Night came and I suddenly became unoccupied. I don’t have anything to do and I know well that I cannot do anything for them. I am a useless adult because I cannot think of anything for them reconcile.

Alstroemeria hasn’t come home yet and her friends are nowhere to be found. Only the lethargic man and the demon lord stayed. Bacarra and Diyu aren’t here yet too and I am getting worried about them.

What happened earlier must be really terrible for both sides. I want to drink some good stuff too but I’ll come across some of Asagao’s friend in the tavern and I don’t want to make an awkward atmosphere.

Cigar…cigar…do I still have some?

Ah, good thing there’s a two stick left in my pocket…

I tried to light up the cigar which I put in my mouth and started puffing it as the tip started lighting up. Since I don’t have anything to do at this night, I took the opportunity to take a stroll. While letting the cigar in my mouth slowly turns into ashes, I walk towards the pier in this cold night.

The air is fresh and the night sky has shown the stars for people to watch. The sea reflects that beautiful scenery and made my stroll a little bit romantic, which ironically, none in my life.

The cigar runs out and I threw the cigar butt in a trash bin.

I lit up the second cigar with a small fire rune and proceed walking along the pier. I look at the beautiful moons, the shiny shimmering star, the adorable white haired girl, and the illuminated sea.

White haired girl…?

“Good evening, Miss Cecille.”

“……”

I shook my head in confusion about the girl in front of me and slap my cheeks several times. I look at the girl in front of me again and she is the real living breathing Princess Asagao…

“Miss Cecille?”

“UWAAH! It really is you!”

“Y-Yeah…it’s me.”

She smiles sweetly at me when I came to. However, even with the radiant of her smile, there’s a deep tinge of sadness and lamentation. Of course, it would be weird if she is not saddened or pained after what happened.

“What are you doing, Princess?”

“Stop that, it’s a little embarrassing to be called princess…”

“I am in no position to call you anything else otherwise.”

“Just Asagao is fine. Princess is just a title attached to me being Fon’s little sister.”

“Just a title, huh? A title can carry your whole kingdom’s name. Perhaps you are not still aware the weight of your name?”

“Eh? N-No…I don’t think I am…sorry…”

“No, no, no! Please don’t be! It’s my own impudence to lecture you!”

“That’s not it. I am thankful for that. I need to keep being lectured to learn.”

“I see, then, I think calling you Miss Asagao would be fine.”

“Thank you!”

I feel a little happy as the sad little girl smiled even though in a brief moment that we talked. She looks up at the night sky. The cold and chilly wind from the sea blows bringing a fresh and salty breeze.

Her hair which is shorter than I remembers, flutter magnificently. Her cheeks and nose become a little reddish as cold wind brushes her skin and the moonlight shines upon her. I can’t believe that this young girl is so beautiful that it looks so ephemeral and no shade of darkness can overpower her brilliance.

No, that’s an understatement. If I think about it, she already has everything, wealth, indescribable beauty, social life and I don’t mean to assume but, a lot of lovers or suitors. She lives in a perfect world but, I know that there’s something really heavy burdening her.

“Tell me, Miss Asagao, do you like someone?”

“…Eh? What’s…all of the sudden? Eh…?!”

“No, it’s just that…”

“Miss Cecille…?”

Her innocent gaze watches me with confusion. Her tranquil eyes are visibly tired despite being so clear and enticing. I wonder how well she sleeps at night. It’s also a little sore because she cried so much earlier.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

I shouldn’t probably say anything. I really should not. If someone is going to say something, it should be the person herself but, I can’t stand seeing Asagao like this. After all, she is someone dearly important for Alstroemeria. The girl that she talked about nonstop when she stayed here for a month…

“Do you have anyone in mind?”

“That’s…but…eh…ah…umm…”

Her countenance took a really quick turn as it immediately becomes red. She starts panicking as her flushed cheeks turn even redder as she thought of someone. Her gaze immediately sways left and right and her charm becomes even more visible. An expression one would get addicted to.

“You don’t have to say his name. Do you have someone you like?”

I cleared it to her.

Her face didn’t change color but only look down. Wordlessly, she nods her head thrice while being shy about it. I can’t believe that I easily coerced her in answering such hard question but, well, I can’t push it for the man’s name.

“W-W-W-W-What’s that all about?! Geez! Miss Cecille! Are you teasing me?!”

“Have you confessed to him already?”

“NO! That’s too embarrassing! Also, I think he doesn’t see me the way I see him…”

I’m stepping out of bounds. I am crossing the line. However, the way I see it, an action must be taken or nothing will move forward. I don’t know why I am doing this. I may even harbor hate from the people involved.

This is not so me. Before I met Alstroemeria, I am not such kind of person to be nosy of other’s business…

“Asagao…you might regret that later if you don’t tell him how you feel.”

“There you go again…are you coercing me to confess?”

Asagao said while sulking a little. It seems she took my words for a joke but I am serious about it.

“You will feel despair if you aren’t able to confess your love if the man of your target of affection died before you can even say it.”

“That’s…”

“I don’t what you have gone through and I cannot even fathom what hardship you guys have experienced but I am certain that such situation will make any normal people go insane because of regrets…”

“……”

“Or…if you see the man you love being in the cradle of other girls. It is a little different from the one earlier but, you know that regret will also haunt you.”

It is what Diyu told me and strictly told me to keep it a secret.

She said that in order to make Bacarra strive to live without using her as the means, Diyu made her feel hatred and seek out revenge. It was surprisingly effective and Bacarra slowly regains her vigor but for Diyu, her mind tried to seek peace but wasn’t able to.

She feels heavy responsibilities for turning Bacarra into a vengeance seeker, thus, she plays the role of Bacarra’s solace and coercer. She said that it was an irreversible decision that she made that both locked them in a cycle of endless guilt and pain until Bacarra fulfills her revenge.

There’s nothing wrong with anyone’s moral standard but, taking all the blame for you own actions seem natural but, if it is taken wrong, you wouldn’t be able to revert it anymore.

One thing I don’t understand is that why is Diyu angry at Asagao too?

I look at Asagao’s face which is now painted with ghastly color.

“What’s wrong?!”

“Miss Cecille…you are right. Knowing that anytime, he might die, I might regret it. I have already realized this feeling a long ago but, I think it is time for me to gather my courage and tell it upfront to him.”

“Might die…?”

“Ah…don’t mind it.”

“I see...Asagao…”

“Hmm…?”

“You seem to know Diyu. Why is she so angry at you too? I noticed it earlier and she is visibly angry at you and the man with a mechanical arm.”

“Ah…that…of course…”

I am such a cruel creature. Asagao’s joyful mood earlier deflated and becomes melancholic again. However, before this night ends, I want to know it myself.

Asagao looks at me with apologetic eyes, as if, to the very core of her soul, the guilt is killing her slowly. If one can see the most beautiful form of a smile, one can also see the saddest form of eyes in this child.

“I…lied to Diyu…”

“Lied…?”

“Yes…I came to know her secrets but…I myself didn’t say anything about myself. I thought it would be fine since some people around me accepted it rather easily but, I know…I know that being angry is the most normal thing to do.”

“Ah, I know what you are saying. It’s like someone just cheated on you…”

“Yeah…and Diyu and Bacarra being angry at me was the most normal.”

“What about Alstroemeria?”

“I…also lied to her…”

“…I see…”

Knowing that idiot, she forgave Asagao. No, she might not even harbor any thoughts about it. But, hearing it myself, I have to get angry at Asagao in Alstroemeria’s stead.

I don’t want people tricking Alstroemeria, especially because she might recluse from other people, not even now that she made friends, and I don’t want to add the fact that she was thrown away by her own parents.

But as an adult, we don’t get easily angry at children. Instead, we scold them and tell them where they have gone wrong and straighten that out.

I pull my forefinger at the back of my thumb and I move my hand closer to her forehead. She confusingly looks at the gesture and before she knew what’s going to hit her, I…

FLICK!

“OWWW!”

“Bad children need to be lightly punished for lying.”

I flick her with all my might and in response to the pain, Asagao holds her forehead while tears slightly leaking from her eyes. She looks at me again with dumbfounded face trying to find an answer.

“Uhh…”

“If it weren’t for your position, I would have also thrown you into the sea.”

“I can’t swim…”

“More the reason for me to do it though…”

I sheepishly grin at Asagao to look triumphant however, I know inside me that I might receive a capital punishment for hurting someone in her position so I am inwardly trembling and regretting.

However, instead of being angry at me, the teary eyes Asagao giggles for some reason and made a smile…

“Did…did I hit you too hard?”

“No…Miss Cecille…thank you…thank you very much. I know now why Alstroe loves you so much. I am sorry for lying to you and to her.”

“Don’t sweat…though, to be honest, I don’t think I want to know about it.”

For me, Asagao may seem to have everything but in the end, she is just a girl with problems and a little odd and awkward. Someone you might want to watch over all the time because she might do something unexpected…maybe that’s how Alstroemeria feels?

“Um…Miss Cecille…about what you said earlier…about the man I love…”

“What of it?”

“I think…I’ll say it now…”

“Come again?”

“I’m confessing. I am going to let my heart out!”

“Right now?!”

“Yeah! I have to take the momentum and say it before I get cold feet again!”

“Wai--!”

She ran off…

Damn…brats these days are hasty. I won’t spy on her in respect of her privacy even though I am curious about who it is.

Well, with this, I am getting more things to worry about, huh…

I’ll let her since the night isn’t that deep yet and sooner or later, her friends will be looking all over for her which will make the night of the town lively.

“I I’ll head back and hit the sack…I haven’t had any sleep since yesterday…”

I turn around and began walking home…

I guess I’ll have a few shot of glasses before going to bed…

As I walk along the pier leisurely, feeling the pleasant breeze of the ocean, I saw an old man drinking his wits out. He was in a small boat with complicated designs and whatnot. I approach him out of concern since this might become a little bit problem in the morning.

“Hey…are okay? Old man, look at all of these bottles lying around…”

“Ah…Gahahaha! Sorry, sorry. I’ll clean those up after another one round of bottle.”

“Hmm? This scent…could it be…? Mead?!”

“Gahaha! You know your booze well!”

“Yeah! I’ve drunk this kind of thing once.”

“Well, do you want to sit down and have a few drinks with me?”

“I’ll pass, maybe next time if I see you again here.”

“What a shame. Well, next time, right? See you around.”

It was a pity.

I might enjoy myself in there so I refused. On a second thought, I think I’ll hit the sack and won’t drink a glass for tonight.