Chapter 31: The Gathering(6)
Chapter 31: The Gathering(6)
Mari, the young lady of the Duke of Rekilis and a freshman in the Literature Department, was currently in a very good mood.
She had always loathed attending events like social gatherings with a passion, but she made it a point to be fully prepared so that she could eventually be of help to her family.
Even if one possessed knowledge superior to others, it was meaningless without the experience to apply it. This was her way of putting the ideologies she learned from her family into practice.
Since every single experience had actually proven to be a great help, Mari had stepped forward, albeit reluctantly.
Thus, while she usually applied her makeup diligently just to get it over with as quickly as possible, today she checked every detail with meticulous care. The makeup process, which usually took only about an hour, had stretched to over three hours.
In exchange for that effort, her makeup looked flawless, and the dress she brought from the mansion was perfect, without a single wrinkle. Mari, satisfied with her own beautiful reflection, set out for the gathering with a light step.
"Oh my! Aren't you the young lady of the Rekilis family?"
"Yes. I am Mari Hausen Rekilis."
"I'm Jenia Cluton Hirtu of House Hirtu."
"House Hirtu... Ah! Are you perhaps related to Viscount Mad?"
"Yes! You recognize the name. It's truly an honor to meet you, Lady Mari."
"Lady Jenia, you're in Martial Studies, right?"
Someone recognized Mari on her way to the gathering, but she handled the encounter smoothly. Being from a ducal family, she had been attending 'social circles' since she was fourteen, which taught her how to deal with people.
Of course, she didn't treat people by wearing a 'mask' like a certain someone she knew. Part of it was her natural inability to act, but it was also because her reputation had long since spread throughout the social circles.
Mari, the daughter of the Rekilis family, was known for her lively personality.
To put it unkindly, she was a bit of a spitfire, but because of her background, no one dared to badmouth her openly. Instead, they were busy flattering her with sweet, transparent words.
Mari truly detested that sort of person—hypocrites who hid daggers in their hearts while fawning and flattering her. Jackals waiting for the right moment to reveal their true intentions and snatch a profit.
I hate this feeling. I really do.
Though Mari was a poor actress, she could tell through people's expressions whether they were being sincere or not. If she differed from the observant Lina, it was perhaps that Mari sensed it instinctively.
She felt that strongly from this student named Jenia, who was acting so friendly. It was a calculated move to somehow establish a connection with a high-ranking noble. Though she didn't show it on the outside, Mari found the current situation extremely uncomfortable.
I never felt that way with him.
While conversing with Jenia, Mari was inwardly thinking of the red-haired male student she had recently befriended. A man with scarlet hair that stood out even from a distance and golden eyes that shone like a predator's.
Their first meeting couldn't be called good, but the more time she spent with him, the more she realized he was someone who couldn't be further from hypocrisy.
Even if he tried to lie, it was written all over his face, and though his way of speaking was blunt, he put sincerity into every answer.
He seems to be hiding something sometimes, but...
That was a personal secret, not the kind of hypocrisy Mari detested. It wasn't her hobby to pry into someone's private life like a certain someone else.
In any case, Mari kept the male student she was interested in at the back of her mind while chatting with Jenia on the surface. As they talked, they eventually arrived in front of the Grand Hall where the gathering was to be held.
"We're here already. What a shame."
"We can keep talking inside."
"Is that really okay?"
"Of course. However, there's someone I want to meet separately, so I think we'll have to part ways here."
"Ah..."
Whether Jenia was truly disappointed or not, Mari just wanted to leave this spot quickly. Her only desire was to hurry to his side and chat idly like they usually did.
She wondered what kind of outfit he had worn to the gathering. He said he bought a cheap formal suit for less than 8 gold, but for some reason, she felt like anything would look good on him. He was of average height, but his lean build would make clothes fit him well.
Leaving the disappointed Jenia behind, Mari stepped into the Grand Hall. Even to her, having attended countless social circles, the interior of the Grand Hall was quite well-decorated. It was at a level that could impress even someone with her high standards.
But there was something more important to her than the Grand Hall.
Red hair... red hair... red hair...
As soon as she entered, Mari began searching for that red hair and no one else. There was a possibility he hadn't arrived yet, but searching was the priority.
Before long, Mari's keenly moving eyes caught sight of the red hair. And the black-haired woman standing in front of him.
...Cecile?
It was a face Mari knew well. The Princess of Helium and a woman she had become acquainted with at the Academy.
That woman was currently wearing a very revealing dress, engaged in a cozy conversation with the red-haired student. The red-haired man also had a flushed face, exchanging conversation with a tender expression.
"... ..."
Mari's eyebrows twitched for a moment. Simultaneously, an unidentifiable emotion surged from deep within her chest.
Seeing the two of them talking so affectionately with her own eyes was... well, it was incredibly uncomfortable. To the point where she wanted to tear them apart right this instant.
At that, Mari moved her legs and approached them.
Her face had hardened into a stiff expression before she even realized it.
*
There is a saying that a woman's transformation is beyond reproach. This proverb exists because it's common for even an ordinary woman to transform into a beauty through the power of makeup.
However, men usually laugh it off, thinking it doesn't matter as long as she's pretty. In reality, it's extremely rare for a man to break up with his girlfriend just because her bare face isn't pretty. Most people tend to curse the man who initiates a breakup for such a reason.
Of course, this only applies to cases where an ordinary woman becomes beautiful through makeup; for a woman who is beautiful even without it, makeup often ends up masking her natural beauty.
Furthermore, with the current Cecile, one's eyes were drawn to places other than her face.
"Isaac, your face has turned so red."
"... ..."
I stared blankly at Cecile, who spoke in a playful voice. Perhaps because so much heat had rushed to my face, I couldn't even tell just how red I was.
Seriously...
In the end, I covered my face with one hand and let out a low groan. I barely managed to suppress the desires welling up from deep within my heart.
I wasn't a eunuch, and seeing Cecile like this made my male instincts want to burst out.
But any man would understand my feelings. When an eye-poppingly gorgeous beauty, wearing a highly revealing dress at that, plays suggestive pranks in front of you, what man wouldn't react?
For now, it was best to desperately prevent my symbol of manhood from standing tall. I let out a feverish breath and spoke quietly.
"Whew... Noona...?"
"Yes?"
"...Isn't your outfit a bit... too much?"
"What's too much about it?"
As if she didn't know. No, she was definitely doing this on purpose.
I sighed again at Cecile, who asked while maintaining her playful tone.
"That... the dress is a bit..."
"Is it erotic?"
"...Yes."
Once my heart calmed down to some extent, I lowered the hand covering my face. As soon as I did, my gaze, which had been fixed on Cecile's face, kept drifting downward.
I wasn't a sage; there was no way I could completely block out my instincts.
Meanwhile, Cecile watched my wandering gaze intently before speaking with a soft smile.
"You don't have to try so hard not to look."
"...But it's rude."
"If someone calls it rude when I'm wearing clothes like this, wouldn't that person be the strange one? Besides, most of us demons wear clothes like this at social gatherings. Especially since men are honest with their desires, right? It's a way to see how much they can restrain themselves."
Well... that's a very wholesome phenomenon. I nodded half-heartedly at her explanation.
If anyone else wore clothes like this, I'd probably have something negative to say, but it certainly felt different when Cecile wore it. Along with her sex appeal, her inherent dignity was sublimated into elegance, making her charm radiate even more powerfully.
However, the fact remained that it was fundamentally difficult to look away.
"...Are you going to keep walking around like that?"
"Hmm? Of course. Is Isaac worried that other people will look at me with strange eyes?"
"... ..."
"Seeing your face turn red without a word, I must be right."
Cecile wagged her finger as if to say, "Gotcha." I felt my blood pressure rising in real-time.
Feeling like I might have a nosebleed at this rate, I hurried to change the subject.
"A-anyway! What were you doing until just now?"
"I was talking to some people I met for the first time. It wasn't very pleasant. Most of them, whether men or women, looked at me with eyes full of desire. Humans are certainly honest with their lust."
Unlike her calm tone, the content was quite unpleasant. I frowned slightly and asked in a tone of disbelief.
"Doesn't it make you feel bad? Even if it's the demon way of life..."
"Isaac. Don't carelessly apply human standards to other races. We have our ways, and humans have theirs."
"... ..."
"We want to live as humans, but if we just accept what others force upon us, it'll be nothing more than an imitation. Like you said last time, demons should live like demons."
I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut at Cecile's sharp advice. It felt like I had been hit over the head with a hammer.
As she said, imposing human ways on other races was a pathetic thing to do. Perhaps my behavior just now could have even offended her.
"...I'm sorry. I spoke out of turn."
"No. I'm sure this was also born from your consideration. It feels good to sense that consideration, so I'm happy."
At my apology, Cecile shrugged and gave a bright smile. I also met her gaze with a gentle smile.
"What are you doing here?"
"Huh?"
In the middle of the harmonious atmosphere, a familiar woman's voice cut in. Not only Cecile but I also turned my head toward the source of the voice.
When I turned, a beauty as stunning as Cecile was standing there with her arms crossed confidently. I didn't know what she was dissatisfied with, but she had a look of utter displeasure on her face.
For a split second, I didn't recognize this beauty, but I could tell who she was by her snow-white hair and her intelligently shining blue eyes.
"...Mari, is that you?"
"Why are you calling me?"
When I uttered Mari's name, the lovely beauty answered curtly. I scanned Mari's appearance with a slightly dazed face.
Her white hair, which she used to grow long to her waist, was tied in a ponytail, revealing her deer-like neck, and perhaps because of the makeup, she exuded an overall mature aura.
Her white dress with a subtle blue tint was also quite bold, though not as much as Cecile's. Her shoulders were completely exposed, making her seductive collarbones stand out clearly, and her moderately large chest was partially revealed, radiating sexual appeal.
Finally, she wore expensive-looking jewelry befitting a lady of a ducal house, but it was hard to give them much significance compared to her own beauty.
In conclusion, if Mari as a student exuded a lively girlishness, the current Mari was a mature adult, much like Cecile.
"Why are you staring so hard? Do I look strange?"
While I was blankly taking in her appearance, Mari asked again in a curt voice.
Seeing her slightly avert her gaze and the blush rising on her cheeks, she seemed to be embarrassed.
At that, I quickly snapped out of it and spoke my true thoughts.
"No. It's just... I was a bit taken aback. You've become so pretty that I didn't recognize you for a moment."
"...Pretty?"
At the word 'pretty,' Mari's grumpy face softened slightly. She then scanned Cecile next to me from head to toe before cautiously speaking.
"...How pretty am I?"
"Enough to fall in love at first sight, just like you boasted last time?"
"...Huh?"
As soon as I answered that way, Cecile beside me showed signs of doubt. Looking at her expression, she had one eye cocked as if something was bothering her.
Regardless, Mari seemed sufficiently satisfied with my answer, as the corners of her mouth curved into a smile. Then, facing me directly, she spoke as if it were nothing.
"You were so blunt before, but you're surprisingly good at flattery, aren't you? You know you're not getting anything out of it, right?"
"When have I ever used flattery? If I had, I would have used all sorts of flowery language, calling you a goddess of beauty or something."
"It's a shame; if you had at least done that, there might have been something in it for you."
"Should I do it now, then?"
"Forget it. Anyway..."
Mari, who had been chatting with me, trailed off and shifted her gaze to Cecile instead of me. After a quick scan from top to bottom, she watched Cecile's reaction and spoke carefully.
"Cecile, you're... quite bold. I don't know where to put my eyes."
Mari seemed to feel the same way I did. Then again, anyone who saw Cecile would likely have a similar reaction.
Meanwhile, Cecile smiled brightly at Mari's assessment and then performed an unexpected, sudden action that no one could have predicted.
"Yes. You think so too, Mari?"
She subtly grabbed my arm, pulled it, and then pressed it against her chest.
It was such a fluid and natural movement that I only reacted after the fact. As the soft, squishy sensation was transmitted vividly through my arm, the heat that had finally subsided flared up again.
"W-what are you..."
"I was curious to see how Isaac would react if I wore this dress."
What on earth is she talking about? Hearing Cecile's answer, I went beyond flustered to being utterly bewildered. It was a completely different answer compared to a moment ago.
Judging by her characteristically playful tone, she was definitely teasing me, but even that didn't make sense.
"...What does that mean?"
Mari also seemed to find Cecile's answer absurd. With one eye narrowed, she clearly expressed her inner thought: What the hell are you talking about?
At that, Cecile pulled my arm even harder. She seemed to have made up her mind, as she didn't budge even when I tried to pull away. Instead, every time I struggled, the soft sensation only became more vivid.
"It's exactly what it sounds like. I was curious about Isaac's reaction."
"No. Cecile Noona? Earlier, you clearly said..."
"...Why don't you stop the joke there? Can't you see Isaac is uncomfortable?"
Before I could even speak, Mari stepped forward and grabbed the arm Cecile was holding. However, there was no way Mari, who was close to an ordinary person, could win against Cecile's strength.
As a result, a situation was created where the two women were in a standoff with my arm between them. Cecile maintained her playful attitude even in the atmosphere that had turned cold in an instant.
"It's not a joke. And linking arms like this is a sort of reward for someone who has overcome their desires. It's an old culture of our Helium."
"That might apply to you demons. We humans won't look too kindly on what you're doing right now. What you're doing to Isaac is something only lovers do. It could make people question his chastity."
"I told Isaac earlier, but it's not good to apply human standards to other races. And we demons are actually very conservative when it comes to the concept of chastity."
"Since you're in the human world, shouldn't you follow human laws? At least, that's what I think."
A fierce battle of words, with neither woman yielding an inch, went back and forth. The point to note here was that while Mari had a face as stiff as could be, Cecile maintained a playful smile throughout.
But it didn't matter. Looking around, I could see people's gazes turning toward us with interest.
The Princess of Helium and the Lady of Rekilis fighting over one man. What a thrilling development.
You've probably heard this saying before.
Life is a comedy when seen from a distance, but a tragedy when seen up close.
...I want to go home.
That was exactly how I felt right now.