Seraphina's Invitation, Part 2
"...!? W-what? You... and her? You and Lilit are getting married?! W-what... what on earth do you mean by that?!"
Seraphina Serion, who always maintained a cool and rational demeanor no matter the situation, was trembling and stuttering like Elisio Gremlina.
This was only the second time I had ever seen her so utterly shaken.
Seraphina stared at me, her eyes trembling.
It was as if she couldn't believe what Lilit had just said.
...Is it really that shocking that I chose Lilit as my marriage partner?
Well, they did seem to get along poorly whenever they met.
But I never expected a reaction quite like this.
I still didn't fully grasp the situation, but I had to answer.
"It's true. Lilit and I are dating with marriage in mind."
"H-how could...!"
Hearing my answer, Seraphina's jaw dropped.
Even when her eyes shook and her words faltered, she had always kept her face cold. Now, that expression completely crumbled.
"You! When we met last time, you clearly...! Clearly... clearly..."
Seraphina raised her voice as if she were about to shout.
"You mean the conversation you had with Rofel in the dormitory, right? I heard about it, so I know. Think back carefully to what Rofel actually said."
But at Lilit's words, Seraphina quickly lowered her head and fell silent.
She pressed a hand to her forehead and swept it down her face.
All the while, she neither drank from nor set down the teacup she was holding.
She seemed to be recalling the conversation we had in the dormitory.
And finally, as if realizing something, a look of hollow defeat washed over her face.
"...So that was it... From the very beginning... all of it..."
After a long moment, her hands trembling violently, she managed to set the teacup down.
"...Forgive me, Rofel. I... I seem to have... misunderstood."
"Indeed. Even from my perspective, it seems you made a massive misunderstanding."
Hearing Lilit's reply, Seraphina grit her teeth for a split second.
But she quickly smoothed her expression back into a cold, calm mask.
I knew that look of hers well.
It was the mask she wore whenever she wanted to hide her true emotions.
Watching her reaction, I realized that I, too, had harbored a massive misunderstanding about her.
...I had always dismissed the possibility, but... could she really...?
"To think the person you spoke of was Lilit Tistina... I knew you two were close, but this is quite surprising."
Her trembling voice regained a bit of its stability.
Her face returned to its usual expressionless state.
She seemed to have regained her composure and returned to normal.
At least, that was how someone who didn't know Seraphina would have interpreted it.
But I could tell.
She was forcing herself to remain expressionless.
And she was in immense pain doing so.
Only now did I understand.
I had completely misunderstood Seraphina.
I had taken her words the wrong way.
I had thought she said those things simply because she was happy, as a friend, that I had found someone to love and marry.
But how wrong I was.
Believing she only saw me as a friend was my own delusion.
"...Could you tell me? As far as I recall, you and Lilit were indeed close. But it was strictly a friendship; there did not seem to be anything more between you."
Her voice still carried a faint tremor.
Contrary to her outward appearance, it was obvious she hadn't calmed her heart.
"Has there been talk between your families recently? Was there... perhaps some pressure from your family? Please answer me! No... I would appreciate it if you answered."
She was asking the exact same questions she had asked before.
That was how desperate she was.
Because of that, I couldn't help but hesitate.
The words about to leave my mouth were surely the last thing she wanted to hear.
But I had to say them.
"I am dating Lilit of my own free will. And it is my own desire to marry her as well."
Upon hearing my firm response, cold droplets glistened in Seraphina's eyes like winter dew.
"N-no... Even so... Still... perhaps...!"
As if desperate to cling to any shred of hope, she tried to press further.
But she was cut off by Lilit's sudden, unexpected action.
For Lilit had suddenly grabbed my chin and pulled me toward her.
Then, with practiced ease, she pressed her lips against mine.
It didn't end with a simple peck; she slipped her tongue deep into my mouth.
A faint, wet sound echoed softly in the quiet room.
It was a kiss reserved only for the most intimate of lovers.
And she prolonged it, as if putting on a deliberate display.
They parted only when a thin, silvery thread of saliva stretched between them.
"Do you need any more questions answered?"
Lilit, finally breaking the kiss, wiped her lips with the back of her hand and asked in a decisive tone.
"No... That was... more than enough of an answer."
Despite Lilit's incredibly rude behavior in front of her host, Seraphina simply nodded in acceptance without offering a single word of rebuke.
Or perhaps she just couldn't bear to look at any more proof of our relationship.
Unfortunately, the dinner continued.
Lilit remained clung to my side, while Seraphina watched in cold, heavy silence.
Once the meal was over, Lilit and I prepared to leave. Seraphina saw us off, keeping her emotions locked away until the very end.
...Every single event of this evening had been a shock.
From Lilit's words and actions to Seraphina's reaction...
As we walked back in silence, I cautiously broke the quiet.
"...To think Seraphina of all people... had feelings for me."
Honestly, I still couldn't believe it, but the truth was undeniable now.
Seraphina Serion harbored romantic feelings for me.
Back in the dormitory, when I said I had chosen a marriage partner, she had mistakenly assumed I meant her and rejoiced.
That was why she had reacted so hostilely and with such shock toward Lilit.
"Phew... Well, I'm glad you finally realized. My heart was in my throat, worrying you'd stay oblivious forever, Rofel."
Lilit let out a deep sigh as she replied.
"But... is this really okay? It might be a bit late to say this, but I feel like we gave Seraphina too much of a shock..."
"Even if it wasn't today, Seraphina had to learn the truth eventually. We couldn't let her keep misunderstanding forever, right?"
"Though, to be honest, this is partly your fault, Rofel. I don't know what you were thinking, but the way you explained things when you met her in the dorms? Even I would have misunderstood if I were in her shoes."
"And you shouldn't be acting so passive already. ...I guarantee you, things like today might happen again. No, they definitely will."
"...Is that so?"
To think that Seraphina Serion liked me.
One of the main heroines of the original game, the girl known as the 'Cold Rose' of the Knight Faculty.
I had never considered our relationship to be anything more than friendship, but reality proved otherwise.
If I thought about it, there might be other girls in similar situations.
Surely it couldn't be... but what about Elisio Gremlina or Isabella Kshatri...?
"The girls you're thinking of right now? They're probably all the same. I can even guess their names if you want."
Lilit answered with uncanny precision, as if reading my mind.
But could they really?
Girls who possessed exceptional talents and dreams, whose beauty made them the envy of the entire academy?
Falling for someone like me, who had neither talent nor backing?
A worthless nobody like me...?
I couldn't even begin to imagine it.
"Still... Seraphina's reaction is bothering me..."
"Are you talking about another girl right in front of your girlfriend? You've got some nerve."
"No, I didn't mean it like that... It's just... she looked really hurt."
"It might sound presumptuous, but in a way, I rejected her tonight. I feel like I should offer some words of comfort..."
"Oh? So what? Are you going to meet up with Seraphina again? Leaving your girlfriend behind?"
"I'm sorry. I know it's shameless of me to say this. But I still value the friendship I've built with Seraphina."
"I've learned a lot from her, and we've shared good times. That's why... I don't have any ulterior motives, I swear... Just once..."
"You want to meet Seraphina one more time and talk to her?"
"H-how did you know?"
"I might not have been your girlfriend for long, but we've been friends for a long time. I can read you like a book."
"Besides, in a situation like this, you'd probably try to send her a letter even if I told you not to, right? You'd do something anyway, so it's better if I just give you permission and keep you where I can see you."
"...Thank you, Lilit. I'm so glad you understand."
I replied, wrapping my arms tightly around Lilit.
She returned the embrace, wrapping her hands warmly around my waist.
"Hmph, this is only for this once. But promise me. You are only to talk, okay? Just talk!"
"Haha, of course. Look who my girlfriend is!"
We chatted happily on our way back.
But neither she nor I knew.
What kind of consequences today's events would bring.
Or what thoughts were brewing in the mind of the girl we left behind in the mansion, her failed love curdling into venom.