I Was the Heroine, and in the Sequel, Even Though I’m a Mob, All of My Stats Are Maxed Out

Past and Future 5

When I opened my eyes slightly, my gaze intertwined with Alvin-sama who was staring at me with a terribly worried look on his face.

At that moment, I found myself surprisingly happy and couldn’t help but smile.

“…. Nina is really cunning, isn’t she? I was going to be mad at you before I got here, but now it all doesn’t matter.”

Alvin-sama lowered his eyebrows and smiled, then turned to Lara and Theo, who were still in high spirits.

“So? What do you mean by this?”

“Oh my, Prince Alvin, you’re late.”

“The meeting dragged on. When I heard that Nina was having a drink with you guys, I ignored all my other work and came here.”

Apparently, I had worried him a lot. I felt sorry, but my eyelids were heavy and I closed my eyes.

“It’s better than drinking in some other place. Besides, I’ve already invited Alvin to join us.”

“If I had known Nina would be here, I would have joined.”

“That’s worse! You can’t just pick and choose when you’d join!”

I could hear Lara’s exaggerated sorrow and Alvin-sama’s loud sigh.

“Let’s invite Owen next time and the six of us can have a drink together! And when Erica comes back, there will be seven of us.”

“Yeah, invite me.”

“Eh… It’s kind of scary when Alvin is honest.”

“…..”

After such an exchange, I heard footsteps approaching, and my body was gently lifted.

The gentle body warmth and pleasant scent enveloped me, and even with my eyes closed, I could tell that Alvin-sama had embraced me.

“I’m going to take Nina to her room.”

“Okaaay, don’t be like an escorting wolf[1]──But it would be more interesting if you were.”

“Cheryl.”

Ignoring Lara’s words, Alvin-sama walked away with me in his arms. Cheryl, who was by Dirk’s side, responded with a cute cry, then came over and licked my hand.

Cheryl had been very attached to Dirk in the past few days, and I remembered that Alvin-sama was sulking, “I’m the one who’s been spending time together with her.”

I managed to say “Good night” and “Thank you for today” to everyone and left Lara’s room.

Alvin-sama walked down the long, dimly lit, quiet hallway, holding me in his arms as if I were a treasure.

“Nina, are you feeling all right?”

“Yes.”

“That’s good. I’ll carry you to your room.”

The hallway was slightly chilly and comfortable. Thanks to that, I was gradually sobering up.

“…. Thank you, Alvin-sama.”

“What for?”

“It was nice of you to come and pick me up.”

“Really? It didn’t bother you?”

When I told him how I honestly felt, Alvin-sama looked uneasy.  Perhaps he was concerned about what Lara used to say to him, “You’re not even her lover, but you’re really troublesome.“

But I think I had been waiting for Alvin-sama to pick me up.

That’s why, even when Theo asked me, “Should I walk you to your room now?” I had said I would stay a little longer.

──And then I realized. I had long been spoiled by Alvin-sama.

“I had been waiting for Alvin-sama to come.”

“…. Saying things like that will make me a more troublesome guy. I’ll pick you up anywhere every day.”

“Fufu.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the words, which were so typical of Alvin-sama.

I think the sight of Alvin-sama smiling shyly and saying, “I’m so happy,” and “I’m sorry I’m late,” was very lovely.

I was convinced that no one would ever love me like this for the rest of my life, except for Alvin-sama.

Since sometime ago, Alvin-sama’s straightforward love for me had given me a sense of security that I could not have felt more secure.

“… Alvin-sama is so beautiful.”

Because I was being held in his arms, Alvin-sama’s face was right in front of me, illuminated by the moonlight, and I couldn’t help but look at him.

Normally, I would be embarrassed, but perhaps because I was drunk, I was able to stare at his overly groomed face.

Everything about him was perfect and beautiful, like it was really made up, and when I gently touched her cheek, he quietly called my name “Nina.”

“I’m happy to be complimented by Nina, but when you stare at me from this distance, I don’t have the confidence to do nothing.”

“…. Won’t you do anything for me?”

When I answered that after a few moments, Alvin-sama’s violet eyes widened in surprise.

And the next thing I knew, our bodies were enveloped in a floating sensation and light, and the scenery changed from the hallway to my room. I found myself being pushed down on the bed.

He looked down at me at close range, and my heart jumped.

“Please, don’t ever drink alcohol again.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want Nina to get drunk and say something like that to another man.”

I got a little frustrated at his words.

“…. I would only say such a thing to Alvin-sama.”

It was because I wanted to get closer to him.

Alvin-sama always prioritized my feelings and took good care of me. Recently, however, I had sometimes felt frustrated by this.

“Nina, are you drunk?”

“Only a little.”

“I want you to stop drinking alcohol. I became a foolish man in front of Nina, and I would take everything you said at heart.”

I was probably still drunk now. But I wasn’t saying this in a drunken stupor.

I was just being honest with myself thanks to the alcohol.

──I think I had actually been aware of my feelings for a long time. But I was afraid to admit it.

I was afraid that the person I had entrusted my heart to would leave me.

“I really love Nina more than anything else. I would do anything for Nina.”

But now, I was confident that Alvin-sama would always love only me.

And that was because Alvin-sama liked me straightforwardly. He was sincere with me, and he always showed it in his actions and attitude.

“I didn’t say that because of the alcohol.”

“…. Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

When I looked straight back at him and nodded, Alvin-sama’s eyes wavered. Even the expression on his face, as if he was about to start crying, was endearing and made me realize once again how I felt.

I realized that I love you, Alvin-sama.

“…. I love you, Nina. I truly am.”

Eventually, Alvin-sama’s face approached me with those words, and I quietly closed my eyes.

Translator Notes:

1. A “gentleman” who escorts a woman home, only to make a pass at her. ↵