Volume 2 - Ch 22
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Heyyy, French people. If I mess up any names, would it be okay if you commented and told me? Im being pretty irresponsible with my googling, so Ive already gotten two names wrong before. Thanks (:
His Highness Royces kidnapping incident was treated as more or less concluded, and we guarded His Highness to the castle. We boarded various carriages. It would be faster to fly on a broom, but because there were a lot of knights who couldnt use magic, we ended up travelling on ground. It seems that the knights all hurried their horses and had come running here. It was probably quite forced. Because the guards for His Highness on the way back were specialised knights, Camille and I were relieved of our duties. Because knights had a strong sense of self respect, they wouldnt leave the duty of guarding to we who were nothing more than His Highnesss hanger ons. Even amongst the knights themselves, they were always kicking and fighting for a better position, so it cant be helped I guess. As long as no harm comes to His Highness, I dont really care, but Im a little worried. Far from cooperating, Knights also holding each other back Its a sad thing that they arent heading in a direction where they try to strengthen each other. When it comes to my managerial position, Id like to think that we dont engage in such pointless quarrels.
Camille and I rode in the same carriage. Count Tito and his daughter Claire were in cells in carriages for prisoners. The carriages were borrowed from a nearby noble. It would certainly take quite a long time to bring some all the way from the castle.
Camille was starting to doze off in the seat opposite mine. She seems like shell fall asleep any moment now. We were allowed to ride a carriage as well, but strictly speaking were borrowing a carriage. Having Camille ride a carriage in this situation is much too risky.
Uuun
While moaning for some reason, Camille was frantically trying to keep her eyes open. Its probably a given that she wont sleep until she knows that Royce-sama has safely arrived at the castle. In that respect, shes been a conscientious one since a long time ago. Since theres no other choice, I speak to Canille. If I speak to her, she might wake up.
During the events this time, Ive been thinking.
Nn Thinking what?
It seems like Camilles consciousness is returning a little.
Camille, you consume too much.
She woke up after hearing those words.
Certainly this bodys consumption rate is bad, and I immediately feel hungry again, but in exchange I have the benefit of not getting fat-
To say this body, its almost like shes talking about somebody elses problem.
Not that, Camille, Im talking about your magic power. Ive been thinking this since I see it from up close, but when you use magic, you spend more than necessary and let off a lot of wasted mana. Like that, youll suffer mana exhaustion again, you know?
Uuu
At the counts mansion, I got injured saving Camille after she blundered. Seeing that, Camille repeatedly used healing magic before my eyes, but though she has a lot of power in magic, accompanying that is too much wasteful discharge of magic power. As a result, she suffered mana exhaustion. Even though shed normally be able to use more magic, to be unable to utilise her full power because of her magic power shortage when the time came, is too much of a waste.
Ill try my best to take care. After all, I cant use magic in an efficient way like you can, Achille
Its not that you cant do it, but that its annoying so you simply dont, isnt it? Camille is sketchy with absolutely everything. You can see it even in the way she uses magic. Paying no heed to magic power, and firing off huge magic again and again.
Even though your magic knowledge and technique is towering above everyone else, the way you use your magic power is crude, so its really a waste, isnt it?
Camille made a difficult expression.
By the way, isnt there some trick to using magic power efficiently?
This is also one of Camilles habits. She immediately starts drifting towards convenient methods. Trying to gain the maximum effect through the minimum effort can also be taken as a good point, but when it comes to her, her biggest motivation is because she cant be bothered. She really cant be helped, huhh
Its not that hard, you know? Shall I teach you?
Is that really okay?
Its probably unconscious, but when Camille looks at me with those sparkling eyes, its cute enough to kill. However, I musnt be fooled by that. When the topic turns to magic, she always makes that face. I restrained myself.
Of course. Youre always teaching me in magic after all.
The reason Ive been improving in magic so quickly is not only because Im being taught by my father. Its because Camille always showcases practical and unique modified spells before my eyes as well. And, because she cheerfully imparts that knowledge onto His Highness and I without reluctance
But you teach me schoolwork in exchange, dont you?
Thats nothing more than the fact that if I leave her alone, she wont study at all, so theres no choice but to teach her. As expected, having the daughter of a marquis stay an idiot would be pretty bad right? Or so I was thinking, so I poked my nose in, and the result was that I ended up in the present situation, stuck with the job of acting like a private tutor. Its also the truth that its a good excuse to be with her, so Im fine with it though.
This time, itd probably be fine to treat mana control as part of her studies as well. Camille is conscientious only in these regards.
Well then, well do it in addition to studying. Im worried. Finding out that without knowing it, you even got involved with forbidden arts It seems like one day youll do something that you cant take back
Im honestly worried about this. Before I knew it, in some place I dont know, Camilles been stocking up on knowledge of forbidden arts. She probably intruded on the royal palaces archive or something on her own. Even if a door is heavily locked with difficult to dispel magic, shes a lock picking expert wholl easily dispel it. That acts as a good impetus for her to arbitrarily open and close doors in the royal palace, and go in and out of various places. From now on, Id better keep an eye on her, or else It looks like His Highness will be giving her permission to the forbidden archives, but when she goes, Ill come with her. Camille always, always, does what she pleases when shes in deserted places
Hahh.
Tired from my one way feelings, I ended up wanting to sooth myself a little. So I decided to poke at Camille just a little. Shes given me plenty of good reactions so far, so shes someone worth poking at.
So, Camille. When am I going to get a reply to my confession? Ive been waiting the whole time since then, but
I moved to her side.
Fue-?
Whats with that stupid sounding reply? With that, Camille sank into thought about something.
Camille, are you spacing out? Are you planning on pretending this didnt happen?
Nah, but I mean, Im your fiance, so isnt that kind of conversation unnecessary by now? Or so I was thinking.
I wonder if in Camilles mind, just having the title of being engaged is enough, and our feelings dont matter.
Even though I told you my feelings? Are you saying youre fine with a loveless marriage?
I know what a real political marriage is. My two parents are like that. My stepmother who gave birth to children out of duty, and desperately tries to have her own child become family head. My father who, being overwhelmed by that kind of woman, felt that being around her was oppressive, and so went outside to have affairs. Is it fine even if we become like that?
No, like I was saying, its not that, umm
Its Camille though, so perhaps theres a good chance that shes just not thinking anything. Or rather, thats probably the correct answer.
Is this reaping what I sowed? Because Camille grew up, and her circumstances changed accordingly, I panicked and used the title of engaged couple to keep her surroundings at bay. All while leaving her feelings behind Im sure that this is the compensation for that.
Honestly, I regret mixing up the order. I dont regret getting engaged to you, Camille, but making sure of your feelings first wouldve been the correct order, huh?
Achille
Her large, raspberry coloured eyes widened.
If you stay quiet, I end up misunderstanding it in a way thats convenient for me, you know?
Misunderstand?
I mean, even when I hug you or kiss you, you dont resist at all, right?
Th-, ats-
Honestly, I think I have a chance.
Lately, Camille has been acting bashful and embarassed a lot around me, after all. Her behaviour is like that of a normal nobles daughter of her age. Im properly being viewed by her as a member of the opposite sex.
I-I-I-If I told you frankly that I was rejecting your confession, what would you do?
Camilles voice was getting agitated and shrill. That she lets her unrest show like that is adorable, and its relieving that I dont have to read whats under the surface like with other people.
Then Id continue putting in more effort until you looked at me. Ive already waited ten years, so a little more is nothing, right?
But, Ive waited that long already, so Im starting to want a reply Is what Im really thinking. Camille turned bright red.
T-, Then what would you do if I accepted?
Then itd be mutual. Wed openly behave like lovers.
I do I like you, perhaps?
Is that something youd usually ask me? Would it be okay if I intentionally took that as an affirmative?
Even if you ask me, Im stumped, you know.
Camille looks like shes fretting about it. Her expressions are rapidly changing about, so I dont get tired of watching her. I wonder if therell come a day when she loves me I do feel somehow or other that I have a chance, but it might be early for Camille whos still like a little kid. Does this need to take more time? While I was worrying about this, I met my eyes with Camille, who surprisingly was suddenly looking hard at me. It looks like she wants to say something.
Whats wrong?
Ah, Achille Um, you see,
Mn?
Y-, You see. Umm, thats ermmmm
Whilst fidgeting, Camille began looking into space. Her preface was too long, but because she was giving her all, I stayed quiet and watched over her.
I-, I also might like you. Its surprising when you hug me, but I dont particularly dislike it, after all.
Her voice shrank during the second half, but I heard it all.
Camille
If you tell me that while averting your gaze with all your might, you lose your credibility you know But weve known each other for many years, so I understand that shes just earthshakingly embarassed. The ones who would understand this, are probably just His Highness and I.
I said it, okay!? I properly replied, okay!?
Seems so.
With this, this conversation is fini-
With this, were openly in love with each other, huh!
Our levels of enthusiasm are a little different, but we can deal with that step by step And, I have no intention of letting the conversation finish like this. I finally got a chance to hear the words Ive been longing for from Camilles mouth, after all.
You, like me?
Like I said, Ive already said it, havent I!?
Do you like me?
I, I like you.
As usual shes averting her gaze with all she has, but her face is as red as a boiled octopus, so shes probably saying this from the heart.
Well then, can we kiss?
GUFUO-! Geho, gohoh-
Why did she choke there? Its Camille, so I guess it cant be helped, huh? Honestly, she really is an expert at destroying the mood. I love that kind of Camille even so, so theres no way I can be shaken by this degree of coughing. Im prepared to accept her no matter how she is. Its been ten years now, after all.
My first move is interpreting that coughing as an okay, you know.
I see, I see. So its okay, huh. Well then, I wont hold back.
GEHO, GEHO-! Eh? Achille, I havent said a thing ye- Nnnnnn-!
Even though her mouth says various of things, when I actually kiss her, she goes docile. She says that its just being frozen from shock, though. Theres no real resistance either. When it comes to her, if she really didnt like it, on top of going on a rampage, shed even start go berserk with magic, after all.
Nn, Camille so cute.
Hyaa-! Nn-, Achille.
Right now, theres nobody but Camille and I in the carriage, and His Highness the peeping expert is under close guard and cant freely move about.
Going by the speed of our carriage, we might reach the castle around noon tomorrow, huh? Knights who came to pick up His Highness, good job!
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