Unedited
Anyway, according to the genealogy, the most urgent target to capture at this point was Edgar. The twins were designed so that if you targeted one, the other would follow, so Nadon would have to somehow get Queen Rosemary’s earring from Edgar before he could give it to Blossom.
Jaden’s name came next. Since his ‘events’ were mostly concentrated in the second semester, Blossom had hardly captured Jaden.
“Do you remember when I said it wasn’t the right time yet?”
I proudly denied it. I couldn’t remember at all. Kyle looked at me with pity and told me to eat some walnuts from now on. I was annoyed.
It was concluded that giving up on Bolton was quicker. He didn’t have as many angles to approach as Edgar, and having already been completely enamored with Blossom, even if you tried, being just best friends was the limit. I didn’t hate being friends with him, but honestly, Bolton was so nagging that it would be torturous to become best friends with him. ‘Eww.’ I said, pushing Bolton’s portrait, depicting him adjusting his glasses in a showy manner, to the edge of the desk.
The moment he finally picked up the portrait of Keran Illestia, who was still handsome despite being 40% ugly, Kyle clicked his tongue inadvertently. I often got the impression that he harbored a kind of animosity towards Keran, regardless of his friendship with him, and it still was the case now.
Sure enough, Kyle first recited the risks I would have to take by targeting Keran rather than his personal details. Blossom is keeping an eye on this person because he has a ‘bug’, and since he is a character that was given the setting to be difficult to read, it was difficult to make choices to make his favorability rise, and it will be difficult as I would have to confront Emperor Kaitlyn… .
“Of course, you have to capture him to some extent to shake the system. What I mean is… .”
After a long introduction, Kyle finally succeeded in saying what he probably really wanted to say.
“Please don’t fall in love with Keran.”
“What?”
“It doesn’t have to be me. It can be Ramos, or even Jaden; although I hate to admit it, there’s no one in Milua who can compare to him when it comes to being the best groom candidate, so it’s okay. I could even support you if you fell in love with Marquess Bolton. I would do my best to support and cheer on you. But not Keran.”
“… … .”
“Promise me, Ari. No matter what happens, you won’t fall in love with Keran. Even if you were to stumble upon his ‘events’ and follow his ‘route,’ don’t give him your heart.”
‘For me, your friend, Kyle, who cherishes you above all else.’ His voice, as light as a passing breeze, lingered in my ears for a long time. He looked quite serious. Just like that day when he promised not to make me sad ever again. However, I had already shared more things with Keran than with any other target. Even…
Suddenly, I felt like I wasn’t respecting Kyle enough by not mentioning the kiss. As Kyle was being true to me, it felt right for me to do the same. Therefore, I tried to convey the events that occurred at Rosemary Blossom’s birthday banquet as honestly as possible. For my friend, Kyle, who cherished me above all else.
As I told the story, Kyle seemed quite bewildered, got angry for a while, and became despondent towards the end. Then he asked with a tired expression.
“So, you want to make it work? With Keran Illestia?”
“I, uh… I don’t know. He was just so handsome, and I drank too… .”
Caught off guard, the dumbest thing I’d ever heard myself say flowed out of my mouth without going through my brain. I immediately shuddered with excruciating regret. Needless to say, Kyle was adamant.
“No, you can’t. Keran, he doesn’t deserve it. I know I have no right to dictate your feelings, but still…”
As far as I know, Keran had no reason to deal with the questionable anger directed at him. But Kyle seemed to think differently. And he didn’t seem to want to explain it to me either.
I was insanely curious, but no matter how much I pressed, Kyle just stubbornly shook his head. Not only that, but the more I mentioned Keran, the more he went from a nineteen-year-old Kyle with a completely mature jaw and shoulders to the crybaby master of Villard Mansion.
“Why did I have to fall for someone as heartless as you…”
After persistent questioning, all that remained was sorrow. Before I knew it, Kyle was pressing his reddened eyes and mumbling.
“I wanted to kiss you too… .”
“Oh my god, Kyle!”
Most of the time I was extremely generous with Kyle Villard, whom I made cry, but not this time.
“You’ve lived for nearly forever! You’re not at an age to be obsessed with a kiss!”
When I cried out in shock, Kyle insisted that a kiss with me couldn’t be ‘just’ a kiss.
Listening to his infallible rhetoric left me speechless, yet I was gripped by a certain impulse. Holy crap. The wicked Lilu cries because she doesn’t want to kiss me, while he cries because he can’t kiss me. The next moment, I felt that my childhood friend who had thrown his age and size into the gutter was both pitiful and a bit adorable.
“Okay, Kyle Damien Villard. Even though I don’t love you, I like you a lot. Enough to give you my lips.”
Perhaps it was because the fantasy of my first kiss was so cruelly shattered that I didn’t find kissing Kyle as uncomfortable as I had before. If I hypnotized myself into thinking he was Lilu, it didn’t seem like it would be impossible. With a determined mindset, I opened my arms wide. Kyle’s eyes widened in surprise, and he hiccuped.
“Don’t want to? If you don’t, forget it.”
“When did I say I didn’t want to! It’s just, it’s so sudden…”
“That’s the same thing!”
“No! I’m just, I really want to do that, but you, you don’t want to do that with me… .”
“So are you going to do it or not? I’m really fucking embarrassed right now!”
Even with my thick skin, this was too much. As I felt my earlobes burning, Kyle quickly stood in front of me. But even then, he hesitated annoyingly.
I swore a little, feeling like my arm was going to fall off. It wasn’t a magic spell to revive a dead romance, but a magic spell to kick a slow-witted ass.
“I’m sure I’ll regret this later, but… I’ll take it for now.”
Suddenly, a warm palm touched my mouth. ‘Hey, what are you doing?’ Kyle shrieked and jumped back when my lips moved at the unexpected sensation. After I shrugged my shoulders in apology, his hand fell to my lips again. It was a slow and careful movement.
The kiss fell on the back of his hand, not on my lips. In other words, we kissed with Kyle’s hand between us. Since I didn’t have time to close my eyes, I got a close look at my childhood friend’s manly, protruding eyebrow bones and well-groomed eyebrows. There was still moisture that he wasn’t able to fully wipe away on his eyelashes that were trembling from nervousness.
It seemed he was holding his breath, as it was deathly quiet beyond his palm. It was definitely a completely different atmosphere than with Keran. What should I call it? A sacred feeling, maybe. Even kissing the foot of a god wouldn’t feel this way. Moreover, I was no god, just a person. It made me feel extremely ticklish inside.
“This is weirder than just doing it.”
Kyle smiled shyly at my complaint, and it was a face I’d never seen on him before. It made me feel very strange.
So I pretended to tidy up my desk and turned over the paper with Keran’s ugly but handsome portrait on it. I won’t let him see me as I am now.
***
To Ariel.
Hello, Ariel. How are you doing? I’m doing well. Surprisingly.
You said I might be a hidden eloquent speaker, but well, I guess you’re wrong. As soon as I got home, I explained everything I had been feeling for a very long time, but my parents couldn’t even understand the half of it. And it wasn’t due to them. It was because I was trembling so badly. Jackie said I wouldn’t be able to convince even a fool that way. I know you all disapprove of Jackie, but she’s terrible at lying.
So I decided to find another way out. Even though I didn’t have the talent for speaking, I definitely had the talent as a fighter. Brianna was frustrated that I don’t use my voice, but through words isn’t always the only way to get your point across.
So, what I mean is, I’ve found that sometimes it’s easier to just act it out. I found more value and promise in my fists than in my tongue. The look on the duke’s face when I kicked Baron Donnelly’s groin was truly a masterpiece.
This vacation, I’ll be spending my time confined to the O’Brien mansion under constant surveillance. But I think I can find plenty of fun while following the laws in my new Bible. There is only one phrase written there. Don’t hold back. Maybe your newspaper will soon also publish the news that Lady O’Brien of Illestia has gone crazy.
In conclusion, I don’t have to go to a monastery anymore (the Duchess said that it is impossible to serve God while suffering from mania. I agree with her), so can we say that it was a success? I’m not sure. Still, I definitely felt relieved inside. Thanks again.
Your beautiful and elegant dimwit.
P.S.1. Father, I know you are reading my letter. Please, if you are going to remove the seal, at least reseal it properly. I spent a lot of time thinking about the angle when I seal it!
P.S.2. If it’s hard to reseal it as neatly as before, at least stamp it with a flower. Ariel loves flowers.
The sealing wax that stuck unsightly to Anais’s letter had an unknown wild flower encrusted in it. I carefully removed it and stored it in my desk drawer. I’ll have to show it to Bree later.
As I handed a peeled grape to the flying squirrel who brought me the letter, another letter fell into my lap. It seemed that the new postman had finally been taught the tricks of the trade by his seniors.
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