Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Ulstro Kingdom - Squire Life (8)
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Was it the alcohol? Even I was startled by the words that burst out of my mouth.
"Could you pretend to be my lover for a bit?"
"Sure."
"I knew it wouldn't work? Sorry… Huh?!"
I'd thought he'd refuse for sure, but his response completely exceeded my expectations.
Just moments ago, I'd resented Stricht for making me drink that wine, but suddenly I felt a spark of fondness for him. Not that it would really happen, of course.
"Y-You said yes?"
"Yeah. Because of that childhood friend of yours?"
"…Yeah."
It was true, but not entirely the reason. I wanted to say that.
But I held back and thought of something else instead.
A normal person with a lover wouldn't pretend to be one for something like this. So after hesitating for a moment, I squeezed my eyes shut and asked.
"Wh-What about… Elza? Wh-What's your relationship…?"
"Huh? What do you mean, relationship?"
"I mean… Never mind."
I didn't have the courage to straight-up ask if they were dating. I'd tried to phrase it indirectly, but Valdes looked utterly clueless, his face perfectly calm.
For some reason, irritation welled up, only to melt away the moment I saw his face.
"Aren't you cold? Let's head inside."
I took the hand he extended like an escort.
"…Okay."
Holding his hand somehow made me feel even warmer, and that was fine.
Until that guy showed up.
"There you are."
"…Stricht?"
Stricht, slightly damp with sweat. He didn't smell bad or anything, but it soured my mood anyway.
The banquet shouldn't have ended yet, but here he was. Seeing the sweat streaming down his face, I figured he'd moved right after I left my seat. Did the guy ever think?
"I've been looking everywhere for you."
"So?"
"…Just give me one chance."
"Ridicu—!"
Before I could finish telling him to stop, Valdes stepped between me and Stricht. Stricht's forehead twitched.
"Who the hell are you? Can't you see I'm talking to Glet?"
"Do you think a lover would just stand by and watch his girlfriend chatting with some strange guy?"
"You…!"
Lover.
Valdes's grip tightened on my hand.
My face burned. Hotter than when the alcohol was buzzing through me.
"Some strange guy? I'm Glet's childhood friend!"
"Just a childhood friend, right? I heard you have a fiancée too."
"Th-That's…"
How did he know about the fiancée? Come to think of it, I might've mentioned it to Elza. My heart started fluttering uneasily again.
"Fiancée or not, childhood friend or whatever. If he's a guy I don't know, then he's a stranger, obviously."
"Ha! A mere commoner like you…"
He hadn't seemed to notice at first, but now Stricht had figured out Valdes was a commoner.
It was ridiculous he hadn't known sooner. The martial tournament was one of Ulstro's biggest events, and Valdes was the runner-up. Most nobles would have heard his name.
"And that's a problem?"
"A problem? Of course it is! Nobles are supposed to marry other nobles!"
"Even ignoring Glet's feelings?"
"What? Th-That's…"
Stricht, who'd been blurting things out, had no comeback to Valdes's retort. Of course not—anything he said now would backfire.
Affirming it would mean dismissing Glet; denying it would contradict himself.
"You two… you're really dating, aren't you?! I heard you only joined the knights two weeks ago!"
"Does time matter? Some people know each other since childhood and still don't end up together."
"You bas—! Gah!"
Even an idiot would know who that jab was aimed at.
Stricht nearly spat an insult in his rage but swallowed it after glancing at me. Still, his eyes blazed with fury.
Valdes knows how to say stuff like that too.
I'd thought he was just pure and kind, but this was unexpected. I didn't show it, but I was thrilled to have drawn this side out of him.
"Well then, can we go? Glet's getting cold."
Valdes started leading me out of the garden.
"W-Wait!"
"Sigh, what now?"
Stricht flinched at the irritated tone. For some reason, words just didn't come easy against this boy.
It felt like some pressure bearing down on him.
But Glet seemed fine, and he couldn't admit to being intimidated by a mere commoner squire.
"…Um…"
"Nothing to say?"
As Valdes turned to leave, something blurted out unbidden.
"Proof!"
"…Pardon?"
"Show me proof! Proof that you're dating!"
"P-Proof?"
"……."
Is he an idiot? Why is he helping me like this?
It was going too smoothly—I was flustered instead. Still, no woman passes up a childhood friend handing her an opportunity on a platter.
"Proof…"
"Yeah, proof!"
Glet's troubled expression and Valdes's subtle reaction spurred Stricht on. His hasty demand suddenly made him wonder if they were faking it.
"Show me proof, huh? Haha, can't, can you?"
"Proof… Fine."
"Huh?"
"V-Valdes?"
I felt like I'd been hit by one of those legendary time-stop spells.
Slowly, so very slowly, his face drew closer.
I'd always observed his features closely, but now it was more than that. His hair exuded wild allure, like a lion's mane. Beneath it, thick brows and eyes that seemed to pull you in.
With that thought, I squeezed my eyes shut.
Any longer, and I might pounce first.
"Mm…"
A soft smack, followed by the quiet sensation on my lips. I savored it.
"Wha… wha… what…"
Some dumb noise from the side, but I ignored it. No time for that when I was enjoying this.
Just skin brushing skin, yet it felt like soaring through the sky.
We kissed for a long time before Valdes pulled away first.
"…That enough?"
"Uh… uh…"
Stricht just stood there, dumbfounded, no reply.
"Let's go."
"Ah, okay…"
I bowed my head to hide my flushed face. As he pulled me along, I touched my lips with my free hand. Slightly dry. Hope Valdes was okay. It didn't seem chapped, but I worried anyway.
"Sorry for the sudden kiss."
"Huh? Oh, no, it's fine. It was… nice."
Nice? What was nice?
I regretted the words the moment they left my mouth. Lifting my head in embarrassment to make excuses—
"……."
Valdes was smiling.
"Good to hear."
Then, soft lips brushed mine again before pulling away. The moist touch moved to my ear.
"I'll come find you."
Come find me?
What did he mean? After night training? After a bath? Tomorrow?
…When everyone's asleep?
"There you two are. First Princess Mercedes says training starts soon—hurry and get ready!"
"Got it."
"…Okay."
The warm presence receded.
It made no sense.
His swordsmanship was good, sure, but he was still a half-demon commoner. What the hell was so great about him?
"Damn it…"
Got an earful from Dad because of this.
All her fault, that ex-fiancée. Breaking off the engagement over a few dead commoners? "All lives are equal," blah blah.
Please. If they'd been born in wartime, they'd be arrow fodder stirring up trouble—how could I just let it slide?
"Sigh."
But what could he do? The engagement was already broken.
The key was that Glet was the most suitable next fiancée—a viscount's daughter right by his side.
With central politics out via marriage, Dad said to solidify his position here. Honestly, just find another girl—but politics weren't his concern.
Glet, that tomboy—honestly, not thrilled at first. But seeing her after so long, her looks weren't bad. Her figure under the armor seemed decent too.
She clearly had feelings for him, but that bastard next to her was a thorn.
He wanted to punch his face and kill him outright, but "squire to the First Princess" was too big a title.
If he'd played his cards right, he might've seduced the princess.
Leaving tomorrow morning—time was cruel.
"Tch, fine. Let's go."
Destination: Glet's room.
She probably wasn't asleep yet. Honestly, going now was stupid, but he irrationally craved her.
It hadn't been this bad in the garden, but when she vanished with that guy, the urge hit.
Because she was "someone else's girl" now?
Anyway, he hurried to her room.
"…Huh?"
Taking a deep breath to knock, he noticed.
The door was slightly ajar.
Why?
Unease surged in his chest.
No courage to knock—he peeked cautiously through the gap. Curtains drawn, room dark. He could enhance his vision with mana, but he wasn't that skilled.
Still, staring, something came into view.
"Hah… mm… slurp."
"……."
But the sounds hit faster than the sight.
And he wasn't idiot enough to mistake what they were.
His body froze at the utterly unexpected—no, perhaps subconsciously anticipated—scene.
Gradually, the room sharpened.
Two shadows. Stuck together thickly, like one form.
About to tumble onto the bed, they kissed nonstop. Not the light peck from demanding proof, but a real lovers' kiss.
"Fuck…"
Incredulity brought a curse.
The situation was one thing, but this emotion churning inside made no sense.
Was it because he'd seen her as an easy engagement mark? It felt like she'd been stolen. She was never his to begin with, never even liked that way. Just a childhood friend who liked him—nothing more.
While Stricht wrestled inexplicable anguish, the pair inside advanced slowly.
The hand around Glet's waist slid lower.
As the commoner's hand touched her rear, Glet shuddered.
Tell him to get off! Slap him and shove him away!
He ground his teeth, screaming inwardly, but nothing happened. She burrowed deeper into the man's embrace instead.
What the hell!
Even if they'd started dating from day one, it was barely two weeks. And she was already letting him grope her ass?
Gasp!
He nearly yelped.
The guy's hand slipped inside her gown. With practiced ease, it boldly grasped her breast.
"Haht…"
Her lewd moan—first he'd heard from his childhood friend.
Glet had always felt more like a buddy than a girl. Even post-puberty, with her looks ripening, his own fiancée dulled any spark.
Yet that single moan shifted his gaze entirely.
"Haa…"
"Did it hurt?"
"…No, because it's you touching me… it feels good…"
Her voice rang vivid, like she was right there.
The room was dark, yet her profile seemed faintly flushed.
…Gulp.
Saliva went down at the erotic sight.
Was this really the Glet he knew? Was this even her room, or had he come to the wrong place?
On second thought, she faced sideways. More side and back visible than front. The man was definitely that commoner, but the woman—he couldn't confirm her face yet.
…Yeah, it must be dark, so her face looks off. Too much wine—hallucinating.
Stricht tried convincing himself. But the pair shattered his hopes mercilessly.
"Hah… Valdes… m-more, kiss me more…"
The commoner's name.
"I'll give you as many as you want, …Glet."
"Yeah… mm, smack, slurp."
Lips smacking, tongues sucking—echoing in his ears.
Revulsive sounds, yet his feet wouldn't move. He could fake a noise, leave— but his legs refused.
Damn…
Watching others kiss— was he a pervert?
No way.
If legs wouldn't move, just close eyes.
As he thought that and squeezed them shut—
…Smirk.
Their eyes met.
Hallucination?
No. Definitely met the guy's eyes. And they were smiling.
Mocking him.
…Mocking him.
Biting his lip at the challenging smirk.
You damn bastard?
Fine. If that's how you want it, I'll watch to the end.
A decision even he couldn't fathom.