第８７２堀：口は禍の元 (Part2)
"Enora just isn't very honest with herself, is she?"
It seems Yuki-san feels a lingering sense of guilt whenever his number of wives increases. Even though we’ve already come to terms with it.
Sure, it’s a little annoying that our individual private time with him decreases, but being buried under a mountain of work is far worse. More than anything, it’s obvious that Yuki-san is going to overextend himself at this rate. If adding more wives—who are also our comrades—can alleviate that even a little, then it’s a good thing.
While I was lost in thought, Hiren kept prattling on.
"Man, she was so cute at the end! Oh, and it looks like Stasia received a proposal too. It’s incredible, really. I don't quite see what’s so great about Yuki myself, but everyone has such wonderful expressions on their faces, just like Kagura and Mikos."
"..."
"..."
Hiren was speaking quite cheerfully, but the temperature of the air around us plummeted instantly. To be precise, the light had vanished from Kagura’s and Mikos’s eyes.
However, Hiren failed to notice their state entirely and tried to continue, so Riel and I hurriedly clamped our hands over her mouth.
"Mmph?! What are you doing?!"
"You idiot! What were you thinking?! Look at Kagura and the others!"
"Eh?"
Prompted by Riel, Hiren finally noticed their condition.
"Wait... if he talked to Enora and Princess Stasia about marriage, doesn't that mean he already finished talking to Kagura and the others...?"
"...Does it look to you like that conversation actually happened?"
"...I’m so sorry."
When I asked her that, Hiren finally grasped the gravity of the situation and apologized immediately. But it wasn't going to end that easily.
This was bad. Yuki-san’s plan was to check with Princess Stasia and Enora first—since he thought they might have reservations about the marriage—and then talk to Kagura afterward.
But the way Hiren just phrased it...
"...I knew it. Someone like me just isn't good enough."
"...Haha. I’m just a Baron’s daughter, after all."
"..."
"..."
"..."
This was very bad. The darkness was closing in fast. The atmosphere was heavy—oppressively so.
"Hiren-sama."
"Y-Yes...?"
Hiren looked toward Kagura and Mikos, who were now wearing smiles while tears streamed down their faces. Their mouths were smiling, but their eyes were dead. If the word 'despair' had a physical form, I imagined it would look exactly like this.
"What did we do wrong?"
"We worked so hard. We tried our absolute best."
"Y-Yeah! I know that better than anyone!"
"...Then why won't Yuki come to me?"
"...Is it because I’m just a plain country girl?"
"N-No, that’s not it! Look, Yuki is just... shy, you know?"
It wasn't so much that he was shy as it was that he was being overly considerate... but that didn't matter now. Such superficial words wouldn't reach Kagura and Mikos. They were consumed by the black realization that their feelings and efforts had ultimately failed to reach him.
And then...
"Would it be better if I had a scar on my face like Princess Stasia? Is that Yuki’s preference?"
"Ah... Kagura. That must be it."
"Huh?"
While Hiren stood there with a look of total incomprehension, Kagura and Mikos picked up the knives meant for their crepes and brought them toward their own faces...
"Stop! No! Don't you dare!!"
"Yeah, Riel’s right! You can't do that!"
We managed to grab their hands just before they could mar their skin. We actually had to use our full strength to hold them back—they were dead serious?!
However, Kagura and the other's reactions remained hollow.
"Riel-san, why are you stopping us? Are we really just not good enough as we are?"
"No, that’s not it! Yuki-san wouldn't be happy if you did that, and he definitely wouldn't choose you because of it!"
"...? Oh, I see. It’s because I don't have cat ears like Enora. So, Riel-san, Tori-san... will you give us yours?"
"Wait! No, no! Seriously, stop!!"
Now they were reaching for our ears. This was bad—dangerously bad. Riel and I pinned them down by force and screamed.
"Hiren!! Stop standing there in shock and go get Yuki-san, now!!"
"Solo, help her!!"
"A-Ah, right! J-Just a second!!"
"Yes!! I’ll bring him immediately!!"
The moment the two of them scrambled to their feet...
"Oh dear, they’ve gone completely dark. Still, we made it in time."
"Thank goodness~"
"What the hell is going on here...?"
"What a situation we have here, hm?"
There stood our husband.
Nice work, Enora!! As expected of a Goddess!!
And seriously, as expected of a Goddess!!!
...The confusion was only mounting.
It’s fun, isn't it? Hey, everyone. This is fun, right?! Honestly, I have to question my own character.
Because I’m having a blast too!