/

Chapter 259




Chapter 259
I Favor the Villainess .  259
Feb 17 2021
Memory Lapse
“W-who…? Manaria-sama, that’s a joke, right?”
Forcing a strained smile, I asked Manaria-sama .
Because, I mean, there was no way that Manaria-sama would forget about Claire-sama .
To her, Claire-sama should be her important… important…?
“Nothing of the sort, I really don’t know . Rather than that, the first name out of your mouth after waking up isn’t that of Lily’s or my own, but another woman’s?”
“Ah… uhm…”
“Well, it’s fine . So? That Claire, who is she?”
Claire-sama is… Claire-sama is…
“I wonder…?”
As though it was a phrase I’d use on a daily basis, my mouth seemed to remember something .
Though everything had been connected in my head just moments before, it felt as though it had all suddenly vanished .
Even though I was certain… I was certain that the name was important to me .
“You can’t remember?”
“Yes… However, I do get the feeling that it’s the name of someone very precious . ”
“I’m quite jealous . If even I feel that way, I’m sure things would get messy if Lily were to hear that, so I think it’s best if you don’t say the same thing in front of her . ”
“Why?”
What did she mean that things would get messy if I said the same thing in front of Lily-sama?
“… Are you sure you’re okay, Rei? Isn’t Lily your lover?”
Manaria-sama spoke with clear worry .
Lover…?
Lily-sama is…?
Was that really how things were?
“Lily-sama and I…?”
“… Your condition seems quite severe . Perhaps it’s best you don’t meet with Lily until you settle down a bit . If she were to see you in this state, I’m sure she’d lose herself . ”
Manaria-sama doubled down on her concern .
“Manaria-sama, do you happen to know how my relationship with Lily-sama began?”
“Of course . I’ve heard it more than enough, it’s quite the famous tale actually . Isn’t that right, Revolutionary Maiden?”
Revolutionary Maiden―I seemed to remember hearing that title before .
“It seems my memories are vague, could I ask you to recount the events?”
“Of course . Though I never feel great talking about my rival in love . ”
Slipping in such a jest, she told me the story of how Lily-sama and I started our relationship .
Though I listened, I was having trouble internalizing the story . It honestly felt as though the story was about someone else .
I was a commoner that attended Bauer’s Royal Academy and I had been quite critical about the gap in wealth between nobles and commoners .
I thought that I could use the Spirit Church’s operations as a reference in finding better ways to redistribute wealth . It was during that time that I had met Lily-sama .
As Lily-sama and I were both homosexual, we quickly hit it off and began acting together .
Our bond continued to deepen as we resolved one of the secrets that burdened the Royal Palace, Yuu-sama’s gender dysphoria . Then, accepting an order from the late king, Rousseau, we went on to expose corrupt nobles .
With some discrete help from a prominent noble, Dor François, we were able to expose many misdeeds . After the eruption of Mount Sassal, we threw ourselves into the revolution .
There were many times where Lily-sama faced danger in the revolution, but we overcame those together, and finally, were united… It seemed that was the gist of things .
“Have you remembered?”
“Y-yes…”
It seems those events had really happened .
Those memories were certainly inside me .
However, for some reason, those memories just didn’t seem like my own .
They felt off, as though someone had somehow forced them onto me .
“Make sure you sort things out before you meet with Lily, okay? If you don’t you’ll make her cry again . ”
“You really worry for her…”
“Of course I would, she’s something of a little sister to me after all . ”
Manaria-sama offered an affectionate smile .
Manaria-sama’s… little sister .
―Onee-sama…!
Something seemed to flash through the back of my mind .
However, when I tried to take a hold of it, it disappeared as though it were a mirage .
What was that?
Something is… wrong .
“Well, if you did happen to forget, that would mean I’d get another chance . Perhaps it wouldn’t be such a bad thing―”
“I-I won’t forgive such a thing, alright!?”
“Ah, she’s here . ”
As Manaria-sama began her usual sweet talk, the one who interrupted her was my beloved Lily-sama .
When she looked at me, I could see tears building up,
“R-rei-san! I was so worriedー!”
“Gah, oof!?”
Even as I remained on the bed, she rushed toward me and dove into a hug .
With physical strength that did not match her appearance, she tightened her grasp on me .
“Lily-sama, I give, I give!”
“G-give? Ah, did it mean that you wanted me to give it to you? G-geez… to desire me while the sun is still so high… B-but that’s the Rei-san that Lily―”
“Hey now, what are you two trying to start? It’s still the middle of the day, not to mention I’m right here with you two . ”
“M-manaria-sama, please read the mood…”
“It’s because I read the mood that I stopped you though . At this rate, Rei’s going to suffocate . ”
“Ah, eh? Wawawa!? I’m so sorry, Rei-san!”
“Phew… I really thought I was going to die…”
Finally able to breathe, I gasped for air .
“Uu… Lily’s gone and done it again . ”
“It’s what always happens, isn’t it? I’m not bothered by it . ”
“Uu…”
“I’m okay, so come here . ”
Just like I always had, I pulled Lily-sama toward me, wrapping my arms around her petite, soft body in an embrace .
“Sorry that I caused you to worry . Good morning, Lily-sama . ”
“R-really, I was really worried, you know! I’m so glad that you woke up…”
Burying her face in my chest, she sniffled, fighting her tears .
“Oh my, really flaunting your status aren’t you?”
“It’s not like you’re being forced to look, Manaria-sama . ”
“You say that, but we have lots to discuss about what happens from here on . ”
“From here on?”
“Yeah . For example, the ceremony . ”
“T-that’s right! Rei-san’s woke up, so we can finally have it!”
Lily-sama’s face instantly lit up in response to Manaria-sama’s words .
“Ceremony?”
A ceremony in commemoration of the defeat of the Three Great Archdukes . It seems we’ll be hailed as heroes, Rei . ”
“L-lily, Mei-chan, and Alea-chan too!”
“Yeah . ”
Come to think of it, that’s right .
We had been fighting the Demon’s Rulers, the Three Great Archdukes .
It seemed that the age-long conflict between demons and humans had finally come to an end .
“Rei and Lily, you both already have your accolades from the revolution, so this is just doubling down . With this I’m certain that your names will not remain in Bauer’s history books, but in the records of all human history as well .
“I don’t really care for myself, but I’m happy that Lily-sama is receiving recognition . ”
“R-rei-san…!”
Lily-sama covered her face in embarrassment .
How cute .
She’s cute but… but what is this, I feel as though something’s missing .
“Where are Mei and Alea?”
When I asked that,
“T-they had been asleep for a really long time as well, but just two weeks ago, they woke up . ”
“Didn’t you bring them with you?”
“K-kindergarten has already resumed… Of course they were really worried about Rei-san, but I didn’t think it would be good if all they did was worry . ”
It seemed that time moved on mercilessly .
It didn’t cater to the internal workings of the people who lived within it .
Living, to some degree, would require compromise .
“A-are you angry…?”
Lily-sama asked timidly .
Putting on a wry smile,
“There’s no way that I’d be angry . Thank you for protecting our home while I was sleeping . ”
Things would be fine as long as we didn’t forget what should not be forgotten .
She had protected that .
Once again pulling Lily-sama into an embrace, I kissed her on the forehead .
However,
“Mmghー…”
Lily-sama seemed dissatisfied .
“W-what’s wrong?”
“W-why the forehead? L-like always, please kiss me on the lips…”
Lily-sama pout .
That part of her was very cute as well .
Our faces approached once more, so Lily-sama and I could kiss .
Her light pink lips drew me in .
However― .
“I’m sorry . It seems I’m still not at my best, could you let me rest for a little more?”
That line was what came out of my mouth .
“Ah… sorry . Yes please, go ahead and rest . Come on, Manaria-sama, we should go!”
“Okay, okay . Then, Rei, we’ll leave the rest to the staff at the treatment facility . Once the date of the ceremony has been decided, we’ll come let you know . ”
“Yes, please do . ”
Pushed away by Lily-sama, the two left the room .
My surroundings suddenly sank to silence .
Laying down, I covered myself with the blanket .
“I see… so a bunch of things came to an end . ”
Having defeated the Three Great Archdukes, the battle with the demons had ended .
The Empire’s aggressive foreign policies had also changed, so it seemed that the world would become quite peaceful .
Though the ceremony or whatever would be annoying, all that was left was to return home with Lily-sama, Mei and Alea and fulfill the promise that we had made .
―Rei, this time, I will fulfill my promise to you .
Suddenly someone’s voice echoed within my head .
However, I couldn’t remember who the voice belonged to .
“It must be Lily-sama’s voice, right?”
I couldn’t think of anyone else who I’d make such an important promise with .
There wasn’t any room for doubt .
I wasn’t at all anxious .
That’s how things should’ve been .
And yet― .
“Something… I feel like I’m forgetting something really important . ”
I felt as though a hole had opened within my chest, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t erase that ache .