Tensei Saki ga Shoujo Manga no Shiro Buta Reijou datta Chapter 98

(Onii-sama said such a thing. Was he joking?)

After finishing the post treatment for today, I opened the window of the room prepared for me and looked at the scenery outside.

Night had come again to the western town and the rain had completely stopped.

After a while, the door was knocked. When I went outside to answer, I saw Ricardo.

[Ricardo, you must be tired. Thank you for helping a lot.]

[You too, thank you for your hard work. I can only help this much…]

His expression when he replied was slightly cloudy.

[…What's the matter, Ricardo?]

[I think I will leave tomorrow. I have to meet up with my parents and do other things. In this situation, the people of Astor territory are on delicate situation.]

[You are not to blame. You helped me and assisted in rebuilding the southern and western towns. Everyone knows it right?]

[However, Astor earldom had committed a great crime. I don't know what will happen to us… even our engagement proposal, it will probably be declined.]

[That's…!]

His words shocked me more than I thought.

Even though I had anticipated it, when it came from his mouth, the reality became more enforced a little.

[If I handle this unskillfully, I might not be able to inherit my territory. If that happens, Astor earldom cannot return to its former position. It's surely a long way until full recovery.]

Colluding with enemy country, attacking an allied territory of the same country. From now on, the position of Astor earldom would be bad.

Because they had lost their credibility they had cultivated so far, some aristocrats would distance themselves away.

[In fact, it would be better for you if Ryuze refuses the engagement…]

[I, I want to be engaged with you. But I don't know what onii-sama's move will be.]

My chest felt tight when I thought about my engagement being refused.

It's not because Ricardo was a good friend of mine, rather it's because of a different reason.

(It's not because "he's acceptable" or "he's not disagreeable". I, towards Ricardo, I like him…)

Ricardo, who was younger than me from previous life, until now has seen me as a person of romantic interest. Everything was fun with him, and his every action made my heart throb.

When my cousin put our engagement proposal on hold, I was shocked.

When confronted with my feelings, the answer was disappointingly easy to find.

(But… the reality is that there are more obstacles to overcome than ever.)

Ricardo and I couldn't do anything regardless of how much we would like to be engaged.

Even if I said so now, it might just be a bother to Ricardo.

(Still, it might be that I will lose him forever as it is. I don't want such a thing!)

After a little troubled, I told him my thoughts.

[…Hey, Ricardo.]

[Yes?]

[I like you. It took me a while, but I notice that this feeling is like love in a romantic sense. From the time you told me that you find me attractive even when I was fat… I think I really like you.]

[Britney…]

[I couldn't answer at that time since I was not sure, but now I can say it properly. I like you, and I want to be engaged with you. Even if you don't succeed Astor earldom, even when you lose your reputation until now, I still like you.]

After I whispered so shyly, Ricardo embraced me.

The place we were now was in front of my prepared room, but there's nobody around since it's at the corner of the building.

[I'm happy. Britney, thank you.]

Ricardo's attitude was calmer than mine, but his ears, seen in sideway glance, were red.

[I don't know what will happen in the future, but I will try my best as much as I can. I also cannot give up on our engagement…]

[Un. Ricardo, thank you for saying that. If you have any troubles, feel free to consult anything with me. Up to now, you've helped me a lot. I think it's time for me to return the favour.]

Ricardo was the one who helped me, a white pig girl, when I just regained my memories by arranging necessary personnel for me.

He also taught me the content of the lessons of the school.

Besides, there were many other things that he had helped me with before.

(In the manga, Ricardo is not an earl, but he's an entourage of Prince Marlow. I don't know if it's related to the current circumstances or we are already walking a different path from the manga…)

I also didn't know if I had deduced Ryuze's cause of death correctly.

However, as we were able to stop enemy's reinforcements from pincering him, it would be nice to think that we had avoided his death flag.

(There's no information, it's really inconvenient to be a mob character.)

Since the story was told from the protagonist's point of view, there's a limit on how much a mob character's information could be obtained. And it's important to be able to remember the information correctly.

[Britney, can we stay in this position just a bit more?]

[Un…]

Ricardo would leave tomorrow, after that I wouldn't know what would happen.

I also gently stretched my arms and hugged him back.

I wanted this moment to last a long time, no matter how timid this thought was.

Early the next morning, Ricardo left for the Astor territory. He was planning to join his parents and talk about their future actions.

Millard who was detained in custody… he was left behind.

Chapter end