Avoiding Contact

Suddenly, things were already going different to the game’s scenario.

And she had learnt from the 1st and 2nd arc, that such changes shouldn’t be ignored or taken for granted.

“Sorry, but I need to scope out what David is doing here. Leonardo, can I count on you to do what we talked about earlier?”

“I am worried to let you go all on your own but…….I am weak to your pleas, so I’ll do what you asked.”

“Thanks!”

While holding down the dollhead with her two hands so that it doesn’t topple over, Francesca headed towards the balcony where she last saw David.

But in her thoughts was only one thing. The gentle smile Leonardo had just shown her.

(………Leonardo. He’s definitely hiding something from me. He just looks so lonely these days…….)

***

“…….Aldini!”

“Oh, Ricardo.”

The next head of the Serranova family, Ricardo, stepped past a bunch of disguised guests before finally reaching that man.

The black haired man currently dressed as a pirate seemed to look amused as his golden eyes narrowed upon Ricardo’s arrival.

When Ricardo tried to hand him one of the two glasses of drinks he had brought with him, Aldini simply laughed, before grabbing the one Ricardo had kept for himself instead.

“You sure you should be hanging out with me right now? Didn’t Francesca’s father bring you here especially to help you make more contacts?”

“Well aren’t you shameless………You made it so damn obvious that you were [signalling] me to come to you, I’m not going to hear some nonsense that it was all my imagination or something.”

“Hahaha!”

Indeed, the entire reason Ricardo had left the Calvino head’s side to come here was because he had noticed Aldini making a signal to him.

While he was busy making pleasantries with a bunch of important guests, Ricardo had started to sense a gaze on him that continued for almost 10 minutes.

After finally finding the gap to leave the surroundings to look, this man who had what Ricardo assumed was Francesca in a weird costume by his side, sent a quick but meaningful wink towards him.

“So, where’s Francesca now? It was her in that crazy costume, wasn’t it?”

“Hey hey, asking where a lady went so openly? Ricardo, you’re pretty uncouth huh.”

“!? Th-that wasn’t my intention…….!!”

But as Aldini said, he may have asked something that clearly lacked a bit of tact.

(Kuh……!! What a terrible mistake, I need to be more careful…….!! Have I been asking such insensitive questions to Francesca even before this as well!?)

While Ricardo was reflecting with his head down, Aldini spoke up again.

“I’m just lying. You’re a lot more honest and sincere with Francesca, Ricardo. A lot more than me at least.”

Swaying the contents of his glass, he muttered as if to himself.

“Even though I want nothing more to protect this [friendship] that she cherishes more than anything………without breaking it, carefully.”

While Ricardo could tell his lips were moving, Aldini’s tone was too low for the words to actually reach his ears.

“Did you say something just now? I couldn’t hear you Aldini.”

When Ricardo question with his brow furrowed, Aldini changed his expression suddenly.

“It’s nothing. Now then..”

“!!”

The smile that then crept on to Aldini’s face was quite literally the very definition of the most affable and friendly smile one could make.

“Since you are so sincere and honest my dear Ricardo, surely you would unable to ignore the incidents that are about to occur I assume?”

“Wh, what are you saying so suddenly? And why are you hugging my shoulder!?”

“Now, now, let’s have a little secret chat, just the two of us. I frankly don’t care about the rest of the guests but, Francesca wants to keep them safe so it can’t be helped.”

“Just what are you talking about!? Oi, Aldini?!?”

And thus, with no way out, Ricardo was dragged into the problem just like that.

***

(……..he was actually here, David……)

Having left Leonardo’s side, Francesca suppressed her presence and the sound of her footsteps to the absolute limit, and then started to scope out the balcony.

During the Matou yasai season, costume and disguises were the dress code for the parties.

But the David that showed up in the balcony was simply dressed in his usual party wear.

His top buttons were left open, and in general his attire had quite the loose look, it didn’t stop his good upbringing and elegant looks to take the focus. David stood reclined on the rails of the balcony and seemed to be gazing at the night sky.

(I’m sure I checked the list of guests properly as well but his name was never there.)

Of course, that list was made by the Ranieri staff, and it was them who were in charge of the security here. She could have ignored the missing name in the list alone as just a simple mistake or error.

But, she could not ignore big changes to the main scenario of the game.

(And I can’t ask Leonardo to gather info when it comes to differences from the game’s scenario either. I have to do it all by myself.)

Hiding behind a curtain in the corner of the hall, she continued to observe him from under the doll head.

(It’ll be fine. At this distance, David shouldn’t notice me……! For my peaceful life, I need to make sure I don’t make contact with him and continue observing……)

“………each and every one of these damn fools…”

As David departed from the railings, he seemed to mutter something while pressing on his head.

“Just calling me the [next head] or whatever on their own accord……”

The very next instant, Francesca’s eyes opened wide.

“——–“

David’s face seemed to distort in pain and he almost seemed like he was about to collapse.

“Careful……!!”

“!!”

Francesca jumped out of the curtains and stretched out her hand to help David.

And seeing that, David couldn’t help but be shocked.

“Wha………”

But her small body alone wasn’t enough to support the tall man’s frame.

As a result, it ended up with David on top of Francesca, as if he had pushed her down.

“Oww………!!”

“———-…….”

Her doll head popped out and rolled to the side.

Even though she thought she had fallen on her back, she felt no pain. That was because the young man that had fallen down with Francesca, even in that split second, had managed to use his arm as a cushion for her.

“…….You’re………”

In front of her eyes was his charming, thin eyes.

His silky blonde hair were just long enough to reach his collarbone. And due to their current pose and the effect of gravity, it made it into a curtain of silk on both sides of their heads.

Showcased with his natural beauty that he shared with Sofia, Francesca finally realized the situation she was in.

(……….David.)

The young next head of the Ranieri family was currently on top, looking down on her as she lay face-up, flat down on the ground.

Previous Chapter I ToC I Next Chapter