The Bad Ending of an Otome

“I’m sorry for coming out without permission, Sir Raretis,” Elodie stated quietly.

I was astonished to hear her. 

I assumed she was nervous because she was alone, but had she come out without permission? 

Raretis’ expression was enigmatic.

“…It’s all right. So long as you return safely.”

“Yes. Of course, Sir Raretis.”

Elodie smiled quietly, her smile tinted with something enigmatic. 

‘Of course, you’d say that.’ 

Her words felt gently sarcastic…

“Emilia.”

The man’s stare at me was confusing. 

His expression, which alternated between Elodie and me, was befuddled. 

Of course… 

Given that I’ve always publicly loathed Elodie, and now he sees us together, it’s understandable.

“…It’s lucky, Sir Raretis. You need to take the lady back to the mansion…”

“No need.”

“…What?”

Elodie abruptly cut me off, which surprised me, especially coming from her.

“I’ll take a hired carriage back. Sir Raretis, you…”

Elodie cast a glance my way.

“…Have important matters to attend to, right? I shouldn’t be wasting your time.”

Raretis remained mute. 

Elodie’s tone was different, not the normal ‘I hope I’m not causing any trouble.’ 

Instead, her remarks were cutting. 

Why? 

What had Raretis done wrong?

“If that is your wish, Lady Elodie.”

He didn’t even try to stop her. 

The typical Raretis, a paragon of propriety, would have insisted on accompanying her to the end. 

His voice remained steady throughout. 

Elodie turned and jumped into a carriage without hesitation. 

She shouted out with a voice as light as a spring breeze just before boarding.

“I enjoyed today, Lady Emilia.”

“…”

“I don’t mind if you think I’m shameless and nasty. I agree.”

“…”

“I’m sorry for bringing up Lady Ophelia’s story so casually. And I was foolish to use Young Lady Beth.”

That is correct. 

It’s not something Elodie would do. 

She used to believe that it was better to suffer oneself than to harm others.

“But I don’t regret it.”

With those final remarks, the carriage began to move. 

I caught Raretis’s stare as I stood there, immobilized like a statue in a combination of incomprehensible emotions.

“…How did you end up meeting, Emilia?”

“I didn’t intend to. I had an appointment with Young Lady Beth, and she must have guessed and joined…”

I began to speak incoherently, then clicked my tongue, understanding the public’s increasing interest. 

Raretis stood out too much in his knight’s uniform. 

He seemed to understand and nodded slightly.

“We should find a more private location. Do you have a preference?”

“Anywhere is fine…Do you have anything to say?”

Raretis nodded. 

I paused for a second and stared at Kitty. Kitty clutched my arm fiercely. 

Raretis, seeing my hesitancy, advised,

“It would be better to send the maid back with carriage fare. I’ll take you to the townhouse.”

“Did you hear that, Kitty?”

“No, no! What if something happens?”

Kitty, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke up in horror.

“…Kitty. The Glamis Knights’ deputy commander is this man. You’ve met him, haven’t you? Surely he wouldn’t hurt me?”

“I know, but it’s just you without a maid. It’s not proper…”

Of course, it’s a concern. 

It would be scandalous if they were caught. 

This encounter could be tomorrow’s news: ‘Who is the lady alongside Sir Raretis?’ 

But…

“Don’t worry, Kitty. I’m not here to find a decent husband to marry.”

“What?”

I should be decent while staying with the Brahamdorff. 

Hearing Kitty’s surprised voice hurt my conscience. 

But…

“Please take the books I purchased today. And the leftover cash. Get yourself something lovely. Okay, Kitty! Keep the change as your allowance! But keep it a secret from Mrs. Nelly!”

“My Lady!”

I couldn’t bring Kitty because I didn’t want Cassio to know what happened. 

I left Kitty pounding her feet in fury and took Raretis’s outstretched hand.

He expertly maneuvered through the capital’s congested streets. 

I fidgeted with the fingers he held, lost in contemplation. 

Looking at Raretis’s disturbed expression, it appeared that he didn’t want me to meet Elodie.

Why? 

Because I dislike her? 

Because she’s a guest at the Marquis’s house? 

Is he resentful of me? 

Because, given her likeness to Ophelia, he couldn’t stop her from remaining at the Marquis’s?

“Is it okay if we go a bit farther?”

“Yes, as long as we return before it’s too late.”

“Then let’s ride.”

Raretis expertly located horses at a stable on the outskirts. 

He effortlessly put me onto a horse and then mounted himself.

“Is it okay if we ride fast?”

“You’re telling me to hold on tight, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll… try.”

I wrapped my arms uncomfortably over Raretis’ back, attempting to keep my nervous voice quiet. 

Even I understood the fundamentals of horseback riding. 

While I had some fundamental equestrian riding skills, I needed more time to incorporate them into my body.

Ophelia had always wanted to learn to ride but had never been able to. 

There was no one to blame if she fell. 

Besides, riding was not something someone with physical limitations could learn casually.

Did Ophelia ever ride a horse? 

It shouldn’t be this awkward merely following after an experienced rider. 

I felt odd resting my forehead against the man’s solid back. 

My hair swung in the wind, smacking my face as we accelerated.

His back felt like an unbreakable fortress as if nothing could shatter or overturn it. 

Where are we going? 

The scenery flashed by. 

I felt a strange warmth radiating from Raretis’s back as I gripped his waist tighter to avoid falling. 

We wouldn’t be this close during a dance.

This was an odd sensation. I could hear the man’s heartbeats. 

Such a sound shouldn’t be discernible atop a racing horse, but pressed against his back, I felt the steady, rhythmic pounding. 

Droplets of water slowly emerge from the depths. 

It was a weird sensation. 

To think I was racing behind Raretis Hope…

Elodie first, and now Raretis. 

People I hadn’t intended to meet were all crossing my path. 

The horse eventually came to a halt. 

There was no one around. 

Were we on the fringes of the city? 

The river’s margin was visible, the water sparkling with early stars in the half-light. 

Raretis dismounted first and extended his hand to me. 

I took it and stepped down.

“I wanted to see you.”

I swallowed, taken aback by his sudden words. 

In the faint light, his violet eyes twinkled brightly.

“Is that so…”

My reaction was a murmur.

“What about you, Emilia?”

“…”

I couldn’t force myself to react. 

It would have been much easier if it had been Cassio Brahamdorff. 

I could have dismissed it with something like, ‘Why should I want to see someone like you?’ ‘Are you that sure of yourself?’ 

Where did Raretis Hope learn to be so forthright?

“…Since your work is dangerous, I always worry about your safety.”

It wasn’t a lie. 

Raretis Hope is one of the country’s most powerful knights, frequently called upon for the most dangerous duties. 

Despite my uninteresting response, he smiled as if he had received something nice. 

His smile simply added to my perplexity.

I caught his eyes lingering on the amethyst necklace I had put on unknowingly today, which made me feel strangely shy.

“…It’s versatile and matches well with many things.”

“Indeed.”

“It doesn’t have any special meaning, so, you know…”

“It looks nice.”

“…”

I remained mute once more. 

Raretis lightly caressed my earlobe, where I wore pearl earrings.

“Next time, I should gift you a matching set.”

He couldn’t possibly be indicating that wearing only one necklace was insufficient. 

Even Cassio Brahamdorff did not insist on giving me whole sets. 

I attempted to ignore my growing worry. 

It was difficult to believe the contentment on his face. 

Raretis Hope was well-known for his lack of material desires.

After witnessing the Marquis’s house, he, too, must have lost interest in possessions. 

Raretis was content with a decent sword for training or comfy clothes. 

He wasn’t interested in things like a valued fountain pen or the latest novels that others his age were. 

He did send gifts, especially to the Marchioness, but that was about it.

“…Let’s save the gift talk for later. You didn’t come here just to talk about it, did you?”

“Right. I have something for you.”

He withdrew something from his pocket. 

A box roughly the size of an adult man’s palm, plain and black with no adornment. 

When I lifted the lid, a heavy object was wrapped in cloth. 

As I unfolded the material, I noticed a metal rod about three finger widths long. 

Raretis skillfully unwrapped it. 

It was a foldable knife with a blade hidden inside the grip.

The handle was ornamental and white when the blade was retracted, making it a simple decorative piece. 

It was small enough to go unnoticed if attached to a fan or something like that.

“It’s a gift.”