Chapter 68

An hour later, there were three bodies in the kitchen.

Oscar, like a boxer who had turned completely white in the middle of a match, sat in his chair, head bowed.

Gilbert, unable to even sit, stood with his hand over his mouth.

Jade lay sprawled across three chairs, eyes rolled back.

The person who had spiked the food with poison was the only one who seemed fine, pacing around the three of them in a fluster.

"R-Really, I'm so sorry! I thought today's dish turned out well!!"

Saying this in a voice on the verge of tears, Cecilia looked up at Oscar, who raised his head.

"You can still say it 'turned out well' after that cooking process, you...?"

"Today's was actually better. At least it was all edible..."

"My mouth is tingling, burning..."

Despite their words, their plates were all clean. The only thing left was the pudding (or something like it) in Cecilia's dish.

Wiping away the tears streaming from his eyes, Jade spoke up.

"Maybe Leen and the others knew about this and ran away..."

"You should start being a bit more suspicious of people."

"...Yeah."

Jade wobbled to his feet, pressed his hand to his mouth, and grabbed Gilbert's uniform, who was standing next to him.

"Gil, what do we do?"

"...What's wrong?"

"I'm going to throw up..."

"Huh!?"

"Sorry, I can't walk by myself. Take me to the bathroom—ugh."

His stomach seemed to be rejecting the food, and Jade's body was convulsing, his neck tensing. The reaction was almost upon him.

"I understand! Don't throw up here!"

Gilbert put his arm around Jade's shoulder to support him and tried to leave the kitchen. Just before they left, he turned back and gave Oscar a sharp look.

"I'll be right back!"

It was a warning not to do anything strange. Oscar nodded in response and exhaled.

Since realizing Cecilia's true identity, he had been even more reluctant to let Oscar get close to her. He had always thought of Gilbert as a good guy who cared for his sister, but this level of overprotectiveness made him wonder.

After saying his piece, Gilbert left the room, still supporting Jade. Cecilia watched them go, calling out, "Jade! I'm really sorry!" in a voice on the verge of tears.

In the kitchen, now empty of the two, Cecilia was dejected. It was probably because the pudding had failed, and Jade's condition was quite bad.

Oscar spoke to her, head bowed.

"Don't be so down. Everyone makes mistakes."

"...Yeah."

He wasn't sure if calling it a 'mistake' was appropriate, but he said it anyway.

Seeing her dejected, Oscar exhaled and stood up. He unbuttoned his sleeve and rolled up his arm.

"Let's clean up!"

"Huh?"

"Doing something will take your mind off it."

As Oscar picked up a bowl, Cecilia hurried to stop him.

"You're okay, Oscar! I'll clean up!"

"If I leave it to you, you might do something else wrong."

"That's... true."

Cecilia looked hesitant, and Oscar smiled gently.

"Just kidding. I was bored anyway. Let me help."

"Ah... okay. Thanks."

With that, they started washing the used dishes and cooking utensils side by side. While scrubbing a pot with burnt sugar, she pouted.

"Oh, why did it fail?"

"Don't try again until you figure it out. It's a waste of ingredients."

"That's true, but..."

"If you really want to give pudding, buy it or make it with someone else. Otherwise, you'll have to apologize for causing stomachaches next time."

"That's true."

Cecilia nodded deeply with a wry smile at Oscar's reasonable advice.

"By the way, you ate all the pudding, right? Is your stomach okay?"

"Yeah. I might suffer tonight, but I'm fine for now."

"You could have left some..."

"Well, you made it."

Oscar drained the water from the bowl and spatula and placed them on a cloth. He noticed Cecilia looking up at him. Meeting her gaze, she gave a weak smile.

"Oscar, you're a good friend."

She continued, "Thanks," and started moving her hands again.

Watching her ponytail, which seemed to be in a better mood than before, Oscar spoke.

"I would have left some if you were just a friend."

"Huh?"

Their gazes met again.

"I ate it because it was yours."

Three seconds after saying this, her face turned bright red. She must have finally understood the meaning of his words.

Cecilia averted her gaze and said in a strained voice, "S-Sure!"

There was no conversation for a few minutes.

The only sound was the clinking of dishes, which made the atmosphere uncomfortable.

Cecilia, still blushing, was the first to speak.

"...Do you like me, Oscar?"

"Yeah."

"Do you mean, like, in a romantic way?"

"Yeah."

Cecilia's words, spoken with a sense of determination, were met with Oscar's simple affirmation. He might have said more, but he couldn't think of anything else to say.

Oscar glanced at her.

She didn't seem to be rejecting him, but she was clearly confused. Her large eyes were wavering.

"Hey, Oscar."

"Hmm?"

"I'm a guy—"

The moment Cecilia turned to him, her hands slipped. Her knuckles hit the running faucet, and the water, which had been flowing with considerable force, splashed directly onto her face and then onto Oscar.

"......Cecil."

"Sorry..."

When they realized it, they were both drenched. Cecilia from head to toe, and Oscar on the left side of his body.

"What are you doing, really...?"

At that moment, his gaze inadvertently slid from her face to her chest.

There, through the wet shirt, was a mark shaped like a red rose.

(Could this be...)

The mark that is said to appear on the candidates for the divine maiden?

As he stared at it, his gaze dropped even further. There, clearly visible due to the wet fabric, was the valley between her breasts. And the part of her chest that couldn't be contained by the fabric—

"Oscar, are you okay?"

"I'm fine! I'm fine! Don't come over here!"

Oscar put some distance between himself and Cecilia, who was approaching.

Looking closely, her shirt was also clinging to her abdomen, revealing her white skin. She didn't seem to notice.

(I should tell her... But! She's hiding her male identity from me...)

If he said anything, Cecilia would realize that Oscar knew about her disguise. She might flee the country and never be seen again.

He didn't want that. It was impossible.

"Oscar?"

(What should I do...)

The sight was too much for Oscar to look at, and he turned away. The fact that she had taken off her apron during the tasting didn't help.

At that moment, the kitchen became noisy. The voices of several male students were getting closer.

(This is bad!)

Students generally didn't use the kitchen because they were nobles and were used to being served. However, students like Jade, who had risen from the commoners, sometimes went to the kitchen to do simple cooking or make tea.

If they came in now, they would see Cecilia's mark, and her true identity would be exposed.

(No way I'm letting other guys see Cecilia like this!)

Oscar pulled off his jacket and put it on Cecilia, covering her chest.

However, she resisted, not realizing her state.

"No, Oscar! This will get your jacket wet!"

"Just put it on!"

"No! That's too much—!"

The approaching footsteps, Cecilia trying to take off the jacket, and his own muddled thoughts all converged, and Oscar took a bold action he wouldn't normally take.

"Just hide it!!"

"Huh?"

Without waiting for a response, he hugged Cecilia from behind, pinning her arms to prevent her from resisting, and pressed her body against his.

(This way—)

"O, O, Oscar!?"

"Just stay still!"

The door opened, and someone entered the kitchen. At the sight of them, Oscar instantly regained his composure.

"Ah..."

"Huh?"

It was Gilbert. Jade wasn't with him, so he must have taken him to the infirmary.

Several male students passed by, chatting, behind him.

"...What are you doing, Your Highness?"

After slamming the door, he spoke in a low, menacing voice, his eyes filled with a level of contempt Oscar had never seen before.

Even Oscar's cheeks twitched.

"Gilbert, there's a reason for this..."

"Let's hear your excuses after you let Cecilia go."

He smiled, but it was a demonic smile.

During the state of emergency, I want to help lift everyone's spirits, so I'll try to post every day.

I have a daughter, so I'll do my best, but I'll try.

I hope as many people as possible enjoy reading my novel.