Chapter 134: Using a Basic Move to Force Out the Big Move
Normally, that kind of excuse people say out loud is just for joking around, right?
Peiya held onto the railing and looked again at the girl who was now leaning weakly among the flowers. For a moment, she didn’t know what to do.
Also… should she let go of the earlobe she was still holding?
“Y-You’re really scared of that?”
Elise’s expression turned a bit strange. It took her a while to calm down before she helped Peiya stand straight. She didn’t quite dare to look into Peiya’s eyes.
“A little… I guess. I didn’t expect you to actually dare to do it…”
“Huh? What do you mean ‘I guess’…”
Peiya wanted to say something more, but Elise clearly didn’t want to explain further. Even after waiting for a while, Elise still didn’t seem to recover.
“Are you okay?”
Peiya looked at her and froze for a moment. This was the first time she had seen something like this, she didn’t expect Elise to react so strongly.
“Ahem, I’m fine. But what you said just now… was it serious?”
“Yeah, of course it was serious.”
“Alright.” Elise adjusted her clothes and quickly regained her composure. “I really didn’t expect Miss Peiya to be this bold when she wants to be.”
Elise touched her earlobe, where there were still faint marks from earlier.
“N-No, it’s not like that. I just… did it by accident. Just forget about it.”
“Alright, alright. Then I’ll do it back. That way we’re even.”
“Huh?”
Before Peiya could react, she felt Elise’s hair brush past her cheek. Soon, her face turned red like the setting sun.
“We’re even now.”
Elise sat down.
“This… this is too… You’re really strange.”
“What’s wrong with it? We’re good partners. This shows that I completely trust my partner.”
“That’s weird. I feel like you’re tricking me again. Do partners really do things like this?”
“Yes, I think they do.” Elise looked into the distance and pulled Peiya into her arms. “We said we would watch the view together. Don’t run away.”
“Okay…”
Peiya bit her lip and looked at the sunset. Somehow, it didn’t feel as enjoyable anymore. If she had known, she wouldn’t have come. It felt like she lost more than she gained.
“Is there a relationship closer than partners? I feel like you’re acting more and more strange.”
“There is.” Elise gently pinched Peiya’s ear. “For example, family… or…”
She looked into the distance.
“…or lovers.”
“L-Lovers? B-But… we’re both girls. Hey, you…”
Peiya quickly got out of Elise’s arms.
This is bad… she’s targeting me.
“I’m just answering your question. Why are you so nervous?” Elise sat calmly. “Isn’t becoming family a good thing?”
“Huh? What’s the difference between those two?”
“There is a difference. Family doesn’t always mean love, but lovers do. Or… do you want to be my younger sister? If you want, I can arrange it. Becoming the third young lady wouldn’t be difficult.”
“No way! That sounds terrible. And also… are you planning to do something to me…?”
Peiya held herself defensively.
Elise shook her head first. “No. Haven’t I always given you enough freedom? If I really had those kinds of thoughts about you, you wouldn’t have been able to leave my house from the start. I could even make you carry my child.”
“????”
Peiya’s mind completely froze.
Do nobles really play like this…?
“You’re a pervert, completely a pervert. Compared to you, I’m totally normal.”
“No, this is how nobles usually do things. You just don’t know much about it. And didn’t I already tell you all the messy parts? Doesn’t that show that I don’t have any improper thoughts about you? But you suddenly won’t let me hold you anymore, that makes me feel bad.”
Elise added more and more to her explanation, and it made Peiya feel a bit confused. Somehow… it sounded reasonable.
“N-No, that’s not what I mean. I don’t dislike you. I just didn’t expect you… to think this much. My brain can’t keep up. So, have you always wanted to see me because you have feelings for me? I mean… the kind where you care about me.”
Peiya bit her lip, feeling that Elise might as well say it more directly.
“Mm, I like you.” Elise hugged Peiya from behind. “If I didn’t care about you, why would I stay with you for so long? Isn’t it because you matter to me?”
“Huh…?”
Peiya’s mind went blank for a moment. Her body felt warm, but she didn’t know why. She kept stepping back, yet at the same time, something inside her gave her the courage not to run away.
After all… she also cared about Elise.
“I… I care about you too. Maybe even a little more than you,” she said with a small laugh.
“Really? I don’t believe it. Show me something, let me see?” Elise gently squeezed Peiya’s cheeks. Peiya made a soft complaining sound.
“You always tease me. I don’t see you doing anything either.”
“I want to hold you. Isn’t that the best proof? Or do you prefer this kind of passive approach?”
“No, don’t think too much.”
After hesitating for a while, Peiya asked seriously, “You didn’t drink today, right?”
“Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”
Elise leaned closer. Peiya could hear her heartbeat.
“I’m afraid you’re saying all this just because you’re drunk, and later you’ll forget everything you said. Then I’ll be the only one remembering it for the rest of my life.”
Elise blinked her beautiful eyes. “Then let’s say I did drink. You can remember it for a lifetime. I’ll rely on you for a lifetime too. That’s not a loss, I win.”
“Hah, you’re really bad. I underestimated you before. Well… that does sound like something you’d say.”
Peiya felt Elise’s breathing beside her.
“But I’m thinking… what if I get drunk too? Although, I don’t think I can get drunk. I remember trying before, but maybe because of my body, I don’t really get drunk easily. I don’t know. I only drink fruit wine sometimes, and it’s not very strong. And I won’t let myself get drunk that easily.”
Peiya gave a small “oh,” and soon the two of them ran out of things to say.
They quietly watched the scenery in the distance.
“Shall we go back? Do you still want to stay here?” Elise asked.
“No. It feels like you’ve already told me everything. But… I still want to tell you this, things in the future might not be as easy as you think. And I have a lot of flaws. You should think carefully.”
Peiya bit her lip. She seemed to care a lot about this, probably because she didn’t want anything to be built on lies.
“Then I’ll keep trying to find the real you, until the day the world ends.”
“Why did you have to add that last part?”
“Because I wanted to. What about you? What are your plans next?”
“For now, I’ll finish the remaining work in the Calamity Forest. And… I’ve changed my goal. I want to become stronger, at least stronger than you. When that time comes, we’ll see who ends up being the one kept like a ‘golden bird’.”
“Oh? That’s quite an ambition. Should I get rid of this future trouble early, then?”
Elise moved closer, took off the pendant she was wearing, and put it around Peiya’s neck. Then she gently rubbed Peiya’s head.
“An advance reward for you. I’m looking forward to the day you defeat me.”