Read Online PandoraHearts ~Caucus Race~, Vol. 1 by Shinobu Wakamiya - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shinobu Wakamiya
Ads: Link
eyes widened slightly.
Then, wondering a bit, she said, “You don’t quite seem like a man from one of the great noble families, Gilbert-sama.”
“Yes, I know. See, I wasn’t always— I-I mean, I have not always been—”
“…Please don’t worry about it.”
“???”
“You don’t have to be formal with me.”
Dahlia giggled as she spoke. There was something friendly and a bit childlike about her smile.
“Okay.”
Still a bit bewildered, Gilbert responded with a wry smile. He felt very apologetic toward Dahlia.
Lying in bed the night before, he’d run through all sorts of ways to turn her down. He’d felt compelled to get rid of Dahlia as soon as possible, treating her as if she were some sort of contaminant.
Gilbert was ashamed of himself. At the same time, he remembered his brother’s words:
All women are venemous spiders.
The thought that he’d been right, that there really were women who weren’t, warmed his heart.
Even though it hadn’t been very long since he’d met her in person, Gilbert was fully convinced of that.
“Only… Do you think you could spend just a bit longer with me?”
Dahlia sounded apologetic.
“If I go home too readily, Father will scold me…”
“…Ah, I see.”
It all made sense to Gilbert now. In aristocratic society, when parents arranged for socialization and marriage, it was usually done with strategic intent. Dahlia probably couldn’t just say, “Oh, that’s all right,” and go home simply because Gilbert wasn’t keen on the idea. Besides, it was easy enough to give her what she needed.
“If you’re sure I’ll do,” Gilbert said. Dahlia smiled and nodded.
“Thank you very much. …That really is more like you, Gilbert-sama.”
When Gilbert looked perplexed:
“Being casual,” Dahlia said, pleasantly.
“It’s a bit of a walk, but there’s a lovely fountain up ahead, with benches beside it.”
Dahlia pointed down the footpath as she spoke, and the two of them set off again.
Apparently this was the first time Dahlia had been to this park, but she’d investigated it beforehand.
If possible, she’d told Gilbert, she’d like to sit and use up a bit more time talking. Her hesitant tone made Gilbert realize that she was being painstakingly considerate of him, and that made him feel even more apologetic.
Still
, he thought,
…somehow, I did manage to settle this on my own.
True, he’d been saved by Dahlia’s perceptiveness, but at least he hadn’t borrowed help from anyone.
He was a little proud of that.
Walking beside Gilbert, Dahlia spoke, looking up at the trees that lined the footpath.
“I don’t often leave the house, you see. This all feels very new to me.”
“Yes, you do seem like a bit of a homebody— Uh, I mean… Sorry.”
“No, you’re right. My father worries that I’ll never get myself married off… Oh no, I’m sorry.”
Having both said a bit too much, they both apologized, both smiling uncomfortably.
As they walked, Gilbert mentioned that he was living on his own, and Dahlia’s eyes went wide. Apparently the idea of a member of one of the four great dukedoms living alone in a lower-class neighborhood really was startling. As she looked at Gilbert, Dahlia seemed impressed.
“You’re really amazing, Gilbert-sama. Living without help from anyone…”
“No, it was just too uncomfortable to stay in that house.”
Once the words were out, he realized he might have said a bit too much again. He’d never told anyone he wasn’t very close to his true feelings on that subject. He wished it hadn’t come up. Telling her the reason would only make the atmosphere more awkward.
Dahlia was watching Gilbert, her mouth closed. Gilbert worried she suspected him of something.
However, Dahlia said, “I see…” Then she smiled gently. “If you live alone, does that mean you cook for yourself, too?”
“Huh? …Oh, yeah. A bit.”
“That’s wonderful. I’ve never even set foot in a kitchen.”
She
Then, wondering a bit, she said, “You don’t quite seem like a man from one of the great noble families, Gilbert-sama.”
“Yes, I know. See, I wasn’t always— I-I mean, I have not always been—”
“…Please don’t worry about it.”
“???”
“You don’t have to be formal with me.”
Dahlia giggled as she spoke. There was something friendly and a bit childlike about her smile.
“Okay.”
Still a bit bewildered, Gilbert responded with a wry smile. He felt very apologetic toward Dahlia.
Lying in bed the night before, he’d run through all sorts of ways to turn her down. He’d felt compelled to get rid of Dahlia as soon as possible, treating her as if she were some sort of contaminant.
Gilbert was ashamed of himself. At the same time, he remembered his brother’s words:
All women are venemous spiders.
The thought that he’d been right, that there really were women who weren’t, warmed his heart.
Even though it hadn’t been very long since he’d met her in person, Gilbert was fully convinced of that.
“Only… Do you think you could spend just a bit longer with me?”
Dahlia sounded apologetic.
“If I go home too readily, Father will scold me…”
“…Ah, I see.”
It all made sense to Gilbert now. In aristocratic society, when parents arranged for socialization and marriage, it was usually done with strategic intent. Dahlia probably couldn’t just say, “Oh, that’s all right,” and go home simply because Gilbert wasn’t keen on the idea. Besides, it was easy enough to give her what she needed.
“If you’re sure I’ll do,” Gilbert said. Dahlia smiled and nodded.
“Thank you very much. …That really is more like you, Gilbert-sama.”
When Gilbert looked perplexed:
“Being casual,” Dahlia said, pleasantly.
“It’s a bit of a walk, but there’s a lovely fountain up ahead, with benches beside it.”
Dahlia pointed down the footpath as she spoke, and the two of them set off again.
Apparently this was the first time Dahlia had been to this park, but she’d investigated it beforehand.
If possible, she’d told Gilbert, she’d like to sit and use up a bit more time talking. Her hesitant tone made Gilbert realize that she was being painstakingly considerate of him, and that made him feel even more apologetic.
Still
, he thought,
…somehow, I did manage to settle this on my own.
True, he’d been saved by Dahlia’s perceptiveness, but at least he hadn’t borrowed help from anyone.
He was a little proud of that.
Walking beside Gilbert, Dahlia spoke, looking up at the trees that lined the footpath.
“I don’t often leave the house, you see. This all feels very new to me.”
“Yes, you do seem like a bit of a homebody— Uh, I mean… Sorry.”
“No, you’re right. My father worries that I’ll never get myself married off… Oh no, I’m sorry.”
Having both said a bit too much, they both apologized, both smiling uncomfortably.
As they walked, Gilbert mentioned that he was living on his own, and Dahlia’s eyes went wide. Apparently the idea of a member of one of the four great dukedoms living alone in a lower-class neighborhood really was startling. As she looked at Gilbert, Dahlia seemed impressed.
“You’re really amazing, Gilbert-sama. Living without help from anyone…”
“No, it was just too uncomfortable to stay in that house.”
Once the words were out, he realized he might have said a bit too much again. He’d never told anyone he wasn’t very close to his true feelings on that subject. He wished it hadn’t come up. Telling her the reason would only make the atmosphere more awkward.
Dahlia was watching Gilbert, her mouth closed. Gilbert worried she suspected him of something.
However, Dahlia said, “I see…” Then she smiled gently. “If you live alone, does that mean you cook for yourself, too?”
“Huh? …Oh, yeah. A bit.”
“That’s wonderful. I’ve never even set foot in a kitchen.”
She
Similar Books
