Chapter 497: The Aftermath
Chapter 497: The Aftermath
At this point, I could only hope this wouldn't work… No. That’s not right, is it?
Sure, if it didn't work, I could use that as an excuse to get rid of this magic orb, but if it was ineffective, that would mean Sara would stay like this.
With the strange feeling of hoping it would work while also hoping it wouldn't, I left the room and closed the door.
I waited quietly in front of the door, but even after a minute, there was no reaction from inside.
"Did it… work?"
"It certainly seems so. How about that?! For someone like me, something like this is a piece of cake! Perhaps you should start seeing me in a new light, hmm?!"
When I opened the door and went back inside, Diana puffed out her chest and spoke proudly.
Sara, on the other hand, had a slightly conflicted expression on her face.
It seemed I wasn't the only one who was hoping it would work while also hoping it wouldn't.
"No. There's no need to see you in a new light. I've always thought you were amazing."
"I-Is that so… But for someone who thinks that, your attitude toward me is…"
She's always like this.
If I actually say I'll stop, she acts disappointed about that, too.
"It's a sign of affection. A sign of affection. If you don't like it, should I stop teasing you from now on?"
"I-I never said I didn't like it!"
See? That's what I mean.
Anyway, our Diana just can't be honest sometimes.
Sometimes she's all over me in front of others, calling me 'my love, my love,' and then other times she acts all coy like this.
"So you like it?"
"Of… Of course I don't like it!"
"You're a complicated one."
"The problem is your bad personality!"
When I said that with a deep sigh, Diana shouted with an irritated look on her face.
However, she didn't launch her usual pat-pat attack.
The reason was simple. She was holding the glowing magic stone in her hand.
"…Could you two stop flirting right in front of me?"
"Sorry, sorry. Congratulations. You can finally be away from me."
"That's the wrong thing to congratulate me for… I didn't really mind being stuck with you… Did you hate it?"
"I didn't hate it, but it's true it was a little inconvenient. Besides, we can be attached whenever we want. Just say the word. I'll hold your hand all the time."
"N-No thanks!"
As I tried to grab her hand, Sara lightly slapped it away and spoke.
But contrary to her actions, her cheeks were faintly flushed, as if she didn't entirely dislike the idea.
"Still, I can't believe something like this actually works. From now on, you can just carry it around until you're fully cured. Well, not that Diana needs it."
"Gah! Wh-What are you doing?!"
Saying that, I slyly tried to retrieve the magic stone Diana was holding, but the attempt ended in failure.
Because Diana came along with the magic stone.
Just how tightly was she holding it?
When I raised my hand high, Diana was lifted along with it, her feet leaving the ground as she dangled in the air.
It seemed she had absolutely no intention of giving up this magic stone.
I brought her up to my eye level and said firmly.
"No. You don't need this."
"It's fine, isn't it! It's fine! I want one too!"
As if she knew her actions weren't logical, she whined uncharacteristically.
No, it was really not like her. She might have an image like that because of her usual behavior, but it was truly rare for Diana to be this stubborn and throw a tantrum.
Because of that, I was momentarily at a loss for words, flustered.
"Y-You want it that badly…?"
"Mhm! Mhm! My love! Please!"
Perhaps seeing a glimmer of hope in my reaction, Diana said this while acting cute.
No. She wasn't acting cute, she was cute.
Damn it. Where did she learn such adorable aegyo? Good job.
"Fine. Go ahead."
Well, even if it could track my location, it was only a 100-meter radius. It seemed close, but it was a surprisingly long distance.
Meaning, it probably wouldn't know my exact position.
No. Before that, it wasn't like I'd be going anywhere in secret from them anyway.
In the end, I was defeated by Diana's cuteness and obediently let go of the magic stone.
"Really?! No take-backs!"
"Now that you say that, I kind of want to take it back…" "No way! No take-backs!"
Diana said that and, with a happy smile, tucked the magic stone into her clothes.
Was she that happy? Just seeing that smile made it seem worthwhile to let her have it.
"Still, it's a relief this was resolved before nightfall."
"Yeah."
"Hm? Sara? Weren't you just disappointed about being separated from me?"
"E-Even I feel bad about constantly being a burden to Diana and Leia, you know?!"
"It's fine, it's fine. Don't worry about it."
Sara said that apologetically, but Diana, the biggest victim, was in a good mood from getting the magic stone and replied with a smile.
Hey. Shouldn't you be the one saying it's not fine?
"Anyway, the effective range is a 100-meter radius, so it should work from Sara's room to mine, right? With this, starting tonight, we can finally… normally…"
With Leia… wait. Leia?
Now that I was separated from Sara, a thought suddenly struck me.
I could finally move freely without any restrictions.
And right now, Leia was practicing swimming in the bathroom with Silvia and Matilda.
I had to give up earlier, but now… now!
I quickly checked the time.
There wasn't much time left until dinner.
But to put it another way, that meant there was still a little time left.
There was no time to hesitate. I decided to act immediately.
"Well then, I'm off to tell Leia the good news!"
"What? Hey! Guwon! You can't…!"
I heard Sara shouting something from behind me, but the great cause was on my side!
Using my Assassin traits to the fullest, I ran to the bathroom as fast as I could.
"Leia! Listen to this!"
And when I flung open the bathroom door, there they were… the women, right in front of my eyes.
…That's strange. Opening this door leads to the changing room first, not the bathroom itself.
Why were they all here? And fully dressed, too.
Leia, Silvia, Matilda, and… why was Vanessa here?
Anyway, all four of them, their hair still damp, were already dressed and about to leave the changing room.
"Kyaa! G-Guwon-ssi? What are you doing here?"
"Uh, huh? Oh. It's just a temporary fix, but Sara's problem is solved, so I came to tell you. More importantly, what about swimming practice?"
"Yes? Fufu. Did you perhaps come to help us right away? But we're stopping here for today. It's almost dinnertime, after all."
"But… why! It's not dinnertime yet…!"
"Vanessa, who's teaching us, has to prepare, so we can't help it. What's with you? Why are you so desperate? Did you perhaps have some other motive?"
As I pressed the issue, Matilda looked at me with a suspicious expression.
Tch! This one's got sharp instincts!
"No. What other motive? I just wanted to be helpful. I see. Then after dinner…"
I couldn't let go of my lingering hope and was about to say that, but Leia's face suddenly came into view.
Tonight was the first proper night in bed since my return.
It would be best to stay with Leia after dinner.
"…stop practicing for now. It's good to work hard, but there's no need to be so anxious about it."
In the end, I had no choice but to put my lingering desires aside and say that.
It's fine. It's not like swimming practice ends today, anyway.
It's a shame I'll miss the sight of a bunch of beauties taking a nude swimming lesson, but I'll aim for tomorrow.
"I think it's good to be a little anxious. If only we had known how to swim in the first place…"
"No. That's not it. Even if you could swim, I would have told you the same thing: not to come out and rescue me. What happened last time was an accident, not your fault."
I said that firmly to Matilda, who was muttering in a guilt-ridden tone.
This was what I truly felt. I wasn't just saying it to comfort Silvia or Matilda.
"Y-You…"
At that, Matilda was once again enveloped in a pinkish atmosphere.
Perhaps because of her damp hair and flushed skin, the atmosphere around her was a little more alluring than usual…
"Well then, I will be going to prepare dinner."
Just as I was getting a little distracted by Matilda, Vanessa cut off the conversation.
"Ah, yes. Vanessa-ssi. Thank you so much for your help."
"It was nothing. Well then… Ah, Guwon-nim. Do you have a moment?"
Vanessa bowed her head and was about to leave the changing room when she suddenly turned around and called to me.
"Hm? Me? What is it?"
"There is something I must discuss with you regarding what happened while you were away, Guwon-nim."
Something that happened while I was away? What could it be?
I felt a little bewildered, but I followed Vanessa anyway.
But even as I followed, Vanessa didn't say anything, just walking ahead with steady steps, staring forward.
Only after leading me to an empty, deserted room did she finally look at my face.
"What's this? Bringing me all the way here. Is this something others can't hear… Keok!"
Did Felicia's lust build up, so she sent someone to the mansion?
No. But if that were the case, when Silvia contacted me… With that thought, I asked Vanessa what she wanted.
And in that moment, Vanessa suddenly grabbed me by the collar and slammed me against the wall.
"…If you ever make Lady Diana cry again, I will not let it slide."
Then, bringing her face close to mine, her eyes burning with an uncharacteristic fire, Vanessa spoke to me quietly but forcefully.
"…Don't tell me you called me here just to say that?"
"Just to say that? You think this is just some…!"
"No. I'm not saying it's not important. I'm saying you don't need to be the one to tell me. I don't want to make Diana cry either. Look. I know you're incredibly loyal to Diana, but I love her even more than you do, you know? Besides, you must have heard that what happened was unavoidable, right? If I had stubbornly tried to save myself back there, it might have ended with more than just Diana crying."
"…"
As I said that, still held by the collar, Vanessa couldn't answer and just maintained her silence, glaring at me.
"You can't be unaware of that. Did you call me over the moment Sara was separated from me, just waiting for the chance to say this? You've let the blood rush to your head, which is unlike you. And for you to stay this angry the whole time Sara was attached to me… just how furious were you?"
"…In any case, make sure nothing like this ever happens again."
As if she hadn't expected me to react this way, the silent Vanessa spat out the words.
"I told you, you don't have to tell me. I'm reflecting deeply on what happened. I'll be more careful from now on. This whole incident made me realize to my very bones that if something happens to me, my girls will be sad."
"…As long as you understand."
When I went so far as to take a conciliatory tone, Vanessa finally relaxed the intensity in her eyes and quietly nodded.
As a bonus, she slightly loosened her grip on my collar.
No. Just let go.
"Geez. To think the Vanessa would get this angry. Just how devoted are you to Diana? No, I mean, that part of you is incredibly reliable, but… In a situation like this, isn't it normal to start by congratulating me on my safe return?"
"…I am glad you have returned."
Now that I could breathe a little easier, I played it cool, and Vanessa said that, making it painfully obvious she was speaking reluctantly.
"Alright, then. So, Vanessa, were you a little worried about me too?"
"…No. Not particularly. I was worried about a grieving Lady Diana, however."
Hey. In times like this, aren't you supposed to say you were a little worried, even if it's just for show?
Hah. This iron-masked butler, really.
At this rate, will the day ever come when my ambition to make her cry is realized?
"…Is that so. Well, it seems you're done talking, so get off me now. It's suffocating with you like this. Hoo."
"Ugh!"
As I said that, I deliberately blew a large puff of air from my mouth.
Vanessa, who still had her face pressed close to mine, was so startled by my surprise attack that she flinched hard and hastily backed away from me.
Oh? This reaction… what's this?