Toasteful: Chapter 86, Part 2

　[Part 2/4]

　Murasaki rushed to get her evidence, but Iruka took the cards and pieces, and hid them completely. Catching her breath, Murasaki blushed and reached for her sword beside her, but I blocked her and took it away.

　"Servant!? What are you...!?" exclaimed Murasaki.

　"This is my house, Miss Murasaki. We don't need a bloodbath here. Please don't hurt anyone. And Iruka, you're pushing it too far," I scolded them both. Iruka, however, showed no sign of surrender, taunting Murasaki with her malicious gaze.

　"Anyway, I won, and a promise is a promise, right? Besides, we signed a contract in which word curse tied us down. Sorry, but it cannot be canceled," she replied stubbornly.

　"......Miss Murasaki?" I asked, my gaze sharp as I turned to her.

　"Uh, if I win once, I can take it all back, okay...!?" Murasaki replied, her voice desperate and pleading.

　As I exposed Iruka's cheating, I looked at Murasaki with a mixture of disappointment. But she didn't make an agreement that there would be no cheating in the contents of the contract, didn't she?

　Just like the binding curse applied to me when I became a servant, curses are often applied to various contracts in this world.

　In this world where it is technically and politically difficult to enforce law and order, and where self-help remedies are tacitly accepted, curses are far more useful than mere written contracts. They can tie your soul and sometimes even cost you your life, and though they are not completely unbreakable, they are not the type of thing that can be easily broken.

　(That being said, I can't let things continue like this...)

　I let out a small sigh and sit down in front of Iruka.

　"Servant?" Murasaki asked.

　"What are you doing, huh?" Iruka interjects.

　"Here's the deal. I'll replace Miss Murasaki. Is that okay?" I offer, looking at Iruka, and signaling Magoroku. He responded by taking several bottles of liquor out of the shelf and placing them in front of us.

　"They're imported liquor bottles. Let's bet it's all there. ...Oh, don't worry. You can bet on that one at a time, okay? And you can cheat if you want."

　"...Are you out of your mind?" Iruka says, eyeing the conditions I proposed.

　"What are you going to do...?" Murasaki asked, with a stupified manner.

　"Just a moment, Miss Murasaki, and I will return your belongings immediately. ...There's no way you would run away at this good condition, right?" I assure her, challenging Iruka to take the bet.

　Iruka's expression calmly turns to something else. In a society where life is light, people tend to be more attached to honor. It seemed to have an even greater effect on Iruka, who was from Ezo, which was not as civilized as Fusō-kuni.

　"Hehehe, alright then, if you insist, let's do it. I lent you a hand because of a coincidence, but originally we were natural enemies. It's not just the booze bottle. I'll strip you naked like that idiot hair over there," Iruka says with a smirk.

　"Idiot!?" Murasaki shouts, but Iruka ignore her and start playing hanafuda (Japanese playing cards). She starts cheating right from the start while shrouded in an invincible, confident expression. She has dealt her cards and is deliriously happy because I had so many bad cards.

　"Now, now, shall I give the mischievous little puppy a punishment?" I say teasingly, although I am in an obvious disadvantage, but smiling smugly, I begin the game anyway...

* * *

　What is love? It is an extremely philosophical issue.

　Love can be defined as affection to one's parents, friendship, esteem, humanity, and sexual love... it has a wide variety of meanings, and it may not refer to the same things culturally. To define it, many philosophers and religious leaders from past and present have struggled.

　Some of people defined it as a sense of solidarity that encompasses all races, while others call it a gift from God. Some see compassion for others as the essence of love, while others proclaim that selfless service to society is the ultimate truth. Or some even argue that there is no such thing in the first place...

　However, such things did not matter to Aoi. Even though she studied philosophy and thought, she had already defined it for herself. No, she had no choice but to define it.

　Obsession, madness, and intense emotion. These were the true essence of love to young Aoi. She learned from her parents that those feelings for the one whom she longed for were the true love. And now, she learned it all too well.

　That's right, true love is never pure or peaceful. It's quite the opposite. If you can pretend to be calm and collected on the surface, it's not real love. Such half-hearted love is fake.

　Aoi knows that real love is so obsessive, so crazy that every rule or convention becomes meaningless. It's so fierce that all other emotions are crushed. That is why her father tried to lead her to a fate more horrible than death, and her mother did nothing to stop him. Her father and mother were both drowning in their own self-centered and delusional love. They had drowned in it.

　But although Aoi has always despised and hated her parents, she has always affirmed the form of love between them. No, she had to affirm it. After all, if she didn't, she would have been ruined by absurd and misguided principles. Aoi couldn't accept such a funny and ridiculous story.

　This is why Aoi's love for her most beloved person is twisted in the same way.

　Aoi loves him. She loves him because he believed in her during the time in hell. She loves him because he protected her. She loves him because he saved her. She loves him because he sacrificed himself for her. She loves him endlessly.

　That's why Aoi must be crazy for him. She has to throw away all reason, common sense, conventional wisdom, and etiquette- sacrifice everything for him, help him, support him, and save him. Only then can Aoi truly say that she loves him.

　That is why Aoi's behavior at the meeting was the worst and lowest.

　She couldn't accept his plea and request despite his beseeching gaze, and had no time to put it into action. Her heart was in a mess of fear, anger, and confusion. All she could do was to suppress her feelings and not to go crazy and start crying, however, these things did not matter to him.

　"Truly, how pathetic."

　In the simple Kago (a traditional Japanese basket or cage used for carrying) that she is carried, Aoi is muttering to herself. It was so depressing that despite her usual haughty and confident attitude, she became useless and like a puppet just because he was present... It's beyond pathetic, isn't it?

　"Haa..."

　"P-princess... please, take care of yourself..." White Fox timidly said.

　When Aoi sighed with sorrow and desperation, half-youkai White Fox timidly tried to comfort her. However, since Aoi hadn't shared the reason for her misery with her, White Fox couldn't find the right words to express her support. She tries to say something, but in the end she can only make her fox ears and tail wilt without words.

　"S-so, um... is it about Tomobe-san?" Shiro gathered up her courage to ask.

　"Oh, why do you think so?" Aoi asked with a nasty tone.

　She understands clearly that Aoi is in a bad mood, and she trembles. Still, she spins her words timidly. "P-princess seems to have lost confidence. Is it because of something like that? I was just wondering..."

　"Hehehe, you're quite observant. Is that how you watch your prey? Cunning indeed," Aoi chuckled, her tone sly and playful.

　Shiro panicked and quickly denied the suspicion, "I, I would never do such a thing!!"

　Aoi's laughter tinkled softly, her tone reassuring yet tinged with a hint of sadism, "It's just a joke, don't worry. Relax... I understand. There's no point in sulking alone."

　As Aoi muttered, she glanced at the window of the Kago, her expression showing an indescribable sadness. Her sad, distant, yet beautiful behavior makes the white fox let out a sigh involuntarily, even though she understands that she is out of place in such an atmosphere.

　While doing such a thing, their Kago arrived. Aoi opened the Kago, and then Shiro stepped out after her. And then, they saw it. In the hut in front of them.

　A hut that was addressed to Yun-shoku of the servants.

　"It's still as shabby as ever."

　Aoi took a glance at the hut and commented. It was truly shabby, old, and dirty. It was definitely not suitable for him. If it were possible, she would have wanted to rebuild it cleanly, but... it was difficult to make a decision as it would give unnecessary suspicion to the surroundings, and furthermore, the awakening of that man had caused the plan to take a step back.

　"......"

　Aoi hesitated slightly as she tried to open the door. It was fear. She looked at herself in the reflection of the window and felt disgust. The hatred in her eyes terrified her, and she was confused. But her pride would not allow her to continue like this forever, and more than anything, she could not run away from her mistakes.

　So, Aoi tried her best to put on her usual arrogant and irreverent expression and opened the door. And then...

　"Oryaaa! Take this, Ame Shiko!!" Iruka exclaimed triumphantly.

　"Here, Gokou," the servant replied, "do you want this haori too? ...Miss Murasaki, I'll give it back to you."

　"Y-yes...!? Thank you so much!!" Murasaki's response was breathless with excitement.

　"D*mn it!? Come on!!" Iruka's voice was filled with frustration as she clutched her head.

　In front of Aoi's eyes, a frustrated wolf and a servant were playing "Koi Koi (come on, come one)". And for some reason, her stupid, carefree, and foolish cousin was by the servant's side. Or rather, she was holding his beloved hand and seemed happy to receive the haori. Don't be ridiculous, you're too close to him.

　"......"

　Anyway, Aoi leaves the dirty hut at once. She took a deep breath once, twice, and calmed down to sort out the situation. Okay, I got it. That's how it is... Well, then. The white fox beside her is pale and frightened, but Aoi ignored it because she had something far more important to worry about.

　"...This hut is really filthy and old. Even a light breeze could knock it down," With a smile like a saint, Aoi murmured those words and raised her folding fan. And then... Suddenly, a strong gust of wind swept through a corner of Onitsuki's estate.

Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!

Previous CH. All Chapter Next CH.

Report Error!