Chapter 19- An Unfamiliar Ceiling

There was no sunlight to stream through the lids of Cael’s eyes being underground as he was, nonetheless; the redhead’s natural body clock was more than sufficient to wake him from his deep slumber.

Slowly but surely Cael regained consciousness only to be greeted to the sight of a strange roof of dimly glowing moss as opposed to the white plaster he had come to associate with his own room over the years.

As he went to further investigate his surroundings Cael quickly held onto his head after being assailed by an uncontrollable throbbing that resounded throughout his skull.

『Ugh, what the hell?』

No longer in the mood to think Cael laid back down to where he was resting earlier, this however led to him noticing another abnormality.

Is this bed made of leaves and cotton? Where am I?

Taking a moment to let the pain settle somewhat Cael tried to reflect again on how he got into his current situation. Alas time waits for no man as before he could find his bearings he was ambushed by two girls bursting through his door both carrying rather polarising airs about them, one radiant and the other irritable.

Seeing the two beauties certain memories of the day prior began returning to him though much was muddled.

『Are you going to stay in bed all day or what?』

『Good morning.』

Shaken from his reminiscence Cael eyed up the two girls taking careful note of their changes from last night. Lily despite her natural poker face was practically glowing while Selene seemed particularly annoyed and her normally perfect posture was somewhat off this morning.

Not answering swiftly to her words combined with the way Cael simply stared at them like an idiot seemed to only aggravate the silver haired girl further. The consequences of such aggravation came swiftly and harshly in the form of Selene banging her hand repeatedly as hard as she could on the nearest wooden dresser.

Cael unable to bear such punishment was quick to plead for amnesty from the black hearted princess.

『Seriously stop that I’m begging you. I feel like I’m going to die if you keep going.』

Nodding her head whilst mercifully ceasing her actions Selene responded in turn.

『Serves you right all the same.』

Dumbfounded Cael questioned what she meant by that.

『Huh, what did I do?』

This simple and innocent question of Cael’s only caused Selene to bear her fangs even more though, her reaction almost like a cat that had its tail stepped on.

『What did you?! … Fuuh … It’s not his fault, calm down Selene, he doesn’t even remember.』

In front of Cael, she had something of an internal debate so intense it actually seemed to be causing her physical pain. Unwilling to stand there and simply watch he felt as though he should say something at the very least.

『Are you okay? … You seem to be grinding your teeth pretty hard there.』

Hearing the cause of her anguish speak she unconsciously snapped at him.

『I’m fine!』

『That’s nice~ My, what lovely weather we’re having today.』

Unable to face the great ball of resentment named Selene anymore Cael chose to turn away from reality, that is before being cruelly denied as such by Lily.

『We’re underground so you can’t tell the weather and when I looked earlier it was actually kind of overcast.』

『Haah~』

Hearing such a straightforward retort from the great retort summoner herself, Cael just felt really tired all of a sudden despite having just woken up. This feeling of exhaustion only growing when Lily deigned to explain what had happened last night.

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『What do you actually remember from yesterday?』

『Everything until you offered me dinner then I can vaguely recall Selene showing up and getting mad at you about something. That’s about it though I can’t remember anything after that or even falling asleep.』

Closing her eyes while holding her chin in thought Lily took a minute or so musing over her answer. Eventually after a period of silence she looked back at Cael, donned her unnecessary glasses and began to explain the sequence of events.

『Selene got mad at me because the drink I gave you had alcohol in it, hence your migraine. Because you didn’t know it had alcohol you kept drinking to the point you lost control and tried to sexually harass us. Afterwards you stripped off your clothes and jumped in the only bed in the house claiming it for yourself. As a result Selene and I had to make do with the couches hence her bad posture due to sleeping on a funny angle. All this added up to why she’s mad at you, you can barely remember what happened and why you are still naked in my bed.』

『Can you seriously not speak long sentences without wearing those stu… Did you just say I’m naked?』

After adjusting her useless specs Lily proceeded to look him up and down in an almost predatory manner before responding.

『Didn’t you notice?』

Actually taking a moment to appreciate his current state Cael saw that indeed beneath the sheets of the bed he had not a single string of cloth covering him. Letting out a far from masculine yelp he was quick to shoo both girls from the room while he retrieved his clothes that were strewn about.

After getting dressed as fast as he could Cael opened the door to see Selene and Lily waiting just outside. Putting on a ghost of a wry smile the teen couldn't help but grumble at least a little.

『You could have said something sooner y’know~』

Hearing Cael’s complaint Lily gave a very Lily-like response.

『It’s nothing we haven’t seen already didn’t you notice how Selene didn’t even blush after hearing you weren’t dressed. After last night with everything that happened we might as well be an old married couple.』

『But I was the only one seen though.』

『That’s sexual harassment.』

Striking a pose while pointing defiantly towards Lily like a certain well known 2D lawyer Cael gave a powerful rebuttal.

『Objection! Those are double standards. Can you face forward with an honest heart and say you didn’t harass me first?』

『Nn, I suppose that’s true.』

Seeing the boy and her cousin going back in forth in their little skit Selene couldn’t help but question what was going on.

『What are you two doing?』

At Selene’s query the two turned to each other before looking back and answering simultaneously.

『Fighting for equality.』『Flirting.』

Bombarded with such nonsensical replies, Selene could only look up to the sky with misty eyes.

『I’m surrounded by idiots.』

Such was her ultimate conclusion.

Idiot huh?

Cael deciding no time was better than the present walked up to the dazed princess to try doing some sleuthing disguised as damage control. Scratching his cheek while donning his best attempt at a bashful face Cael apologized in an at least half-way sincere manner.

『Hey, I’m sorry about what happened last night. Lily told me everything, my bad with the bed.』

『Huh?』

Hearing her confusion Cael was careful to maintain his expression even resorting to reverting to his well-practiced mischievous smile. Lily sensing vaguely something was up was quick to interject.

『You know how he made us sleep on the couches. That’s why you’re walking funny, right?』

『R-right.』

After they finished speaking a strange silence overtook the room. Cael though never letting his smile falter moved things along without missing a beat.

『Anyway we better get going soon, I seem to have slept in a little.』

Selene at processing Cael’s words was immediately pulled from her daydreaming.

『That’s true, we have to leave soon if we’re going to make it to court on time.』

『Don’t mind me, ladies first.』

Not bothering to argue the matter Selene was quick to climb the ladder leading back to the surface. With just the pair consisting of Lily and Cael remaining the cosplayer was next to make her way out.

While she was walking forward she began a quip that sounded vaguely familiar to the redhead’s ears.

『Oh yeah, don’t look … 』

『Up my skirt, right? What happened to us being an old married couple?』

『Modesty is still important.』

『Of course.』

Just as she reached the ladder Cael suddenly grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her into his embrace staring deeply into her eyes.

『... You’re hurting me.』

Feeling the tightness of his grip Lily couldn’t help but mutter as such. Her words however were met by uncaring and unfeeling turquoise that made her freeze in place no longer resisting or daring to voice dissatisfaction despite the fact she should definitely be the stronger of the two in normal circumstances.

A question in a familiar voice but an unfamiliar tone not unlike the coldest ice was whispered into her ear.

『You haven’t been deceiving me now, have you Lillianne?』

Hearing her name being called from Cael's lips in such a manner caused a shudder to run down Lily's entire body. Doing her best to keep the shaking out of her voice and calm down, she answered in a hurried manner.

『N-no, of course not.』

After a few moments of uninterrupted eye-contact Cael eventually relented and released his grip. Wearing his signature grin once more he was quick to act like normal.

『Sorry, guess that was a strange question afterall. Anyway you better hurry or Selene is going to start thinking we’re having some kind of tryst down here.』

『Yeah … right.』

After but a short delay Lily too went up the ladder. If Cael noticed her faster than usual pace he didn’t say anything to draw attention to it.

Despite the fact everything Lily had said about the night prior held up to scrutiny Cael only had one thought playing on repeat over and over through his mind.

She’s a much better liar than her cousin.