After my retch, I tilted my head at the suddenly cold atmosphere.
“…Was there something I should be congratulated for?”
In my current state of suffering from a hangover, how could there be anything worth celebrating?
If anything, I’d understand if it were sympathy rather than congratulations…
As that thought crossed my mind, I frowned, and Camilla, who had been looking at me with a bewildered expression, began to scrutinize me.
Then…
“Aha.”
Camilla nodded as if she understood something and approached me with a grin.
“Hey, old lady~”
“…What is it?”
I replied somewhat begrudgingly, and Camilla glanced at Nameless, who had been sweating profusely, and spoke again.
“You said there was nothing going on with the pervert, but was that all a lie?”
At Camilla’s words, Nameless flinched, and I tilted my head at the truly confusing question.
What’s got into Camilla all of a sudden?
I never mentioned to anyone, including Camilla, that I wasn’t drinking with Nameless.
And more importantly, my hangover wasn’t Nameless’s fault; it was my own for not controlling myself.
As those thoughts circulated, I responded, tilting my head.
“…When did I ever say that?”
“Master….”
The response was directed not at Camilla but at Nameless.
“…Why are you the one liking her this time?”
As I turned to look at Nameless, his bashful expression had disappeared, replaced by a silly grin.
As the situation became increasingly incomprehensible, my confusion only grew larger.
“…Sometimes, I wonder if the old lady is genuinely a child.”
“Hahaha….”
Camilla shook her head with an exasperated look, and Elia, awkwardly smiling, nodded in agreement.
“What on earth have you all been talking about! Just explain it!”
In grievance, my cheeks puffed up, and Camilla opened her mouth with an expression of disbelief.
“You really don’t know?”
“If you all keep skipping around me like this, how would I know?”
“…Old lady really doesn’t know anything.”
As I pouted at Camilla’s genuinely fed-up expression, I couldn’t help but wonder if they were genuinely trying to exclude me.
If you’re going to let me know, then just tell me already! If you want to tease, then just tease!
And is it really that hard not to know something?
People are allowed to be unaware, right? In fact, in situations like this, how could I be expected to know anything? Not knowing isn’t a sin.
It’s the refusal to try to know that is the sin.
I continued to pout.
The more I thought about it, the more my feelings of injustice took over.
Just when my patience was about to hit its limit, Camilla sighed and gestured for me to come closer.
“Come here.”
“…Are you going to tell me?”
“Yup.”
As I maneuvered my behind closer to her, Camilla hesitated, looking as if she were considering whether to reveal this information or not.
“Hurry up and say it!”
“…Okay.”
Under my urging, she let out another sigh and whispered into my ear.
…What on earth could warrant such reactions from everyone? I had to find out.
*
As I listened to Camilla’s story, Cheon Ha-rang’s expression shifted.
At first, her head tilted in confusion, but gradually, her face filled with horror.
“What kind of misunderstanding are you having!”
She then began waving her arms around, her face flushed with embarrassment.
-Bang!
The desk shattered.
*
Curiosity killed the cat, they say…
How accurate that is; I practically died today.
In the room where everyone gathered, I sat huddled in a corner, burying my face in my knees.
“Old lady, cheer up, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“That’s right; we misunderstood; it’s our fault!”
Despite Camilla’s uncharacteristically comforting words and Elia patting my shoulder like a supportive friend, I couldn’t lift my head.
…So embarrassing.
Sure, it’s shameful not to know the reason for the misunderstanding, but what made it even worse was that they had made me the subject of such a misunderstanding.
What on earth did they see in my usual interactions with Nameless to come to such a conclusion?
I was so fed up with the creeping thoughts of “Should I keep a little distance from Nameless?” circling in my mind.
As I continued to squirm in my embarrassment…
“Master.”
Nameless approached me and quietly spoke.
“What is it?”
I detached my face from my knees, slightly lifting my head to respond.
“Didn’t you say too much thinking doesn’t lead to the right answer? It’s a trivial matter, so why not just let it go? Whatever you’re thinking now is definitely the worst. So I think it’s best to forget about this incident for the sake of your clear mind.”
Nameless, looking somewhat eerie, spoke rapidly.
…How did he know what I was thinking?
No, that’s not it.
I nodded once and stood up.
…I don’t know when I said something like that, but now that he’s brought it up, I’ve got to show him that I can keep my promises.
“You’re right.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Nameless, bowing his head, smiled satisfactorily and led me back to my spot.
“Wow… So that guy was the problem?”
I chose not to respond to Camilla’s nonsensical comment.
*
To be honest, I have no idea why I’m here.
It’s embarrassing to be in this place, but more than anything, haven’t I already heard everything I’m supposed to hear?
I thought about leaving my seat again…
“Old lady, just stay a little longer.”
“Hmm… alright.”
Every time I thought about getting up, for some reason, Camilla stopped me.
Of course, I could’ve ignored her request and left, but that wouldn’t have been very caring, would it?
I didn’t want to fight with a friend I had just made, and who knows when I’d get another chance to meet with Camilla?
So I reluctantly decided to stay.
But it didn’t take long for me to regret that decision.
“Old lady.”
While chatting a bit with Lucius, Camilla suddenly called out to me as if she remembered something.
“What is it?”
I replied brightly without suspicion, only to tremble with unease once I saw her expression.
That impish smile she wears whenever she’s about to ask something of me or joke around…
…I felt uneasy.
Whether she knew of my unease or not, Camilla smiled sweetly and opened her mouth.
“Do you have something to do after leaving Ellen?”
“Something to do…”
I crossed my arms and tilted my head at her question.
In truth, I didn’t have anything that absolutely needed to be done; I hadn’t really set any firm tasks.
“…I do.”
I answered while avoiding Camilla’s gaze.
For some reason, I felt that if I said I had no plans for the day, it would end with me being stuck with some task, just like when I had that experience a few days ago.
But then again, it wasn’t entirely a lie.
If I were leaving Ellen, I planned on stopping by the cabin where I used to stay with Nameless for a bit of a break.
…Honestly, it was quite close to seeking seclusion rather than just resting.
That’s understandable; I’ve gone through way too many events lately, haven’t I?
I’m exhausted.
It varies by person, but I prefer spending time quietly with Nameless rather than interacting with a crowd.
It seemed that Camilla could tell what was on my mind as she continued with her cheerful tone.
“Really? What is it?”
“Umm….”
As I pondered over how to respond, rolling my eyes, it felt like Camilla wasn’t willing to give me any time before she continued speaking.
“It’s not urgent, is it?”
“…Not really.”
I began to realize that control over the conversation had never truly been mine.
With a grin that looked somewhat eerie, Camilla pushed a cookie toward me and continued.
“Old lady, how about you do me a favor?”
At her words, which sounded like a request, I let out a long sigh.
I knew this was coming; I’ve been through this before, right?
Since I didn’t want any more responsibilities piling up, I shook my head immediately.
“…No, ugh!”
I tried to object.
“Just eat this while you listen slowly; it won’t harm you.”
Camilla shoved a cookie into my mouth and began to speak.
Just as I was about to lose my temper over this impolite action…
“…Mmm.”
I lost to the taste of the cookie and couldn’t help but smile as I began to munch on it myself.
“Looks like the pervert isn’t acting up for no reason… it’s that easy…”
Camilla, smiling cheerful yet unclear words, pushed a teacup toward me and restarted her speech.
“I’ll be going into seclusion soon.”
“Hmm… seclusion training?”
“Right! After what you showed me before, something just clicked!”
Well, it seems that Camilla gained a revelation after just seeing one move.
But did that mean she was asking me to take care of Ellen?
My expression contorted in an instant, despite still chewing on the cookie spread with magical jam.
“Absolutely not!”
“Come on now, I haven’t even finished talking yet.”
With her eyes sparkling brightly at the new-shaped cookie, I felt I was about to lose once more.
I can’t resist cookies.
“It’s not that hard, really.”
While I watched my true self eat the cookie, Camilla continued with her mischievous smile.
“I was a guest teacher at the academy for a day, and I was hoping you could take my place.”
“Cough—cough!”
The academy?
