Chapter 55
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: I Want Your Permission
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"Richi."
...Why's his face like that? Did someone bully him?
"Something wrong? Why do you look like you're about to die?"
I asked as nicely as I could, but huh? Why's his expression changing again?
Anyone could see it screaming, 'It's your fault, you jerk.'
For the record, I'm totally innocent. I really didn't do anything this time.
"What the hell's going on? Why's your face like that?"
"Hey, you free tonight by any chance?"
"Tonight? Why? Wanna grab dinner?"
"...Dinner, yeah. Dinner."
Perfect timing. Aru has night training at the Knight Department today, so I've got plenty of time to hang with my buddy.
Enter rolled around like he was about to get shredded during the big offensive, so treating this poor, pitiful soul to a meal doesn't sound half bad.
Yeah, that's what I figured. I threw on some clothes haphazardly and crawled outside...
"Richi oppa!"
"...Huh?"
Hold up. Why are you here? Why? Whyyy?
"Are you okay?! Why, why have you gotten so skinny?!"
"Skinny? Nah, I've actually gained... More importantly, Marie?!"
The girl flung herself into my arms, not just pretending to cry but actually sobbing her heart out. Ah... Calling her a girl feels a bit off now? She's turning eighteen next year, after all.
But what can you do? She's on the shorter side compared to girls her age, so she really just looks like a little girl.
"Marie. Marie? Calm down first... Yeah? Look at oppa's face."
I wondered if I should bolt, but she was clinging so tight I had to wrestle her off just to peel her away.
Finally getting her face free, I was met with a tear-streaked mess, eyes brimming with tears.
Frail beauty with a sickly vibe, crying face, arms wrapped tight around me...
That instant, I nearly slapped myself across the cheek as hard as I could.
You crazy bastard, snap out of it. You've got a girl you're basically married to in all but name. Not just any girl—she's the one you rolled through battlefields with. Weren't you into Aru?
"Why... why didn't you tell me?"
"That I went to the front? I didn't know it'd happen myself. Figured Enter would fill you in later, so I didn't say anything after coming back..."
Enter, who'd been standing quietly beside me, slyly averted his gaze at my words.
Hmm, yeah. My friend Enter. Looks like you didn't even contact Marie after getting back either. No wonder she heard from someone else, got spooked mid-recovery, and rushed all the way here.
Calling Enter—the guy who nagged me to keep in touch!
"I heard war had broken out. But, but... when I heard you got dragged into it, I was so shocked... So, so shocked..."
Oh man. This kid can't afford to get shocked. I'm the criminal here. Marie's body is so fragile that even a shock like this could wreck her.
This is my fault. Yeah, totally my fault... B-but, Marie. Aren't you worried about Enter at all?
Of course, I couldn't ask that outright. Had to calm the startled Marie first.
It took a while to soothe her sobs, holding her and gently stroking her back.
"...But I'm glad anyway."
After about ten minutes of petting and coaxing, the crying stopped. For a second, I thought, Whew, relief, but damn, a woman's tears are more powerful than any weapon.
"No injuries... And Enter oppa said you pulled off some huge feat..."
"Yeah. We did. Enter chipped in too. Not as flashy as Erwin's praise, but an imperial envoy should've gone to the Prize family in the emperor's name to commend your efforts, right?"
"I was soaking in the hot springs recovering then..."
"Ah."
Makes sense she wouldn't know. She wasn't there, and she's only just back.
Once her tears fully stopped, I gently stroked her hair.
Marie had a soft heart to match her frail body ever since she was little, crying often. I'd pat her and tell her not to cry, then stroke her hair like this, and she'd beam with that bright smile.
That smile was so pretty, it even sparked little-sister delusions in me.
And this time too, Marie flashed me that innocent childhood grin.
"...Sheesh. You grumble when I pet your head."
I ignored Enter grumbling with arms crossed beside us.
Even as distant relatives, looks like the sibling vibe just doesn't work for them.
*
So warm. Richi oppa's embrace beats any hot spring by a million times.
My pounding heart, the one that felt like it was ripping apart, quiets in an instant.
The count and Enter oppa told me not to move. The countess even teared up, worrying I'd ruin my health even more.
I felt so guilty. They're not even real family, yet they treat me better than blood.
Some say relatives just pretend to care but treat you like an outsider.
Am I just born lucky? Everyone around me is so wonderful.
And among them all, the absolute best is Richi oppa.
"Eat up, Marie. Stuff yourself and get nice and strong so I can see you at the academy entrance."
Richi oppa slicing steak and piling it on my plate.
Feels like forever since I've seen him do this. He still treats me like a little girl from way back, but I don't mind.
If anything, I'm glad. If his affection had faded, he wouldn't act like this.
Honestly, I was scared. Bursting into tears in front of him was partly because of that.
Worried about Richi oppa, but also wondering if he still saw me as cute.
The academy's full of prettier, smarter girls. No surprise if his feelings cooled.
That thought made my chest and heart ache so bad I couldn't bear it. So I threw a fit at Enter oppa and tailed him to the academy.
"Hey, Richi. Marie's a lady now. Nineteen. Half a year from adulthood. You planning to keep that up at the academy? What'll people think?"
"Oh... Yeah, you're right. Sorry, Marie. Was that too much?"
I frantically shook my head. Sure, at nineteen, it's a bit embarrassing.
Enter oppa's not wrong. Others might gossip and call it weird.
But it's Richi oppa. If he's the one doting on me, I love it even if he treats me like that little girl. Whatever he does, it's all good.
"...So, you got spooked by the news, chased Enter all the way here?"
"Yes. I couldn't just sit still without seeing you myself, Richi oppa..."
"Ugh. What'd I tell you last time? Take care of yourself. You always say you will, then pull this, Marie? Oppa here's super disappointed."
Disappointed?! He's disappointed? Richi oppa? In me?
"N-no! Sorry! I'm sorry! So..."
"Kidding, kidding. Don't take it so seriously, or I can't even joke anymore."
Phew. A joke. My heart nearly dropped out.
"More importantly, Marie. Know what? I met His Imperial Majesty."
"Huh?"
Did I hear wrong? No way, right? For real? For real?
Our Richi oppa met the emperor face-to-face?
"For real?!"
"Yeah. He even said I did well."
"Whoa, Richi. You're climbing the ranks."
"Jealous? Shoulda dragged you along."
"Piss off. Don't ever drag me to a scary spot like that. The imperial envoy visiting was plenty for me."
No, Enter oppa! Is that what matters right now?! Richi oppa—our Richi oppa—met His Majesty!
Most nobles can't even dream of it, and he did! How huge is that? He could brag about it forever!!
"You're amazing! So amazing, Richi oppa! The e-emperor! Something a nobody like me can't even imagine! You're the best, oppa! The coolest ever! From before, now, and always!!"
Suddenly, a scary thought creeps in.
I'm just prepping for academy entrance. No real family backing—just a minor noble lady, nicely put.
Richi oppa racked up huge merits against those Koenihesen monsters. Even got the honor of meeting the emperor.
Someone that incredible deserves people on his level. And among them, surely some women who like him...
'...Jealous.'
The thought hits, and I jolt, shaking my head.
Am I nuts?! Jealous of what? It doesn't even make sense. Richi oppa's direct Reinhardt lineage.
Me? Orphaned, mooching off the distant Prize relatives.
The count, countess, Enter oppa—they treat me like family, but my origins don't change.
At best, I can be Richi oppa's second. Never, ever first.
Liking him first doesn't make it so. As long as I'm not last... that's a relief.
"...Richi oppa."
"Yeah, Marie."
"Um... can I ask one thing?"
So I got curious. Who exactly is by Richi oppa's side?
I need to know who, so I can meet her later and ask if she'd share oppa just a little...
"By any chance... have you, um, gotten close to... any woman...?"