Okay.
gulp
Let’s not make eye contact.
I tried my best to turn my gaze elsewhere.
Trying not to look like I was intentionally avoiding it, I turned my head to not catch anyone’s eye, but whether I was a beat late or if Alice and I actually made eye contact, Bella, who had been slightly visible in the corner of my line of sight, seemed to look this way.
No, to be fair, she had a playful personality regardless of whether our eyes met. She wasn’t a character I saw in the main story, but we’ve had time to bond over the years. I knew just how mischievous Bella was and how little she cared about her clothing choices.
“Hey, there you handsome guys!”
But Bella waved over here, interrupting even the conversation with the nobleman. The middle-aged nobleman was looking at her with a dumbfounded expression, but Bella was completely indifferent.
…..
I thought the age gap made it a bit odd to use the word “oppa,” but I guess that’s just me knowing Bella. In a place like this, using such words in flirting is common.
“Excuse me? Me?”
Leo jumped in surprise.
There was quite a distance between where Bella was and us. So, it was plausible for her to mistake who she was waving at, thinking it was someone behind me.
It was also loud enough to be heard if someone shouted.
In fact, Bella’s voice was pretty loud. It was like she was trying to make sure it reached us.
Claire looked at Leo, shocked by Bella’s sudden call. It didn’t seem jealousy; more like, “It can’t be you she’s calling.”
And rightly so, we were wearing school uniforms. Assuming Bella wasn’t a princess but an unaware commoner, there was no reason for her to call us out when there were plenty of noblemen around. Even if she mistook us for someone else, we were still in military uniforms!
Whether they were students or soldiers, the nobles were on another level in terms of wealth.
“Yeah, you handsome guy!”
But Bella came right over to Leo and continued talking. This flustered not only Leo but Claire as well.
“……”
Naturally, Alice and I were just speechless.
Wait, aren’t we supposed to be undercover?
I thought it was inevitable Bella would act this way while undercover.
But then I thought maybe such behavior was more natural for her. Given her personality, it wouldn’t make sense for her to hide her true self while sneaking around.
As Bella approached us, it felt more like she was wearing a mask suited for a girlfriend ready to do something playful in bed while donning a bunny girl costume. It looked tacky, decorated with cheap materials — nothing a noble would wear to a ball.
“……”
Rena had a rigid expression too.
In fact, since arriving nearby earlier, she had been quite silent, seeming unable to adapt to the very different atmosphere from the self-governed state run by soldiers.
“Hmph.”
Bella, having approached quite close, leaned slightly and peered into Leo’s face.
Being not that short compared to boys, Bella probably had a height advantage due to the high heels that were at least 10 centimeters tall. Her legs were long, her waist slim, but her chest proudly pushed forward. With her bending over, certain parts were emphasized very noticeably.
“What brings you here? Interested in the casino, perhaps?”
“Me? Uh, I, um…”
When the other party spoke to him, Leo couldn’t even manage a proper answer.
Bella, disregarding me and Alice right next to her, took Leo’s hand.
“Looking at your outfit, you must be some noble person, right? Why don’t we hang out together? I can teach you a lot! I know about that casino over there and this area’s geography. Or maybe a hotel?”
“……”
If I had been clueless, I might have felt something from such a Bella. Like, a sexual attraction or something.
But… isn’t there a saying? No matter how uncrossed the blood ties, if you stay close to someone for too long, you learn everything about them and lose any sense of attraction.
I felt exactly that way now.
I was well aware Bella had no intentions of pursuing anything like that, so I didn’t feel the desire to intervene.
“Wait—”
But Claire seemed to differ. She looked at Leo as either a guy or not, and previously, Claire and Leo had been arguing over who was the little sibling!
Honestly, if it were me, I’d step up to chase away some host trying to charm my little sister!
But before Claire could do anything, a man shouted.
“Hey!”
That angry-looking fellow storming over was the same guy who had been talking to Bella just moments before.
Typical rich noble stereotype; he didn’t fit. His well-toned physique was visible despite his ornamented outfit, and his face was… not quite the pretty boy look of the male leads in stories, but still quite handsome.
Of course, even with those points, he gave off the impression of some nameless, sudden wealthy individual.
…No, it might be wrong to label him just ‘a noble.’ If he were a true aristocrat, he wouldn’t dare approach us, especially seeing our school uniforms, or at least, he would recognize Alice’s face.
Plus, Jake, who had distanced himself and was watching this play out, was right there. With a crown princess and a duke present, his inability to recognize either of their faces showed how far removed from the political circle he really was.
“Are you playing with me? Just a moment ago, we were having a good chat!”
I guess he had fallen for Bella’s sweet talk.
“Oops. But my interest has shifted this way, see?”
Bella subtly placed her hands on both of Leo’s shoulders and pulled him towards her.
Then, comparing his face to the nobleman’s, Bella nodded and said, “Yeah, you’re definitely cuter!”
What sort of nonsense for a minor?
…but then again, in these games, mid-teens are practically treated as adults.
“……”
The nobleman’s face turned bright red. Once he blushed like that, the handsomeness I had noticed earlier vanished completely.
“Oh, wait!”
Claire, who had tried to slide in between Bella and Leo, once more shouted in shock.
But this time, her shout had nothing to do with Leo.
“Yow!”
Bella squealed.
The nobleman had grabbed Bella’s arm with determination.
“……”
Hmm…
After observing the situation, I was sure of one thing. Bella had undoubtedly interrupted her chat with that man to drop us into this predicament. Alice looked to be thinking the same, watching with a very complicated expression.
“Shouldn’t we help?”
“……”
Rena, standing next to me and observing the situation, asked.
Hmm…
If I just stood by and watched, wouldn’t my reputation take a hit?
As I stepped forward without saying a word, I heard a small sigh from Alice.
“Hey.”
But we females gathering up wouldn’t be necessary.
Because the man holding Bella’s arm was also being held by another man.
It was Jake.
“It’s quite rude to grab a lady’s arm like that.”
With a smile, Jake said.
“Lady? What are you—”
The man ignored Jake’s words, trying to move his arm, but then,
“Eh?”
He mumbled, looking dazed for a moment.
It seemed like his arm wouldn’t budge. No matter how hard he pulled or twisted, Jake, holding his arm, didn’t move an inch.
“Ahhh…!”
The immobility suggested he was holding on tight. As Jake tightened his grip, the man shrieked.
“My, my hand…!”
Screaming, the man twisted his hand, but finally released Bella’s arm. Bella quickly pulled her arm back and embraced it with her other hand. The assertive expression from earlier was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a look of a pitiful lady.
…What should I say?
Seeing Jake confirm the man released his grip and let go of Bella’s arm, the man, groaning, stumbled backward, tripping and falling awkwardly.
“Do you know who I am?!”
“Do you have any idea who I am?”
Responding to the man’s shout with disbelief, Jake rendered him speechless. Only now did he seem to realize where he was.
There are always wealthier people above the wealthy and higher-ranking people above the nobles.
Though they didn’t flaunt their ranks, a crowd full of high nobles and tycoons existed here.
“……”
Ultimately, the man chose to bolt, rising hastily without even brushing off his clothes.
“Are you alright?”
Earlier, she thought it was tacky, but seeing the situation, Charlotte, perhaps with a change of heart, asked with concern.
“Ah, yes, yes… I’m fine.”
This is ridiculous!
I thought about Bella speaking so pitifully, completely shedding her previous attitude.
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