Saying it was never intentional, Kyrie tapped her long ear.
Looking at Kyrie’s gesture, I couldn’t help but ponder whether this was also a form of racial discrimination.
“…So, what is the question you want to ask, Kyrie?”
“Well, it’s simple. Cain, you. I heard you were engaged in the past?”
“…Yeah, what about it?”
“But how the hell did that engagement come to be broken? By any chance, did Cain make a big mistake?”
“…..”
Well, it was an elf who didn’t understand the human heart and didn’t even think to count. Is it necessary to dig into the heartbreaking past of others to feel refreshed?
“…Why do you ask such a thing?”
“Yeah, I’m curious. We elves choose only one mate for the rest of our lives, and make a pact with him until we die of old age. In that sense, I’m really curious about the feelings of a woman who promises a future but breaks that promise without any hesitation.”
Saying that, Kyrie frowned as if she really didn’t like something. Her long ears, too, were fluttering up and down, as if representing her current mood.
“…Mmm…”
To be honest, all my attention was now focused on that ear that Kyrie was flapping up and down. It was truly an amazing sight. In an instant, I felt the urge to hold that flapping ear in my hand like a living fish, a dark urge engulfing my heart. If I could just close my eyes and stroke Kyrie’s long ears just once, I don’t think I would envy anything in the world anymore—
“…Cain? Are you thinking about something rude? There’s something strange about the corners of your eyes.”
“…Not at all. How could I?”
When I stiffened my face momentarily and made a fuss, Kyrie stopped questioning me and let it slide, though she was still looking at me suspiciously.
“Well, so can you answer me? Cain, why did that woman announce that she would break up with you?”
Well, it wasn’t a very difficult question to answer. It was just that I was reluctant to mention it out loud because just thinking about it made me feel awful. However, since this elf in front of me couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to something as trivial as my feelings, I soon gave up and was about to open my mouth to answer Kyrie’s question.
“…Mmm.”
“What? You sound like you’re talking about something interesting? Can I join in too?”
“…..”
It was then…
The Princess, who was immersed in personal training in the bay, the Saintess, who was calmly warming up by a bonfire, and Bianca, who was idling around me, also quietly approached. As if they had been part of the conversation from the beginning, they sat down around me. Now that I saw it, it seemed that Kyrie wasn’t the only person indulging in eavesdropping during the expedition.
“…Everyone, why are you gathering here?”
To my question, asked with the slightest wish that everyone would disappear, those women answered with nonchalant expressions.
“Yeah, that’s something I’ve been curious about too.”
“Huh, actually, that was a question I wanted to ask Cain. I didn’t ask because I thought it would be rude.”
“Are you going to answer that woman’s question when you have time to ask that question? Yes?”
“…..”
I knew that women were naturally interested in other people’s love affairs, but I never imagined that they would show such interest in something so trivial. I used to think that, to the women of the expedition, I might look like weeds on the street.
“…This is what it is. After all, she and I hadn’t even held hands properly, so I wouldn’t say we were properly engaged. I wouldn’t know if it was just a purely political relationship.”
As I murmured, I was overcome with shame and involuntarily lowered my head. Now, I had no choice but to confess because I couldn’t overcome the external pressure of the curiosity of these women in front of me, but in fact, this story was truly embarrassing. If the story of not being able to have a proper relationship with another woman even though I was about to turn 30 is not shameful, then what kind of story is?
“…Cain. You really, really never even held hands with her?”
And Bianca, who was pressing me for confirmation.
“…Yes, so can you please stop asking that question?”
Bianca nodded with a satisfied expression, as if pleased with my shame-covered response. And inversely proportional to that, my mood only worsened.
This time, the saintess asked me a question as I was lowering my head.
“…Hmm, Cain. Did you even love that woman named Sarah?”
In response to the Saintess’ question, I gently shook my head from side to side.
“…I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like her. But now that I think about it, it’s hard to say that it was love.”
What I liked about Sarah was the story of an immature past where I fell in love just by looking at her appearance. I know it well now. I knew very well how immature an expression of affection I had been forcing upon her.
Seeing me like that, the Princess frowned and asked these questions, as if something was not to her liking.
“…Was that really, really okay? Could I have forgiven the woman who was my fiancée when I saw her in the arms of another man?”
“…Well, because I used to like her. And, isn’t it all over now? I think it’s even worse to have any kind of attachment to her now.”
Yes, I wasn’t a saintly man, so I felt like a fool, but now what can I do? It’s just a thing of the past, so I have no choice but to let it go.
“…..”
When I answered the women wholeheartedly, they all kept silent, as if their curiosity had been satisfied.
Just as I sighed softly and was about to get up, Kyrie, who could be said to be the person who instigated today’s discussion, called out and stopped me.
“Cain, it’s a question that exists in the realm of what-if, really what-if…”
Saying that, Kyrie’s own green eyes, like glass beads, sparkled.
“If you were to be engaged again, what kind of woman would you be engaged to then?”
I seem to have answered Kyrie’s question like this without much thought.
“At that time, I really want to get engaged to the person I love. Now, things like arranged marriages are not allowed.”
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