Kulgan and Shaun, who weren’t present, were likely managing the party venue. Maybe even Father was helping out. Everyone seemed to be struggling, but now it appeared to be my turn to take charge. Still, I wouldn’t mind just watching a bit longer as a break…
“Your Highness!” everyone except Bertia shouted at me.
Certainly, the emotions reflected in their eyes weren’t concern or relief, but rather a frantic request for me to take charge. A few even cast a reproachful glance, as if to say, “Now that you’re awake, quickly step in.”
I understand their desperation, but… wouldn’t it be nice if they showed a little concern for me? Well, it’s fine since Bertia seems worried enough for everyone.
“Alright, alright, I understand,” I said with a wry smile, gradually rising from the bed.
Considering her condition, Bertia probably wouldn’t hear me even if I shouted from here. I’d have to approach her and speak face to face. I must have fallen to the ground when I lost consciousness. I’m experiencing some pain, but it won’t impede my movement.
I quietly approached Bertia.
“Tia, relax. I’m okay now,” I said.
“Lord Cecil! You need to be rescued at once!” she exclaimed.
“No, it’s honestly too late for that now,” I replied.
“God, Buddha, Heroine-sama!! I don’t care what happens to me, just please save Cecil-sama and this country!”
… What does she mean by “Buddha”?
“Look, asking Baroness Heronia won’t change anything, okay? Besides, I don’t need saving anymore,” I explained.
“Ah, Lord Cecil’s voice… Am I imagining this? Could this be the legendary dream pillow?!” she wondered aloud.
“This doesn’t make sense, and it’s not a hallucination, alright? Can we just take a moment to calm down?”
“Lord Cecil, what should I do?”
“Just try to calm down for now.”
Bertia wouldn’t listen to reason, so I gently took both of her hands and gazed into her tear-soaked face. Her unfocused eyes gradually shifted toward me and locked onto mine.
“Ah… Lord Cecil?”
“Good morning, dear Tia. I’m awake now, so everything is fine.” I intentionally adopted a gentle tone and smiled warmly at her, which made Bertia’s expression crumple further as tears fell down her cheeks.
“Lord Cecil! I’m so glad. Truly glad.” She hugged me tightly, nearly crashing into me. I held her close and softly stroked her back, comforting her.
“It seems I’ve caused quite a bit of worry. I was just taking a short nap, so I’m okay.”
“Ah, God, Buddha, Heroine-sama, thank you!! I haven’t shaved my head yet… oh, it must be a delayed payment! Got it!! I will officially become a nun and serve the Buddha…”
“Could you refrain from serving that, whatever this Buddha represents? I’ll permit you to pray at the chapel in the palace every morning. However, you have a role as the Crown Prince’s consort, so entering a convent is not an option, alright?”
“What?! I’m a villainess! If I’m not ‘defeated,’ how can Lord Cecil and this country be happy…”
“That ‘defeat’ you’re referring to is over, right? It’s all finished. The future where I’m tied to your so-called ‘heroine’ isn’t happening. I’ve come to realize that I can’t do this with anyone but you.”
“Huh? Huh? But… um, me? What about what comes next…?”
“Do you still have any worries?”
“?! Uh… well…”
Bertia’s eyes grew wide, and she fidgeted anxiously, her cheeks a bit rosy. Clearly, she had more to say, yet she was reluctant to proceed. It likely related to the “otome game” she brought up earlier, and talking about it here might not be appropriate.
I surveyed my surroundings with a somewhat imposing glance.
“Could you please give us some privacy? I need to have a serious conversation with her; just the two of us,” I said, indicating that this was not a mere request but a directive.
My aide candidates and Bertia’s friends nodded reluctantly with wry smiles, recognizing the situation. However, Marquis Noches, her father, was even more reluctant.
“But my daughter isn’t married yet. Even though you are her fiancé, I can’t allow you to be alone with her in a room that has a bed…”
I could appreciate his concern.
“In that case, let Zeno and Kuro stay too. Would that work for you, Marquis Noches?” I inquired, suggested that no additional compromises were possible.
He nodded begrudgingly.
Bertia, still holding my hand as if captured, murmured to her father, “Father…” but I pretended not to notice.
Now that it had come to this, I had no intention of letting her slip away.
“Thank you. Oh, one more thing, if I may?”
As everyone started to shuffle out of the room, I remembered something I needed to verify.
“What did the graduation party look like to all of you before I collapsed?”
While I tilted my head in curiosity, Joanna blinked several times, then softly said, “Ah,” and gradually started to speak.
“That bird which accompanied the student named Heronia suddenly broke through the venue’s glass and flew in… Lady Bertia’s maid started running as if to shield you two, but just before she collided with her, the bird glowed brightly… and seemed to vanish. I couldn’t see very well in the end because it was too dazzling.”
“Your Highness, was that, perhaps, a spirit?” Charles began to ask but paused halfway, his eyes widening as he realized something.
Only a select few can perceive spirits, and knowledge about them typically rests with the nobility. Yet, everyone present, including the guards, hails from relatively high-ranking noble families. Even if they haven’t encountered a spirit, they likely possess some awareness of them due to their education.
“Yes, that bird was a manifestation of a light spirit,” I affirmed with a warm smile, prompting everyone to gasped in astonishment.
While they were taken aback, everyone seemed acquainted with the term “light spirit.”
“Considering your reaction, you understand why it would be an issue if others discovered this, correct?… I apologize for asking, but could you handle a cover-up?”
My father was likely already handling the situation. However, the commotion took place within the school, and most of those present were students. Any visible intervention by adults could draw attention and raise suspicions.
Upon discovering that Baroness Heronia’s bird was a light spirit, the aide candidates and the young ladies were visibly shocked.
“Huh? Was that a spirit? Huh?” Silica blinked several times, tilting her head in bewilderment.
“I’ve never seen one until now,” Joanna confessed, her face reflecting both surprise and acceptance. Charles nodded in agreement as well.
“Me neither.”
“Hmm, I think that wasn’t my first time seeing a spirit,” I pondered aloud.
“Eh?” Their simultaneous exclamation echoed through the room.
When I casually mentioned it, Joanna and Charles looked at me with curiosity. I mean, aren’t there two spirits standing right in front of you all? Perhaps I’ll keep it to myself that they’re spirits for now, waiting until they decide to reveal themselves for some fun.
“Then, I’ll let you take it from here. I’ll catch up with you after my chat with Tia. How about we kick off the party again in about an hour?”
“Are we really going to restart?” Charles grimaced a bit at my suggestion.
Well, it was a grand spectacle, and there I was, the Crown Prince, collapsing. The students must be quite unsettled. Ideally, we should just call it a day now and later send an apology letter along with gifts, or perhaps plan a new party…
“It’s a graduation party, and I don’t think it’s good to end it on a sour note. If possible, I’d like to overwrite the unpleasant part with fun memories. Plus, showing them that I’m healthy and Tia has calmed down will reassure everyone,” I reasoned.
I smiled widely and said again, “Please take care of it.” Charles appeared somewhat resigned as he exited the room, followed by the others, whose faces showed a blend of fatigue and relief.
It may be somewhat of a hassle, but we were intending to address several matters regardless, including the issue of Baroness Heronia — the ‘defeat’ that Bertia often mentioned. Preparations for the follow-up are already underway, so it should be fine.
The only unexpected occurrences were the spirit of Baroness Heronia depleting its energy to safeguard her, and my brief fainting spell caused by its strength. These were minor surprises, and I trust my competent friends can deal with them.
Now, the issue I need to address…
“So, Tia. It’s just us now. You’re going to tell me everything you’ve been holding back, all right?”
After making sure that Kuro and Zeno stayed while the other members left the room, I turned back to Bertia.
Noticing her tear-stained face, I couldn’t resist a wry smile. I softly wiped her cheeks with a handkerchief before guiding her to the bed where we both settled. The bed creaked beneath us. The two spirits in the room sensed the moment’s seriousness and quietly retreated to a corner, observing us.
“Lord Cecil, I… um…” Bertia’s demeanor shifted from frantic to subdued as she looked up at me anxiously. Her makeup, smeared by tears, made her face appear more innocent than usual, evoking a protective instinct in me. I suppressed the urge to merely reassure her and encouraged her to keep speaking. I knew that if I didn’t listen now, she might spiral into distress and act impulsively again.
“Tia, we’ll be getting married soon after your graduation, so no secrets between us, okay?”
“Is… is that already decided?”
“Of course it is.”
I took her hand and kissed the ring that fit perfectly on her finger, smiled. My gaze firmly conveyed that there was no turning back, and her small hand trembled slightly in response.
“But, but, but…”
“No matter how much you struggle, the situation won’t change. But we can change the future…”
“Don’t lie to me! A Lord Cecil who forsakes the heroine shows no concern for our country’s future or our own!” Bertia interjected forcefully, her eyes reflecting a mix of sorrow and helpless rage.
“Tia?”
Perplexed about the cause of her anger and her belief that I was being dishonest, I felt bewildered.
“Uuuu… I just want everyone to be happy, especially the one I love. Why can’t things go right? Why can’t I play my role as a villainess properly?”
As she began to cry again, I gently stroked her back.
“Tia, I may not understand why you are so upset, but I’m not lying. I genuinely want to improve the future of this country, especially since you are a part of it.”
“But… how can…”
“It’s alright. Just trust me and talk to me?”
Her eyes, a blend of hope and doubt, expressing a desire to believe yet tinged with uncertainty, met mine. I smiled warmly and nodded slowly at her.
After a brief pause, Bertia appeared to reach a decision and gave a slight nod.
“Alright, I’ll share it. Just please don’t take it personally. If what you’re saying is accurate, this isn’t about you, Lord Cecil, but rather ‘Lord Cecil Glo Alphasta’ from the otome game.”
She held my hand tightly and began to speak slowly, sharing her burdens.