Chapter 21: Forgiveness

15 Years Old Arc: The Subhuman Beast Girl

Forgiveness

"Good morning, everyone. ...Good morning, Young Master Maximilian."

"Good morning, Celica."

"Good morning! You look even more alluring than before."

"....."

The Bernstein family's dining room in the morning.

I closed the door, turned to face the residents of the mansion, and bowed in greeting.

Master Rüdiger, the head of the household, is absent again today.

Young Masters Helmfried and Young Master Theodore returned my greeting kindly.

Max, or rather, Young Master Maximilian, ignored me, just as he had for the past few days.

"Hey, Max! That's enough! You're making Celica feel bad!"

"....."

Young Master Maximilian ignored his brother, Young Master Theodore, quickly finished his meal, and then rose from his seat and left the dining room.

I could only watch his retreating figure.

"What's going on? I don't know what happened... but I think continuing that attitude is unacceptable."

"Celica. I'm here to listen, so tell me anything. I'll support you as much as I can."

Young Master Theodore, who had sensed what had happened midway through, yet still didn't blame me, and Young Master Helmfried, the eldest brother, spoke to me kindly.

I truly think they are too good for someone as lowly and insignificant as me.

"Thank you for your concern, Young Master Helmfried, Young Master Theodore. However, this is entirely my fault, so please do not interfere in matters between me and Young Master Maximilian."

"....."

"....."

'Yes, it was all my fault.'

Young Master Maximilian had shown pity for a filthy beastly woman like me, but I betrayed that pity, and that's my fault.

★

"Because of these factors, while the number of Aerial Mages has increased with the development of magical technology, there is a shortage of personnel to support them..."

"....."

I'm currently in a classroom, taking a lesson on the history of magic.

Young Master Maximilian, sitting next to me, is completely focused on the lesson, ignoring my presence entirely.

It was painful.

I never thought it would be so agonizing to be treated as if I didn't exist by Young Master Maximilian.

My heart ached, like it had cracked open.

Occasionally, I would glance at the person next to me, thinking only of him, until the bell signaling the end of class rang.

"..... That concludes the lesson. Everyone, please remember to review."

"......"

As soon as the teacher left the classroom, Young Master Maximilian stood up and left.

He's probably going to the student council room to eat the sandwich he brought.

"Hey, Celica, wanna eat lunch together? You're alone again today, right?"

"Sorry, Al... I have something to do."

Al touched my shoulder as he invited me to lunch.

I brushed his hand away and ran out of the classroom down the corridor.

★

"Wait! Young Master Maximilian!"

I shouted as I ran down the corridor, addressing the Master to whom I swore allegiance.

The students walking down the corridor turned to see what was going on.

But I didn't have time to worry about that.

"....."

Young Master Maximilian ignored me and started to walk away quickly.

I circled in front of him, knelt down to block his path, and looked up at him, desperately pleading my feelings.

"I'M SO SORRY, YOUNG MASTER MAXIMILIAN! I NEVER IMAGINED MY THOUGHTLESS ACTIONS WOULD HURT YOU SO DEEPLY! I NEVER EVEN CONSIDERED IT! I HAD NO IDEA WHAT A FOOLISH, LOOSE-MINDED PERSON I WAS, AND HOW MUCH PAIN I CAUSED YOU!"

"What? So Ahrenheim was cheating?"

"Wow, that's awful."

"Ahrenheim must be quite a slut."

"Two-timing? What a bitch."

A crowd formed around us, each person uttering the words that came to mind.

"What an awful person."

"Scum."

"Slutty bitch."

.....

'That's right. Those words suited a wretched person like me.'

"PLEASE FORGIVE ME! HAVE PITY ON THIS LOWLY, DESPICABLE WOMAN WHO IS BEING LOOKED DOWN UPON RIGHT NOW! GRANT ME A CHANCE TO ATONE FOR MY MISTAKES! I WILL OBEY ANYTHING YOU COMMAND, YOUNG MASTER MAXIMILIAN!"

"....."

I prostrated myself before Young Master Maximilian in front of the crowd.

The cold sensation of the floor reached my forehead and palms.

The murmuring of the crowd grew louder.

After a short pause, Young Master Maximilian knelt down, placed his hand on my shoulder, and slowly asked me:

"Are you really going to obey everything I say?"

"YES!"

I was so happy that Lord Maximilian had spoken to me after so long that I raised my head and answered immediately, like a loyal dog responding to its master.

However, the next words spoken by the absolute being to me carried a cold tone.

"I haven't forgiven you yet. Wait three more days."

.....

'No way...'

I wasn't forgiven by Young Master Maximilian.

As I listened to his receding footsteps, I buried my face in the floor and wept.

★

For the next three days, my world seemed to have turned gray.

My heart felt broken. My hands and feet felt cold.

I performed all my daily tasks mechanically.

"I actually thought she was an amazing person. I guess I overestimated Ahrenheim."

"Opening her legs to multiple men, what a scum excuse of a woman. I'm disappointed in Ahrenheim."

"I wonder if Mergen was her cheating partner after all."

"Come to think of it, they left together the other day and didn't come back."

The voices I heard around me pained my heart.

But their words were true.

Because they were true, they pierced straight to my heart. 

"Hey, cheer up, Celica. Shall we play together again today?"

"....."

"Let's just forget about that Maximilian. It was too cruel of him to keep treating Celica like that after she apologized so desperately—"

"STOP IT! DON'T TOUCH ME!"

Al... Albert Mergen touches my arm, but I push him away.

He's in the way.

Annoying.

I didn't want to betray Young Master Maximilian's mercy any more.

Al, with his usually wide-open eyes narrowed in a rare display, stared intently at me.

★

The morning of the third day.

As I was walking towards the door leading to the dining room on the left side of the corridor, I saw Young Master Maximilian walking towards me.

We continued on, approaching each other and facing each other.

I couldn't look up at Young Master Maximilian's face.

I was afraid.

Afraid of being abandoned by this absolute presence of my life.

"Celica."

"Young Master Maximilian..."

I felt a little relieved that he spoke to me in a gentle tone.

I'm so easily pleased.

Just a little kindness makes me happy.

"Celica, look this way."

"Yes, Young Master Maximilian."

I obediently followed my master's words.

My master smiled kindly at me.

"Celica, today's your birthday, isn't it? Please accept this."

Saying that, he placed what he was holding in his right hand around my neck and fastened it with both hands.

It was a bright red leather collar.

"The clasp is made of mithril. It has a wider detection range than the ear cuff I gave you before, so don't worry. If Celica tries to make another mistake, I'll stop it at any cost."

Tears streamed down my cheeks.

Young Master Maximilian had given me a present.

Young Master Maximilian had remembered my birthday.

Young Master Maximilian had forgiven me!

I... no, I... was so overjoyed that I hugged my beloved Master.

"Maximilian-sama! Thank you! Maximilian-sama! Maximilian-sama!"

I just sobbed, repeatedly calling my master's name.

My master hugged me back and gently stroked my head.

I resolved never to betray my beloved Master again.

★

"Hehehe~"

That day, I couldn't stop grinning, both during class and while walking down the hallway.

Filled with affection, I gently stroked the collar around my neck with my fingers.

"Why is is wearing a collar...?"

"The Healing Beast Princess...? That's..."

"It's a disgrace for a woman. I'm disappointed in you, Ahrenheim."

I could hear noises from around me, but I didn't care.

This was something my Master had made for me by hand, thinking of me.

I felt proud, not even a trace of embarrassment.

I looked at my Master, walking beside me down the hallway. When he noticed my gaze, he smiled gently at me.

That alone filled me with happiness.

Suddenly, I felt a gaze and looked behind me.

Albert Mergen, who had toyed with my body, was looking at me with a gaze filled with hatred, yet also with pity.

I turned my gaze back to my Master.

My master was more important than a man like him.

★

"Maximilian-sama! Maximilian-sama!"

"Celica! Celica!"

An empty classroom after school

My Master is enjoying my body.

I desperately served him to please him.

"Celica..."

"Maximilian-sama..."

My master and I gazed into each other's eyes.

And then, he gently kissed my lips.

On this mouth that had taken his magnificent member!

On this filthy mouth that had desperately licked up his fluids that had splattered on the floor!

My Master and I wrapped our arms around each other's necks, embracing and sharing a deeper kiss.

At this moment, I was at the height of happiness.