บท 31: A maiden's heart shot down
The system stayed quiet. It didn't even snicker in the back of Frozen Milk's mind. It seemed to have become more considerate.
"Is it uncomfortable for you?"
Frozen Milk only shook his head as he could feel the hot breath of Holbe on his neck. She was way too close for his heart to beat properly!
"If you know, why are you doing it?" Frozen Milk couldn't endure anymore and just had to ask.
"I wonder why. It's not that I have anything to do with you. Rather than that, I did not appreciate you landing on my lap and exposing my identity in front of everyone."
He could feel her piercing stare but refused to meet it, "About that, I'm sorry."
"I wonder who else you've offended to be cursed like this."
"What?" he instantly spun around and regretted it.
Even though the lights were out, and it was dark, he could literally feel her beauty. She was just that breath-taking. The origin of beauty was her, he was sure of it.
Holbe turned away from him and faced the ceiling, "You are amusing. Different from everyone I have met so far."
There it was! The irreplaceable 'you're different'!
Even though the protagonist wasn't that much different, they'd always be stuck with that stigma and arouse everyone's interest and attraction! Frozen Milk couldn't believe he was put into that shameful category too.
"You're also different," he couldn't help but blurt out.
"In what way?"
"You don't cling onto the prota- Prota or Glimpse Water."
"Am I supposed to?"
"Not really," he sighed, "But it's a given that females are all attracted to them like rats to sewers."
"Are you comparing females to rats?"
"Heaven no! NO! NO! I'm just... crude ok?"
Holbe smiled although Frozen Milk couldn't see it.
"Your disciples are indeed too much for people to handle, both on the eyes and mind but I'm not interested in relationships."
Of course not, she was the holy captain! She swore to remain virtuous!
"But I think you do should make up with your disciple. I can see he is slowly consumed by what is worrying him. It is not a red but it might turn into it."
"Red?"
"It does not matter."
"I try but every time something interferes, it's frustrating, to be honest."
"Do you care for him?"
"Of course, I do! Of course, how can I not? Even though he used to be clingy, overwhelming and annoying at times, especially with the random cringe lines he'd spit, he's still precious to me and I want to make him happy."
Suddenly, he felt something soft on his cheeks. Holbe poked him in the face with her finger! Frozen Milk was so astonished, he immediately backed up until he hit the wall.
"I understand. I've decided, Frozen Milk, I think I wouldn't mind helping you even if I exhaust myself," she touched his hand.
He wasn't sure if she was trying to make a move on him, but what he couldn't see was that she extracted another black thread from his body. He felt instantly lighter and a bit sleepier.
Holbe didn't exactly have a bad or sad life. However, in a world, where men were in power, she had to struggle a lot to become a knight and a captain on top of that. Therefore, despite her cold attitude and elegant bearing, she constantly tried to cope with her low self-esteem.
She was afraid of failure, afraid of being useless and afraid she was powerless. Yet, she couldn't show any of that for being weak meant being trampled on. So, all her insecurities, all her fears and anxiety were hidden underneath a mask of her indifferent face.
People thought she oozed confidence, but the truth was she lacked it and her indifferent behaviour was her way of avoiding it all.
Frozen Milk felt bad for her and squeezed her hand, tired he mumbled, "You're not a failure. You're also my precious character. I'm glad you were born."
Then he fell asleep but BADUM.
BADUM.
He didn't know with that simple gesture and those single words he actually shot down a maiden's heart and caught it in his hands.
He didn't know that another one was captivated by him. This time, however, it was a beauty, a female. This proved he had the charm to stay straight.
The next day, everyone assembled for breakfast.
"Your Excellency, how did you sleep?" Canno once again dished out an amazing feast.
"I suppose really good," Holbe lightly smiled at Frozen Milk.
He couldn't remember what else they talked about to make Holbe smile the minute he woke up next to her, just an hour ago. Disturbed was an understatement.
He felt she changed. What was wrong with all of his characters?
"What's wrong with you? Ain't you a bit weird right now?" Glimpse Water choked while slaughtering his food.
Glimpse Water also noticed Holbe's change. Frozen Milk glanced at Prota who pretended none of this had to do with him.
"Canno, when does the tournament start?" Prota gave his plate to Canno.
"Today!"
"Then I should prepare to go."
"Wait! Just like this?" Frozen Milk stood up to stop Prota.
"Just like this. Canno please show me the way."
"Yes, sir!"
"Wait," but Prota shut the door in front of Frozen Milk's face.
"Father, what you plan to do?" Glimpse Water sill munched on his food.
"Obviously we can't let him go alone. We should at least watch, right?"
"If you say so," Glimpse Water was too enamoured in his food.
Holbe patted him to his chair again, "We can set out later. Let's first eat something. Here, Frozen Milk, ah~"
Both Frozen Milk and Glimpse Water stared at Holbe holding the fork up to Frozen Milk. They were both petrified.
Glimpse Water was the first to thaw, "Hey! Hey! What are you trying to do with father? Hands off him! I'll be the one feeding him!"
Glimpse Water also held his fork up.
"I presume, Frozen Milk would rather be fed by me, a female, than his disciple."
"That's not true! Right father? You should be honoured I'm offering you this chance! Are you really going to choose her over me? You said you loved me."
Holbe gasped, "F-Frozen Milk did? "
"Yes!" Glimpse Water smirked.
Frozen Milk had absolutely no bloody idea what happened to his holy beauty. Blankly, he took his plate and retreated to his room.
"Frozen Milk!"
"Father!"
Both Holbe and Glimpse Water followed him. He felt an oddly familiar déjà vu. The only difference was instead of Prota it was Holbe.
He had to lean against the door to prevent them from entering. He pitiful shoved the food in his mouth and thought.
If they could get closer to the villain through the competition and meet other strong fighters would it be possible for him to avoid the bad ending?
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