“All those who attended the ball today as soldiers, please assemble immediately.”
“Hmm? Haha. Why is His Highness acting like that? I’m not in the Navy, so I’ll probably be okay.”
As if hearing Marco's nagging, a harsh voice came out of the magic tool microphone.
“Everyone, regardless of their military affiliation. Everyone lower in rank than me, regardless of affiliation, assemble immediately.”
“Haaah... The timing is really annoying...”
The potato grumbled and said as if there was nothing he could do.
“It seems like a disaster has broken out somewhere since His Highness suddenly called you. Go ahead. I’ll wait on the terrace.”
Odette knew from her memories of her past life that the disaster had not occurred.
But she sent Marco away. Since it had come to this, she needed some time to think and calculate.
After sending Marco away, Odette headed straight to the terrace that was empty at the time. It was one and a half stories high. The location was perfect, with a pretty fountain made of alcohol right below her feet.
'The location is perfect for conversation. And this terrace is the best for counterattacking.'
Odette checked the width of the railing.
'That potato guy. He was quite the rascal, wasn't he?'
Most of the people of the empire have a hard time with Odette. She has a reputation as a villainess, is the only daughter of a Count who cannot live without her, and is the only Purifier of the empire.
People were much more afraid of her than the Count, who was famous for being a kind person.
But that guy Marco was convinced that his father was superior to her.
It was also implicitly revealed that he knew that Odette was under her father's control.
'He was also the camp commander, so it's probably true that he's my father's right-hand man. If he's a C-class Transcendent, my father would probably keep him by his side and take good care of him.'
Then it makes sense that they would be C-ranked and become sergeants. The imperial military system promotes them according to the number of disasters they have eliminated.
Rather than eliminating disaster, he lived doing dirty things that her father told him to do.
'But that little Marco, he doesn't know much.'
He may pretend to know a lot and have a lot of blackmail cards, but in reality, he probably knows very little.
'If he really knew what I was like at home, he wouldn't have asked me to dance at the ball.'
Because he should have known a long time ago Odette you couldn't dance with any other man except Ferdinand.
Given Ferdinand's meticulous personality, if he found out that Corporal Marco was dancing with Odette, he would have tried to kill Marco right away, but he didn't seem to know that.
'And someone who knows my situation is threatening me? That's funny.'
Who in the world would threaten to get something from a doll?
If he threatens her father or Ferdinand, who are puppeteers, then it might work.
So that guy is shaking his armor even though he knows such trivial information.
What that kid is probably thinking is, 'The Count has grounded his daughter, but Odette has been secretly going to the asylum to play.'
If Marco were Odette's father's right-hand man, he would have guessed that the Count was not a very good-natured person, nor was he the type of person who could be a doting father.
At best, he imagines Odette as a daughter who receives a stricter education than expected from a strict father.
Clang.
“Your Highness. Have you come to see me? Do you have anything to say to me?”
You must have come here for some business, so I hope you finish that business and quickly disappear.
John spoke with a firm mouth.
“Didn’t you hate dancing?”
...Huh? This probably isn’t the real issue. Are you just going to start small talk like royalty?
“It’s okay now. I’m no longer afraid of being asked to dance. I can write now, right?”
Odette said that with a big smile to lighten the mood. She waved the dance card on her wrist.
Next, she was thinking of naturally passing the eulogy, saying it was all thanks to John.
"Ha."
John's expression became more complicated.
“Isn’t that thanks to me? Then you should dance with me first. Why are you dancing with that guy with such a bad reputation?”
“Your Highness... You don’t dance.”
“Who is to blame for me not dancing-”
John, whose voice had suddenly become slightly louder than usual, suddenly stopped talking. He sighed and washed his face dry, unbuttoning the buttons on his uniform near his neck as if he was frustrated.
Odette was dumbfounded.
'Who is it that you blame?'
It had already been three years since John had danced in a place like this.
The official ceremony originally included the Crown Prince's dance order. It had already been three years since John, who had always followed the rules without complaint, began to ignore the ceremony order and avoid dancing.
It is now common knowledge among the people of the empire that John has a strong dislike for dancing and balls.
Now, from the beginning, they had been aware of it and had left the Crown Prince's dance out of the ceremony.
'That's why Charlotte's debut in <Redemption> became such a hot topic in the first place, right?'
The reason Charlotte, despite wearing an inappropriate outfit, was not criticized but immediately became an object of envy.
Because John, who had been so reluctant to dance, was the partner she danced with for the first time in three years.
But who is it that is to blame?
'But that was 3 years ago?'
Odette tilted her head. Wasn't it around that time that she turned down John's dance request?
'No... No way. There's no way the character would have been set up that way. If Odette's presence to John had been set up that big, the <Redemption> users wouldn't have stayed still.'
After the polka music that had been ringing through the banquet hall ended, applause began to flow. As the background music stopped, the atmosphere in John felt even colder.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Your partner can’t come. That idiot has to run 2,000 laps around the guard parade grounds right now.”
“Huh? Why on earth?”
“I heard he was dying to run?”
‘Why all of a sudden...? And that potato guy looks like he’s far from athletic?’
At this point, Odette couldn't help but know that John was personally taking care of Marco.
‘...But why are you picking on Marco?’
John was a strict man who was respected by his subordinates and was not the kind of person who would commit such absurdities in the military as depicted in this painting.
Odette was speechless because of her doubts, but at that moment, John opened his mouth.
“Do you have eyes in your feet?”
"Yes?"
“Please, train your eyes to see men better. Dancing with bad boys will ruin your reputation.”
It was only then that she noticed.
'You were worried that I'd get involved with some weird guy. That's why you were so restless.'
...Wait a minute. The male leads have to have at least a 5 likeability rating to worry about that?
“And Odette, aren’t you afraid of the Transcendent? If you’re going to dance, at least dance with a normal human. Why are you dancing with something like that-!”
No. It would be louder than 5. Because John's voice wouldn't be that agitated at 5.
Above all, his voice wasn't just filled with worry. It was the same voice she'd heard in <Reverse Harem Route>.
Anticipation was running high. The last time she checked, the disgust level was 70. If her prediction was right, John's disgust level would have dropped by 20 in the meantime.
'Check the status window.'
“Hmm? Haha. Why is His Highness acting like that? I’m not in the Navy, so I’ll probably be okay.”
As if hearing Marco's nagging, a harsh voice came out of the magic tool microphone.
“Everyone, regardless of their military affiliation. Everyone lower in rank than me, regardless of affiliation, assemble immediately.”
“Haaah... The timing is really annoying...”
The potato grumbled and said as if there was nothing he could do.
“It seems like a disaster has broken out somewhere since His Highness suddenly called you. Go ahead. I’ll wait on the terrace.”
Odette knew from her memories of her past life that the disaster had not occurred.
But she sent Marco away. Since it had come to this, she needed some time to think and calculate.
After sending Marco away, Odette headed straight to the terrace that was empty at the time. It was one and a half stories high. The location was perfect, with a pretty fountain made of alcohol right below her feet.
'The location is perfect for conversation. And this terrace is the best for counterattacking.'
Odette checked the width of the railing.
'That potato guy. He was quite the rascal, wasn't he?'
Most of the people of the empire have a hard time with Odette. She has a reputation as a villainess, is the only daughter of a Count who cannot live without her, and is the only Purifier of the empire.
People were much more afraid of her than the Count, who was famous for being a kind person.
But that guy Marco was convinced that his father was superior to her.
It was also implicitly revealed that he knew that Odette was under her father's control.
'He was also the camp commander, so it's probably true that he's my father's right-hand man. If he's a C-class Transcendent, my father would probably keep him by his side and take good care of him.'
Then it makes sense that they would be C-ranked and become sergeants. The imperial military system promotes them according to the number of disasters they have eliminated.
Rather than eliminating disaster, he lived doing dirty things that her father told him to do.
'But that little Marco, he doesn't know much.'
He may pretend to know a lot and have a lot of blackmail cards, but in reality, he probably knows very little.
'If he really knew what I was like at home, he wouldn't have asked me to dance at the ball.'
Because he should have known a long time ago Odette you couldn't dance with any other man except Ferdinand.
Given Ferdinand's meticulous personality, if he found out that Corporal Marco was dancing with Odette, he would have tried to kill Marco right away, but he didn't seem to know that.
'And someone who knows my situation is threatening me? That's funny.'
Who in the world would threaten to get something from a doll?
If he threatens her father or Ferdinand, who are puppeteers, then it might work.
So that guy is shaking his armor even though he knows such trivial information.
What that kid is probably thinking is, 'The Count has grounded his daughter, but Odette has been secretly going to the asylum to play.'
If Marco were Odette's father's right-hand man, he would have guessed that the Count was not a very good-natured person, nor was he the type of person who could be a doting father.
At best, he imagines Odette as a daughter who receives a stricter education than expected from a strict father.
Clang.
Behind Odette, who was looking outside the terrace, the sound of the terrace curtains opening was heard.
“Corporal Mar...”
When Odette looked back, she found a completely unexpected person.
"Your Highness?"
It was John.
“Your Highness, why are you here?”
“Was there anyone else waiting anxiously?”
John answered in a hard voice.
Odette deliberately ran away from him, keeping her distance, for fear of becoming a target of unnecessary anger... but the sense of accomplishment is melting away.
She tried to raise the curtain, but John grabbed her arm.
“You’re weak, so why are you doing this? I’ll just say hello. That’s not what I came for.”
“...Thank you for understanding.”
Since he was the one who summoned the soldiers, other soldiers must have returned to the banquet hall as well. Corporal Marco as well.
Odette lifted her hooves to check if Marco had returned to the banquet hall, but John, standing blocking the entrance to the terrace, was unnecessarily tall and broad-shouldered.
If she exaggerates a little, it's as big as a door. It makes her realize once again that he's the male protagonist of a 19+ game.
'Oh my. I can't see the banquet hall at all.'
Odette gave up looking and faced John.
“Corporal Mar...”
When Odette looked back, she found a completely unexpected person.
"Your Highness?"
It was John.
***
“Your Highness, why are you here?”
“Was there anyone else waiting anxiously?”
John answered in a hard voice.
Odette deliberately ran away from him, keeping her distance, for fear of becoming a target of unnecessary anger... but the sense of accomplishment is melting away.
She tried to raise the curtain, but John grabbed her arm.
“You’re weak, so why are you doing this? I’ll just say hello. That’s not what I came for.”
“...Thank you for understanding.”
Since he was the one who summoned the soldiers, other soldiers must have returned to the banquet hall as well. Corporal Marco as well.
Odette lifted her hooves to check if Marco had returned to the banquet hall, but John, standing blocking the entrance to the terrace, was unnecessarily tall and broad-shouldered.
If she exaggerates a little, it's as big as a door. It makes her realize once again that he's the male protagonist of a 19+ game.
'Oh my. I can't see the banquet hall at all.'
Odette gave up looking and faced John.
“Your Highness. Have you come to see me? Do you have anything to say to me?”
You must have come here for some business, so I hope you finish that business and quickly disappear.
John spoke with a firm mouth.
“Didn’t you hate dancing?”
...Huh? This probably isn’t the real issue. Are you just going to start small talk like royalty?
“It’s okay now. I’m no longer afraid of being asked to dance. I can write now, right?”
Odette said that with a big smile to lighten the mood. She waved the dance card on her wrist.
Next, she was thinking of naturally passing the eulogy, saying it was all thanks to John.
"Ha."
John's expression became more complicated.
“Isn’t that thanks to me? Then you should dance with me first. Why are you dancing with that guy with such a bad reputation?”
“Your Highness... You don’t dance.”
“Who is to blame for me not dancing-”
John, whose voice had suddenly become slightly louder than usual, suddenly stopped talking. He sighed and washed his face dry, unbuttoning the buttons on his uniform near his neck as if he was frustrated.
Odette was dumbfounded.
'Who is it that you blame?'
It had already been three years since John had danced in a place like this.
The official ceremony originally included the Crown Prince's dance order. It had already been three years since John, who had always followed the rules without complaint, began to ignore the ceremony order and avoid dancing.
It is now common knowledge among the people of the empire that John has a strong dislike for dancing and balls.
Now, from the beginning, they had been aware of it and had left the Crown Prince's dance out of the ceremony.
'That's why Charlotte's debut in <Redemption> became such a hot topic in the first place, right?'
The reason Charlotte, despite wearing an inappropriate outfit, was not criticized but immediately became an object of envy.
Because John, who had been so reluctant to dance, was the partner she danced with for the first time in three years.
But who is it that is to blame?
'But that was 3 years ago?'
Odette tilted her head. Wasn't it around that time that she turned down John's dance request?
'No... No way. There's no way the character would have been set up that way. If Odette's presence to John had been set up that big, the <Redemption> users wouldn't have stayed still.'
After the polka music that had been ringing through the banquet hall ended, applause began to flow. As the background music stopped, the atmosphere in John felt even colder.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Your partner can’t come. That idiot has to run 2,000 laps around the guard parade grounds right now.”
“Huh? Why on earth?”
“I heard he was dying to run?”
‘Why all of a sudden...? And that potato guy looks like he’s far from athletic?’
At this point, Odette couldn't help but know that John was personally taking care of Marco.
‘...But why are you picking on Marco?’
John was a strict man who was respected by his subordinates and was not the kind of person who would commit such absurdities in the military as depicted in this painting.
Odette was speechless because of her doubts, but at that moment, John opened his mouth.
“Do you have eyes in your feet?”
"Yes?"
“Please, train your eyes to see men better. Dancing with bad boys will ruin your reputation.”
It was only then that she noticed.
'You were worried that I'd get involved with some weird guy. That's why you were so restless.'
...Wait a minute. The male leads have to have at least a 5 likeability rating to worry about that?
“And Odette, aren’t you afraid of the Transcendent? If you’re going to dance, at least dance with a normal human. Why are you dancing with something like that-!”
No. It would be louder than 5. Because John's voice wouldn't be that agitated at 5.
Above all, his voice wasn't just filled with worry. It was the same voice she'd heard in <Reverse Harem Route>.
Anticipation was running high. The last time she checked, the disgust level was 70. If her prediction was right, John's disgust level would have dropped by 20 in the meantime.
'Check the status window.'
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment