197 – Behind the Scenes (13)
The sky on the Eternia campus was clear without a single cloud, and the stars twinkled.
Even though it was late, she willingly answered my call.
A small starlight twinkled in front of a bench in Eternia’s student garden.
Acrid smoke, hidden in the darkness and invisible, spreads through the wind.
Cecil wandered alone in a place without any light. At the same time, he occasionally took a sip of tobacco nervously.
It seemed like she hadn’t sensed my presence yet.
As I approached, she stopped tall, hiding her nervousness.
Then she kept her back to me and said,
“You’re here.”
“Did you wait?”
“No.”
Her gestures seemed somewhat uncomfortable and unnatural.
“Is there some problem?”
“It’s okay. So, why did you call me at this time?”
Cecil’s tone of voice was unusually cold. She lifted her tobacco to her mouth again.
And she still refused to look at me.
I did not speak at length.
“… “I called you because I needed a prom partner.”
Cecil, covered in smoke, exhales a long breath.
“Is that all?”
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“Yes.”
“Do you know what it means to be a partner?”
I answered honestly.
“No.”
Then Cecil sighed heavily again and muttered.
“… Okay. Because I like that rough look… “I’m the one dealing with it.”
“Do you agree?”
“… Okay. But this is just a prior agreement. “If I suddenly change my mind, I can refuse you at the prom.”
It doesn’t seem like he hates it, but his attitude is still cold. Is there some other problem?
“Cecil.”
“….”
“I want to talk while at least looking at your face.”
“You’re covering your face too. “I think it’s fair to do this, but why?”
I walked up to her and grabbed one of her shoulders.
“Mom!”
Cecil was startled and shook him off, walking quickly to increase the distance.
“… ?”
Then, as if to calm her startled heart, she pressed her breasts with both hands and shrugged her shoulders. I was still talking while looking at her back.
“Go, don’t touch my body suddenly.”
“It’s okay, right?”
“I heard it’s okay.”
“Then will you please look after me? “It felt like I was talking to a wall.”
“… Wait.”
Cecil took a deep breath and turned her body. Cecil’s flushed face is illuminated by the moonlight. Bright clothes. Unlike her usual routine, she also wore a jewel-encrusted pin in her hair. I could sense from her expression that she was just as nervous as me.
“Did you by any chance not bring alcohol with you today?”
“Noisy! “Do you think I’m a woman who drinks alcohol every day?”
“….”
“Is that all? Is it all just a verbal promise? More… what… “Isn’t there something like that?”
“What?”
“More… “Something like that.”
“You said that. “You might change your mind at the prom.”
“So. Candy says I’m the only option for you. A child with a big and beautiful heart like me… Because there is only one. But why… “Are you not desperate?”
“Big and beautiful… ?”
“Hmm, so I’m the only good girl who plays with an ugly girl like you!”
I can somewhat understand why Cecil is puzzled by my attitude.
Cecil is something… Maybe he was looking forward to the freshness and excitement that other students see when they form partners.
I plan to work hard for the prom, but I don’t have high expectations for the event itself. To be honest, sometimes dancing feels like an embarrassing and useless activity.
I wanted to gain experience because knowing how to appear mature and sophisticated in the social world would help me in life, and I had no intention of coveting entertainment and pleasure beyond that.
Because this pragmatic attitude is evident in my way of speaking… Cecil may have been a little embarrassed.
“Is there anything else you want?”
Cecil came closer to me and looked up at the mask and said.
“Becoming partners doesn’t end with dancing together. “You have to escort me from start to finish, have dinner with me, and spend time with me all day.”
“Most things are possible.”
“It doesn’t end there. You owe me a lot. So, I will play with you for the time being. I’m going to monopolize it and pamper you for my entertainment. “Like a slave.”
“Okay. “It’s only for part 1.”
“What? “What are you planning for part 2?”
“I have work to do.”
“What is it?”
Since I couldn’t be honest, it was best to just pretend it was a secret and leave it as a blank space.
A moment of irritation appeared between Cecil’s eyebrows. Then I soon regained my composure.
“I like it anyway. But playing with me is the top priority. “I remember that clearly.”
I nodded and took out a potion bottle from my belt and handed it to Cecil.
“I promise. This… It’s a commemorative gift for my partner. “I bought it from Rigbed because it reminded me of you.”
“My… thought? What?”
“Do you want to drink it?”
She glared at me with her suspicious eyes.
“Isn’t it strange? If you eat this, your body will get hot….”
“It makes me feel better.”
“This is strange. “Drink the candy first.”
I opened the cork first and drank the contents. Then he handed it to Cecil.
Cecil hesitated for a moment while holding it. He seemed to be torn between suspicion and curiosity.
She slowly took a sip, looking at my eyes. And then he shouted as if it was absurd.
“It’s alcohol, right?”
***
I took off my mask and dressed neatly. And just in case the smell of alcohol lingered, I kept sipping water.
Is it because there is still alcohol remaining? Actually, I didn’t think much of it, but when the time came, I felt even more nervous.
I don’t know how I feel either. I thought it was a big deal, but now that I think about it, dancing with two people definitely doesn’t seem normal.
Luna has very sharp ears, so she may already know everything about my situation. How should I excuse all of this?
I was waiting for Luna in the Suhomok vacant lot where she was completely gone. When the promised time came, Inyoung began to walk out from one place. Golden hair reaching down to her thighs. Luna was certain.
She walked towards me and waved her hand shyly. I also waved her hand and greeted Luna.
Luna stood quietly in front of me and opened her mouth.
“In the middle of the night… what’s the matter?”
“It’s nothing special…” “Have you found a prom partner yet?”
Luna’s eyes widen for a moment.
“… Huh.”
I cleared my throat and spoke.
“Then…” Will you be my prom partner?”
“….”
Luna suddenly lowers her head. She didn’t expect her answer to come out right away, but she seemed to hesitate a little and her mouth went dry.
“… Ah.”
“Huh?”
She muttered softly, but her voice was drowned out by the wind.
As I got a little closer, she spoke a little louder.
“… Good.”
“….”
“Candy is… “Who are you partners with?”
I was speechless for a moment. She was asking me as if my double maneuver was completely normal.
I feel sick. If you try to deceive here, it will only end up hurting you. It was better to answer honestly.
“Cecil. “We decided to join in Part 1.”
Luna nodded her head wordlessly. Seeing her understand my situation and silently accept it made me feel even more sorry for her.
“… “It’s okay because I’m the real Damian.”
“Yes, it will definitely be fun.”
“Yes… To Damien… “It smells like grapes.”
I became embarrassed and rubbed the back of my neck. It seems that no matter what I did, I couldn’t get rid of the smell of wine. I still had some extra wine left in my belt.
I took out a bottle and shook it.
“There is a reason for this….”
Then Luna suddenly held out her hands.
“I… do.”
“… Hmm?”
Luna wordlessly folded her hands and held her bottle tightly. She gave strength and pulled.
Without even knowing what was happening, the bottle of alcohol slipped into Luna’s hand.
“Luna, isn’t that juice? What are you trying to do….”
She took a step behind her and uncorked her.
Then she closed her eyes tightly and drank the wine solemnly as if she were drinking poison.
It happened so quickly that there was no time to stop it.
“Luna!”
I immediately rushed to grab the drink, but I was unable to get it out because I was holding the small bottle tightly with both hands.
My delicate neck shook slightly as it tried to catch the wine.
I was just in shock and wiped the wine flowing from the corner of her mouth with my sleeve.
Luna emptied her drink in one go and handed the empty bottle to me.
“….”
“….”
We were silent for a moment.
“Luna, are you really okay?”
Luna spoke calmly.
“Me too… I like alcohol. Well, this much is different… “It’s no big deal.”
“….”
She can’t believe it at all that Luna likes drinking.
“Now I’ll go into the dormitory….”
Luna turned around and started walking briskly as if she was showing off.
Although her gait was normal and seemed fine on the outside, Luna was walking in the opposite direction from the dormitory.
***
After picking up Luna, who had become a drunkard, and carrying her to her dormitory, I also returned to the Thorn Garden dormitory.
Trisha was sleeping soundly in her room for some reason.
During this quiet moment, she again checked her letter, which she had soaked in water containing shade candles and dye.
They say it takes about a day for the drug to seep in, so I had to wait another half a day, but seeing it now wasn’t a problem.
I brought the medicine bottle back to the room, took out the dripping letter, and carefully laid it out on the tray.
When I looked again, I saw faint letters appearing on the gray letter paper.
Indeed, as Shion guessed, there was a hidden message from the Sword Master written there.
And then I froze for a moment when I saw the unfinished one-line sentence.
That was not a request or recommendation, but a one-sided warning.
[…] Demon sword…… No prom… I am doing it.]
Soon, the blood cools down.
All the drowsy drunkenness and sweet tension were blown away in that one sentence.
Well, the way to not favor anyone is to not do it.