Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 360

Shortly after hearing the story from Tiris, I called Marianne to the castle.
Despite the sudden summons, Marianne came not looking at all displeased. She was tilting her head, seemingly clueless of the reason I had called for her.

"Ara? Is it only me today?"
"Yeah, that's right. Marianne, sit there."

I called Marianne to one of the reception rooms in the royal quarters.
It's a room that can be used by any royal, so I reserved it for today.
For the usual tea parties I call at least two of my friends, but today I only called Marianne. Perhaps finding it strange, she looked confused.
Still, she took a seat just as I asked.

"Er, Lady Lidiana?"
"Marianne, you seem to have gone to a masquerade ball. I heard from Tiris."

I didn't beat about the bush.
Marianne's eyes went round as I got straight to the point, but her expression immediately slackened as if to say, "That's all?"
She covered her mouth with her hand and laughed bashfully.

"My, you heard from Tiris? I'm embarrassed. But, it's exactly like that. I said it at the last tea party, right? I couldn't help being curious. Fortunately, I had a connection, so I could secretly participate. It was a very enjoyable time!"
"I see…"

I nodded to Marianne's words then broached the main subject.

"And… I heard you met the man we'd talked about there."
"My."

Marianne blushed just like a maiden in love. If the other person wasn't the fake Apollo, I'd have honestly supported her.

―― Damn you, fake Apollo. I'll never forgive you.

I again decided to never let him sink his poisonous fangs into Marianne. Completely unaware of my renewed determination, Marianne dreamily muttered.

"He was more wonderful than I'd heard. I intended to go home after stealing a glance at him, but he talked to me. You know that I'm talkative, right? I thought men found it unpleasant, but he listened to me with a smile from beginning to end."
"…"

It's true that Marianne is talkative. While there are men who think such women are cute, quite a lot find them unpleasant.
The fake Apollo appears like a man who doesn't mind that at all, so he seems to have scored high for Marianne, who's slightly worried about her talkativeness.

―― He skillfully buttered up to her…

"They were hidden by the mask, but he had very well-ordered looks. Really, who is he? Of course, I understand that probing into a person's identity misses the point of masquerade balls, but I'm still curious."
"Hmph…"
"He listened to lots of stories about you, Lady Lidiana. He answered very skillfully, so I unintentionally got excited and talked a lot."
"Stories about me?''

… Not good.
Why would a man and woman who met at a masquerade ball get excited by stories about me?
Wouldn't they usually talk about themselves? Of course, it's an ironclad rule not to talk about things that could expose your identity, but still, the first meeting between a man and woman should be about estimating each other's worth.

"… Say, why did you talk about me?"
"? Eh, that's how the conversation progressed. Er, at first, he brought up the subject of His Highness's marriage. Then, he said something like he wanted to know what sort of person His Highness's beloved Princess Consort is, since none of his acquaintances knew… And then it just happened. He was listening happily, so even I found it a little strange, but see, it was my first time at a masquerade ball, so I convinced myself that it was the usual… Ah, but, I didn't say anything that could be disadvantageous to you, Lady Lidiana! Rest assured of that!"

As Marianne clearly said that she talked about things that she only ever talks about with the 'Cheering Association', I got an unpleasant feeling.
In other words, they were mostly talking about me and Freed flirting.
But, however.
After all, isn't it strange?
I'm particularly bothered by how they got to the topic.
'I want to know what sort of person Princess Consort is.' Is that really a conversation for a masquerade ball?
Moreover, a masquerade ball isn't the best place to find a person interested in that topic. After all, masquerade balls are places for unknown men and women to meet. The purpose is to form an ad hoc relationship and jump into bed. Everybody is aware that they're slightly immodest evening parties.
Would a man popular with woman appear in such a place to talk about truly irrelevant things with a partner who might not even be interested?
There are topics more interesting to women. Especially Marianne is into currently fashionable places, popular novels, or fun gossip.
In fact, Marianne really got into the topic he brought up, but… it only worked because it was Marianne, it wouldn't go well with any other woman. Doesn't that mean the fake Apollo was convinced the woman he was talking to was Marianne?

―― He's more and more shady.

The man has an unknown identity and pretends to be Freed (Apollo).
Come to think of it, at the last tea party, I heard he only courts daughters of high nobles. And that he happily listens to them talk.
Grumbles of daughters of high nobles about their relatives. And, stories about me he heard from Marianne.
What is it? There's nothing definitive, but I can only see it as strange.
He hides his identity and obtains information under the guise of listening to their grumbles.
Isn't that just like the 'honey trap' that I know from my previous life?

―― Honey trap!! That's it!!

I felt like I finally understood the meaning of the man's actions.
That's right, a honey trap.
Hiding his identity, cajoling women, getting information he needs, and disappearing without future trouble. I saw detectives and spies doing what he does on TV in my previous life. It's exactly the same.

―― If so, what's his aim?

I don't know what information he gets from women, so I can't tell his purpose, but one thing is clear.
I mustn't let that man sink his poisonous fangs into Marianne.
If there was a serious affection between them, it would still be fine. But I can't allow my important friend to fall prey to a man who uses women's feelings.
Of course, it being a honey trap is just my personal opinion. It may be wrong, and it has no basis. But, since it crossed my mind, my suspicion has only deepened, so at least, I don't want him to get closer to my friend.

"Marianne."
"? Yes."

I adorned a look as serious as I could and told her.

"I'm telling you this for your own good. Don't go to masquerade balls anymore. It won't do you any good to go there. It may be a rude way of saying it, but it's where men eat women. You don't know who that man is, right? You shouldn't involve yourself with such a person."
"Lady Lidiana…"
"Tiris also feels like this. That's exactly why she came to me to talk about you. I want you to stop going to masquerade balls. I don't want my friends going to strange places. I hope you can understand my feelings."

I told her clearly. I thought that otherwise, Marianne wouldn't listen, having lost her head over love. Marianne seemed to have not expected me to go that far, so her eyes widened in surprise.

"I-I…"
"Nothing might have happened this time. But, you understand that becoming acquainted with a particular man at a masquerade ball is synonymous to having a relationship between a man and woman, right? You might not regret it, but as your friend, I sincerely want you to stop."

I'm not denying masquerade balls. I know people go there to enjoy themselves, and I think it's fine for people who don't want future trouble to enjoy themselves there.
But, Marianne mustn't.
The reason is simple. I don't like her partner… and she's my important friend.
I can't overlook somebody unknown, who moreover might be honey trapping her, aiming at my friend. It's only natural.
But, Marianne hung her head troubledly and refused.

"… I won't."
"Eh?"
"Certainly, I can understand Tiris and Lady Lidiana's concerns, so I'm grateful for them. However, this is the first time. He is the first man to seriously listen to my stories. Of course, I would be lying if I said that I didn't care about his identity, and I expect him to say goodbye after a few meetings. However, at least until then, I want to have a dream. A dream of sparkling love. In any case, I'll one day marry a man my father chooses, so I wish to have that opportunity at least once."
"… Is it a dream you are willing to trade your chastity for?"

Unless you're marrying royalty, there's no problem with not being a virgin.
However, even so.
It's not easy to offer virginity to an unknown man.
It may sound hypocritical, but I also properly experienced that feeling.
In my case… Yes, I had no choice but to take that measure. If there had been another way, I wouldn't have wanted to go to the masquerade ball either. That was an emergency measure.

"Answer, Marianne. Are you really okay with it? Won't you regret it?"
"… That's…"

Marianne became lost for words and avoided my gaze.
Even though she's confused by love, it must be scary to take the step further. I think that's exactly why she finished at only talking last time.

"The next time you meet him, I'm sure you'll be invited to a separate room. This time you were simply lucky. It's just that kind of place. Hey, Marianne. Please, wake up."

I understand that I'm just imposing my opinion.
However, I don't like it at all, so I can't help it. Marianne's gaze swam for a while, and then she told me.

"… Thank you. I caused both Lady Lidiana and Tiris to worry. Um… There's still time until the next time I meet him, so I want to give it a little thought. You made me realize I was getting carried away… So I'll think about whether I really desire the next time."
"… I'll be happy if you do."

I nodded to Marianne's reply.
To be honest, I wanted her to clearly say, 'I won't go.' But, I can't say anything more. I only told her what I think, but I should think of it as progress.

―― The possibility of Marianne going to a masquerade ball once again isn't zero.

The person herself recognized she was getting carried away by love.
Even if she's calmed down now that I cautioned her, there's a decent possibility that she'll go back to how she was.

―― Uuu. I wish I could clearly say that I can't trust him because he's a sham…

It hurts.
Because, supposing I did, she'd definitely ask, "Why do you know that?"
I couldn't tell her the reason then.
I could never say that the man from half a year ago was Freed, who would never go to a masquerade ball now because he's clingy with me. My lips are sealed about that man being a sham.

―― Aah, it's become troublesome.

I continued talking with Marianne while being at wits' end on the inside, and eventually she left the castle with a smile.

Chapter end