Rejection.
Hearing Naoki's serious response, Riddell wasn't entirely surprised deep down—she had somewhat expected it.
Even so, an inevitable sense of loss lingered…
"Can you… tell me why?" Riddell's voice trembled slightly.
"Is it because my reasons for marriage aren't pure? Or because I'm not as good as Aoko? Or maybe you're disgusted because I'm an old woman approaching forty?"
Riddell knew those guesses were wrong. She could guess why Naoki rejected her. Even though they hadn't met in five years and he might have changed in ways she didn't know, she still understood his true nature.
And it was exactly because of that nature that Naoki wouldn't agree.
"It's not because of those reasons, Riddell." Naoki replied. "I understand your struggles, and you're not inferior to Aoko at all. As for age… I remember you and Aoko are about the same age, right? I'm already with Aoko—do you think I'd care about that?"
"Besides, to me, Riddell, you're always beautiful and charming, no matter when."
As expected, Riddell gave a bitter smile. "That's not just to comfort me, is it?"
"You don't need my comfort—that would mean I'm underestimating you. The Lord of the Department of Botany wouldn't just collapse over emotional gloom."
"Riddell, I'm rejecting you not because of your issues, but because of mine."
At this point, Naoki scratched his head awkwardly. "Actually, there's something you don't know. Touko doesn't know either, so she didn't tell you… Right now, I'm… let's say, torn between two."
"You?"
"Yeah, besides Aoko, there's Merry. In order, I actually liked Merry first; Aoko came along later. Initially, I joined this Holy Grail War because Merry said if I won until the end, she'd agree to marry me."
Earlier, Naoki had been shocked and speechless by Riddell's startling words.
Now, the tables had turned.
Naoki's words left Riddell frozen in place.
"You… like Merry?"
"Yeah."
"And Aoko… she knows?"
"Yeah. Of course, after the Mana Transfer, I told her, and I also expressed my desire to have both of them… So, what I'm saying is, I'm not entirely rejecting you, Riddell. For me right now, two or three makes no difference—I'm already a scoundrel either way."
"But my feelings for you, Riddell, haven't changed yet. Marrying you in this state wouldn't be fair to you."
"You spent nine years of your life on me, but I haven't. Our situations aren't equal. So, I need to make up for those nine years you wasted on me first. Until then, please wait for me a little longer."
Naoki spoke sincerely, and his words, broadly speaking, aligned with what Riddell had thought.
(He really hasn't changed one bit, Naoki… Only you would think like that, and it's exactly that kind of thinking that makes me…)
Riddell smiled bitterly. "So, you want me to wait another nine years? Making a woman wait eighteen years… You're really shameless, huh. I'm starting to think about moving on."
"If that happens, the Clock Tower might lose quite a few talented Magus. As for your family, after the Holy Grail War ends, I can come back with you once… As long as the elders know there's a successor and the lineage won't end, that should be enough, right?"
"Haaah… I'm really no match for you."
As if giving up, Riddell let out a heavy sigh. If she had known Naoki would turn into a scoundrel wanting to have it both ways, she should've acted faster five years ago. She shouldn't have listened to Merry and played hard to get—she might've won him over right then!
"So, is this kind of answer acceptable to you, Riddell?"
"If I don't accept it, what else can I do? After this, let me meet Aoko and Merry. You can contact them, right?"
"Uh… actually, I've been staying at Aoko's place these past two days, and I just beat up Merry yesterday and dragged her there."
At that moment, Riddell keenly felt the difference between herself and Aoko—two people who were supposed to be enemies in this war were living together… Could they at least have some awareness that they're in the Holy Grail War?
(No… I don't have the right to say that about them. Proposing to an enemy during the Holy Grail War is like mocking others while doing the same thing myself.)
Pouring more wine for herself and Naoki, Riddell raised her glass. "Then I'll wait for you until the day you truly marry me, Naoki—but in exchange for my waiting, shouldn't you keep me company properly tonight?"
"Then I'll call Aoko and the others later…"
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
*CRACK!*
Hearing a shattering sound beside her, Atalanta glanced at Aoko, who had crushed her binoculars in a fit of rage, and couldn't help but ask Rei.
(What now? Rei, Aoko's furious.)
[You're asking me? I don't know either. This is Master's decision, and I'm a bit overwhelmed myself. My other self is about to explode—I need to calm her down. You handle things there. By the way, keep an eye on Mordred too; she's a ticking time bomb.]
Handle it herself? And watch Mordred too?
Atalanta felt Rei was putting her in a tough spot. Where did she get the ability to calm these two at once?
"Even though I knew, even though I knew, even though I knew… You're really set on going all the way, Naoki. Just you wait—Lancer, let's go!"
"Huh? Aoko, where are you going?"
Atalanta hurriedly stood and approached Aoko.
"If you're going to beat Naoki to death… I have to stop you."
"Relax, I won't beat him to death. I'll have plenty of time to punish him later. But right now, I need to go have a *nice chat* with my dear friend!"
Aoko waved her vibrating phone.
(Tonight, there's bound to be bloodshed.)
Atalanta thought to herself.