Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Even If I Cry, I Won't Fall (4)
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Sophia had brought the letter, and after reading it carefully, I let out a quiet sigh. Rias, huh. Even back home, my family hadn't gone so far as to cancel the engagement yet, so there must be some reason for that, but if I put my own feelings first and foremost, she wasn't someone I particularly wanted to see.
When had it started, I wonder. Back when we were very young, we got along just fine.
At the time, it was actually me who kept a little distance from Rias because of my knowledge from my past life.
A fiancée who would betray me in all sorts of ways in the future? That was scary.
Of course, even so, in our childhood, we couldn't just drift apart completely from the bold and hardworking Rias, who threw herself into everything, so we ended up getting close again pretty quickly.
"This is tricky. Really."
Is there anything in the world as uncontrollable as human relationships? As time passed, Rias's behavior gradually grew stranger, and with no way to fix it, I just watched from the sidelines. Without any grand reason or big fight, we slowly drifted apart.
I never publicly criticized her or made a fuss, so there were no disputes between our families either.
In the end, you could say our relationship quietly fizzled out without anyone noticing.
Just thinking about it built up some stress, so I closed my slightly dry eyes and pressed firmly on my eyelids.
For now, I folded the letter away, opened the bedroom window, and gazed at the still dim summer dawn sky. Even though the days were long enough, the sky hadn't brightened yet. I stretched out wide and took in a deep breath of air.
True to the city's extreme temperature swings, Astraea felt nicely cool before the sun rose.
Looking up at the sky where faint stars still twinkled eased my stuffy mood a bit. Time to open up the shop soon? Or since I was up early, maybe roast some coffee? As I pondered, I spotted someone waving from below.
It was Big Sis Leimi, who hadn't shown her face much lately while discussing something with the Magic Tower.
Before opening the cafe, I quickly washed up, changed clothes, and headed downstairs.
"Out and about this early in the morning?"
"Just dropping off a package. You're up early today?"
"I've got some business too. Now that I'm connected to the Academy again, anyway."
"Sounds like a hassle?"
"If I had to answer yes or no... yeah, it is."
"Nothing good ever comes from getting tangled up with that place."
I just shrugged without replying. It wasn't like I'd run away for no reason.
Amused by my reaction, Big Sis chuckled and headed toward the cafe with an inviting gesture. On my way out, I unlocked the cafe door and started opening preparations.
I tied on my apron first, activated the mana drive on the espresso machine, and took out a clean cloth to dust off the cups I'd washed spotless yesterday.
While waiting for the espresso machine to heat the water, I pulled out the other ingredients. Most customers ordered coffee anyway, so I didn't serve many other drinks, but preparing everything was the basics of being a cafe manager, right?
Watching me prep for opening, Big Sis smiled and said,
"Who'd believe you're a duke's son?"
"That's why I got an earful plenty of times. Dad even chewed out the servants if he caught me in the kitchen."
"Tough break."
"Truth is, the servants who got yelled at because of me had it worse. Standing there watching him rip into them made me sick of it all."
Knowing scolding me wouldn't change anything, Dad never laid a hand on me directly. He'd just park me there and terrorize the people around me to control my behavior.
Naturally, that only deepened the rift between me and my damn father.
Noticing my expression, Big Sis asked cautiously,
"So, you planning to cut ties with your family completely?"
"Unless something major comes up."
"Something major, huh."
Propping her chin on her hand and gazing at me intently, Big Sis suddenly grinned mischievously.
"Guess that means no need for parental approval when you marry the cafe manager, then?"
"True, but..."
"And since you won't care about social eyes, you could even have a girlfriend or two."
"Nah, that's..."
Catching my awkward look, Big Sis burst into laughter, and I checked that the espresso machine's water was hot enough before pulling the first shot.
Big Sis's first, of course.
The machine's signature hiss filled the cafe with coffee aroma.
"Felt it last time I slept over, but morning coffee smells just hit different. Feels good."
"Right? I love it too."
"Mmm."
I served her usual coffee, then pulled mine. Since it was rare, instead of drinking at my spot, I sat across from her and sipped.
Still dawn, so after greetings, I grabbed some bread that wouldn't upset the stomach—no heavy solids yet. Big Sis picked up bread and jam too.
"So, mind if I ask what the deal is?"
"My fiancée wants to meet."
"...How about just turning her down?"
"Rejecting her once won't stop her from hounding me. I can see it coming."
"What a messy girl."
She wasn't wrong.
If she'd just stuck to Christoph, fine, but hanging around me—with barely any conversation—only to stir trouble when she ran into him? Exhausting.
And that bastard Christoph blames me for Rias clinging to him.
I gave her the rough rundown, and Big Sis looked subtly surprised.
"Not quite what I imagined. Still, no need to stay close."
"What'd you picture?"
"Just some spoiled brat throwing tantrums left and right."
"She'd sock people if she got mad out of nowhere, yeah."
"Oof..."
But instead of whining or crying when she got hit, she preferred hitting back hard.
In a way, she was a tough one.
Anyway.
"After we drifted apart, we barely talked. Not much to say to each other anymore."
"Look, I'm not defending her or anything, and helping's off the table, but she might not be exactly what you think. Still, make it clean-cut."
"Obviously."
"Your call anyway, so I'll respect it."
Finishing her last bite of bread, Big Sis slid her foot under the table and tapped my inner thigh.
Noticing my glance at the subtly sexual gesture, she said matter-of-factly,
"What? It is on purpose."
"I'll think about it once my issues are sorted."
"Most positive thing you've said so far."
"Escaping was what I did before. Now it's about resolving. Can't neglect reality obsessing over the past."
I answered, and she fell silent, pondering something, before murmuring,
"Yeah. Gotta put an end to problems."
"You got something with the Magic Tower too, Big Sis?"
"Obviously. A ton. Makes my blood boil just thinking about it. But eh, emotions have cooled."
She turned to the window, squinting slightly at the rising sun's glare, then looked back at me.
"Ooh. Blinding, but still handsome."
"What kinda nonsense is that?"
"Just reminiscing soured my mood, so I looked at the sky to frown. Figured your face would cleanse my eyes while I was at it."
"What logic is that? Anyway, glad you're feeling better."
"I am. For real."
Unlike Big Sis Mina's style, this direct affection was... embarrassing, somehow.
Mixing compliments into casual chat hit harder, made it more blush-worthy.
As I went quiet, she poked my cheek with her finger, laughed, and stood up.
"Worth waking up early. Got to see your face one-on-one and hear something important."
"Yeah."
"About what I said earlier—don't assume you know everything about your fiancée. Stay cool even if surprises pop up. Got it?"
"Will do. Honestly, with zero experience with women myself, your advice might help a ton."
"Heh. Say that with your looks and personality, and folks won't have nice things to say."
She stretched, flashing her navel, and headed out with a "see ya later."
Her attitude had grown bolder than before, more forward. I turned to the sun myself.
The western sky still deep blue, while the east swirled with red and yellow hues.
Once that sun set and rose again, it'd be the Academy. The thought depressed me for no reason.
A hall of learning where everyone showed their ugliest sides—what a shame. But thinking of the world's rule that protagonists don't grow without trials, unable to beat late-game foes otherwise... it was tragic.
The villainess Rias.
A standard antagonist in the game, handling early-game dislikeability.
The her I knew from my past life, and the her I've known so long now.
What conclusion we'd reach... I still didn't know.