I Favor the Villainess Chapter 32

"… I'm back now. Rei, your turn"
"Thanks for you hard work. Then, I'm off"

Being replaced by Sein-sama, I got a two-hour break.
The gender-reversal café is still booming, but you could say compared to the beginning traffic calmed down.
Like this, we could arrange a break rotation.

"Be that as it may… What should I do in those two hours…?"

If this was a school festival on Earth, I'd visit several places with my close friends, but unfortunately, I don't have such intimate friends right now.
Although there may be Misha or Lene, both are now in the midst of working.

"The timing was bad"

I breathed a sigh while changing clothes in an empty classroom next to Cavalier.

"… Ge"

The moment my beloved Claire-sama entered the classroom, she made a displeased face.

"Thanks for you hard work. Does Claire-sama also have a break?"
"That is right. Honestly, why must this me do something as vulgar as serving customers"

While grumbling, Claire-sama undid the buttons on her jacket.
Even though she refused assistance, I helped her change.

"But, Claire-sama, you were skillful at serving customers. It was surprising"
"I am accustomed to keeping up appearances. Have you forgotten that I am a daughter of the Minister of Finance?"

I mentioned it a little during the incident with His Highness Marcel a while ago, but being a daughter of the Minister of Finance, she's had a lot of opportunities to dine with foreign leaders.
She might find dealing with some of them unpleasant, just like serving customers, but she can't let that show on her face.
Suppressing emotions seems necessary.

"But, I like the usual upfront Claire-sama"
"In what way am I upfront. Cut it out with your flattery. I understand my hopeless personality"

We had such a conversion before, Claire-sama self-evaluation is awfully harsh.
It was a surprising fact for most Revolution players.
Claire-sama's popular evaluation was that she was a selfish, high-handed, haughty, nasty lady.
Who could have imagined such Claire-sama would be self-deprecating like that.

"Certainly, I do think Claire-sama's personality isn't easy to handle, but isn't that more or less the case for everyone?"
"… Are you trying to say you do not think I am special?"
"That is not the case. However, it's sad seeing you abase yourself"
"I'm not particularly abasing…"

Claire-sama's words got stuck in her throat.
She realized her statement from a while ago was nothing but self-abasement.

"Haa… Surely I am tired doing things I am not accustomed to. To let my feelings show in front of commoner"
"I'm glad. You showed me your weak point. Isn't it fine to impose on me?"
"You're saying something stupid. Look, I will wait for you, so change your clothes quickly"
"Ha?"
"Why do you look like a pigeon hit by a peashooter. I am saying to keep me company during my relaxation"

Looking away, Claire-sama said such a thing.
I stopped changing my clothes.

"Claire-sama"
"Wha, what is it?"
"What do you think about my appearance?"
"Didn't I tell you. Waiter clothes are appropriate for a commoner"
"That's to say, they suit me"
"What about it!"

To soothe Claire-sama who snapped at me, I held out my white-gloved hand.

"For a short while, I shall escort you"

Saying so, I gazed in Claire-sama's eyes and laughed as gentlemanly as I could.

"Where shall we go?"
"I do not want to eat or drink anything? After all, will we not run into crude food or drinks wherever we go"
"That's how the academy festival is?"
"What I put into my body is my choice"

While having such a conversation, I walked through an academy's corridor leading Claire-sama by the hand.
We passed by various people, there are people who you can tell are nobles at a glance on their clothes, commoners can also be seen.
In the academy, where young nobles, and even commoners, dress neatly, this sight is a little fresh.
Claire-sama frowned from time to time because she dislikes commoners, but even so she didn't complain.

"Then, let's go there"
"What is this place?"
"It's a haunted house"
"Absolutely no thanks!"

Claire-sama was about to escape, but with us holding hands it was easy to capture her.

"Huh, Claire-sama, are you afraid of ghosts?"
"Tha, that is not the case! I am just fed up with the childish tricks called ghosts――!"
"Yes yes. Excuse me. Two tickets for the academy students please"

Ignoring Claire-sama's complaints, I promptly went through the formalities.

"Claire-sama"
"Wha, what is it…?"
"If you're scared, it's fine to cling to me?"
"Do not say something so fool… Kyaa!?"

Claire-sama clung to me right away.
The benefit is too much.

"I had a terrible time…"
"I was able to have my fill of cute Claire-sama"

We left the haunted house, and with me supporting the unsteady Claire-sama we arrived at the courtyard rest area.
By the flowerbed where spring flowers of various colors bloomed, some people rested, tired of walking.

"Let's take a breather. I'll go buy something to drink"
"Do not buy anything strange? Water is fine, okay?"
"I'll get it properly"

Even totally exhausted, Claire-sama didn't fail to spout abusive language, grinning I left to buy water.
After getting water from the refreshment booth, I hurried back to Claire-sama.

And, I happened to find an interesting item in the refreshment booth.
I bought two of them.

"You were slow"
"Excuse me. Here's water"

Claire-sama, still exhausted, breathed out after tasting water.
Vigor returned to her eyes.

"Claire-sama, here. It's not much, but"
"This is…?"

I handed her an amulet.
A magical gem was set in the center of a silverwork.
It's not just a decoration, it's a so-called charm.
The stated effect is――.

"… Love fulfilment?"
"It would be nice if it went well with Sein-sama, right"

In Japan it's the domain of temples and shrines, in this word it's the church that's in charge of them.
Without getting into details about the church, the refreshment booth from a while ago belonged to the academy branch of the church.

"You truly are a strange person"
"Why?"
"I understand you are teasing me, but even so, you more or less profess that you like me?"
"I am serious"
"Silence. Despite this, you support my and Sein-sama's love, it is not funny"

Playing with the amulet in the palm of her hand, Claire-sama looked somewhat lonesome.
I don't understand why.

"Rather than my love being fulfilled, I want Claire-sama to be happy"
"It is a hypocritical statement"
"Well, it's reasonable to think so. But, those are unmistakably my true feelings"
"… Why would you go that far for me?"

Claire-sama's eyes, that were looking at me, flickered.

"Because, you saved my heart"

In my previous life, to put it bluntly, I was spending every day without dreams or hopes.
I worked until I was dead tired in a place that could be called a black company, then I almost immediately went to bed.
I didn't understand for what reason I lived my days, only games were my support.
And, among those games, there was no game I was as absorbed in as Revolution.
I made doujinshi to the point of cutting my sleeping hours, to let the world know of the charm of no other than Claire-sama.
It's no exaggeration to say Claire-sama is my life's blessing.

But――.

"You are teasing me again. Me, saving you? Ridiculous"

Of course, it wasn't conveyed to Claire-sama.
There is no way she would believe something like previous life or transmigration, as expected it can only appear as teasing.

"Then, please save me now. Specifically, with a hug and a kiss"

That's why, like always I made fun of myself and laughed.
I can't do anything but that.
I can't.

"Stop saying foolish things. The break time will end soon. Let's go back"
"Yees"

I presented Claire-sama my hand.
However, she didn't take it.

"Playing at a gentleman is over. I am me, you are you. A noble and a commoner, nothing less, nothing more"
"It's a shame. I lost the pretext to hold Claire-sama's hand"
"You really are…"

And like that we returned to the usual.

But, at that time I didn't notice.
That the amulet was accepted.

And that Claire-sama had a somehow disappointed look on her face.

Chapter end