第８７３堀：イツカミタユメヘト (Part1)
**Chapter 873: To the Dream Once Seen**
**Side: Kagura**
"Heh heh heh. Listen and be amazed! Just a moment ago, Enora received a marriage proposal from Yuki!!"
At Lady Hairen’s words, my world turned pitch black.
I wasn't chosen after all.
In the end, I couldn't become Yuki’s.
I knew it. I knew it all along. No matter how much I tried to make amends, I was nothing more than a vile criminal who had kidnapped Yuki, his wives, and even his children. There was never any way this love could bear fruit. That was all there was to it.
But... but...
The tears wouldn't stop.
I had been hoping. Yuki was so kind; he always looked out for me despite the terrible things I had done, and his wives had forgiven me too. So, I... I had held onto that foolish hope.
It was already an act of immense mercy that I wasn't executed. To think I could actually marry the man I kidnapped—there was no way things could be that convenient.
I tried. I really thought I tried my best. But it was impossible from the very start.
"Man, she was so cute at the end. Oh, and it looks like Stasia received a proposal too. Isn't it amazing? I don't really get what's so great about Yuki, but everyone has such wonderful expressions on their faces, just like you and Micos."
Lady Hairen continued, mentioning that Princess Stasia had also been proposed to and had happily accepted.
Ah... how pathetic.
It wasn't just that I was disliked. Yuki was just being a mature adult, being considerate toward me even though I was his kidnapper. And yet, I went and got my hopes up all on my own...
"...Someone like me just isn't good enough."
"...Haha. I'm just a baron’s daughter, after all."
Ah, I see. Micos feels the same way. Well, she is a baron’s daughter too. We really aren't a match for Yuki.
"Lady Hairen."
"Y-Yes... what is it!?"
There was at least one thing I wanted to know.
"What did we do wrong?"
"We worked so hard."
In the end, what was the dealbreaker? No, I'm sure *everything* about us was the problem, but if there was even a tiny thing we could improve, I—we—wanted to cling to that hope. I didn't want to give up on Yuki.
"Y-You're right! I know how hard you've worked!"
"...Then why won't Yuki come to me?"
"...Is it because I'm just a plain country girl?"
Lady Hairen couldn't possibly know the reason, but I couldn't help asking.
"N-No, that's not it. Look, Yuki is just shy, you know?"
Yuki is shy? Maybe if I made it so he didn't have to look at my face, it would work?
Ah, I see! Thanks to Lady Hairen’s answer, a bolt of inspiration struck me.
"So I just need scars on my face like Princess Stasia? Is that Yuki’s preference?"
"Ah, yeah. Kagura, that's definitely it."
"Huh?"
The idea felt so right that it settled deep within me. To put it into action immediately, I grabbed a knife from the table and moved to plunge it into my face—
"STOP!! No, you can't do that!!"
"Yeah, Riel is right! You mustn't do that!"
Riel-san grabbed my hands, stopping me completely. Tori-san was holding Micos back as well. My arms wouldn't budge.
...Even this weakness felt terribly sad. If only I were stronger, maybe Yuki wouldn't dislike me. And for Riel-san and Tori-san, who were supposed to be supporting us, to stop us now...
"Riel-san, why are you stopping me? Are we really not good enough?"
It must mean that even Riel-san and the others have come to hate us. It hurts. My chest hurts so much.
"No, that's not it! Yuki wouldn't be happy if you did that, and he definitely wouldn't choose you then!?"
But Riel-san’s expression looked so sorrowful, as if she were truly worried about us.
Wait? Then why stop us? Ah, so "scars on the face" was the wrong answer. In that case, I should imitate...
"...? Oh, I see. I need cat ears like Enora. Will you and Tori-san give me yours?"
"What?! No, no, seriously, STOP!!"
When I reached for Riel-san’s ears, I was stopped again. ...Why? Why are you getting in my way?
"Hairen!! If you have time to be shocked, go get Yuki-san right now!!"
Eh? Yuki?
"Solo, help her!"
"Ah, right! J-Just wait a second!!"
"Yes!! I'll bring him immediately!!"
They're going to bring him here. But I'll just be rejected... If I hear that sentence directly from Yuki’s mouth... I'll die. I should leave before that happens.
Thinking that, Micos and I tried to stand up, but—
"My, my, they've spiraled completely into gloom. Still, we made it in time."
"Thank goodness~"
"What the heck is going on here...?"
"What kind of situation is this?"
Yuki had already arrived.
...What should I do? Am I about to hear the final blow?
*'You're no good.'*
No. If he says that, everything will end. I won't have any reason to stay by his side anymore. No, I absolutely don't want to hear those words.
"Whatever. Kagura, let's get this over with."
Yuki approached Micos and me, looking like he wanted to finish this quickly.
Ah, it's over. It's all over.
"Kagura, Micos. Marry me."
""NO!!""
Micos and I shouted back reflexively.
Wait!! What did Yuki just say?!
"...Oh. ...I'm going home. God, this is embarrassing."
"Ah... there, there."
By the time Yuki’s words finally sank into my heart and I looked up, Yuki and Taiki were already exiting the cafe much faster than usual. As soon as they stepped outside, they bolted and vanished into the distance.
"""..."""
We sat there in stunned silence.
"U-Um, just now, Yuki..."
"He asked us to marry him, didn't he?"
"Ah, yeah. He did."
"But you two turned him down flat instantly."
"I can sort of understand the misunderstanding that led to it, but talk about terrible timing."
"Love is a confusing thing~"
"No, I think they're *too* confused."
"Hey, Hairen, you're the last person who should be saying that."
While they discussed it like it was someone else's problem, the reality hit me. Of all things, I just rejected Yuki’s marriage proposal?!
""NOOOOOOOOOOO!!""
W-What have I done?!
"Yuki!!"
"Master Yuki!!"
Micos and I scrambled out of the cafe and looked around, but he was already nowhere to be seen. Well, of course, he ran off.
"W-W-What should we do, Kagura?! I turned down Master Yuki’s confession!! No, no, no!! I definitely want to marry him!! Why did you say no, Kagura, you idiot!! Give Micos-chan her future back!!"
"T-That goes for me too!! But who would've thought he'd confess in that situation?! Besides, you're the one who said no too, Micos! I'm the one who wants my future back!! What are we going to do?!"