Chapter 78

From the moment Iris found herself unable to speak with Theo, she agonized over it.

Since things have already turned out this way, should I just make it clear to Sir Theo and boldly confess my feelings…? No, honestly, that’s not really my style.

For a brief moment, she even considered brazenly declaring her love.

But that was something Estelle might do, not her.

She simply didn’t have it in her.

What on earth is Estelle doing?

If this were the usual Estelle, she would have already marched up to Theo, shamelessly confessed her feelings, and pursued him even more aggressively.

Thinking about how Estelle was with everyone, the current situation felt undeniably strange.

To think that Estelle would back down just because she was rejected once…

It was only natural that this made Iris realize just how serious Estelle’s feelings really were.

Even someone as carefree as her… once it becomes genuine, it’s no longer something you can control.

Even with a personality like Estelle’s, she seemed to shrink back when faced with someone she truly cared about.

Of course, since Iris hadn’t properly talked with her about it, she didn’t know exactly what had happened between Estelle and Theo. But she also had no desire to ask.

After all, hearing about the rejection in vivid detail. Even if she wasn’t the one directly involved, it felt like it would leave a deep wound.

“Haaah…”

Her thoughts kept tangling together, making it impossible to figure out what to do.

“…I should just talk to him.”

She didn’t want to grow distant from Theo like this.

Just as Iris decided to leave the future to her future self and made up her mind to visit the men’s dormitory the next morning—

“You crazy b*tch, you’re really crazy…! Why the hell did you do that?! The mood was perfect…!”

Estelle too was kicking her blanket in frustration. She was still agonizing over why she had acted that way.

If it hadn’t been a heartfelt confession, that night would have ended on the perfect note.

The soft and gentle atmosphere, Theo’s sincere boyfriend-like demeanor. She still couldn’t believe that had happened just a few days ago.

If I had known it would turn out like this, I should’ve just kept my mouth shut…

In the end, she had ended up confessing Iris’s feelings as well.

She hadn’t said anything about it, but she couldn’t deny that it weighed on her.

I need to apologize.

But every time she ran into Iris, they ended up bickering, leaving her with no chance to do so.

If Theo had been acting as a mediator, she could have casually slipped in an apology or even properly asked for reconciliation.

But now, for some reason, even that felt difficult.

…Alright, I’ll go see Sir Theo. But then what? What am I even going to say?

She had reached the same conclusion as Iris, but for Estelle, making a firm decision was even harder.

It was inevitable. After all, she had been there herself.

Besides, it seems Sir Theo has been training nonstop lately…

She couldn’t help but worry. What if he was pushing himself too hard because of her?

Alright, I’ll go. I’ll find him and at least convince him not to overdo it… And I’ll tell him not to think about me at all. That’s better.

Even if her feelings were rejected, Estelle at least wanted to make sure Theo wasn’t overexerting himself.

“Phew… Alright. Tomorrow it is.”

Estelle had resolved to visit Theo that morning, but she never expected to run into Iris there.

“You’re here too, Iris…?”

“I could say the same to you, Estelle. I didn’t think you’d come.”

Since Iris had been thinking the same thing, the two exchanged awkward greetings and then fell into silence as they waited for Theo to appear.

And then, when they finally met Theo—

“I… slept well too. I came because there’s something I need to tell you, Sir Theo…”

“Something to tell me? What is it?”

“Ah, I’d like to speak with you alone, if possible…”

At first, Estelle had been certain she would never allow that. But then, she suddenly recalled what she had done before, and in the end, she had no choice but to grant them permission to talk privately.

“Hmm, alright. Then I’ll wait here, but you have to come back once you’re done talking, alright?”

She hoped they would return as soon as possible. After Iris, she too thought that she should ask to have a conversation with Theo alone.

What are they talking about….And what should I say when it’s my turn?

Should she tell him that her confession back then had been a lie? Or should she reaffirm the sincerity of those words and tell him that, no matter what, she didn’t want to grow distant from him?

Her mind was in such turmoil that she felt on the verge of overload.

If it were the usual me, I wouldn’t be agonizing over this at all.

It wasn’t as if she had never liked someone before.

But wanting to share a future with someone. That was something she had never felt until now.

And that made it all the more difficult.

She couldn’t act as nonchalant as she usually did, nor could she speak as freely as she always had.

“…Sir Theo.”

Even just his name sounded beautiful to her.

She simply loved everything about him.

Her feelings had grown so much that she could no longer tell when it had all begun. Now, there was no stopping them.

But if she rushed forward recklessly, Theo seemed to have too much weighing on him already.

If only I could lighten his burden… Yes, that’s what I’ll talk to him about.

Since her feelings were beyond her control anyway, she thought it wouldn’t be so bad to just be honest. To tell him how she felt and that she wanted to share his burdens and walk beside him.

“Yes, that’s what I’ll say.”

In the end, Estelle made up her mind to express her true feelings.

It was a choice strikingly similar to Iris’s.

***

“Of course, this confession isn’t meant to burden you, Sir Theo. I just want to express my feelings. So please, don’t feel pressured. Just know that there’s someone out there who cares for you.”

Iris’s sincerity came through loud and clear.

Her expression was so serious that anyone who wasn’t a fool could see this was a genuine confession.

“So… if you ever have a hard time, I really hope you’ll talk to me about it. I know I’m not strong enough yet to do anything but receive your help, but I’ll keep trying. I’ll work harder and move forward until I can become someone you can rely on, so… please believe in me.”

…Wait a second. Didn’t I hear these words before?

– I’ll become someone you can rely on, so please believe in me.

That’s right. This was exactly what Iris had said when she confessed to Estelle.

No, seriously, was this even allowed? The timing was way too fast, and the recipient was completely different…!

It wasn’t as if I had been oblivious to the fact that both of them had feelings for me.

But I had convinced myself it was just a fleeting admiration. And nothing more.

Iris had just completely shattered that line of reasoning.

“I will become your sword, Sir Theo.”

…This was driving me insane.

What sword? A person is a person, and a sword is a sword…!

Damn it, seriously, what was I supposed to do in a situation like this?!

System window, come on, do something…!

“Th-Thanks, Iris… I mean, uh, so you’re really saying that… you truly like me.”

Damn it.

I was completely screwed…!

Had I been too careless? No, I had managed to avoid this so far…!

“Of course, I still have no intention of getting into a relationship or anything, but, uh… well… how should I put this…”

But despite that overwhelming sense of doom, I couldn’t deny that I was genuinely happy.

I mean, how could any man not be, when someone this beautiful confessed their feelings so sincerely?

Besides, if I was being honest, I had already found myself feeling drawn to both of them in some way. I found them cute, even if I hadn’t fully realized it.

“I’m sorry if I made you feel pressured.”

“N-No, don’t say that. You have nothing to apologize for. If anything, I should be the one saying sorry.”

“No, really, you don’t have to feel burdened at all. Ah, Estelle is probably waiting. Shall we head back?”

There wasn’t even the slightest trace of sadness in Iris’s smiling expression.

She was simply filled with the joy of having expressed her feelings, nothing more.

I couldn’t help but wonder. How could someone smile so beautifully?

“Estelle probably wants to talk to you alone as well. How about I go bring her to you?”

“Oh, uh… yeah. That sounds good.”

Caught off guard, I nodded my head and Iris turned to head in Estelle’s direction.

For some reason, watching her figure grow smaller in the distance left me with an unbearable sense of regret.

I nearly lost control and ran after her. Just to pull her into an embrace. But somehow, reason barely managed to hold me back.

“…Ha, this is crazy. Seriously.”