Chapter 25
Chapter 25
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Irene and Leona
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Irene Edelweiss, the princess from my relatively less hazy memories, wasn't the type to fuss over formalities.
She didn't wield power that could strike down birds in flight.
...For her retainers, her playful, troublemaking nature might be more of a headache...But for me, this was probably better.
Still.
That didn't change the fact that she was the empire's princess.
If it were my domain, the infirmary, that would be one thing.
But going as an invited guest in gym clothes felt a bit off.
This had absolutely nothing to do with Leona glaring at me with terrifying eyes when I stepped out in gym clothes.
Now I regretted not buying pants or something yesterday...
All I'd bought yesterday were underwear and a few t-shirts to replace the clothes Charlotte had stretched out and stained with various fluids.
So, excluding the gym clothes, the only option I had was...
"Is something wrong?"
"...No, nothing."
The air against my lower body felt incredibly awkward.
I'd worn shorts or lounged around the house in just underwear before, so the sensation of air on my lower half wasn't all that unusual in itself.
But wearing a skirt made it feel strangely off. Why did I, a guy, have to wear something like this?
...It was the unavoidable choice, but it left me with a bit of self-loathing.
That aside, the outfit itself was surprisingly comfortable.
Maybe because there was nothing restricting me, it felt open and free?
No, not open—more like easy to move in. Feeling "exposed" out here would make me sound like a weirdo.
Anyway.
I followed Leona out in what I should have worn to the infirmary from the start—the classic health teacher's attire.
Our destination was, as I'd half-expected, the dorm room where Leona and the princess stayed.
It would have been nice if it were the same building, but the student dorms were a bit further away.
Thinking about how I'd meant to visit the student dorms someday anyway, this seemed like a good opportunity.
There was a big difference between knowing the paths from the game and actually navigating them in reality.
Considering most students lived here, it was a place I had to visit to sow the seeds for the endings.
A location where I might end up spending the most time.
...And on a holiday, the academy spot with the most people.
Maybe that's why.
As the somewhat familiar building drew closer, I started feeling like more people were glancing my way.
No, it wasn't a feeling—they were definitely looking.
...Why?
The only change was the skirt barely reaching my knees.
But they only stared; no one approached.
Maybe they wanted to, but Leona was holding them back.
...Watching them look back and forth between me and Leona before averting their eyes...It seemed reasonable to suspect, but Leona just walked on silently, so I couldn't be sure.
Enduring countless stares, we finally reached the room of Princess Irene Edelweiss.
A spacious-looking double room.
Just as I remembered from the game.
Which meant her roommate was, naturally, Leona.
...Honestly, in this setup, wouldn't it be weirder if they didn't get along?
Fresh cohabitation at a curious age.
Affection seemed like it would rise just from breathing the same air...
Even in this somewhat lenient world, was the wall between lord and retainer that high?
Anyway.
Looking back on everything so far, it was uncertain if the story I'd progressed through in the game would play out the same here.
All I could trust was... the basic profile.
I had no idea why Irene had invited me.
But who was I?
A guy who'd played the game obsessively and ended up dumped into it.
I didn't know why I'd been dumped here, though.
...Surely they didn't shove me in here just because I was grumbling to myself.
As I dug my own hole, Leona knocked on the door and gripped the handle, turning to me.
"She's not one for formalities, so you don't need to be too tense."
"Ah, yes."
She must have taken my brooding for worry, because Leona offered some kindhearted words.
Though her voice was so cold it felt like ice chips falling.
Anyway, it was something I already knew.
But rattling off a stranger's personality on our first meeting would seem weird, so I just nodded.
And so.
I came face-to-face with Irene Edelweiss.
We exchanged light greetings and took our seats, but... whether observing me or not, Irene silently stared for a moment while wetting her throat with tea.
Glancing down, I spotted a somewhat luxurious table that wasn't in Michelle's or my room.
On it were various light snacks arranged on plates.
The clink of a teacup being set down sounded, followed by Irene's voice.
"Should I call you Teacher Plumeria?"
"Ah, um... call me whatever. Or just Iris is fine."
"Then, Iris Teacher it is."
"Sure... whatever."
Honestly, I preferred the name Iris that I'd come up with over the surname Plumeria I hadn't chosen.
I'd vaguely figured she'd go for it anyway.
With my nod, Irene smiled contentedly and said,
"I'd like it if you called me Irene, Teacher."
"Sure thing."
My crisp reply briefly surprised her, but she soon lit up and started chattering away.
Getting happy over being called by name matched what I remembered.
But her presence as she prattled on—similar to past impressions, yet...
On a whole other level from the game.
Silver hair tinged with purple that seemed impossible in this world.
The subtle purple suited the word "ivory."
It swayed, carrying a pleasant scent each time.
Her features were so lovable that I couldn't fathom Leona rejecting her affection.
Her amethyst eyes sparkled like finely cut gems.
Blinking sent twinkling starlight scattering.
Yet her elegant gestures kept her from seeming purely innocent.
As I felt my lips softening unwittingly.
Leona, who had been staring at me from behind her, spoke up.
"What would you like, Teacher? We've prepared most things, so I'll do my best."
Irene scratched her cheek sheepishly. Even that looked graceful.
"Oh dear, I've invited a guest and haven't even offered tea."
"Ahaha..."
Wondering if they might have it, I asked for coffee. Leona nodded and headed to what looked like a kitchenette.
Soon, the sound of grinding mingled with the rich aroma of coffee wafting over.
Before long, Leona set steaming coffee before me.
Taking a careful sip, it rivaled café coffee—in fact, richer in aroma and flavor—wetting my mouth.
In the end, a princess was a princess, no matter what.
The furnishings inside and the prepared food said as much.
Text descriptions hadn't hit home, but experiencing it firsthand made it feel real.
I mean, no amount of words about luxury or excellence compares to living it.
Hearing "We have a golden calf at home!" is worlds apart from visiting and seeing the dazzling thing yourself.
Even if it's just palm-sized.
As I savored the coffee, Irene asked as if she'd been waiting.
"Does it suit your taste?"
"Yes. It's delicious."
"Good. Leona's skills are beyond doubt, but I worried a bit since it's a foreign land."
"...Your Highness."
Irene grinning cheekily, Leona's stoic face cracking.
She twirled her thin tail awkwardly, then wrapped it around her thigh to hide it.
Combined with her looks, it gave off a peculiar charm.
...Not that my liking her did any good, but anyway, it was cute.
We chatted idly about academy trivia for a bit.
As the coffee ran low.
While Leona stepped away to prepare more drinks.
Irene hit me with a sudden question.
"By the way, Teacher?"
"Yes?"
And it rang an alarm in my gooey brain, softened by Irene, Leona, and the coffee.
"I've heard more students have been visiting the infirmary lately... for fun reasons."
"Cough! Cough!"
"Looks like the rumors are true. Leona? Could you get some water for Teacher?"
"Yes."
I jolted in shock, coughing as if something caught in my throat.
After gulping the water Leona brought and calming down, I looked up at Irene.
Her face said she already knew.
...So she asked just to confirm, despite knowing.
In the game, options popped up on screen, giving time to think, but reality offered no such mercy—it hit straight on.
Flustered, I took another sip, and Irene, gazing at me steadily, said,
"Why so startled...? Wasn't that just you doing your job as health teacher?"
"Y...eah?"
Right, no real need to hide, no shame in it.
...Whether I regretted it or not, that's how it was.
Probably.
Irene smiled faintly, cleared her throat with a hem-hem, and looked at me cautiously.
"I'd like to hear a bit about it. Is that okay?"
...Why?
I pinched my thigh to keep a sour expression off my face.
Grateful my legs were exposed for it.
No, but why was Irene interested in this?
I rubbed my thigh and peered at her face.
But reading anything from her expression seemed tough.
However...
Seeing Leona's lips quiver ever so slightly while standing stoically.
She was probably involved somehow.
That much I could guess.
I took a deep breath and steadied myself.
As I settled into a relaxed pose, both women's bodies twitched.
Wondering why, but I couldn't tell.