ICTGMP 06

Chapter 6

 A Death Flag Right from the Start (6)

“Why would you come to that conclusion?”

Adel spoke with an expression that was equal parts exasperated and amused.

“I don’t mind being falsely accused a hundred times if it means Anastasia can smile.”

Something suddenly fluttered in a corner of my chest.

It felt as though a butterfly had dropped straight into my head.

I blinked rapidly.

Adel had absolutely no resistance to my teasing, while his straightforward, sincere words occasionally hit me with an intensity I wasn’t prepared for.

“You think saying something like that will make me so touched that I’ll stop teasing you? Not a chance.”

I cleared my throat softly.

He didn’t notice that my face had turned red, did he?

Adel answered with a gentle smile.

“Yes. I look forward to getting along with you from now on as well.”

Since we were already in the kitchen, we decided to finish the walnut pie.

The chef brought out even more food—black tea, juice, chocolate, pudding, cookies, and all sorts of other treats—until the table was practically overflowing.

Adel watched me intently as I ate my pudding before speaking.

“I heard that there will be a lantern festival on the Marlow River tonight and tomorrow night. Would you be interested in going?”

Holy crap!

I knew about it, but I had given up on going because I thought Adel wouldn’t allow it.

“I absolutely want to go!”

I shouted without even thinking.

Adel smiled and added a condition.

“You’ll have to go with me. Since I’m acting as your guardian at the moment.”

“Yes! Sounds good!”

Adel’s eyes widened briefly, apparently surprised by how readily I agreed.

It seemed the real Anastasia must have been quite harsh with Adel. Otherwise, there was no reason for him to be so cautious about something as simple as accompanying her.

I gave him a bright smile to reassure him, and he soon spoke gently.

“Then I’ll make the arrangements. I’ll come pick you up this evening.”

“You’re the best, Adel!”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Adel looked so openly pleased that I decided I should compliment him more often from now on.

After our simple tea time ended, Adel returned to the ducal estate to prepare for our outing.

I chatted with Ilina while choosing the dress I would wear that evening.

I settled on a modest brown dress, and Ilina gave it an 85 out of 100.

Then Ilina suddenly insisted that I wear a hat so that people wouldn’t be startled when they saw my face.

She practically regarded my face as a weapon of mass destruction.

As she braided my translucent silver hair into a single braid, Ilina said she loved how well my hair color went with every dress.

I had to agree with her.

Even in plain clothing, Anastasia radiated an almost mystical, enchanting, and sweet atmosphere.

Her large, moonlike eyes scattered silvery light, while her hair gleamed with a lustrous sheen. Her pale face might have lacked vitality, but it possessed a beauty unlike anything else.

It made me sad to think that even this beauty would eventually wither as her illness worsened.

Knowing I was bound to snack later, I ate only a light dinner.

Around sunset, Adel arrived to pick me up, dressed just as simply.

He looks like a prince sneaking out in disguise.

I pulled my hat firmly down over my head and followed Adel.

We traveled by carriage.

Despite the slightly chilly night breeze, the area around the Marlow River, which ran through the capital, was packed with people.

I had never imagined there would be this many people, and I couldn’t help but marvel at the sight.

Vendors had come out onto the streets to sell grilled chicken skewers, roasted corn, candied fruit, cotton candy, and all kinds of snacks.

The laughter of children filled the plaza.

Hundreds of thousands of lanterns floated overhead.

It felt as though the entire world had been filled with golden-yellow and orange starlight.

I looked around in amazement, unable to tear my eyes away.

“Wow, it’s so beautiful. Everything is sparkling.”

“You’ll be able to see it even better from a boat.”

We bought two sky lanterns and rented a small boat.

The lanterns reflected on the river looked like fish that glowed with a light of their own.

It was the kind of breathtaking night view that money couldn’t buy.

Adel rowed the boat skillfully while listening to me marvel at everything around us.

“Anastasia, you’re glowing too.”

I could feel the people in the other boats stealing glances at Adel.

I slowly took in his golden hair, which seemed almost overflowing with light, and his exquisite features, as though they had been carved by a master artist.

He was an aloof, noble man who reminded me of a white birch surrounded by pure light.

There was no denying that Adel was more than capable of attracting attention simply by existing.

I rested my chin in my hand and murmured lazily.

“Thank you for bringing me here.”

“I’m the one who’s happy that you allowed me to accompany you.”

Adel answered with a smile.

“If we release the lanterns around here, they’ll rise much higher. We could even use a little trickery, but I think it’s more fun not to use magic.”

I fiddled with my lantern.

“Hmm. Do I really have to release it? I kind of want to keep it.”

It was nothing more than a childish complaint, but Adel took it seriously.

“Then we’ll release your lantern and I’ll keep mine. Who knows? Perhaps your wish will come true once the lantern reaches the heavens.”

“But what about your wish?”

“My wish is for your wish to come true.”

Adel said it in such a matter-of-fact tone, as though I had asked the most obvious question in the world.

The orange lights drifting through the sky cast enchanting shadows across Adel’s face.

My cheeks grew hot.

I hurriedly released my lantern into the sky and then urged Adel on.

“W-We should get off now, shouldn’t we?”

“Are you feeling dizzy?”

“A little.”

I made up an excuse, and Adel immediately turned the boat around.

“I’ll turn the boat around right away.”

I was startled by the sheer determination with which Adel suddenly began rowing.

“You don’t have to row that hard……”

We squeezed between the other boats and made our way across the river to the opposite dock.

Adel helped me out of the boat before looking around.

“There are quite a lot of people over here.”

I spotted a shop giving off the sweet scent of sugar and pointed toward it.

“Let’s go get some cotton candy!”

I grabbed Adel and pulled him along before he could refuse.

He obediently followed.

I spotted her purely by chance.

Not far away stood a girl with long, luxuriant brown hair cascading down her back, as lovely as a peach blossom.

She had bright blue eyes and was holding a roasted ear of corn.

She was beautiful enough that passersby actually turned their heads to look at her.

But the dress she was wearing had an awkward rabbit-shaped embroidery stitched onto it.

For some reason, I got a very bad feeling.

You really couldn’t ignore your instincts.

It wasn’t common for someone that strikingly beautiful to be wearing such a ridiculous rabbit-embroidered dress.

As I approached cautiously, the girl spoke to an older woman selling strawberry-flavored candies.

“Ma’am, I’m Olga. I came to buy some candy.”

Oh, shit. That’s the female protagonist!

“Ah.”

I stopped awkwardly and abruptly, as though I had just remembered something I’d forgotten.

“I suddenly changed my mind. Let’s go over there.”

“There doesn’t seem to be anything over there.”

Adel looked at me in confusion, but I had already turned around.

“Hurry.”

I didn’t want to lose Adel to her already.

Olga was destined to meet Adel for the first time at my funeral.

So that meant I was allowed to keep him as my friend until then, right?

At least for the next two years, it was okay for him to stay by my side.

I had thought I had no regrets about this life.

But suddenly, I felt terribly wronged.

I dragged Adel into a quiet alley where hardly anyone was around.

Empty liquor bottles were scattered everywhere.

I didn’t want to turn back toward where Olga was, so I furrowed my brows and kept walking deeper into the alley.

The shadows were thick here, making it difficult to see.

“Eek!”

I suddenly stepped on something and stumbled.

Adel immediately grabbed my arm.

“Anastasia, watch your step.”

I instinctively looked down and was startled.

“What is this?”

At least five people were lying sprawled on the ground.

Their faces were faintly bruised.

“It seems there was a fight. Although, judging by their condition, it looks more like they were beaten one-sidedly.”

“Ugh, it reeks of alcohol……”

The powerful smell made my head spin.

I felt nauseous.

Adel kept hold of my arm and pulled me toward him.

“Please forgive my rudeness. Excuse me for a moment.”

He supported me as we left the alley.

I covered my nose and asked,

“What about those people? Shouldn’t we help them?”

“You come first right now.”

His answer was firm.

Gradually, I began to calm down, soothed by Adel’s gentle consideration and the fresh citrus scent clinging to him.

If they were going to drink that much, why couldn’t they just go home and sleep like normal people?

Why on earth had they decided to use the street as a bed?

I grumbled to myself as I opened and closed my eyes.

Thankfully, when we returned, Olga was nowhere to be seen.

However, quite a few people were staring at me.

“Everyone is looking at us.”

Apparently, I had been clinging to Adel a little too closely while he supported me.

When I became embarrassed, Adel let go of me.

“You should be safe here. I’ll inform the city guards about what happened and return. Of course, I’ll continue keeping an eye on you, so please refrain from doing anything dangerous.”

In other words, he intended to keep watching me even if he had to use magic to do it.

Adel considered using magic in front of other people taboo, but apparently, he was willing to make an exception when it came to keeping watch over me.

“All right. Go and come back safely.”

I sat down at an empty outdoor table.

I pulled my hat down again so my face wouldn’t be exposed and adjusted my loosely tied hair.

I never expected the justice-loving Adel to prioritize me over the injured people.

I was a little touched.

I was staring blankly in the direction Adel had disappeared when I noticed someone approaching a little later than I should have.

“Excuse me. Would you mind if I sat here for a moment? All the other tables are full.”

The words were directed at me.

Without even properly checking who it was, I answered absentmindedly.

“Sure.”

And immediately regretted it.

I yawned and lifted my head.

The person sitting across from me came into view.

He was an incredibly handsome boy.

The first thing I noticed was his bright red hair, a color rarely seen in the Empire.

His freckles and vivid green eyes were striking as well.

……No way.

Could it really be?

He smiled and asked,

“Your companion seems to have stepped away?”

“He’ll be back soon.”

I answered somewhat stiffly.

The boy smoothly continued the conversation.

“Would you mind chatting with me until then? I didn’t expect to run into another noble here. You’re a noble too, aren’t you? I can tell even if you’re trying to hide it. I thought this was the kind of place where someone like Olga would be the one to come.”

No! She even came here with Olga!

At this point, I had no choice but to accept it.

That red-haired boy had to be Ash Cloud.

Ash Cloud was Adel’s complete opposite and an unmistakable villain.

However, he remained close to the female protagonist, Olga, for quite some time.

I’m screwed.

I think I’ve completely ruined everything.