ICTIMP CH 06

Chapter 6. The Premature Death Flag Right from the Start (6)

“Why did you come to that conclusion?”

Adel spoke with an expression that was equal parts dumbfounded and amused.

“As long as Anastasia can smile, I don’t mind being falsely accused a hundred times.”

Suddenly, a strange flutter ran through a corner of my heart. It felt as though a butterfly that had been fluttering around had suddenly dropped into my mind. I blinked repeatedly.

Adel had absolutely no resistance to my teasing, while his sincere and refreshing words occasionally hit me with unexpected force.

“You think if you say things like that, I’ll be so touched that I’ll stop teasing you? Not a chance.”

I cleared my throat softly. He hadn’t noticed that my face had turned red, had he?

Adel responded with a smile.

“Yes. I look forward to your continued consideration.”

Since we had already come to the kitchen, we decided to finish the walnut pie. The chef brought out black tea, juice, chocolate, pudding, cookies, and all sorts of other treats, and before long, the table was overflowing with food.

Adel stared at me as I ate my pudding before speaking.

“I heard that tonight and tomorrow night, they’ll be releasing sky lanterns over the Marlo River. Would you be interested?”

Oh my gosh! Amazing!

I already knew about it, but I had given up on going because I thought Adel wouldn’t allow it.

“I’m definitely going!”

I shouted without even thinking. Adel smiled and added a condition.

“You’ll have to go with me. I’m acting as your guardian, after all.”

“Okay! Sounds good!”

Perhaps he was surprised that I agreed so readily, because Adel’s eyes widened for a moment.

Apparently, the real Anastasia must have said some pretty harsh things to Adel. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so cautious over something as simple as accompanying me.

I gave him a bright smile to reassure him, and he soon spoke gently.

“Then I’ll make the preparations. I’ll come to pick you up this evening.”

“Adel is the best!”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Adel looked genuinely pleased, so I decided that I should compliment him more often from now on.

After our simple tea time ended, Adel returned to the ducal estate to prepare for our outing. I chatted with Ilina while choosing the dress I would wear that evening.

I chose a modest brown dress, and Ilina gave it 85 points out of 100.

Ilina insisted that I should wear a hat because people might be shocked when they suddenly saw my face. She practically regarded my face as a weapon of mass destruction.

As she braided my translucent silver hair into a single braid, Ilina said she loved how my hair color went well with any dress.

I had to agree with her on that.

Even in simple clothes, Anastasia radiated an air of mystery, enchantment, and sweetness.

Her large, moon-like eyes scattered silver light, while her hair shimmered beautifully. Though her pale face lacked vitality, her beauty was truly unparalleled.

It saddened me to think that once her illness worsened, even this beauty would eventually wither.

Knowing I would obviously be snacking later, I ate only a light dinner. Around the time the sun began to set, Adel came to see me dressed casually as well.

He looked like some prince who had sneaked out of the palace.

I pulled my hat firmly over my head and followed Adel.

We traveled by carriage. Despite the chilly night breeze, the area around the Marlo River, which ran through the capital, was bustling with people.

I had never imagined that so many people would gather, and I was amazed.

Merchants had come out onto the streets to sell chicken skewers, roasted corn, candied fruit, and cotton candy. The laughter of children filled the plaza.

Hundreds of thousands of sky lanterns floated overhead.

It felt as though the entire world had been filled with golden and orange starlight.

I looked around frantically, unable to take my eyes off the scenery.

“Wow, it’s so beautiful. Everything is sparkling.”

“You’ll be able to see them even better from a boat.”

We bought two sky lanterns and rented a small boat.

The lanterns reflected on the river looked like fish that were glowing by themselves.

It was a breathtaking night view that money alone couldn’t buy.

As Adel skillfully rowed the boat, he spoke to me while I continued marveling at everything around us.

“Anastasia, you’re glowing too.”

I could feel the people riding in the other boats glancing at Adel.

I slowly took in his golden hair, overflowing with a radiant sheen, and his remarkably handsome features, as though they had been crafted as a masterpiece of the century.

He was an aristocratic man, proud and noble like a white birch tree surrounded by crystal-clear light.

Without a doubt, Adel was striking enough to attract everyone’s attention simply by existing.

Resting my chin on my hand, I murmured lazily,

“Thank you for bringing me here.”

“I’m the one who’s very happy that you allowed me to accompany you.”

Adel answered with a smile.

“If we release the lanterns around now, they’ll rise much higher. We could use a little trick, but it would be more fun not to use magic.”

I fiddled with my sky lantern.

“Hmm, do I really have to release it? I kind of want to keep it.”

It was nothing more than a childish complaint, but Adel listened to me seriously.

“Then let’s release Anastasia’s lantern and keep mine. Perhaps your wish will come true once it reaches the sky.”

“But what about your wish?”

“My wish is for your wish to come true.”

Adel said it as though I had asked the most obvious question in the world.

The orange lights drifting through the sky cast enchanting shadows across Adel’s face.

My cheeks grew hot.

I hurriedly released my lantern into the sky and then urged Adel on.

“W-We should get off now, shouldn’t we?”

“Are you feeling dizzy?”

“A little.”

I made up an excuse, and Adel immediately changed direction.

“I’ll turn the boat around right away.”

I was startled by the sudden force with which Adel began rowing.

“You don’t have to row that hard……”

We weaved between the other boats and reached the dock on the opposite side.

Adel helped me out of the boat before looking around.

“There are quite a lot of people on this side.”

I spotted a shop emitting a sweet aroma and pointed toward it.

“Let’s go get cotton candy!”

I grabbed Adel, making it clear that I would not accept a refusal.

Adel obediently let himself be dragged along.

I spotted her purely by chance.

Not far away, I saw a girl with long, luxurious brown hair flowing down her back, resembling peach blossoms.

The girl had bright blue eyes and was holding a roasted corn on the cob.

She was beautiful enough that passing people deliberately turned their heads to look back at her.

But she was wearing a dress embroidered with an awkward-looking rabbit design, which somehow gave me an ominous feeling.

My intuition really was impossible to ignore.

It was one thing for her to be merely pretty, but it was rare to see such a conspicuously beautiful girl wearing a dress with such a ridiculous rabbit embroidery.

As I approached her, half convinced and half doubtful, the girl spoke to the woman selling strawberry-flavored candy.

“Ma’am, I’m Olga. I came to buy some candy.”

Holy crap.

She was the female protagonist!

“Ah.”

I suddenly stopped awkwardly, as though I had just remembered something I had forgotten.

“I suddenly changed my mind. Let’s go over there.”

“There shouldn’t be anything over there.”

Adel looked at me suspiciously, but I had already turned around.

“Quickly.”

I didn’t want to lose Adel to her already.

Olga was destined to meet Adel for the first time at my funeral.

So until then, couldn’t he remain my friend?

For now—at least for the next two years—it was okay for him to stay by my side, wasn’t it?

I had thought I had no regrets about this life, but suddenly, I felt terribly wronged.

I took Adel into a deserted alley.

Wine bottles were scattered all over the place.

I didn’t want to go back in Olga’s direction, so I distorted my eyebrows and continued walking deeper into the alley.

The shadows were thick, making it difficult to see clearly.

“Eek!”

I suddenly stumbled after stepping on something, and Adel caught my arm.

“Anastasia, watch your step.”

I instinctively looked down and was startled.

“What is this?”

At least five people were lying sprawled on the ground.

I could make out their faintly bruised faces.

“It seems a fight took place here. Though judging by the scene, it looks more like they were beaten one-sidedly.”

“Ugh, the smell of alcohol……”

The strong stench made my head spin.

I felt nauseous.

Adel held onto my arm and pulled me toward him.

“Please forgive my rudeness. Excuse me for a moment.”

Adel supported me as I staggered and led me out of the alley.

I covered my nose and asked,

“What about those people? Shouldn’t we help them?”

“You come first right now.”

His answer was firm.

Little by little, I began to calm down thanks to Adel’s gentle consideration and the fresh citrus scent surrounding him.

If they were going to drink themselves senseless, they should at least go home and sleep properly.

Why on earth had they decided to use the street as their bed?

I grumbled to myself as I opened and closed my eyes.

Fortunately, by the time we returned, Olga was gone.

However, quite a few people were staring at me.

“Everyone is looking at us.”

Apparently, I had been clinging too closely to Adel while he supported me.

When I became embarrassed, Adel released me.

“You should be safe here. I’ll inform the city guards about the situation and come back. Of course, I’ll continue keeping an eye on you, so please refrain from doing anything dangerous.”

In other words, he intended to monitor me even if he had to use magic.

Adel considered using magic in front of people a taboo, but apparently, keeping an eye on me was an exception.

“Okay, go ahead.”

I sat down at an empty outdoor table.

I adjusted my hat so that my face wouldn’t be visible and smoothed down my loosely tied hair.

I never expected the justice-loving Adel to put me before the injured people.

I was a little touched.

I was staring blankly in the direction Adel had disappeared when I noticed someone approaching a little later than I should have.

“Excuse me. Would you mind if I sat here for a moment? All the other tables are full.”

He was speaking to me.

Without properly looking at him, I casually replied,

“Sure.”

And immediately regretted it.

I yawned and lifted my head.

That was when I saw the person sitting across from me.

He was an incredibly handsome boy.

The first thing I noticed was his bright red hair, an extremely rare color in the Empire.

His freckles and vivid green eyes were also striking.

……It couldn’t be, right?

Surely not?

He smiled and asked,

“Your companion must have stepped away?”

“He’ll be back soon.”

I answered somewhat awkwardly.

He smoothly continued the conversation.

“Then would it be all right if we talked until he comes back? I didn’t expect to meet another noble here. You’re a noble too, aren’t you? I can tell even if you’re trying to hide it. I thought this was the kind of place where only someone like Olga would enjoy coming.”

No way!

He had even come here with Olga!

At this point, I had no choice but to admit it.

That red-haired boy had to be Ash Cloud.

Ash Cloud was the character who stood opposite Adel and was unmistakably a villain.

However, he had remained on friendly terms with Olga, the female protagonist, for quite some time.

I was screwed.

I had completely messed everything up.