“Now I’ve really messed it up.”

“…….I didn’t need your help.”

David clicked his tongue as he turned to look towards the dollhead that Francesca was wearing.

“Your whack looking doll head. It just broke……”

“——Forget about that!!”

“!?”

Francesca got up from the ground in a hurry and instantly grabbed David’s arm.

“Sorry, for crushing your arm underneath me!! I know you did so to help break my fall right? Are you okay, does it hurt anywhere…….!?”

“Huh??”

“Just show me your arm properly. I’ll have to roll up your sleeves a little okay?……….thank god, it doesn’t look like there’s any swelling here…….”

“…………”

She moved David’s arm around as she carefully observed and checked every angle to make sure he was alright. Meanwhile David could only stare at Francesca with befuddlement.

“Next I’ll move the joints in your wrist and elbow. How about it? Does it hurt?”

“……..not really.”

“And also, you really looked like you were feeling awful just now as well, right? Your complexion is all off as well. I’ll call someone so just sit down, drink a glass——…..”

“Wait.”

Just as Francesca was about to stand back up to leave, David grabbed her by the wrist to stop her.

As he stayed on the balcony floor half-kneeling, David continued to stare at her as if he was looking at something very strange.

“Don’t do something no one asked you to. The sickening smell of perfume filled in the hall was just a tad too much for me that’s all, and so I was feeling a little queasy.”

“……..Really?”

“and that’s why I came here to get some fresh air. On the other hand, you…”

David’s face seemed to contort as if annoyed, as he stared at Francesca.

“Because you tried to jump in to help and fell to the floor, your entire dress is a mess now.”

“Ah, you’re right.”

“Not to mention that awfully eerie doll head that your were wearing, like I was trying to say before, it looks completely broken now.”

Just like David said, the hell zombie’s head had been damaged from the fall.

Even so, for Francesca, checking up on the more important things took priority.

“……..are you sure, you’re really, really okay? There are times when the pain doesn’t set in until later so please get it checked if you feel something afterwards okay?”

“Damn are you incapable of listening to what people are telling you? [Thanks to your attempt at saving me, your elaborate costume and dress have been ruined], is what I am saying.”

“Yeah, I know, but even so…..”

Thanks to Francesca jumping in, she was able to soften David’s fall and save him from getting really hurt.

In return, he also ended up helping her out as well but, thanks to that neither of them came out of it with any major injuries.

“A ruined costume doesn’t mean much. Stopping someone from getting hurt is simply far more important.”

She was simply happy to see that David was not injured so a genuinely relieved smile flashed on her face.

“Seriously, I’m glad…….”

“wh, what the……..”

In that moment, David who was looking down towards Francesca suddenly let go of her wrist as his ears seemed to turn red. Seeing him like that, Francesca could only tilt her head in confusion.

“Huh? Your complexion became a lot better suddenly.”

“………shut it. And stop staring at people’s faces like that.”

“Ah, my apologies! U-ummm………”

Still half seated on the floor of the balcony, Francesca finally returned to her senses.

(yeah……..yeaaah. I’ve really gone and messed it all up now………)

She covered her now fully exposed face with her hands and hung her head, utterly shocked at herself.

(………I’ve just gone and well and truly come into contact with David now……..!!)

“??”

Having stood up first, David looked down towards Francesca again. But she didn’t have the composure to react to him and focused on quickly getting her thoughts back in order.

(My face is already seen, and even had a full conversation with him………! But it’s still okay, I can still get out of this somehow!!)

“……….Oi.”

(I just collided with him a little and then talked a little nothing more. Surely I won’t leave much of an impression on someone like David, and as long as my background remains hidden, I’m sure he’ll forget about my entire existence soon enough…….)

“Oi, you, aren’t you the daughter of the Calvino house?”

“Oh no………..!!”

Sadly, she had not hidden anything at all. Seeing her shoulders jump at his words, David couldn’t help but scoff.

“You’re not gonna tell me now that you have no idea who I am either right? In fact, you have been actively avoiding coming into contact with me at school as well haven’t you?”

“uuuuuuuuugh………”

If he had already been that aware of things, she really had no escape route left.

“Da………da-da-da David-san…”

“Aah?”

Seeing Francesca speak like that, David seemed to be getting more and more annoyed.

(………there’s no point thinking about it now. If I had not jumped out there, David could have gotten really hurt……..and the good thing is that we avoided that. Yup, that’s all that matters, yeah! Awesome!)

She had no regrets over her actions so it was better to simply believe that she didn’t do anything wrong in the first place.

(I can’t change the fact that I have come into contact with him now. Let’s instead focus on planning out what I’ll do next!)

At that moment, David spoke in a low tone.

“……..spare me the formal ‘-san’ will you. It disgusts me.”

“!”

The unexpected words surprised her, making Francesca look back up.

When she did, David, in contrast to his curt words, stretched out his hand towards Francesca to help her get back up.

“Hurry up. Or my arm’s gonna get tired.”

“eh, is this hand for…….”

“……..If my sister ever found out I [left a girl laying on the floor], I’ll be one getting buried into the floor permanently instead.”

His tone, actions, and mannerisms were all curt and cold but his stretched out hand was indeed to help Francesca get back up.

“……….fufu, thanks!”

“Just get up already.”

In truth, she could have very easily gotten back up on her own but, it would be rude to ignore his thoughtfulness as well. Francesca took David’s hand and got back up, and after giving another word of thanks, she brushed off the dirt off her dress with her hands.

“Oi, don’t treat that kind of fabric with such roughness. That thing’s rare to get even in most other countries you know? Treat it with care.”

“Amazing, you could tell with just a glance!?”

“From my point of view, those who can’t tell the difference are the weirdos.”

Faced with his sharp and prickly words, she could feel the seriousness in his tone.

(David sure looks and acts like a delinquent but, he is as you’d expect from the next head of a family that have [Elegance] as their creed. Even in his character profile, it said that [He loves art, artistic items, and anything beautiful] as well if I remember.)

And so to David, the Augite of Mystreal was also probably an item of keen interest. She wanted to learn more about it as well so Francesca spoke up.

“Hey David, about the Augite on display but………”

In that instant, a sudden wind blew strongly.

“Wha……..!?!”

“!!”

She inadvertently closed her eyes, and in the very same instant, all the light in the area disappeared.

This very same flow of events, as the chandelier went out from a gust of wind, was something that had occurred during the incident with Graziano’s father as well.

(Just like the scenario, the Augite is in danger…….!)

“Shit, Big Sis!!”

Having sensed that the Augite was in danger, David instantly burst into a dash.

“It’s pitch darkness, be careful!!”

“Shut it! You stay right there, and……..”

Just as she returned back into the main hall alongside David,

“———–!?!”

With giant tremor, the entire world seemed to shake.

“Uwaaaaaaah, what is it now?!!”

“An earthquake!?! Kyaa, the table is…….!!”

(What is this?! This earthquake, it never happened in the scenario……!!)

As her vision grew accustomed to the darkness, she began to notice the crowd of guests all crouching down to the ground. Amongst the chaos, someone that was trying to run suddenly slammed into Francesca.

“Hyaa……..!”

“Oii!!”

Noticing that, David quickly stretched out his hand to save Francesca from falling.

But in that instant, a stronger, more reassuring hand quickly grabbed Francesca and pulled her into an embrace.

“——–Leonardo!!”

“You okay? My dear Francesca.”

Her one true best friend looked down at her with his usual smile on his face.

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