If You Cheat, Just Don’t Tell Me - Chapter 24

“Dicca Regis… What are you doing here?” (Freya)

The time when the date would change was approaching.

The members of the Spirits family, including me, and the members of the Fidel family, including Lucius, had gathered in one room to face each other.

When both hands of the clock hanging in the room pointed to the top, the contract between the Spirits and Fidel families would be sealed. Once the documents were exchanged, it would become an official agreement. After that, we would go to the Regis family to request the annulment of the engagement.

No matter how it appeared on the surface, this engagement had essentially been initiated by our side. To unilaterally cancel it, the Regis family’s impression of us would undoubtedly suffer, no need to even think about it.

My father, sitting next to me on the sofa, was deep in conversation with the head of the Fidel family—Lucius’s father. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the mental space to listen to their conversation, so I had no idea what they were saying.

I… sigh. Even though I knew I had to face reality hours ago, I still haven’t been able to convince my heart.

Marrying for the family’s sake is a noble’s duty. I understand that. Even if I marry into the Fidel family, I probably won’t be treated poorly. Financially speaking, there’s no doubt I’d be better off than if I married Dicca.

To the girls my age at school, comparing Dicca and Lucius must seem utterly ridiculous.

But to me, Dicca is the boy I first fell in love with, and even now, my feelings for him haven’t changed.

I love Dicca’s smile. I love Dicca’s voice. The way he acts carefree but is actually serious. How he’s not used to being praised and shrinks a little when he is. How everyone adores him, and the clumsy kindness he occasionally shows.

I love that broad back when he gave me a ride on his motorcycle.

Leaning against that back was the most secure I’ve ever felt in my entire life.

—But today, I have to say goodbye to these feelings. I must resolve to tuck away my love for Dicca deep in my heart and from now on, behave as Lucius’s fiancée and a member of the Fidel family.

“Have you sorted out your feelings?”

Lucius spoke to me as I sat with my eyes downcast, lost in thought. I opened my eyes and turned to face him, and there was that same shallow smile as always.

Once I become a member of the Fidel family, maybe I’ll start by trying to wipe that shallow smile off his face, I thought as I replied.

“…Yes. I am a noble’s daughter, after all. For the family’s sake—”

Just as I was about to say that, the Fidel mansion suddenly grew noisy. The voices of servants trying to stop someone, and a man’s voice that sounded vaguely familiar. Then came a clattering, noisy sound, like hard metal scraping.

“What’s…? Hey, what’s going on!”

Lucius’s father demanded an explanation from a servant. The servant hurried off to check.

At this moment, just before the date changed, the commotion made a look of irritation appear on Lucius’s face.

Watching this, I became aware of my heart pounding like a rapid drumbeat.

I know it’s impossible. My head understands that such a thing couldn’t happen.

Because, really. The last time I had a proper conversation with him was in that classroom after school. And even then, I was the one who made him angry.

He has no reason to do anything for me. I know there’s nothing a mere student like him could do.

“I sent a notice ahead! …It didn’t arrive? I went through the guild, there’s no way it didn’t! Step aside! I just have business with the people in that room up ahead!”

Once you let yourself hope, there’s no going back.

…To think I still have the heart of a common maiden like this?

Ignoring the servants’ attempts to stop him, the door was thrown open violently.

A man entered with loud, stomping footsteps.

“It seems you haven’t exchanged the official documents yet?”

What in the world had he been doing? His clothes, the ones he always wore for monster subjugation work, were torn in places and stained with blood. He looked like he could barely stand, yet his eyes held a strength that belied that.

“Dicca…!?”

Dicca, who had forced his way past the servants into the room, turned his gaze toward me at the sound of my voice.

“Hey, Freya. That’s a pretty dress you’re wearing.”

“P-pretty…! That’s not the point!”

As I flustered at his sudden remark, Dicca placed a bag he was carrying onto the table.

Even though he hadn’t thrown it, it made a clattering sound of metal scraping together, conveying its weight.

“Who are you!? How did you get in!?”

“How…? Just through the front. Actually, a notice should’ve come from the guild? Did you suppress it?”

Lucius’s father protested toward Dicca, but his voice trembled slightly. Well, faced with Dicca clearly fresh from some violent affair, it’s no wonder. Even normally, his stern face made him unapproachable, but now, Dicca was even more so.

…Heh. How strange. Even though nothing’s been resolved yet. Just having Dicca nearby somehow made my heart feel lighter.

“Dicca Regis… What are you doing here?”

Lucius stood up and closed in on Dicca. It was only then that I noticed Dicca was taller.

Standing side by side… well, of course, Dicca, who trains his body and often engages in rough work, appeared larger than the actual difference in their status.

“You’ll know if you look inside that bag.”

At those words, Lucius’s father opened the bag to check its contents.

“T-this is…!”

The bag opened, and unable to bear the weight, the contents spilled out. With a jingling cascade like a waterfall, round objects shining like the sun were unmistakably.

“G-gold royal crowns…!”

A mountain of the most valuable coins in this country.

“With this much, there’s no way it’s not enough for the debt, right? I’m giving all this gold to the Spirits family, so use it to repay the debt.”

As Dicca grinned and said that, my heart—