Chapter 24 - Engagement Annulment Ceremony (2)

Thanks to Siren, my eyes were covered for a moment, and the distracting thoughts that had arisen instantly faded away.

Feeling Siren's characteristically warm palm, I calmed my mind and said to her, "...Thank you."

"Yes."

Siren nodded proudly as if she had accomplished something and returned to her seat.

Seeing Loraine covering her face beside me, I smiled, thinking that Siren's action might be related to the romance novels.

Anyway, it's much better now.

It felt as if a chain that had been strongly binding a corner of my heart had disappeared.

I came down from the train in a much lighter state than usual, organizing my luggage.

"Damian," as I came down, Elisia called me.

I looked at her impassively, and she spoke to me with a made-up appearance that I couldn't see even once while I was in the North, "I have something I want to say..."

Not only was her original appearance pretty, but she had also perfectly made herself up, so just looking at her exterior, she was beautiful enough to captivate anyone.

Unfortunately, I was no longer “anyone”. I had been hurt deeply and my once fiery emotions had been smothered to embers. I didn't feel any particular impression.

I just found it bothersome.

"You probably know from the engagement annulment cancellation request I sent, but I've regretted a lot since you disappeared."

She stared into my eyes, emphasizing her dark circles and pale skin.

If others had seen this scene, they might have thought she was a woman who had failed in love and hadn't eaten or drunk for days, but…

I knew that this appearance wasn't because of me, but because of the visual and auditory hallucinations she experienced, so I laughed hollowly.

There's no need to listen anymore.

It was worthless and meaningless, after all.

Hearing those words, I repeated exactly what I had heard when I first met Elisia.

— You seem to have a lot of free time. I envy you.

"You seem to have a lot of free time."

At my words, Elisia stopped in her tracks and said to me with a somewhat dumbfounded expression, "...Pardon?"

I didn't feel it was worth answering any further, so I tried to ignore her and pass by.

Elisia approached me one step with an urgent voice and said, "...That's not it. I deliberately squeezed out time to meet you."

Her expression and voice seemed desperate.

However, If one listened to her words carefully, one could notice that she didn't come for me, but for herself.

Still the same as ever.

Realizing this fact, I completely turned my gaze away and tried to move my feet, but Elisia tried to grab my clothes and said to me, "Wait a moment. Can’t we talk a little longer...!?"

Just as I was about to take out the hammer in my chest because I couldn't bear it anymore,

Siren, who was beside me, stepped forward instead and pushed Elisia away, saying, "Go away. Damian doesn't like it."

Elisia lowered her expression at Siren's appearance and seemed to ponder something for a moment, then

She stepped back a few steps and made an apologetic expression.

"...I'm sorry. I was too rude."

Then Elisia tidied up her attire and said, "Let's have this conversation formally later."

Then she bowed her head and left.

Seeing how she suddenly changed her attitude after seeing Siren, it seemed there was some change in her thoughts... I didn't know, and I certainly didn’t care.

Whatever actions she took, they were all meaningless to me anyway.

I put down the hammer I was holding and was about to move to the lodgings when Siren carefully grabbed my hand and followed me.

It was a somewhat cute action, so I smiled slightly and headed straight to the lodgings.

***

I knew that no matter how much I paid attention to meaningless things, the conclusion would always be that it was meaningless.

But I couldn't help my mind becoming a bit complicated.

Because of that, as I was lying on the bed in the luxurious lodgings, blankly staring at the ceiling, someone gently knocked on the door of the lodgings.

"You can come in."

At first, I thought it was Loraine, but unexpectedly, it was Siren who came.

Siren, dressed differently than usual, entered a bit hesitantly and calmly said something to me, "I have something I want to ask."

It was the first time Siren had acted like this, so I nodded curiously.

Since she only acted like this when she had something very important to say, I nodded, deciding to answer as detailed and sincerely as possible, whatever the question might be.

"What is it?"

When I allowed the question, Siren made a serious expression, looked at me calmly, and asked a completely unexpected question, "Does Damian like coy women?"

"...What?"

My mind went blank for a moment because of the unexpected question.

If Loraine, who read romance novels, had asked such a question, I might have understood, but I didn't expect Siren to ask such a question, so I was silent for a moment.

Siren continued speaking to me with an expressionless face, "Both the woman we met in the flower garden and the woman we saw earlier seemed coy."

Liana and Elisia being coy.

Knowing that their personalities were completely opposite to being coy, I laughed hollowly.

Siren fidgeted her fingers anxiously and said to me, "If Damian likes such women, I'll try my best."

At those words, I shook my head and said, "I don't particularly like that."

"Really?"

When I nodded, Siren showed signs of satisfaction and nodded.

I was smiling slightly because what Siren had said earlier was somehow ridiculously funny.

After that, Siren told me the real reason she came here.

"Oh, and they asked me to tell you that there's a first interview tomorrow."

First interview...

That meant I’d have to meet Elisia whether I wanted to or not.

It wasn't a particularly appealing schedule, but it was unavoidable to end things cleanly, so I said I understood and sighed.

***

At the train platform that had become empty because everyone had left for their tasks,

Elisia wandered around, recalling what she had seen earlier.

...I didn't think he would have a new woman in such a short time.

She had somewhat calculated for this, but the timing was faster than expected.

So she felt that her plan had gone a bit awry, but it was within an acceptable range, so it wasn't a big problem, but...

The problem is that Damian’s new woman is extremely pretty.

The fact that he brought her to the engagement annulment ceremony likely meant she was someone he cared for quite a bit.

Thinking she understood why he had looked at her so indifferently when she had asked for forgiveness earlier, she bit her lip.

Then what should I do?

The basic line had already been set, so it wouldn't change.

But because she had to change the details, she recalled numerous assumptions and erased them.

There were times when the flow was interrupted due to the auditory hallucinations that kept coming, but still, by squeezing her mind and continuing her thoughts, she was able to reach a rough conclusion.

I have no choice but to overturn the board itself.

It was obvious that if things continued like this, her plan would completely fail.

Rather than going in the predetermined direction, it would be right to flip the board itself and create a new board.

The problem was that if she failed to overturn the board, the repercussions would be too strong...

Anyway, if I can't bring Damian back to the North, everything will collapse all the same.

No matter what the repercussions are, I have to try it first.

So she decided to use “Dale” as a long piece to shake up the board.

***

The next day, the first interview began.

I actually didn't want to come.

But because Damian's mother said that this procedure was absolutely necessary, I had no choice but to sit in the interview room chair.

I want to finish this quickly and train.

Thinking that I'd like to do missions if possible, I was staring at the pure white ceiling when

Elisia, looking as tired as ever, spoke to me, "...Damian, have you been well?"

A voice so coy that I wondered if it was really Elisia speaking to me.

The moment I heard that voice, I was reminded of what Siren had told me yesterday, and I found myself smiling without realizing it.

She stared at me and slowly continued speaking, "I've regretted my actions towards you so much that I couldn't sleep for a moment."

I laughed hollowly as I looked at Elisia, who was looking at me with an extremely apologetic expression.

If others saw it, they might think she was truly sorry, but to me, it only looked like she was desperately begging for the warmth I created.

So I didn't give any reaction and just looked at the other person expressionlessly.

Elisia continued speaking in a drooping voice, "I'm really sorry. I'll do anything you want, Damian... Can't you give me just one more chance, please?"

"..."

Hearing this, I was reminded of what I had done in the past to win Elisia's heart.

The memory of not only greeting her every day to gain her trust, but also making tea for her, and even taking on chores like errands and cleaning.

Despite doing all sorts of things, I didn't even receive a word of thanks, let alone a glance, and as I recalled this, I felt my heart sinking even more.

As Elisia looked at me like that, she showed signs of pondering for a moment before calmly opening her mouth, "...Dale is trying to kill you."