Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 356

"Yes. Lady Marianne said she was unable to suppress her interest to see the real thing no matter what."
"… Marianne."

In a sense it's very much like her, but the person she went to meet, the fake Freed (Apollo), is unacceptable.

"… And? That man didn't possibly sink in his poisonous fangs into her, right?"
"No. It doesn't seem to be a relationship between a man and woman yet. Lady Marianne said they had just talked. However, it appears that… she was pleased by it."
"Eh…"
"They didn't talk and say goodbye. Um… I heard they promised to meet next time."
"… My goodness."
"I can't say for certain, but… won't she be invited to bedroom then?"
"You're right. There's a decent possibility of that."

Masquerade balls are understood to be a place for men and women to meet, or more precisely, to enjoy sex with an unknown partner. Even if they only talked this time, what will happen next? If she's pleased by it, there's a decent chance she'll be brought to a private room.
Tiris looked down and with a short sigh spoke.

"I heard about it when I visited Lady Marianne's mansion yesterday. Lady Marianne looked very happy about his promise to meet her again. As her friend, I might have been happy with her under usual circumstances. However, I don't really like the events called masquerade balls. Um… After all I think such an act should be done with one's beloved, and if possible, I want my friends to treasure themselves. I don't want my friend… to do it with somebody unfamiliar."
"Y-You're… right."

Her words pierced my heart like a blade.
In the past I'd thought of giving a complete stranger my virginity to avoid marrying a royal, so Tiris's pure words dealt lethal damage to me.

―― Uu. My heart hurts. B-But… I let myself be embraced because my partner was Freed.

I didn't notice at that time, but I was okay with being embraced by him precisely because I fell in love with him at first sight.
Any other person would be absolutely impossible, I wouldn't even let myself be touched. That's why it wasn't a mistake… it shouldn't have been a mistake, but I still feel like crying, perfectly aware that this is how it started.

"Lady Lidiana?"

Tiris watched me worriedly as I trembled. I answered while trying to keep up appearances.

"I-It's nothing. I simply thought that I can perfectly understand your feelings."
"Is… that so? Then it's fine."

Tiris placed a hand on her cheek, and her expression slackened in relief.

"I thought you would agree, Lady Lidiana. You are married to a person you love, so you understand how wonderful it is more than anyone, right?"
"Yeah."

Indeed, I do.
I'm extremely happy to be married to Freed, and uncharacteristically to high nobility… no, to royalty, I believe I couldn't be married to someone I didn't love.

"That's why I… can't allow… Lady Marianne to continue with that man no matter what. Of course, Lady Marianne says that there is no problem, so I understand that I have no right to interfere. But, I think it's natural to worry about a friend?"
"You're right. I completely agree. I don't want Marianne to do it with an unknown man of questionable origin either."

Marianne is my precious friend. There's no way I can leave it alone after learning an unknown man wants to do it with her…
Besides, I know that man is a 'sham'. Even if they're masquerade balls, a man who pretends to be someone else can't be a decent person, even if he's highly praised.

"… I told Lady Marianne that she should stop at that. But, she wouldn't listen. So I thought of going to the masquerade ball with her to directly stop her, but… only those of count status and above can participate in the masquerade balls Lady Marianne goes to. It's difficult for a viscount's daughter like me to obtain an invitation…"

The masquerade ball Marianne referred me to was certainly only for those of count status and above. That's why I could relax, but I'm more and more concerned about that man's status.

―― I wonder if he's some prodigal son.

For example, somebody who would get into trouble if his playing around was exposed… like a person of duke status who's about to get married.
So that he doesn't get exposed as himself, he pretends to be a famous man who had already disappeared from masquerade balls.
What if he only wants to enjoy himself for some time without meaning anything strange?
… It's possible.
While I was thinking about the man's identity, Tiris spoke to me in a tearful voice.

"Please. Lady Lidiana, could you say a few words to Lady Marianne? I can't do anything more. But, I just can't stand by and do nothing… Lady Lidiana, supposing you feel the same as me――"
"I understand."

I looked Tiris in the eyes and nodded.

"I don't know if I can convince her to give up, but I'll try talking to her once."

I can't know the whole truth from what I heard from Tiris.
It wouldn't be fair not to listen to Marianne's opinion.
However, I don't intend to overlook that my friend could be eaten by an unknown man.
Moreover, the other person is a man pretending to be Freed (Apollo). Only I know that fact, but it's exactly why I want to stop Marianne.

"Lady Lidiana… Aah, thank you. I'm glad I did my best and visited the Japanese café…!"

Tiris's eyes moistened.

"I've been worried ever since talking with Lady Marianne. Can I overlook it? Is that the right thing to do as a friend? Finally, I resolved myself to talk with Lady Lidiana last night… I'm glad…"

She must be very worried about Marianne. Marianne, who's fashion-sensitive and likes to gossip about people and romance, and Tiris, who's well informed about delicious sweets of the Royal Capital, are as a matter of fact quite close. They have a relationship that compliments each other's shortcomings, and they often go out together and visit each other's mansions. Thanks to that, she was able to learn of it before it was too late.

"… I'll invite her to the Royal Castle soon. Do you know when will be the next masquerade ball that Marianne is planning on to attend?"

I need to talk with her before that. If the schedule won't allow to invite her in time, I'm thinking of visiting her mansion.
I nodded after hearing the information from Tiris.
If possible, I want to talk with Marianne in the next few days.

"Thank you. Um, I need to excuse myself soon."
"Eh, aah, yeah."

Apparently, she has to go home soon, so I saw her off to the café's front.
At the entrance there was a man slightly older than us looking inside with a worried face. Seeing Tiris, his face slackened in relief. He must be Tiris's escort I'd heard about from Cain.

"Milady!"
"I'm sorry, Seth. I kept you waiting."
"No, I don't mind that…"

They young man called Seth had light brown hair and golden eyes commonly seen in Wilhelm. Nothing about him stood out in particular, but he had gentle features and was showing a friendly smile.

"Are you Tiris's escort?"
"Yes. I'm Seth, not long ago I was found collapsed near her mansion after sustaining a serious injury. I had nowhere to go as I lost memory, so in the end I was employed as a footman. Even if I call it memory loss, I've only forgotten memories about myself, so it doesn't hinder my life."
"Aah, so you lost episodic memory."
"Epi? What's that?"
"… I'm sorry. Could you forget it?"

I blurted out the knowledge from my previous life.
In this word I reincarnated in there are quite many words and customs relatively similar to my previous world, but as expected, he wouldn't know technical terms.
I looked at the amnesiac youth. He was looking at me with a mystified face, but Tiris pushed down his head with all her strength.

"Eh… Milady?"
"Seth, you idiot! Lady Lidiana is… Princess Consort. Bow down."
"Eh… Eeeh!?"
"We're at the entrance, so you stand out. I'd be grateful if you stopped…"

When I said that with a bitter smile, saying, "That's right, isn't it?" Tiris hurriedly released the hand holding him down.
The young man raised his hand and muttered quietly in spite of his surprise.

"That blue jewel seems like it would fetch a high price…"
"Eh?"
"Idiot! Seth!"

When I realized he was looking at the ring on my left hand, I unconsciously stared at him.

―― Sell at a high price? The blue jewel? Eh? The one on the ring I got from Freed?

"… This is my matching ring with Freed. I have no plans to sell it in my whole life…"

When I said that in spite of my surprise, Tiris bowed her head over and over while on the verge of tears.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Idiot! Why are you like this!? Of all things to zero in on Lady Lidiana's ring, you're the worst!!"
"Because, it's an amazing jewel. Whoa, please don't press my head down."
"You apologize too! Idiot!"
"It hurts!"

Tiris drove a fist into the young man's head then pressed it down with both hands.
Then, while teary-eyed, he wove an apology.

"I deeply apologize. Um… I have a weakness for jewels… It was unconscious. Ah, you said it was matching, right? Then, what jewel does His Highness have?"
"… Freed's ring has an amethyst fitted in."

Freed personally chose a jewel similar to the color of my eyes. When I told him that, the young man's eyes sparkled, and he licked his lips.

"Amethyst… Violet, huh… Those deep ones with high purity are expensive too."
"… Nn?"

Feeling discomforted by his words, I tilted my head. Tiris lightly hit her footman again and again.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Why are you so…! Lady Lidiana, I apologize. This child has forgotten many things, but he remembers just one."
"? Yeah."
"That is, his abnormally high ability to determine what could make profit! Really, how can he remember all that despite his memory loss… I can't believe it!"
"No, I was picked up by Milady when I was broke, but even at that time I was estimating in my mind the price of Milady's dress!"
"I didn't want to know that fact!"
"…"

I unintentionally fell silent.
The footman picked up by Tiris seems to have a rather amusing personality.
The light tone of his voice and his unclouded eyes almost make me forget he's lost his memory.
Tiris rebuked the young man and bowed her head to me in silence.

"I apologize. I had a feeling it would turn out like this, so I thought of having Seth wait here, but… it didn't make much sense in the end… Seth is my servant. Please punish me for his rudeness."

I felt like I learned the true reason for Tiris leaving her escort outside.
I see, she certainly must've been anxious. And he in fact made a blunder.
Strongly convinced, I told Tiris.

"Just be careful next time. This is the middle of the town, so this time I will turn a blind eye to it."

I was only surprised, and it didn't bother me, but since I'm the Crown Princess, I unfortunately can't permit everything with a smile. It would lead to me being looked down on as soft and someday affect the prestige of the Royal Family.
I have to dish out suitable punishment, but since the other party lost memory, he probably bore no malice.
Since it was his offense, I decided to ignore it.

"But… Wouldn't it be better to stop taking him outside?"
"That might be so, but… taking him outside might stimulate his memory and make him remember something."
"I see."

I sighed as I understood Tiris's intentions.
Yup, I can't blame Tiris for that. I'd probably do the same.
Her acting to restore her footman's memories if even a little should be praised, not criticized.

"Anyway, enough of this matter. Er, Tiris. I accepted the matter we talked about, so you can take it easy. I'll try to do as much as I can."

When I told her that to finish the subject, Tiris grabbed my hands and said.

"Thank you. Um, I am relieved that I could talk to you, Lady Lidiana… You might wonder what I'm saying this late, but I feel deeply regretful for consulting something like this with somebody as important as the Crown Princess. However, I had nobody to ask but you, Lady Lidiana."
"You needn't mind. Marianne is my very important friend. Rather, I'd feel resentful if I hadn't been told."

I'd be troubled if I was only told the result afterwards. I'm truly grateful to be informed when I can still do something.

―― I have to wake up Marianne somehow.

I watched Tiris leave together with her footman.
The time to go to the next store was approaching.

Chapter end