C380. A birthday without memories (5)
Behind his expressionless face, Alon Palatio looked at Magrina feeling a slight unease.
She was smiling elegantly. Her gestures were equally relaxed.
In a word:
She didn't seem to be lying.
As if truly, in the past, Alon had called her that.
Realizing that, Alon fell into a small sense of shame.
And it was all because of Seolrang.
He couldn't ask her before, but seeing the marriage form Seolrang had extended to him, Alon told himself that perhaps their relationship was deeper than he thought.
Of course, in the explanation Penia gave him earlier, there was nothing about that.
Obviously, she is just a third party regarding the relationship between Alon and the others.
That is, if there were something Penia didn't know between Alon and Seolrang, she couldn't explain it.
......Of course, if Penia and Evan heard him, they would say: “Please stop talking nonsense, my lord.”
Unfortunately, at that moment there was no one beside him who could resolve that doubt.
Anyway, in such a situation…
Magrina's words were shocking to Alon.
Because anyone listening would undoubtedly think: “Alon and she have a secret relationship.”
And if he calmly combined everything that happened until now:
The Alon Palatio of 13 years in the future…
He was dating Seolrang, the Babayaga of Colony, and Magrina, the Elven Queen.
Maintaining two relationships with two women simultaneously.
‘…What the hell am I doing 13 years from now??’
His mind was filled with absolute chaos.
Alon finally regained his composure.
…He was so shocked by his supposed romantic history that for a moment he had forgotten.
But thinking about it, there was something suspicious.
The storage crystal.
At least according to Alon…
If he and Magrina really had that kind of relationship, that (the crystal) didn't seem like a good thing.
But obviously, Alon couldn't ask her why she had brought it.
What if by asking, it was revealed that he had lost his memory?
And furthermore… what if, just maybe, that was “the concept” they had between them? …?
‘The me from 13 years in the future is really……’
A new wave of shame invaded him.
He promised himself that when everything was over, he had to ask Penia or Evan about this matter, no matter what.
After a long reflection, he opened his mouth:
“……Right, I was a bit distracted. My lovely Magrina.”
......Even saying that, for a moment his hands curled up from embarrassment.
But looking forward, Alon wore a dazed expression.
Magrina's face, which until a moment ago looked so relaxed, was now red as if it were about to explode.
“…Magrina?”
When Alon asked in bewilderment, Magrina remained silent for a few seconds and then—
“Hic–”
She let out a hiccup, as if she had been startled by something, and immediately stood up abruptly.
“O-one moment—!”
And she ran out of the office.
Silence filled the room in an instant.
Alon remained staring at the door where Magrina had fled—
‘Didn't they say she wasn't a weird girl?’
With that thought, he wore a blank expression.
Naturally, Magrina did not return after shouting “One moment!”. Alon, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, suddenly saw a bag in the place where she had been sitting.
‘The bag she brought earlier.’
Remembering when Magrina had brought it, Alon reached out to pick up the bag that was about to fall—
Clatter—
And piles of storage crystals fell out of the bag.
……Wasn't she supposed to not be weird?….
Alon couldn't help but feel deeply complicated…
“…Hmm, I think they already realized.”
“You think so?”
“Yes.”
When Alon told Penia —who had just returned after attending to some matters— what had happened, she immediately reached that conclusion.
“…And how did they notice?”
“I don't know, but I think both already knew well that you have lost your memory. As far as I know, Seolrang is not in that kind of relationship with you either… and Magrina even less so.”
“They aren't in that kind of relationship…?”
“No, absolutely not.”
“……And couldn't there be something you don't know?”
Penia looked at him fixedly and denied firmly.
“No, there isn't.”
“Hm, you speak with certainty.”
“Because the possibility of there being ‘something’ is almost…. no, practically zero.”
“……Really?”
“Yes.”
Penia's firmness partially reassured Alon, although it also left him with a strange feeling of emptiness.
…Knowing it wasn't like that made him calmer…
But having them say it so roundly left him with strange emotions.
“So I haven't had any close relationship with any woman in these 13 years.”
Penia looked at him with an expression difficult to describe.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No, it's just that… in a sense, that's impressive.”
“Which part?”
“The fact that you say that even after everything that happened today…?”
“Obviously I say it because I have no memories.”
Penia murmured in a low voice, as if thinking: “This isn't a memory problem…”
But she didn't say it out loud.
“Anyway, from what it seems, there is no longer any point in pretending you have lost your memory.”
“……Not anymore?”
“Yes. If they already found out, it makes no sense. Besides, judging by their reactions today… I think everyone who comes will know.”
“So they reacted differently than usual.”
“It's not that they reacted differently than usual—”
Rather, it seemed they were taking advantage of this moment to get something they wanted for so long…
That's what Penia thought, but she decided not to say it.
“Wait.”
At that moment, Alon seemed to remember something very important.
“What is it?”
“There is a problem.”
“What problem?”
“….Do you remember what I told you? About Seolrang and the marriage form.”
“Ah…!”
Penia let out a sigh as if she had also realized something crucial.
But only for a moment.
She immediately began processing documents with a calm expression.
“Well… don't worry too much about that.”
“Don't worry?”
“Yes.”
“…If Seolrang returns to Colony with the signed form, I'll be married all of a sudden.”
“That isn't going to happen.”
“And why……?”
Alon didn't understand anything.
Penia let out a bitter laugh, looking out the window.
“…Because they will tear her to pieces before she even leaves the region…….”
Her voice was distant.
And just when Alon was going to ask what she meant by that…
Outside Marquis Palatio's mansion—
Yutia Bloodia and Seolrang were face to face.
Yesterday, after hearing from Magrina that Alon had lost his memory, Seolrang had prepared a plan with enthusiasm.
She wanted to sign the marriage, yes… but she knew perfectly well that it was something almost impossible.
Although this time the odds were a little better…
Even so, she couldn't afford to wait too long.
Because someone would undoubtedly interrupt her.
That is why Seolrang went to Alon with a light heart,
She handed him the form with a light heart,
She received the signature with a light heart,
And she left with a light heart.
Seolrang looked down at the document.
A marriage form signed so easily that it seemed like a joke.
She held it in her hands.
It wasn't until leaving the mansion that she realized she had really achieved it.
And unable to help it, she laughed alone. Yes, she laughed.
And in the past tense, because—
“…Yutia.”
“Seolrang.”
It was because of Yutia Bloodia.
Even though Seolrang had been careful and had left in secret, Yutia was there, blocking her path as if she had been waiting for her.
If Yutia blocked her path like that, Seolrang could never protect the document.
That is why she decided to try to negotiate.
“Let me pass, Yutia.”
“Mm? I'm not stopping you.”
“Really!? Then can I go?”
“Sure~”
Yutia tilted her head with a smile. Seolrang smiled too, but—
“Leave that here and go.”
“Uuuh—”
At those words, Seolrang put on a crying face. But Yutia, who was watching her fixedly—
“Pff—”
Let out a light laugh.
“Just kidding.”
“…eh?”
Seolrang's eyes widened like saucers.
But Yutia kept smiling.
“I have no intention of stopping you.”
“R-really? You're not going to take it from me either?”
“That's right.”
But Seolrang couldn't believe it so easily.
She looked at Yutia sideways.
Yutia's expression didn't change one bit.
“Come on, go.”
“T-then… I'm going……?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Seolrang didn't understand anything.
Yutia's intentions, her goal, her motivation… nothing.
She stood watching her for a few seconds, dazed.
Crackle—!
Then, seizing the opportunity, she disappeared wrapped in a golden flash.
Yutia smiled even more.
A smile full of meaning.
Thus, Seolrang shot away far from Yutia, and when the afternoon began to fall…
…To summarize:
Alon met Ryanga.
And seeing her, he felt it was quite surprising.
Unlike Magrina, Ryanga was indeed someone he had seen several times in Psychedelia due to her position in the Four Great Forces.
And furthermore, Alon knew Ryanga's personality within the game, so it seemed incredible to him that she could speak normally.
But what disconcerted him the most was—
“…Is something wrong… boss?”
“Ah, that—”
That Ryanga was sitting on his lap.
“…T-this… we always did this when we were alone, remember?”
Alon stared at her, and Ryanga replied stuttering.
Alon realized immediately that she was lying.
Unlike the others, Ryanga had been strange from the beginning by sitting on his lap.
Her face was red as if it were about to explode.
“C-come on, pet me… l-like you always…… do.”
And not only that, but she was asking him to pet her head.
Alon, not knowing what to do, raised his hand carefully.
And just then—
“Haah…”
Penia entered the office, letting out a long sigh.
“I was investigating and I think everyone knows the Marquis lost his memory. So everything that happened to you today… everyone has tried to take advantage—”
And then, she saw it.
Ryanga sitting on Alon's lap, face red as a tomato.
“…Are you guys still at it?”
As soon as those words left Penia's mouth—
Silence descended upon the office.
…A very, very heavy silence.
