Chapter 217: Estelle is Smiling (8)[R-18]
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 217: Estelle is Smiling (8)[R-18]
Thud— Thud—
My footsteps on the way home felt exceptionally heavy.
"Sigh..."
I lost track of how many times I’d sighed already.
In a situation where I should be sincerely happy and celebrating for her...
I felt utterly pathetic for sighing just because of the selfish reason that I didn't want Estelle to leave my side.
"...I really am a piece of trash."
This time, I couldn't even manage a hollow laugh.
I’d thought of myself as trash plenty of times before, but I didn't realize I was this far gone.
Click—
"Hey, Ian."
As soon as the door opened, a familiar voice greeted me.
It was Evelyn, reclining on my bed and glaring in my direction.
"Evelyn, hey. ...Wait?"
I answered habitually before my brain finally caught up and sounded the alarm.
"...Evelyn? Why are you here?"
"Heh..."
Evelyn curled one side of her mouth into a smirk at my flustered expression.
"Ian. You haven't let me near this place for a while, and now I see you've basically started a whole new household here?"
"...Evelyn. I don't know what you're thinking, but it's all a misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding? Misunderstanding, my ass. More like 'Hell yeah' for you, you son of a bitch."
Even though she was swearing, the way she kept that beaming smile on her face told me something was very, very wrong.
Snap! Snap!
Then, while still lying on the bed, Evelyn snapped her fingers twice.
"Hrk-ak! Evelyn-unni! You called?!"
Suddenly, Poporing, who had been crouching in a corner of the room, popped out.
Snap!
With her arms pinned to her sides and her back straight as a board in an attention stance, there wasn't a trace of Poporing's usual lethargic self.
"...Poporing?"
"Hrk-ak! Po! Po! Ring!"
"...What's going on? Did something happen with Evelyn?"
At my question, Poporing’s body seemed to tremble for a moment...
Then, she suddenly tilted her head toward the ceiling and began pouring out words in a frantic rush.
"Hrk-eeeeek!Noitisnt!Noitisnot!Nothinghappenedatall!Ian-oppa!Wewerejusttalkingforabit!Itwasreallynothing!Therewerenothreats!Itwasjustaconversation!Therewasabsolutelynocoercion!ItseemedlikeUnniwasinabitmoodbutthatwasentirelymyfault!SoIapologizedandUnniwasverygenerousandunderstanding!Afterthattheatmospherewasgreatandwelaughedtogether!TheonlyreasonIcriedwasbecauseIneededtoprocessmyemotions!Theknifewasjustonthetable!Ithinkshewasjustgoingtocooksomething!Itwasdefinitelynotpointedatme!AnywayIamextremelyhealthyrighnow!Mymindisperfectlyfine!Iamsoreallyreallyhappy!Absolutelynothinghappened!Sopleasedontmisunderstand!Ian-oppa!Childhoodfriendsarethebest!IamsupportingUnni!Iwillcontinuesupportingherinthefuture!IdeeplyfeltthatEvelyn-unniisapersonoverflowingwiththedignityofaLegalWife!Itrulyrespecther!SoIhopeyouwilltreatbetterfromnowontoo!PoporingisbeingsincerewhenIsayIwishforthehappinessofyouboth!"
As Poporing finished her speech—which made me wonder if she was even breathing—
Clap— Clap— Clap—
Evelyn clapped elegantly and nodded.
"Right. Keep up the good work, Poporing."
"Hrk-ik! Yesyesyes! I-I'll do my best! Unni! I'll really do my best! I'll watch my words! I'll watch my actions! I'll even minimize my presence! I'll talk to Ian-oppa less! I won't even come out of the corner! I'll strive to become like the dust in this house! S-So! Please! I love it when you smile, Unni, but you could really smile just a little bit less—Hrk-haaaa! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I must be crazy! Evelyn-unni! You're so beautiful!!"
"...Evelyn, what on earth did you do to Poporing? Why is she like this?"
"Hehehe... Ian~ Are you curious?"
Crack— Crack—
At my question, Evelyn cracked her wrists and slowly rose from the bed like a lioness about to begin a hunt.
"Don't be in such a rush~ You'll find out even if you don't want to."
Evelyn's tone was playful, but her eyes weren't smiling.
Dash!
"Sinner Ian, hear your crimes!!"
The moment she stepped off the bed, mana began to ripple from Evelyn's body.
"First! The crime of ghosting your childhood friend and lover of 15 years! Second! The crime of bringing a suspicious girl you call a 'younger sister' into your home and living together in secret! Third! The crime of showing no sign of remorse despite all this! For all these sins, I shall now deliver a severe punishment..."
Evelyn, who had been reciting Ian's list of crimes, suddenly furrowed her brows.
...Fuck, what's wrong with this guy?
Normally, he would have tried to run, slammed his head on the floor in apology, or at least rattled off a string of excuses...
But for some reason, the Ian standing there today didn't seem to have any intention of doing that.
He just kept his head bowed, as if he were calmly accepting his punishment.
"....Sigh."
The strength left Evelyn's clenched fists, and her aimless anger escaped in a long sigh.
Shit... They really do say the one who loves more is the loser...
How many times was she going to fall for this bastard's antics?
But how could she possibly hit Ian when he looked like that?
Thump!
"...Hey, you piece of shit."
Muttering a small curse, Evelyn lightly punched my chest.
"Why... why do you look like death warmed over?"
"...Evelyn?"
Press!
As I tried to lift my head, Evelyn pressed down on it with her hand.
"Fuck, if I see your face, my anger will just melt away. Just keep your head down and talk. What is it, you moron?"
"...."
After a moment of hesitation, I briefly confessed everything that had happened with Estelle.
From Estelle's request to go to the Summer Festival together, to her uncle appearing, and the possibility that her legs could be healed if she went to the Demon Kingdom.
...And how I, who should be nothing more than a classmate to Estelle, was suffering because I couldn't be honestly happy about all of this.
"Hmm..."
When the story ended, Evelyn tilted her head and stared at me in silence for a long time.
'...Ian, is this guy a total fucking moron?'
She knew from experience how dense he was, but...
No, seriously, does this even make sense??
It wasn't like he lacked intuition in other areas, but he was insanely oblivious when it came to romantic feelings.
It was as if someone had installed a filter in Ian's brain.
Estelle had been making it so obvious; how could he not know?
She almost wondered if he was just pretending not to know, but...
"Sigh..."
Seeing him sighing and suffering like that, she knew that wasn't the case.
This is so fucking irritating. You bastard.
She wanted to grab Ian by the collar right now and scream that Estelle liked him so much he should just go and confess already.
But...
Is it okay for me to say this? Estelle must have her own reasons, right? If someone else told Ian that I liked him, I would...
Snap!
"Aaaaagh! Fuck! I can't take this frustration anymore! Grrr!"
Evelyn, who had been chasing her own tail looking for excuses, stopped thinking.
Wasn't this exact kind of bullshit why it took over ten years for her to finally start dating Ian?!
...Of course, she knew this was a crazy move where she only stood to lose.
Even though she had reluctantly allowed a harem, Estelle would be a truly formidable rival.
...Even so!
She hated the idea of Estelle disappearing without ever properly conveying her feelings.
And she hated seeing Ian moping around even more!
"...Evelyn? What's wrong all of a sudden?"
"Shut up! You moron! Why do you think Estelle acted like that? It's because she likes you, you dumbass!!"
"...What?"
The moment I heard Evelyn's words, it felt like I’d been struck over the head.
"...That's impossible. Why would Estelle..."
"Aaaaagh!! I seriously want to...! I can't even kill you!"
Evelyn acted as if she were about to tear her own hair out, then started shoving my shoulders.
"You dense idiot!! Do you still not get it? Look at how much Estelle has been showing it. Look at the macarons she gave you on Lady Ellis's birthday!! Fuck, did those look like they were given out of mere loyalty? And what woman on earth asks a guy she doesn't like to go to a festival alone with her!! Fuck! Why do you think I took you to the festival every year? Because I fucking like you!!! You moron!!"
The words Evelyn poured out scrambled my brain.
Really... Estelle... likes me?
All the time I’d spent with Estelle flashed before my eyes like a kaleidoscope...
The actions I’d thought were just kindness shown to a friend began to take on a different meaning.
Thump— Thump— Thump—
Evelyn let out a long, exhausted sigh.
"Sigh... Fuck... And so what if Estelle only thinks of you as a classmate? ...Since when did you care about what others think? You're the guy who got permission for a harem from the childhood friend who only looked at you for 15 years. Stop bullshitting and act like... yourself. You did just fine with me, so are you saying you can't do it with Estelle?"
"...."
Evelyn was right.
In the end, I had always acted honestly according to my desires.
But...
"...Evelyn, but Estelle is different from you. When I did that 'Gratitude Sex' with you and got your permission..."
Slap!
Evelyn, her face turning beet red, suddenly slapped me across the cheek.
"No! You crazy bastard, seriously!!! Is that all you have in your head?!? I told you to act like yourself, so why the hell is the first thing out of your mouth about raping her!!"
"Urgh... Then...?"
"Aaaaagh!! Just!! Normally!! Talk to her!! Tell her you don't want her to go!! But since it's an opportunity she can't miss!! You'll let her go for her own sake!! Tell her you'll wait, so you have to see each other again!! Something like that!! You moron!!"
Seeing Evelyn huffing and puffing in frustration snapped me back to my senses.
She was right.
I was overcomplicating things.
If I liked her, I just had to be honest and say so.
"...Thanks, Evelyn. And I'm sorry. I think I need to go to Estelle right now."
"Hmph! Do whatever you want! You jerk!"
"Yeah, I love you so much, Evelyn!"
"...Ugh! Just shut up and get out!"
Click— Slam!
As soon as Ian left the house, Evelyn, drained of all energy, threw herself onto the bed.
"...Fuck, I must be crazy. Ahhh, ugh, ugh!!"
As Evelyn buried her face in the pillow and kicked her legs, Poporing, who had been quietly watching the situation from the corner, whispered in a small voice.
"Hr-hrk-hit? ...Evelyn... Unni... I thought you were just scary... but you're surprisingly kind... Hrk-hehehe."
"...."
Bolt!
In that instant, Evelyn lifted her head and gave Poporing a cold smile.
"Poporing. Attention."
"Hrk-eeeeeeek!!! Po! Po! Ring!"