Volume 7 Chapter 23 Bonus
While Randy was caught by the instructors and scolded, the usual group—Cecilia, Catherine, and others who had escaped—gathered at a cafe on the main street of the old royal capital.
"Ah, that was close. If I'd been caught just now, it would've ruined my perfect record."
Catherine waved her hands dramatically. Beside her, Leon sighed. "Your record's already full of scratches."
"Hey, what's going on?"
"That's just how it is."
Leon stuck out his tongue, while Catherine grimaced and made a "Kii" sound. Cecilia, Luke, Julius, and the others watched in astonishment.
"Still... I accidentally left Sir Randolph behind──"
"He's definitely angry, isn't he?"
At Luke's words, everyone shivered.
"I-is it okay?"
"I'm going to see my senior──"
Luke called out, "Wait," as Cory and Annabelle panicked.
"It's fine. Cory and Lady Annabelle, it's okay."
Everyone nodded. Randy probably wouldn't blame only them. In their minds, they pictured Randy letting just the two escape.
"You guys were against that experiment, right?"
Cory and Annabelle slowly nodded at Luke's question. Luke smiled. "I wouldn't blame you for running away if you thought it was better to stop."
"Then I guess I'm okay too."
Julius, looking proud, said he'd also tried to stop the experiment. But...
"No, you're probably not okay."
"Huh?"
"I said, you're no good."
"Why!"
Julius stood up, drawing attention. Ashamed, he coughed and sat back down.
"...Why am *I* no good?"
"Somehow..."
Luke muttered, and Julius stiffened. "S-somehow... you say?"
"I was the one who stopped it! I said we should stop..."
"Stop it. If you say that, you'll get punched. 'If you understand, then speak up louder! Your voice is too quiet!'"
"Unreasonable!"
Julius slammed his fists on the table. Livia patted his head, saying, "There, there."
"For now... Julius will get punched, I guess──"
"Is it decided...?"
As Julius hung his head, Luke turned to Catherine and Leon.
"If one more person gets punched, that idiot will probably be satisfied. He's an idiot, after all."
Catherine and Leon exchanged glances, then looked at Luke.
"...Why us?"
"That's right."
Both pouted. Luke leaned forward.
"Listen. That idiot's observant. He'll just lightly poke Leon, and Miss Catherine will probably be left alone."
"That's a lie! He'd happily punch me."
Catherine puffed her cheeks. Luke said, "It'll be fine, probably," trailing off.
"But probably isn't good enough. If you get punched──"
"I'm already one of the numbers who will get punched."
Everyone let out a slight "Ah." It seemed Luke would get punched, and if Julius and maybe one more person were offered as sacrifices, Randy's anger would subside.
"By the way, what about those two?"
"That's right. Lady Elizabeth and Lady Eleonora."
"Do you think Randy would lay a hand on them?"
Everyone shook their heads silently.
"Then, wouldn't it be good to get them on our side?"
At Cecilia's suggestion, Catherine agreed. The plan was to go to Randy's house, win over Elizabeth and Eleonora before Randy returned, and calm his anger.
With that decided, Annabelle and Cory boarded Cecilia's carriage. Using two carriages—Cecilia's and Catherine's—they hurried to the house Randy had rented.
Livia patted Julius's head as he muttered to himself. Luke loosened his joints in preparation for the coming confrontation. As they arrived at Randy's house, the sun had already set.
"This is the worst... he's back."
Luke grimaced at Randy's presence inside. But having come this far, there was no turning back. He slapped his own cheeks.
"Alright, let's go──"
Just as Luke swallowed his saliva and opened the gate──
'Ahahahahahaha'
A loud laughter echoed from inside.
"That just now..."
"It's Liza's voice."
Catherine and Cecilia exchanged puzzled looks. Luke and Julius cautiously approached the door and knocked. The door slowly opened.
"Yo. What brings you all here?"
Randy stood there with a big grin. Luke's voice trembled. "No, just..."
"You were probably trying to team up with Liz and Ellie to hold me down, huh?"
Realizing their plan was seen through, Luke and Julius twitched their cheeks.
"Too bad. Liz and Ellie are already on my side. So that means you guys are..."
Randy snapped his fingers and stepped out. Liz, her cheeks flushed and breathing heavily, appeared behind him. "W-Wait, please."
"Randy... huff... w-we beg of you, for our sake, please──"
"Huff... Y-yeah. You weakened us, so... huff... be satisfied this time."
Ellie, also breathing heavily and flushed, appeared. All eyes turned coldly toward Randy.
"Weakened us?"
"Their face is red, and their breathing's heavy..."
"You──"
Sensing the suspicious atmosphere, Randy looked around in confusion. "Huh? What?" But Catherine and Cecilia grimaced and raised their voices, "How shameless!"
"No, that's not it──!"
"Then what is it! Their face is red!"
"They're breathing heavily!"
The two spoke rapidly. Randy looked around. "Stop it, don't raise your voices!" But it was too late.
"Sir Randolph, may I ask for more details?"
The figure that appeared was the Marquis family's shadow, the [Dark Tide].
"Th-This has a deep reason──"
"Yes. Please tell me that deep reason."
From beside Catherine and Cecilia, who seemed to be smiling even through their masks, others appeared.
"Me too."
"Me as well."
Randy, forgetting his anger, was pressed by the women and [Dark Tide], desperately trying to clear up the misunderstanding.
* * *
Catherine and Cecilia were angry not because they misunderstood something scandalous, but because Randy hadn't formally confessed to Liz and Ellie yet. If proper steps were taken, the two would smile, and blessings would follow.
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