Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Tail, then who do you want to play with? Tail, you choose!
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Days passed in that chaotic frenzy.
Having gotten a taste for going outside, Cecilia wandered around the monastery every day, puffing along in pursuit of Tail.
'The first time was the hard part, and everything after that was easy.'
Tail smiled faintly.
Compared to when they first met, it was a massive improvement, so Tail felt relieved.
At the same time, he felt a firm grip on his arm from the side.
And then came Cecilia's sharp voice.
"Tail, you promised to play with me, didn't you?"
At the same moment, someone snatched his other arm.
"Why does Tail have to play with you alone?"
Unlike her usual innocent and clear tone, Chloe's voice shot out laced with venom.
Cecilia and Chloe bared their teeth at each other like cat and dog every time they crossed paths.
And of course, Tail was always stuck in the middle.
'Is this really a good thing...?'
Allen, watching Tail who was practically in tatters, stifled a chuckle.
"Why are you two fighting like that? Just play together—all three of you."
At Allen's words, Chloe and Cecilia glared at him in unison and replied.
"That wouldn't be fun."
"No way."
And right away, Cecilia swayed seductively toward Tail and asked,
"Tail, then who do you want to play with? You choose!"
Her eyes sparkled.
As if saying, 'Me, right? Me? Come on, say it's me!'
But at those words, Chloe lifted only the corner of her mouth, her eyes glaring as she said,
"Lady Cecilia. Don't you know that begging like that just puts Tail in a tough spot?"
"If Tail was in a tough spot, he'd say so. This isn't something for you to butt in on, Princess."
Chloe's smile deepened at Cecilia's sharp retort.
Her slightly curved eyes brimmed with irritation.
As the atmosphere heated up, Tail let out a long sigh and slowly pulled his bound arms free.
"Lady Chloe, Lady Cecilia. Unfortunately, the abbot asked me to handle something, so I need to head back to my room."
Regret flickered in Chloe and Cecilia's eyes at Tail's words.
Cecilia buried her face in Tail's chest, rubbing against him as she cried out,
"I don't want to be apart from Tail!"
Hey, wait. I'm just going to my room for a bit?
"...Tail. Be careful. Very careful..."
Chloe's expression dripped with reluctance as she said it.
Watching the two of them, Tail felt his chest tighten.
'No! I'm just going to my room!'
Anyone would think we were parting forever.
At that moment, Allen, who had been watching, seemed to have a bright idea and opened his mouth with an "Ah!"
"Tail. If it's paperwork or something you can do inside your room anyway..."
Suddenly, an ominous feeling crept over Tail's body.
Oblivious, Allen grinned widely and continued,
"Why don't you go to Tail's room with Lady Chloe and Lady Cecilia?"
Oh. My. God.
Tail's mouth fell slightly open.
'Damn it. I'm screwed.'
He had planned to rest a bit while working in his room, but that damned knight had ruined everything.
Unlike Tail's darkening complexion, Cecilia and Chloe's faces lit up like midday sun.
"...Tail's room?"
"We're going to the room where Tail stays?"
Their eyes flashed like laser beams.
Tail swallowed a forced sigh and had no choice but to reply,
"All right. Let's go. But the deadline is today, so no interruptions."
At his words, Cecilia clenched her fist first.
"Don't worry at all! Tail! I won't bother you one bit!"
Chloe flashed a broad smile and chimed in,
"Yeah. We'll be quiet as dead mice!"
But Cecilia immediately jumped on her words.
"Don't piggyback on what I said, Princess. And 'we'? Make that 'I'."
One of Chloe's eyebrows twitched up.
"When did I say I was tagging along? I was just stating my intent. Watch your words."
Tail pressed his forehead as the two started fighting again.
He was already filled with dread.
Allen left, and Tail headed to his room with Cecilia and Chloe.
The moment he went to open the door.
Click.
"...Huh?"
The door was locked.
But Tail immediately realized why.
'Oh. Yujin must be showering.'
Yujin usually showered alone and always locked the door then.
It was a habit from childhood, apparently.
'What now... Should I just say we'll come back later?'
If he were alone, he'd have gone for a walk.
As he pondered, Cecilia tilted her head and asked,
"What's wrong? Door's locked?"
"Yeah. Seems like Yujin's inside..."
Before Tail could finish, Cecilia pounded on the door.
Bang bang bang.
It was hard to tell if it was knocking or hitting. A loud crash came from inside.
Tail, flustered, tried to stop her.
"Yujin's probably washing up right now. We can come back later..."
As Tail spoke,
The door flew open.
"...Tail?"
Yujin looked like he'd rushed out mid-shower—his hair and body still dripping wet.
And over his wet body, he wore his usual neat monk's robes.
Yujin's eyes widened at Cecilia and Chloe beside Tail.
"Oh. Lady Chloe and Lady Cecilia are here too."
"Yeah, they wanted to look around a bit. Sorry, you were showering."
Yujin shook his head at Tail's apology.
"No, no. Come in. You two as well, humble as it is."
The door creaked open.
Tail entered first, followed by Chloe, then Cecilia.
The room Tail and Yujin shared was surprisingly spartan.
Two wooden beds, a wooden desk, and a chair.
A candle hung on the wall for dark nights.
It was just an ordinary room, but Chloe and Cecilia were more excited than ever.
They finally felt like they'd invaded Tail's personal space.
That's when Chloe spotted a white cloth on the floor in front of the bathroom.
"Hm? This... compression bandage?"
Recognizing it instantly, Chloe picked up the bandage scattered loosely on the floor.
Yujin's face flushed bright red at the sight.
"Ah! That's mine."
Yujin snatched the bandage from Chloe's hand and shoved it into a drawer.
"My ankle's been hurting lately, so I wrapped it, but I left it here after washing up. Haha."
Yujin laughed awkwardly.
Tail placed a hand on her shoulder and asked,
"Where'd you get hurt?"
"No, just a slight sprain. It's fine."
As Tail chatted briefly with Yujin, Cecilia, scanning the room, suddenly widened her eyes at something.
"Wow! Tail! What's that?"
What Cecilia pointed to was a golden rose on the windowsill.
Even against the dimming twilight, the golden rose shone brilliantly on its own.
Cecilia's eyes sparkled at the obviously priceless piece.
"Oh. That is—"
As Tail started to explain, Chloe cut in.
"Ah, that? It's a gift from me."
Chloe's smile thickened.
"I commissioned a blacksmith directly with 100 gold to make that rose."
She grinned.
Her beautifully curved eyes gleamed with arrogance.
As if saying, 'Have you ever given Tail a gift like this? No, right?'
"Well, in the end, it cost 170 gold. One-of-a-kind golden rose in the world."
Cecilia ground her teeth at Chloe's triumphant, confident smile.
"I... I could give a gift like that too!"
Cecilia's voice trembled with defeat and anger.
But Chloe let out a soft chuckle.
"But I was the one who gave the gift."
"Argh!"
Tears welled in Cecilia's eyes.
A gift!
Why hadn't she thought of that?
'No.'
No.
She was different.
Cecilia glared fiercely and shouted,
"The princess has to bring gifts like that to win him over. But I—he gives them to me without me having to!"
Every sentence lacked an object, but Chloe understood perfectly.
Anger flickered in her eyes.
"Ha. Lady Cecilia, you've never seen it, have you? That happy smile Tail has when he receives a gift he wants."
Cecilia's words caught in her throat.
Tail's radiant smile.
She wanted to see it so badly.
But swallowing her rising pride, Cecilia shouted,
"I see it all the time anyway!"
Chloe scoffed hollowly at Cecilia's retort.
"How would you know if you've never seen it?"
"When did I say I haven't? I have!"
Tail sighed as the two raised their voices again.
'Here we go again.'
They must have been enemies in a past life.
'No other way they'd fight like this.'
Tail instinctively knew he wouldn't get any work done peacefully today.
Watching from the side, Yujin shook his head and soothingly patted Tail's shoulder.