“To be honest, I was thinking of giving you a ring adorned with jewels the same color as your eyes.”
–What are you saying?
Erika smiled, and her Golden Magicka pointed towards my right hand, which I had left pointlessly outstretched.
“Isn’t that color quite nice?”
“I didn’t know you liked black that much.”
Erika smiled at me as I couldn’t help but shrug.
“It’s not because it’s black, you know?”
Erika hesitated for just a moment.
“It’s because it’s the color of your hair and eyes.”
Wouldn’t that be the finest ring to receive from one’s husband?
Saying so, Erika showed me the back of her left hand, where the ring should rest.
I envisioned a ring set with a black jewel adorning that finger.
I gently stomped on the ground.
I see, this isn’t a dream.
I know it’s reality because the earth doesn’t crack.
If it had cracked, I would have shouted that I loved her, thinking it was just a dream.
She gently informed me right from the start that she was aware of my feelings.
Yet, with the typically aristocratic attitude of not giving a clear answer, she brushed off the topic, indicating she had no intention of accepting my affection.
I can’t do anything that would trouble Erika like that.
I know this; I saw how annoyed she got with the guys at the academy who persistently confessed to her over and over.
As a regular on the road of the unpopular, I want to strictly adhere to such manners. Oops, I feel like crying now.
No, but, I see.
So that’s how it is, that’s how things are, I thought, impressed.
As expected of the daughter of a Marquis House.
Her sensibilities are different from those of the second son of an Impoverished Viscount Household.
If I were to wear a ring, I’d also prefer one with a jade-colored jewel.
But while impressed, I couldn’t help but make an unconvinced face.
“Is something wrong?”
Erika tilted her head as I fiddled with my bangs with my left hand.
I hesitated for a moment on whether to tell Erika.
“Well, um,” I started vaguely, but succumbed to the pressure of Erika’s gaze and confessed.
“It’s just about a small complex I have.”
Erika tilted her head at my vague words.
I couldn’t help but give a wry smile because I knew it wasn’t serious enough to be called a complex.
“I’m the only one in my family with black hair and eyes.”
As I shrugged and said that–.
Erika Solntsalri looked blank for a moment, then her face contorted slightly–.
And she became furious.
＊＊＊＊Afterword, or Perhaps the Author’s Apology Corner＊＊＊＊
Thank you always for the comments, likes, ratings, etc.
They are incredibly encouraging, probably more so than any of you readers might imagine.
This is something I probably should have written at the end of the chapter,
but I’m writing it now because I was happy to finally be able to write about the appearance of the protagonist, Shin Longdagger.
I realized I hadn’t touched upon the protagonist’s appearance at all, and this chapter came about as a result of throwing a short story idea into the plot.
It took over 100 chapters after I realized I’d carelessly forgotten to mention the protagonist’s appearance.
I considered pushing through with a Hoshi Shinichi-esque style where character appearances aren’t clearly described, but I wondered if that was appropriate for a character-focused novel.
As a result, I thought, why not turn it into a gimmick? That’s the idea behind this chapter.
Since quite a few chapters passed before I described his appearance, I feel very sorry for those who might have formed their own image of Shin Longdagger.
It’s the author’s fault for intentionally cutting down on descriptions of the characters’ appearances and accidentally cutting the protagonist’s appearance as well.
I’m truly sorry.
I never imagined how difficult it would be to naturally present the main character’s hair color and such from a first-person perspective after missing the first opportunity.
It made me realize how amazing the pros who do it naturally really are.
Anyway, the second chapter is reaching its climax, but I hope you will continue to enjoy it.
Also, I apologize for the increased word count per chapter; I wanted to present this quickly—or rather, before the story progressed even further.
Well then, this is the author, hoping to update about one more time before the end of the year.
By the way, a certain Sister is blonde and flat-chested.
This is strictly enforced, okay?