I Was Reincarnated as the Villain in an Eroge, but I’ll Live Honestly ~Because the Protagonist Was Useless, I Ended Up Making the Heroines Smile and Somehow Built a Harem~ - 27

Chapter 27: Noah Apologizes

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“Now then, Noah-sama. How shall we bring this incident to a close? Thanks to you holding back, I think we can press them on this.”

“Y-yeah… That’s true…”

Layla wore a strangely lively, beaming smile, while Noah was drenched in cold sweat. Avoiding Layla’s gaze, Noah thought to himself.

C-come to think of it, when exactly did the harassment start… Ah.

When he looked back on what had happened since arriving at the Present household, something came to mind. The black coffee, far too bitter to serve to a child. If one were welcoming a guest, they would normally offer something easier to drink. And the overly sweet cookies, clearly meant to exaggerate the bitterness.

Could it be that dropping the coffee cup was deliberate too…?

And Noah was not so dull as to miss what all of this implied.

“Layla, just to confirm. This was about provoking me without letting me apologize, right?”

“Yes, I believe the same. To be more precise, it might be more accurate to say they intended not to accept your apology.”

This involved aristocratic considerations befitting a viscount family.

The Present family was a viscount household, whereas Noah’s family was a marquis household.

And yet, the lower-ranked Present family had broken off the engagement with Noah’s family—the Maycraft house. Other nobles would see this as “an impertinent noble house cutting down one above them.” On top of that, if they were to accept an apology, they would be judged as “having ultimately bowed to the marquis,” casting doubt on their dignity as nobles.

That said, there was no way the Present family could openly defy a higher-ranked marquis house, and the result of that contradiction was today’s harassment.

I’m not even allowed to apologize…?

That fact pierced Noah’s chest. A dull ache lingered there, weighing heavily on his heart. Even so, regardless of whether they forgave him or not, he wanted to apologize for the trouble he had caused.

But in this case, the old Noah, who did nothing but bad things, is at fault. I have to understand that…

In this noble society, one could not survive on righteousness alone.

And yet Freya said something like that…

It was when Noah had accidentally peeked at Freya while she was changing.

“Even if Papa says that, I still oppose it. No matter how you look at it, isn’t it rude?”

He did not know her exact reasoning, but Freya had opposed it. As Noah was organizing his thoughts…

“—sama? Noah-sama?”

She must have been worried about Noah’s silence. Layla, her brows drooping and her expression stiff, met his eyes.

“Ah, sorry, sorry. I’m fine.”

“…Are you sure? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

“Y-yeah. I’m really fine.”

Sure, it was a shock, but it’s not like I’m as damaged as Layla thinks…

Just having someone nearby who smiled for him… That fact alone was incredibly reassuring.

Yeah. I’m fine. I can still keep going.

He desperately held back the smile threatening to form and looked at Layla.

“…Thank you, Layla. I’m okay!”

Noah smiled brightly as he struck a double fist pump. Layla looked momentarily bewildered, but soon her expression softened.

“You’ve become quite strong, Noah-sama. Later, I’ll give you a reward hug.”

“…No, I think I’ll pass on that.”

“Why do you hate that so much—!”

Layla puffed out her cheeks in displeasure, and her reaction struck Noah as funny, making him laugh despite himself.

※※※※

A knock echoed—knock knock. The one who entered the room was the maid who had broken the cup—Lotte.

“U-um, Noah-sama! I am terribly sorry for what happened earlier!”

Lotte, Freya’s maid, bowed deeply.

“E-uh, um…”

Unaware of Noah’s flustered state, Lotte continued apologizing.

“This incident was entirely my own decision. Please, I beg you… Please grant Freya-sama and the Present family a generous judgment! If it is me, I will accept any punishment whatsoever—”

“…O-oh?”

For a moment, Noah could not comprehend what Lotte was saying, and her words passed straight through his head. But gradually, he began to understand. The answer lay in his earlier conversation with Layla.

The Present family was already being labeled an impertinent noble house by others. If, on top of that, it became known that they had mistreated a guest who came to apologize, their reputation would sink even further. In other words, depending on how Noah acted from here on, he could cause the Present family endless trouble.

“F-for now, please raise your head—”

Just as Noah spoke to Lotte… Whether by good or bad timing, a girl with flowing crimson hair appeared. It was Freya.

“W-what are you doing, Lottie…?”

Her voice trembling, Freya asked Lotte.

“H-hey… What’s going on…? Did something happen?”

In a low, calm voice, Lotte replied.

“…Please do not concern yourself, Freya-sama. Please wait in your room.”

“W-wait a second, Lottie! Why would you say that?! If it’s like this, I won’t stay quiet either! Listen! Lottie is my personal attendant. Lottie’s responsibility is also my responsibility as her master!”

With that, Freya turned to face Noah.

“You’re smart, Noah, so I know you understand! Everything, including your clothes getting dirty, is my fault! I’ll accept any demand you make! So please, don’t do anything to Lottie!”

“N-no, Noah-sama! Freya-sama may be saying that, but she opposed this matter until the very end! If it is just me, I will accept any demand! Please, I beg you! Grant the Present family a generous judgment!”

At Freya’s near-screaming voice, Noah was completely taken aback.

No, no, no—wait, wait! This feels like I’m being cast as the villain. Well, okay, I am the villain, but still!

And upon hearing the phrase “anything,” only unpleasant associations came to mind.

Then how about I take either Lotte or Freya? Tonight’s going to be fun, heh heh,—that sort of thing.

This misunderstanding had to be cleared up immediately. And Noah’s goals had always been consistent: one was to apologize to the Present family, and the other was to help Freya, who had lost her confidence.

“Uh, um… I’m not going to make any demands like that… Today, I just want to apologize.”

““…………Huh?””

Unable to believe what they had heard, Lotte and Freya exchanged glances, blinking in surprise.

“Ah, uh… I know this should really be discussed somewhere more proper…”

Noah let out a small breath. He realized his hands were slightly damp. Things had gone far off from the original plan. Even so, he would do the best he could right now.

“I’m truly sorry about the broken engagement.”

Saying that, Noah bowed his head.

“I’ve wanted to make this apology all day. I felt terrible for the tremendous trouble I caused the Present family because of me. I understand if hearing this now only makes you angry.”

“U-um… Noah, does that mean you want us to accept your apology…?”

Noah shook his head at Freya’s words.

“Of course I’d be happy if you did, but I won’t force it. I’m the one most at fault.”

He was not apologizing just to be forgiven. There was guilt, yes, but there was also his selfish reason… It was so that he himself could keep moving forward.

“I’m still a child, and I don’t know yet how I should make amends to the Present family. As I work harder from here on, I hope I can give something back someday. That’s all I came to say today. Layla, shall we head back soon?”

Layla smiled and replied, “I’ll prepare at once,” then left the room ahead of them. Lotte hurried after her.

I really wanted to help Freya, who’s lost her confidence… But she’ll be okay, right?

What Noah had seen was Lotte’s resolve, her willingness to offer herself for Freya’s sake. In the game, a background character like Lotte never received this much focus. But if she was by Freya’s side, Noah felt Freya would be fine. She was someone like Layla was to him.

And then, only Noah and Freya remained in the room. Noah felt the atmosphere growing heavy. Unable to endure the silence any longer, he spoke first.

“Well, um… In that case, I’ll wait outside until the carriage is ready.”

It felt like he should not stay there any longer. Noah turned his back and reached for the door.

“Wait!”

Freya’s near-scream stopped Noah in his tracks.

“Why… Why…?!”

When he turned around, Freya stood there with her mouth twisted into a grim line, her hands clenched tightly.

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