Chapter 190, Girls’ Gathering (Including Guys)_5 (: Lavender)

Translator: Nonon

Proofreader: Silavin

 

POV: Violet

 

As the night deepened, Gray, Mary and Kriemhild all fell asleep, probably because of the fatigue from the day.

Gray fell asleep first, and just as Kriemhild was about to put a sheet on him, she also fell asleep on the spot, hugging him like he was a body pillow. Mary was sleeping next to them. It would probably be better to put them to sleep properly, but since they were technically in bed, I decided to cover them all with sheets so they did not catch a cold.

 

“Are you not going to sleep… Valentine?”

“…It’s Heartfield now.”

 

Making sure not to wake anyone, I checked everybody’s position in the room, turned off the lights and went outside without making a sound. After walking a little, a voice called out to me from behind.

 

“If you don’t want to call me that, you can just call me ‘hey you’ like you used to do at the academy… I seem to have waken you up.”

 

As I looked back, I found Silva, who should’ve been sleeping in a chair with Mary covering him with sheets, having had followed me after I left the room.

There was no hostility he showed during my duel on his face, but he still seemed wary.

 

“It doesn’t really matter. I wasn’t actually sleeping.”

“No, I’m pretty sure you were asleep-“

“I wasn’t sleeping.”

 

… Come to think of it, Chartreuse used to brag about not sleeping in the past. Maybe it’s like that.

 

“You were drooling.”

“… You must be trying to get a reaction out of me, but I really wasn’t sleeping so there is no way that would happen.”

“I see. If that’s what you want to think it’s fine, but if it drops on the floor, I am going to make you wipe it even if you are a guest.”

 

When I said that, Silva shut up and wiped his mouth. Then, after realizing that he really did drool a little, he grumbled “Ugh..!” in frustration. This part of him must be why he’s treated like a Younger Brother and a mascot.

 

“So, are you going to sleep in your room?”

 

His expression was unnecessarily serious, but after seeing his face earlier, it did not look as sharp.

And it also seemed as if his question was implicitly asking, ‘Do you hate sleeping with those girls?’

It may sound a little strict, but that room has a bed big enough that I could sleep on it if I wanted to. But l still chose to leave – that was what he was asking.

However, since I could have another matter to take care of, or it could be a matter of personal preference, he could not comment directly. But from Silva’s perspective, it might have looked like I didn’t get along with them like before.

 

“Unfortunately, I have some paperwork left to do. I could do it tomorrow… no, it’s already today, I guess. I could do it after I wake up, but I’m not sleepy yet. I thought I’d get some done until I fall asleep.”

“I see…”

 

When I answered, Silva’s expression became indescribable.

His expression has always been relatively easy to read among my duel opponents, but because I had the least amount of contact with him, I could not decipher what that look meant.

But I could tell for sure that he was not amused.

 

“You can just go to sleep, Seyfried. You can sleep in that room if you don’t attack anybody.”

“I am not going to attack anybody and I have no intention of sleeping in the same room as the girls. I’ll go back to my room and sleep there.”

“I see. Then you’d better keep warm and sleep. Feel free to use the heater.”

“… Wait.”

 

As I tried to end the conversation, Silva stopped me.

I thought he did not want to talk to me, but the fact that he stopped me… must mean he has some kind of complaint towards me like His Highness, Chartreuse and Ash did.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

I did not mind if Silva complains to me.

I’ll accept his words, and if he demands an apology, I’ll apologize within reason. I don’t particularly want Silva to like me, and I don’t have a problem even if he keeps disliking me.

 

“What means did you use to become friends with Ms. Mary?”

 

However, Silva’s question was a bit unexpected. I thought he’d make snarky remarks at me… but he’s more curious about how I became friends (temporary) with Mary.

Silva might be thinking that I did something to forcefully become her friend. After all, he was so worried he even came to Shiki.

 

“Well, if I had to speak of that time…”

 

To summarize what happened back then, after the masked Mary asked me to become her friend, she started talking about things I couldn’t understand, which got us into an argument and before I knew it, we shook hands and became friends.

… I can understand it well enough that even if I told this story to Silva, he would only call me a liar.

 

“I don’t really get it either.”

“…Are you messing with me?”

“No, I myself don’t really know either. It sounds good to say that Mary forgave me because she’s a kind person, but it makes me think just apologizing is good enough.”

 

I went along with it once, but after we shook hands to become friends, I apologized for what I did at the academy.

I wondered if this was really okay, but Mary came to Shiki and kept trying to get closer with me like this… I can’t forgive her for trying to get close to Lord Clo though.

 

“So when we talk together like tonight, I enjoyed it, but at the same time I worry if it’s really okay. It may be rude of me to worry too much, but… Seyfried, there are people like you who haven’t forgiven me till this day, right?”

“… You’re right, I hate you.”

“Yeah, I know.”

 

I know that very well.

For Silva, I’m somebody who bullied the person he loves. It’s not something that can be easily forgiven, just like how I was unable to forgive Mary when I was in love with His Highness and was under the illusion that she was trying to steal him from me.

 

“But why is it that Vermillion, Ash, and that idi-… Chartreuse act strange towards you?”

 

He was about to call Chartreuse an idiot, wasn’t he? I wonder if that’s what he usually thinks of him. I won’t say he’s wrong though.

 

“Strange?”

“Yeah, Vermillion used to hate even meeting you and had no intention of ever accepting your apology but now he’s even saying that he’ll set up an opportunity for you two to talk. And Ash and Chartreuse even watched the matches with you at the arena.”

 

Chartreuse was probably watching matches with us so he could talk to Apricot, who’s his rival, and Ash was just avoiding the crowd by taking an advantage of our bad reputation.

Still, if I was asked why they suddenly changed their attitudes, it was probably because I had become more composed. If not, it was because enough time had passed… maybe.

 

“I don’t understand. They shouldn’t forgive you. No matter how much you regret it, they shouldn’t have forgiven you.”

 

Silva repeated his words, as if directing them not towards me, but himself.

…Just like His Highness, he still held resentment towards me.

However, If I was asked whether His Highness and the others had forgiven me or not, I would have to say that they hadn’t. It may be strange for me to say this as the perpetrator, but I think rather than His Highness and the others having ‘forgiven’ me, they simply no longer consider this matter as ‘worth holding resentment for’. I don’t know the reason of that though.

So I tried to explain it, but..

 

“… But Ms. Mary, Kriemhild, you and your Step-Son all looked like you were having fun today.”

 

Before I could say anything, Silva continued.

 

“I don’t understand. Even though I can’t forgive you, Ms. Mary and the others were smiling. I’ve never seen you smile before. You’ve always looked bored or angry, but today you were smiling normally… so…”

 

Silva mumbled ‘when I see it, I can’t tell anymore’ under his breath.

…I see. For Silva, I’m the kind of a woman who could only show anger. So, when he saw me have fun at the girls’ night today, he felt conflicted–

 

“But Ms. Mary was so cute, wasn’t she? How could she show such a miraculous expression, one that combines cuteness and her beauty? I can’t forgive Valentine for saddening that expression, but it was also Valentine who was able to bring out that happy expression on her face tonight. If it was just me, I would be so distracted by her rare sight in pajamas that I would not have been able to keep a face that I would usually use when talking with friends and I don’t think Kriemhild alone would have been able to do it either. In other words, perhaps it’s only because of Valentine, who is currently trying to become her friend that Ms.Mary’s charm is brought out. But, a leopard can’t change its spots so easily, and there is also the possibility that she will let her emotions get the better of her and insult Ms. Mary or make her sad, like before. If something like that were to happen, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself for overlooking it. I swore to protect her, and this feeling will not lose to anybody. Even after learning about my curse powers, Ms. Mary is still kind to me, so I must eliminate anything that could cloud her expression. However, she might also become sad if she loses somebody, who’s trying to become her friend. In other words, I should observe Valentine and determine whether she has truly changed. That’s right, that’s what I should do. I should evaluate her with an unbiased and fair eyes. I must not persecute her. I must look at her without any resentment. It would be the height of foolishness to repeat the treatment I received in the past, but if I suppress my resentment, I might miss something very important. In other words, I must look at her from my own perspective!”

 

Waitwaitwaitwait.

What is this?? What happened to Silva?!

His usual childish charm was completely gone and I can feel the rumored cursed mana from him!

 

“In conclusion, I still can’t forgive you, so I will continue to observe you, that’s fine, right?”

“… Sure.”

 

As Silva asked for my consent with a bright smile, I could only nod obediently.

… Seriously, what just happened?