Episode 45: Blind Love and What Should Be Blind

Having inadvertently jumped out, a rustling sound echoed.

The indescribable silence after the words of proposal were spoken was shattered by it.

Eleanore and the man’s four eyes all turned toward me at once.

Just who are you, how rude at a time like this—I thought the man might berate me, but… that didn’t happen.

Rather, they hadn’t even noticed my existence.

The reason is simple—right now, I’m in a state where I’ve cast concealment magic.

My presence has become even thinner than air, so an ordinary mage wouldn’t be able to see through it.

Actually, the only ones who could see through it would be those with exceptional magical power far surpassing mine.

Therefore, the two in front of me looked in my direction, but that wasn’t because they recognized my existence—it was simply because a sound came from that direction.

This magic can’t eliminate sound, after all.

But… look.

If you observe the two carefully, their focus isn’t fixed on me.

The man is staring at the scenery beyond my neck area, and Eleanore isn’t looking at me either…

No, she can see me…?

Our gazes are completely locked.

Her black pupils are completely capturing me?!

With an expression as if nothing is wrong, isn’t Eleanore staring at me as I jumped out and remained frozen.

Huh, why…?

Well, I wasn’t seriously trying to hide myself, so it wouldn’t be strange if I was discovered, but… even so, I can’t hide my surprise at being seen through.

It’s true that Eleanore is powerful in magical ability, but to think she’s stronger than me…

No, that’s just conceit, and in reality there’s a possibility I’m much weaker than Eleanore… no, but…

My head fills with confusion.

Eleanore’s straight gaze stirs up the thoughts in my brain even more.

“…The wind, perhaps.”

Without noticing me floating question marks, the man opened his mouth as if to break the awkward atmosphere after confessing his feelings.

No no, that’s right, what I should be surprised about now isn’t that, but the man in front of me.

Why would he suddenly propose… it would be impossible to ask me not to be surprised.

…If there’s a possibility they had some kind of secret relationship, that would be far more surprising though.

But either way, I must discern who he is.

I quietly listen to their conversation.

After the man finished saying that, Eleanore’s gaze finally moved from me to him.

“…It seems so.”

With a smile, she narrowed her eyes.

It was the same adorable smile as always, but… to my eyes, it appeared somewhat cynical.

“More importantly… may I have your answer?”

The man straightened his appearance and faced Eleanore anew.

She looked down at him with only the corners of her mouth slightly raised.

“Marriage between nobles is conducted with both families present and in agreement. Isn’t it rather arrogant to want an answer immediately? If you don’t properly follow the process—”

Eleanore said something quite reasonable.

It was a perfect argument with no room to object, but the man didn’t give up.

“I want to know your feelings! Family constraints don’t matter!”

He revealed his emotions intensely and raised his voice.

It was truly passionate, like a scene from some fiction, but that was only him.

Eleanore was watching it with extremely cold eyes.

“…Then all the more reason you should follow each step of the process.”

She spoke quietly.

“In the first place, have we ever even properly talked before? I hear marriages between academy students do happen often, but… wouldn’t it be unprecedented for one to occur with no buildup whatsoever?”

“…I fell in love at first sight. Your beauty completely captivated my eyes. This feeling cannot be stopped—”

“‘Captivated’—what an unsavory way to put it. You simply lost them on your own, didn’t you? And you are, if I recall… from a marquis family, correct?”

Saying that, Eleanore peered into the man’s eyes.

I can’t quite grasp what kind of situation is developing, but the man’s appearance was one of shock, his body trembling in small shivers.

“Your family has been focusing on diplomacy lately, but is it acceptable for you, an important card, to do something so reckless?”

She spoke smoothly.

Cold sweat formed on the man’s forehead.

“You should think a little more about your position before acting—”

Saying that much, Eleanore suddenly closed her mouth with a startled expression.

She looked away awkwardly and formed a regretful expression with her eyebrows.

However, before the man could notice, Eleanore resumed speaking.

“In any case, rather than suddenly doing something like marriage, you should proceed more gradually. …Well,”

Taking a breath, her eyes opened with an intimidating glare that suited the sound effect “glare.”

“In the first place, I must decline even friendship with someone who would propose based on appearance alone.”

As she said that as the final blow, the man trembled with a “shaking” motion.

It was quite harsh language, so I braced myself thinking he might lose his temper and do something…?!

“…I am… very sorry.”

The man created a dejected atmosphere and said that in a trembling voice, then left with heavy, plodding steps.

It’s anticlimactic—though that’s a poor way to put it—I stood there dumbfounded, seeing off his back.

…So he really did this on feelings alone.

An unknown man… from a marquis family.

Despite having a corresponding position, what a reckless thing he did.

I’d like to say “good grief” about that, but unknown emotions are swirling in my chest.

To reset my feelings, I exhaled on a sigh the certain sense of awe I felt toward him and the impatience and relief that arose in a corner of my heart.

“Arcs?”

At that moment, Eleanore called my name.

I was surprised by the suddenness, but… I see, it seems she had indeed seen through my presence.

“Ah, so you were there after all.”

When I released the concealment magic, she said that in a slightly surprised tone.

I felt a sense of incongruity in that tone and part of her words.

“…’After all’?”

“Yes. Since I couldn’t see your figure, I was thinking it was strange.”

…Huh?

She couldn’t see my figure… which means she couldn’t break the magic?

But if that’s the case, then why…

“Our gazes were completely meeting though… you couldn’t see me?”

“Yes, I just had an intuition that you might be there.”

Eleanore said that as if it were natural.

“By the way, you saw everything, didn’t you?”

“…Unfortunately. Though I wasn’t lying in wait.”

I said that while scratching my cheek with a wry smile.

What an awkward scene to be present for.

I didn’t know what to say.

…So I just voiced the question that came to mind.

“Was he really someone you had no acquaintance with?”

“Yes. We exchanged words for the first time just now, and… well, even at most we would have only interacted for about a week.”

She said that definitively.

I had more things I wanted to ask, but they were all tangled together, and I couldn’t form the words.

“Could it be you became anxious?”

While I was doing that, Eleanore peeked at me with a mischievous smile.

…I involuntarily closed my mouth, but averting my eyes,

“…Rather than anxious, I was flustered…”

I said that mixed with a sigh.

Emphasizing the meaning of “because my master was in a troublesome situation.”

“Mmm. So you won’t be jealous.”

Looking disappointed with pursed lips, she said that.

Though she wasn’t seriously displeased.

She was joking.

Come to think of it, her words of refusal earlier had come out smoothly too.

Normally, when someone you don’t know—well, even an acquaintance—confesses their feelings to you, you’d panic.

Eleanore is… beautiful.

Is she used to this sort of thing?

Certainly when at social gatherings, she had mentioned being approached while I wasn’t there.

She must have experience with this.

Though even so, a sudden proposal seems unlikely.

…Jealousy, huh.

“I was flustered, truly… in various ways.”

I murmured at a volume barely audible.

As a butler, because sparks were about to fall on my master… because confusion might have erupted in the household… there are various plausible reasons for being flustered.

However, if asked whether that was all, I didn’t know.

And somehow, I also simultaneously thought that now was not the time to chew over and understand that unknown part.