Gerald’s POV
I walk down the corridor to the classroom.
When I saw Kimball’s roommate, Ceverus, an unsightly girl with round glasses who wanted to be a civil servant for some reason, I remembered you, Abacus Girl.
It’s been a long time since I met her.
It was around the time I first entered the Abacus Competition, so yes, I was 10 years old.
She was at the table diagonally in front of the table where I was competing.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the ephemeral fairy-like girl who used the red stone abacus.
Petite, small hands, greyish-silver hair, and most striking of all were those eyes.
Clear blue eyes that seem to suck you deep within them.
The moment I saw her, I fell in love with her.
My Abacus Girl was beautiful but poorly dressed, and I could guess that she was the daughter of a commoner merchant or a lower noble.
She uses her abacus rhythmically, accurately, and quickly with splendid finger-work.
""
Her appearance was graceful and beautiful.
After the competition, I tried to talk to her over and over again.
Every year, I made up my mind that this year would be the time to find out Abacus Girl’s name, and every time the tournament ended, I continued to blame myself for not having the courage to speak out to her.
What can I even do to be friends with her?
I’m a marquis, and she’s a commoner or a lower noble.
I tell myself that it is impossible, our hands were bound by the difference in social status.
Still, I look for her at every abacus competition and am relieved to know she’s in them.
Sometimes I noticed that she was trying to talk to me, too.
However, both she and I were somewhat timid and gave up.
I keep claiming that I haven’t decided on a fiancée because I’m busy.
But that is a lie.
Because of you, Abacus Girl, I couldn’t decide on a fiancée.
Surely, someday, I will hear her name, surely, someday, we will laugh together, go to a night party together, talk about love, and get married.
Thinking about such a dreamlike thing, I kept refusing the engagement talks.
And 5 years ago she stopped participating in abacus competitions.
When I realized she wasn’t at the competition, I realized what I had lost for the first time.
A huge sense of emptiness filled my eyes with darkness.
Oh, why didn’t I take the first step?
Oh, how courageless and useless of a person am I?
At the abacus competition at that time, I felt heartbroken and ended up with an unsatisfactory result of 10th or lower for the first time.
When I got home, I was so sorrowful and anguished, I caught a fever and fell unconscious.
Around this time, I was selected as a close aide to Prince Kevin, but I collapsed as soon as I started my service, and I was thinking that I would probably be fired while I was still feverish in bed.
Three days after I fell asleep, Kevin-ouji came to visit me at my house.
It was a rare experience to wake up and find Kevin-ouji at my bedside.
“Kevin-ouji…” I said.
“Uun, you can go back to sleep, I’m just relieved that you’re surprisingly healthy, Gerald.”
“My apologies for causing you trouble.”
“Everyone can get sick sometimes, take good care of yourself, and when you’re feeling better, help me with my work again.”
“Thank you for your kind words,” I said.
My chest felt heated.
I never thought he’d be so kind, if it was for him, I’d risk my life.
Let’s continue to support Ouji’s reign from the shadows forever.
I remember making that promise.
I talked about various things with him since he came to visit me.
Politics, economics, in such a flow, I accidentally talked about you, Abacus Girl.
“I see, I’m delighted to know you aren’t made of wood or stone, after all, Gerald. It’s a nice discovery,” Kevin said.
“N-No, it was a slip of the tongue, please forget it,” I said.
“I see, the more you fall asleep, the more likely you’ll take about that girl, fufufufu,” Kevin laughed.
“Ouji, you are amused, aren’t you?” I asked.
“Yes, it’s amusing, but it’s the discovery of a new side of you, Gerald,” Kevin said. “Okay, okay, I’ll help you, too. No matter what the other girl’s status is, I’ll help her get married to you.”
“Ouji……” I said.
“Let’s find out quickly, Gerald, it’s not the time to sleep with a fever,” Kevin said.
“Ah, thank you very much,” I said.
I felt like I could see the light on the other side of the dark road.
Whether the other party was a commoner or a lower aristocrat, I thought that Kevin-ouji would do something about it, that I had such powerful help.
Humans can be bought, and I just got hope that I might be able to do something about it.
For five years after that, I desperately reached out my hands in various directions and kept searching, but I still can’t find you, Abacus Girl.
But, I won’t give up.
Someday I will definitely find you, Abacus Girl, confess my love and marry you.
I’m certain of it.
“So when did you start wearing glasses, Corinna-chan?” Makoto asked.
“Well, it was five years ago, I studied too much,” Corinna said.
“I wish you could change to better glasses,” Makoto said.
“We’re short on money, so it can’t be helped,” Corinna replied.
