Chapter 176 – Chapter 175. Third…? (One)
Coexistence.
The dictionary meaning of coexistence is that two or more invisible things, such as a certain object or phenomenon or the human mind, exist together.
In that sense, the coexistence that Astrid told Asti right now fits the meaning of the dictionary very well.
‘Coexistence?’
【Yes, coexistence. Because you said you didn’t want to go back either.]
Asti couldn’t answer that.
I don’t want to go back… Not.
I didn’t want to go back.
The last time she returned to her original world, even in a dream, and when her memories returned, Asti’s feelings were far from joy or comfort.
A sense of loss, and a terrible emptiness.
Her colossal loneliness welcomed her, that there was nothing to fill her side.
So when Leopold came to visit, willingly… So gladly—
【What are you thinking about?】
‘Oh, no. Nothing… ‘
Stream of consciousness is such a scary thing.
[Anyway, from now on, we have to act well together. Those in the know already know, but it’s a big deal if it’s officially exposed. The fact that the crown prince and the empress have dual personalities would be a big weakness.]
‘That’s right… ‘
Will it be okay, will I be able to do it well?
To be honest, I was a little scared.
【I’ll teach you well, so leave it to me. Things like etiquette as a young lady, how to deal with situations, how to behave in public.]
‘That, yes… ‘
Although she has an unreliable side, Asti remembers the first time Astrid made her appearance at her last prom.
She couldn’t dance at all, and she guided Asti with only her words, so how did she manage to do it?
Being that Astrid, you can trust her.
【And I hope you can teach me some things too.】
‘What?’
What could Asti teach Astrid?
There doesn’t seem to be anything in particular, but Astrid took it for granted that she asked Asti to teach her herself.
【Like a way to seduce Her Highness at once.】
‘Eh, no. That.’
It wasn’t intentional.
I didn’t have that awareness in the first place, and I didn’t even intend to do that.
It’s unfair to say this.
What do you mean teach me?
【Can’t remember? Last time, that… In bed. Don’t you remember how you taught me one by one how to say it?]
‘Ah… ‘
Looking back, it wasn’t like that never happened.
When Leopold spoke, what would he reply to him?
How to react to Leopold’s actions.
There was a time when he had taught Astrid every single one of those things.
However, it is a little difficult to say that it was intended.
【Honestly, now it’s a little hard to believe that you were originally a man. No, you naturally appeal to femininity like that. To say that he was originally a man is honestly like a joke.]
I ate the last remaining piece of cake with a fork.
The sweet sauce filled my mouth.
The sweetness that makes you feel good on its own.
The sweetness was erased neatly by the bitter taste of the tea I ate afterwards.
‘… I really don’t know anymore I wonder if I was really, really a man. No, it must have been a man, but… Should I say that I can’t believe it’s really true?’
Then, he gently pulled the next cake plate that was lying next to him.
Strawberry cake followed by pancakes.
Pure white whipped cream sprinkled on a yellowish-brown sponge, and a bright red strawberry on top of the whipped cream.
And strawberry slices neatly arranged between the layered sponges.
My mouth waters just looking at how delicious it is.
【Well, if that’s you, that’s it. I said it as a joke, so don’t take it too seriously. Even if that’s true, what’s the problem? That doesn’t make you a completely different person. Now you are Asti, although you are using my childhood name. Anyway, now you are another me. Right?]
The fork moved silently and cut the cake.
A piece of cake cut away from the strawberry placed in the middle, and the red juice of the strawberry between the sponge layers spread over the whipped cream, bringing in red water.
‘… Yes, you are right thank you.’
【What can I be thankful for? Isn’t it me who should be thankful in some way?]
As Astein said, the curse was successfully activated, and the fall down the stairs was probably the result of the curse.
If so, Astrid would have been dead. Even so, the reason she can be alive like this now is probably because Asti happened to dwell in her body.
It would have been a bad ending, not a happy ending. It certainly would have been.
And it was fortunate that Asti dwelled in this body.
What would have happened if he had been an evil man, if he had been a man with a bad heart?
Astrid was really lucky that Asti was in this body, she thought so sincerely.
【But why don’t you eat that strawberry?】
A strawberry placed on top of pure white whipped cream on top of the cake.
The strawberry was so bright red that it looked delicious just by looking at it.
Originally, I don’t like sour, sour foods like strawberries, but strangely, at this moment, strawberries seemed so delicious.
To the point where I want to eat it right now.
‘To eat last.’
【Then it is taken away. It would be better to eat that first.]
‘Who is stealing it? Is there no one like that?’
“Oh, I guess I don’t eat strawberries. Shall I eat?”
With a familiar voice, without waiting for Asti’s answer, someone’s hand picked up the strawberry.
Asti’s bewildered gaze followed the movement of the strawberry, and eventually the strawberry disappeared into Veracien’s mouth.
“… Be, Vera… “
“Oh, strawberries are delicious.”
“Hey, what would you do if you picked up and ate a strawberry like that? It could be the last thing you tried to eat.”
Until Erana.
Veracien and Erania suddenly appeared and sat side by side in front of Asti.
It seemed that they were in the same café, as both of them were holding cups and drinking unknown drinks.
The pattern drawn on the cup is the same as the pattern on the plate on which Asti’s strawberry cake is placed.
“… Were you both here?”
“Huh. I saw you all smoking green seungseung alone. You have no friends because Leopold is gone, right?”
“… Are you waiting for your highness? Besides, Veracien, why did you eat my strawberries without permission? I was going to eat it last.”
“I know you don’t eat. Sorry sorry.”
Speaking of which, Veracien didn’t look apologetic at all.
Vera Cienne stared at Asti as she sucked her drink through a straw.
“Do you have any real friends? What about Ashley and Emily?”
Hearing those words made me feel angry and something was brewing.
Emily and Akemilla weren’t friends in the first place, and Violet, who is a bit closer, is busy dating Ashley.
Come to think of it, there is really no one else to hang out with.
It was Asti who was deeply concerned about whether it was okay as it was in relation to her extremely narrowed personal relationship.
“Hey, you don’t have any friends either.”
“There are many in the demon realm. There are far more than elves like you.”
“I also have a lot in my hometown. I’m your friend! More than 100 kids turn around when I call.”
“What is a hometown you can’t even go to? Hey, if that’s the case, then I’m over a thousand?”
“I’m over 10,000!”
“How many elves are there!?”
Childish
She was thinking about moving soon.
“… So, why are you here?”
“I hope you are alone. I came because I didn’t have any friends and wanted to be alone.”
“It’s not like you two don’t have friends.”
At that, Vera Shien pointed to her side with the straw from the cup she was drinking from.
Erania was sitting where the end of the straw pointed.
“Friend, are you here?”
Eranya didn’t answer much, but rather, it was Asti who was surprised.
She didn’t expect to say that she was a friend.
“Eranya sister, she said that she became friends with a demon?”
At that, she didn’t even bother to deny it.
Rather, she sipped her drink through a straw and nodded her head lightly.
“Well, I must have signed a contract. Wouldn’t it be nice to be friends? Besides, unlike him, I have a lot of friends in the dormitory. If I don’t make friends, he has to hang out with the nuns.”
“Ah… Right. She came in as a nun, yes. A demon is a nun. End of the world, really. But no matter how much you are friends with demons, hasn’t unnie been brainwashed?”
It seemed that she couldn’t overlook those words.
Vera Shien put her cup down and crossed her legs.
“What is brainwashing, a person who has been brainwashed will say that I have been brainwashed.” It wasn’t even a contract that would be that powerful in the first place. Don’t worry. Oh, and speaking of dragons.”
Then, Veracien started to rummage in my arms.
Before long, what came out of her hand was a small crystal ball.
She had been singing crystal ball crystal ball since she was in the North, and that seemed to be that.
“Even so, I thought I should meet you because of this. Here, put your hand up.”
【Do not do that. I know what you’re up to.]
‘Ah, what are you going to do with the crystal ball? It will be fine.’
Leaving behind Astrid’s worried words, Asti placed her hand on her crystal ball as if for fortune telling.
In this frustrating situation, wouldn’t it be really nice if I could find out something with this.
In her expectant gaze, Vera Sien also placed her hand on the other side of her crystal ball.
“Certainly, um… Yes, definitely. As expected, the two of you, Astrid and Asti, are connected by origin. Even though the branches are divided, the source is one… Uh… Uh huh?”
Berashien’s eyes grew wide.
It was such a surprise that those wide open eyes were the most startled look of Veracien that Asti and Erania had ever seen.
“That, no, this… No, uh… This is weird… Isn’t that strange… “
Veracien, who was still trying to figure out what he was looking at, was followed by Erania and Asti at the same time.
Shouldn’t I say something?
Don’t be surprised alone, but be surprised together.
“What? Say something. What is it?”
“That… No, ha, this is really… “
Vera Shien muttered something she didn’t know for a long time, then she let out a small sigh.
“… Astiya, aren’t you feeling a bit heavy lately? I feel like I’m just insanely depressed… “
It is.
Because I’m still depressed
It’s so depressing that even Leopold is worried about Astrid.
“… God is pulling or… ?”
