Chapter 85: Chapter 2, Episode 10
Translated by KaiesV
Edited by KaiesV
「I understand how you feel, though. What’s the matter with you? It’s not like you, Marsha.」
“You were never such a selfish child, were you?” And to the scolding from Ryniel-sama, I know it is not like me to myself.
「It must be stress, I guess…?」
I never thought my voice would sound so weak. Liam-kun pats me on the head and says,「I’d be happy to go with you if you don’t mind me joining you.」
「The role of a special goodwill ambassador is not only to send out foreign students…」
When I think about it, I feel a tightening around my dove tail.
If all I had to do was to go to Quanda with foreign students, I wouldn’t be so worried. However, the special goodwill ambassadors are more of a performance element to make the friendship between the two countries known both domestically and internationally.
First, there is the ceremony at the time of departure from Gran Country, and then the parade with foreign students in tow. This was nothing more than a smile and a wave from the carriage. The problem, however, is when we arrived in Quanda.
「I know there will be a welcome night party over there. I don’t think there is a man out there who can stand me right now…」
I’m not inclined to do this, and this is the main reason why.
The guest of honor, me, cannot be absent from the evening party. And if I am attending an evening party, I must have a male escort. Furthermore, it is part of our job to dance. Of course, a night party is also held after the ceremony in Gran Country. At the evening party here, both my own father and brother are present. I don’t have a fiancée, and I have no problem with a relative to escort me. Worst of all, there is even Douglas-sama.
However, there are no relatives or Douglas-sama at the Quanda soirée. Even Ryniel-sama has to keep a certain distance from me to keep me from breaking out in a cold sweat and shaking, so who am I to ask to escort me or dance with anyone?
「Ahh, I see… It’s a little hard for you right now.」
「Right!? Liam-kun, if you would come with me and escort me, all would be well.」
「Don’t be absurd. Do you think I’ll allow it?!」
I know. I know that. Even if I did everything in my power to get Liam-kun to go with me. What kind of 25 year old me gets escorted by an 8 year old boy? Is that what I’m into? It is sure to raise suspicions. It’s not just a matter of red humiliation. One wrong move, and I’ll be an embarrassment to the Gran Country.
But I am cornered to the point of saying such a thing. Please understand.
「Calm down, Missy. Any old friends over there who might be able to help you out? As I recall, there’s a guy you’re friends with.」
「Yes, but I can’t ask him to be my escort…」
If I had been able to do that, I wouldn’t be so distressed. Perhaps an old friend could tell me with confidence that my seizures would not occur…!
「You are an idiot, Marsha. Do you think I didn’t think of that?」
「…Eh?」
My mouth was full of dumbness at the unexpected line from Ryniel-sama.
「Liam, can you come here for a moment?」
「Okay.」
Eh, wait, wait a second, Liam-ku—n!
My inaudible cries were in vain, and Liam, who was called by Douglas-sama, honestly moved away from me. On the contrary, Ryniel-sama is approaching me, and my head is in a panic.
This instantly changed atmosphere is emitted from Ryniel-sama.
「E–Err… uhh?」
I was sweating cold sweat when I saw Ryniel-sama smiling in front of me. I have a bad feeling about this, and my alarm goes off.
「You have a month to go before you leave for Kwanda.」
「… What, about that?」
I can guess roughly what to expect without having to ask what it is. I can, but I don’t want to admit it.
「First of all, you can learn to dance with me.」
I have trained myself to have physical contact with Ryniel-sama day in and day out, day after day, day after day, to the point where I can finally be at a distance that is not unnatural? Was he seriously asking me, who trembles when a man approaches me, to deal with a dance that touches not only my hands but also my body in just one month?
I guess that thought must have shown on my face.
「Conquer what you are not good at. This is the ironclad rule in 2nd Unit.」
Any objection that I am not a knight was silenced by a very powerful smile, a smirk, a repeating smirk. You don’t need a big smiley face like that!
Sure, the quickest way to get rid of my melancholy is to overcome this symptom. But if it were that easy to overcome, I wouldn’t be so distressed.
「Marsha-san, you can do it!」
Liam-kun is cheering me on with a genuine smile. On either side of them were two old men with the same look on their faces and the same thumbs up,「Don’t mind it!」and a fox who is making a fresh pot of tea with a cool expression on his face.
My ally, nowhere to be found!
「Starting tomorrow, Look forward to it.」
The heartless pronouncement of Ryniel-sama, who at first glance appears to be a brainy man but is in fact quite a brainy man, only doubled my stress.
My stomach churned!
As I was holding my stomach, a knock sounded from outside.
「Young Master Liam. It’s about time.」
What I heard was the voice of an escort.
「Eh, is it that time already?」
As Liam rushed to get up from the sofa, Douglas-sama put his hand on his head.
「Liam. Do you remember your promise to me?」
「Yes!」
「That’s good. Go have fun.」
「Yes!」
Hey-hey-hey, I wonder if Liam and Douglas-sama will be going their separate ways from now on?
「Where are you going?」
Ryniel-sama, who probably felt the same way as I did, asked Liam-kun happily.
「Orphanage friends and secret base… I’m not saying that, I’m promising!」
「Well!」
My face broke into a smile as I realized that he was going to play with the children he had made friends with during my visit to the orphanage. And he’d already called it a secret base.
「Take care of yourself.」
「Yes. You’ll join us next time, too, Marsha-san!」
Oh my. I wonder if they would take me there, as it would be a secret only for the kids.
.
「Okay. I’m looking forward to it.」
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