The meal, which seemed like it was never going to end, was finally nearing its conclusion.
Wolfgang departed first at Benjamin’s call, which left Levi and I as the only ones left in the dining room.
“Oh my!”
Oh, and Vivi, who looks like licorice at the apothecary.
Oh Vivi, what healthy teeth you have. Wouldn’t it be great if those strong teeth wouldn’t bite my rump?
Throughout the long meal, she did not let go of the crumpled handkerchief. In the next moment she moved quickly.
She jumped up as Levi pushed his chair away from the table.
“Are you leaving? We still have dessert left.”
When I asked Levi this, Vivi, who had been breathing down my neck like a bullfighter, interrupted me.
“The Master and the Young Master hate desserts!”
“No, that’s not true. The Duke really likes it.”
Somehow I remembered Wolfgang making a rotten face, but I ignored it.
Because this situation was more important than that.
One man, flanked by two women. A fierce battle of nerves.
It’s called a love triangle romance!
In this excited atmosphere, Vivi threw the first punch.
“Oh, Young Master! I’m so glad you’re back! Oh, look…!”
With her cheeks red and her eyes closed, she held out a handkerchief with both hands.
Wow, why did this look like a scene from an old coming-of-age comic?
Vivi looked like the perfect heroine for that comic too.
What’s important in the midst of all of this was that Vivi knew quite well how she looked to others.
‘As expected, you have talent.’
It would be a shame to let her rot as a mere servant girl.
Vivi, wasn’t that the handkerchief that you kept biting?
If you looked closely, one part was stretched out with the teeth marks intact.
Vivi also realized this, so she turned the handkerchief upside down.
Then the name ‘Levi W. Bastion’ embroidered crookedly appeared.
“I embroidered it myself while thinking of you. I know it’s not good enough, but I want…”
Stride
Even before Vivi’s words were over, Levi walked past her.
As if he was walking past a stone embedded on the side of the road.
Wow, that was pretty harsh. Personally, I didn’t want him to accept Vivi’s handkerchief, but Levi was just too much sometimes.
If he didn’t like it, then he should tell her he didn’t like it. Was he the Tin Man? Was he missing his heart too?
For a moment, I thought it was a more plausible theory than him being a psychopath.
Yeah, Levi Bastion was just like the Tin Man who was missing his heart. Both in a good way, and a bad way.
At that time, Vivi was left alone with me as she buried her face in the handkerchief.
“Oh, dear.”
I put my hand on her shoulder to see if perhaps she needed comforting, and I heard a dark monologue.
“…You’re so rude, but you’re so handsome.”
Yes, she was a strong woman. Vivi didn’t need to be comforted.
I gently withdrew my hand from her shoulder, stood on my tiptoes, and started to leave.
“Stop moving.”
I got caught right away.
Reflexively, I started to laugh, and then stopped at her glare.
It wasn’t the time to laugh? Oh, okay.
As soon as I stood meekly with my hands together with an innocent look in my eyes, Vivi crossed her arms and stood in front of me.
It was still the same old coming-of-age comic, but the genre seemed to have changed from romance to school delinquent.
Maybe if the blood was splattered, it would make the flowers bloom even more.
“Even if you shake me, you won’t get even 10 won.”
“…I can tell just by looking at you.”
Vivi, who stared at me incredulously, suddenly hardened her face and said seriously.
“Hey.”
“What.”
“It’s a duel.”
“What?”
“Come to the backyard.”
While I’d blanked out for a while, the place had changed.
Vivi, filled with determination, dragged me down and headed for the rear yard.
“Let’s fight here.”
Whine~
A chilly wind blew from somewhere.
Vivi continued as my messy, curly hair slapped my cheek.
“Let’s have a clean game. The loser will step back neatly, and not cling to the young master for no reason…”
“Hey, wait a minute.”
Vivi, who was warming up with a violent sound, tilted her head as if she were wondering what it was.
I let out an annoyed sigh, then I said with a very rational expression and voice.
“Vivi, I’m really skeptical about this situation.”
“What?”
“Why do we have to fight? The choice should be entirely up to the young master. A fight for love like this, it’s not as romantic as I thought. It’s very absurd to treat the young master like a spoil of war and deprive him of his free will…”
“You’re talking too much. What’s the conclusion?”
“Help me.”
I wasn’t good at fighting. I was an ordinary tiny citizen, who was courageous [email protected], but had no power.
Moreover, wasn’t there a huge weight difference between us?
There were only four years between us, but the gap at our age was enormous.
When you said you set up a jungle gym at the playground and said this was a 6th graders seat, I was at that age where I would have to go round and round only the iron bars.
Also, pretty kids shouldn’t fist-fight. If they got a wound on their face, it would be a huge national loss.
Thus, I would ask for surrender proudly.
“Surrender while we’re talking nicely. Otherwise, you’ll be begging for my help.”
“No, what is this…”
From Vivi’s point of view, it was ambiguous whether this was a surrender or a threat, but I was really giving her one last chance.
When I shrugged and crossed my arms, a blue fire burned in Vivi’s angry eyes.
“You think everything is a joke, don’t you? Well, you’re in trouble today.”
Vivi came at me with great strides. She was determined to make a child cry with her greater strength.
Sorry, but the person who would be crying was you, not me.
I shook my head, then I brought my fingers to my lips.
Whistle!
At that moment, I heard the sound of crunching and rustling leaves as if in reply from the mountain air bordering the rear garden.
“Arf!”
Blue wolves ran out, and blocked her.
It didn’t take long for all twelve of them to assemble, with General January in the lead.
Vivi, who was suddenly confronted with a pack of wolves, fell on her butt in surprise.
“Wh-What…!”
“Say hello. They’re my friends.”
I don’t have strength, but my friends, who would fight for me, were different.
After they heard my whistle for help, the wolves ran forward while they bared their teeth towards Vivi.
“Growl!”
January, who was taking the lead, took one step forward at a time and slowly moved towards her.
Vivi, whose legs were weak, couldn’t even run away. She could only groan, and eventually she burst into tears.