After Retirement, Living a Stud Life in Another World - 96
Chapter 96: I Was Proposed to
“From the time we were little, I’ve loved Lutz, who played with me. He was a coward, indecisive, and unreliable, but he was kind and, above all, cherished me. So, I’ve always nurtured the hope of making him my husband, deep in my childish heart. But that Lutz… seems to have gone somewhere far away.”
Today, Gretel had let down her slightly wavy strawberry blonde hair and applied light makeup. It was a bit fresh for me, who always saw her lively figure. Gretel’s gaze was cast down at the table, not directed towards me. Well, given the flow of the conversation, that’s probably how it would be. Depending on how you look at it, burying that gentle childhood friend of hers would be attributed to me.
“Margarete-sama, it’s not Lutz-sama’s fault…”
“Yeah, I know, Ayaka. The Lutz here right now just got caught up; he hasn’t done anything wrong. I understand that, I really do.”
Ayaka-san, who sensed a hint of resentment directed towards me, defended me, but Gretel still didn’t turn her eyes towards us. She doesn’t seem angry, but she must have complex feelings.
“I don’t hold any grudge against the current Lutz. On the contrary, I’m strongly attracted to the charm of the present Lutz as a man. Unlike the previous Lutz, who just wanted to protect me, the current one supports me, accepts me, embraces me… and even gives me some kind of mysterious power. Above all, he tells me he loves me… Wanting everything about such a man, wanting to spend my life with him, is only natural.”
I involuntarily held my breath. Words of unconditional praise for me, who Gretel once called a wimp and a sluggard, flowed from her mouth.
“But… no, that’s why it bothers me. I wonder if the feelings I had for the previous Lutz were fake, if I have to let them go…”
“That’s not true, Gretel. Those feelings are pure and beautiful. Don’t belittle the feelings you had for the Lutz before the fall. And the current me is not the me who lived in Japan… I’ve changed within the warm relationships that the previous Lutz built. In other words… he and I are already one, inseparable.”
As I blurted out these words, it was an honest feeling. Of course, I still maintain my ego, and at its core is the life experience I accumulated over sixty years in the previous world… But since coming to this world, my personality and behavior patterns have clearly changed. It’s probably influenced by exposure to a different culture and the experiences I’ve had in Lutz’s young body, and also by the feelings that everyone pours towards Lutz, which have strongly influenced me.
However, even after saying all this, she still didn’t turn her gray eyes towards me. What words would resonate with Gretel’s heart… in a somewhat anxious state, I continued to speak earnestly.
“I’m really happy that you want the current me, but you don’t have to force yourself to forget him…”
Hmm, even I don’t know what I’m saying anymore. Gretel’s shoulders twitched slightly, but her gaze still remained lowered. Damn it, if it’s gotten to this point, I’ll just go all in.
“Gretel. Maybe if I hadn’t taken over his body, he would have given you comfort and happiness. But I swear. I want to give you happiness to make up for what he was supposed to give you… That’s why, I want to be with you for the rest of my life!”
Finally, I shouted out the words as if screaming, and then came back to my senses. Beatrice, Ayaka-san, and even Liese were all looking at me with surprised expressions. Damn, did I just mess up? This is undoubtedly a reverse proposal in this world. It would be extremely inappropriate from their perspective… Especially for Gretel, who prides herself as a proud warrior, it’s close to “picking a fight.”
As I broke out in a cold sweat on my back, Gretel still didn’t look at me directly and remained completely motionless. Is this perhaps the state of being filled with energy, just before firing the anger cannon?
Suddenly, with a faint sound, a small stain appeared on the dark tablecloth… and it multiplied. By the time there were about twenty stains, I thought she took a deep breath, then she raised her face abruptly, and her gray eyes stared straight at me. I, who was frightened by her expression as if we were going to duel, summoned all my courage and met her gaze… Suddenly, her eyes softened into those of a gentle childhood friend, and her lips curled up slightly.
“I gladly accept it! Margarete, Lady Ludwig’s offer, I gladly accept!”
Gretel gazed at me with a happy smile, her eyes overflowing with transparent droplets. How adorable she is, rejoicing so much at my proposal. I will never let go of this girl.
“I see, so this is why you deliberately dragged out the conversation to make me say this. Lutz, who falls for such obvious tricks so easily, worries me about the future.”
“Including this aspect, it’s because you’re Lutz-sama.”
Before I knew it, Beatrice and Ayaka were whispering to each other, giving me a suspicious look.
“Hehe, so you caught on after all. But you see, in situations like this, the one who gets the other to say it wins, big sister!”
With a mischievous smile, Gretel declared victory. Wait, was this a trap?