Chapter 171: Looking Forward. (2)

I saw Agnes' figure, Marianne's frozen shock, and Daphne's bewilderment. I was trapped in the middle of these three individuals, unable to move or say anything.

"It seems to be my first visit to this place."

Agnes stood in the lobby, turning her head with a faint smile. The rapidly chilling atmosphere seemed absent, or more precisely, Agnes's smile suppressed any subtle tension. Marianne remained stiff for a while before opening her mouth with a half-stifled voice.

"Your Majesty, why are you here without any guards...?"

"I came secretly. Today, I've come to see Elroy for a moment."

Agnes's voice lacked playfulness, but her words carried a sense of humor. Whether Marianne took those words as a joke was uncertain. I walked towards the two, accompanied by Daphne. Agnes' face brightened upon seeing me.

"You're here, Elroy."

"What brings you to such a humble place? Please come inside first."

The scene depicted a mixture of tension and an unexpected casualness, creating a peculiar atmosphere.

As soon as I uttered those words, glances shot back and forth between Marianne and Daphne like lightning. I looked at this scene momentarily before nodding and guiding Agnes inside. She seemed indifferent to the irreverence that Daphne and Marianne were committing behind her.

"I will quickly prepare the tea."

Daphne approached and said. Considering her personality, it wouldn't be strange if she appeared more frosty, but she didn't seem particularly intimidated for some reason. Instead, her voice carried a strangely spirited tone that almost felt threatening.

"I appreciate your consideration, Daphne."

Agnes responded with a cheerful smile. The situation resembled two wolves confronting a tiger. Agnes comfortably settled on the sofa in the reception room.

Do you plan to abdicate and give a warning to us?

This time, it was Marianne. Our eyes briefly met, and Marianne's gaze seemed to say, "Just stay quiet." Agnes redirected her eyes, completely ignoring my presence.

"It's fine. I just dropped by for a brief conversation, so there's no need to be so concerned. I apologize for coming without notice; it must have been abrupt for all of you."

This time, Agnes and Marianne exchanged glances. Their gazes were not peaceful, resembling a match between detectives, and I quickly lowered my head to avoid unnecessary entanglements.

"...If you had business, you could have summoned us to the palace."

"If I had business, that is. Today, I simply came because I wanted to see Elroy."

Agnes spoke while looking at me. Even though I met her eyes, I couldn't ignore Marianne's intense gaze fixed on me from behind. I've never felt such intense emotions from her in a while. Agnes turned her head back towards Marianne and smiled. It seemed to hold many different meanings.

"I was planning to take Elroy with me for a while."

I heard the clattering of cups from around the corner. Daphne appeared, holding a tray with refreshments. While Marianne showed intensity, Daphne's eyes contained a cold, vigilant glint. Agnes, however, seemed to find even that gaze cute, smiling it off.

"I'm not sure if it'll suit your taste."

"Thank you, Daphne."

Agnes, Daphne, and Marianne simultaneously raised their tea cups. I observed the three of them, leaving my tea untouched. How did things end up like this? Was it since the moment Agnes suddenly proposed to me?

"I didn't expect Her Majesty to personally want to see Elroy."

"It's a deeply personal liking. Just because one is the Queen of a country doesn't mean they can't seek a partner."

Her Majesty the Queen. Agnes never turned her words around or avoided the topic. The atmosphere stiffened once again due to her forthright and straightforward statement.

"A partner... yes. Yes, that's right. It seems Her Majesty has reached an age where she should choose a companion."

"It's not just me who has reached that age. Elroy is closer to my age than you, Daphne.

"Isn't marriage something the parties involved should do when they want to? Is sooner better than later?"

I don't know why this conversation feels so charged. Agnes couldn't just let that comment slide and raised her eyebrows in response. I sipped my tea with a dry mouth. All I could do was diligently pass this hot tea through my throat. Damn.

"That's a valid point. But do you have a reason to rush so much? I think I have more than enough reasons to hurry. It's not something that would bother you, though.

"Whether it bothers me or not, it's none of your concern. I don't even think or care for small things like this."

"...Please relax a little, Daphne."

I tried to calm Daphne down, but Agnes stopped me.

"It's okay, Elroy. I do not make a big deal out of these things either."

Agnes then confidently smiled.

"The truly petty person here is the one who tries to interfere without saying a word."

I watched as Daphne and Marianne both flinched simultaneously. Even in Daphne's eyes, the spark of life was gradually disappearing. Agnes seemed to enjoy their reaction, and I desperately hoped no sparks would fly my way. However, once Agnes had brought up the topic, it seemed inevitable.

"Elroy, what happened when you visited the palace? What's the matter with Her Majesty?"

I turned to look at her but froze when I saw her eyes. She put her teacup down with a clatter. I stared at her, hoping not to inadvertently reveal everything. Agnes spoke up in my place.

"If you have something to ask about me, I am right here. There is no need to get others involved."

Marianne, who had been silently listening to their conversation, spoke up.

"...Can you tell us what happened?"

"Elroy is not at fault."

The two seemed increasingly uneasy while Agnes remained composed. If it were someone else's situation, I might have wanted to grab some popcorn and enjoy the show, but as a participant, I felt more like the popcorn being popped.

"Whether he's at fault or not should be determined based on the situation."

"I proposed to Elroy. Not as a joke, but a sincere proposition."

Agnes stated with a cold smile. Marianne blinked as if she didn't quite understand, and Daphne, responding with a vague "Hmm," shook her hands nervously.

"A-and the answer? What did Elroy say?"

"I got rejected. I was quite surprised by the rejection myself."

The frigid atmosphere, about to plunge into below-freezing temperatures, shattered instantly. Marianne blinked, displaying a question mark above her head, while Daphne regained focus in her eyes. Looking at the two, Agnes chuckled again, finding it amusing.

"...What?"

"So, I came to try persuading him once again. Putting aside my pride and whatever else, I think Elroy is too good of a person. Wouldn't building a connection between a man and a woman happen naturally if we stroll and talk together?"

Saying so, Agnes turned her head towards me. I couldn't fathom what those red eyes were thinking; my response to her was closer to acceptance, or so I thought.

"Now, Elroy. Would you like to spend some time together?"

"H-how audacious!"

With her face bright red, Daphne rushed towards Agnes, her flowing pink hair resembling cherry blossom petals.

"Already rejected once, right? If so, there's no need to persistently cling to Elroy and bother him. The answer was clear."

"Rejecting a proposal doesn't mean rejecting the possibility of building affection. Now, Elroy, it seems you're not entirely against it, are you?"

More like I'm dumbfounded and can't say anything. Agnes grabbed my hand and subtly led me. I would be dragged like a paper doll if I relaxed my body.

"Why are you...?"

And there's Daphne, looking at me with melancholy. Honestly, I couldn't help but feel a flutter in my heart every time I faced her violet eyes. Anyone would feel their heart race under such a gaze. My mouth wouldn't move.

"Whether to go or not is up to Elroy's heart. Don't just waver in the middle for no reason."

"If you're going while holding Elroy's hand like that, what are you talking about?"

Daphne awkwardly grabbed my opposing hand. Suddenly, this moment felt subtly embarrassing, and I wanted to let out a deep sigh. At that moment, someone else's hand was placed on the hand that Daphne was holding.

"Just a moment."

Marianne said, exchanging meaningful glances with Daphne. Although their voices didn't convey much, their eyes spoke volumes of things I couldn't understand. Daphne bit her lip, and then, as if resigned, she simply let go of my hand.

"Giving up so easily."

"It's not giving up. Elroy will return to 'our' home anyway, right?"

Agnes let out a soft chuckle and continued pulling me along. I couldn't resist and was dragged along, finding Agnes wrapped around my right arm. Seeing this, Marianne and Daphne tensed up again, and Agnes' smirk subtly widened.

"Thanks for your consideration. Well, then, I'll take Elroy for a little stroll."

Agnes silently dragged me, and my vision blurred. Behind us, there was an uproar. Dealing with a Disaster seemed more manageable than what was happening now.

***

"Why did you do that?"

As soon as we stepped outside, we erased any signs of our presence without saying a word to each other. Agnes, who had been cheerfully clenching her fist, was walking a step ahead. People around us didn't notice us at all. We strolled toward a park near the headquarters.

"What do you mean?"

"You changed it to make it seem like I rejected Her Majesty's proposal."

Agnes stopped in her tracks and turned around. A few leaves were falling from an oak tree nearby. She delicately lifted one falling leaf with her fingertips and smiled.

"I have no intention of monopolizing you. Saying I would marry you wasn't merely for political reasons. I believe it would benefit both you and me. If you truly have someone you love, how could I prevent you from giving your heart to them?"

After letting the leaf be carried away by the wind, Agnes shrugged.

"I believe there should be opportunities for those women, and I don't intend to ignore the bonds and time you've built with them. I merely provided a small opportunity, thinking you might be satisfied just by being by their side. The actions just now hold no greater or lesser meaning than that."

Agnes spoke as she gracefully sat on a bench near the oak tree. Then, she patted the spot next to her, inviting me to sit.

"Your previous words would all be lies, then."

As I said this, Agnes furrowed her brow.

"That's a cunning thing to say, Elroy."

"If so, are your words about comforting my fears also born from falsehood?"

Agnes pursed her lips and tilted her head mockingly.

"...If you ask like that, I can only answer that it's not my intention."

"You may do as you wish, Your Majesty."

"You're quite an ambitious fellow."

Ambition. I resolved to assert my dreams to the fullest. I wouldn't give up anything, not seeking the Holy Sword nor thinking about the life I would lead when I returned.

"If I weren't ambitious, I wouldn't have been able to save people."

"I really like that about you, Elroy."

Agnes grabbed my hand and laughed. I didn't avoid her. The Queen and her Knight. With all my might, I would pursue my ambitions to achieve what I desired. Just as I was thinking this, her face came very close. I half-closed my eyes, staring into her red eyes. There was merely the distance of a single sheet of paper between us. Agnes' breath reached my nose. Her breath carried the clean scent of snow.

"It's just a joke."

Saying this, Agnes slightly pulled her face away. I let out a hollow laugh, and she shrugged her shoulders. Then, smiling, she dropped a statement that I couldn't ignore.

"I'll quietly wait for my turn."

As she said this, Agnes turned briskly, but I could still see her red ears.

Translator's Corner

I hope you enjoyed that chapter. I know I said I would do maybe 2-3 per week, but the recent chapters have me invested.