Chapter 73: Estelle is Smiling (2)[R-18]
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 73: Estelle is Smiling (2)[R-18]
“President, thanks for the help. I’ll buy you some macarons in return... Well, maybe not this month, but next month when I get my allowance.”
“...You don’t have to. It’s only natural for group members to help each other.”
“Still...”
It wasn’t really a case of mutual aid; it was more like I was being unilaterally carried by Estelle.
“I said it’s fine. ...More importantly, Ian.”
“Yeah, Prez?”
“...Stop calling me President. Call me Estelle.”
“Huh? Why?”
Even if the club only had two members, shouldn't I respect the president's authority?
That was why I called her ‘President’ inside the library and ‘Estelle’ outside of it.
“...Right now, we’re doing an assignment as ‘group members,’ not as a club.”
“Ah, true. Got it, Estelle.”
“...Mm.”
When I called her name, one corner of Estelle’s mouth quirked up slightly.
Seeing that somewhat mischievous smile, I wondered if Estelle actually had a playful side to her personality.
“Then, shall we get back to the assignment?”
“...Okay.”
Scritch— scratch—
As I worked on the presentation materials, Estelle would offer advice.
“...Ian. I think it would be better to increase the size of that part.”
“Like this?”
“...No... not that side, the one on the right.”
“Ah, this one?”
“Yeah... but don’t make it that big, just a bit more vertical... Sigh...”
“...Sorry. Was it supposed to be like this?”
“Stop... don’t touch it anymore.”
Whirrr— whirrr—
Frustrated by my inability to understand her directions, Estelle, who had been sitting across from me, rolled her wheelchair around the table to my side.
Slide— slide—
“I meant for you to do it like this...”
“Oh! It’s definitely much easier to read now.”
As expected of the student who ranked second in our year.
The presentation materials I had been struggling with for ages were transformed into something clean and professional the moment Estelle laid her hands on them.
“...There, how is it?”
“It’s really good. But don’t you think putting this on the front page would make it easier to understand?”
“Hmm... you’re right. Let’s do that, then.”
Inhale—
As I breathed in, I caught a whiff of Estelle’s scent.
‘Why do the girls around me always smell so good?’
Evelyn smells like honey, Yuris smells like milk, and Laplace smells like lily of the valley.
...Elfriede smells like mint? I hadn't smelled it properly, so I wasn't sure, but I remembered it being very refreshing.
And Estelle... how should I put it? She had that unique skin scent that babies have. Or rather, a pleasant fragrance resembling powder.
‘I kind of want to just give her a big hug and fall asleep...’
I didn't mean it in a sexual way; I just felt like if I hugged Estelle and fell asleep smelling the top of her head, I’d have the best nap of my life.
“...Ian?”
Estelle’s voice snapped me back to reality.
I must have been focusing too much on her scent.
“Yeah, Estelle.”
This time, I looked her straight in the eye as I answered.
Unlike last time, I wasn't having any lewd delusions about her; I just purely thought about sleeping together!!
“...So, I’m just asking for no particular reason... but do you have a favorite fruit?”
“Fruit? Hmm...”
I wasn't a picky eater unless it was something monstrous like ‘mint chocolate chicken skewers’ or ‘pineapple pizza.’
“I eat pretty much anything. Nothing in particular. If I had to pick, maybe lemons?”
“I see...”
“But why all of a sudden? Ah, is it for a gift for ‘Alice’s Day’?”
I threw the question out as a joke, but...
Clatter!
Estelle’s eyes widened, and she dropped her pen.
“...How... did you know?”
“Huh? I was just kidding. Was I right?”
“Ah...! ...Ugh... well... like... like I said before... as the President, I’m just looking out for my club member. But... since I’m giving a gift... it’s better to give something the person likes.”
I was a little touched.
I didn't know Estelle cared about her club members this much.
“Thanks. To be honest, I’ve hardly ever received gifts for ‘Alice’s Day’ until now, so I’m actually looking forward to it.”
“...You hardly received any? Didn't Evelyn give you one?”
“Ah... yeah, Evelyn gave me some, but... how should I put it? It feels like getting something from Evelyn is just a given...”
As I said it, I felt like I was bragging a bit...
But still, I couldn't even imagine not receiving an ‘Alice’s Day’ gift from Evelyn.
“Anyway, other than Evelyn, I’ve only received them very rarely.”
“That’s probably because Evely—”
Estelle started to say something but then shut her mouth.
“What is it? Why did you stop? You know that’s the most frustrating thing, right?”
“...It’s nothing. Never mind.”
“It doesn’t seem like nothing. You’re not going to tell me?”
“...No, I won’t.”
“Really? Even if I do this, you won’t...!”
Flinch!
I had relaxed so much that I almost reflexively tickled Estelle, just like I always did with Evelyn.
“...Ian, what’s with that hand?”
“Ah... Estelle... there was something stuck in your hair.”
It wasn't a lie.
I had spotted it while I was talking—there really was something stuck there.
“...Where? Here?”
“No, not there... a bit higher...”
Brush— brush—
Estelle stroked her hair a few times, then shook her head.
“...I can’t find it. ...Ian... can you take it off for me?”
“What? Estelle... didn't you... hate this kind of thing?”
I’ll say it again: I’m a very perceptive man.
Even if she hadn't said it directly, I knew Estelle absolutely loathed people touching her body or her belongings.
“...Yes, I don’t really like it. So... do it... gently.”
Reach—
As if that was the end of the conversation, Estelle closed her eyes and tilted her chin up.
“.....”
Maybe it was because I’d been rolling around with Evelyn and Yuris so much lately, but even though I knew better, it almost looked like Estelle was asking for a kiss.
“...Alright.”
I carefully reached out, making sure not to touch Estelle’s skin...
Rustle— rustle—
“Ngh...!”
Because the scrap of paper was stuck so close to her ear, my fingertips ended up brushing against her.
Estelle gulped as she watched Ian reach out.
I lied to Ian.
“....”
In truth, I knew there was a ‘scrap of paper’ stuck in my hair.
Because I was the one who put it there.
Of course, I knew Ian had no interest in someone like me.
...But I thought that if it was the kind-hearted Ian, he would surely take it off for me.
So, I deliberately gave him confusing directions and moved close to his side so he would notice it.
At first, I was almost saddened when he didn't notice because he was too focused on the assignment...
But as soon as we started chatting, he spotted it immediately.
Rustle— rustle—
‘I’m sorry.’
I was happy that Ian’s touch was reaching my hair, yet I couldn't be purely happy.
‘So as not to get in their way,’ ‘So as not to get greedy,’ ‘So I can be satisfied just by being near him.’
I had decided not to wish for anything more...
Even though I knew everyone who gets close to me becomes miserable, I still wanted to reach you.
Self-loathing welled up at my terribly selfish and ugly emotions, but this brief moment with Ian would be what allowed me to endure the lonely life ahead of me.
“Ngh...!”
Just then, I was startled as Ian’s fingers brushed against my ear.
To make such a perverted sound just because his hand touched my ear...!
I was terrified that Ian would be disappointed by my pathetic display.
“Ah, Estelle, are you okay?”
“...Yes, I’m fine. Ian, did you get it?”
“Yeah, here. It was a scrap of paper. I wonder where it came from?”
“I wonder...”
Fortunately, Ian didn't seem to mind.
“....”
Surely, Ian must have grown up receiving lots of love in a harmonious family.
Just like the family I once had.
If that family were still here, would I have been able to approach Ian more confidently than I do now?
“...Ian.”
“Yeah, Estelle.”
“...What are your parents like?”
“Ah... um....”
After I asked the question, I could see Ian looking flustered.
As I thought, does he not want to talk about his family history with someone like me?
Clench—
I had overstepped my bounds just because I thought we’d become a little closer.
“Sorry... I overstepped... Please forget I asked.”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just... I don’t have any memories of my parents.”
“...What?”
Ian scratched his cheek awkwardly and continued.
“Actually, I’m an orphan. The Marigold family rescued me when I was five, collapsed in the snow. I must have hit my head back then because I have no memories from before I was rescued... So I don’t really know what my parents were like.”
“....”
I had never even considered it.
To think that Ian was an orphan just like me.
With such a confident and lively personality, I naturally assumed he had a happy home.
And then, a wave of self-disgust washed over me.
‘I...’
Was I just digging into Ian’s wounds under the guise of ignorance, driven by my greed to know more?
And...
Was I just making excuses?
Compared to Ian, who didn't even have memories of his parents, I was filled with happy memories left behind by mine.
...And yet, Ian and I were living completely opposite lives.
“Ian, I’m sorry. ...I’m... sorry.”
“No, it’s really fine. It’s all in the past anyway. And even though my parents aren't around, the Family Head and Lady Audrey treat me so well... It’s a bit embarrassing, but I basically think of them as my parents.”
“...I see.”
With that, our conversation lapsed for a moment.
Normally, Ian would have naturally asked about my family, but he must know about the ‘Black Dahlia Residence Massacre.’
I had never told anyone else about my family history, but it was a major incident that had shocked the entire Empire.
‘...Ah.’
As I watched Ian’s profile for a moment...
A sticky emotion welled up.
It was an ugly and disgusting emotion, incomparable to what I felt before, so I could never voice it.
But...
I had finally found something where I could be more helpful to Ian than Evelyn.
‘...Ian.’
Because I am someone who has experienced the same pain as you...
I can share your suffering, something that Evelyn, with her happy family, could never understand.
With that thought, Estelle smiled faintly in her heart as she called out Ian’s name.