Chapter 15

Translated by Momo & edited by Mary

“Hey, turn your cheek to this side. Let me disinfect it. There might be some wood chips in it. I’ll take them out too.”

Oscar and Cecilia were sitting face-to-face in the empty first-aid tent.

Oscar took out the tweezers, disinfectant, and cotton pads from the first aid kit with familiarity and got ready to apply the treatment. Cecilia became frightened while watching him.

“O-Oscar, do you have experience treating injuries?”

“I think I have more knowledge and experience than you. Huh, let me see it.”

Oscar grabbed her chin while holding the tweezers.

Cecilia felt her heart racing as he raised her chin up to take a better look at the wound.

It’s the first time ever a man had touched her chin and held it up, staring down at her like that. At first glance, it looked like that moment right before a kissing scene.

“W-Wai–…”

“Don’t move!”

The tweezers approached and hit Cecilia’s cheeks. She wanted to withdraw her whole body because of the chilling sensation of the tweezers, but this time Oscar stretched his hand to hold her neck from behind, and she couldn’t move.

“I told you to stop moving.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just so cold.”

Oscar maneuvered the tweezers several times with a serious expression. The splinters were not easy to remove.

After a few trials, Cecilia felt some discomfort on her cheeks.

A slight tingling pain ran through the wound.

“Ugh!”

“Stay still. I’ll pull it out now.”

She felt something being pulled out of her skin and after that, her cheek stung with a prickling pain.

“Here, it’s all out.”

He proudly showed her a small thorn.

“Thank you. Oscar is very dexterous.”

“I’m just better than you.”

Next, it seemed like he was going to disinfect the wound, he removed his hand from Cecilia’s neck and started preparing some cotton pads and disinfectant.

“All right. Now turn your face over here.”

“Okay!”

Cecilia stayed still while facing Oscar just as she was told to do.

She disliked the stinging sensation left by disinfectants, but she should be able to hold back this time.

Despite Cecilia’s determination, Oscar had settled down the soaked cotton pad with the disinfectant. He stared at Cecilia’s face for a few seconds.

“H-hey…”

Cecilia hurriedly raised her voice.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

She couldn’t understand why he was staring so much. What happened to the treatment?

“The disinfectant–…”

“Are you really a man?”

Cecilia’s heartbeat raced at Oscar’s nonchalant words.

“T-That’s obvious! Of course, I’m a man!!”

Feeling unsettled by the situation, she blurted out some unnatural statements that she normally wouldn’t say.

“That’s right… Are you often told that you have a feminine face?”

“Well, y-yeah…”

She’s a girl, it’s very likely she’ll have some feminine features, but of course, she couldn’t answer that.

“I only said that because you have really long eyelashes and your jawline is really delicate. It doesn’t seem like you’re especially fond of it either, it’s a bit unfortunate.”

He wasn’t suspicious of her, he just seemed to pity Cecilia for having a delicate face.

Oscar once again put some disinfectant on the cotton pad and wiped the wound on Cecilia’s cheek with it.

The unique alcohol odour of the disinfectant irritated her nose. Her cheeks tightened in pain as the medicine soaked into the wound.

“Uuuh..”

“These small injuries really hurt, huh.”

“It stings just like when I cut my hand with paper.”

“I hate that too…”

Oscar unexpectedly laughed.

Cecilia was a little impressed by the fact that she was talking normally with ‘that’ Oscar.

(He really does feel like an ordinary friend!!)

She thought he was a bit forceful and hard to understand, but now she was considering he might be just any other normal human being.

“Oscar is surprisingly skillful. I never imagined a prince could do this sort of thing.”

“It’s because I’ve been practicing swordplay since I was small. I learned these simple treatments and some resuscitation methods at that time. Actually, I’ve had many opportunities to use them.”

“Hey. Is swordplay difficult?”

“Well, it’s normal.”

“Normal?”

“It just suits me.”

After that brief answer, Oscar threw the used cotton pad into the trash can.

( 'It just suits me’ he said…If I remember correctly, Oscar’s 'treasure’ was also a sword. So that’s the reason…)

The power of the 'treasures’ given varied from knight to knight. It could be the power to become stronger, to easily be able to predict the future, to be able to heal any wound or a specific power like Oscar’s sword attack that can cut through anything.

Even if the 'treasure’ was physically bestowed to a Saint candidate, its power will remain with the knight, so Gilbert, who gave the 'treasure’ to Cecilia, could still activate it if he wished to use his power.

Oscar took the medical tape from the bottom of the first-aid box.

“Cecilia… how is she?”

Oscar hesitantly asked as he cut the tape to fit the exact size of Cecilia’s wound.

“Hmm, she’s okay.”

“I see. That’s good.”

He covered the injury. This was just extra care to avoid exposing the wound.

He might be unexpectedly mindful.

“Why does Oscar want to meet Cecilia?”

“Why?”

Since the friendly atmosphere made it easy to talk to Oscar, Cecilia decided to ask the question that has been bothering her for a long time.

In the game, Oscar would never turn into a person that was this attached to Cecilia. Rather, he hated to be around her and didn’t even want her to be in his line of sight.

But now he wants to meet Cecilia, and even seems to care about her current situation.

(Maybe it’s because I wasn’t around or nearby, he became anxious because he doesn’t know what I plan to do?)

Invisible enemies were scary. She understood that.

He might be concerned that Cecilia will disturb Leanne or his friends behind his back.

“You know…I don’t think Cecilia will ever get in your way, Oscar. As a matter of fact, she’ll never meet you again if you wish so!”

“ 'Never meet again’? Wait, did Cecilia really say that?”

She just said what she thought it would turn into a good outcome for her, but he became quite disappointed. His voice fell as if he was crawling on the ground.

“Umn…”

“What did I do to her?”

“Eh?”

“I only met her once, twelve years ago. Did I do anything annoying at that time? Is that the reason she’s avoiding me?”

Oscar glanced down with a slightly pitiful expression.

That was such an unexpected and subtle semblance that she was simply petrified while looking at him.

“I didn’t intend to do anything that she hated. I don’t remember doing anything of that sort at all. So I just really want to meet her and ask. And …”

“And that?”

“If we could rebuild our relationship, I would do anything.”

“Eh!?”

Cecilia fell on her back and exclaimed.

She didn’t expect that answer.

(Rebuilding our relationship…What does that mean? Would he like to maintain a good relationship with me in order to marry Leanne? It would be great if we could cancel the engagement willingly.)

Indeed, considering Oscar’s position, it would be annoying if the Silvy family, Cecilia’s household, held him in contempt.

Her parents were delighted with their engagement and may become aggravated if they heard that he had chosen a Baron’s daughter as his lover and decided to break the engagement.

(Maybe he wants my support so I can restrain my parents!)

Thinking of it that way, she felt like she finally understood why he’s so obsessed with Cecilia.

“S-so, Oscar doesn’t hate Cecilia?”

Cecilia cautiously asked.

Oscar was organizing the first aid kit.

“How can I hate someone I haven’t met for twelve years? Rather…”

“I see!”

Cecilia shouted brightly, blocking Oscar’s voice.

“I got it! I understand!!”

Cecilia struck his shoulder again and again with a wide smile.

Oscar doesn’t hate Cecilia.

This was remarkably good news for Cecilia.

(Maybe I have escaped my fated doom!)

At least, there was no longer a man that was resentful enough to order Cecilia’s death anymore.

Cecilia continued to talk cheerfully.

“Everything will be okay! Cecilia doesn’t hate Oscar! It’s just she really can’t appear right now because of some circumstances!”

“What is it? What circumstances?”

“Ah…it’s a secret?”

“Hey!”

Once again, he lowered his voice.

However, whether or not the “Cecilia doesn’t hate Oscar” line worked, the vicious atmosphere from before was gone.

“Okay! When the time is right you’ll definitely be able to meet her!”

Cecilia raised her fist in front of her chest.

She’ll meet him and bless him when he offers to break his engagement.

Cecilia was filled with that determination.

He was also a young man in love.

(Now I want to support Oscar too!)

Leanne was currently on Jade’s route, but that doesn’t mean Oscar can’t catch up. Depending on his efforts, Oscar’s route might still be possible.

“Oscar! Good luck! I’m rooting for you!!”

“H-Hey!”

Cecilia held Oscar’s hand.

“Thank you! I’m really glad we were able to talk like this!”

While holding his hands tightly, she heard the voice of one of their female classmates.

“Cecil! Where are you?”

“Here! Did something happen? Hey, I’ll be right there in a second!”

Responding loudly, Cecilia released Oscar’s hands and stood up.

Then, she showed the best smile she ever had while facing him.

“Thank you, Oscar! Let’s get along well from now on!”

Cecilia left the tent.

Oscar was left alone in the first-aid tent. He was stunned, and his cheeks flushed red.

“W-what’s wrong with that guy…”

Despite no one witnessing, Oscar put his hand over his mouth to cover his face.

“Why…my face feels so hot …”