Her composure was almost creepy. I think I hit the nail on the head... She must know of the tale as well. Since the Scarlet Wind acted very differently from my dream, it can only mean that she—or another one of its members—have seen it.
The outcome I feared the most was if any of the main characters, more specifically, anyone belonging to the main character’s forces, had the same dream I did. I’d been wary of Lilka from the start, but I didn’t have enough information to be certain. If she knew something that only those who saw the dream knew, my suspicions would turn to conviction.
I drew my face close to hers.
“Have you had a...curious dream recently?” I asked.
“A dream?” Lilka asked.
“A dream about the future—say, three years from now, when you’d meet a certain man.”
Lilka furrowed her brow. “The future? A man? What are you on about?”
“Do not play dumb. I, Shadow Wolf Lofus, know all.”
“‘Shadow Wolf’?”
I used my future self’s Elite Four moniker, but Lilka’s reaction was one of befuddlement. Stubborn, isn’t she...
“If you refuse to admit it, let us go kill that man right now, shall we?” I offered. “Abel Karat. We can easily take care of him now.”
I summoned a Dark Ball in my hand and threatened her with it. You can’t keep your poker face for much longer. If you’re forced to kill the man you love, I’m sure you’d be at least a bit distraught. But Lilka only stared back at me, bewildered by my words, as she tilted her head to one side.
“Abel who? Uh... Who’s that?” she asked.
I fell silent. What’s going on? She looks utterly confused, like she doesn’t know a thing. If she’s acting, she deserves an award... Does she really not know?
“Impossible...” I muttered. “Then how in the world can you remain so calm? You’re normally more childish.”
“Mr. Lofus, what exactly do you know about me?” Lilka asked.
I couldn’t respond as she frowned at me. Was it all just a misunderstanding? Did I get it wrong? In the tale, you were utterly infatuated with Abel Karat... Did you really not have that dream?
“Are you not in love with a man called Abel?” I asked.
“Huh? In love with— Oh... Wait... Uh, I think I understand...”
She looked as though she realized something and looked all flustered, her face turning redder by the second. Why is she reacting that way? I stared at her face, now redder than a tomato, as she averted her gaze with embarrassment.
“S-Sorry, Mr. Lofus,” she stammered. “I was so oblivious. I don’t...have anyone I like, and I don’t think I’ve liked anyone before...”
“Huh?”
“I-I’m really happy to receive your affection, honest! But I think I’m a bit too young to think about stuff like that... Er, it’s not like I hate you or anything, it’s just...”
She quickly strung her sentences together without once stopping for breath. Uh... Looks like she’s got the wrong idea...
“C-Can we start as friends?” she offered. “I’m really not experienced with stuff like that. I’ve never kissed or held hands with someone...”
“No,” I said.
I stopped her before she could let her imagination run wild, and she blinked back at me.
“Say what?” she asked.
I drew back from Lilka and undid my Dark Hands to free her.
“I’m saying that you’ve got the wrong idea,” I said. “You’re gravely misunderstanding my words.”
“I am?”
“Enough. This was my bad. Just forget it.”
Lilka was still reeling from my earlier actions, but I left her behind and headed back into the ship. Seconds later, a shrill scream of embarrassment echoed throughout the vessel, prompting me to cover my ears while swiftly walking away. I guess it was all just a misunderstanding...
✶✶✶
“I can’t believe you!” Lilka shouted, inching closer to Lofus. “You know, usually, when you get pushed down and asked if you like someone, you’d assume that they’re romantically interested in you! Obviously, that sounds like flirting!”
Her loud decries could be heard by all, but Lofus simply looked away and ignored her.
Lilka, undeterred, went on, “Also! Like, I acted like I wasn’t wholly against it! Oh my god! But that can’t be my fault, right? I mean, you saved me and everyone else, and I owe you big time! You’re super strong and not bad looking by any means, so obviously I won’t say no if someone like that tries to woo me! That’s normal, isn’t it?! Normal!”
She tugged on the sleeve of Lofus’s coat, pulling harder and harder as she complained to him and tried to justify her own reaction. Lofus only flashed a look of utter exhaustion as he ignored the screaming girl, and the other members of the Scarlet Wind—Kay, Dan, and short-haired Elma—gazed at the scene from afar.
“Um... What’s up with her?” Elma asked.
“They’ve been acting like that ever since they returned from the deck,” Dan muttered.
“Isn’t Lofus the child of House Lightless? Are the two, you know, close? Lilka mentioned getting pushed down and wooed...”
“See? Told ya,” Kay replied proudly. “Lilka just ain’t that noble’s type. Sounds to me like she thought he was trying to woo her, and so she sort of accepted his so-called advances, only to find out that she had it all wrong. So now, she’s mortified and angry, letting her emotions take the reins.”
“That so?” Elma asked. “I’ve never seen Lilka that angry before. And...is she allowed to scream at a noble like that?”
“I think she’s in the clear. From what I can tell, that one’s obsessed with women. Lilka might not be his type, but he won’t be cruel toward any sort of lady. Speak of which, Elma, why aren’t you going for him? Didn’t you say that you wanted to marry a rich guy?”
Her face twitched. “Yes, but isn’t he around the same age as Lilka? I think he’s a bit too young for my taste... And nobles like him tend to put walls around themselves to differentiate their kind from people like us. He is pretty handsome, though.”
Dan tilted his head to one side. “Kay, you said this guy won’t be cruel to ladies. But isn’t ignoring Lilka so heartlessly cruel in and of itself?”
“Nah,” Kay replied. “Remember, he’s a noble. Merely ignoring her is awfully tolerant in comparison. I mean, what if I started shouting at him like that? What do you think would happen to me?”
“Oh, you’d be dead for sure,” Elma replied instantly.
“Head lopped off,” Dan added.
Kay shrugged. “Exactly. So, she’s being tolerated, at the very least.”
As Dan and Elma nodded with understanding, Hawk emerged from the depths of the corridor and narrowed his eyes to see Lilka making a big fuss.
“What’s going on there?” he asked.
Kay grinned. “Oh? Wanna hear the story of how Lilka got her heart broken?”
“Sounds like a hoot, but we’re arriving soon. You guys should brace for impact.”
Hawk left the three behind and approached Lofus, who was still being cornered by Lilka.
“Sir Lofus,” Hawk said. “We’ll arrive at Roguebert shortly. There’ll be a slight impact, so I do recommend you hang on to the railing.”
“Very well,” Lofus said, looking visibly relieved to be freed from the noise.
But Lilka didn’t let up. “Hey! I’m not done talking yet! Are you listening to me, Mr. Lofus?!”
As the ship began its descent and shook, Lilka continued to shout at the tired, little noble.