When he had finished organizing most of his things, Ain fished a small square box out of the wardrobe.
“What's this? A magical tool?”
Just as he was wondering, a pleasant voice came from outside the door.
“Ain?”
Erylin gently pushed the door open and walked in.
“What's wrong? Where's Lillian?”
Erylin pouted her lips slightly and said with a hint of disappointment, “She fell asleep the moment she hit the bed. I have no idea what she was up to last night, but she looked like she hadn't slept a wink...”
“I was actually planning to take you guys out to play this afternoon.”
“Ahaha...”
Ain averted his gaze, feeling rather awkward.
He couldn't entirely blame himself for this, right?
Near the end of last night, Lillian had completely let herself go. The little lamb had flipped the script, taking charge and enslaving the big bad wolf. How ridiculous was that?
“Ah, is that in your hand...”
“This?”
Ain shook the small square box in confusion and handed it to Erylin.
The girl stepped forward, took the box, and softly chanted a secret phrase.
“Ĉirkaŭteni...”
Ain suddenly felt his body stiffen and involuntarily fell forward. Erylin happened to be standing right in front of him, her back against the edge of the bed.
“Whoa!”
Erylin let out a startled cry as her upper body was pushed onto the bed by Ain. Meanwhile, Ain propped his hands up beside her shoulders, keeping his head at a safe distance to avoid burying his face in her ample cleavage.
Looking at the "architecture" before him—which was countless times grander than Lillian's—cold sweat broke out on Ain's forehead.
That was close, way too close!
If I had plunged face-first into that, I'd be finished!
Just as Ain tried to push himself up, he realized his limbs were frozen in place, unable to budge even a millimeter.
“Miss Erylin, I seem to... be unable to move?”
Erylin held the small square box with both hands, a blush spreading across her face.
Although she had always treated Ain as a friend, this rather intimate position still made the young girl feel a bit shy.
“This is a magical tool my father gave me when I was little. Its effect is to bind someone for ten minutes. But with your magical prowess, Ain, you should be able to break free easily, right?”
Hearing Erylin's explanation, Ain was just about to channel his mana when his cheek was suddenly cupped by Erylin's slender, delicate hands.
“Wait... don't break free just yet...”
“Like this... is actually quite nice...”
Erylin's gaze lingered on Ain, only to flit away in a panic a split second before meeting his eyes. This bashful, push-and-pull attitude added an indescribable charm and cuteness to her.
Ain blinked in disbelief.
Looking down at the girl beneath him, whose silver hair was softly spread across the bed, Erylin tried her best to stiffen her face and put on a serious expression. However, her slightly red earlobes and shy demeanor betrayed her.
Such an exquisite and lovely sight made Ain's breath hitch, and his heart couldn't stop pounding wildly.
No, no, no, this isn't right!
Lillian, where is Lillian?
Save me, save me!
My base is about to get stolen!
Ain could hardly believe that Erylin harbored romantic feelings for him.
Based on her personality in the original game, it was absolutely impossible for her to fall for him over something like this.
But recalling the first vision Lola had shown him, Ain suppressed his embarrassment and asked a question that made him feel incredibly narcissistic.
“Miss Erylin, I'd like to ask, just in case...”
“You don't happen to... like me, do you?”
Erylin froze for a moment, then couldn't help but cover her mouth and burst into a soft giggle.
“Ain, why do you love joking around so much...”
“Aren't you and Lillian a couple? How could I possibly like you?”
Ain breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness.
But what was with this feeling of mixed anticipation and disappointment?
“I just wanted to thank you properly...”
Erylin's voice was incredibly gentle.
“If you hadn't saved Lillian, I really don't know what I would have done...”
“She is one of the most important people to me, but now, you are too.”
“I'm really happy that Lillian found someone like you to rely on.”
“Miss Erylin, what's with this motherly act...”
Ignoring Ain's remark, Erylin took out a bottle of blue magic potion from her waist and prepared to drip it into her eyes.
Ain asked in confusion, “What are you doing?”
“Didn't we make a promise earlier?”
Erylin looked at him seriously.
“I'm going to cry for you.”
Cold sweat dripped from Ain's forehead.
If someone suddenly walked in right now, he wouldn't be able to clear his name even in eight lifetimes, would he?
Miss Erylin, did you lock the door?
...
At a desk, a mature man wrote the final stroke on a letter. Looking at his masterpiece, a trace of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.
Then, the man pushed back his chair, stood up, and stretched comfortably. He meticulously smoothed out his lapels and adjusted his cuffs, ensuring his noble attire was absolutely flawless.
“Orion, are you finished?”
A beautifully refined noblewoman gracefully appeared at the doorway. Her magnificent dress was layered and complex, clearly the result of careful dressing.
The man called Orion turned to look. The noblewoman's delicate facial features actually bore a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to Erylin's.
“Adela, my dear Adela, you are as beautiful as ever today.”
Adela chuckled, seeing right through Orion.
“Every time you praise someone, you don't actually mean a word of it, do you?”
“Right now, you're definitely only thinking about Erylin.”
“How could that be...”
“You've been nagging about her since two weeks ago, asking me every single day when she'd be back, even though you already knew the exact date.”
Orion didn't deny it. He truly missed his precious daughter.
“My Lord, My Lady!”
A flurry of hurried footsteps echoed as a maid arrived before them, panting for breath.
“My Lady, My Lady has brought friends back!”
Orion looked incredibly happy and said, “That is wonderful news. I believe Erylin mentioned her in her letters. Her name is... Lillian, correct?”
The maid nodded first, but then quickly spoke up.
“No, no, My Lord!”
“Aside from Miss Lillian, there's someone else!”
“The more friends, the merrier. Surely a family as large as ours can accommodate a few guests?”
“Alright, no need to say more. Let Adela and me go welcome them.”
“But, it's a man!”
“A man? What about a man...”
Orion froze for a moment, then turned to look at Adela, who was equally startled.
“Erylin brought... a boyfriend home?”
Adela's face was filled with excitement.
She had urged Erylin more than once to keep an eye out for boys she liked at the academy. These were a girl's most precious golden years. If she didn't even have a decent relationship, what was the point of attending the academy at all?
One should experience romance while in school. If she didn't gain some experience in discerning sincere intentions early on, she might easily be fooled by men with ulterior motives once she left the academy's protection!
My good daughter, you've finally opened your eyes!
Let Mother see what kind of boy you've picked out this time!
Unlike Adela, Orion looked as if all the strength had been drained from his body. He stood frozen on the spot, staring blankly ahead, his face a mask of despair.
The sweet, obedient daughter who used to cling to him since she was little had actually brought a boyfriend home?
Orion began to recall various scenes of Erylin from her childhood.
“Daddy, when I grow up, I'm going to protect you!”
“Daddy, this is delicious, eat more! Don't sleep too late tonight!”
“Daddy, I want to hear a story...”
At this moment, Orion had only one thought left in his mind.
His lively, kind, and sweet little girl, whose entire world used to revolve around him, had been easily stolen away by someone else.
“Who... is... that... bastard?!”
“I'm going to slaughter that little brat!”
Rate on N.U.
