Chapter 29

"Let's just leave Patrick and go have dinner with the three of us, Mary."

Alicia puffed out her cheeks, and Mary couldn't help but put her hand to her forehead.

--- Incidentally, of course, she had warned Alicia, who was running over, "Don't come over here!" but it had no effect at all, as you can imagine ---

It seemed that Alicia was unhappy about being left out, and without breaking the circle, the group had even grown in number. She stuck out her tongue childishly at the group.

Mary couldn't help but scold her, "Stop it, it's embarrassing!"

"First of all, why are you assuming we should leave Patrick out and go to dinner as a group of four. I'm eating at home."

"That's fine. I know a great croquette place, let's go."

"……Ha! Dangerous, I almost agreed!"

"You're too easy to persuade, Miss."

Adi sighed as Mary almost nodded in agreement at the mention of croquettes. Then, turning back to Alicia, he gently touched her shoulder.

"No, Alicia, you need to talk to Patrick properly."

"……Adi?"

"I understand how you feel about not being able to join the circle. But you should express your feelings."

"……Yes, but how do I get to Patrick…?"

Advised by Adi, Alicia reconsidered and looked at the group with her eyebrows drooping. Although she was pouting now, deep down, she wanted to be with Patrick.

But the group, which had grown even larger during the conversation, included student council members, noble young ladies, and even ordinary women who had come shopping. It took courage to break through.

Especially for Alicia, given her position and personality, it was impossible to push through the crowd of admirers and get to Patrick.

Mary, understanding this, had said, "Just give up and have dinner alone," while Adi, on the other hand, had nodded and looked at her, saying, "I'll help you."

"Alicia, I want you to be happy."

"Adi, you want me to be happy?"

"Yes, I want you to overcome the barriers of status. I want to see that. So I'll take you to Patrick… using Miss!"

For a moment, a serious atmosphere hung in the air, but then Adi, with a spirited air, mentioned his master's name. Naturally, Mary called a halt.

...But it was a big mistake for Mary to stand up. By the time she shouted, "No way!" Adi had already appeared behind her, holding a box.

Worse still, Adi had taken a step forward while standing behind her. Mary had no choice but to move forward in surprise. Especially since Adi was holding a box, if she bumped into him carelessly, the box might collapse and she could get caught up in it.

--- Besides, if the box collapsed and its contents were revealed... it wouldn't be that the contents were exposed, but that the box was empty and she had bought an empty box ---

"Hey! What are you saying?!"

"Alright, alright, I understand. Let's walk, shall we?"

"Don't joke around! Hey, stop pushing... it'll collapse if you bump into it!"

"Right, it will collapse if you bump into it, so let's walk, shall we?"

"What are you doing, guiding me like that! Whose side are you on?!"

"I'm on Miss's side, but I'm also the captain of the Alicia support team!"

"You're a traitor for saying that!"

While shouting, Mary was gradually pushed closer to the group by Adi -- or rather, the box. Just as she was about to reach the group, a person on the outer edge of the circle noticed her and let out a small "Ah," which spread through the entire group as if it were contagious.

Everyone's eyes widened at the unexpected appearance of Mary, Patrick's ex-fiancée, Mary Albert. It was only natural for everyone to think, "Why is she here?" After all, a young lady from the Albert family would never shop in a town frequented by commoners, let alone show her face in a circle surrounding her ex-fiancé.

Therefore, everyone made way for Mary.

Of course, in this situation, no one could push her aside and talk to Patrick.

--- The student council members were still affected by the incident the other day, and the women had a sense of inferiority towards Mary, or rather, the young lady of the Albert family ---

Still, they didn't back away but kept a slight distance, glancing at her. Mary sighed, as if to say, "How exasperating," then glared at Adi and mouthed, "I'll remember this!" before turning to face the group and Patrick in the center.

"Good afternoon, everyone. Patrick, you should have invited me to shop with you. I would have been happy to accompany you."

Mary emphasized "alone" deliberately, and her meaning was clear.

Patrick, of course, looked troubled, facing Mary politely while still looking around as if searching for someone.

He was probably looking for Alicia, who had disappeared. When he spotted her behind Mary and Adi, he looked slightly relieved.

"Alicia, I'm sorry..."

Finding his beloved, Patrick apologized and took a few steps closer.

Mary, jokingly, said, "It's rude to talk to me and look for someone else," and moved aside to let Alicia take the stage. Adi followed suit, and the group's attention turned to the couple.

Alicia's confused expression was due to the uncomfortable feeling of all the attention being on her.

Unlike Patrick, who had stood on stages as a representative of the students and as the future head of the Dice family, Alicia, a commoner, must have felt the stares piercing her.

Therefore, if Alicia lacked confidence in herself or hadn't grown enough to match Patrick, she would suppress her feelings in such a situation.

The game was ironic, presenting a choice that couldn't be chosen, with only one line of dialogue on the screen.

The only choice was a choice that couldn't be made.

Mary smiled and looked at Alicia, wondering how she would react.

Alicia, avoiding the gazes, occasionally called out Patrick's name weakly. There was no sign of the possessiveness of a lover trying to monopolize her partner.

"Patrick... um, I... "

"Alicia?"

"I... with so many people gathered... so, I think... I think it's best if we all... all have dinner together..."

Hesitantly, Alicia suggested "dinner together," and Mary narrowed her eyes slightly.

She had backed down, Mary thought. Looking at Adi, he seemed to be saying, "I can't believe it," as he watched the two. His shocked expression was as if it were his own.

Unable to bear it, Mary grabbed his sleeve.

"The farce is over. Let's go home."

"Yes... ah, Miss."

"Wait!" Adi tried to stop Mary as she started to walk away.

When Mary turned to him, the scene was the same, with Alicia and Patrick still facing each other. The only change was that Alicia, blushing, was holding the hem of Patrick's clothes.

"I... I think it's best if we all have dinner together... I know it will cause trouble, but... still..."

Her voice was so weak and hesitant that everyone was puzzled. Alicia, trying to express something desperately, suddenly looked up and met Patrick's gaze directly.

"I want to be alone with you, Patrick...!"

Everyone was momentarily stunned by Alicia's declaration, even Mary, who should have known the pattern, was surprised.

By the time everyone came to their senses, Alicia had lowered her blushing face again, and Patrick, unable to contain his joy at his beloved's rare display of affection, was smiling.

Mary muttered, "What a silly face," at how uncharacteristically happy Patrick looked. He was no longer the cool prince but just a man who found his lover adorable and lovable.

Trying to maintain his composure, Patrick embraced Alicia and gently pulled her closer.

"Sorry everyone, I've decided to escort her today. We'll talk and have dinner another day."

Patrick, trying to maintain his composure, looked so happy.

Mary, unable to bear it, muttered, "Flower field in his head," but it didn't seem to reach him. Adi, on the other hand, looked at the two with a smile, as if it were his own happiness, saying, "That's what men are like."

What a farce... Mary sighed, and almost simultaneously, the circle around Patrick and Alicia began to break up.

"Mary, I'm sorry..."

"Sorry, Mary, we'll have dinner together tonight."

As Patrick and Alicia apologized and leaned on each other, Adi nodded.

Mary, on the other hand,

"Why is it assumed that we should eat together as a group of four?"

She complained, even though she knew it was futile.

Alicia smiled and gently took Mary's hand, slipping a bracelet adorned with colorful beads onto her wrist.

"What's this?"

Mary tilted her head in confusion and lightly shook her wrist, making a light clinking sound as the beads collided.

The combination of silver and rust-colored beads seemed to suggest a connection between someone and someone else.

"Hehe, it's a present for you, Mary."

"P, present? Why should I receive a gift from a commoner noble!?"

"Because it's a matching set!"

With a proud "Doya!" Alicia declared something that made no sense and showed off her own hand. Indeed, the same bracelet as the one on Mary's wrist jingled and swayed, but Alicia's was a combination of gold and blue.

Mary, recognizing it, let out a small "Ah" and widened her eyes.

"It's a matching set. It's embarrassing, but it's nice to have something like this."

Smiling, Alicia left with Patrick's arm around her.

Only Adi responded to her casual "See you tomorrow" as she left. Mary, on the other hand, was dazed, looking at the bracelet on her wrist.

Cheap and flimsy, like something made for children.

Still, it was designed to appeal to girls, with a variety of colors and the freedom to mix and match.

The bracelets, with their color combinations tailored to each target, were undoubtedly official merchandise of the "DraGakure" game.

"But I thought there was no color for Mary..."

Mary, full of questions, didn't have the time to consider what the rust-colored bead next to the silver one represented.

---

Note: The color "rust" was used instead of "reddish-brown" to be more direct and consistent with the context.