? A Regrettable Choice ?

    “...Haaaa.”

    Upon noticing Frey, tears cascaded down her cheeks as she stared at him blankly. Only after scrunching her tear-ridden face was she able to collect herself.

    “S-So... t-this is...”

    Clana swiftly wiped the flowing tears with her hands as she tried to come up with excuses, but she couldn’t conceive any words for the inexplicable situation she found herself in.

    “Huk.”

    Soon, her hands began trembling as if her body had a mind of its own.

    “...It’s nothing.”

    Clana couldn’t focus on anything for the past few days due to unknown symptoms and a burning sensation developing in her heart. She weakly muttered as she plopped down onto the sofa.

    “Heung... So that was the truth.”

    As the First Imperial Princess murmured as she stared at Clana’s meek figure, Frey inquired with a disinterested expression.

    “So, what was it that you came to say? I’m quite busy right now so I’d appreciate it if you’d quickly get this matter over with.”

    “I’m sorry, but it seems our conversation may be long.”

    The First Imperial Princess, who managed to respond to Frey in a leisurely manner, glanced at Clana’s panicked figure before continuing.

    “Though it looks like it’s not me, but Clana, who has many things to talk about.”

    “Hah... Then it can’t be helped.”

    Frey sighed in response to the First Imperial Princess’ words and instructed the girls to leave in front of him.

    “Take Lulu and go play in the room next door. Know that whoever fights won’t get any food.”

    Frey’s tone was one that didn’t seem to consider them as humans, yet the girls simply nodded with lifeless eyes.

    “Lulu, let’s see each other later alright?”

    “Haeugh... y-yes...”

    Frey gently smiled at Lulu who tailed the other girls out while donning a pale face. After watching the girls leave, Frey’s expression hardened as he questioned the First Imperial Princess.

    “Now, what were you trying to say?”

    “Ah, that’s right. Regarding the request for assistance from the Cloud Kingdom, you’re aware of the secret meeting that took place at today’s birthday party, correct?”

    “Of course.”

    “Well, I came to inform you of the meeting venue.”

    The First Imperial Princess explained her motives and stared at Clana who slowly raised her hand and flicked her fingers.

    “Ah, p-please wait a moment.”

    However, when nothing but a faint flicker of light materialised, Clana repeatedly flicked her fingers in embarrassment.

    “Chirp!”

    “...This is?”

    After numerous flicks, Clana managed to summon a canary which flew over to Frey and perched on his shoulder. Clana tried to maintain a calm expression as if she never struggled to summon the bird as she spoke.

    “T-that bird will lead you to the venue of the secret meeting.”

    “That’s right. You simply have to follow the bird to the meeting. Now that I’ve informed you of everything I had in mind, I’ll be taking my leave.”

    “You’re leaving already?”

    Frey asked with a puzzled expression as he watched the First Imperial Princess stand up to leave. The corners of her lips curled up from observing Clana.

    “Ah. There was another topic I wanted to discuss... but it doesn’t seem necessary anymore.”

    The First Imperial Princess then added one final comment with a wink.

    “Please continue to do as you’ve currently been doing so, Frey.”

    “Huh? What do you me–...”

    Confused by what she said, Frey attempted to question her, but the First Imperial Princess left the room with a wave of her hand.

    “”........””

    A long silence ensued in the room in which only Frey and Clana remained.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    “...Have you been well?”

    “No.”

    Frey tried to put on a calm expression and break the long silence by asking me how I was. I immediately responded negatively. Frey sighed and asked another question.

    “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

    “First, I’d like an explanation for the girls who left earlier.”

    When Frey calmly asked me what business I had with him, I demanded an explanation for the previous spectacle. Frey responded to my inquiry brazenly.

    “Isn’t it obvious? They’re my slaves.”

    “S-Slaves...?”

    Hearing his shameless response, I began to question him coldly.

    “There’s going to be a meeting regarding the slave market soon, yet here you are, treating girls our age worse than slaves.”

    “And? What about it? Are you going to try to kill me or something?”

    As soon as I heard Frey’s sarcastic remark, I felt a burning sensation in my chest. This had become a common occurrence in the past few days every time I thought of his voice.

    ‘I-It’s starting again.’

    My hand hidden beneath the table began trembling again. No matter what methods I used to stop the trembling, it just wouldn’t stop.

    “It’s just a joke. Why are you overreacting?”

    “...I’m not in the mood for jokes.”

    Frey seemed to be teasing me so I raised my voice to retort.

    “You! What did you to m-...”

    “Oh right. I have a gift for you.”

    Roswyn winked and continued whispering.

    “Then, let’s begin the operation right away.”

    “Right now?

    “Of course we have to do it now. Heartbroken men fall easily to temptation.”

    With that, Roswyn started heading towards Frey’s room with a radiant smile on her face.

    “W-Wait!”

    “Hm? What’s wrong?”

    I suddenly stopped her when I saw her walking.

    Why am I acting like this?

    “N-no, it’s nothing... no, wait. So...”

    “Huhu, don’t worry.”

    Noticing my indecisiveness, Roswyn lifted the corners of her lips and reassured me.

    “I’ll perfectly erase Frey from your life.”

    Roswyn opened the door and naturally entered Frey’s room.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    “Eugh...”

    Watching the door close with a thud, Clana started to nervously linger near the door.

    “Why am I acting like this... Just why...”

    She tried meditating with closed eyes, took deep breaths, and even bit her nails, but her anxiety persisted.

    “...Eugh!”

    Unable to get rid herself of her anxiety, Clana began walking elsewhere.

    “It’s for Roswyn’s safety... Just in case Frey crosses the line.”

    Clana arrived at Frey’s veranda and began resonating with the canary that previously perched on his shoulder.

    She had never shown Frey her ability to summon the canary before. She had first summoned the bird back in the past when she was lonely and wanted someone to converse with.

    Convincing herself that she wouldn’t get caught, Clana connected her senses with the canary and began observing what was occurring in the room.

    “Frey, why do you look like you’re about to break down and cry?”

    “Just... something unfortunate happened.”

    A slight frown emerged on Clana’s face as she watched Roswyn ask while stroking Frey’s shoulder.

    “Did you perhaps get dumped by Clana?”

    “No... it’s not that. I was just trying to make up with her...”

    “Is this the gift you tried to give her to reconcile with her?”

    Roswyn tilted her head in puzzlement as Frey spoke with a sullen expression.

    “Roswyn, would you like to have it instead?”

    “I’d be glad to. I’m happy to receive any gifts.”

    “...Even if you have to date me if you receive that gift?”

    As Roswyn was talking about gifts with sparkling eyes, Frey grinned and looked at her.

    “So? Do you still want it?”

    “...........”

    “It’s a joke. I’ll get you a better gift the next time I visit the Intelligence Guild so...”

    “I’ll take it.”

    “What?”

    Frey shook the box in front of Roswyn before sullenly trying to put it away. He became flustered however, when she snatched the box from his grasp.

    “W-Wait. Why are you taking the gift?”

    “Heung... The gift wrap is quite luxurious. It must have been difficult to acquire.”

    After interrupting the dumbfounded Frey to compliment the gift wrap, Roswyn scanned their vicinity awkwardly.

    ‘T-That gift wrap is...’

    Clana murmured with a pale face as soon she watched Roswyn snatch the box.

    ‘That could be dangerous...!’

    Clana clearly felt dark mana emanating from the box. Roswyn would be in danger if she unwrapped the gift.

    “I-If you open that...”

    Clana hurriedly tried to take control of the canary as the thought of Roswyn being in danger emerged in her mind. Unfortunately, she could only turn away with a pale face when solar mana refused to materialize in her trembling hand.

    “Oh my, what’s this?”

    “Uh... It’s...”

    Clana bit her fingernails in anxiety as she was about to barge into the room. She unknowingly but down violently as she watched Roswyn reach into the box.

    “This... Did you prepare this for Clana?”

    “No, just... it was on display in front of the flower shop... and how are you able to touch...”

    “Are you lying in front of me? How adorable.”

    What came out of the gift box was not a clump of dark mana, a spell scroll, nor a cursed necklace.

    “Just from the fact it’s a Canaria flower... and a yellow one at that, it’s obvious you purchased this specifically for Clana.”

    It merely contained a yellow Canaria flower.

    “...Huh?”

    Clana watched them through the canary’s eyes and muttered in a trembling voice.

    “That, that can’t be...?”

    This was the moment Clana felt something was amiss.