Chapter 430. Yukinoshita Is Merely an Excuse
"If I were to truly do that, I'd look down on myself."
Anastasia shook her head gently. "That would be too foolish, and it doesn't fit my style at all... even if I'm a merchant criticized by others, I value human sentiment far more than practical profit.
Regarding this, you clearly know that already, don't you?"
She swung her legs discontentedly and leaned gloomily against the table, her piteous gaze tracking her Prime Minister's every footstep as he moved.
This deliberately staged cuteness did not soften Hachiman Hikigaya's heart. He walked to the window and gazed out, feeling that Anastasia was like a spider weaving a trap, forcing him into a corner step by step.
"Yeah, I know... but right now, I'd rather your methods be a bit more cold and ruthless."
He not only knew what Priscilla would do, but he also knew how Anastasia would choose to respond.
"You'll dispatch Mimi, Julius, and Ricardo to keep a close eye on Yukinoshita; you'll have the Iron Fang mercenaries stationed outside Priscilla's mansion to act as lookouts for me and Yukinoshita; you might even personally approach Yukinoshita and step onto the front lines to block Priscilla yourself.
Whether I accept the favor or not, you won't change your response. And it's impossible for me to oppose a course of action that benefits Yukinoshita.
I know everything, yet I can only watch helplessly as things develop this way."
Thus, he was forced to uncomfortably accept the favor this "merchant" offered.
Most importantly, he knew that Anastasia was doing this not just out of a calculating desire to rack up favors; half of it was genuine—she simply didn't want her beloved to be frowning all day.
If Yukinoshita were bullied by Priscilla, Hachiman would certainly not be happy, and she didn't want to see her Prime Minister like that.
...Precisely because of this, it became even harder for Hachiman to harden his heart and distance himself from her. From now on, they would likely remain entangled.
Anastasia certainly wouldn't make any demands of him, but could he really enjoy this girl's devotion while remaining at peace with himself never seeing her again?
Hachiman gazed at the sun in the sky and whispered, "I can't do anything. I have no solution. Since when did I become so useless?"
"Because the Prime Minister has always been this useless."
As the girl stood up, her pleasant voice, devoid of mockery, drifted over.
Tap, tap, tap.
"The cold war with Miss Yukinoshita, avoiding Miss Rem's confession, delaying the final answer to Miss Emilia, and even changing your mind halfway through several times regarding Miss Beatrice and Miss Shaula.
In different timelines, you couldn't even handle your relationship with Julius properly. Even when faced with my own courtship, you hesitated time and time again before reluctantly agreeing."
Anastasia's light footsteps drew closer. Her encyclopedic knowledge of her Prime Minister's romantic history proved just how much she valued him—how deeply she loved him.
"The only time you were truly decisive was the straightforward rejection of Miss Crusch after your memory loss." She smiled, her tone incredibly gentle as she chided him. "Aside from the Prime Minister, I've never seen someone so indecisive, wavering, and prone to retreat in matters of the heart."
"Yeah."
Hachiman let out a self-deprecating laugh.
External dominance could never mask his internal romantic cowardice. Otherwise, he wouldn't have ended up in a cold war with Yukinoshita before crossing over; after all, he had plenty of clever schemes for the outside world back then, too.
No matter how much he grew, he was always like this.
"But, I like it very much."
"—Let... let go."
A slender hand suddenly grabbed his hem. Hachiman's heart leaped. His reprimand carried zero deterrent force, because not only was it low in volume, but his tone wasn't a firm demand; it was a faint plea.
The slender Anastasia didn't listen; instead, she pushed further, leaning her head gently against her Prime Minister's back, her face flushed as she breathed in his scent.
"Like ambushing Elsa the Bowel Hunter, like sniping the Archbishops, like handling Roswaal... as long as the Prime Minister is willing, Miss Priscilla and I could be dealt with quite easily."
It was true. As long as he was willing, he could think of several plans... if only he could harden his heart.
Hachiman's throat moved involuntarily. His heart hammered against his chest, and a strange fear surged through him, urging him to deny it. "...I'm not that smart."
"Self-deception doesn't suit you, my Prime Minister."
Anastasia's voice was beautiful and melodic, but falling on his ears now, Hachiman felt as if a knife were cutting him open.
"Saying you don't want us, that you only want to marry Miss Yukinoshita—does the Prime Minister actually believe that lie himself?"
"I like Yukinoshita." Closing his eyes, Hachiman's teeth chattered as if he were chilled to the bone by rain.
"But you like us even more, don't you? Perhaps I alone am not worth much, but what about when you add Miss Emilia and Miss Rem?"
Hachiman grit his teeth. He wanted to raise his arms to cover his ears, but ultimately lacked the strength to do so. He wanted to act as if he hadn't heard Anastasia's voice, but he couldn't do that either; he could only remain silent.
He was silent, but Anastasia, who saw right through him, would not stop:
"Loving me, loving Miss Emilia, loving Miss Rem, perhaps even holding different types of affection for Miss Crusch and Miss Priscilla... what should be done? Loving so many people at once is simply 'wrong,' isn't it?
To give a 'genuine thing,' one must pay with an equal 'genuine thing,' otherwise one is unworthy of the other's devotion. But no matter how much heart you put into it, if the number of people you love increases, the feelings will inevitably be thinned... Surely my Prime Minister thinks this way?
Who to marry? Even if my indecisive Prime Minister were bound by a promise to Miss Yukinoshita, he could never say it so decisively."
Her dedication to and understanding of her Prime Minister—a combination of keen observation and sharp intellect—had long ago led her to grasp the true reason.
"—If I'm not mistaken, it's for our sake, isn't it?"
The moment the words left her mouth, Anastasia felt her Prime Minister's body go rigid. Though it was gone in a flash, she had all the answers she needed.
Her suspicion was confirmed.
"Just as I thought... the one forcing you to give up your feelings for us, the one forcing you to make the cold decision to love only Miss Yukinoshita, isn't anyone else—it's actually us!"
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