Save 44 - Alisa's Route or Airi's Route?

The girls asked me to accompany them to the rooftop, after walking for a while at a separate distance, I noticed how their hands never let go of each other, that only made my bad feeling worse.

Finally, we arrived at our destination, I was standing in the middle of a beautiful garden and they were standing behind me.

Their faces were red and their eyes were wet looking at me.

The worst moment for me had come.

Alisa let go of Airi's hand, after she asked if she could go first, she gladly accepted.

Alisa stared at me, took deep breaths and exhaled repeatedly.

Finally, after appearing calmer and more relaxed, Alisa let her hands rest still on her skirt and said staring at me, words that never crossed my mind.

"Rudel, I love you."

I never expected that the same bullet in different trigger would happen, I think this is scarier than hearing that you two love each other, after all, it seems that there are also that kind of people in this world.

"I don't know exactly when it happened, what I do know is that after you rescued me, my head was filled with positive feelings and hearts every time I saw you."

She put her hands on her chest as she told me everything her heart held, her face looked so happy with every word she blurted out about me, her and Airi.

Airi beside her watched me with a joyful face, apparently, she knew this and was happy for Alisa who emptied all her feelings.

"I know you are someone clumsy, slow, annoying, sometimes very hateful, lazy, lazy, you don't want to do of your own free will many things, I even thought I was crazy since you are the opposite of a good man."

I think better if you hit me it hurt less, he didn't mention that I like to stalk the queen and see her breasts.

"Also your kinky side needs to calm down, I understand men have needs, but seeing our breasts and molesting the queen is the worst way to try to hide that you are one."

(Sorry, I'm going to go kill myself since I'm such a desperfect as a human being!!!!)

"But, even with all those bad things..."

I was about to cry until Alisa, said something that didn't sound like criticism, her hands were placed on her heart, tears overflowing with a smile that burned my obscenity with its purity.

"I love you, Rudel, you're the man I've always been waiting to meet. My heart hurts when I'm not near you, it hurt when I knew you were going to be executed, it hurt so much when I thought I would never see you again. But you know what? You will always make my heart beat with intensity."

"Every obstacle you have encountered; you have destroyed with your own power, enemies impossible to defeat were crushed by your own hand. The day you protected me from Klein, that you rescued me and, the day you gave me those dolls, they only proved to me that I was a princess in danger and you, were my knight in white armor come to rescue me, Rudel von Bradford, I desire you like you have no idea, you are the hero I never expected to meet. And, I will always love you even with all the troubles that come with you."

"Airi."

Alisa after she finished speaking, my mouth was in a knot, I don't know what to reply. This is something that only in a visual novel I would expect, but for her to tell me that she loved me so much was something that made me feel happy and embarrassed.

It seems that now it is Airi who will make me more terrified.

She too was breathing in and out before she spoke. Unlike Alisa, she put her hands behind her back and then, her smile destroyed me.

"Rudel-san, I will tell you now, anytime, anywhere. I love you, I love you more than you can imagine."

Why?

What did I do to make you confess your love to me?

I am just a simple peasant who has nothing, why so much is your desire to be with me?

"At the beginning of us meeting, I was very terrified of the possibility of being assaulted by you at any moment, but after a while I realized that it was just nonsense of mine. Unlike Alisa, who is the daughter of a duke with a prestigious education, I am just a commoner, I never imagined that my life would change so much until I met you. Rudel-san, thank you for being my first friend, thank you for being the one who was by my side in moments where no one could help me or save me. And, most of all."

Her hands left her back and were now placed on her chest, she seemed to be praying. Then, her eyes opened, that beautiful blue iris that looks like a reflection of the sea itself was looking at me with tears.

"Most of all... thank you, for being my first love... I don't think I will ever experience this with anyone else. I feel the same way as Alisa, you, you have made me cry, angry, feel sad and at the same time hate you. But with all that, it just proves that I know you as a real human being, you have nothing else that I don't already know. I love you, the day you saved me at the academy, I felt like you could be my friend since I was just taking advantage of your friendship. It really hurt me to do so, now that... I have you and Alisa on my side, I don't want to leave either of you. I love you like you can't imagine nor words enough to express it."

Airi was crying, her tears were no longer of joy but for another reason, the worst of all.

"Alisa is my sister at heart, you are the man I love and she loves you too, that's why, we both want to know what you think of us. We want to know if you only see us as just friends..."

It was Alisa who continued the words of Airi who was still crying, her hands clasped at that moment.

"...Or, if you feel interested in either of us. We already talked about this and, we came to the conclusion that, if either one is chosen, we will remain friends. Our friendship and love is important, but in the case of loving you... well, unfortunately there are two of us. And in the most extreme case, if you have someone else you're interested in... we'll support you with that person."

Alisa was giving glances at the floor, at Airi and me at various intervals. She wanted to cry too, wiping Airi's tears with her handkerchief.

This situation is much worse than I imagined, really. What should I do?

I rolled my eyes looking for help to Ixion who was here with his new body... moment.

"Who the hell are you?"

I was asking very intrigued to the strange white sphere with a flashing green eye.

"Are you just now noticing my presence? Nice to meet you, I'm Bell-chan, we met on the island where you fought some pirates."

"Huh? That's right, where's Ixion?"

"Ixion-senpai said he would go make travel arrangements."

"I see..."

"Rudel."

I was startled as Alisa called out to me.

I turned around in fright as I saw both of them looking with eyes of fear, anxiety and worry.

"Rudel-san, please give us an answer."

Airi was asking me the same thing Alisa said.

Seriously, why me?

I must think of a hypothesis, starting from the one who first proposed to me, Alisa.

Alisa was a villain like me according to the game, she had to end her story and role long ago, but I saved her. Now, what would have happened if I accepted her instead of Airi?

I think, in visual novel games, it is called route.

Therefore, I will recreate the hypothesis of unlocking Alisa's route.

◇

After finishing the war, being declared a hero, becoming an important nobleman, and answering the feelings to the woman who has helped me so much.

I began to placidly live my life at the academy in this new year.

"Hahaha, that's right, I'm the strongest in the world!"

I bragged my achievements to my fan club that was created after the start of the semester.

It was a large group of girls and boys. Many were new students and the rest of what was left over from Liam's army. To make this semester even more beautiful, Liam, Erselica and the other two are locked up on an island for unlimited time.

No doubt it's happiness, but it seems that happiness is over. For I heard footsteps, footsteps of someone stomping.

My fans made way for that person to cross, we were in the dining room so it will be worse my lecture, as that person was none other than my girlfriend, Alisa.

"Rudel!!!"

"You went back to leave Ixion your homework!!!"

"Uwahh, Alisa, it's not what you think I just-"

"Don't try to excuse yourself! Come."

Alisa, my girlfriend, grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the dining room while my fans watch me.

I was scared since we were in the corridor, no one was there and I thought I would be scolded.

"...?"

When something unexpected happened.

Alisa hugged me.

Her arms were around my back, her body was glued to mine.

Her head was buried in my chest.

She was talking to me with her mouth moving on my chest.

"...Sorry, I just wanted to see you."

"We saw each other today in the morning."

"I know, I just wanted to see you one more time."

Since confessing to me weeks ago, she has acted very different from how she normally is.

I hugged her in response to her feelings.

"Gosh, what a spoiled princess you are, did you need it that much?"

"It's your fault, just because of you, I never wanted to be spoiled. As my knight it's your duty to make your princess happy, you fool."

Even her "fool" or "idiot" have become charming.

Having a duke's daughter as a bride is an impressive thing.

◇

"Going to a party?"

I was with my girlfriend in an elegant hall of the academy, we were attended by servants because of course. I am a hero and she besides being the daughter of a duke is my girlfriend.

If they don't treat me well. They run them off, it's wonderful to be me sometimes.

Alisa was telling me about an event that you have to go, it's because I still didn't have my debut in high society.

"Is it necessary to go? I was never interested in such things."

A vein appeared on her forehead.

Then another after what he said.

"...Rudel, as your girlfriend, it's a shame that you don't have a debut at your age and even more so that you never had one. This occasion is perfect for it, think of it as a way to gather and meet people who will become your allies and acquaintances. Obviously, I will help you and prepare you in everything."

I really don't want to go, but that would make her grow horns and scold me.

"Okay. When is it?"

"Tomorrow."

"Hey, tomorrow? Why didn't you warn me earlier?"

She sipped tea, set it down on the plate and put her elbows on the table to settle her chin in her hands.

"...Because, I wanted to have a little laugh at you, it was worth it, hehe."

"You're definitely the worst!!!"

"Whose fault do you think it is?"

This side of Alisa I had never seen before. After confessing and choosing her, I noticed that she has awakened something unique which makes me fall more in love with her.

"Don't worry, it's at night and in the palace. So we have the whole day until tomorrow to study hard. Come on, my future husband."

She really enjoys teasing me.

"First let's get you to see the dress I have for tomorrow, I want you to be the first to praise me, don't worry, my chest will only be seen by you."

She winked at me as she said it.

This flirtatious Alisa is not bad at all.

We left the room on our way to her room to see it.

When something unexpected happened.

"Rudel-san! Alisa! Here they are!"

A shiver ran down my back, as I turned to see who it was, only a lump was in my throat.

"Hello, Airi..."

Airi was present that day, I confessed to Alisa choosing her, Airi, was rejected.

After that day, we hardly spent any time with her as Alisa and I wanted to deepen our relationship leaving her almost forgotten.

"Can I get you anything?"

I asked very shyly, she seemed happy as usual, but I noticed that her blue eyes seemed a bit dark.

"I've finally finished my homework and I know you guys are running around with a lot of free time, so I wanted to ask if we could get together for a walk or play some board game or-"

"...Airi."

Alisa's voice interrupted her, Airi had many games in a plastic bag, her face was bent down trying to find some.

She picked it up when Alisa called her name.

"Sorry, but Rudel and I are busy now with nobles' things, besides, as Rudel's girlfriend it's my duty to instruct him in several things he doesn't know."

When Airi heard that Alisa said she was my girlfriend, I noticed how her shoulders gave a quick and slight jump, from her position, I noticed how she seemed to bite her lips.

"...I understand, it's noble's stuff, tomorrow then?"

"Sorry, but tomorrow we have to go to a ball."

"I understand, what about the day after tomorrow?"

"I'll teach Rudel the differences of using spoons at a dinner party..."

"...I understand, what about the weekend?"

"We'll go see the new territory."

Every time Alisa told Airi that we couldn't, her head would drop and her tone of voice would get sadder.

"...They'll be busy for a long time it seems."

"I'm really sorry, it's not that I don't want to spend time with you, it's just that Rudel has a lot of responsibilities now and I have to teach him about them."

"Rudel, we are running late, we must hurry as every minute you don't study is dangerous."

"Airi, see you later."

Alisa said goodbye and so did I, I turned a little to see and Airi was still there with her head down and her holster in her hands.

◇

My debut party was a success, I knew that since the old annoying guys were harassing me.

Alisa looked beautiful and I looked elegant.

Now we were dancing our first piece to symbolize that we were a real couple.

Everything was fine, the music, the lights, even the rhythm with which I was moving so my partner wouldn't trip.

Everything was perfect until...

"...Alisa?"

She started crying out of nowhere.

We were happy until she stopped in time with the song.

Her face was looking at the floor and tears were falling.

"Why are you crying! Did I do it so wrong? In that case lo-"

"No!"

Before I apologized, she fell to me with a light cry.

"...It's just, I... I can't stop thinking about Airi."

I grabbed her arms.

"Alisa, I chose you, that means only one thing."

"I-"

"I know!"

She cut off what she was going to say by her face raised with tears.

"Rudel, I know. That's why it hurts me, she has the same feelings I do. She can never forget it, I am her sister and her best friend, it hurts me to know that while I am happy... she suffers for me."

It is just as she says.

Ixion showed me a video of Airi crying on a step yesterday. Her grades have gotten worse and her mood has dropped to the point where it looks like she has depression.

Yesterday she showed me a smile with painful eyes.

But, I chose Alisa.

This was supposed to be the right choice.

"...Rudel, excuse me!"

Alisa ran away while crying.

Being happy while her friend wasn't must be very strong for her.

Is she... Airi is unhappy for having chosen Alisa?

In that case, what would have happened if she chose Airi's route instead of the ojou-sama?

◇

Weekend at the academy after opening.

Me, I'm the luckiest man in the world.

"Hahaha, that's right, let the money come."

I was watching as the academy underwent improvements at the expense of my robots.

Many things will be implemented and improved.

Among them, the female dormitory, women's bathrooms and rooms.

They should thank me for using my technology to improve their lives.

"Count Bradford is impressive."

"He's rebuilding half of the academy at great speed and we're only days into the new school year."

Freshman girls were surrounding me to praise me. I was feeling pretty good.

"I'd really like a chance to go to one of your tea parties."

"...I don't think that will be possible?"

"Why?"

"It's just that he already has a girlfriend."

"Really, who is she?!"

"Is it Count Roseblaire's daughter or Duke Bismarck's daughter, or some super beautiful mystery girl?"

"No, none of them, rather, it's a girl without rank since she's-"

Their words were stopped by a voice shouting my name.

"Rudel-san~!"

A girl came running over, she had a bag of fast food in her arms.

It was Airi, my girlfriend.

Her beautiful blonde hair and beaming smile lit up the place.

The girls stared at her and one girl let slip a comment that I liked.

"S-she's very beautiful, are you sure she's not a noblewoman?"

"A-so I heard, that she was a commoner and was chosen instead of the duke's daughter."

It's like they say, they two proposed to me and I chose Airi, the first girl who proposed to me.

"What are you doing here?"

I asked her and she replied as she puffed out her cheeks and rose up on her toes to see me at the same height.

"Can't a girlfriend see her boyfriend? O... are you busy flirting with girls who are?"

She still had her cheeks puffed out, she turned her head to the side so I wouldn't see her.

I laughed a little since I lied to him.

"That's right, I was looking for a legal wife."

"Bobo!"

She used one of her arms to smack me like a little girl throwing a tantrum.

She was very adorable, I walked to her and hugged her.

"Sorry, but teasing you makes me happy."

She was trying to wriggle away, but finally gave up.

"Silly, don't scare me like that. Besides, I know you need a real wife."

Airi was right, the day I accepted her the ministers objected.

She was a commoner and I was a noble, they can't let that happen and even more so that I am a war hero.

If that idiot Erselica had done something to show that Airi was that blissful Saint; maybe they would have allowed me to have her as my legal wife.

But that would be bad anyway since they would be looking for her to marry the next king, which would leave me with three options.

The first, destroy the kingdom by separating me from my bride, I don't want that. It would make me feel horrible.

The second is to run away with her, I don't want to run away as I'm not that kind of coward.

The last one would be the worst of all. Take out Liam and take the throne, but I don't want to take out an idiot, maybe his father, but not a stupid one like that. Besides, who the hell wants to be king?

That's why it's best if she's not that Saint, but there's the legal wife problem, I'll think about that later since my head hurts so much.

"Let's switch to something more important, what have you got there?"

She brightened up and showed me the food she bought.

"There seems to be a special offer for couples only and well... we don't have more than two weeks of being couples so... this one."

Ahh, no doubt my girlfriend is lovely.

I said "go ahead, let's eat." Some robots brought out a table and chairs for us.

The food was a double hamburger for each of us in the shape of a heart. Fries also as hearts and a similar vegetable salad.

I laughed at the sight of this. Airi noticed me laughing and looked like she was going to cry.

I got up to kiss her forehead to calm her down.

She blushed and called me silly.

We stood eating and laughing.

◇

"Umm, is this too hard?"

"Which part?"

Me and Airi were studying as the week of class started off very strong.

The assignments and lessons grew with intensity.

We were going through various books on magic theory and magic circuits of the moving knights.

Before I knew it, Airi, was under my arm.

I could smell her shampoo. I moved closer to smell more of the exquisite raspberry fragrance she was emanating.

"Rudel-san."

She called out to me, and I didn't realize how close we were.

"Sorry."

I apologized for invading her personal space.

But she shook her head.

"It's not that... it's just, do you want to do couple things?"

She gave me a very shy look as she said it.

"I do want to! But, if you don't want to then it's okay with me."

She grabbed my arm to put it around her neck.

"I... I'm a human being too and, I have my needs. Besides, I'm your girlfriend...if my guy wants to do things...in love. It's normal to reciprocate those feelings."

"...That means, what's a yes?"

She averted her gaze from my eyes that were watching her intently.

"Today the weekend starts, we have nothing to do, so I'm fine with giving you a reward for working hard."

"Airi, let's go to my room if you like!"

"Huh? ...Now?"

"Yes, now."

"Do you promise not to be too rough like when we were alone?"

"I said I was sorry. And, this time I promise to be as gentle as I can!"

"Gosh... do you really love me that much?"

Her eyes were moist and I could feel how not only my breath, but how her as well, we were exhaling so intensely.

I took her hand and we walked out of the library.

She was walking at the same speed as me. She couldn't seem to wait either.

We were holding hands as we made our way to my room.

"Rudel, Airi."

Until someone unplanned came along.

"Where are you going?"

That voice was Alisa's.

I turned a little fearfully at the sight of her, but Airi didn't.

"A-Alisa, what's up, can I get you anything?"

Alisa was acting normal, but her hair was unkempt and dry.

Her tone was normal, but she had bags under her eyes.

"Well, I wanted to know if you could accompany me to a party at the palace. I have no one to go with since I was invited and of course, I will ask Airi for permission for you to accompany me."

Since that day, when I didn't choose Alisa.

We hardly saw each other, she said she supported us, but Ixion would show me from time to time recordings where she was crying on her bed.

From her hair and eyes, she seemed to be going through the same thing.

"A-a party? Sounds good to me, but now's not a good time."

"Huh, why?"

Alisa asked ignorantly. I say so, since after saying it she saw our hands holding hands intensely.

"Hey, ah, sorry! I didn't know they were busy, w-well, let me know after they're done if you can join me at the party."

Alisa awkwardly raised her hands in an attempt to shake off her discomfort.

"S-sorry, I didn't realize you were about to do something together. M-my bad... Well, I won't bother you anymore and continue where you were going. See you later... Airi and Rudel..."

Alisa said goodbye in a very melancholy way as she retreated to a road opposite to where we were going.

After she left, I asked Airi why she didn't say a word.

And that happened.

"Airi!?"

She suddenly hugged me and started crying.

"What's wrong, are you feeling bad?"

"Rudel-san!!!"

She raised her eyes to look at me and show me her true feelings.

"It hurts me so much!!!Alisa is my friend, I love you and so does she!!!! But...but."

"I can't be happy with you knowing that she suffers without being able to be by your side!!! I'm a horrible friend, woman and person!!! I hurt the one who understands me better than anyone else, I don't want to leave you, but that hurts her too!!!"

"What should I do!!!"

Airi gripped me tightly as she cried.

If I don't choose Alisa, Airi is supposed to suffer.

If I don't choose Airi, she and Alisa suffer.

"What's the right route then?"

So what if I didn't choose both of them and it was someone else?

Would they get over me and find a new love?

◇

The new semester had started and a new me too.

"Senpai, will you really give this to us?"

I was with the new students talking about things I'm going to implement in the academy in this new semester.

I was having fun bragging about my future achievements until someone blocked my view.

"Who am I?"

I knew that voice, that voice belonged to a certain girl who was with me in my most difficult times.

"Only you are capable of this."

My girlfriend. Daughter of a noble family I had met some time ago who had asked me to have a tea party just for the two of us.

One thing led to another, I met her parents and our courtship started that instant.

"Boo~, I wanted to surprise you. Rudy you're such a fool."

She turned her head to the side since she was annoyed.

"I'm not good at this couple jokes or pranks, sorry."

"That has nothing to do with it, silly!"

I apologized and my fans as new partners laughed at me, but I was happy since this was what I wanted.

◇

"How's the territory going?"

I would ask my girlfriend as her father, my future father-in-law said he would prepare one for me as wedding gifts.

So I have somewhere to live after finishing the academy.

Our hands were together as we enjoyed our time together as a couple walking around the city.

"Hey, Rudy, aren't those?"

Suddenly, she pointed to something, as I looked to where she pointed I saw them.

"Hello, Lady Alicelotte and Irisdina-san!"

She called them, Airi and Alisa, my friends and the first girls to propose to me and, I declined.

Both of them upon being called gave a slight jump.

Slowly, they turned to look at us, greeted us with a complicated face to interpret.

"H-hello, Rudel and.... his girlfriend."

"H-How are you."

Alisa and Airi greeted us in a mysterious tone.

"What are you girls doing here?"

My girlfriend would ask them normally, but they both didn't direct their eyes to either of them. They were looking at the floor rather, as they answered us.

"W-we should buy stuff for the next class."

"Th-they're about etiquette and-and economics."

Alisa was trying to speak normally, but her tone seemed to cut off. Airi, on the other hand, had a more subdued tone, almost unintelligible what she says.

"I'm glad you're doing well, if you'll excuse us. Rudy, we should go buy our stuff too."

My girlfriend took my hand and we walked away from there to buy our things.

After going from store to store, we headed out to buy some food.

I went to order something, when I took out my wallet, some bills flew out in the strong wind, I ran to go after them.

I grabbed the last one near a house that was being rebuilt when I heard something disturbing.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, but I can't take it anymore!"

"...Airi, we agreed to agree that we don't interfere in your relationship."

Those voices I knew perfectly well, I approached without making a sound to the door, and from there I could hear and see perfectly who they were.

Airi was crying with her hands covering her face and Alisa was comforting her.

"Alisa, I'm trying, but really, I can't take it anymore! My heart shatters every time I see him with that girl!"

"...Airi, after being rejected we accept Rudel, to be with any girl he loves, don't we?"

"Then stop crying and smile at Rudel with your charming smile when you see him."

"You're a liar! You're worse than me! You don't cry since you'd rather keep it to yourself than let it out!"

"...That's not true."

Suddenly, Alisa grabbed Airi by her shoulders.

"It hurts me too! I still love Rudel, and I will continue to do so the worst of all! Even if I have a husband and children, my heart will still love him! Of course it hurts me to see him with another girl!"

"Alisa!"

They both hugged each other after that.

I could see them crying as they collapsed to the floor.

Don't I understand?

Why is this result bad too?

If I choose Alisa, Airi suffers in some corner and Alisa silently suffers.

If I choose Airi, she and Alisa suffer much worse.

And now that I choose neither, both of them are falling apart everywhere.

Why, why me?

What is it that makes me so special for you to suffer without being with me?

"What is the right answer?"

Just as I asked myself that question, once again appeared before me.

It was that image of a beautiful blonde girl smiling at me in a room.

This is the worst. My head tells me that only one of them I should choose.

Or so it was supposed until I analyzed it well.

The place was almost visible because the lights in the room were so bright.

I was drinking my tea while chatting with someone.

It was a girl, she was. The Queen?

No, no, no, no, I promised to leave a married woman with a child alone.

Stop nagging my stupid brain.

No, wait a minute.

It's not the queen. It's them!

Alisa and Airi mixed into one woman.

Oh, I get it.

Ixion, I'm a complete idiot, aren't I?

I've been trying to deny reality for a long time. And especially myself.

The reason I stalked the queen was not because of her lush, mature woman's body.

It was because she reminded me of both.

A gentle smile of concern like Airi.

A sometimes strict and serious character like Alisa.

Apparently, my ideal woman is not one but both.

Me, I love Alisa

And I also love Airi.

I want to be with them.

They are my precious friends as they are also my precious loves that I never experienced in life.

I got it again. I was trying to deny the possibility of being happy.

The horrible women in my previous life must have left scars on my heart, and this prevented me from saying what I feel.

But, there will be no more dishonesty or indecision or cowardice.

If they accept, I will be happy. The possibility of being rejected is nil thanks to the simulations.

Well here I go, only first I must do this.

"Rudel?"

"Rudel-san!"

The girls watched as I smacked my face for taking too long.

This was my punishment for making them unhappy.

Now that I've punished myself for being a jerk, here I go.

I stared at them both, inhaling deeply.

I grabbed their right hands and as I exhaled. I shouted out my true and honest feelings.

"Alisa, Airi, I love you. I want to be with you forever, if you let me of course."

At that instant, they both started crying.

"You took so long you idiot!"

"You've made us wait and cry so much!"

Tears of happiness streamed from her eyes. And then, we hugged each other.

"Sorry, I didn't want our friendship to be affected by our romantic relationship."

"None of that!" Airi shouted as she buried her head in my chest.

"We can be happy both as a couple and as friends!" Alisa exclaimed as she looked at me with eyes redder than red.

"In that case, it looks like we'll be a sentimental trio."

"Being happy with Alisa and Rudel-san, it makes me cry harder!"

"Me too! Being with my friend and the man I love in the same room will let me know that this is not a dream."

They both cried happily.

That's what happened.

That's what will happen now that I finished my simulation.

I did everything as I thought.

I hit myself, they called me worried, I took their hands.

And, I let out what my heart really felt as I smiled at them.

They were smiling too, they seem to know what will happen, I won't take any more of their time.

I opened my mouth. And words came out that my heart had denied.

"Girls... I love the Queen."

"Huh?!" Bell exclaimed from beside me.

"Huh?" Was what I said after realizing what came out of my mouth.

The girls were still smiling, that's good.

"Wait, let me explain! What I was going to say was-"

Before I even explained myself.

Alisa and Airi delivered a powerful punch to my face.

Alisa's right fist impacted on my chin. While Airi's left fist, was imbued with magical power and hit my right cheek.

The funny thing is this; Alisa's fist felt without strength, contrary to Airi's fist that seemed to really want to kill me as my bone felt it fracture.

After I was hit, I fell backwards to the ground and grabbed my face due to the pain.

"Esp-"

When I tried to speak what happened.

Both of them came up to me very annoyed.

"Hah, you like the Queen, don't try to think you have a chance with her now that you're a hero!"

"Rudel-san, could you take this seriously for once in your life!"

"It's true Rudel! We exposed our feelings and you make fun of us? Who do you think you are!"

"We had a lot of trouble to get here and you take it for a joke! Truly, you are the worst!"

"Congratulations, you can go abroad knowing that we're really mad at you! You big idiot!"

"That's right, this time you deserved to be called a really big idiot!"

"N-no... I really..."

"Goodbye!"

With those words, they turned around and walked angrily to the rooftop exit.

It was almost dusk.

"I really, really screwed up. But, I meant what I said."

Not about the queen, but that I really love them.

Why is this happening to me?

Once again, the image of a blonde-haired woman popped into my mind.

This time, it was definitely the Queen herself naked on a bed covered only with sheets.

Wait! What the hell am I thinking?

Don't tell me... that I'm actually attracted to the queen.

"That means that I... really am a degenerate who's attracted to a married woman?"

This is definitely the worst day of my life.

◇◇◇

High up near a palace tower.

There was Ixion recording everything.

His red eye shone brightly because of what he said.

"Truly, you are the worst master ever. I can't believe that truly your dishonesty has reached such levels of cowardice."

He turned and flew off somewhere as night fell.

"You are lucky that I truly know you so well, that I have prepared a plan B just in case the worst should happen. If I don't do something myself, you'll be the one who suffers the most when we leave."

"You want those two, but you won't accept it? Fine, you asked for it. Enjoy your last moments of bachelorhood, for you will become a man the hard way."

In the middle of the night, a spherical body disappeared into the clouds bathed in moonlight.

Ixion, will finally give his plan to eliminate Rudel's dishonesty.