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Side Story Part 6

「It’s not a dream. It hurts where you were hit by that man, right? 」

When Marine smiled wryly, Alexis thought for a moment before placing his hand on the spot where he had been hit. His Crest shone brightly and the swelling on his face receded. That was a pretty strong healing power.

「It’d seem that I’ve shown you a rather pathetic side of myself. 」

Alexis said with sadness in his voice.

「Did you not allow that man to hit you on purpose? Or was it that you couldn’t dodge it? 」

「… Because I couldn’t dodge it. 」

Alexis admitted shamefully.

「To be honest, I’m not all that good at fighting. Even doing something so simple as holding a sword is scaring me. 」

「Even though you’re a Lord and there might come a day when you might stand on the battlefield in the future? 」

「If the enemy comes, I’m going to have them all killed quietly. 」

While saying that, Alexis slowly sat up.

「For the time being, I suppose I need to thank you. After all, you helped me back there. 」

「I just saw that man trying to seduce you, and that didn’t sit well with me. You see, that man was coming to every night party organized here recently, because apparently he mistook this place for a cheap brothel, and he had a history of trying to take young women back to his room with him, even though they didn’t like it. After what happened today, I’m sure he’s not going to be invited here ever again. 」

I’ve always hated women. I was trying to forcibly take her to my room, and it became a problem.

「Even though he’s a Lord of the Fantasia Union…? 」

When Marine said that, Alexis gently put his index finger to her lips.

「There are no Factory Alliances or Fantasia Union’s here. I really wish there weren’t any at all. It’s foolish for Lords to fight each other just because their allegiances differ. 」

「But unless someone becomes Emperor, the Age of Chaos won’t end, right? 」

「All the Lords should meet together and discuss and decide who the Emperor is going to be. And then all the Lords should subordinate themselves to the newly-elected Emperor on the spot. 」

「There is no way to decide something important like that by discussion alone. 」

Marlne sneered.

It was easy for her to tell from just this conversation that Alexis was a dreamer and an idealist. He is artistically gifted but lacks the qualities of a true Lord.

「I had a vague idea of it, but now that we’ve met again, I’m sure of it. You must be Alexis Ducet of the Fantasia Union. Rumors about you, the Prince of the Sun, have spread to the Factory Alliance as well. 」

Alexis put his index finger to his lips again.
「I also know who you are. I’ve also heard various rumors about you. 」

「I hope they weren’t all terrible rumors? 」

「Some of them were, but I chose to not believe them. 」

Alexis said with a smile.

「By the way, I didn’t expect you to come to this party tonight. I’ve never seen you at one of these before. 」

「I came here to thank you for the beautiful flowers you gave me. I also wanted to know what kind of person you were. 」

「I’m very happy about that. I thought you didn’t care about me at all. 」

Alexis’s face became visibly brighter.

Marine thought that he was indeed like the sun. She felt like the dimly lit room has become brighter just by the virtue of having him here with her.

「That’s right. 」

Marlene nodded slowly.

「But now it’s a little different. I’m interested in you. More than anything, how and why did you fall in love with me? You know who I am, right? 」

「Because family names don’t matter in Elam. 」
「But the family name will not disappear. And we will return to our homelands someday. 」

「I don’t care about such things. When I met you, my heart started fluttering before I even realized, and I immediately knew that what I’m feeling towards you is love. That is all that matters to me. 」

「But we will never be together. On the contrary, we may eventually see each other as enemies on the battlefield. 」

「You can’t go against fate. 」

Alexis shook his head with sadness.
「But in the same way, I can’t go against the will of heart. And my heart is filled with the joy of knowing love for you. 」

「I guess so… 」

Marine nodded with a smile.

「Just by reading the letters you’ve sent me, I was able to understand you. Beautiful characters, beautiful sentences, and wonderful expressiveness. It was like reading the script of a love story. However, it ends with a sad ending… 」

Marine said that, and then, she slowly brought her face closer to Alexis, and touched his lips with her own.

「This is my thank you gift for the flowers. 」

Marine whispered after separating their lips.

「Just to let you know, this was my first kiss. You don’t have to take it seriously, but please remember it. 」

And she stood up quietly.

「Let’s finish with this. Time will pass and you will eventually forget about it. You will meet a wonderful woman for yourself, and I will marry the right person for myself. 」

「I will never forget you. Everything about you has been engraved in my heart and soul! 」

「You’re free to do so. But don’t send me any more letters. I also don’t plan to see you ever again. 」

「If that is what you wish for… 」

Alexis nodded his head.

「Farewell, Alexis… 」

Marine waved her hand slightly and left her room.

* * *

Since the day of that night party, the Kraische family’s mansion has been wrapped in a heavy atmosphere.

That is because Marine, the owner of the mansion, has become completely silent and she was sighing more than speaking normally. Moreover, she was doing that even as she was going on about her daily routine, but Marine herself didn’t even seem to notice that.

「She’s eating well like usual, asn she doesn’t seem to be sick in any way. 」

Looking at the empty tableware that he brought back from Marine’s room, Irvin muttered to himself.

「No, if anything, I’m the one who’s going to get sick. 」

Dumbfounded, Layla said in a weak voice as she sat in her chair.

「Shall I take care of the young lady for you? 」

Cammy asked while looking worriedly at Layla.

「That wouldn’t be any good. If I cannot be of help to the young lady, then I might as well be dead. 」

「Then, can I take your Arts if you die? 」

「Ah, if I’m going to die, then I want my Arts to become part of Irvin. 」

Layla looked back at Cammy and said so.

「Don’t decide that so arbitrarily. 」

Irvin frowned.

「Pardon the intrusion. 」

At that time, Noelia, a maid of the Doucet family, entered the room. She’s been in contact with them many times, so she’s become a familiar face around the Kraische family’s mansion.

「You all look like you’re completely worn out. 」
Noelia said after looking at the three Shadows.

「Right back at you. 」

Layla answered.

The maid of the Ducet family had dark circles around her eyes.

「Ever since he came back home from the night party, young master started crying at the most trivial of things. He also started writing poems in praise of death and plays music you’d only hear at funerals. It almost looks as if he himself wanted to die. 」

「Can I get your Arts if you end up dying? 」

Cammy asked that while staring at Noelia.

「I’m sorry, but I already have a prior appointment in regards to that. 」

Noelia answered seriously.

「The young lady should be fine, but I’m guessing you have your hands full making sure that your young master doesn’t go and do anything stupid? 」

「Of course I have.. 」

Noelia nods.

「That’s great to hear. 」

Irvin breathed a sigh of relief.
「If Lord Alexis died, then the young lady would die from shock as well. 」

「If she feels like that now, then why the hell did Lady Marine told Lord Alexis that she was never going to see him again herself?! 」

Layla lamented as such and covered her face with her hands.