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Alone in the room of the girl I like.
For an ordinary guy, this would be a thrilling and captivating situation.
However, I'm different right now.
I am indeed thrilled, but it's not the sweet and sour thrill of youth.
Fear of what might happen grips me, making my heart pound.
That's how I feel right now.
"...Youki-san, do you have anything to say?"
Cecilia stands imposingly, looking down at me as I sit in seiza.
This was the inevitable arrangement when we entered the room.
Seeing me sit in seiza, too scared to say anything, Cecilia's voice laced with anger and her cold gaze, she spoke.
"Yes, I'm sorry!"
I immediately bowed my head and performed a perfect dogeza.
I don't think this will be enough to be forgiven, but it's better to show my sincerity.
Keeping my head bowed, I raised my gaze to gauge Cecilia's expression, but it remained impassive.
"Why are you suddenly apologizing? Do you realize you did something wrong?"
This was her reply to my dogeza. It seems I need to explain the sin I committed.
I raised my head and recounted what I had done in the audience chamber.
"Confessing in the audience chamber..."
"So you are aware. Then why do you think that was wrong?"
"Um... it was out of line... I guess."
"Yes. It was out of line. ...It's not that I dislike you, Youki-san."
Good, it seems she doesn't hate me.
Though she is quite angry.
"Why didn't you realize at the time that confessing your feelings to someone in that kind of setting is out of line...?"
"...I probably didn't think about it."
"Didn't you think even a little that it was strange before you said it?"
At that time, all that swirled in my head was the sweet sound of "reward" and desire.
If I said that, the lecture would be long, so I definitely wouldn't say it.
"...I thought about it a little, but I just..."
"Just!?"
This is bad, I chose my words poorly.
Cecilia repeated my words with an expression of shock.
"...Youki-san. Shall we talk a bit more?"
"...Yes."
With a blue vein throbbing on her forehead, revealing her anger, I could only nod at Cecilia.
In this state, Cecilia's lecture continued for about thirty minutes. As I fought the numbness in my legs and Cecilia's scolding, I heard a knock on the door.
"Cecilia, are you home?"
From the voice beyond the door, I identified it as Celia-san.
Cecilia replied with a cold voice, "Yes," and opened the door, allowing Celia-san to enter.
"If you're home, at least say something... What's going on here?"
"I'm lecturing Youki-san."
"Oh... What happened?"
Cecilia explained the situation to Celia-san.
During that time, I remained in seiza, looking down, thinking that the scolding from both parent and child was coming.
"That's Youki-kun's fault."
After explaining what happened in the audience chamber, Celia-san joined in, and the lecture resumed.
"Cecilia is a girl. When confessing, the atmosphere and timing are crucial, aren't they?"
Huh? Is that what this is about?
"Um, Mother... I'm not angry for that reason..."
"Be quiet, Cecilia! It's alright, Mother understands."
I don't think she does.
Celia-san, who had silenced Cecilia, knelt down to meet my gaze and patted my shoulder.
"Youki-kun, I believe that confession requires good timing and atmosphere."
"Y-yes."
"Timing aside, a place like the audience chamber with so many people has no atmosphere at all. In such a situation, Cecilia couldn't possibly give you a good reply!"
"Y-yes. You are absolutely right."
Cecilia was completely sidelined as I was criticized.
Unable to withstand Celia-san's intensity, I could only nod.
"Honestly. If you're like that, another man might snatch Cecilia away! Are you okay with that, Youki-kun!?"
"I don't want that!"
The thought of Cecilia with another man... just thinking about it makes me want to cry blood.
If that were to happen, I might even turn into a demon race and attack the other man...
"You're thinking something scary right now, aren't you? About attacking the man Cecilia starts dating."
"How do you know!?"
"Hehehe... You shouldn't underestimate adults. But I think it's okay to have such thoughts."
"Mother, I don't think that's right..."
Cecilia, who had been silent until now, voiced her opinion.
Even though I was thinking it, I agree with Cecilia.
"Oh, what's wrong with that? I think it's proof of how much you are loved."
""...!" "
Hearing Celia-san's words, both Cecilia and I widened our eyes.
Is that kind of love also acceptable?
I, who has an unnecessarily high mental age but almost no romantic experience, don't understand.
"Perhaps the talk of love is a bit early for you two. But it will be necessary eventually, so you should study it a little."
"...I think such heavy love is a bit questionable, don't you agree?"
"Indeed..."
Asked for her agreement by Cecilia, I concurred.
"...Youki-san, you're alright, aren't you?"
"No, no, are you doubting me?"
I'm not interested in yandere types, though.
"However, when you were talking with Mother earlier, you were having some unpleasant fantasies..."
"No, that was just, you see..."
Watching our exchange, Celia-san chuckled.
What's so funny?
"Mother... what's wrong?"
"Celia-san, why are you laughing...?"
"Hehehe... Because you two were just lecturing and being lectured, and now you're already making up."
""Ah...""
I was being scolded just moments ago, but now I'm talking with Cecilia as if nothing happened.
Cecilia also seems unsure why we're conversing normally, tilting her head.
（ You two have good compatibility. Youki-kun's tendency to overthink things and Cecilia's excessive seriousness might be hindering the development of your relationship? Well, this time, Youki-kun is at fault. ）
Unaware of what Celia-san was thinking, Cecilia and I flustered.
"Alright, alright, both of you calm down~. ...In the end, it's fine to conclude this matter by saying Youki-kun and Cecilia are on good terms, right?"
Is such an ending acceptable?
For me, it's a welcome outcome, but what about Cecilia?
Looking at her expression, she doesn't seem entirely convinced.
However, her expression is calmer than before, indicating her anger has somewhat subsided.
"...Just this once."
"Ah, thank you. From now on, I will consider the time and place for my words and actions."
Cecilia herself seems to be letting it slide just this once.
Come to think of it, Celia-san might have joined the conversation to help me and Cecilia make up.
When I looked at Celia-san, she gave me a wink.
It probably means "I'm glad you made up," I'm sure of it.
As I was having my own interpretation, a voice saying "Ah" echoed in the room.
"However, regarding this incident, I think Youki-kun needs to reflect a bit. Youki-kun, you are forbidden from meeting Cecilia for one month starting today. You need to study girls a bit."
"Eh?"
This is a sudden fall from heaven to hell.
A month is too much, a whole month.
"C-Celia-san. Please, at least make it half a month."
"No."
"Please, I beg you!"
This is the second dogeza of the day.
If it's to meet the girl I like, I can do dogeza as many times as needed.
If I don't do this much, my seriousness won't be conveyed.
"Um... Mother. Youki-san seems to have reflected enough, so you don't have to go that far..."
"Oh, Cecilia, are you going to miss Youki-kun so much that you'll be looking forward to a month apart?"
"Um... well..."
She started fidgeting cutely.
Wow, this is a rare sight of Cecilia.
I stared intently at Cecilia, burning the image into my mind.
"Hehehe, then half a month is fine. But the next time you meet, you must have a proper attitude towards Cecilia."
"A proper attitude...?"
I don't understand, what does that mean?
"I think Youki-kun will understand. Well then, let's wrap this up. Sophia, are you there?"
"You called, Madam."
Celia-san clapped her hands together.
Within ten seconds, Sophia appeared.
I was thinking, Sophia seems to have skills not much different from a ninja.
"No, it's just a maid's duty."
"Mind reading!?"
"It came out of your mouth. Madam, what is your request?"
"Youki-kun is leaving now, so could you guide him to the gate?"
"Understood. Then, Youki-sama, I will guide you."
This "guidance" is just a forced eviction, I understand.
Sophia grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and dragged me.
This guidance is wrong, isn't it?
I don't think anything I say will change the situation, so I won't voice it.
"Also, I'll be keeping Seek-kun with me for a while longer~."
Her tone has improved from sounding like a kidnapper, but her actions are still the same.
Well, I'm being saved, so it's fine.
I think I have a strong will to be able to think such things while being dragged along.
"Youki-san, let's meet again."
Cecilia waved her hand, so I waved back.
I hope I can approach her with that "proper attitude" Celia-san mentioned the next time we meet.
Thinking such things, I left the Aquarain family.
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