Purposeful Stalking (2)

"What are you doing.. don't tell me it's one of them.."

"Sh.." I placed my finger to my lips and hissed.

Shyna-san nodded, her head bouncing in jingles.

Noel-san and Liliath-san with this beastkin with silver hair I saw yesterday but didn't recognise. I was starting to question Nine-san's relation to this. He's not here..

The group were hard at work decorating the venue.

Shyna-san was starting to grow bored, poking my neck every now and then-- it tickled!

Soon, an unexpected visitor came. It was the daughter of the viscount! I sharpened my ears.

"Excuse me, have you seen Nine?" the viscount's daughter asked.

"Ah.. Nine, it's.."

The girl with black hair grabbed the girl with brown hair.

"My apologies for dropping by, have you seen Nine?" the viscount's daughter asked again.

"Nine huh.. maybe he left for the adventurer's guild?" The black-haired girl said.

"Had he specified which branch?"

"Which guild does he work in again?"

"Guild? Isn't Nine.. Ow, what's that for?! Didn't you say Nine.. akkwh.. " this time, it was the light-lavender haired girl who choked the brown haired girl.

The black hair girl then said something I didn't catch because of the wind.

"Please answer this question of mine honestly, is he avoiding me?" the viscount's daughter asked.

"Maybe."

"I understand. Thank you for your time."

"What did she say?" Shyna-san asked.

"She was trying to find Nine-san too."

"Ah? So it's Nine-san that you're trying to find.."

"Nine-san? Ah, it's you two.. don't tell me.."

Both Shyna-san and I jumped. What is this?! Why did the viscount daughter take this path?

"Do you know where Nine-san went?"

"I'm not sure, my apologies," I said hastily.

She sized me up suspiciously as if not convinced, then turned to Shyna-san and gave a frown.

"I'll forgive you this time. If it weren't for Nine-san consideration, I would've sent you to the gallows," snickering, she brushed past us and entered the back of the mansion.

Shyna-san and I stood there, flapping our mouths.

"W-What did I do? Do I even know her?" Shyna-san shuddered.

"It must be from your memory loss yesterday night.."

"Memory loss?! What happened last night?!"

"I believe only Nine-san knows."

"T-Then I have to find him!" Shyna-san gripped her fist tight.

"Hey Nine, what's up with that?"

Hm?

"I don't want to talk about it," the black haired girl replied.

"Well.. if you're in any need of an ear, just remember that we're here alright?"

Huh? What was he referring to? Nine is.. that girl?

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The mansion was quiet, with the majority of people attending the church service.

We stalked her--

After a quick lunch, she went to her room-- wasn't she taking the path the same room Liliath-san and Noel-san were..

She took a turn.

"How long are you going to stand there?" the black haired girl asked.

"Hm? You lied to me didn't you?" the viscount's daughter replied.

Shyna-san and I hid behind the wall.

"Yup. What do you need Nine for? Can you tell me the message and I'll relay it to him?"

"It's not a message I can relay to him through another person. I want to talk to him in private."

"Is it alright to say that I'm the next closest person to Nine?"

The fact that the black-haired girl was referring to Nine without honorifics.. could it be that she's his lover? They both have black hair and look alike--

I imagined the viscount's daughter grimacing at the realization. She was fond of him, wasn't she? From the reaction I saw yesterday night, she wasn't pleased with how he had spoken to me about Shyna-san's condition.

"You are.. his lover aren't you?" her words sounded forced.

"Uh.. What other information do you need?" the black hair girl replied-- I just realized how cute her tone of voice could be.

"Why.. he chose someone like you.."

The black hair girl's shoulders shook.

"Then.. pass this message on to Nine-san. One year.. I, Elaine Daisy, the first and only daughter of the viscount that is my father will meet again in one year.. I'll do my best to be the best woman for him!"

"Anything else?" The viscount's daughter, Elaine-sama received a monotonous reply.

"If he rejects me then.. I have no choice but to be engaged to that pig.. that's why.. I can't give up. I'd rather die than marry someone I don't love."

"Haha.. right.."

"I swear! I'll surpass you!"

"..."

In tears, Elaine-sama ran away. She ran past us without caring to stop.

Shyna-san furrowed her brow, "Even nobles have it hard.."

I heard the black haired girl sigh.

"Damn it," she said.

"Rina-san, what should we do now?" Shyna-san asked in a whisper.

"I think we return.."

"Rinalanashina-san and Shyna-san. I know you're stalking me."

"H-Hey.. Rina-san what should we do now?!"

"No choice.. we came to learn what happened last night didn't we? If she's Nine-san's lover then she should know the story," I stepped out into her line of sight.

"What is it?" her cute temperament was gone, replaced by an empty gaze-- empty voice.

"You're Nine-san's lover, correct? My apologies for eavesdropping, we had only wanted to ask about the incident yesterday. We wanted some clarification.."

"No. I'm not Nine's lover. Nevermind, that doesn't matter. You want to know about yesterday's incident? What part? How Vincent-san ran away? He ran to the forest and then made his way around to the town. He's recruiting people from the slums. I don't know what he's planning."

"U-Um.. if you're not Nine-san's lover then.." Shyna-san dared to poke the goblin's nest.

"I'm Nine. Believe it or not."

"Huh?"

"What else do you want to ask?"

"You're Nine?"

"I said, what else do you want to ask," she sounded irritated. Clearly.

"T-Then.. I wanted to ask what happened last night. Did I do something?" Shyna-san asked.

She gave an explanation. The answer we got was unexpected-- but it fit in the picture just right.

But.. there was still one piece I didn't understand..

"Nine-san,"

"What?"

"Demon lord.. he is.." I tried to control my voice so only she could hear..

"W-What are you saying Rina-san? Demon lord? Who?" but Shyna-san who caught those words poked the back of my head.

"Ask him yourself. It's not like he's not attending the wedding tonight," Nine-san pushed and disappeared behind the door to her room.

Ask him yourself.. I stared into empty space, befuddled.

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"Rina-san.. are you really going to be alright?"

"Surely.." I glanced out the window-- the setting sun, the white cloth that once obstructed the view of the lake had been taken down. The results of their work-- the wedding venue came to life, grandeur.

"I'll accompany Milady and the young lord to the wedding.. chances are, I won't be by your side until the end of the day. You must be careful alright? I don't know what you mean by demon lord, but you better not try to involve yourself with them.."

I bit my lips.

I'm sorry Shyna-san. I never told you--

I too am a demon lord.

"I'll be careful," I said with a forced smile.

"Did you remember to wear your gaiters? Remember to put a few knives there too."

"No.."

"For self protection-- wear them," Shyna-san tried to dig my luggage once more, I did all I could to prevent that.

We took a light meal of bread before we left for the mansion once again.

I had never felt so free.. so much so, I didn't know how to use my time. There's this weird pang of guilt that I wasn't doing what I should be. I spent the majority of my time walking, trying to attain any information I could about them.

What I came to learn was that Noel-san, who is possibly my half-brother was really close to Liliath-san. Perhaps their relationship was just like mine with July-sama's. Perhaps they have a sister or brother complex… nononono.

My relationship with July-sama isn't like that I swear!

Was I getting something wrong?

Shyna-san knocked on the door to the guest room.

"Come in."

"Yes," Shyna-san entered, I followed behind.

"What plan do you have for the evening? Do you plan to have nothing to do in that too?" April-sama asked.

"Rin-neesan!" July-sama bounced and gave me a hug. I stroked his hair. Surely.. I'm not a bro-con..

"Milady, I'll be accompanying you for the evening," Shyna-san said and bowed.

"Have you seen the butler anywhere? It seems he too has left?"

"Yes Milady. Unfortunately his whereabouts remain unknown."

"Probably to run some errands for father," April-sama muttered. She then turned to me, "As for you? Maid?"

"I will be busy again tonight.. apologies.."

"It is something father asked you to do, isn't it? Don't embarrass him and fail. Do your duty with everything you have," her cold words pricked my heart. I wondered if she knew what exactly this task was..

"Rin-neesan, do you best," July-sama pumped his fist.

I nodded.

"Little brother. For how long are you going to act like a kid? When are you going to grow up to be an independent man? Seeing you touching your own siblings all the time, what would the others think?"

"I will let everyone know that Rin-neesan is mine!" July-sama declared.

Ah.. huh?!

I felt a heat rise to my cheeks.

"You're hopeless.. do what you want."

"Rin-neesan.." he called out.

"Y-Yes?!" I couldn't help but stiffen.

"Wait for me. I will definitely protect you," to his resolute gaze... I didn't know what to say.

Marrying your own sibling was rare, but it exists.

I was conflicted. Normally I should be glad that I had someone, anyone, profess their commitment to the likes like myself, especially July-sama yet-- Why was there this unsettling feeling in my heart?

Could I truly be with July-sama forever?

Something inside of me that told me to avoid him.. something inside of my heart that prevented me from taking another step. To say yes, to cry out, to depend on him, to..

"I understand.." I opened my mouth to speak.

"Definitely," July-sama repeated.

"One maid stays, the other leaves. Go," April-sama declared, walking up to the cabinet to pick her outfit for tonight's wedding ceremony.

"I will take my leave. I express my gratitude."