Chapter 54

This is a written-down SS (short story) from the signed book project that I had been doing on Twitter and my blog. I had been making it available only to my followers on Twitter, but since some time has passed, I am now making it public here as well. I hope you enjoy it.

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The intruder came through the open window.

"Huh?"

Cecilia, who was writing a letter to a maid from her family home in her dorm room, looked up at the slight presence she sensed. She then noticed the intruder who had come in through the window. The intruder also looked at Cecilia.

"..."

"..."

They both froze for three seconds. Cecilia was the first to move.

"Ah!!!"

Cecilia jumped up and ran towards the door. Startled by her scream, the intruder scurried and hid behind something.

"Cecil! You made a huge noise, are you okay!?"

"G-Gil!"

The first to rush in was Gilbert. He ran to her, who had collapsed by the door.

"What happened!?"

Next to burst in was Oscar. Behind him, the other dorm residents who had heard her scream peered into the room like onlookers. Cecilia, supported by Gilbert, spoke in a trembling voice.

"F-from the window..."

"From the window? Did someone come in through the window!?"

The two of them looked around the room with serious faces as she nodded. Cecilia continued with a pale face.

"A c-cockroach..."

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

"A cockroach came in through the window!!"

With tears welling up in her large eyes, Cecilia pleaded to the two of them.

"By the way, I heard that the old school shed was demolished today."

After hearing Cecilia's story, Gilbert, with his arms crossed, said in a somewhat deflated voice. Oscar also looked around the room with a slightly relaxed expression.

"Did it come from there?"

"Probably."

"U-uh..."

Cecilia, with tears in her eyes, clung to Gilbert's back. The dorm residents who had gathered at the sound of her scream had already been sent away by Gilbert and Oscar, leaving only the three of them in the room.

"Well, it's a good thing it was just a bug."

"No, it's not good! They say if there's one cockroach, there are thirty more!"

"It just came in through the window, right? I don't think that's the case."

"Right. It probably came here after being driven out of its home."

"Y-you two are treating this like it's no big deal!"

Cecilia was shaking so much, clearly very scared.

"J-just for tonight, I'm staying in Gil's room!"

"No."

"Immediate rejection!?"

Cecilia, who hadn't expected to be turned down, let out a shocked cry.

"W-why!? I can sleep on the sofa!"

"No means no."

"B-but..."

Gilbert's unwavering voice made Cecilia look like she was about to cry. Seeing her like this, Oscar cleared his throat. His cheeks were slightly red.

"Cecil. I mean no funny business, but if you're that scared, you can stay in my room—"

Before he could finish, Oscar jumped. Gilbert was stepping on his foot.

"Gilbert!? You—!?"

"Sorry, your foot was just in a convenient spot..."

"If this were a different time, it would be a crime of disrespect!"

"Fortunately, His Highness is very lenient."

Oscar's veins bulged at Gilbert's nonchalant response. Gilbert turned his gaze away from Oscar and pulled Cecilia off his back.

"Anyway, it was just one, right? I think it'll be fine once we get rid of it, so you don't need to stay anywhere else."

"Really?"

"Probably."

Cecilia seemed to relax at his words.

"Gil, can you get rid of it?"

"That's..."

Gilbert hesitated. Then he smiled brightly.

"I'm sure His Highness will take care of it. Right, Your Highness?"

"Hey! I'm not good with those things—"

As Oscar shouted, a black shadow appeared at their feet. Cecilia, seeing it, screamed again.

"Aaaaah!?"

At the same time, she started backing away. Startled, the cockroach spread its wings and flew right in front of their faces.

"!"

Just as the three of them gasped in unison—

"Quiet..."

A familiar voice rang out, and something flashed in front of them.

"Huh?"

Looking down, they saw Huey crouching. In his hand was something like a rolled-up magazine. Under it, the cockroach was dead.

"Really, what are you all doing?"

Sighing, he wrapped the cockroach's corpse in paper and stood up. Behind him stood Dante, his mouth in a pout.

"Oh, why did you kill it so quickly? I wanted to see them be more scared—"

"Well, they've been noisy for a while..."

It seemed they had both been standing behind them, unnoticed. Huey stood up with the wrapped corpse.

"Well, I'll be going—"

"Ah, no fun anymore. I'll go too—"

Huey and Dante left the room.

"Wow, so brave!"

Cecilia, watching them leave, made Oscar and Gilbert, who had been outdone, hold their heads in their hands.

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The second volume of the novel and the first volume of the manga are now available. I hope to continue writing the slapstick romantic comedy of Cecilia and the others, so please support us!

By the way, the stock on Amazon is running out. If you want to get a copy, it's easier to find at bookstores, so please consider that.