The Bait is Taken (2)
Even though the words had dropped rather abruptly, what I felt wasn’t confusion but pure exhilaration. I was barely managing to hide the ugly twist at the corner of my mouth.
If anything, I’d been wondering when the bait would finally be taken. Since things were unfolding exactly as I’d intended, I couldn’t suppress the delighted smile that kept trying to break free.
I had to make a conscious effort to wipe away the ominous atmosphere.
“Ahem.”
A light cough. Once I slipped on a flawless mask, Charlotte—who had been hesitating—added a few more words. She seemed to be carefully reading my expression.
“I know. It must sound strange. But when I say I need help, I mean every word.”
It was a rather refreshing reaction. After all, she was originally a character who never revealed emotion. Charlotte always wore an expressionless face; she was never agitated, never sad, never angry—she simply flowed on in quiet stillness. Like the calm surface of a tranquil lake.
"Hehe… It has been an enjoyable performance until now."
"There will be no more of this ridiculous acting."
⟨ From now on, I will realize His will. ⟩
In the latter half of the original story, the moment I betrayed everyone. While the other children were struck with horror, only Charlotte stood there with a perfectly calm expression. Because of that lifeless reaction, players had even created malicious memes treating her like a robot. It was a well-known in-game meme.
I remembered using that meme quite often myself. Whenever I uploaded videos featuring Charlotte, I would always slap a huge wall of hate comments on them. Since she was a popular character, it was perfect for farming reactions.
Anyway. The girl who was usually so curt was now letting her voice tremble with unease. By normal standards it would still seem calm, but by Charlotte’s standards this was an extremely shaken reaction. The rare quiver in her blue pupils proved it.
As expected.
It must have been because the matter involved the Rose. Even her gaze looked desperate. I smoothed out my ominous expression, added a light smile, and gently cut off the hesitant girl.
“You don’t have to explain.”
She had taken the bait magnificently. It seemed my performance against the thought-form had landed perfectly. I had orchestrated the flashy display precisely for a moment like this, but I hadn’t expected such a strong response. The situation must be truly desperate.
“Even without hearing the details, I already know. The help Your Highness spoke of must concern the Rose, correct?”
“How did you…?”
“I simply have sharp ears.”
“…….”
The girl stared up at me blankly, as if she had lost her words. I smiled with my eyes and slowly leaned closer. Stopping beside her pure-white ear, I whispered in a faint voice.
“I will gladly provide that help. If it is your request.”
The cool tone coiled around the girl’s throat. At the tip of my sly tongue melted a seduction meant to swallow the trembling prey whole. A single snake tightening around its victim’s windpipe.
“Your Highness simply needs to trust me.”
My innocent little prince. I had already reached the stage of binding her for gaslighting.
I harbored a faint, bitter smile.
“Um… thank you.”
Even so, Charlotte simply nodded.
After the matter at the cathedral concluded, we each returned to our own places. The mission had been successfully completed. We had safely rescued the missing collaborator.
Medro was immediately transported to headquarters. Once consciousness returned and his body recovered, we planned to question him in greater detail about the events of this incident. The vice-captain would be submitting the report on that process.
I made a separate appointment with the princess. At my offer of help, her eyes had sparkled. Charlotte accepted the proposal without the slightest suspicion. I shook her hand while hiding my pitch-black intentions.
It was a conclusion closer to a beginning than an end. Leaving the fierce air of dawn behind us, we set off on the path back to the academy.
Having stayed up all night, my body felt heavy. It was fortunate that it was the weekend. Instead of attending lectures, I could rest in the dormitory. I also needed to recover my depleted output.
I spent the time holed up in my room. While quietly passing the hours in the study, the fox who had been standing beside me suddenly spoke.
Her voice carried the weight of a decision made after long hesitation.
“……Um.”
The gaze I had been feeling for some time. I set down the book I was reading and answered.
“What is it, Miss Irene?”
“I was wondering if you’re okay.”
“Hm?”
“You said you used a lot of power again this time.”
“Well… I didn’t exactly hold back. I had to save Miss Medro after she was corrupted by magi.”
“You’re not in pain or… anything like that?”
Her deep black pupils. She seemed genuinely worried. It was because of everything she had witnessed. She had seen me cough up blood right in front of her, and during the school trip I had been unconscious for three full days. To her, I must have looked endlessly precarious.
To reassure her, I lightly shrugged my shoulders.
“On the contrary, I feel so light I could fly away.”
“Really…?”
“Of course.”
“Then that’s a relief.”
The fox gave a quiet nod. Feeling pleased, I stroked her tail. The girl silently accepted the touch for a moment before parting her closed lips once more. Her eyes were fixed on the slightly rolled sleeve.
“There… the scar.”
“Ah.”
The disheveled sleeve had revealed the edge of the scar. I realized it belatedly and tried to fix my clothes, but Irene’s decisive hand stopped me. The fox was staring at me with an unreadable expression.
“Miss Irene?”
“…….”
I called her softly, but no answer came. She simply held onto the sleeve. What could she be thinking?
After a brief silence, Irene broke the quiet.
“You.”
“Yes?”
“……Have you never thought about wearing more comfortable clothes?”
She pointed at the neatly worn suit, asking about the stuffy attire. The pitch-black fabric covered every inch of skin without revealing anything. It was to hide the scars.
“You’re always in such uncomfortable clothes. It can’t be helped outside, but I don’t think you need to go that far even inside the dormitory.”
“…….”
“After all, it’s just the two of us here.”
I understood her meaning. The reason I insisted on wearing the suit was to conceal the scars. They were too hideous to show. Even while enduring the constant discomfort, I had to maintain a neat appearance.
But.
Irene now knew about the scars. That was why she was saying this. She was suggesting that at least inside the dormitory, I could be comfortable. Since there were only the two of us and we both knew about the scars, there was no need to hide them.
It seemed that after the nursing incident last time, she had thought about this quite a lot.
“……Well.”
I took my time before answering. I put on an awkward smile, as if pondering how to respond. After humming for a moment, I voiced the part that concerned me.
“Comfortable clothes are nice, of course, but I have to consider the person I live with first.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Miss Irene might find it unpleasant. As you saw before, it’s not just a little ugly……”
“Absolutely not.”
As I continued in a self-deprecating tone, a clear voice suddenly cut me off. Irene lifted both hands to cup my cheeks. Then she turned my head so I would look at her.
“Miss Irene…?”
There, black eyes were gazing at me. Transparent, blinking pupils. A strangely pouty expression. The girl brought her face even closer. Close enough that our lukewarm breaths mingled and we could feel each other’s body heat. Her lips, which seemed on the verge of touching mine, spoke.
“I absolutely do not think that way.”
A decisive voice. She murmured as if there wasn’t the slightest trace of falsehood.
“Since I’ve decided to rely on you, I will accept any appearance you have.”
“…….”
“It is never unpleasant. Even the scars left on your body are part of you—the you I have chosen to follow.”
The fox whispered calmly. At some point she had lowered her head, pressing her forehead against mine.
“So… you can be comfortable in front of me.”
“…….”
Was it because of the completely unexpected response? I remained frozen. The warmth transmitted from our touching skin. Enveloped in the deeply permeating scent of her body, I could only stay silent for a long while.
Irene refused to let go easily. In the end, I was only released after saying that I would occasionally try wearing different clothes. The fox nodded vigorously, her tail wagging back and forth with clear delight.