This world allows for polygamy to some extent, but that doesn’t mean it can be taken lightly. In order for a husband to take another woman, in other words, a concubine, he must obtain the wife’s permission, and if not, it’s considered adultery, which can’t be condoned.
However, the nobility fundamentally have a sense of being different from commoners and possess powerful authority, which makes their moral values relatively lower. As their power increases, this tendency becomes stronger.
For these reasons, high-ranking nobles are aware of their authority and power and engage in immoral actions. The absence of moral values in marital relationships can have very serious consequences.
Adultery is prevalent in noble society for these reasons, and the fact that rumors don’t spread widely is also due to this. If someone takes steps to prevent loose talk, that’s the end of it.
Of course, when you look at it proportionally, there are many cases where even in arranged marriages, the partners hold each other in high regard. Arranged marriages are often like contractual relationships, so if one party makes a mistake, the consequences can hurt them.
Surprisingly, there are also cases where the wife encourages her husband to take a concubine. It might be because the wife has issues with bearing offspring or perhaps the husband’s stamina and affection are so intense that it’s difficult to accept it day by day.
While the former might be understandable, the latter may sound somewhat comical, but it happens more often than you might think in this world. Even young Isaac, who had only received basic knight training and had holy power, possessed the strength to overpower Cecily on their first night together.
Even when Marie, who exploded with jealousy over Leona’s situation, and Cecily, who had fun watching it, attacked in tandem, it took some effort, but he withstood it.
I made some unnecessary comments for a moment, but the very fact that the jealous Marie couldn’t help but feel a little dissatisfied. From the moment she accepted Cecily, it had been quite a journey, and now, because of that darned culture, she had to accept Leona.
Even though she had no sexual knowledge, there was even Kate, who blatantly asked for a child. Instead, she found comfort in the fact that her human relationships had collapsed in a different sense.
However, as Isaac’s first lover and the person who would become his first wife in the future, it was only natural to complain. If it were revealed in the distant future that Isaac was Xenon, there might be cases where she ‘had to’ accept another woman, but that wasn’t the case now.
Cecily was content with just being connected to Isaac, but Marie always felt a sense of crisis. With the atmosphere of Adelia, the knight escort, being unsettling enough, she absolutely couldn’t accept the idea of another woman coming into the picture.
Receiving Isaac’s sincere affection during the day and experiencing the pleasure mixed with affection at night was something she could never forget. As a result, she couldn’t tolerate the thought of sharing that with someone else.
At the same time, she felt fortunate. She was the first to learn about Isaac. If someone else had known first, she would have had to take a different approach.
Furthermore, the fact that she was of noble descent as the future Duchess of Requilis added a solid layer of protection. Thanks to that alone, no other woman dared to approach Isaac.
Not to mention, Isaac may not know it, but he was already quite famous within the class. A year ago, he drew attention because of his unique combination of red hair and golden eyes, but now, as he has grown into a charismatic young man, his attractiveness has risen even further.
In fact, he’s become the kind of guy that female classmates talk about wanting to date at least once. Isaac, who is busy with his duties as a student assistant, remained oblivious to this fact, and occasional rumors have heightened Marie’s stress.
Of course, even that stress disappears like melting snow the moment she sees Isaac’s face. But sometimes, she lightly pinches Isaac’s cheek for this very reason.
“…So, how many wives does this make?”
“It’s not like that.”
But she had not expected a new student at all. Marie looked at Cherry, the girl with pink hair standing beside Isaac, and asked in a resigned voice.
Isaac insisted it was all a misunderstanding, that he just wanted to introduce a junior he liked, and there was no ulterior motive. But Marie, as well as Cecily and Rina, who were watching, had skeptical expressions.
There was another difference here. Cecily, in a situation similar to Marie’s, couldn’t help but force a smile in an awkward situation. However, Rina, being a third party, found it interesting and watched. She had always thought that watching a fire across the river was the most fun, and that was exactly the situation she was in now.
In the meantime, Marie, full of complaints, clenched her fist and looked up and down at Cherry, who was hesitating. Her height was average, but… her chest was noticeably large, to the point of being striking.
When she glanced at Cecily’s chest next to her, it was almost the same. Both of them were vehemently demanding that they be saved from their uniforms.
Marie’s chest was by no means small and was larger than average, but these two were truly beyond comparison. What could make them grow so big?
Even Leona, who confidently declared herself as a wife, seemed, at first glance, to be about the same size as herself. Thanks to this newfound realization, Marie asked Isaac straightforwardly.
“Does Isaac like women with big breasts?”
“Why is that question suddenly coming up?”
“Just answer first.”
“…I do like them.”
Once again, he couldn’t lie. Well, now that everything’s out in the open, he probably won’t.
Marie looked at Isaac, who blushed slightly and answered, and she chuckled. She always liked that about him, his honesty. The face was just an accessory.
The question about how many wives he will have just asked was just a joke anyway, a kind of revenge. Given that he had been involved with so many women lately, partly due to jealousy, she decided to tease him a little.
However, except for Cherry’s slightly unusual condition, Marie couldn’t help but notice. She shifted her gaze from Isaac, who was scratching his cheek uncomfortably, to Cherry.
If you looked at her pink hair and eyes, it was clear that the Roseberry family, known as a philosophical lineage even within the Minerva Empire, had a unique style. If the Requilis family was known for their snow-white hair, the Roseberry family was all about pink.
But, there was something, or rather, something was lacking in her eyes. Whether it was a lack of vitality or a lack of enthusiasm, her eyes looked gloomy. Marie, who didn’t know Cherry’s situation, wondered if she had always been like that.
“Did you say your name is Cherry? Are you a freshman?”
“Y-yes…”
Her voice was beautiful, just like her appearance, but there was no enthusiasm in it. Marie, as well as the others, wore expressions of curiosity as if they had noticed something strange about her.
However, not knowing her situation well, Marie considered it as an aspect of her personality. After all, Isaac had introduced her, and they needed to find a place to sit first.
“Let’s move to another spot for now. Are we going to our usual place?”
“That sounds good. Cherry?”
“Yes…”
In response to Isaac’s call, Cherry cautiously watched their reactions and waited for them to move first. It seemed like she intended to follow them rather than taking the lead. Even though there was a creed of equality within the academy, authority still held its place. Marie was the daughter of the Duke of Requilis, Rina was a princess, and Cecily was the princess of Helium.
Marie would have liked to invite Cherry to walk alongside them, but now there was Rina. In a situation where she didn’t know anything about Cherry, it would be disrespectful to stand beside her without good reason.
The result was that Cherry followed the group, trotting along behind them. Occasionally, she spoke, not ignoring Rina, but there was something slightly unusual about it.
It was the fact that she followed only Isaac, just like a baby bird. She hadn’t even kept her distance; she had approached so closely that it could become intimate. She seemed to want to touch Isaac’s long hair and her hands even fidgeted.
It was a suspicious sight to anyone, and not only Marie but Cecily also looked at it strangely. Isaac and Rina were in the middle of a conversation, completely unaware of Cherry’s close approach.
So, without saying a word, Marie and Cecily simultaneously looked at each other. They didn’t speak, but they understood what each other was thinking.
That girl, Cherry, undoubtedly had romantic feelings for Isaac. They were women who loved the same man, so it was strange not to know.
Right now, they needed Isaac’s introduction, so they would remain silent for now, but if the opportunity arose, they would inquire. With such thoughts in mind, the two women moved on to the restaurant they frequented.
After a while, they arrived at the restaurant, and just before opening the door and entering, Marie took the lead in what appeared to be some sort of operation(?).
“Ah, right. Isaac. Can I ask you for a favor?”
“What’s the favor?”
“I think I left my pen in the classroom. If you go with Rina, she’ll know which one it is.”
At the same time, Marie subtly signaled Rina as well. Although Rina was suddenly singled out, she quickly understood the situation and nodded her head.
“You mean that? Alright, I’ll go with Isaac to look for it. I’ll come back if it’s not there.”
“It’s a relief if it’s not there. You mentioned your name is Cherry, right? You can wait with us.”
“Oh, uh…”
Perhaps she was anxious about the sudden situation of having to separate from Isaac. Cherry hesitated, glancing between Marie and Isaac. Her pink eyes, trembling like an earthquake, looked quite pitiful. However, the situation seemed to have taken a turn since meeting Isaac. Isaac pondered what to do and quietly replied.
“…Alright.”
“Great. Then we’ll go in first.”
“Okay. I’ll be back quickly.”
Time had passed. As Marie watched, Isaac and Rina walked away into the distance and waved them goodbye. Then, she looked at Cherry with a bright smile and urged her.
“Shall we go inside?”
“Yes…”
Although she appeared somewhat uneasy, she followed Marie’s lead. They followed their usual routine and found a soundproof room before taking their seats.
Marie and Cecily sat side by side, leaving an empty space in the middle, across where Cherry ended up sitting. Cherry’s self-esteem seemed to take a hit as she realized she wasn’t sitting next to Isaac, and her head drooped.
Marie gave her a puzzled look, and Cecily simply stared at her in silence. From their first impression, it was clear that Cherry had no self-confidence.
Marie began to wonder what circumstances could lead a person like her to act as if she depended on Isaac. Growing more curious, Marie softly spoke up.
“Your name is Cherry, right? Cherry Blossom Roseberry. I’ve heard of the Roseberry family. They’re famous for their philosophy.”
“Uh, yes.”
When Marie mentioned her family, Cherry responded with a tremble in her body. Her two hands lowered down, tightly grasping the hem of her skirt.
Even from a distance, Marie could tell that Cherry was putting in effort to stay calm, so she stared at her without a word. In the past, she had met with Viscount Roseberry, who had come as an author, but he seemed like an ordinary nobleman one might encounter anywhere.
He had the pride of a nobleman, but he was a unique man who tried to infuse his philosophy into everything. However, if Cherry’s reaction was so intense, it seemed like his qualifications as a father weren’t that great.
“How did you get to know Isaac?”
“…A letter.”
“Huh?”
“The letter… there was a red hair…”
At first, Marry couldn’t understand what that meant when she heard it, but soon realized its meaning. It must be a story about red hair being found in the letter. And during winter break, when she briefly stayed at Isaac’s mansion, they read the stack of fan letters piled high together. The same goes for Cecily, who was next to her.
Among those letters was a letter sent by Cherry, the one with the pink envelope. Isaac said she was one of the fans who sent him letters regularly. He wrote a reply to her, but, given his clumsy nature, it seems the hair got in there at the time. It’s not entirely impossible, but it was a bit absurd.
“Do you know who Isaac is, by any chance?”
In response to Mary’s bewildered question, Cherry simply nodded her head. Marie and Cecily exchanged looks of astonishment upon Cherry’s affirmation. Expressions filled with mixed doubt as to how were reflected in their eyes. Being certain that a single strand of hair appeared on a letter was insufficient evidence, no matter how you look at it.
“Only with a single strand of hair? That doesn’t make sense. Wait, did you keep that hair?”
“Yes.”
The more they delved into it, the more discomfort they felt about the girl named Cherry. It’s definitely not normal to keep a strand of hair when you would typically discard it.
Unless you were a real stalker, it’s impossible. Marie, sounding somewhat urgent, continued with her questions.
“Recognizing it with just that is not enough, right?”
“…Handwriting.”
“Handwriting?”
“The handwriting on the letter was exactly the same as Mr. Isaac’s…”
Isaac’s handwriting was elegant like that of a noble and meticulous like that of a writer. Each word was clear, and even if he wrote hastily, it still exuded grace.
But this couldn’t be considered entirely normal either. How can someone have such confidence in recognizing just their handwriting when there are so many people in the world?
The moment Marie realized that Cherry was quite different from the norm, she couldn’t help but be stunned.
Cherry, who had been fidgeting with her hands under the table, lifted her head to face the two women. In her distinctive, somber voice, she said.
“Isaac had partly approved. He found my manuscript interesting and said he would help.”
“Huh? Manuscript? What does that mean?”
“Were you a writer too?”
When the word “manuscript” was mentioned, not only Marie but also Cecily showed their curiosity. It seemed like this was probably the reason he wanted to introduce Cherry this time.
Cherry, observing the curious expressions on the two women’s faces, seemed hesitant to meet their gaze and lowered her head. Nevertheless, she wanted to speak and opened her mouth with a hesitant tone as if she wanted to be heard.
“My father… He tore my manuscript to shreds without even looking at it, and he stomped on it. But I kept holding on with the determination to somehow piece it back together and show it to Mr. Xenon…”
“…Wait a moment. You kept holding on?”
“Yes… If it weren’t for Isaac being Mr. Xenon, then perhaps…”
She didn’t finish her sentence, but Marie and Cecily could sense what she meant. Her voice, devoid of energy, and the deeply shadowed pupils in her eyes served as evidence of that.
The girl was in worse condition than they thought. Isaac revealing his identity is the reason for it happening here. If Isaac had avoided Cherry, wouldn’t there have been a sinister rumor spreading about a cold corpse in the dorm? Revealing his identity was equivalent to saving a person, given that context.
“…I see. That makes sense.”
“If that’s the case, there’s nothing we can do.”
And that explains why Cherry was attracted to Isaac. Not only did he try to fix the dreams shattered by her family, but he also supported her and offered help.
Furthermore, Marie suddenly became curious about how much persecution Cherry must have endured in her family to become so broken. To make a person like a puppet, there must have been an unimaginable amount of pressure.
Marie felt a certain emotion from her, but that was one thing, and this was another. No matter what, she didn’t want her to become Isaac’s woman. There were already too many.
In any case, she should ask for her opinion. Marie stared at Cherry with a perplexed expression and asked subtly.
“So, do you want to become Isaac’s wife or something like that?”
Cherry slowly raised her head in response to the question. Then, her eyes blinked slowly, and she cocked her head.
Following that, her previously tightly sealed lips opened.
“Me?”
As if she wondered why she would ask such a question.
“Dare to?”
Her self-esteem, which had hit rock bottom, was glaringly exposed. Marie could only be taken aback at hearing the answer. ‘Dare to?’ How little does she value herself to not even think of such a thing? Honestly, she could have aspirations, but something was amiss with her.
Just as Marie was starting to feel a little apprehensive, Cecily, who had been watching from the side, spoke in her characteristic seductive voice, as if sensing something.
“Hey. Wasn’t the one who had been following Isaac until now you?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
She freely confessed that she stalked without any intention to hide it. However, there was no trace of guilt on her face.
A heart that was completely shattered and barely mended can never return to normal. That was an utterly natural fact.
Cecily, after listening to Cherry’s answer, thought deeply and then asked another question.
“What about the gift? Lately, Isaac has been smelling like cherry blossoms. Was that your doing?”
“I gave him cherry blossom extract from our family.”
“But you did it without any feelings?”
“Someone like me?”
Once again, her self-esteem was laid bare. Cherry stared into Cecily’s red eyes and slowly spoke each word.
“I’m just happy with the fact that Isaac is here. His hair, scent, voice, face, warmth, and so on. I’m happy with just seeing, hearing, and feeling him.”
“… …”
“But I can’t have him, can I? Even though I adopted the pseudonym Mary, it’s impossible for it to truly continue. I’m just happy with him knowing of my existence.”
“Umm…”
Cecily looked at Cherry as if she had made a terrifying and insane statement. Marie was slowly retreating her chair, as if she were afraid.
Cecily shifted her gaze once more from Cherry and muttered inwardly.
‘…I think I get it.’
She had received salvation far too late.
*****
Meanwhile, as Isaac and Rina headed to the classroom as per Marie’s request, they walked comfortably, exchanging words without feeling awkward with each other through their improved relations.
Superficially, it appeared to be a conversation between the Baron’s son and the princess, so some passing people gave them strange looks. However, they could easily brush off this level of attention.
Isaac was also pleased that Rina had become more comfortable with him, and Rina, too, felt at ease knowing that her relationship with Isaac had improved.
However, when relationships improve, personal questions tend to arise. Rina gazed at Isaac, who had grown into a well-built young man, and curiously asked.
“By the way, Isaac, is your back okay? Last time, you and Marie and Cecily went together, right?”
“Ah, that’s fine… wait a moment.”
Isaac briefly recalled the past after hearing Rina’s question. Before Marie and Cecily teamed up, it was not Leona but Rina who was there. Rina didn’t mind mentioning his and her friends’ sexual life, as they often talked about it, so it wasn’t embarrassing, unlike in the past. However, asking a question like that was a bit peculiar. It was as if she knew everything about my sex life.
With a blink of his eye, Isaac looked at Rina with a questioning expression and asked.
“How do you know that?”
“Uh, what?”
“Back then, you weren’t there. It was Leona, not you. Didn’t you step out for a moment?”
“Uh, well, you see…”
Perhaps because it was an unexpected question, Rina began to ramble. Moreover, her face turned as red as a tomato.
Isaac raised one of his eyes to see the reaction, and then asked vaguely in an expectant voice.
“Rina. Are you…”
“No! I didn’t see it! It’s true! I’m not a pervert!”
“… …”
There’s a saying that strong negation is strong affirmation. I didn’t even finish my question.
Still, as she said, Rina wasn’t a pervert and she wasn’t the type of person to spy on him, so he should just move on.
“Whew…”
Beside him, Rina let out her sigh of relief, but let’s ignore this too.
Translators note:
Them bitches crazy
This world allows for polygamy to some extent, but that doesn’t mean it can be taken lightly. In order for a husband to take another woman, in other words, a concubine, he must obtain the wife’s permission, and if not, it’s considered adultery, which can’t be condoned.
However, the nobility fundamentally have a sense of being different from commoners and possess powerful authority, which makes their moral values relatively lower. As their power increases, this tendency becomes stronger.
For these reasons, high-ranking nobles are aware of their authority and power and engage in immoral actions. The absence of moral values in marital relationships can have very serious consequences.
Adultery is prevalent in noble society for these reasons, and the fact that rumors don’t spread widely is also due to this. If someone takes steps to prevent loose talk, that’s the end of it.
Of course, when you look at it proportionally, there are many cases where even in arranged marriages, the partners hold each other in high regard. Arranged marriages are often like contractual relationships, so if one party makes a mistake, the consequences can hurt them.
Surprisingly, there are also cases where the wife encourages her husband to take a concubine. It might be because the wife has issues with bearing offspring or perhaps the husband’s stamina and affection are so intense that it’s difficult to accept it day by day.
While the former might be understandable, the latter may sound somewhat comical, but it happens more often than you might think in this world. Even young Isaac, who had only received basic knight training and had holy power, possessed the strength to overpower Cecily on their first night together.
Even when Marie, who exploded with jealousy over Leona’s situation, and Cecily, who had fun watching it, attacked in tandem, it took some effort, but he withstood it.
I made some unnecessary comments for a moment, but the very fact that the jealous Marie couldn’t help but feel a little dissatisfied. From the moment she accepted Cecily, it had been quite a journey, and now, because of that darned culture, she had to accept Leona.
Even though she had no sexual knowledge, there was even Kate, who blatantly asked for a child. Instead, she found comfort in the fact that her human relationships had collapsed in a different sense.
However, as Isaac’s first lover and the person who would become his first wife in the future, it was only natural to complain. If it were revealed in the distant future that Isaac was Xenon, there might be cases where she ‘had to’ accept another woman, but that wasn’t the case now.
Cecily was content with just being connected to Isaac, but Marie always felt a sense of crisis. With the atmosphere of Adelia, the knight escort, being unsettling enough, she absolutely couldn’t accept the idea of another woman coming into the picture.
Receiving Isaac’s sincere affection during the day and experiencing the pleasure mixed with affection at night was something she could never forget. As a result, she couldn’t tolerate the thought of sharing that with someone else.
At the same time, she felt fortunate. She was the first to learn about Isaac. If someone else had known first, she would have had to take a different approach.
Furthermore, the fact that she was of noble descent as the future Duchess of Requilis added a solid layer of protection. Thanks to that alone, no other woman dared to approach Isaac.
Not to mention, Isaac may not know it, but he was already quite famous within the class. A year ago, he drew attention because of his unique combination of red hair and golden eyes, but now, as he has grown into a charismatic young man, his attractiveness has risen even further.
In fact, he’s become the kind of guy that female classmates talk about wanting to date at least once. Isaac, who is busy with his duties as a student assistant, remained oblivious to this fact, and occasional rumors have heightened Marie’s stress.
Of course, even that stress disappears like melting snow the moment she sees Isaac’s face. But sometimes, she lightly pinches Isaac’s cheek for this very reason.
“…So, how many wives does this make?”
“It’s not like that.”
But she had not expected a new student at all. Marie looked at Cherry, the girl with pink hair standing beside Isaac, and asked in a resigned voice.
Isaac insisted it was all a misunderstanding, that he just wanted to introduce a junior he liked, and there was no ulterior motive. But Marie, as well as Cecily and Rina, who were watching, had skeptical expressions.
There was another difference here. Cecily, in a situation similar to Marie’s, couldn’t help but force a smile in an awkward situation. However, Rina, being a third party, found it interesting and watched. She had always thought that watching a fire across the river was the most fun, and that was exactly the situation she was in now.
In the meantime, Marie, full of complaints, clenched her fist and looked up and down at Cherry, who was hesitating. Her height was average, but… her chest was noticeably large, to the point of being striking.
When she glanced at Cecily’s chest next to her, it was almost the same. Both of them were vehemently demanding that they be saved from their uniforms.
Marie’s chest was by no means small and was larger than average, but these two were truly beyond comparison. What could make them grow so big?
Even Leona, who confidently declared herself as a wife, seemed, at first glance, to be about the same size as herself. Thanks to this newfound realization, Marie asked Isaac straightforwardly.
“Does Isaac like women with big breasts?”
“Why is that question suddenly coming up?”
“Just answer first.”
“…I do like them.”
Once again, he couldn’t lie. Well, now that everything’s out in the open, he probably won’t.
Marie looked at Isaac, who blushed slightly and answered, and she chuckled. She always liked that about him, his honesty. The face was just an accessory.
The question about how many wives he will have just asked was just a joke anyway, a kind of revenge. Given that he had been involved with so many women lately, partly due to jealousy, she decided to tease him a little.
However, except for Cherry’s slightly unusual condition, Marie couldn’t help but notice. She shifted her gaze from Isaac, who was scratching his cheek uncomfortably, to Cherry.
If you looked at her pink hair and eyes, it was clear that the Roseberry family, known as a philosophical lineage even within the Minerva Empire, had a unique style. If the Requilis family was known for their snow-white hair, the Roseberry family was all about pink.
But, there was something, or rather, something was lacking in her eyes. Whether it was a lack of vitality or a lack of enthusiasm, her eyes looked gloomy. Marie, who didn’t know Cherry’s situation, wondered if she had always been like that.
“Did you say your name is Cherry? Are you a freshman?”
“Y-yes…”
Her voice was beautiful, just like her appearance, but there was no enthusiasm in it. Marie, as well as the others, wore expressions of curiosity as if they had noticed something strange about her.
However, not knowing her situation well, Marie considered it as an aspect of her personality. After all, Isaac had introduced her, and they needed to find a place to sit first.
“Let’s move to another spot for now. Are we going to our usual place?”
“That sounds good. Cherry?”
“Yes…”
In response to Isaac’s call, Cherry cautiously watched their reactions and waited for them to move first. It seemed like she intended to follow them rather than taking the lead. Even though there was a creed of equality within the academy, authority still held its place. Marie was the daughter of the Duke of Requilis, Rina was a princess, and Cecily was the princess of Helium.
Marie would have liked to invite Cherry to walk alongside them, but now there was Rina. In a situation where she didn’t know anything about Cherry, it would be disrespectful to stand beside her without good reason.
The result was that Cherry followed the group, trotting along behind them. Occasionally, she spoke, not ignoring Rina, but there was something slightly unusual about it.
It was the fact that she followed only Isaac, just like a baby bird. She hadn’t even kept her distance; she had approached so closely that it could become intimate. She seemed to want to touch Isaac’s long hair and her hands even fidgeted.
It was a suspicious sight to anyone, and not only Marie but Cecily also looked at it strangely. Isaac and Rina were in the middle of a conversation, completely unaware of Cherry’s close approach.
So, without saying a word, Marie and Cecily simultaneously looked at each other. They didn’t speak, but they understood what each other was thinking.
That girl, Cherry, undoubtedly had romantic feelings for Isaac. They were women who loved the same man, so it was strange not to know.
Right now, they needed Isaac’s introduction, so they would remain silent for now, but if the opportunity arose, they would inquire. With such thoughts in mind, the two women moved on to the restaurant they frequented.
After a while, they arrived at the restaurant, and just before opening the door and entering, Marie took the lead in what appeared to be some sort of operation(?).
“Ah, right. Isaac. Can I ask you for a favor?”
“What’s the favor?”
“I think I left my pen in the classroom. If you go with Rina, she’ll know which one it is.”
At the same time, Marie subtly signaled Rina as well. Although Rina was suddenly singled out, she quickly understood the situation and nodded her head.
“You mean that? Alright, I’ll go with Isaac to look for it. I’ll come back if it’s not there.”
“It’s a relief if it’s not there. You mentioned your name is Cherry, right? You can wait with us.”
“Oh, uh…”
Perhaps she was anxious about the sudden situation of having to separate from Isaac. Cherry hesitated, glancing between Marie and Isaac. Her pink eyes, trembling like an earthquake, looked quite pitiful. However, the situation seemed to have taken a turn since meeting Isaac. Isaac pondered what to do and quietly replied.
“…Alright.”
“Great. Then we’ll go in first.”
“Okay. I’ll be back quickly.”
Time had passed. As Marie watched, Isaac and Rina walked away into the distance and waved them goodbye. Then, she looked at Cherry with a bright smile and urged her.
“Shall we go inside?”
“Yes…”
Although she appeared somewhat uneasy, she followed Marie’s lead. They followed their usual routine and found a soundproof room before taking their seats.
Marie and Cecily sat side by side, leaving an empty space in the middle, across where Cherry ended up sitting. Cherry’s self-esteem seemed to take a hit as she realized she wasn’t sitting next to Isaac, and her head drooped.
Marie gave her a puzzled look, and Cecily simply stared at her in silence. From their first impression, it was clear that Cherry had no self-confidence.
Marie began to wonder what circumstances could lead a person like her to act as if she depended on Isaac. Growing more curious, Marie softly spoke up.
“Your name is Cherry, right? Cherry Blossom Roseberry. I’ve heard of the Roseberry family. They’re famous for their philosophy.”
“Uh, yes.”
When Marie mentioned her family, Cherry responded with a tremble in her body. Her two hands lowered down, tightly grasping the hem of her skirt.
Even from a distance, Marie could tell that Cherry was putting in effort to stay calm, so she stared at her without a word. In the past, she had met with Viscount Roseberry, who had come as an author, but he seemed like an ordinary nobleman one might encounter anywhere.
He had the pride of a nobleman, but he was a unique man who tried to infuse his philosophy into everything. However, if Cherry’s reaction was so intense, it seemed like his qualifications as a father weren’t that great.
“How did you get to know Isaac?”
“…A letter.”
“Huh?”
“The letter… there was a red hair…”
At first, Marry couldn’t understand what that meant when she heard it, but soon realized its meaning. It must be a story about red hair being found in the letter. And during winter break, when she briefly stayed at Isaac’s mansion, they read the stack of fan letters piled high together. The same goes for Cecily, who was next to her.
Among those letters was a letter sent by Cherry, the one with the pink envelope. Isaac said she was one of the fans who sent him letters regularly. He wrote a reply to her, but, given his clumsy nature, it seems the hair got in there at the time. It’s not entirely impossible, but it was a bit absurd.
“Do you know who Isaac is, by any chance?”
In response to Mary’s bewildered question, Cherry simply nodded her head. Marie and Cecily exchanged looks of astonishment upon Cherry’s affirmation. Expressions filled with mixed doubt as to how were reflected in their eyes. Being certain that a single strand of hair appeared on a letter was insufficient evidence, no matter how you look at it.
“Only with a single strand of hair? That doesn’t make sense. Wait, did you keep that hair?”
“Yes.”
The more they delved into it, the more discomfort they felt about the girl named Cherry. It’s definitely not normal to keep a strand of hair when you would typically discard it.
Unless you were a real stalker, it’s impossible. Marie, sounding somewhat urgent, continued with her questions.
“Recognizing it with just that is not enough, right?”
“…Handwriting.”
“Handwriting?”
“The handwriting on the letter was exactly the same as Mr. Isaac’s…”
Isaac’s handwriting was elegant like that of a noble and meticulous like that of a writer. Each word was clear, and even if he wrote hastily, it still exuded grace.
But this couldn’t be considered entirely normal either. How can someone have such confidence in recognizing just their handwriting when there are so many people in the world?
The moment Marie realized that Cherry was quite different from the norm, she couldn’t help but be stunned.
Cherry, who had been fidgeting with her hands under the table, lifted her head to face the two women. In her distinctive, somber voice, she said.
“Isaac had partly approved. He found my manuscript interesting and said he would help.”
“Huh? Manuscript? What does that mean?”
“Were you a writer too?”
When the word “manuscript” was mentioned, not only Marie but also Cecily showed their curiosity. It seemed like this was probably the reason he wanted to introduce Cherry this time.
Cherry, observing the curious expressions on the two women’s faces, seemed hesitant to meet their gaze and lowered her head. Nevertheless, she wanted to speak and opened her mouth with a hesitant tone as if she wanted to be heard.
“My father… He tore my manuscript to shreds without even looking at it, and he stomped on it. But I kept holding on with the determination to somehow piece it back together and show it to Mr. Xenon…”
“…Wait a moment. You kept holding on?”
“Yes… If it weren’t for Isaac being Mr. Xenon, then perhaps…”
She didn’t finish her sentence, but Marie and Cecily could sense what she meant. Her voice, devoid of energy, and the deeply shadowed pupils in her eyes served as evidence of that.
The girl was in worse condition than they thought. Isaac revealing his identity is the reason for it happening here. If Isaac had avoided Cherry, wouldn’t there have been a sinister rumor spreading about a cold corpse in the dorm? Revealing his identity was equivalent to saving a person, given that context.
“…I see. That makes sense.”
“If that’s the case, there’s nothing we can do.”
And that explains why Cherry was attracted to Isaac. Not only did he try to fix the dreams shattered by her family, but he also supported her and offered help.
Furthermore, Marie suddenly became curious about how much persecution Cherry must have endured in her family to become so broken. To make a person like a puppet, there must have been an unimaginable amount of pressure.
Marie felt a certain emotion from her, but that was one thing, and this was another. No matter what, she didn’t want her to become Isaac’s woman. There were already too many.
In any case, she should ask for her opinion. Marie stared at Cherry with a perplexed expression and asked subtly.
“So, do you want to become Isaac’s wife or something like that?”
Cherry slowly raised her head in response to the question. Then, her eyes blinked slowly, and she cocked her head.
Following that, her previously tightly sealed lips opened.
“Me?”
As if she wondered why she would ask such a question.
“Dare to?”
Her self-esteem, which had hit rock bottom, was glaringly exposed. Marie could only be taken aback at hearing the answer. ‘Dare to?’ How little does she value herself to not even think of such a thing? Honestly, she could have aspirations, but something was amiss with her.
Just as Marie was starting to feel a little apprehensive, Cecily, who had been watching from the side, spoke in her characteristic seductive voice, as if sensing something.
“Hey. Wasn’t the one who had been following Isaac until now you?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
She freely confessed that she stalked without any intention to hide it. However, there was no trace of guilt on her face.
A heart that was completely shattered and barely mended can never return to normal. That was an utterly natural fact.
Cecily, after listening to Cherry’s answer, thought deeply and then asked another question.
“What about the gift? Lately, Isaac has been smelling like cherry blossoms. Was that your doing?”
“I gave him cherry blossom extract from our family.”
“But you did it without any feelings?”
“Someone like me?”
Once again, her self-esteem was laid bare. Cherry stared into Cecily’s red eyes and slowly spoke each word.
“I’m just happy with the fact that Isaac is here. His hair, scent, voice, face, warmth, and so on. I’m happy with just seeing, hearing, and feeling him.”
“… …”
“But I can’t have him, can I? Even though I adopted the pseudonym Mary, it’s impossible for it to truly continue. I’m just happy with him knowing of my existence.”
“Umm…”
Cecily looked at Cherry as if she had made a terrifying and insane statement. Marie was slowly retreating her chair, as if she were afraid.
Cecily shifted her gaze once more from Cherry and muttered inwardly.
‘…I think I get it.’
She had received salvation far too late.
*****
Meanwhile, as Isaac and Rina headed to the classroom as per Marie’s request, they walked comfortably, exchanging words without feeling awkward with each other through their improved relations.
Superficially, it appeared to be a conversation between the Baron’s son and the princess, so some passing people gave them strange looks. However, they could easily brush off this level of attention.
Isaac was also pleased that Rina had become more comfortable with him, and Rina, too, felt at ease knowing that her relationship with Isaac had improved.
However, when relationships improve, personal questions tend to arise. Rina gazed at Isaac, who had grown into a well-built young man, and curiously asked.
“By the way, Isaac, is your back okay? Last time, you and Marie and Cecily went together, right?”
“Ah, that’s fine… wait a moment.”
Isaac briefly recalled the past after hearing Rina’s question. Before Marie and Cecily teamed up, it was not Leona but Rina who was there. Rina didn’t mind mentioning his and her friends’ sexual life, as they often talked about it, so it wasn’t embarrassing, unlike in the past. However, asking a question like that was a bit peculiar. It was as if she knew everything about my sex life.
With a blink of his eye, Isaac looked at Rina with a questioning expression and asked.
“How do you know that?”
“Uh, what?”
“Back then, you weren’t there. It was Leona, not you. Didn’t you step out for a moment?”
“Uh, well, you see…”
Perhaps because it was an unexpected question, Rina began to ramble. Moreover, her face turned as red as a tomato.
Isaac raised one of his eyes to see the reaction, and then asked vaguely in an expectant voice.
“Rina. Are you…”
“No! I didn’t see it! It’s true! I’m not a pervert!”
“… …”
There’s a saying that strong negation is strong affirmation. I didn’t even finish my question.
Still, as she said, Rina wasn’t a pervert and she wasn’t the type of person to spy on him, so he should just move on.
“Whew…”
Beside him, Rina let out her sigh of relief, but let’s ignore this too.
Translators note:
Them bitches crazy
