Recently, even though I’ve been busy keeping up with the developments, I feel as if I haven’t done anything.
If I asked Bern, ‘Am I a burden to you?,’ he’d answer, ‘Just having you here is fine.’
Or maybe, ‘Since you’re no good at that, it’s okay to not do anything. Or more like, don’t do anything.’ No, no, there’s no way.
If this was a fantasy world with magic, I’d probably be able to help out more.
Making things like ice, or ice cream, I’ll become a soldier of fortune from a dessert kingdom.
…It’s no use. Even though I never made sweets in my previous life, I can’t do anything about it anymore since I’ve been reincarnated.
I can cook, but I’m too careless. Even though I once made cookies a long time ago, for some reason, I couldn’t beat the dough into shape. Even I don’t know what I’m talking about anymore.
Compared to that, I’m pretty sure Bern would turn out to be a great magician. The world would end if he ever made a mistake. He’d probably be a darkness user!
“Darius would surprisingly be a fire user.”
“What the hell are you saying?”
That’s definitely the kind of thing you’d say ‘What the hell are you saying?’ to. I feel you. But to be honest, I’m so tired that I feel like I’m getting stupider.
“I want to be able to use magic.”
“So are you escape by flying away?”
“No, I’ll become soldier of fortune from a dessert kingdom.”
He looks at me, extremely shocked.
“And? Are you running away from making a decision with your stupid delusions?”
All of a sudden, Darius’ face goes blank. Looking at him like this, he really doesn’t look like a human, coupled with his mystical-like appearance.
“No way, I’m thinking about this properly.”
We’re now sitting across from each other in a dusty, underground storage-like room. Exactly like a suspect and an interrogator.
I don’t know whether this chair had been in this room since the beginning, or if Darius brought it in, but it’s really uncomfortable.
The way Darius managed to convince Bern to help him with the Second Prince Faction was by inviting him to look at something interesting he found, and after having leading him to an empty, storage room, pretended to say, ‘That’s so weird~’
Now that I think about it, his sister is the mother of the second prince, which makes the second prince his nephew. Though right now, doesn’t it look like he’s still soliciting people to join the Second Prince Faction, just like in the game?
But because it looked like he wasn’t going to do that, I finally relaxed around him.
For the time being, I had declined, but the world isn’t as simple as that.
Don’t tell me he’s going to keep me in this room until I give him a yes?
Then that means I can’t get out of here until I accept Darius’ request.
I don’t know yet if he really does plan on keeping me here, but I’ll be keeping in mind the fact that Darius is standing near the door.
We stayed like that for a couple hours. My internal clock says it’s already past dinnertime.
I wonder if anyone’s looking for me. Maybe Bern, Katerina, or Clarissa.
But Bern told me he was going outside today, plus Katerina and Clarissa had carefree upbringings.
Also, I’m the type to go home as soon as school ends and lock herself in her room.
It’s no use. Even after so much time has passed, no one has come to look for me. Rarely anybody comes here anyways…
“You’re surprisingly stubborn.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, I figured you were more easygoing than this.”
That’s rude. I mean, because I’m Japanese deep down, I’m less easygoing compared to you guys.
“Although I’m not one to easily go with the flow, I can cooperate.”
“It’s not what you say, but how you say it.”
Darius laughs, amazed.
Even though he laughed like usual, it felt weird in this awkward situation.
To have so many things happen to me as I try to seriously live, such as this current situation where it feels like I’m a captive princess, makes the quiet life that I hoped for seem so far away.
Nevertheless, I have time. I have too much time, in fact.
It’s fun to talk to Darius, but he’s already run out of jokes, and most of all, my butt hurts.
That’s right! This chair’s too solid! I’m pretty sure it hurts for Darius as well. Why couldn’t he have prepared a better chair? Don’t tell me I look like the type that’s easily persuaded?
“I’m bored. And my butt hurts.”
“Then you should just nod your head.”
“Hmm… Oh yeah, let’s dance!”
“Huh!?”
“At this rate, branches will grow out of my butt and then I’ll become a human chair.”
I avoided the corner of the wobbly chair. Darius’ face turned cautious, but because he hates continuously sitting still, he too put away the chair.
Hehehe, I caught you Darius. I know that you’re really bad at keeping still.
Of course, I’m not thinking of running away… Well, it’s not like I plan on running away by dancing with him.
I was daunted at what he would say, so I tried copying Bern who takes the initiative, and it surprisingly did the trick.
Avoiding the corner of the chair, we danced in the tight space in the middle of the room.
“I’ve thought this before, but even though us noble kids don’t have to dance, why do we still take dance lessons?”
“Dunno. But, don’t think it’s okay to just change the culture of a nation.”
“I see.”
My left hand was on Darius’ shoulder, and my right arm from his shoulder was level, just above his elbow, and slightly bent.
“Oi, posture.”
Every time we danced, he would always tell me my posture was bad. He’s surprisingly precise.
“Since you’re bad at this, I’ll slow the tempo down.”
“Shut up.”
Tightening my hold, we both danced to a ‘1, 2, 3’-like comfortable rhythm. A slow waltz fitting for a song like Moon River*.
Even though it’s tight, we did multiple turns. If you were to look at us turn around from above, our movements probably looked a little like a certain automatic vacuum cleaner.
“Is this why you became friends with me, Darius?”
“…That’s right. Because you’re Brunsmeier’s only weakness, I had to become friends with you.”
“You can think up of complicated things as well, huh?”
“That’s cause I’m an ambitious man.”
Right, left, right. Left, right, left. As I tried to follow my steps to that, without looking at each other, we continued talking.
Even though it was for the sake of being friends with me, Darius started talking about himself for the first time.
“In the beginning, I didn’t plan on going this far. I don’t think it’s a good idea to piss off Brunsmeier by hurting you.”
“So you say, but I’m trapped here right now.”
“That’s true. He’s probably belittling that Alois guy.”
“Why Alois?”
“Lila is good at handling people, but that’s about it. My guess is that it’s Alois who takes care of things from behind the scenes. He’s like me who’d do anything for their family.”
“Wow.”
“But I won’t end it with just that. I’ll definitely watch the second prince’s rise to power.”
“…”
Left, right, left, turn.
“So it’s fine if you tell everything to Brunsmeier. That the Rietbergs are siding with the second prince.”
“What if I don’t want to tell him?”
“I’ll force you to tell him. You’re special to him. He won’t refuse.”
It wasn’t a shock that Darius doesn’t genuinely think of me as a friend. I feel sad about it, but there’s no helping it.
It’s because I always got along and joked around with Darius. There was no indication that he’d do anything else except chat, considering his confident remark just now.
Well, in the end, he’s only 15 years old! He’s still a child! I have no retorts about me being 15 years old as well.
“When I heard that Lila sweet-talked His Highness, I thought, ‘I’ve got it.'”
‘Sweet talk’, that’s such a nostalgic phrase. Katerina also said that the first time we met.
“I helped them set up their dates, thinking that they’ll ruin it themselves, but it didn’t go so well.”
‘Helping His Highness and Lila with their dates,’ what the hell was this guy doing? Were you watching them from beyond the grave? Ah, aren’t I only supposed to use that for people who already died?
I did think that the pace that His Highness and Lila became friends was too fast.
“Hmm. That’s too bad, huh!”
I said, as I stomped on his feet with all my might. This is the only thing I can do right now to avenge you, Katerina!
“…The hell!? …Is that how it’s gonna be? That’s why out of respect for your friendship with me, tell Brunsmeier for me. Though I wonder why your father has no interest in picking sides.”
“That’s beside the point!… Ow!”
With a nonchalant expression, Darius stepped on my feet, and I glared at him as he apologized, saying ‘Sorry, my bad.’ I thought he’d let me stomp back, but instead he skillfully dodges it, making me look like a one-person comedy act. AHHHH!
“I’ll tell you what, Darius. Stop being so difficult, and just talk to Bern yourself.”
“Does that mean you’ll help me out?”
“If you give me ice cream.”
“I don’t know what that is! Wait, what’s that anyways!?”
He’s so useless.
“But anyways, I’ve already done that.”
“Eh, what? Were you rejected again? Eh~ So pitiful.”
“Should I tell everyone of when you sucked up too much nectar that your stomach started hurting?”
“Haa? I also thought it was weird how your stomach didn’t hurt at all when you did it.”
Even though the nectar was slightly sweet, and really delicious, once you taste it, you wouldn’t be able to stop.
But that story’s for another time.
Oh yeah. Darius once tried to invite Bern. He admirably refused.
That’s why he never shows up when I’m together with Bern. Are you a wuss?
“Guess what, Darius.”
“What?”
“Because I’m a coward, if possible, I don’t want to hate anyone nor do I want to come to hate someone. But I can’t help you. Sorry.”
Suddenly unfastening my hold on him, the dance quietly ends.
Darius was making a troubled face, as if saying it can’t be helped.
“But I’ll introduce you to Bern as a friend, so please do your best on your own.”
I like Darius. Of course, that’s as a friend, and despite my speculations about him, the time we spent together wasn’t a lie. Besides, he was polite enough to talk about his own circumstances, like an idiot.
Even though I wasn’t worried, I wonder if Bern will accept Darius’ proposal this time. That’s because the Hidden Student Council–
Baam! The door was harshly opened.
On the other side of the broken door was Bern. At the same time, both of us gave a shout.
“Ah.”
“Are you done talking?”
Eh, no way, the door was locked. I mean, he just destroyed it with a calm face, right…? Eh, scary.
“Eh, scary.”
Darius said the same thing, somewhat dumbfounded.
“Yay, yay! We’re saved, Darius! We were worried about being locked in.”
I tried jumping to show my happiness, but I probably looked really stupid instead. It might be better to stop…
“Is that so?”
“This is Darius, my friend.”
So I’d like it if you don’t get mad.
Since Bern has a smile on right now. I don’t know if it’ll help, but this is the most I can help him with. Good luck, Darius! It definitely won’t be that bad!
“Lizzy. I have something to talk to him about, so go meet up with Ionius or Helena at the clubroom. I’ll catch up as soon as possible. Don’t stop by anywhere else. Okay?”
“G-Got it.”
While being overpowered by Bern’s firm tone, I answered.
Uhm, I have a bad feeling for some reason. Did something that I didn’t know about happen again?
Anyways, as I quickly headed towards the clubroom, I heard Bern’s low voice.
“You’ve pissed me off too much, Wehner… You’re paying me back for your needless actions.”
Goodbye, Darius. You were a good kid… I’ll put wild strawberries in front of your grave every year.
But I wonder why Bern’s so angry.
‘I wonder if it was okay for me to leave…’ I had enough sense to get out of that mysterious, underground storage room. After saying that, I then headed towards the Hidden Student Council clubroom.
When I got there, there was a line-up of members outside, giving off the feeling of secrecy.
“Jeez! Where did you go?!”
“ah~ I was just~”
Katerina rushes at me with an unusual jog, looking flustered for a minute.
Don’t tell me you were worried…!
“Something terrible has happened. Please calm down and listen to me.”
“Hmm!?”
‘Something terrible!?’ she says, but it’s going to be okay. ‘Come again–!?’ I also thought as I was writing.
Thank you for the multiple views, bookmarks, and also feedback!
Because I wanted to give the impression of a waltz, I had to revise it a little bit.
*It’s a piece that Audrey Hepburn waltzs to in Breakfast At Tiffany’s.
Honestly, I like Darius. Bern’s number one when it comes to who I ship Lizia with, but her and Darius are second. He better not die or anything later on, I swear.
E/N: Yep. Darius is definitely fun. And his interactions with Lizia are amusing. Also, Lizia, you’re going to get Darius killed at some point.