kscans

Chapter 199 - Scribblings, A Slightly Mean Alistair

"...So what?"

The Little One glared down with tired, sharp eyes.

"Please help me, Your Highness!"

A classmate was kneeling and crying his eyes out.

This was the noble academy. Chihiro, who was now fourteen years old, was being subjected to a tearful appeal from her friend, Takt, on the eve of the final prom night. He was the boy who had approached the Little One siblings at the academy entrance ceremony, mistaking them for commoners. They had maintained a casual friendship since then, and Takt, who had been flustered by being surrounded by nobles, had come to rely heavily on the twins. As a result, whenever something happened, Takt would immediately run to the Little One in tears.

Chihiro felt like she had become a certain cat type robot from an anime she liked in her past life.

"But you know? That’s your own fault, isn’t it, Takt? Your lower half is a little too honest, don’t you think?"

"Buuuut! She’s a marquess’s daughter! And in a situation where half her chest was showing...! It’s like a biological phenomenon, isn’t it!"

Takt clung tightly to the Little One’s knees, skirt and all, and screamed as his eyes flooded like a river.

Well, she did think he was undisciplined, but hearing the story, it wasn’t entirely his fault. He had a lovely girlfriend. They were both commoner scholarship students. They were a rare couple at the academy, and the sons and daughters of Frontier, who were well educated as people, did not particularly discriminate against or scorn them, but rather watched over them warmly. The one who interfered between Takt and his girlfriend was Alistair. She, who adored Theodore, had previously picked a fight with the Little One out of jealousy. For that reason, she was despised by Theodore, and Alistair, understanding this, became self destructive and began to look at the happy couples at the academy with resentful eyes. However, she was a proper Frontier noble. She wouldn’t take out her frustrations on other nobles. Doing so would be a fatal mistake. It was clear she would be ostracized from high society. Alistair bit her fingertips so hard she was sure to draw blood, and her eyes fell on Takt and his girlfriend. There was a world of difference between a noble and a commoner, and even if she used them to vent her frustration, no one would blame her. She might be lightly scorned, though.

With a vulgar smile, Alistair locked on to Takt and set a honey trap.

From subtle touches to more blatant ones. Yesterday, when the female students who were having their prom outfits fitted were showing off their dresses to their male partners, she had supposedly deliberately knocked over a vase near Takt and his girlfriend. Her already revealing dress was soaked with water, and Takt, who had lent a hand to Alistair who had pretended to fall, had a direct view of her bountiful fruits that were about to spill out. It was too stimulating for a young man in the throes of first love and filled with curiosity. Furthermore, Alistair, who had been cute since she was a child, was now a beautiful marquess’s daughter. The effect of the dress enhanced her smile's power by thirty percent. Takt, who was hit with the full force of her devastatingly effective smile, was stunned for a moment. Even after helping her up, he remained dazed and lost his senses until his girlfriend in front of him stepped on his foot. A sharp pain suddenly assaulted his foot.

"...Aaaagh!!"

As Takt crouched down, clutching his foot, his girlfriend berated him with all her might.

"...! You're the worst! You pervert!!"

She turned on her heel and ran away. Takt, who had been watching her go in a daze, felt a heavy throb in his crotch and his face went pale. It seemed that his magnificent self had been aroused by Alistair’s devastating charm. Considering his position at the time, it must have been clearly visible to his girlfriend, even through his clothes. Fortunately, now that he was crouching, it wasn't noticeable. On the contrary, after being stepped on and berated by his girlfriend, his magnificent self, which had been so energetic, shriveled up with a shurushuru sound.

But it was already too late.

The marquess’s daughter watched the two quarrel and sneered.

The Little One’s smile dried up as she listened to the story.

Her schoolmate continued to cry his eyes out.

"It was a biological phenomenon! It has nothing to do with feelings like liking Alistair-sama!"

Probably so, Chihiro thought with a deep sigh. For the most part, their social statuses were completely different, so he wouldn’t see her as a romantic interest. There were some students who yearned for a high class beauty, but even that was often just a heightened admiration, like having a crush on an idol. It was far from a real life romance. For a boy of an age who could get excited over a gravure swimsuit, it could be said to be a normal reaction, in a way. ...But.

"Doing it in front of your girlfriend was a bad move, wasn’t it?"

The Little One couldn’t help but pat the head of the pitifully crying Takt. Spotting the two of them, three pairs of eyes appeared. Multiple pairs of freezing eyes filled with sharp contempt.

"You got turned on by another woman in front of the girl you like? Unbelievable. You should be pilloried as a disgrace to men."

It was Chihaya who peeled Takt off Chihiro and made him kneel on the spot.

"Certainly... there is no room for sympathy, but the marquess’s daughter is also of poor character. That being said, this is not a matter for Chihiro to get involved in."

It was Theodore who wore a wry smile as if he had bitten into a bitter bug. It seemed he had come to see Chihiro’s prom dress.

"No, it’s a problem even before that. Could you please not tell my cute fiancée about your disgusting lower half situation?!"

The man who made such a blunt statement was Romel.

He scooped up the Little One from whom Takt had been peeled off and curled his lip so much that you could almost hear a gurururu growl. While keeping an eye on Chihiro, who was like a beast tamer calming down the king's younger brother, Takt was glared at by the clearly angry group of men and shrank down to a pitifully small size.

"Alright, alright, that’s enough. I was just giving him advice."

Chihaya looked down at his sister who was clapping her hands with an exasperated look and unleashed a series of unfiltered blows on Takt.

"Asking for advice itself is wrong. What kind of advice does an idiot who got a hard on after being dazzled by a woman's charms need? It’s not just his own fault, it’s bad cause, bad effect. It’s the result of his own actions. In my opinion, he’s guilty."

He sharply swiped his thumb across his chin, showing no mercy.

"I agree. Honestly, I don’t understand the mentality of looking at another woman in front of the woman you care about. If it were me, I would never be swayed. I wouldn’t see anyone but the woman I love. Especially if she were right beside me."

Theodore spat out, looking quietly at the Little One.

Romel glared sharply at the two of them, hurriedly covered Chihiro’s ears, and shouted.

"You guys! Could you please stop using such vulgar words? You’ll corrupt Chihiro’s ears!"

The three teenagers’ eyes darted around with a start.

It seemed they did not recognize the Little One as a maiden.

"...Well. Chihiro transcends gender, so it doesn’t feel weird to talk about these things with her."

"I don’t want to admit it, but I have no room to argue. In fact, at home, it’s usually Hiro who spouts the dirty jokes."

And it was a set piece for the shocked Drago to tear up, and for Sakura, who was comforting Drago, to scold Chihiro.

"I... since she is a princess, I thought she could mediate for both me and the marquess’s daughter. I had no other intention."

Takt, the root of the problem, was once again on the verge of tears.

Chihiro slipped out of Romel’s arms and stood in front of Takt.

"What happened can’t be undone. We need to think about what to do now. Let’s be constructive!"

The Little One raised her right fist with a cheer. Influenced by her, Takt also raised his arm weakly with an "uh... oh?"

"Well, first of all, you should apologize with all your heart. To an extent that doesn’t burden her. Watch for the right moment and apologize as many times as you need to. If she seems annoyed or there’s no response, give it some time."

Takt listened intently, his nostrils flaring.

"It’s not like you broke up because you hate her, so you don’t have to give up until a definitive rift has formed. In fact, ignoring it is the worst thing you can do. If you’re optimistic and think ‘eventually’ or ‘sometime’, it’ll be too late. Time will only solve things after you’ve conveyed your feelings. Got it?"

"Roger that!"

Replying earnestly while leaning forward, Takt made a beeline for her classroom. Watching him run off into the distance, Chihiro’s eyes softened.

"It’s great to be young. Go for it, youth."

"""………………"""

The men were at a loss for words at the Little One’s line as she watched Takt with a radiant expression. They exchanged glances with complex looks on their faces.

...Well, you're mentally nearly half a century old. Not figuratively, but literally. Still, I don’t want to give up being your fiancé. Age is just a trivial thing. In fact, welcome.♪

...That’s why they call you a young old person or an elder. And I get dragged into it with you. Though being paired with Hiro is like a reward.

...I’ve gotten used to it. But isn’t it against the rules for you to be cute like that? Why do I get an uncontrollable urge to make you sit on a Kilfan cushion and sip tea?

As the three of them pictured their respective thoughts in their minds, smiles unconsciously crept onto their faces. But this was the Little One’s world.

Things always take a diagonal, upward twist.

"Do as you please."

"Oh my, how bold of you. To admit that you yourself have no charm."

Takt’s girlfriend and Alistair were glaring at each other, sparks flying. Takt was flustered and timid between them. This was the waiting room for those participating in the prom. The three of them, bickering loudly, were being watched out of the corner of their eyes by the other students. They had become the center of attention for the students heading towards the main hall.

How did it come to this?

The Little One asked with a look of dismay, and Takt explained nervously.

"For tonight’s prom... well... she refused to be my partner…"

According to his faltering explanation, after their consultation yesterday, Takt had desperately apologized to her. He was entirely at fault. It was utterly pathetic. It was a biological phenomenon, but he was sorry for making her feel uncomfortable. She understood that. It wasn’t intentional, and it was difficult to stop a man’s functions with reason. But she couldn’t forgive him. Especially for being captivated by Alistair and neglecting her. Even if the excitement of his magnificent self was unavoidable, she had wanted him to at least keep his attention on her.

...That’s the truth, the Little One thought.

It had apparently been a scene in an unpopular gazebo. Takt, who had been rejected with a "I don’t want to see your face for a while," left the backyard dejectedly. However, Alistair, who had been secretly watching the entire scene, had the audacity to ask Takt to be her escort.

What? Chihiro’s eyes widened, and she stared at Takt.

"You didn't accept, did you?"

"I didn’t! I can still attend the prom without a partner!"

Takt shook his head vigorously, denying it with a desperate look on his face.

"Then why did this happen?"

It was not Takt but Alistair who answered the Little One’s questioning look.

"Oh my. It has been a while, Countess. He was about to enter alone, so I was merely trying to borrow his left arm… but this commoner is so annoying."

Alistair let out a dramatic sigh and glanced at Takt’s girlfriend. Annoyed by this, she too glared back and retorted.

"Do as you please! I have no lingering feelings for a gentleman who can only think with his lower half!!"

"How could you!"

Takt turned to look at her with wide eyes, his face on the verge of tears. The place was in an uproar, like a kicked beehive.

It’s the last prom, too.

The Little One would be fifteen next year. As she would be an adult, she would attend the royal palace's ball for the New Year next year, so she couldn't attend the academy's prom. Having her commemorative prom ruined, Chihiro shot a glance at Alistair.

"Alice? What do you think you’re doing?"

There was no honorific or politeness to be had. It was Chihiro’s style to return rudeness with rudeness. The Little One had no respect to pay to Alistair, who seemed to be enjoying causing trouble. Conversely, Alistair had to maintain her etiquette. Although only in title, Chihiro was a quasi royal. At the academy, all students were equal, but the prom was different. The tea parties and luncheons were places to learn the preliminary knowledge of high society. Along with them, the prom ball was also a learning experience modeled after high society. The hierarchy based on social status had to be strictly observed.

Alistair hid her mouth with her fan and fixed the Little One with a resentful gaze.

"...What do you mean? It is merely an act of compassion for a pitiful gentleman attending alone."

Takt and his girlfriend were speechless at Alistair’s words.

"...Because you tempted Takt! Don’t you dare make eyes at my Takt!"

A loud murmur went through the crowd.

Takt’s girlfriend was a commoner. And she had just insulted a marquess’s daughter. It was a situation where she could have been arrested for lese majesty.

"So what? You were just provoked and fell in love on your own, were you not? ...If you were truly serious about him, you wouldn’t have even paid attention, would you?"

Takt and his girlfriend were at a loss for words.

Behind the Little One, the men were nodding in agreement.

You guys are so annoying.

With a loud haaaah, Chihiro shouted.

"That's right. Alice is right. If that's the case, why don't you break up? You're not engaged yet, so it should be easy, right?"

The three in question, as well as the surrounding people, were stunned by the Little One's sharp interjection.

"What's with that look? It can't be helped, can it? You can't forgive Takt, right, miss girlfriend? You don't have any lingering feelings, right? That's what you said."

Now it was Takt's girlfriend's turn to be taken aback.

"...That's…"

But those were her own words. Even if it was said in the heat of the moment, she had said such a thing. Unable to take it back, she was at a loss for words.

"You too, Alice. You'll have to take responsibility for this. Take Takt."

"Wh...!"

"Huh? A marquess’s daughter wouldn’t make eyes at someone she doesn’t even admire, would she? You interfered with their love because you have a crush on Takt, right? It seems they’ve broken up as you wished. Your illicit love has been fulfilled. Rejoice."

A string of eloquent phrases… or rather, insults disguised as such. The Little One’s explanation was that Alistair had fallen for Takt and had driven the commoner couple to break up. For a noble lady, this was nothing short of a scandal. If her father, the marquess, were to find out, it would be a shameful act that would surely lead to disownment.

"What are you saying? Me, with a commoner? That’s impossible!"

"Oh? But you were the one who flirted with that commoner gentleman, even baring your chest to tempt him. And you called it compassion, didn’t you? You even tried to make him your escort, so that excuse won't fly."

With a wicked niiii grin, Chihiro deftly dismissed Alistair's statement. Alistair herself was sputtering with indignation. The surroundings held their breath, watching the events unfold.

"And with that, the case is closed, I suppose? Too bad, Takt. That your girlfriend didn’t believe you. But it was your mistake. Can’t be helped."

"Your Highness!"

The boy collapsed with a face on the verge of tears.

Everyone was looking at Takt with pity. They seemed to have a general idea of what had happened, but they too could do nothing. Just as it seemed the situation had been cut short by the Little One, a high pitched voice pierced the air of the waiting room.

"Don’t be ridiculous! Having a lover when you’re just a commoner is impertinent and an eyesore! There’s no way I could be serious about a man like this!"

"Excuse me," Alistair said, turning on her heel and hurrying towards the dance hall. Takt, who was in a daze, felt a warmth on his back and instinctively turned around. There was his beloved girl. Her neck and ears were so red it was obvious even with her face down.

"...It was a lie. I don’t just have lingering feelings, I love Takt so much my chest is about to boil."

Hearing her whisper, Takt’s own head felt like it would explode. He placed a hand over the girl’s arm that was hugging him from behind and whispered a heartfelt "thank you" with a completely melted expression.

Haah, what troublesome children.

It was obvious they both liked each other, and the Little One couldn’t help but find the stubborn girl adorable. Alistair was not even in the picture. As for Alistair, she had a tendency to take her pranks too far, but for Chihiro, she was a precious tsundere character who was a feast for the eyes.

"I hope all of them find happiness."

The men were taken aback by the Little One’s gentle smile.

"...Hiro, you sound like an old man."

"I believe that is also part of her charm."

"...You guys are too loud."

Chihaya had a dubious look, while Theodore looked on with an amused tilt of his head. Romel, for his part, had a decidedly grim expression. Escorted by her worried fiancé, the Little One headed to her final prom. There were no enemies for her. And even if there were, she was of a constitution that would completely ignore them. Arcadia was a place where only happy endings were prepared for kind people, and the Little One couldn’t help but feel a grandmotherly concern that the slightly mean Alistair might be far from happiness.