Everything Was a Mistake

It would be better if I didn’t know, but now I have the knowledge that the other party is Alice and that she may still have Ed in her heart. I couldn’t bear the guilt over the cowardly subject, so I had a bitter smile around my mouth.

“The day we drank together, you’ve been thinking about her name, haven’t you? It doesn’t seem like you said it on purpose, but it doesn’t seem like a really thoughtless mistake.”

“That’s….”

“Because you miss her. You want to ask me something.”

If you think about it, it’s a little odd that Aaron, a great knight, had his tongue loosened because he was drunk.

However, I didn’t think he had purposely put Alice’s name in his mouth.

All he can gain by saying “Alice’s tombstone” to me is the confusion of Roa Valrose.

Furthermore, Aaron would have been more straightforward if he wanted to tell me about Alice. He was not a cowardly and uncourageous person who spoke with a grain of salt, hoping that his opponent would notice what he wanted.

So maybe, he’s been thinking about it.

The story of Alice and her close friend, me. Perhaps I am aware of Alice’s circumstances.

Like that.

Well, this is all a guess.

Whether I was drunk with the atmosphere or with my mood, I felt like the thoughts I made were facts.

But, as if denying me, Aaron had a hard face like never before. Perhaps with a face that shuts my heart more tightly than when I was confronting Nocton a little while ago.

“It was a mistake. My alcohol tolerance isn’t high. But even if it wasn’t a mistake, what does it mean? Whatever the name of the dead person, it’s—”

“Alice. Alice Limorand.”

“—it’s a different person. She only has the same name, I even saw her tombstone. What nonsense are you talking about, a dead person coming back to life and becoming the daughter of Duke Limorand?”

“I thought it was weird that you were avoiding her. You’ve been avoiding her like you’re afraid to meet her beyond just being shy. It wasn’t just because she was mentioned as a marriage partner, I heard it through your mouth. Then why did you avoid her?”

“Not without a reason, at least not for that. Roa, just by having the same name—”

“You’re sure, Aaron.”

There was still a piece of puzzle in my head that didn’t fit perfectly.

But in my heart, I was already convinced that Aaron’s person was Alice.

Seeing his red eyes refuting me mixed with strange feelings, I became even more convinced.

The impulse pushed me back and I grabbed Aaron’s shirt collar, pulled him in the face and whispered.

“She’s the woman you love.”

Being so close as to breathe, it was also evident that his pupils were shaking greatly.

That was Aaron’s answer and Aaron’s true intention.

As I expected, he was not a fool who mistook his person for someone else, even though she had the same face and same name.

However, the only honest thing is the beautiful red eyes.

He politely took my hand off the collar, clearly revealing his agitation.

“I don’t need another story, Roa. The only answer to the proposal is yes or no.”

Like a camouflage to hide his inner self, he spoke in a more determined voice with a firmer face. The words sounded unintentionally sincere. The voice did not tremble, and the agitated eyes stopped firmly.

What should I say after seeing Aaron like that?

Deep down in my heart began to tickle.

I’ve done enough.

I even brought up her name, but Aaron denied it.

He said that she wasn’t Alice, and that the person he loved was dead.

In fact, there was nothing more to do.

Maybe Aaron won’t be tied up with Alice.

In < He and Alice >, it was almost certain that Alice and Aaron would continue their love story, but since many things have already changed, there is nothing to be sure of now.

If I say I won’t marry him, and then he’s married to another woman, neither I nor Alice, I would definitely regret it.

It will be painful.

Even without such minor jealousy, there was an important purpose in thinking that I would not be able to let him go, whether or not he was bound up with Alice.

Nocton Edgar. The villain of < He and Alice > who burned Roa Valrose at the stake after he used her.

My childhood friend.

The idea that I need him to be safe from Nocton remains the same.

He said he will protect me, he said he will marry me.

I can’t argue that it’s right for someone who doesn’t, and I can’t just talk about Alice’s situation.

I couldn’t even explain that I knew the story of Alice and Ed since I couldn’t mention the original novel.

At this point, the minimum standards for self-justification are over.

“I think it’s this way to bring up the proposal first, Aaron. Okay, I’ll answer.”

I really wanted to nod my head.

I was afraid of the Nocton, afraid of being killed, and afraid that my end would be the same as the original.

Nevertheless, fear wasn’t the only kind of emotion I had to choose from.

I had a guilty conscience, like anyone else, I had love for my friend, I had a nervousness that I didn’t want to disappoint, and I had a reflection on my misjudgment.

“I’m sorry to tell you the unfortunate news, you were dumped.”

I had self-pride enough not to steal other person’s man.

“But—”

“Don’t talk anymore. It’s a waste of letting you go while I’m talking, and I feel stupid. It looks like there’s not too much to revert in 10 seconds. No, I’m not asking you to persuade me.”

“Roa.”

“But thank you for saying you’ll marry me. I’m sorry I tried to joke around with those words, and….”

I breathed a long sigh.

How many times have I been sighing?

Still, unlike a while ago, the coarseness of my heart came out in my breath. I felt much better.

“It’s my fault, Aaron.”

“I don’t think it’s your fault. No, it is my part that I have to apologize, I have changed my mind and proposed to you without a love confession.”

“It’s not about being right or wrong. You don’t have to put words behind you. I was happy. And it’s nice to hear that you’re going to protect me. I feel like I have a very strong … brother.”

I might add that he was like Alroy, but I kept my mouth shut because I thought he might feel strange. It may sound weird to say that he’s like an older sister.

Let’s save our talk before we get closer.

“Once again, I wasn’t joking.”

“I know, but what can I do. It was your order. If you wanted to say that in the first place, you should’ve told me when we first met, I had a lot of desire to marry you back then. “

“Is it different now?”

“I can only feel like we’re brother and sister.”

Aaron, who had a stiff face all the time, burst into laughter. I couldn’t understand what was funny, but the laughter was loud and high.

Dyed in a sad, dejected color.

Hearing the laugh, I was sure I made a choice.

“By the way, is that about half a year ago? So …. you saw the tombstone right before you got engaged to me. No wonder you bent your knee and it doesn’t look normal. “

“That’s an undeniable story.”

“So did time heal you?”

“My mind healed me.”

He seems relaxed enough to joke around.

I pulled my knees in my arms and leaned my face on them.

“Why do you pretend you don’t know Alice?”

“Because it’s not her. “

“Why did you choose my side of the marriage?”

“I told you, I thought you’d say no.”

“If you keep pretending you don’t know, Aaron.”

I remembered that Nocton said he would not be engaged to Alice, but he only told me anyway. A story that neither Aaron nor Alice knows, only me.

“She may become Nocton’s bride.”

So this was a lie, but what about it. It’s not just about making fun of Aaron, it’s a white lie.

I laughed when I saw Aaron’s eyes shaking with a hardened face.

Aaron’s face, which immediately changed, was just funny as he portrayed the devil of the century as Nocton, the most wanted bachelor of the Empire.

Without trying to hold back my laughter, I laughed out loud.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with you or what happened, but think about it. That’s a really serious problem.”

“….Roa, as I said a little while ago.”

“Yes, it’s a different person. I heard it because I have ears too. But Aaron, even if it’s not that person, Alice is my friend. You may not be interested in her because she has nothing to do with you. No matter what happens to her when she marries Nocton, I’m sure you’re not concerned because you have nothing to do with it. No, but isn’t it too much to say that to your fiancée’s best friend?”

“That, Roa … I’ve never said that….”

He couldn’t say anything, but his lips were burning. His face, neck, and fingertips were scarlet, perhaps because of his embarrassment.

Yeah, just because Aaron is straightforward doesn’t mean I have to act in direct manner.

I gave up making Aaron confess that Alice is his first love by his own mouth.

Instead, I decided to introduce my friend to Aaron.

“Aaron is my fiancé. So please be nice to my friend. Not to your first love, but to my friend Alice. Don’t go around so much because you don’t want to see her. “

“When did I say that? I’m just—”

“What?”

“….I understand.”

It’s not that Aaron’s approval is the only way to make the two meet. I just opened my mouth spontaneously, but it seemed the best way to say it.

Well, once the matter with Nocton is done, I can make an arrangement.

I laughed at Aaron sighing.

And Aaron’s acting as if he’s in trouble, pretending his troublesome sigh, but the corners of his mouth are in a huddle….

Oh, I was going to tease him, but he covered his mouth.

He turned his head, still covering his mouth with his big hand.

You don’t even know the exposed nape of your neck is dyed red, my foolish friend.

“”Roa, this may sound very strange.”

“Tell me, Aaron.”

“If I hadn’t met Alice, I would have loved you.”

“Oh …. that’s a great compliment. As expected, you are caught in prejudice. I fear that someone is an old-fashioned knight.”

“Yes?”

Only

“Don’t you remember what I said a little while ago?”

I wanted to get my face back, but it was too much for a friend to do, so I just looked straight ahead and said.

“I love you, as a friend.”

The sound of holding one’s breath, a moment’s silence, the sound of a needle spinning.

And.

“Yes, Roa.”

A simple answer.

It was a satisfying moment.