Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: The Ball (10)
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“I knew it.”
No, wait a minute…
She’s jumping to her own conclusions, and that’s not right!
It goes without saying, but my heart was pounding.
The elf girl seemed to have found some sort of hope in that reaction.
That’s not it, I tell you.
It would have been the same no matter who it was. It was, so to speak, an involuntary reaction.
“And here you were, pretending all this time. You do see me as a woman.”
“—??”
“What’s with that look? You’ve been caught. Is there anything left to say?”
Her confidence soared higher than ever before.
I had a feeling that even if I tried to explain the intricacies of human reflexes or physiological phenomena, she would just scoff.
*If you argue, I’m right.*
With an attitude like that, what could I possibly say?
“Heehee, I’ve learned something interesting. I’m so glad I checked.”
“…”
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to do anything right now. I’ll have to think about this for a bit.”
Her smile never faded.
It had moved beyond a simple bloom into a full, radiant blossom.
As if this was more than enough for now.
With a look that showed no lingering attachment, she turned around gracefully.
Her steps were light and cheerful.
Leaving me behind, she slowly disappeared into the distance.
Hers was truly the back of a victor.
I, on the other hand, was plunged into a profound sense of defeat.
To think it would be overturned at the very end…
Ah, how infuriating… It was involuntary!
Though I didn't want to admit it, reality was cruel.
“…”
I’m worried about what’s to come.
The deeper her misunderstanding, the more frequent her impulsive actions would become.
It was enough to make me sigh.
Still, it wasn’t a total loss.
[Favorability +2]
[Favorability +3]
Her favorability had risen significantly.
All I did was have a pounding heart… Is this for real?
Favorability: 77.
It had been climbing steadily, only to stop at an ambiguous point.
It felt like a hint that I would have to go through something like this again.
Well, whatever.
If anything, I’m hoping for a rematch.
I had to repay the humiliation I tasted today, with interest.
“…”
Truth be told, it wasn’t that bad of a feeling.
Which only made me angrier.
Losing to the likes of that elf girl… How could I stand for that?
Before I knew it, the darkness within me was stirring.
I’d have to find a chance to completely crush her.
* * *
The chilly night air pierced my lungs.
I remained in the same spot even after Ilensia left.
It was an open-air terrace.
Beyond it lay a thicket of well-manicured bushes.
It was the perfect environment for a small animal to hide, completely concealed.
My gut instinct flared.
Eventually, I found myself staring at a particular spot and calling out.
“How long are you going to hide? Come on out.”
The elf girl had dragged me away for all to see.
My companions must have been curious about what was happening.
Someone must have suggested sending a scout.
And inevitably, our little cutie would have been chosen.
Her beastkin agility and ability to erase her presence—all the conditions were perfect.
She must have been hiding somewhere, watching.
Sure enough, I soon sensed a presence.
I was a little off on the direction, but a cute fox beastkin popped out of the bushes.
“How did you know?”
“…”
She doesn’t even bother denying it anymore.
The girl smiled sheepishly as she slowly approached.
My little cutie.
Why so confident? Do you have something to fall back on?
Even under my questioning gaze, Aruru simply answered brightly.
“Yeah, it was an order from my lady.”
“…”
*I didn’t want to peek, but your mother ordered me to.*
With that kind of attitude, she brazenly asserted her innocence.
Well, I had nothing to say to that.
Who would dare defy the will of Lady Martina?
“Besides, I didn’t really see anything. I just heard your voices a little.”
She said she kept her distance so she wouldn’t be caught.
It seemed her view was limited, and she could only get a sense of the atmosphere.
Aruru glanced at me and giggled.
“Nothing happened, right?”
Yes, that’s it!
She not only read the atmosphere, but she also read her master’s heart.
Not that anything really happened, but it wasn’t something I wanted people to know about.
“Hmm, but that sounds like a pretty obvious lie.”
“Because Ilensia will make it obvious?”
“Yeah. I bet she’s already strutting around, all smug.”
An accurate guess.
Having won a victory against none other than me, she was bound to show off.
When asked why she’s so cheerful, I could vividly picture her acting coy, saying something like, ‘Oh, it’s nothing, heehee…’
Aruru and I put our heads together.
It wasn't too difficult to handle the situation.
We just had to use the elf girl’s ditsy image to our advantage.
*Nothing happened, but she jumped to her own conclusions and is lost in her delusions.*
If we both stuck to that story, everyone would nod their heads in understanding.
Besides, that was the truth.
My heart fluttered a little, and she completely crossed the line.
The elf girl deserved to pay the price for her arrogance.
“I can’t wait to see Ilensia’s downfall!”
“…”
The fox beastkin trembled with uncontrollable excitement.
She had always enjoyed teasing the elf girl.
I suddenly wondered why.
Was it because she possessed things that Aruru didn't?
A five-foot-something girl being jealous of a statuesque beauty…
Aruru’s appearance stats were so skewed to one side that you couldn’t call her beautiful, not even as a joke.
I gently stroked her head.
Cheer up. By beastkin standards, you’re a great beauty!
“Yeah, that’s true.”
She affirmed it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
She even managed to make an attitude that could be seen as cocky into another one of her cute charms.
“Speaking of which… I wish I were a beauty by your standards, too.”
“…”
Her innocent eyes looked up at me.
Her purity was as white as her hair.
For a moment, my heart fluttered…
The fact that she looked only at me made my heart race.
I had mostly grown accustomed to her physical displays of affection.
But I had less resistance to these sudden, heartfelt confessions.
My little cutie.
You’re already perfect by my standards!
She was always charming, but…
her appearance in a dress was utterly adorable.
Especially her fox ears and tail—they were irreplaceable elements.
A girl who could rival a fairy.
A powerful desire to just hug her tightly surged within me.
I was on the verge of being overcome by the impulse to do something.
If I were to compare Aruru and Ilensia…
It was obviously Aruru >>> An insurmountable gap >>> Ilensia.
That formula would likely never change, no matter how much time passed.
“Really?”
Her face lit up as she clung to me.
As always, she unleashed her ultimate weapon.
The fox beastkin’s affection continued relentlessly.
It was so intense I wondered if her face would wear down.
“By the way, what was Ilensia talking about earlier?”
“About what?”
“Something about my tail, like she was about to lift my skirt…”
“—!!”
The elf girl’s nonsense was the source of this trouble.
Why did she have to make such a wild assumption and make things so awkward?
Aruru had a strange smile on her face.
She looked at me intently, as if she didn't find it unpleasant at all.
To reiterate, it was a truly ridiculous misunderstanding.
What glory would I gain from doing something like that?
If I were to do it, I would have done it to Ceria…
Of course, that was just a figure of speech; it was a scene that could never happen in the first place.
A dignity that was second to none.
My body’s mechanism was remarkably simple.
It was designed to unconditionally uphold my dignity as a young nobleman.
In other words, I couldn’t commit any act that would tarnish my dignity, even if I wanted to.
This entire process occurred irrespective of my will.
And because of that, it was often quite inconvenient.
Like having to hold back even when a situation called for swearing.
Such cases were rare, but it was a kind of shackle nonetheless.
Well, the situation was gradually improving.
The day would come when I would overcome this compulsion.
After finishing my thoughts, I stroked Aruru’s head.
It was just something I did out of habit, but she seemed to interpret the action a little differently.
“If you want… I can give you a little service!”
“…”
No, wait a minute…
I can’t even imagine it.
Even the fantasies that always came to mind couldn't materialize this.
No, thanks! I appreciate the thought.
I tried to handle it like a gentleman, but the girl stubbornly insisted.
She hugged me tighter and gave me a look I couldn't refuse.
“I want to do something for you too. Can’t I?”
There was no need to feel burdened, she said.
She whispered quietly that this was how she felt.
“…”
I gazed silently at Aruru.
A girl whose mere presence, even just watching her eat, brought a smile to my face.
A girl who showered me with affection whenever I needed healing.
A girl who sometimes acted impulsively, but even that felt cute.
I had already received more than I deserved from her.
Yet, she seemed unaware of it, striving to do something more for me.
I thought she had almost gone over to my mother’s side.
But at this point, that concern seemed baseless.
As if to assert that I was her one and only master, a look of desperation dripped from her face.
She was still cute, but at the same time, she exuded a womanly charm.
I couldn’t help but be drawn deeper into her formidable, bewitching allure.
I barely managed to snap back to my senses.
I then realized I had been bewitched by a fox.
Beastkin weren't just humans with ears and a tail.
In Aruru’s case, she possessed all the characteristics of a fox.
As some may know, the fox is a bewitching creature second to none in this world.
A bewitching creature that would lie on its back, expose its belly, and whimper for you to pet it.
How could anyone handle such cunning charm?
Phrases like "sly as a fox" or "bewitched by a fox"…
Such expressions existed because they were true.
What if my little cutie were to perfectly mimic the behavior of a fox?
“…”
Aah, I don’t think I could resist!
I was confident I could become her slave.
I needed to keep my wits about me.
I had to prevent the relationship between master and pet from being reversed.
Fortunately, my little cutie was good at maintaining boundaries.
This current situation…
It was likely just her fox-like nature surfacing unconsciously, not something she intended.
“Alright. I’ll ask you later if I need anything.”
For now, giving a vague answer was the best option.
Satisfied with her master’s affirmation, she beamed.
“Okay, just call me anytime!”
And with that, the matter was settled.
Following the elf girl, Aruru had also managed to stir my heart, but it had been a meaningful time in its own way.
We walked slowly down the corridor.
After a moment, Aruru glanced around before speaking cautiously.
“Could you… escort me?”
Her intentions were easy to read.
It seemed she wanted to experience the feeling of being cared for by a man, just like the noble ladies.
On the way back to the ballroom.
She wanted to be my partner, if only for that brief moment.
A cute request, just like her. There was no reason to refuse.
“Of course.”
“—!!”
She let out a youthful gasp.
As if that wasn't enough, she wagged her tail vigorously, showing how happy she was.
Watching her, I felt my own spirits lift.
Alright, fine.
If I was going to provide a service, I might as well do it properly.
I cleared my throat and smiled gently.
“My dear young lady. From this moment, I shall be your escort.”
“Ah, aah…”
She blushed, looking extremely embarrassed.
She was flustered by the kind of line a noble lady might hear.
The girl’s purity was on full display; the fox’s cunning charm was nowhere to be seen.
Soon, her escort began.
Physically, linking arms was difficult, but just having our hands touch was enough.
I could feel her trembling through our joined hands.
She held on for dear life, as if unwilling to let go of this moment of happiness.
That form of hers…
It was just so incredibly lovely.
The whole thing was for her, but I think I was getting more satisfaction out of it.
The escort continued even after we entered the ballroom.
Ignoring the gathering stares, we arrived at the spot where our companions were.
“Okay, that’s enough now. Thank you so much!”
As if to repay me, she continued her affectionate display.
Those around us reacted as if it were nothing new.
For a moment, my eyes met Ceria’s.
She gave a slight nod, conveying a message with her gaze.
The long-awaited event was here.
I had danced with the Imperial Princess and had a dreadful time with the elf girl.
I had fun with my little cutie, so now it was Ceria’s turn.
Thump, thump…
I wonder what kind of event will unfold.
I eagerly anticipated her next impulsive move.