Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Imperial Family (2)
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In her pajamas, Vespa flailed about on her bed in the dorm, staring blankly up at the ceiling.
In Vespa Luciana's case, she wasn't someone who had much experience being exposed to men's lecherous intentions.
Once men realized she was "that" hero's attendant, most would freak out and run away, while the ones who didn't know approached her at first only to flee later upon finding out.
"⋯⋯."
Hmm.
Looking at it this way, she suddenly felt like she owed Gray a debt of gratitude.
‘This must be the Lady's grace as well⋯⋯’
After a brief moment of thanking Gray, Vespa returned to her flailing.
She had always been more lively when alone than with others, but she could definitely tell her current state was even more intense than usual.
The cause was undoubtedly the words from that imperial she had encountered earlier that day.
- Looks usable for a bit of fun, but meh. Ambiguous.
⋯⋯In all her life, she'd never heard anything like it.
It felt disgustingly unpleasant.
Like bugs crawling all over her body.
So this was what it felt like to be treated that way by a man she had zero interest in. She was learning for the first time.
"⋯⋯."
And.
In that case.
Her train of thought shifted elsewhere.
Why was it that the very man who had captured all her attention didn't spare her the slightest bit of it?
"⋯⋯Huuuum."
Vespa's cheeks puffed out.
Lately, by her own reckoning, the amount of time she spent by Carlyle's side was more than enough to create some subtle atmosphere between them.
At the very least, it was plenty of time for a man and woman who got along to exchange meaningful conversation.
‘It’s not like we haven’t talked or anything⋯⋯’
Carlyle was always his usual self.
Thoughtful, cheerful, always reliably there for her.
And that pissed her off.
Why was he so damn normal⋯⋯?
She felt like she'd been appealing pretty hard, but Carlyle showed zero reaction.
‘Am I, that unattractive?’
She didn't think so.
The reason people around her ran was because she happened to be with the hero; men who didn't know that fact had all shown her interest first.
No one but a fool would be unaware of the value of their own looks.
Even that creepy prince had said she wasn't his type but hadn't denied she was a beauty⋯⋯
‘Mr. Carlyle, idiot, idiooot—’
She flailed vigorously on the bed again.
She had no other way to vent her frustration⋯⋯
And with such intense movements, feedback came immediately.
*Ping!* A button popped off her pajamas.
"⋯⋯."
Vespa stared blankly at the button that had flown off.
The reason was clear.
‘⋯⋯Grown again.’
She looked down at her chest with a pout.
She'd felt a slight tightness, but she hadn't expected it to burst open like this so soon.
The pajamas were newly tailored, and now she'd have to replace them again.
Not even in her growth spurt anymore, yet they kept getting bigger⋯⋯
‘⋯⋯Is it because of magic?’
The only recent change in her life was that.
Of course, that was unlikely. There were no studies showing magic caused physical changes.
"Shiiit⋯⋯"
She staggered to her feet to pick up the button.
As she bent down to reach for it by the door, the door suddenly flew open and smacked her right in the head.
"Ek."
*Crash!* Vespa sprawled on the floor, and on the other side of the door, Gray looked down at her with wide eyes.
"L-Lady⋯⋯?"
"⋯⋯."
Even hearing Vespa's flustered voice, Gray's gaze was fixed squarely in the center.
Her expression rapidly soured as her eyes locked onto Vespa's disheveled pajamas where the button had popped.
More precisely, she was glaring at the exposed area with fire in her eyes⋯⋯
It was such a fierce look that Vespa instinctively covered her chest with both hands and stepped back.
"⋯⋯S-Sorry⋯⋯?"
"⋯⋯⋯⋯Why are you apologizing."
"⋯⋯."
Because the atmosphere demanded it.
But before she could voice such thoughts, Gray—who was visibly in a foul mood—kicked at the floor and spoke.
"Sorry for coming over at night."
"⋯⋯."
No.
If you're going to be so polite, maybe don't just barge in without knocking like you're kicking the door down.
But instead of voicing that doubt, Vespa beamed.
She could settle those questions later.
For now, the fact that Gray was saying something that showed she was considering Vespa's feelings was proof she was "trying."
"No worries! Come in and sit?"
"⋯⋯Yeah."
At Vespa's words, Gray nodded and snapped her fingers.
At the same moment, bright light bloomed around them. An illumination spell using light magic.
And with the room lit up, Gray's stunned face became even clearer.
"⋯⋯How'd you do that?"
"Hm?"
"No incantation, no mana arrangement, and you cast a spell?"
"⋯⋯J-Just kinda happened."
"⋯⋯."
Gray stared intently at Vespa, who was fidgeting with her fingers.
Right before her eyes was a mage who had utterly defied every basic structure of magic.
It was the kind of feat that would shock any mage who used mana to cast spells.
She had lightly violated the fundamental premise upon which the discipline of magic operated.
‘⋯⋯This girl.’
She'd felt it before, but her potential was absurd.
She casually did things even the hero couldn't, without realizing how incredible it was.
But.
Now wasn't the time to dwell on that.
She hadn't come here for that in the first place.
"I came to talk about that guy."
"⋯⋯Mr. Carlyle?"
"Yeah."
⋯⋯Strangely.
She hadn't even heard what it was about yet, but Vespa's heart sank.
It felt like Gray was about to say something she absolutely didn't want to hear.
But she couldn't let that show.
She hadn't fully grasped why yet, but her instincts screamed that she shouldn't.
So she managed her expression as best she could, and Gray continued flatly.
"I think we need to keep an eye on him together."
"Keep an eye⋯⋯?"
"He looks like he's about to cause trouble. You can tell just by looking."
"⋯⋯Uh⋯⋯"
Being around Gray made it clear her intelligence far surpassed others.
⋯⋯Which meant vague statements like this forced follow-ups.
"Trouble like what?"
"Didn't you feel it? Earlier today, when that imperial was talking shit to you."
Gray sighed and continued.
"That imperial almost got smashed by him."
"⋯⋯Pardon?"
"He couldn't stand hearing you get that crap."
The moment she heard that.
Vespa hurriedly ducked her head, regulating her breathing.
Even under the bright lights, her expression would show clearly how off it was.
Her chest felt squeezed tight.
Mr. Carlyle.
Had been about to get angry.
For her sake.
Ready to charge at that infamous imperial so naturally.
Just that fact made her whole body burn.
"Well, anyway. I think we need to be careful when we're sticking close from now on."
Gray crossed her arms and continued.
"⋯⋯If anything seems like it's about to happen, tell me right away."
"Uh, in that case, shouldn't we stop Mr. Carlyle first⋯⋯?"
At that response, Gray immediately scoffed.
"Doesn't seem like the type to listen. Once he gets stubborn, he doesn't even care about me."
Just now.
The way he'd stood against Gray for Vespa right in front of her.
So.
"Better to turn that into something good."
"Something good?"
Gray grinned.
A mischievous, impish grin.
⋯⋯To Vespa, it looked terrifyingly laced with malice.
"I've always wanted to teach those imperials a lesson someday."
"⋯⋯."
"Isn't now a good chance?"
⋯⋯Better not to ask what she was scheming.
As Vespa nodded quietly, Gray suddenly shut her mouth.
She peeked around hesitantly, running a hand through her hair.
It felt like she was about to ask something extremely difficult.
"And, um⋯⋯"
"Yes, Lady."
"⋯⋯What are you to him, exactly?"
"⋯⋯."
Hearing what she said.
Vespa could see why it was hard.
"To him⋯⋯ like what?"
"Why⋯⋯ does he lose it like that whenever you're involved?"
"⋯⋯."
"⋯⋯Something special?"
Straight to the point like that.
Vespa stared at Gray, speechless for a moment.
Relation.
Yeah, relation.
‘⋯⋯I don't know either.’
That was the truth.
Vespa herself had no idea what she and Carlyle were.
But strangely, the itchy words rising to her lips were.
‘The Lady doesn't need to worry about that⋯⋯’
Such.
Rebellious, defiant words she'd never said to Gray before.
Digging deeper.
‘Whatever Mr. Carlyle and I do, it doesn't concern you, right?’
Dark.
Shadowy.
Violently swirling.
Perhaps even laced with anger.
As such thoughts swirled in her mind.
Something caught her eye.
Gray's hand.
Slightly.
Very slightly.
Trembling just a little.
A tiny quiver Gray herself seemed unaware of.
But to Vespa's eyes, it stood out clearer than anything.
The meaning was obvious.
Gray was anxious.
"-"
Flashing through her mind was the image from the mage tower before.
Gray looking at her with sad eyes.
And the next moment.
"⋯⋯No."
Before she could think deeply, the words slipped out naturally.
"Mr. Carlyle and I aren't anything special."
"-Really?"
"Yes."
Vespa nodded with a smile.
Gray's face visibly relaxed.
The trembling in her hand faded.
"⋯⋯."
Seeing that made it crystal clear.
This girl.
Didn't seem fully aware of her own feelings yet.
But the direction of those feelings was crystal clear.
So.
"He's just looking out for me as a friend, right?"
⋯⋯Something uncertain like that.
She could yield it.
"Right?"
Gray smiled as she said it.
Vespa smiled back.
Outwardly, she looked perfectly fine.
But a strange churning rose from her lower abdomen, her chest, her throat.
Hammering at the roof of her mouth, trying to form words.
But.
She suppressed it.
Pushed it down, hard.
"-Yes."
That was all.
Vespa quietly uttered.
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