Chapter 7
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 7
Ill-Fated Relationship (2)
"Hmm, I won again."
"Yes. I lost this time as well."
"Then shall we play one more game?"
How many games has it been with this?
I looked at the window for a moment.
The sky, which was clearly blue when we played the first game, was now being dyed golden.
I wanted to get up from my seat soon, but Lucia kept sitting there like someone who was not yet satisfied.
Does her butt not hurt? First of all, mine hurts.
As I just watched with a sullen expression, Lucia also sent a gaze my way.
"Why are you making such a face?"
"Princess Your Highness. How about we stop here for today?"
I decided to just speak directly.
Let's stop now. I don't want to end the day doing only chess.
And chess is also a game that uses the brain.
A kind of entertaining chess. To entertain, the thing that gets consumed the most is precisely my mental strength.
It means my mental strength is consumed more than the Princess in front of me who plays the game comfortably without knowing it's entertainment.
In the first place, you won against me now.
Then isn't it over? But Lucia kept pestering me like a child who doesn't know how to be satisfied.
Let's play one more game with her.
"If you had competed with me earlier, this wouldn't have happened."
She often shifts the responsibility onto me, but at this point, I'm getting confused whether I really am responsible.
Isn't this totally gaslighting?
"I can't do anymore because I'm hungry."
Thinking can only be done when nutrients are supplied.
It's not for nothing that snacks are given while playing matches in Baduk tournaments.
"So I can't do it before eating!"
Any more is the limit. A game is a game only when enjoyed together.
Right now, I am completely a working salesperson. And that too in an unpaid state with nothing falling to me, let alone compensation.
If I come out this strongly, I thought Lucia would also back down.
In the first place, how long would even she want to stay in this space with me?
And unlike me, she is a Princess contending for the throne. The possibility that work is piled up high was also strong.
"Since there is tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and other days as well, how about stopping here for today?"
If she is rational, she would probably follow my suggestion intact.
"Then should I just call for a meal here?"
But for some reason, it was immediately rejected by Lucia.
Asking if she should call for a meal here. What on earth is this woman thinking?
As I looked at her speechlessly in fluster, Lucia asked me without a change in expression.
"Tell me what you like. I will have the exclusive chef prepare it."
"P-Princess Your Highness."
I slightly regretted it immensely.
That I shouldn't have played entertaining chess.
Should I have rather just ruthlessly trampled her and left?
However, thinking about it, she is Lucia who persistently sent me invitations.
In the end, it was a choice between death. That she would have clung persistently whether I entertained her or won ruthlessly.
"I wondered where you were, and you were here."
Around the time my head started to get dizzy, a familiar voice was heard.
"Grand Duchess?"
Turning my head, there was Aniel with a cigarette in her mouth.
Having been held by Lucia all day and then meeting someone else, I was very glad but also puzzled on one hand.
"What were you doing here."
Is it a misunderstanding that her mood looks uncomfortable for some reason?
It was strange. Really strange.
She is a woman who has pursued perfection ever since she was born.
Especially since she occupied the lead in the race for the throne, face was really important in public settings.
Since nobles including royalty all cherish face and honor like their lives.
Therefore, that trivial defeat of losing in a game with Allen created a momentary ripple like throwing a stone onto a monotonous lake.
She was resentful. That she lost to something with not a single ability, and the changed gazes around her.
Of course, that didn't mean Lucia collapsed or anything.
There were many who just considered it a kind of happening, and most thought Allen must have used some trick or fraud.
Actually, Allen never appeared in high society even once right after that, and Lucia showed an undefeated record in chess.
But the more that happened, the record of 1 defeat kept bothering her.
She knew.
She lost solely by skill.
To her who is obsessed with perfection, that 1 defeat was an indelible disgrace.
That's why she became even more persistent. Towards that man who gave her the first defeat in her life.
And today, finally, she resolved that problem.
The chess game with that man that kept coming to mind even while sleeping.
Although she lost the first set, she succeeded in winning two sets consecutively right after.
With this, she thought the reason to cling to this man anymore had disappeared.
But why?
It was strange. If she won once, she intended not to even give a glance anymore and get up from her seat.
Since this man wouldn't mean anything to her now.
But she was thirsty. She wanted to keep drinking like relieving thirst with seawater.
"Let's play just one more game."
Just one more game.
Right, it was too regrettable to end with the first game.
Lucia said one more game as if today was the last.
She didn't know time was passing. Even after realizing it passed, she didn't care.
The more she played chess with him, she felt a feeling she had never felt before. Should she say she felt elated?
"Just one more game...."
Just one more game, just one more game, lastly just one more game.
She had already won 8 sets in a row. But far from satisfaction, she wanted to do more.
Even if she continues, the result won't change, and even though there are still many things left to do when she returns.
With this man, chess together. Just a little more.
"I wondered where you were, and you were here."
In the midst of trying to hurry and serve a meal and prepare the next game again, Aniel's voice was heard.
Lucia was puzzled. This place was a private space where only a very few people permitted by Lucia could enter and leave.
Of course, she permitted Aniel as well, but she had never once entered or left this place.
She tried to ask why she visited, but Aniel didn't give Lucia a glance at all.
"What were you doing here."
Her gaze was fixed solely on Allen.
Cold and sharp as usual, but unlike her, she was in a slightly excited state.
What is it, wondering if something happened, she tried to ask, but Aniel's action came before that.
"Follow me."
"Grand Duchess?"
"You haven't eaten yet."
"Ah."
She grabbed Allen's hand and dragged him out.
Who? That Aniel? Lucia just blinked her eyes without even thinking of what to say.
Doubting if she was seeing correctly right now.
At the last moment, Aniel stopped, turned her head, sent a gaze to her, and said,
"I can take this man, right. Because I have something to talk about."
It was a notification, not asking if it was okay.
Right, notification. She scoffed at giving a notification to herself, a Princess, but what bothered her even more than that was the hand she held.
Why does Allen not shake off that hand? Watching him not even attempting to shake it off, she bit her fine lips.
Watching the two disappeared people, Lucia felt a sense of defeat for some reason.
Even the relief of barely escaping from Lucia couldn't be fully felt as I was being dragged somewhere while caught by Aniel this time.
Feeling that it would be bad to provoke her right now for some reason, I thought it would be better to spare my words as much as possible, but worry was worry.
"Grand Duchess. Is it alright to leave like this?"
You say you are friends, but my question was whether it would be okay.
Then Aniel finally stopped walking, turned around, and looked at me.
She was gazing at my side with a displeased expression.
"What on earth were you doing there."
What was I doing. What should I answer to that question?
All I did was just chess.
"I played chess all day."
"Chess? You're overflowing with leisure. While clinging to me to teach you."
Certainly, it could look that way in her eyes.
She became my master with much effort, but seeing the disciple playing around, how would she feel?
I bowed my head to her and apologized.
"I apologize. I have nothing to say."
Even if she spits out harsh words or leaves in disappointment, I had nothing to say.
While thinking Aniel might really leave this time, Aniel let out a deep sigh and said to me.
"Did you really only play chess."
"Yes?"
"I'm asking. If you really only played chess."
Then what would I do with Lucia other than chess? While sending a gaze like that, I nodded my head.
Aniel, having confirmed my nod, still looked displeased but continued speaking.
"Don't approach the Princess from now on. Because your master is me."
Saying only that, Aniel left the spot leaving words to see me tomorrow.
Left alone, I felt bleak.
If Lucia approaches like today right now, there is absolutely nothing I can do.
With a complicated mind, I also let out a sigh and headed to the dormitory cafeteria for now.
Thinking about being rolled tomorrow, I felt I should eat heartily today.
'But why is she telling me not to approach?'