𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔𝟓: 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲
Suddenly feeling embarrassed, I lowered my head.
“Sigh. . .Speaking of which, the Mage Association and the nobles are really troublesome.”
It was a heartfelt voice. I truly believed that he would quit in three years.
Cid released his hand from my body and poured warm tea from the pot he brought.
The sweet aroma of apple tea filled the room, and we enjoyed a brief moment of rest.
“Even though I’m a noble now, it’s still troublesome.”
Sipping the warm tea, I chuckled.
“I’m still not used to it. The noble society and the long names.”
He sat next to me and we drank tea together.
“Cid Roberta Count Harman-sama?”
“I almost bit my tongue.”
Cid was adopted into Master Grat’s Viscount Roberta family, and later, he entered into a foster relationship with my Aunty’s Marquis Harman family.
“When did you start thinking about this plan?”
Since I couldn’t become a commoner, I had to marry a noble. Moreover, if I could become a member of the Duke Marcus family, the hurdle would be quite high.
However, Cid easily cleared the problem.
It was typical of Cid to propose to Master Grat to adopt him and help Elsa. After teleporting me away, he immediately reworked the entire plan and negotiated.
“When Master came to the Marquis Harman residence, I thought about the plan to disinherit Prince Roque, so Vi-sama’s status would remain as Duke’s daughter. I thought it would be quickest for me to become a noble to get married.”
Becoming a foster child and then getting married is a common strategy used by young ladies who have had a forbidden love or daughters of merchant families, but in Cid’s case, he went through two foster adoptions to hide his origins.
Because he wanted to keep his connection to the royal bloodline of Fumble a secret.
Although Dimitri-sama had ascended to the throne and was in control of everything now, we don’t know what will happen in the future, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. . .That’s what Onii-sama arranged for us.
At that time, Granbalm-sama said, “It wouldn’t be appropriate for Miss Viara to marry without a title.” and, with mysterious consideration, gave Cid the title of Count.
It may also be to avoid being underestimated in the Mage Association, but Cid himself was the most perplexed.
“I just wanted to marry Vi-sama, but I’ve changed a lot in just a few months. Is everything going according to plan or not. . .”
Cid leaned back against the backrest of the sofa and looked up at the ceiling.
I held his hand and intertwined our fingers.
“You’re officially engaged now, so in half a year, we’ll be married, right? Your name will change again, and you’ll become Cid Harman Marcus-sama.”
“I intended to abduct Miss, but I ended up being brought into the Marcus family.”
“Well done. I’ll praise you.”
As we leaned against each other, I noticed the purple brooch on his chest.
I casually touched it and remembered the incident.
“Is your right arm not hurting anymore?”
I heard that even after using recovery magic, the numbness didn’t go away for a while because he pushed himself too hard. Dr. Vivian secretly leaked personal information to me, but Cid never mentioned it to me.
“It’s already healed. Really.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Liar.”
Even if it hurts, he will never tell me. He’s stubborn.
As I stared at him, Cid smiled softly and said,
“Would you like to test it?”
He leaned closer, and I instinctively moved away. Even though we plan to get married, I still wasn’t used to this closeness.
“For example. . .with a complicated dress like this, I can undo it with just my right hand.”
“Huh?”
He hooked his right index finger on the ribbon that tied the waist of the dress and smiled.
I knew he was teasing me, but my face instantly turned bright red.
“I haven’t received my reward yet.”
“What?! A reward? But I thought that would take years. . .”
“Oh?”
As my body gradually slumped, my back completely touched the seat of the sofa. Cid, who was leaning over, laughed happily.
“It’s just a joke. I wouldn’t do that here.”
I was lured into smiling by his cheerful laughter.
. . .Huh?
Not here?
I blinked my eyes rapidly.
Cid, who had a mischievous smile on his face, gently placed his lips on my forehead.
“Is work over for today. . .?”
Ah, I feel like I shouldn’t answer this question. Once I answer, it feels like my chastity is in danger.
As I continued to remain silent, there was a knock on the door.
――Knock, knock.
“Tsk!”
“You don’t have to roll your eyes so blatantly.”
Both Onii-sama and Cid seemed to have fallen into darkness due to the busyness of the past three months.
Cid, who stood up straight, moved away from me and stood in front of the sofa.
I also sat up and allowed entry into the room.
“Excuse me.”
The one who entered was Elsa dressed in a maid’s outfit.
Her brown hair was neatly tied up in a bun.
“Ojou-sama, I apologize for interrupting your work.”
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
Cid muttered under his breath, and Elsa stared at him with a puzzled expression.
“Why would I purposely interrupt?”
“. . .”
Cid didn’t answer and looked into the distance.
“Geez, what a weak-minded man. If it were me, I would have already pushed Ojou-sama down.”
“Um, Elsa-san? Please don’t instigate Cid like that.”
Whose side is she on?
As I glared at her with half-closed eyes, Elsa said with a smile on her face.
“I was taught by my father not to hesitate when it comes to doing it or killing. That’s why.”
“I’ve heard that somewhere before!”
That’s not something a father should teach his daughter!
“But, Cid. The atmosphere is important in everything. It’s unthinkable to try to seduce Ojou-sama in Ethan-sama’s gloomy study. You should sincerely ask Ojou-sama in the appropriate place.”
“But I don’t want to ask her!”
Cid nodded with an “I see” expression.
No, no, no, why is my maid so willingly offering up my chastity?
I had a headache.
I pressed my temple with my hand and furrowed my brow.
“Are you okay? Is there something troubling you?”
“?! Whose fault is it. . .?”
Both of them said the same thing, and I couldn’t help but feel exasperated.
“Never mind. So, Elsa, what do you need?”
“Oh, right.”
Elsa, who stepped forward, handed me a box she was holding.
“This has arrived for you.”
“Oh, it arrived just in time!”
It was a black box with a blue ribbon.
Elsa handed it to me and quietly left the room.
Alone in the room with Cid once again, I offered it to him.
“What’s this?”
“Open it and see.”
I untied the ribbon and opened the box, revealing two silver cufflinks inside.
It was Cid’s birthday present.
“Vi-sama, this.”
“I’m glad it arrived on time! Tomorrow is Cid’s birthday, right?”
Until now, I had always given him sweets for his birthday. I had never given him anything that would last.
Of course, the reverse was true as well. I had never received anything lasting from Cid, who was just a bodyguard.
Seeing Cid’s surprised expression, I felt happy.
“From now on, I can give you something that will last. I’m not sure if our tastes match, but I’ll be happy if you can use it.”
Cid took the cufflinks out of the box and carefully examined them with a smile on his face.
“Thank you. . .! I’ll treasure them. I’ll keep them safe.”
“Don’t just keep them stored away.”
I thought it was like a dog burying something important in a hole, but I didn’t say it out loud. Cid, who was gazing at the present with a blossoming smile, looked like an innocent boy.
“This is the first time I’ve received such a happy gift.”
Cid put the present back in the box and put it in the pocket of his robe, then hugged me tightly.
“I don’t have to hold back my feelings anymore, right? I’ve gone from just being a bodyguard to being your fiancé. . .”
He murmured as if confirming that, so I wrapped my arms around his back and hugged him back.
Being in his warm embrace was the most comforting thing.
“We’ll be together forever from now on. Be prepared because you can’t escape.”
I finally felt liberated from the fate of being a villainess.
“Viara.”
His arms loosened, and when I looked up, Cid’s face had turned into a teary smile.
My heart skipped a beat, and the feeling of “Ah, I love him” welled up inside me.
“My room or Viara’s room, which one should we go to?”
“It’s only two choices.”
Cid narrowed his eyes and tilted his head.
“Wait, I’m not good at making decisions.”
“That can’t be helped.”
His large hand rested on my cheek, and I gently closed my eyes.
However, the world was unforgiving.
――Knock, knock.
“Miss!!! “
“Eeek?!”
At the same time as my shoulders jerked, Galius burst into the room.
“I have something urgent to confirm from Ethan-sama!!”
“Eek!”
He had a large number of books and reports.
I looked at it over Cid’s shoulder and screamed in despair.
“I can’t take it anymore! Please, just exile me from this country!!”
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