Chapter 159: Succubus Queen
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 159: Succubus Queen
To put it bluntly, running away was pointless.
“This steak is quite good. Wouldn’t you agree, Cloud?”
I had to face them again at dinner anyway. It was an invitation from the count, so it would have been awkward to refuse. Frillite must have known that, which was probably why she didn’t chase after me.
“I agree. It seems perfectly cooked. Right, Cloud?”
Scrape, scrape—
Katarina spoke as she sawed at her steak like it was a pork cutlet. Her eyes were smiling, but veins were bulging on her arms.
The reason for her anger was simple.
It was because I’d asked her to hide the fact that we were lovers.
She hadn’t even gotten a detailed explanation before being dragged to dinner, so she must have been fuming inside.
Still, I was glad she’d listened to me.
If she hadn’t, this dinner would have devolved into a chaotic fight.
‘Honestly, I don’t think Katarina could beat Frillite anyway.’
Not in terms of ability, nor in terms of social standing.
‘Still, what am I going to do about Frillite...’
Frillite wasn’t a woman I could treat lightly. It wasn’t because of her status, but because I genuinely considered her a precious friend. I didn’t want to hurt her over something foolish.
As I mulled over how to handle her, a sudden thought made me chuckle.
‘Who would have thought the day would come when I’d be worrying about girl problems?’
It was something I could never have imagined in my previous world. I’d lived like a playboy for a while after getting with Leah, but back then, it was literally just for fun.
‘I got an earful for that later.’
If she saw me in this situation now, what would she say...
...She?
Who was she?
Who was I thinking of just now?
“...oud.”
Wait a minute.
How did I even come to my senses back then?
I was half out of my mind at the time.
“...loud.”
Ah, right.
There was someone who nagged me relentlessly.
Even when I ignored her and gave her the cold shoulder, she came to nag me every single day.
She did...
But who was it?
I can’t remember.
Was it a man? A woman?
Were they big? Small?
Was their voice deep? High-pitched?
I don’t know.
I can’t remember a single thing.
Why can’t I remember?
I promised I wouldn’t forget a single one of them.
I promised I’d remember everyone.
So what is this?
What the fu—
“Cloud!”
Frillite’s loud voice echoed in my ear. I turned to see her with her face right next to my ear.
“Are you all right?”
“Huh? Me?”
“You look pale. You’re breaking out in a cold sweat. Is something wrong? Have you not fully recovered from your injuries from the fight with the undead?”
“No. I’m fine. I was just lost in a strange thought.”
Right, just a strange thought.
“I’m fine, so don’t worry. What were we talking about?”
The worry didn’t leave Frillite’s face as she answered.
“We were talking about the count’s late wife.”
“Ah... My condolences, Count.”
“It’s quite all right.”
The count shook his head.
“Although my wife is no longer by my side, the memories we made together are etched into my heart. That is enough for me. More importantly, look at those two.”
The count pointed to Isabelle and Mars.
“Here, Mars. Say ahh~.”
Isabelle held up a piece of steak she had cut and brought it to Mars’s lips. Mars glanced around nervously before reluctantly accepting the piece she offered.
“Is it good?”
“Yeah...”
“Really? Then I’ll cut some more for you. Eat up.”
Isabelle continued to feed Mars.
The count watched them with a warm expression.
“What a lovely sight. It reminds me of my wife when we were young.”
His smile, however, was tinged with bitterness.
The meal continued, and when everyone had finished, the count was the first to rise, bringing the dinner to a close.
My companions all returned to their respective rooms, but I was not so lucky.
“Cloud. A word, if you please.”
Frillite had stopped me. It would have been awkward to run away again, so I followed her. She led me to her room.
Once we were alone, she began to speak.
“Cloud. About what happened this afternoon...”
Here it comes.
Just as I steeled myself and tried to come up with a lame excuse, Frillite sighed and spoke.
“I apologize. It seems I got too excited.”
Huh?
What is this?
Why is Frillite apologizing to me?
As I stood there, bewildered, she continued.
“You told me that day, didn’t you? That by the time I received my father’s permission, you would already be a taken man.”
“Huh? Ah... right, I did.”
“As it turns out, you weren’t lying. If anyone is at fault, it is I, for informing you so late.”
Wait, could this be...
“Therefore, I will not dwell on the past. What’s important is the present.”
She placed a hand on my shoulder.
“When we return to the Empire, let us hold our engagement ceremony as soon as the social season is over.”
...?
“An engagement ceremony? Isn’t that a bit soon?”
“Not at all. Nobles typically hold their engagement ceremonies right after their coming-of-age. I am the exception for not having had one until now.”
“R-Right... But wouldn’t a sudden engagement ceremony be a burden on your family?”
“I will write to my father, so do not worry. And if the ceremony is held right after the social season, the nobles who attended will be present for our engagement as well. It will be good for the family.”
Frillite nodded.
Yeah, I see.
There’s no way out.
*
After his conversation with Frillite, Cloud walked listlessly down the hallway. He spotted Mars leaning against the railing, staring blankly at the sky.
‘What’s with him now?’
He had a pretty good idea why the boy was moping.
It was obviously because of Isabelle.
Pink-haired sluts are nothing but trouble.
Cloud clicked his tongue and walked over to Mars, leaning against the railing beside him.
“Isabelle, right?”
“Huh? Oh, it’s you.”
Startled by the sudden voice, Mars relaxed when he saw Cloud’s face.
“What do you mean, ‘Isabelle’? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“The reason you’re moping. It’s because of Isabelle, isn’t it?”
“Moping...”
“Yes or no. Just answer that.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Mars nodded.
“Alright. I’ll solve it for you.”
With that, Cloud began striding down the hall. An inexplicable sense of dread washed over Mars, and he hurried after him.
“What are you going to do?”
“You said Isabelle was bothering you. You seem too attached to push her away, so I’ll get rid of her for you.”
“What are you talking about?! When did I say she was bothering me?!”
Cloud stopped in his tracks.
“I’m wrong?”
“You’re wrong!”
“Fine, my mistake.”
Cloud shrugged. Seeing Mars’s furrowed brow, he let out a small laugh.
“Then what’s the problem? Tell me.”
Mars hesitated for a moment before sighing and speaking.
“I was just wondering if this is really okay.”
“How am I supposed to know what that means? Be more specific.”
At Cloud’s urging, Mars leaned his back against the railing and confessed his worries.
“Isabelle’s sudden change in behavior is a little surprising, but I don’t hate it. No, I actually like it.”
“Didn’t you say last time that you weren’t sure if you still liked her or not?”
“I’ve become more honest with my feelings since then. I still like Isabelle.”
...So it’s come to this.
Cloud smoothed out the frown that was about to form on his face.
“Then that’s that. She likes you, and you like her. Isn’t that the end of it?”
“It’s not that simple.”
Mars shook his head, his expression serious.
“You know, I don’t know if I deserve this kind of treatment. I feel like it’s too much for someone like me.”
“What?”
“It’s true. I traveled, but I didn’t make any companions. I acquired exceptional swordsmanship, but it’s not my own. It belongs to some man I’ve never even met named Ruin Crasio. And I only got that because you told me how to clear the dungeon. In the end, I haven’t achieved anything on my own. I’m no different from back then, when I needed your help for everything from one to ten.”
A look of self-loathing filled Mars’s face.
“But Isabelle is different. She’s become more beautiful than before, and she can even use magic now. That’s what made me think... maybe Isabelle is too good for me.”
A complex worry tangled with love and self-esteem.
Cloud summed it up in one phrase.
“Sounds like you’re a jealous husband in the making.”
“...What are you talking about now?”
Mars looked displeased that Cloud was joking when he was trying to be serious. But Cloud just stared back at him with a look of disbelief.
“Am I wrong? You said you like Isabelle. And she likes you. But the reason you can’t be with her is because you think you’re not good enough for her, right? In other words, you’re worried she’ll meet someone better and leave you, so you can’t date her. Worrying about her cheating when it hasn’t even happened—how is that any different from being a jealous husband?”
“Uh...?”
It was clearly sophistry, but somehow, it was persuasive. Just as Mars’s head began to spin, having lost the point of the argument, Cloud slung an arm around his shoulder.
“I understand how you feel. After being burned by women twice, it’s no wonder you’d develop a complex.”
“N-No. I’m telling you, it’s not a complex...”
His voice trailed off, as if he wasn’t even sure himself. Cloud completely ignored him and continued.
“But I can’t agree with your self-pity. You traveled but didn’t make any companions? You still gained experience. You can use exceptional swordsmanship, but it’s not yours? Why? You want to create your own unique style or something?”
“...That’s not it.”
“Right. It’s not. Mars, listen. The world is full of guys who learn great swordsmanship and can’t even use it properly. But you? You’ve mastered it and are putting it to good use. And it’s the swordsmanship of a man called a legendary knight, no less.”
“...”
“Mars. Let me ask you just one thing. Please, don’t ignore your talent, your potential. You’re young and talented. You can do almost anything if you set your mind to it. So don’t run away. If you see a wall, smash into it. Don’t think about whether it might not break, just hit it. Keep hitting it until it comes down. You’re good at that, aren’t you?”
“...Yeah. Thanks.”
At Cloud’s heartfelt advice, Mars gave a bitter smile and nodded.
Seeing that smile, Cloud realized Mars’s worries hadn’t been resolved.
Then again, how many problems could be solved with just a few words?
Instead of offering more advice, he patted Mars on the back a few times.
“You handle the Isabelle situation yourself. You’re an adult now. Whatever you decide, I won’t interfere.”
With that, Cloud left.
Mars watched his retreating back for a moment before turning his gaze back to the night sky.
The hardworking boy who had once swung his sword all day, determined to become a knight.
He had reached a level he should have only attained after overcoming numerous brushes with death, but he had reached it far too easily.
And because of that, he was lost.
*
Late at night.
At an hour when everyone in the castle, including the maids, was asleep, save for the guards on watch, one man was awake.
His name was Louis Robert.
The master of this castle was weeping as he gazed at a portrait of his late wife.
At dinner, he had claimed to have overcome his grief, but that was not the truth.
He spent every night in tears, remembering his dead wife.
Today, even with a special guest like the Hero present, was no different.
Or rather, it would have been.
—My love, why are you crying?
If only he hadn’t heard his wife’s voice coming from the portrait.