The aftermath of the confession~ enjoy the chapter!
TL: clover
ED: clover
My mind is overwhelmed and I can't seem to form any words.
A sensation seems to rise from the depths of my heart. It spreads to my whole body and fills me.
While I couldn't do anything but stare at Al in a daze, Al said with a troubled expression.
"Oh well. I didn't mean to bother you. Hmm. At any rate, I'll return for now. Ah, right. I don't want to rush you, but I want to hear your reply for my confession. I want to know your feelings. Well, no matter what your answer is, the result won't change. I have no intention of breaking our engagement. Well then, I'm going. You don't need to see me off."
"Ah……"
With a sweet smile on his face, Al left my room exactly as he had stated.
I couldn't even chase after him. The words I received from Al were too overwhelming for me to digest and I couldn't move.
"Mrreow."
"Ah, sorry."
Noel, who had moved to my foot unnoticed, looked up at me and mewled. I noticed that his expression seems to say that he wanted to be held, so I hold him up in my arms.
Noel's fur is shiny, probably because he is brushed every day and because the chefs give him nutritious meals. Nowadays, Yugo-niisama is the only one who says that Noel is ugly. And I recently noticed that older brother of mine only says that jokingly.
While I was escaping from reality as I petted Noel's head, I heard a voice coming from behind me.
"……Milady, was it okay not to reply to His Highness?"
"……Luke, you were here?"
I completely forgot his existence. When I said what I really think unconsciously, Luke, who is standing next to me, sighed. Seeing Luke like that, Noel also sighed in the same way.
"I thought that was the case, but both of you completely ignored my existence, huh. Suddenly starting a confessional play. Y'know, I was seriously wondering what to do. I couldn't go outside, so I couldn't do anything but trying to become air. I'm sure Noel was feeling the same way. Poor thing, he was trying to become as inconspicuous as possible so as not to get in the way."
"So? Even though we had been trying hard to become air, was it okay not to reply, Milady? You must be happy, right?"
Being asked once again, I told him honestly while feeling like an idiot.
"B-because, I was so surprised that I couldn't say anything!"
Luke looked at me with an exasperated expression. But, my head really turned white and I couldn't say anything.
I was delighted.
As Luke said, I was really happy to be confessed to by Al.
—I love you too. I have always loved you.
It started from love at first sight, and then you helped me, you gave me the chance to change myself, and then you said that it was good; they all made me so happy.
Without realizing it, I love you more and more.
Even though I wanted to reply that way, while joy and deep emotion were whirling inside my heart and overwhelmed me, Al, who thought that I was troubled, went out of the room.
"……Milady, you're a fool."
When I explained it to Luke with difficulty, once again, he had an exasperated expression on his face.
"It would have been nice if you at least immediately say 「I love you too」 to His Highness and embrace him. Both of you are engaged to each other, so there would be no problem. I was wondering why you didn't give a reply……haah, Milady is an utter fool."
"I-It couldn't be helped. I was too happy. T-there's no way for me to know that Al has feelings for me."
"Is that so? I think he was being extremely blatant about it though. Write you letters, come and visit his fiancée's mansion frequently when he has time, and go on a date around the town to show off. No matter how you see it, it's obvious that His Highness loves Milady. It is only Milady who didn't notice it."
"N-no way."
"It is what it is. That's why Master always receives His Highness with a smile. His Highness cherishes Milady. Otherwise, even if it is His Highness, Master wouldn't give him warm welcome like that."
I listened to Luke and fell silent.
Certainly, Al responded in vain to my letters. Even when he was busy, he always took the time to visit me.
But, I always thought that it was only part of the cooperation that we have so that I wouldn't turn into a 『villainess』.
"Did you think that the busy His Highness will bother sparing some time for the opposite sex that he doesn't like? Moreover, only for the sake of avoiding becoming a 『villainess』, a word which might even be just some made-up word? You must be kidding……unless he's a fool, one would normally give priority to one's official duties."
"……right. You're right."
With the reality thrust at me plainly, I hung my head.
I am one of the related party and I completely didn't notice any of it, but now that he mentioned it, what he said is certainly true.
"His Highness liked Milady from the very beginning, and that's why he offered to cooperate with you……good grief, even if your personality has improved, your bad judgement still stays the same, huh."
"……Luke, it feels like your sharp tongue worsened each day."
"Because my master is like this, so this is just right. You seem likely to stumble over nothing, unless somebody is there to warn you."
When he declared that nonchalantly, I pouted. I'm angry but what he said is hard to deny. In fact, I was saved many times because Luke speaks clearly like this.
"……I shouldn't say this about myself, but I'm a very generous master, huh."
Previously, I would never forgive rude remarks from my servants. With that in mind, Luke said,
"That's why, I think I can serve you as long as you stay this way."
Since he said those words, I have no choice but to continue to be a generous master.