Interlude 2: The Main Heroine's Misunderstanding
Elise Lucifor had been in a state of mental paralysis for some time.
“...Alvart Zesphiria,” she finally whispered as she regained her composure, staring at his retreating back. “...Perhaps I was misjudging him.”
The student standing beside her... Cecil, responded to those words.
“He was certainly full of surprises, wasn't he?”
Elise gave a small nod.
“The infamous Zesphiria. I thought I would strike him down myself before he could enter the world. But... to think he was someone who shared my ideals.”
Elise believed him. She believed his performance with pure, unadulterated sincerity.
It was understandable. To be insulted for your family business and still react with such calm... anyone could do that. but to perform a vow of absolute submission to prove your sincerity was not something just anyone could do.
“...I am ashamed of myself, Cecil. I must apologize to him later.”
And so, this incident came to an end. All’s well that ends well.
...That was Alvart’s intended scenario. And up to this point, it had been perfect. However, he had overlooked a critical detail regarding the etiquette of the vow he had just performed.
“S-Still... to think he would confess his love to me upon our first meeting...!”
Yes, a vow of absolute submission normally involves kissing the opponent’s right foot. But if one kisses the left foot... it is taken as a vow of absolute submission and a pledge of eternal love to the other person.
“T-To do such a thing... to someone he just met...! W-What an insolent man!”
Contrary to her negative words, Elise’s cheeks were flushed red, and the corners of her mouth were twitching into a slight smile.
Another miscalculation on Alvart's part: Elise Lucifor was an incredibly "easy" girl. Because that side of her had rarely been depicted in the original game, he was completely unaware of it. Had he known, he might have chosen a different method... but it was too late now.
“H-Hey, Cecil. It’s not like I’m... being serious or anything, but...”
“Mm-hmm.”
“D-Do you think he would be... a suitable partner for me?”
This was reality. His belief that he hadn't clashed with her or made her fall for him was a massive error.
“Hmm, let's see. I think he’s a man worth believing in,” Cecil said with a wry smile.
“O-Oh! I see! You think so too!”
Elise laughed cheerfully, placing her hands on her hips and causing her ample breasts to bounce. She looked up at the sky.
“My ideals and my justice, which everyone laughs at... to think there is someone in this country who understands them.”
She was completely misunderstanding the situation.
“If we take each other’s hands and wipe out the darkness of the kingdom, after that...”
The celebration. The wedding. And then—the wedding night.
“Hehe... ehehe, ehehehehe.”
Indulging in lewd delusions, Elise rubbed her thighs together restlessly.
“I—I wonder how many children he’ll want...?! I—I definitely want... at least three...!”
At her core, she was an eroge heroine. Therefore, her interest and desire for "that sort of thing" were twice as strong as a normal person’s. Until now, those desires had no target... but now, all of them were concentrating on him.
“Ahah... she’s totally going off the rails,” Cecil muttered with a wry grin, shrugging. Cecil patted Elise on the shoulder. “Anyway, we should head to the hall. It wouldn't be a joke if we were late for the entrance ceremony.”
“U-Umu. You're right.”
Elise nodded and began to walk. As Cecil walked beside her, they thought of him.
(Alvart Zesphiria...)
(He didn't say much, and I haven't even spoken a word to him directly, but...)
(My words about him being suitable for Elise were my true, unvarnished feelings.)
The first thing Cecil had sensed was his overwhelming combat ability. Alvart harbored a power that made even Cecil feel a sense of dread. And on top of that...
(His eyes were certainly clouded...)
(But deep inside them, I saw a clear, untainted goodness.)
(At his core, he’s probably a kind person, just like Elise.)
It was a strange feeling. This might have been the first time in Cecil's life they had felt this way.
“Hey, Elise.”
“Hmm? What is it, Cecil?”
“I think you and he really would make a great couple.”
“Pffft—?! Wh-What’s with that all of a sudden?!”
“I think you’d probably be happy if you ended up with him. That’s just what I think.”
As they spoke, Cecil felt a pang of self-derision. Who am I to say such things?
(...Alvart-kun.)
(No matter how I struggle, I have no choice but to do my job.)
(Faking my past, twisting perceptions, even deceiving myself...)
(But...)
(Perhaps...)
(If it’s you... maybe...)
A powerful emotion welled up within Cecil, but they immediately suppressed it with more self-mockery. Hope is something I threw away a long time ago.
With that sense of resignation, Cecil followed Elise.
Post a Comment