Night.
A small party was held to commemorate the victory over Imperial Army.
With liquor in one hand, Kazuya was leaning against the wall resting (Due to the “adult” punishment from Chitose), watching the soldiers and citizens talking back and forth.
Chitose herself had errands to run and so left early.
「……」
After Chitose had left, Karen silently approached.
「Can I help you, Duke?」
When Kazuya asks Karen in a deliberately polite way, she glares sharply at him.
「It’s too late to speak to me in such a tone, please talk to me like before」
「Are you sure? Then I’ll do so」
After replying as so, there was silence between the two people. Until Karen muttered casually.
「……for the commoner man who pushed me down and stole my lips to save us….I guess the world is full of mysteries」
「Naturally, that was an accident」
「….you are going to pass off taking a virgin duke’s first kiss away as an accident? You have no idea how many times I though about cutting your head off after that」
「Even if it was as bad as that, can’t you call this making amends to a debt? Call it compensation」
「……well….wait!! You came here with such a reason!?」
After Kazuya muttered his reply, Karen’s expression hardened like stone, then switched to a shocked expression, as if she can’t believe what she’s hearing.
「Reason……well I guess that was part of the reason. The other reason was to help Karen」
「―――!?」
Karen who had heard the words of Kazuya, turned away with a boiling red face.
In the mind of Karen – Kazuya went into battle to atone for stealing her lips.
In other words, he went into the battlefield where he might die for her.
= I want!!
Her thinking was like that of a young maiden after a prince.
「I haven’t even prepared my heart…..to say such things to suddenly. Our difference in status would also cause a problem. We could give dating a try?」
Seemingly having made up her mind, she looked up at Kazuya with a face as red as an apple.
「Oh that’s right, we still have to help Beretta」
But Kazuya didn’t hear Karen’s words as she was talking in a low voice.
「……I already have a woman」
「Oh?」
In the mind of a maiden like Karen, she was convinced that this other girl “Beretta” was the reason. She experienced mixed emotions; from jealousy to irritation, yet finally settled on lovestruck in an instant.
「Do you know….Beretta? The lady who is the deputy of the 2nd knights? I think you have her younger sister here. Have you heard the name Zara Colt?」
「…..yes. I think I’ve met her before.」
「….oh? Is there something wrong?」(TLN: If you guys don’t get it, Karen was jealous because she thought that Kazuya was in love with Beretta, since he mentioned her. But he only mentioned her because he was looking for her sister, when she realised this she felt embarrassed)
When Kazuya asks Karen an honest question, she trembles a little.
Kazuya saw the appearance of Karen and began to have a bad feeling.
–GOGOGOGO!
At that moment, Kazuya had the illusion that flames were burning behind Karen’s back.
「Why do you say such confusing words!? Insensitive man! Dummy head!」
–DOSUN!
「GUHA!?」
A straight right hook was thrown into Kazuya’s stomach.
Kazuya couldn’t react in time to Karen’s sudden violence, he could only crouch on the ground holding his stomach.
Karen then walks away from Kazuya with trembling shoulders.
After that, Chitose returned and saw Kazuya’s beaten appearance.
「Wha, Master!!!!! AAAAAA!!!」
All that filled the air was the heartbreaking cry of Chitose.