Chapter 23: Chapter 1, Episode 23
Chapter 23: Chapter 1, Episode 23
Translated by KaiesV
Edited by KaiesV
「I think we can see a trend from the presents that have been given so far. If it’s something he’d chosen, he’ll probably have a preference.」
Neil’s statement brought both of their eyes to me. Their eyes said, “Trends in the presents I’ve received so far.”
「Nhn… wait, it seems so.」
I don’t know what to do. I know I have to say something. But it takes courage. I don’t want to say this if I can because I can imagine what kind of reaction I will get if I say this.
「Marsha-dono.」
「Missy?」
I turned away, trying to get away from the two people who were giving me suspicious glances.
「Mhn… the trend of the presents… hmm, erm…」
I glance at their faces, and they are waiting for my answer with curious expressions.
「…………………………………….I, have never gotten any of it.」
I took plenty of time and tell them in a small voice with my face turned away.
「Ah? What did you say?」
Either my voice was too low to be heard, or their ears refused to listen, I’m not certain which, but Gaspar asked back.
「I’m telling you, I never received any jewelry, from that person!」
I was burnt out. My dignity as a woman is shredded.
「Eh!?」
「Hah!?」
That’s right. That’s right. Even the always calm Ryniel-sama can’t help but sound like that. Even Gaspar would open his mouth so much that his jaw would come off. I knew it!!
「…………………………………….Is that, really true?」
I nodded to Ryniel-sama, who said with incredulity in his words.
「It’s true, I haven’t received a single letter in about 10 years.」
It has been almost 14 years since I got engaged when I was 11 years old. The gifts I received were stuffed animals and music boxes from my childhood. The most she’s given me for decorations is a lace ribbon. The last present I received was a beautifully engraved glass pen delivered to the country of Quanda, where I studied, on my 15th birthday, and I haven’t received any presents since.
「To be honest, when I heard that he had given me a present, I thought it was unusual, and even suspected it was a lie, if anything.」
When Ryniel-sama told me that Raul was looking into it, it was only then that I accepted it as fact.
「And even now you’re wondering if it’s a trap of some kind?」
Yes, I mean it.
「That’s why I don’t know what that man likes!」
I opened up and said, and looked at the three faces: Gaspard with his head in his hands, and Neil, who didn’t even hide his sympathy.
「…Hii…!」
Then there was Ryniel-sama, looking like a demon.
「R–Ryniel-sama…?」
Scary, scary, scary, he’s so scary, he’s truly scary! I’m freezing with the rage that is wafting from Ryniel-sama.
「To a woman, much less his fiancé… this is what this knight does…!」
As a man, as a knight, and surely as my companion, how unacceptable Raul’s behavior was, Ryniel-sama’s anger speaks for itself.
「Ryniel-sama. Please calm yourself.」
「I’m already calm.」
Only those who say so are not calm at all.
「How can you remain calm? Are you not angry that you’ve been treated with such disdain?」
「Do I resent… it?」
「Yes, correct. You should be angrier!」
「That is true, but…」
We know that a gift from a man to a woman is a way to show the magnitude of his feelings. When it comes to one’s fiancée, it is natural for them to send each other gifts, even if they are formal and not accompanied by feelings.
There were times when I was angry too. There were times when I was filled with frustration and sadness. But that was really only the beginning.
「I’m tired of being angry for 10 years.」
Sustaining anger is harder than it seems, and I didn’t have the energy to keep it up.
My dignity as a woman would certainly be hurt, but for me personally, I was fine with not receiving Raul’s gift(feelings).
「I haven’t had time to spend that kind of effort on that one person for the past 10 years. I have been so busy with my fast-paced life that such a gap has not existed anywhere. I would rather have had people wandering around in front of me, getting in my way. That is still the case today.」
I never felt annoyed because he didn’t give me a present, even though I sometimes wanted his time and effort back.
「Frankly, I would have a hard time getting rid of it even if it were given to me.」
I will never wear it anyway.
「You know, Missy. I’m not defending the guy, but isn’t it possible that someone else stole it like this?」
「Isn’t it hard to imagine not giving any presents at all?」
As Gaspar and Neil both come up with, I’ve thought that too.
「And that’s why I can’t allow it to happen.」
With anger in his voice, Ryniel-sama said. This man has surely arrived at the same idea as I have. Both Gaspar and Neil looked as if they had no idea what the words meant.
「You know, if your fiancé sends you jewelry, you are supposed to wear it. Even if you don’t wear it right away, at least write a thank you note. Even if you don’t get along, it’s a courtesy.」
「Missy is a bit of a stickler for decorum, you know.」
I just scolded Gaspar a moment ago.
「I am not wearing it. I don’t even receive a thank you note. What would Gaspar think?」
「I’m not sure how…」
「Isn’t it something to worry about my behavior, whether I didn’t get it or not, or whether I didn’t like it?」
「Well, that’s true.」
「That’s right. If you wonder what’s wrong, what’s weird, what’s not right, what’s going on, you usually ask, or whatever. What’s the cause?」
「……………..That’s right.」
「I’ve never been asked that before. This is the first time I started looking into it.」
「…………..」
「Not thinking, not caring, not noticing, not asking, not investigating. Come on, what’s in your heart?」
「………………………..」
「What’s in your heart?」
「……………………………………………………………………………」
「WHAT ? IS ? IN ? YOUR ? HEART?」
「……………………………………………………………………………………………………..Is Missy not interested?」
「Yes, very correct!!」
That’s right, I wasn’t interested.
I didn’t notice if he didn’t get a reaction from me because I don’t care what he thinks of me. I didn’t even think it’s strange, so I didn’t ask or look into it.
「I thought this time, too, I had no choice but to take action because I found out about it when he made false allegations against me.」
「Maybe so… totally lamentable.」
As for me, I’m a clunker. If it weren’t for that, he’d be a capable person, but he’s a real disappointment.
「Missy…」
「Nhn?」
「So why wouldn’t he agree to call off the engagement??」
I don’t know? That’s what I’d like to know, too.