Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 365

The man declared he was the very person who had disappeared. As I heard that, my gaze naturally sharpened.

―― I wonder what he would answer if I asked him whether he remembered the meeting from half a year ago.

I felt like trying, but I endured.
If he escapes, I won't be able to grasp his identity. The correct choice is to feign ignorance.
But really, who is this man?
Like this, I'll part with him without learning his identity. I felt impatient to get some hints from him.
But, it wasn't going well. The man was a smooth talker, or rather he didn't let me learn anything conclusive. He skillfully evaded questions and conversely tried to make me talk.

―― I understand how he gets women to talk.

He regularly praises me and tells me sweet words. And to make it easier for me to talk, he comes up with subjects that are easy to talk about. If I wasn't careful, I'd quite likely blurt out various things. What a fearsome art of conversation.

―― This is a honey trap.

It would be terrifying if he was doing it naturally, but this man feels calculating.
Normally I wouldn't notice. I only thought that because I'd been suspicious of him from the start. The man never reveals information about himself, he only ever asks me questions. Slowly, I was getting sick of him evading.

"Um――"

I have to somehow break the status quo. With that in mind, I thought of a new topic, but the man spoke before that.

"Come to think of it, His Highness the Crown Prince married recently. If I recall correctly, Princess Consort who became his spouse hails from the preeminent ducal house. Do you know what sort of person she is?"
"… Eh? No. Unfortunately, I'm not acquainted with Her Highness. I don't know what sort of person she is at all. Do you not know as well?"

I was surprised by the sudden change of topic, but I smoothly lied.
Rather than acquainted, I'm the person herself. But, I can't let him know that.
When I told him that I had no clue, I could see his face turn disappointed behind the mask.

"Oh, is that so? I don't know at all. I don't visit the Royal Castle much. I want to know what sort of person His Highness Friedrich dotes on."
"I apologize that I couldn't help you."

―― Liar.

I looked at the man with a frigid feeling. He is lying. Because, Marianne said that she talked a lot about me. Even trifling information is information. He's quite shameless to say that he doesn't know anything despite that.

―― This man wants to get information about the Crown Princess from me?

Why is that?
Since a while ago, this man has been indirectly asking various questions to get information out of me. I should've avoided every one of them. Why did he suddenly bring up the subject of the Crown Princess?

―― Did I fail? Perhaps, he noticed my identity?

The instant I noticed that possibility, I broke out in a cold sweat.
My face stiffened.
I bit my lips as I realized that rather than me grasping his identity, he may have realized who I am.

―― Eh, no way. But…

"What's the matter?"
"N-Nothing…"
"Your beautiful violet eyes are wet. If something happened, I can give you advice."
"… I'm fine."

Saying that, I took a step back.
Supposing that he knows I'm the Crown Princess.
If he brought up the topic of the Crown Princess knowing my identity, it would be bad to stay here.

―― Should I withdraw?

It's regrettable that I couldn't learn his identity, but I should withdraw before anything definite is said.
I'm also worried that he specially mentioned my violet eyes. Violet eyes are rare, but I'm not the only one with them. However, since he emphasized it, I think he noticed after all.
I became convinced of that, but that doesn't mean I gained no results.
Don't chase too far.
Having decided on that, I opened my mouth to say goodbye to him.
It's late today, so I think of retiring. I'd be happy to see you again. When I was about to say such insincere words to him, I noticed that people gathered on the dance floor were strangely noisy. Everyone had the same surprised expression and was looking here, no, at the man next to me.

"? What might it be? They seem to be looking at you."
"Who knows…?"

I looked at the man wondering if he had any idea. The man shook his head to show he had none.
Everybody who had been looking at the man this time looked in another direction.
Is there something there?
Curious, both me and the man followed after their gazes.

"Ah…"

Unconsciously I let out a voice.

"No way…"

Realizing what they saw, I gasped.
Standing there was Freed, who wasn't supposed to be here.

"… Eh?"

I became speechless from surprise.
Freed had his hair turned black with magic like at the previous masquerade ball, and he was wearing the same golden mask as at that time.
Just when did he get ready? His black evening wear was also not a tiny bit different from that day.

A smile showed on his lips, and he slowly walked here.
Everybody made way for Freed as if overpowered. They had no choice but to make it.
Because, he stood out more than anyone here. His presence was just too different.
Seeing them together like this, everybody will notice that the man next to me is a sham. I grasped from the atmosphere that everybody on the spot understood that Freed was the real thing from half a year ago.

As though he hadn't noticed that, the man pretending to be Freed looked over there.
When he saw Freed, his eyes opened wide, and his mouth blatantly twitched.

"… You're shitting me?"

The words unconsciously escaped him.

Hearing his language completely change, I understood this was his true nature.
Without any impatience, Freed approached us step by step.
The composure of a ruler perceivable from his movements and aura was as expected of Freed, but I understood he was still holding back.
Because, Prince Mode Freed is even more amazing. So much that people unused to it are quite likely to reflexively prostrate themselves before him. In fact, I've seen that several times.
The man must've wanted to escape, but with everybody's eyes on him there was no way that he could move, so he stood stock still as if sewn to the spot.

"―― Excuse me."

A sweet low voice resounded.
Freed stood in front of us and turned his eyes to the man.
I'm sure that I saw for an instant that the fellows who wore masks of the same colors and had the same eye color made eye contact.
What was Freed thinking to come here?
I didn't know what Freed intended to do here, but I was sure he came to my help, so in any case, I decided to join up with him.

Chapter end