Chapter 8
“….”
“You’re probably wondering a few things. First, why am I here instead of at the banquet? Well, I made a bet. Reynard, Helion, and I.”
“A bet?”
“We only managed to acquire a small amount of monster blood, and a bit of a debate broke out over who would use it. I won the bet. While I use this, the other two are keeping certain people occupied—the Princess, the Crown Prince, the High Priest, and so on.”
“Oh….”
“That’s why I’m here. And second, you’re probably wondering where we got the monster blood.…”
“No, no! I’m not curious about that.”
“Hmm? You’re not?”
“No. Not at all. It’s not like you haven’t killed a monster or two on your travels. You probably just stumbled across it. What I am curious about is…”
I trailed off, pressing my lips together.
What I am curious about is…
My gaze trembled as I looked into Seikan’s jewel-like blue eyes.
“So, Adelina, what are you curious about?”
“…Why are you doing this to me?”
The relaxed smile vanished from Seikan’s face.
“…Why am I doing this?”
“Yes. Why? You… you all… the Princess… Shouldn’t you be with her instead of… doing this here…?”
‘You’re destined for her. Hestia is the heroine, and you’re the heroes. You’re supposed to be devoted to Hestia, and she’s supposed to embrace you all. But doing this to me, after drinking monster blood… it’s almost as if… you…’
“Why? Why should I be with the Princess? On this joyous day, when we’ve become the heroes of the Empire. On such an important day, when all eyes are on us.”
“…That’s…”
“Adelina, you’ve always been like this. As if we’re obligated to grovel at the Princess’s feet, as if it’s the natural order of things.”
“….”
Seikan’s long arm slowly reached out. The sight of the tightly packed muscles in his forearm passing by my face felt like slow motion.
“Adelina. I…”
Long, calloused fingers, etched with faint scars, gently brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. His sculpted face drew closer, and his smooth lips parted. Close enough that I could feel his breath on my lips, Seikan whispered,
“I love you.”
Thump.
Was that thunder?
No, it was the sound of my heart plummeting.
“From the day you kicked me in the head, telling me to get my act together and properly study the Monster King, I’ve loved you.”
‘Are you a masochist? You loved me after I kicked you in the head? That doesn’t seem like a reasonable conclusion for someone with a normal thought process.’
“You’ve always treated me as if I’m fated to love the Princess, but I’ve never, not once, felt that way.”
“…But… you… you and the Princess… you still…”
“Yes. I got along well with the Princess. Because you wanted me to.”
Ugh.
His breath, whispering against my lips, was unbearably ticklish. Unable to endure the agonizing proximity, the feeling that our lips might touch, I squeezed my eyes shut and abruptly turned my head away.
But as I did, my lips brushed against Seikan’s bare arm.
The thought, ‘Oh dear…’ barely formed before the muscles in Seikan’s arm tensed, the veins becoming more prominent, and a knot of tension tightened in my throat.
“…Adelina.”
Seikan’s already deep voice dropped even lower. That low voice, resonating like a rumble deep within the earth, combined with his bare chest and impossibly handsome features… it was just… too much.
“Adelina. Do you know when I was happiest in my life?”
“…The day you defeated the Monster King?”
Even as I averted my gaze, curiosity about his answer prompted a quick reply. Seikan chuckled, a puff of air escaping his lips.
“That was a fortunate day, indeed. But for me…”
Seikan lifted the fingers that had been tracing my temple and pointed to the vial that had held the demon blood.
“The day I won the bet against Reynard and Helion and obtained the monster blood. That was the day I earned my first opportunity to give myself to you.”
I now understood what it felt like to have your lips glued shut.
Gazing intently at my wandering eyes, Seikan wore an unfathomable expression.
“Our Adelina. Always looking after us, caring for us, kinder than anyone else in the world.”
“….”
“But why don’t you realize? We care about you just as much as you care about us.”
“….”
“Did you think we wouldn’t notice how you always observed us from a distance, as if you were an outsider looking in, even while constantly by our side?”
My already erratic heart now threatened to leap from my chest.
“Adelina. When you looked away with that distant, wistful expression in your eyes, as if you might float away at any moment, I couldn’t sleep for the worry.”
“Sei…”
“You, so… Hngh!”
Seikan, his face etched with a deadly serious expression, suddenly gasped and doubled over. Startled, I had been holding his arm, but now, equally surprised, I quickly let go.
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