Side Story Adele Chapter 7

 At first, Administrator Neumann didn't care what we were talking about, but when Dirk Neumann, the man we turned in, admitted what he had done with a scowl on his face, his color quickly changed.

He checked the documents from the back of the room and the combination between us and …… looked as if he was biting down on a bitter bug.

"--- Indeed. It seems that the matches of the two pairs have been tampered with. How could this have happened …”
"It must have been deliberately rearranged, as your son said."
Julius, sitting on a chair spoke slowly.
I stood behind him in an irritated mood.

"Dirk, why did you do such a thing …”
Dirk Neumann looks in the direction of the day after tomorrow with an expression that seems to reflect his decision to confess.
"Why didn’t you notice until now?"
I ask from behind Julius as if to add to his earlier statement.

"That's enough. You don't want word to spread any further about what your son has done. Enough is enough, make your son swear never to speak of such things lightly again."
Administrator Neumann does not move and silently looks at the documents in his hands.

"You’re the ones!"
Dirk screams suddenly. A nasty smile on is ugly mug.
“You’re the ones to blame! You've been disrespecting people for years. Noblemen from a devastated country! The only people I particularly disliked were you … you and Tiana Klein, Adele Berger!”
Dirk stands up from his chair and points at me.

"I thought it would be nice if the famous cat-and-dog were paired and had a hard time! But somehow, you guys look like you're getting along …… How did you manage to corrupt the Countess, Adele ………”
Julius quickly took control of my body as I stepped forward, aiming for his dirty mouth.

"Shut up Dirk"
Administrator Neumann says in a low voice.

"My son seems to be somewhat delirious. He moved from the imperial capital to this remote area because of my work, and I think he was worried, too. The former nobles of the Principality are tightly knit... for lack of a better word, they're exclusive."
"That doesn't explain why he did what he did."
I doubted what Administrator Neumann said when he continued, ignoring Julius.

“……… You lot … especially you back there, are quite hot-tempered. Sure, my son directly modified the paperwork, but ……… who’s to say you weren’t the ones to force him to do so? "


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I reluctantly accepted Julius' suggestion to retreat and plan countermeasures because I was worried about Tiana, whom I left at Arita residence.

It’s almost midnight.
It was sad to see the unlit lanterns still hanging on both sides of the slope leading up to the mansion covered in darkness.

Upon returning to the room, Tiana got up and sat next to Cornelia.
I was relieved, but I was worried about Tiana's dark expression and the fact that she was not looking at me.
And after a brief argument. Tiana spoke. Clearly.

"……… I would be very happy if I could be paired with Julius-sama."
The room was wrapped in silence.
Mysteriously, at that point, I didn't feel any shock nor did my heart freeze.

However, I quietly looked at Tiana.
Her small shoulders shiver.
All right, Tiana. You don't have to be afraid of anything.
I'll get rid of everything that threatens you.

"--Tiana, look up, look into my eyes, and say it again."
Tiana raises her face.
Those round, deep green eyes. I really liked your straightforwardness, your willpower, and your righteousness.

"You already know this, Adele? I've always liked Julius-sama."
She smiled, slightly annoyed.
"I've been thinking recently that being with you was more comfortable than I expected, but in the end, you’re still not Julius."

Earlier, when Julius and Tiana danced together in the hall.
Yes, it feels like it was just a moment ago.
At that time I swore.
Unless Tiana herself rejects me, I will never let go of you.

When I heard Dirk shout.
From the moment I heard that Tiana wasn't my original match.
I've been so scared since then.

I knew it.
I knew you'd give me an answer like this.

I'm sorry. I should have released you properly.

“………………… Yes, that was the case.”
Can I touch you one last time?
The truth is, I want to hug you and press my lips against yours.

However.

I gently stroke Tiana's soft maroon hair.

“…………… I’m happy for you.”
I turn on my heels.
If I stay here any longer, I would have destroyed everything.


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I was guided to the guest bedroom on the second floor of the main building. I fell on my back on a large bed.
I’m terribly tired.

The core of my head felt like it was burning feverishly, and I couldn't think straight.
I lazily look up at the pattern on the ceiling.

Suddenly.
I felt familiar with this ceiling, and I looked around.
--- “Adele, Adele.”

The distant past. In the back of my mind.
Yes, I was … about 12 years old?
That’s right, everyone was gathered at the tea party at the Arita house because it was a celebration for our elementary school graduation.

Beautiful mansion, delicious sweets and drinks.
Everyone dressed up … yes, that happened.
The kids were a bit pretentious at first, but eventually, their true colors came out …… Yes, I think this room was among the several rooms I sneaked into to explore the mansion.

I get up. The white, gently curved pillars and the paintings of the harbor on the wall are also familiar.

--- “Adele, was the sweet you had delicious?”
Looking out the window. There, yes, yellow ...? A twelve-year-old Tiana stood there in a yellow dress that looked like amber.
I was a little flustered and nervous when she suddenly spoke to me... so I replied bluntly with a "What?"

--- “The pastries from earlier. They’re so soft, they were made by Cornelia-sama. I ate three, too.”
Tiana looks at me with a slightly angry face.

--- Is it okay if you had three of them? I had a lot of them.

--- Did you enjoy it? You said they were delicious.

--- What's wrong if I say it's delicious?

It's not bad, it's not ...
Tiana's words, what was she about to say?
I think the adults came and told us not to go into this room without permission. I think she got angry and left it at that.

The pastries that Tiana had mentioned at the time. I'd completely forgotten about it … but suddenly the image of it took shape in my memory.

" ‘Of course, mine aren’t even close to the ones made by Cornelia-sama’ …”
The other day, behind the dormitory, I connected the crushed pastries from the bag I stole from Tiana.

"--- What does it mean ………"
It may not mean anything.
Maybe it's just a coincidence.

However.

I wondered if there were many, many things that I should have realized in what I had looked away from, dismissing them as meaningless.

"Adele … are you okay?"
The door of the room opens and Cornelia comes in alone.

No, no.
It can’t be.

At the village festival, under the lantern lights, Tiana looked up at me and wept.
Tiana looked down and said anxiously, "I thought you were avoiding me."
Tiana took my hand and looked up at me with a happy smile as we danced.

From the bottom of my abdomen, a feeling of frustration like pushing up suddenly struck.
There's no such truth anywhere, even if everything was my misunderstanding.

Even if I'm wrong about all of this, there's no truth to it.
There's no reason for me to just let this end without telling her anything.

"Cornelia …”
When I got up from the bed, Cornelia’s shoulders flinched.
"Sorry. I … I can't go back to being your knight anymore."

"Eh ... Adele !? Where are you going?"
With Cornelia’s impatient voice behind me … I stepped out into the hallway and kicked the red carpet with vigor and ran.

God,
Please allow me to pray once again.
Please, somehow, please let me make it in time.

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