Winter Has Passed, Yet Frost Lingers (1)
There was a time when I thought that way.
I opened my eyes once more, emerging from a long, winding recollection.
The sweet memories of love gradually faded into the recesses of my mind, replaced by the harsh reality I had been trying so hard to ignore.
What lay before my eyes was not the face of the man I loved.
Yes.
This was my reality now.
A miserable reality where, far from winning his love, I had it stolen from me, leaving me to grieve all alone.
Just as I was about to sink back into despair, a fragment of memory from earlier flashed through my mind.
...An artifact.
The very item I had received directly from Principal Rium Kitokal as the grand prize for winning the sparring tournament.
Type: Oath-Binding Necklace Artifact
Effect: Binds the wearer to an oath. It only takes effect if worn and activated by the user's own free will.
Legend had it that a hero of old had kept the oath he swore upon this necklace until the day he died.
When I first verified the artifact's effects, I recognized it as a remarkable item, but I didn't pay it much mind.
After all, its power was something neither I nor Rofel had any immediate need for.
It wasn't that I had never used it, but for the most part, it had remained safely tucked away in the Therion family vault.
...
But looking at it from a slightly different perspective, there seemed to be another way to use it.
Gasps!
For a brief moment—a single, fleeting second—an incredibly ugly, wicked thought crossed my mind.
No. I can't.
No matter how much I love him, that is wrong.
For the lady of the Therion family and its future head—someone who had secretly sworn to love him only in the purest, most upright way—to harbor such a thought, even for an instant, was unacceptable.
I must have let my depression get the better of me to think of something so bizarre.
For the time being, I needed to spend more time swinging my sword.
Perhaps I should gather all the family affairs I could find and immerse myself in household duties.
...Because for the sake of his love and happiness, I had to step back now.
Besides, if I didn't keep myself busy, I would never be able to push him out of my mind.
I set out for the training grounds in the dead of night.
But along the way, the family vault caught my eye in the distance.
Though my initial intention was to clear my mind by swinging a sword, for some reason, my feet steered me in a different direction.
Unlocking the door with the master key, I stepped into a room filled with dazzling treasures.
Every single one of them was a trophy earned through the countless achievements and exploits of the Therion family throughout the generations.
And there, among them, lay the treasure I was most proud of.
The artifact I had received as the first-place prize in the sparring tournament: the Muzin Argyro.
Was it because of the thoughts I had just harbored?
I found myself gently tracing the necklace-shaped artifact.
Guilt immediately washed over me.
An item that heroes of the past had used for noble causes and the public good—I was contemplating using it for my own filthy, personal desires.
My mind was in utter disarray.
But why?
The image of Lilith and Rofel from earlier today flashed through my mind.
Lilith's hands, teasing and fondling his body as she pleased.
Her body pressed flush against his, rubbing against him right in front of my eyes.
And finally, that lewd kiss, making a sound vulgar enough for everyone around to hear.
I didn't know why that scene chose to haunt me now, but as the memory rushed back, my teeth clenched and my hands began to tremble violently.
...
..
I know.
I know I shouldn't.
I know it is a transgression.
I know it might strip away his happiness and bring him pain.
If I just give up on him like this, he will be happy.
Somewhere... out of my sight...
...
But...
What does it matter how happy he is?
If I am not by his side... what is the point of any of it?
Even if it is the happiness of the one I love.
If that happiness is with someone else...
I would rather destroy it.
Ah.
I am sorry.
Rofel.
An empty space was left in the Therion family vault, one that would not be filled for a long time.
And the naive girl who once thought it was enough for Rofel to be happy was gone.
Only a cold rose, ready to do whatever it took for love, stood with its thorns bared.
After causing a bit of a scene at Seraphina's mansion yesterday, I was heading back there once again.
The reason, of course, was to apologize. The matter had been weighing heavily on my mind.
I felt guilty for failing to realize her feelings all this time, and I also felt that Lilith had acted rather rudely yesterday.
Honestly, since I was going to see another woman, I did wonder if I should bring Lilith along this time too.
But under the circumstances, a direct encounter between Lilith and Seraphina seemed like a recipe for awkwardness.
Seraphina had feelings for me, after all, so she wouldn't exactly be thrilled to meet my girlfriend.
As it turned out, Lilith had some family business to attend to and had to leave in a hurry anyway.
Apparently, she had something to do with her father... It seemed like a private family matter, so I didn't pry.
She seemed hesitant to explain right away, and I could always ask her when she got back.
While I was pondering how to approach Seraphina, I arrived in front of her mansion.
It was a bit late to be surprised, but as expected of the Therion family—which had recently racked up numerous achievements—even their villa was a mansion of considerable size.
Standing before the main gate, I was guided inside without any trouble by the servants who came out to greet me.
And soon, Seraphina appeared.
"H-Hello, Seraphina."
"Ah, it is you, Rofel. I did not expect to see you again so soon. What brings you here today?"
Contrary to my expectations, her reaction upon seeing me was remarkably calm.
To be honest, I had been deeply worried because she looked so devastated the last time I saw her.
I was relieved to see that she seemed to have gotten over it.
"Well, you see... I felt I needed to apologize to you for what happened yesterday..."
"An apology? For what?"
"For not realizing your feelings all this time. And yesterday, well... Lilith was pretty cold to you, wasn't she? I didn't do much to stop her, which was rude of me too. I felt I couldn't just let it go without apologizing."
"...Fufu. I wondered what you meant, but it was only that? It is fine. I no longer care about such trivial matters."
"...! Really?"
I had brought it up tentatively, so I never expected her to react this way.
I could tell she wasn't just saying it to be polite; she genuinely meant it.
At the very least, she showed no hint of resentment as she spoke.
"Of course. By the way, I did not expect you to return so soon. I was actually planning to seek you out myself in the near future."
"Huh? Me? Why?"
"I, too, have gathered my thoughts. I intend to bless your marriage with that bit—ahem, with Lilith. It is the love of my dear friend, so it is only natural that I support it, is it not? I can help you look into the wedding ceremony, and even find a house for your new life together."
"...What? Really?"
Wait, wait... There isn't some kind of misunderstanding like last time, right? You're really going to help Lilith and me?
"Fufu. There is no misunderstanding this time. Now, since you have made the trip, we should not delay. Would you mind following me for a moment?"
With that, Seraphina grabbed my wrist and led me somewhere.
As if in a hurry, she gripped my wrist tightly, as if determined never to let me go, and moved quickly.
"Whoa... Isn't this incredibly expensive? The fabric feels completely different from anything I've ever worn before...!"
I couldn't help but marvel as I tried on the suit she had given me.
Even though I was a noble myself, I had never worn clothes of such high quality.
"...It fits perfectly, as expected. And... it truly suits you..."
The room Seraphina had led me to was none other than her bedroom.
Of course, I was startled when I first realized this, but it seemed she had no ulterior motives; she had simply prepared these items for me.
...Though the look in her eyes as she watched me in this wedding suit was somewhat terrifying.
At any rate, she suggested that we practice for the wedding that would eventually take place between Lilith and me.
She explained that modern weddings were quite complex, making a rehearsal absolutely necessary.
While I thought it was a bit premature, considering Lilith's recent behavior... I figured I might end up marrying her the moment we graduated, so practicing beforehand wasn't a bad idea.
Besides, Seraphina seemed quite excited herself.
She even went so far as to put on a wedding dress herself, claiming she wanted to show me the design Lilith would wear.
If anyone saw a young man and woman dressed as bride and groom in the same room, they would surely mistake us for a couple about to get married.
"Um... Seraphina? Can you tell me what to do next? You said you'd show me how modern weddings are done."
"...Ah! R-Right. It is simpler than you think. First, put on... this necklace."
"A necklace? Do we need a necklace for a wedding?"
"Of course. It is the latest trend. Come, put it on. Quickly."
The necklace Seraphina handed me looked incredibly expensive.
But why did it feel so familiar? I was certain I had seen a necklace like this somewhere before...
"There we go. So, what's next?"
"Yes... Yes... Haa... Good job. Now, here...! Can you read these ancient characters?"
"Huh? Ancient characters? I can read them, but... I don't know what they mean."
"...! That does not matter, as long as you can read them. Come, read it quickly...! This is the most important part of the ceremony, where you swear your 'oath' of love, so read it clearly and precisely."
Seraphina handed me a piece of paper with ancient characters written on it.
I could pronounce the words, but I had no idea what they meant.
"Uh, let's see. These letters are..."
I hesitantly began to read the ancient script aloud.
Whenever I mispronounced a word, Seraphina caught it instantly and corrected me.
"...There! I'm done!"
Whew. As expected of ancient script, the pronunciation was tough.
If a groom couldn't even pronounce his vows at the actual wedding, he'd be a laughingstock.
It was definitely a good thing we practiced beforehand.
But the moment I finished uttering the 'oath' she had requested...
Her wet, burning tongue slid deep into my mouth.