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 .