𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟖: 𝐀𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐲𝐚 [𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐤𝐞]’
Right now, I’m sitting face to face with Stephan.
The dining bar “Meat and Liquor” is only my second time visiting, but it’s my favorite place. I like it more than any high-end restaurant. Today, Stephan told the staff that we have an important discussion, so we were guided to a corner far from the other seats.
Stephan told me, “I have something to talk to you about.” I also have a lot to talk about. Things I thought about during the days when Stephan didn’t come back. Things I realized. As I was sitting, wondering where to start, the hot food we ordered was brought to us.
“Sorry for the wait, here are the sausages and tongue stew, and your drinks.”
“Shall we eat while it’s hot?”
“Yes, let’s.”
After we ate the hot food that almost burned our tongues, Stephan started talking.
“The other day, Danna-sama came to my room. He was worried that Ojou-sama might elope with me.”
“Cough, cough, cough!”
The one who coughed in a very unladylike manner was me. A piece of sausage I was trying to swallow went the wrong way. Stephan stood up and rubbed my back while handing me a juice mixed with distilled liquor as I was coughing heavily.
“Cough, cough, cough!”
“Please calm down, Ojou-sama.”
“But, Otou-sama, cough, cough, haah, thank you. I’ve calmed down.”
“It seems that both Danna-sama and Oku-sama are worried that you might do something like that.”
“Why would Otou-sama tell that to Stephan! Shouldn’t he tell me?”
Stephan sat back down in his chair and continued talking without looking at me.
“I intended to protect Ojou-sama for the rest of my life, but due to my recent promotion, I have to leave the Bowen family. That’s why he was worried. Danna-sama asked me if I intended to marry Ojou-sama. It’s an honor beyond my wildest dreams. But I want to know how Ojou-sama feels. What do you think about marrying a man who is nothing more than a swordsman?”
Otou-sama, already talking about that?
But of course, I’m all for it. I’m happy. But Stephan’s words bothered me.
“A man who is nothing more than a swordsman.”
Is that Stephan’s inferiority complex? Calm down, me. I can’t make a mistake this time. I have to properly and accurately convey my feelings to Stephan. I don’t want him to feel inferior.
“What a top-class pharmacist needs is to marry someone they can trust from the bottom of their heart and have children. So I’ve always wished to meet such a person. But I couldn’t find anyone like that at the social gatherings. Yet when Stephan didn’t come back, I thought I had to find him, even if it put my life in danger.”
Stephan is listening quietly.
“I wasn’t consciously aware of it, but I think for the old me, marriage was like a stepping stone to becoming a successor to the pharmacist. But when I found Stephan, who looked like he was about to die, I realized. Even if I prioritize becoming a top-class pharmacist and lose Stephan, even if I marry someone and safely become a top-class pharmacist, I would regret it for the rest of my life. I need Stephan in my life.”
Then Stephan smiled gently.
“Ojou-sama, if you’re okay with me, please let me protect you for the rest of my life. I want to be by your side forever.”
I was happy. The person I care about needs me. He says he will protect me. I felt like crying, but I held back.
“Stephan, I’m so happy, I don’t know what to say.”
When I raised my face to say that, Stephan was looking at me with the eyes of a teacher looking at a troubled student.
“Ojou-sama, were you really planning to elope?”
“Um, no, you see, you can’t elope alone, can you? I didn’t know what you thought of me.”
I’m all flustered. It’s terribly embarrassing. I’ve selfishly thought about eloping just a little bit.
“Ever since Ojou-sama came to our trading company wearing a yellow dress, I’ve always admired you. If such a Ojou-sama proposed to elope, I would follow you without hesitation, even if it caused a lot of trouble for others. Please don’t tempt me too much.”
“Since that long ago? But you never showed such an attitude…”
“Of course. I am a bodyguard. But, Ojou-sama, if you say you need me, I will stop hiding my feelings.”
With that, Stephan gently held my hand.
“I truly love you, Ojou-sama.”
Since being betrayed by Samuel, I couldn’t find any value in myself, and the hole in my heart that had been empty for so long felt like it was finally being filled. My precious person tells me he loves me. It feels like a miracle to me now. Being told I’m loved makes me feel so fulfilled.
(I’m glad. It’s not a one-way street) I thought, and started to cry. I didn’t realize how happy it is to be needed by someone. I didn’t realize how lonely I had been since that time until now.
“If you cry so much, your eyes will swell.”
“Yes.”
“I wish I could have confessed in a more fashionable place.”
“No. Here is good.”
“Now, please stop crying.”
“Yes, but Stephan. I have one concern.”
“What is it?”
I’m so happy that I can’t stop crying. I honestly expressed my anxiety while sobbing. I must be making an ugly face.
“If you marry me, your daughter will have to train to become immune to poison, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. Then let’s train together when the time comes. Let’s complain about the pain and suffering together with our daughter.”
“Suffering together?”
“Yes. We’ll laugh and overcome it while complaining with our daughter. Well, I’ve already built up resistance to most poisons because I wanted to be useful to Ojou-sama. But for my daughter’s sake, I’ll even put on a little act. It’s a good chance to raise my stock as a father.”
“Oh, that’s somehow frustrating.”
When I inadvertently laughed, Stephan gently wiped my cheek with a handkerchief, saying, “You’re busy crying and laughing.”
[insert page=’4633′ display=’content’]
[insert page=’4587′ display=’content’]
Translator’s Blog
Blog
- Eren Yeager vs. Gundam: Who Would Win in a Titan-Sized Showdown?
- Quitting Your Waifus Cold Turkey: Can You ACTUALLY Choose Adulting Over 2D?
- The Post-Webnovel Blues: When Your Brain Craves More Than Just a Happy Ending – Beat the Meat
- From Page to Screen: The Grim Reality of Novel to Netflix Adaptation
- Light Novel Addiction: How One Hour of Sleep Loss Can Ruin Your Day (and Your Life)
Leave a Reply