"Since I've experienced pleasure, I must take responsibility, right? So, when the time comes, we should formally engage," she suggests without hesitation, revealing her desire directly.
"Alright," I reply, feeling cornered without a choice. Despite my lack of memory and a sense of injustice, the situation clearly indicates my guilt. Overindulging and then assaulting a princess - even if my judgment was impaired, it was a line crossed.
"Truly an unfortunate choice," Marika giggles contentedly at my response.
"But... keep this a secret from others," I request, lacking a better option. It's a dire situation - especially considering Lus Ria. As my formal partner, the revelation of this incident could lead to unimaginable consequences.
"Hmm... okay," she agrees, alleviating one of my worries. However, she adds, "But someday, it must be revealed that I am married to Harold."
I understand that such a secret can't be hidden forever. But for now, keeping it under wraps and devising a future strategy seems the best course.
"Just for now, please keep it a secret," I plead, and she nods again, seemingly satisfied with our agreement.
Relieved for the moment, my tension eases slightly. But that respite is short-lived.
Bang! The door to the room bursts open violently.
Startled by the abrupt intrusion, I brace for the worst, hoping it's not someone I know. The tension peaks as I dread the potential consequences of this unwelcome interruption. "Spouse... What are you talking about?" An all-too-familiar voice pierces the tense atmosphere, expressing disbelief and surprise.
"Harold... What's this about marrying the princess?" she demands, her voice a mix of astonishment and accusation.
The situation quickly escalates as more figures enter the room, each reacting with visible shock and dismay. The air thickens with tension, resembling a scene of utter chaos.
I feel utterly helpless, like a wolf resigned to its fate amidst an encroaching storm, my strength fading rapidly.
"Given the situation, it seems like it might actually be true," someone mutters, voicing the worst-case scenario that I had desperately hoped wouldn't materialize.
"Harold...?" The chorus of voices demanding an explanation overwhelms me.
The girls' presence, which was once a source of comfort, now only exacerbates my predicament. The promise I had just made disintegrates in seconds.
"You assured me with such confidence... Yet you betrayed me so blatantly," one of them says, her gaze icy and hurt but not quite hateful. Disappointment and regret overshadow her anger.
"Harold... How could you..." Another girl's dejected tone is clear, her red hair drooping as if reflecting her inner turmoil. There's palpable resentment, but she's unable to express her feelings fully.
"So Harold... you preferred Marika... Ah..." The disappointment in her voice is unmistakable.
Silence hangs heavy in the air, even from those who might not have a direct stake in the matter. The atmosphere is laden with a suffocating pressure, making even the slightest movement feel monumental.
The reasons for their gathering are unclear, but their presence and their overhearing my conversation with Marika have created an unbearable situation. I wish I could escape this place.
Their dark, hollow eyes bear down on me, their gazes heavy with disappointment and void of warmth. Overwhelmed by their collective condemnation, I find myself kneeling in a gesture of deepest apology, hoping to alleviate their anger even slightly.
But deep down, I know it's a futile hope. I can't dispel the heavy atmosphere, but I desperately maintain a respectful demeanor, wishing not to exacerbate the situation any further. "Will you say anything in your defense, you scoundrel, abandoning your partner for another?" Luceria sarcastically taunts me, visibly upset by the situation.
Despite her provocations, I remain silent, unable to find words to defend myself.
"I'm really curious about what you'll have to say once your memory returns," Erina chimes in, her voice laced with disappointment and resentment.
"Concealing the princess's harassment... isn't that worthy of execution?" someone else adds, echoing the gravity of my alleged actions.
"Our academy can never condone such behavior," another voice joins in, the collective condemnation growing heavier with each remark.
To be honest, I feel somewhat wronged. If I had been in my right mind, I would never have acted this way, but I have no memory of last night's events. This situation painfully reminds me of the dangers of excessive drinking.
"Enough, everyone. I have forgiven him, so it's not right to continue this way," a voice unexpectedly comes to my defense.
However, Luceria's wrath quickly turns towards Marika, reducing the pressure on me slightly. "Marika, aren't you wrong in this too? To seduce a man who is already taken..."
"Princess Marika... What were you thinking?" someone else questions her, the blame gradually shifting.
"Indeed, why did you let him drink so much wine? It's not befitting of a student, even if technically an adult," another adds, adding to the criticism against Marika.
"Harold was the one who wanted to continue drinking," Marika retorts, skillfully turning the attention back to me.
"Spouse... I really can't let this go," Luceria comments darkly.
"Harold, you'll have nothing to say to me once you remember everything," another voice chides.
"This is utterly unacceptable," someone else declares.
"Disrespectful..." another mutters.
Each person adds to the mounting pressure, their jealousy and anger palpable.
Feeling the weight of their collective condemnation, I close my eyes tightly, bracing myself for what might come next. Suddenly, the tense atmosphere in the room lightens. I cautiously open my eyes to gauge the situation. While their expressions still aren't cheerful, there's a noticeable improvement in the mood compared to earlier. Strangely, they all wear faint smiles, though their eyes still hold a hollow look.
"Let's just say... there's something I need to do later... look forward to it..." Their tone suggests they're biding their time, hiding ominous threats behind their words.
"Harold... you'll have responsibilities to face later, whether you like it or not."
"Ever heard of karma? Maybe one day, you'll find yourself in a situation like Marika..."
"I might go easy on you, but it could still be tough to handle."
Their vague but threatening remarks make me wonder what they're planning. What exactly do they intend to do to me later?
"Hehehe, the consequences of infidelity... you'll surely pay dearly," they murmur darkly, their unnerving smiles making me apprehensive about my future.
"Harold, once you regain your memories, brace yourself... you'll have a long night paying for embracing the princess."
What exactly are they planning? I wish they would at least give me a hint...
Aris and Arsia, eerily similar in their thinking, are lost in their own thoughts, smirking in a way that's quite unsettling.
"Marika, are you really on my side?" I wonder, as she sends me mixed signals, standing in opposition to the others who don't seem to care much about the current situation.
I feel thankful they're not pressing me now, but I can't help but wish they'd clue me in on the responsibilities I'll have to face later.
"Don't worry too much, Harold, you'll still be alive," Erina's words about keeping my life intact only add to my confusion and fear of what's to come. "Harold has a weakness for alcohol, right?" Aris suddenly analyzes my vulnerability. Why is she bringing this up now?
"Spirits don't get drunk, since alcohol only affects the physical bodies of living beings." That's an unexpected remark. Why would she mention that?
The atmosphere has shifted strangely. The intense aggression directed at me has evaporated, and now these women are mysteriously planning for the future. What's going to happen to me later?
I wish someone would at least give me a hint so I could mentally prepare myself for what's to come...