Valencia Sisters (5)
That confession from back then felt like a lie now. It seemed devoid of sincerity, a false declaration without love. That's why she resented him. She hated him, found him utterly loathsome. And so she'd spat those harsh words. They weighed on her now, making it impossible to focus on any task.
'Yushin used a power that cost him his lifespan to save us. Thanks to him, we defeated Sabnack. He's a hero who saved his homeland, a benefactor who rescued his kin... and yet what ungrateful thing have I done?'
In the office at Maherith Palace, Ardena sat alone, rubbing her face with both hands as she berated herself.
"I have to apologize, of course... to Yushin, and to Alonne too."
Regrets were piling up. She'd sworn after parting with her master never to do anything she'd regret again. But the regrets kept coming. Ever since realizing her feelings of love, the instances of remorse and guilt had skyrocketed.
If only she hadn't fallen in love... she wouldn't be hurting like this, wouldn't have these regrets.
'No, that's wrong.'
Ardena shook her head. Love had indeed spawned countless regrets. But she didn't regret the emotion of loving him. That was the final line she couldn't cross. Loving him had given her precious memories, let her advance through new feelings—sometimes blissful, sometimes painful. So she wouldn't regret loving him.
"Liana Linehold reporting."
Knock knock.
Liana's voice came from beyond the door. With Ardena's permission, it opened, revealing the silver-haired elf.
"You summoned me, Senior Captain?"
Liana tensed at the sight of Ardena's gravely serious expression.
'W-what? Did a new Demon King invade or something?! No... if Senior Captain looks this troubled, it has to be about Yushin.'
After seeing Ardena utterly smitten with Yushin last time, Liana figured anything that weighed on her senior that heavily must involve him.
"Um, Senior Captain... if I'm right..., is this about Yushin?"
Liana ventured carefully. Ardena nodded. She'd been hesitating on how to broach it, but Liana's question let her unburden the thoughts she'd bottled up.
"Don't tell me that bastard's cheating...!"
"Ch-cheating?! Watch your mouth!"
"Sorry!"
Under Ardena's sharp rebuke, Liana shrank back, flustered. Eek! There was no defying the towering senior captain's unreasonable wrath—a junior could only cower.
"Yushin and I aren't officially dating."
"...Yes."
Ardena spoke the words herself, then sank into gloom. What was this mess...? Liana stared, utterly baffled by the unpredictable spinster's fury.
"W-what if... what if Yushin... with another woman, someone I know... h-had s-s-sex... s-s-s-sex with her? What would you think...?"
Ardena's face burned crimson, like a boiled octopus. Consulting a subordinate about her (assumed) boyfriend's infidelity? Unprecedented. Stammering like Morse code, she asked Liana.
"N-not me! I thought Yushin was kinda hot once, but... nothing happened after that!"
Sensing a massive misunderstanding, Liana waved her hands frantically. She did have a guilty conscience—pushing a naked Yushin's back in Maherith's grand bath, bare as the day she was born. Was Ardena suspicious? Like a thief crying thief, she protested.
"I don't know what misunderstanding..., but Liana, I'm not talking about you."
"Y-yes, ma'am!"
"It's just a hypothetical."
Ardena rested her chin on steepled hands, her expression heavy with regret—a look Liana had never seen. She sensed the gravity.
"I know it's not my place to meddle. We're not officially together. Whatever he does, whoever he sees... I have no right to interfere."
"No way! Didn't he steal your lips in front of all those nobles?"
That was me who stole them... Ardena wanted to correct her but held her tongue.
"It's just formal advice..., but why not talk it out face-to-face with Yushin?"
The silver-haired elf suggested cautiously. Textbook stuff anyone could say. Liana had zero dating experience, like Ardena, so that's all she could offer. But Ardena smiled, nodding as if it were enough. Grateful for her comrade's advice, she took it to heart.
Ardena returned to Valencia Castle, burdened by tangled emotions. She wanted to apologize to Alonne. But her feet wouldn't move. She was scared. Scared she'd hurl more cruel words if they met. Scared she had no face to show her sister—the one she loved more than anyone. For some reason, facing her little sister terrified her today.
"What're you doing here?"
Absorbed in thought, Ardena didn't notice Yushin sneak up behind her and poke his head in.
"Kyaa!"
A cute scream escaped the noble, dignified high elf captain. Her face flushed. Covering her mouth, she turned away from him.
"W-what do you want... s-suddenly!"
"Just checking. Why so jumpy? I wasn't even hiding my footsteps."
Too deep in her reverie, she'd missed his approach entirely.
"Sorry about this morning."
Yushin apologized, blaming his own insensitivity. It was sincere—formal and grave, unlike his usual playful self.
Receiving his apology first left Ardena with a complicated expression. Grateful for his consideration, yet guilty for forcing him to apologize with her narrow-minded selfishness.
"Ahem!"
Despite her thoughts, she cleared her throat and turned away, signaling her anger wasn't assuaged.
"Dunno if it'll cut it, but... wanna grab some apple pie as my apology?"
He proposed awkwardly, scratching his cheek. Apple pie to apologize? Even he knew it was idiotic.
"I don't care for apple pie. More importantly, I have questions."
"Questions?"
"About Alonne. What exactly is your relationship with her...?"
Yushin answered the high elf captain's query.
"Teacher and student. Not some deep fate..., but master and slave—a bond not easily severed."
"Don't joke."
"......"
Wasn't joking. Yushin grumbled inwardly at her rebuke.
"Are you... dating Alonne?"
She mustered her courage. Before grilling him on last night's scene, she needed to confirm their status.
Instinct told Yushin she'd caught on. "Not dating."
"So you had a physical relationship before even dating."
"...Yeah."
He nodded honestly. No point lying here—she'd see through excuses. Better to own it than squirm.
"I know I have no right to interfere. But I'm Alonne's sister. Worrying about my little sister as her big sister is natural."
"True. It's right for you to worry about her. I don't see it as meddling."
Ardena met his gaze and spoke again.
"In Valencia Forest... you confessed you loved me. I was thrilled. Truly. Embarrassing to admit, but my heart pounded so hard I forgot to breathe—that was a first."
Her face reddened. Pure truth, unexaggerated. Barely her soul, she sought confirmation.
"I'll ask again, Yushin. What do you think of me? Do you still love me unchanged? No—do you truly love me?"
Yushin fell silent at the high elf woman's words. Lips pressed, deep in thought. As seconds stretched—ten or so—Ardena grew anxious, having bared all.
Finally, he spoke to answer her honesty.
"You probably see me as a playboy. A total scumbag. Confessing love then two-timing."
Acknowledging his fault, he spoke with genuine remorse.
"Sorry. My fault for not telling you sooner. You have every right to hate me. No excuses."
She bit her lip at his response. Why did his apologies—when he was the one sorry—rip her heart to shreds? Playful and lighthearted, he humbly owned his wrongs with solid morals. His courtesy only deepened her self-loathing. She felt venomous, extracting apologies from a hero, benefactor, and the man she loved.
No, keeping it secret was his wrong. I'm right to be mad. This is man and woman, not captain and Diablo Slayer.
Shaking her head, she faced him.
"I'm always grateful to you. For saving my homeland and kin. But this is separate. So as a woman betrayed, I'll duly punish the culprit."
"Not throwing me in jail for adultery, right?"
Ardena led the tense Yushin to Maherith. To an open-air café famed for fresh apple pie—the one he'd planned to treat her at.
Seated across from him, she stared. To punish the philanderer, she snatched a full glass of water.
"You bastard!"
Splash!
She hurled the water straight at his face.
"Pffft, ack!"
Drenched unexpectedly, Yushin sputtered water from his nostrils, looking utterly pathetic. But relief was premature. The table brimmed with every drink from the café menu.