallowed hard.
Slowly, his well-toned body and outstanding looks, which she had observed over time, began to float into her mind.
His sculpted chest, glimpsed through the gaps of his fluttering clothes during intense movements.
His thick forearms, veins bulging in a way that would make any woman weak at the knees.
His thick thigh muscles, which made even her harbor shameless expectations.
And that alluring smile of his, which unconsciously bewitched the women around him.
Soon, all of it would be within her grasp, for her to enjoy to her heart's content.
Back when they were separated by the wall of friendship, these had been nothing but delusions.
But now, the time was near.
From his most reliable and proudest parts to his most precious and private areas, everything would become hers.
...
But, if...
By some horrible chance...
If any of those beastly women dared to lay claim to his body first.
If they soiled his clean, pure body with their own foul scent and flesh.
If they greedily devoured the lips of the boy who had lost his chastity without knowing any better.
If they took his one and only precious treasure into their vulgar, filthy holes.
The moment someone snatched away the man who clearly belonged to her...
At that moment, Seraphina Serion knew she would no longer be able to control herself.
She quietly whispered to herself.