"Vittorio, how did your talk with the teachers go?"
As he stepped out the dark room, he heard Brenda's voice calling out to him from where she stood patiently waiting outside.
"I was assigned a mission."
Brenda's eyes narrowed with intensity at his words, and she leaned in to whisper clearly.
"——What kind of mission is that Vittorio-sama?"
Vittorio gave Brenda a sympathetic smile, fully aware of her ongoing worry about him. Still, he needed to be honest with her, saying, "It's a mission where many will die, Brenda, and I've agreed to take part."
"——"
Brenda's rection was just as he anticipated; her shoulders shook slightly. Vittorio placed a reassuring hand on her shoulders and spoke softly, trying to soothe her nerves. "I get that you often don't see eye to eye with the professors on their methods... but just hear me out."
"——"
Vittorio gazed into her eyes, noticing the way she was fully engaged in what he was saying. He pressed on, reassuring her, "You don't have to stress about anything. Regardless of what goes down or the terrible things I might do, I promise I'll always return to you. You mean so much to me, almost like a mother, and I would never leave you behind. Do you get what I'm saying?"
"——!"
He didn't get a word back from her, but the look in her eyes spoke volumes—there might have even been tears welling up. Brenda had always been the emotional one, and to be honest, Vittorio hadn't intended to spill his feelings to her.
However, with the mission he was facing and the looming possibility of crossing swords with the sword saint, he couldn't shake the feeling that this could be his last chance. It felt like the right moment to settle his debts, especially with whom he loves.
"...I understand "
Finally, after a pause, she replied, announcing her understanding. Vittorio sighed in relief and nodded, saying.
"Thanks a lot for everything, Brenda. You're awesome!"
"you're talking as if we won't see each other again, but remember, you promised me, so come back to me once you're done with everything".
Brenda shot him a glance that clearly said she expected him to agree, and Vittorio responded with a cheerful "Yes, ma'am," in a charmingly gentlemanly way.
Brenda gave a nod of approval, then turned away from him. "I'll grab your suitcase and some gold for you to take along," she said, wrapping up her words.
"Thanks"
Vittorio watched her as she strolled off, his gaze lingering until she disappeared into the shadows of the dimly lit corridor, where the red light flickered softly.
In the dimly lit corridor, Vittorio found himself standing alone, his pale hand slipping into his pocket to retrieve the paper. He was eager to check the details of his mission, which were all laid out on the map, outlining what he needed to do and what to anticipate. Just as he was about to dive into the information, the sudden echo of footsteps broke the silence, pulling his attention away from the paper.
"Ow~, how adorable! My little Vittorio was just a mama's boy—so precious, truly precious, isn't it? Hehe."
Hearing the regretfully familiar voice, Vittorio felt a storm of anger and fear raging within him, battling for dominance in his heart. In a moment of instinct, his hand instinctively reached for his sword, resting his fingers on the hilt without drawing it from its sheath. After that brief pause, he turned his gaze toward the person who had spoken.
"Charlotte "
Vittorio sneered as he uttered the name, his gaze fixed on a girl in her twenties who towered over him. With striking blue eyes and long, wavy blond hair cascading in ringlets her get up is a silver armor like his but silver and a claymore straped to her back, she wore a smirk that suggested she was enjoying the moment far too much.
"Oh, I just happened to catch your little chat with the maid, and let me tell you, it was a real eye-opener! Calling her "mom," huh? How utterly charming and completely not at all cringe-worthy. I mean, who wouldn't feel a twinge of sadness and a sprinkle of jealousy over that? Just a smidge, really"
——What is she talking about.
Vittorio is convinced that he has the upper hand over Charlotte, particularly given that he ranks eighth among the twelve knights, whereas she is positioned at tenth. This hierarchy suggests that he possesses greater strength, yet there are stringent regulations that govern their conduct, including a specific rule that forbids them from engaging in combat with one another.
Consequently, despite his self-assuredness and the extensive combat skills he has honed, he finds himself in a challenging predicament where he is unable to follow his instincts, as his abilities are fundamentally centered around fighting.
Charlotte, in contrast to Vittorio, is incredibly versatile, boasting a wide range of skills. Sure, she excels at sword fighting, but there's also a non-violent talent she possesses that carries its own kind of danger, which makes Vittorio uneasy. As he finds himself under her intense, almost predatory stare, he starts to back away slowly, all the while attempting to project an air of calm and confidence, trying to convince both her and himself that he's not scared at all.
"...I get that you were eavesdropping on my chat with Brenda, and honestly, I can let that slide if you could just do me a solid and let me be for a bit since I've got a lot on my plate right now."
"Are you suggesting that by allowing you to be, I am actually letting you leave?" she asked, her laughter ringing out before it slowly transformed into a smile that was both unsettling and cold, sending a wave of unease through Vittorio. "I have no intention of letting you slip away, darling, at least not at this moment,"
Vittorio found himself at a crossroads, yearning to lash out or flee from the situation, yet an unexpected shift rendered him incapable of such reactions. In place of the fear that once gripped him, a profound sense of love blossomed within him, and the anger that had fueled his thoughts was replaced by a deep attachment. All these emotions, and perhaps even more, were now focused entirely on Charlotte; he felt an overwhelming desire for her, a longing that consumed him entirely, as he realized just how deeply he cherished her presence in his life.
——Charlotte Charlotte CHARLOTTE CHARLOTTE CHARLOTTE!
He's got only one thing on his mind: Charlotte. Her voice, her scent, her face, her style—he craves every little bit of her. She's like the most stunning flower, and he can't look away. What's up with my hand on the sword? he thought, pulling it back. He's not even sure why he reached for it in the first place.
Maybe it was to keep her safe from some kind of danger?
——But there's no one around but him and the most beautiful girl in the world, Charlotte. 'Ahhh, even her name is as beautiful, He can't stop finding new things to love about her.' But despite his feelings that are about to explode, Vittorio kept them zipped inside, afraid of embarrassing himself in front of her because as a man and a lover, he shouldn't be shameless, especially in front of her.
"Little Vittorio, are you okay? Because you seem absent-minded."
Charlotte's tender voice suddenly broke his inner dialogue. Vittorio's eyes were drawn to Charlotte's cheerful face, shining like the moon.
Smiling shyly, Vittorio gave his tongue a chance to work again.
"Yeah, ..I mean yes!, I'm fine... Charlotte, I was just wondering to myself if you needed protection because..." Vittorio suddenly stopped talking, feeling a very strange sensation. Something was missing; he could feel it, but what was it? Vittorio started hitting his head with the hammer of reminder, but to no avail. He couldn't remember. But before he could sink into his selfagain, Charlotte's beautiful voice pierced the fog of his thoughts once more.
" little Vittorio, you and I were just about to head to my room where we can talk more comfortably, besides..." Charlotte leaned in close to his ear, her breath gently touching his skin. Vittorio blushed, but Charlotte didn't pay it any mind. She began whispering softly, "And your right, I actually need your help with a problem, and you're the only one I know who can assist me~."
"Sure I would love to help you in any way i can"
"Good boy"
Despite the fact that he almost shouted his approval with great enthusiasm, he could hardly manage to answer in a calmer manner. But he did so without delay. She took him by the hand and began to drag him with her towards her room.
...
"Ugh...My head hurts"
Suddenly, Vittorio opened his eyes, a sharp pain throbbing in his head as he regained consciousness... Hold on, what do you mean by waking up?
And of course It took him only a second to sense that something was off. Not off unfamiliar, but oddly familiar. This wasn't the first time he had woken up without any memory of when he had fallen asleep, and what he found out when he attempted to move only confirmed his fears.
——tsk how did I let this happen again!?
Vittorio realized he was bound securely at the forearms, his arms fastened to either side of a bed that wasn't his own. His feet were also spread apart, each secured to the sides of the bed with very tight restraints. To make matters worse, he was completely naked except for his pants, and he let out a sigh of relief at that.
" ow~ awake already? But we haven't even dived into the spicy stuff yet!"
"Stop using "we" because I had no say in this! Besides..." Vittorio broke free by yanking the ropes .then He plopped down on the bed, his gaze locked on Charlotte, who was sitting in a chair, looking stunning in that red princess dress, clutching a whip. "What the hell were you thinking with that whip!?"
"Oh, this? It's absolutely nothing!" she forced a clumsy smile, tossing the whip aside. Vittorio, not fooled by her act, shot her a glare that screamed -Fuck you, before letting out a heavy sigh.
"Enough of this nonsense! Just hand over my armor and sword already; I have better things to do!" He shot up from the bed and marched toward Charlotte, who finally got up and headed to the closet. She rummaged through it, pulling out a set of black armor and clothes, along with a sword in its holster. With a huff, she returned to him, looking far too cheerful for his taste.
"Here are your belongings, sir. A little politeness wouldn't hurt, you know? No need to be all grumpy about it, come on!"
"Grumpy? Of course I would be grumpy! Waking up in your room, almost naked and tied to a bed for the fifth time this month would drive anyone mad! " Vittorio spat out his words, yanked his things from her grip, and immediately began putting on his clothes and armor. Once he was done, he stormed toward the door, ready to get out.
"Have you seen Claire around recently?"
He glanced over as he asked his question, gripping the door handle, poised to leave, but he paused awaiting for Charlotte's response.
"It's pretty bold of you, little Vittorio, to be hanging out in a girl's room while you're asking about her sister, isn't it? Charlotte said this with a heavy dose of sarcasm that was almost theatrical. Vittorio opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off before he could get a word in. "I've seen her three days ago, and she's still out."
"Oh, okay than "
He sighed, feeling let down by her response. he really wanted to bid farewell to Claire; after all, life was unpredictable, and anything could happen in the blink of an eye. Shaking off those heavy thoughts, Vittorio pushed the door open and stepped outside.
"Hk–damn it!"
Once he closes the door He leaned into the wall, eyes closed, he let out a shaky breath while holding on tight. He could sense the sticky remnants of Charlotte's magic fading from his mind, and it was anything but pleasant. It was like a rusty knife being pulled out of a fresh cut, slowly and painfully. As his mind started to clear, the reality of what had just happened hit him hard. The horror of carrying thoughts that weren't him and succumbing to someone else's will was overwhelming.
He felt so small, so powerless, and utterly tainted. It was a violation he will never gets used to.
"Vittorio-sama!"
"Yes, Brenda," Suddenly the maid's voice rang out from behind Vittorio. He quickly straightened and turned to face her, noticing the concern etched on her face.
"Are you alright, Vittor—? Oh no!"
As presptive as she is, she instantly figured out what was going on when she spotted Vittorio by Charlotte's room. she exclaimed. It was clear to her that he had no business being there unless it was for the reason they both were thinking.
Vittorio just shook his head in response to her worries.
"Brenda, I really can't discuss this right now. Just hand me the bag; I need to leave." He stretched out his hand for the sleek black leather bag in her hands, but the maid held her ground, her gaze piercing into his with concern. But Despite her worry, she sensed his stubbornness and decided to comply, albeit on her own terms.
"Allow me to escort you, Vittorio-sama. I'll handle the bag; you shouldn't trouble yourself with it."
"Do as you wish"