Chapter 4 – The Protagonist and the Villainess
Part 1
Well, several weeks have passed since the entrance ceremony.
There weren’t any noteworthy events or anything of that sort for a mob like me, and I was finally getting used to this unfamiliar life at the academy.
In terms of the game, this is around the time where the protagonist would finish meeting with the male capture targets. Now that she’s finished raising the flags in rapid succession, I suppose this is the period where she gets familiar with the capture targets.
Perhaps since the real protagonist is sly, this is the time where she’s thinking about narrowing down who to go after?
Then, I suppose this is around the time where the villainess would show up and say “Know your position.” I can’t recall the details too well since I played the game many times over and ended up using the skip function to skim through the text.
Well, I’ll leave the story of the protagonist and co. alone without getting involved.
Now that I’ve begun to get used to life at the student dorms, I’m in the process of deciding which friends to associate with.
I’m talking about Daniel and Raymond.
It’s also due to the two being placed close to me, but the environment in which we were raised was practically the same. Due to that, conversations between us go well.
We were at a bench in the academy’s courtyard.
The three of us guys were sitting down while talking about the plans for a tea ceremony in the beginning of May.
“So, what to do for a tea ceremony? We should probably choose who to invite, right?”
During the break in May, the girls have time off, but it’s different for the boys. It’s when they can invite girls to tea ceremonies to shorten the distance between them.
It’s not an event where anybody can send an invitation to anyone like a playboy would. One has to choose a suitable partner from a household of the same rank to invite.
Then, they have to properly open a tea ceremony and not be rude to their partner.
The tea ceremonies have become an unofficial event in the academy…Well, they prepare lessons for boys on how to welcome women as a gentleman, and that’s so that they can show it off during the break in May.
Raymond cast his eyes downwards towards Daniel’s worry.
“We do have our allowances from home, but we can’t make a luxurious tea ceremony. Any girl would be fine as long as they participate in my tea ceremony.”
The academy costs money, even though we aren’t charged for living expenses like tuition fees or meals. Boys in particular are charged quite an amount of money, and is something they can’t work around.
Even though I have some money in reserve, that’s not a reason to burn through it, and I don’t want to use it.
Why is it that we have to use up a large amount of money to humor a girl?
The thing about this tea ceremony…is that if one avoids doing it or just doesn’t set one up, then the girls will start spreading rumors about them through their network. They’ll spread talks about how that person didn’t open a tea ceremony, and it would put them at a disadvantage when it come to marriage.
Even if they’re not interested in a partner, they still need to make a solid tea ceremony.
Like how us boys share our information around, the girls share their information around as well. Becoming an enemy of the girls means having them spread bad rumors, making things tedious.
This is yet another aspect where boys are at a disadvantage. In the first place, since girls hold the strong position in marriages, the boys are ultimately left with a weak one.
Then, there’s one problem.
My merits have allowed me to exert independence after graduation, and I’m seen as a rich person by my surroundings. They’re aware that I’ve gotten my hands on treasures of gold and silver.
“Does this mean I have to do a formal tea ceremony? It seems I do. Honestly, that bums me out.”
While the three of us were feeling down before the May tea ceremony, we saw Julian, who could be described as a winner, walking with followers and women accompanying him.
Near him was one of his close friends and bodyguard who was the heir to a viscount household──foster brother “Jilk Fier Memoria.”
He had deep green, long hair that made one question if that was really his natural hair. He had green, droopy eyes that contrasted with the prince’s sharp glare.
Though he’s from a viscount household of the royal court, he’s also a close friend of the prince to the point of being a foster brother. It’s obvious that he will be given an important position in the future.
The girls that talk to him have hearts in their eyes, and there are boys of high-ranking earl households near and far that pridefully follow and serve him.
“Are you going to open a tea ceremony in May, your Highness?”
“I want to participate too.”
“M, me too!”
Looking at the girls who wanted to be invited to the prince’s tea ceremony like dogs wagging their tails, we had to come to terms with reality.
Raymond covered his face with both hands.
“…Since his Highness and other noble families are here, it’s going to be a big hurdle.”
Daniel dropped his shoulders.
“Quite the comparison to make between him and us. Pardon my frankness.”
Looking at the envious scene of the prince and the others, one girl then came along. She had followers surrounding her. It soon became apparent that she was of a high social status…
This person was a daughter of a duke household──”Anjelica Rafua Redgrave.” She was a girl with blonde hair that seemed to sparkle and had an upswept hairstyle.
Her white skin was lovely and her red eyes were fierce.
Her eyes gave off a strong impression and would make someone soon realize that there was something different about her from the others.
It seemed that she and the prince were both people that naturally had something about them.
I believe that on the inside, the protagonist definitely has something grand about her as well. Undoubtedly, there was something about her that made one recognize at a glance that she had a different feel than normal people.
Otherwise, I’m pretty sure that the crown prince and the other capture targets wouldn’t have swayed towards her.
Although she may appear normal, she, the protagonist, definitely has a unique aura surrounding her.
“Is that his Highness the crown prince’s fiancee??”
The girls surrounding both the prince and Jilk took a distance faster than I could say it. It seemed that they weren’t fools who would try to get invited right in front of the prince’s fiancee.
None of them wanted to even say a word.
Anjelica’s eyes got a bit sharp.
“Crown prince your Highness, I have something to talk about regarding the May tea ceremony. Is it alright that we attend together?”
Within the academy, it’s said that one should not to abuse the authority of their position nor their parents’ power, but such a thing is not possible to stop in the real world.
Julian breathed a small sigh.
“Anjelica, you’re coercing the surrounding people. This is the academy.”
“Right, I know. However…the people around you are quite noisy, crown prince your Highness.”
There was no fool in the academy that would go against the daughter of a duke household.
The girls awkwardly averted their gaze from Anjelica.
“I suppose this is the protagonist’s rival. I get this strong feeling that she’s a formidable enemy.”
As I was mumbling to myself, there was one girl remaining in the place where the crowd had dispersed.
I squinted upon seeing her.
If Anjelica was said to be a beautiful woman, then this girl felt like a small and cute person.
She was a girl with blonde hair, blue eyes, and was the daughter of a viscount family.
Her name was “Marie Fou Lafuan.”
She’s someone that I haven’t come to like in any way.
I get irritated looking at her. Yet, it was not a feeling of hatred, but something complex…I can’t put it into words.
Jilk noticed that she was looking over their direction with her blue eyes and notified the prince.
“Your highness.”
“Hmm? Aah, it’s Marie. Perfect, I was looking for you. Can you come over here?”
The prince smiled while looking at Marie.
Anjelica’s eyebrows moved with a twitch.
When one of her followers whispered about Marie into her ear, she knit her eyebrows grandly.
Marie went over to him since her called for her, and a feeling of tension rose in the location.
It seemed that Daniel, with his hands over his stomach, wanted to run away on the spot.
“Can I not go home?”
A quarrel was awakening near the bench, but we would stand out if we got up and escaped. Raymond shook his head.
“No. It’s better not to move until it’s over. All things considered, perhaps she’s the rumored girl.”
Rumored?
“Do you know who she is, Raymond?”
Uneasy about Marie, I asked about her, and it turned out that she was relatively famous.
“You don’t know, Leon? There’s been talks about her. She, Marie, had slapped his Highness Julian.”
Daniel was surprised upon hearing him say that.
“…That’s gotta be a lie, right? I heard that when she dined together with a prestigious noble, she ordered a steak and ate it vigorously. That’s the rumor I know about.”
This time, it was Raymond that was surprised.
“Huh? Is that so? I didn’t hear about a rumor like that. But, it seemed that Julian actually forgave her for the slap while smiling.”
It turned into a conversation about Julian’s leniency, but does this Marie girl not know her surroundings? Then there’s her eating a steak like a guy would…hmm?
“Slap…steak?”
There’s something about this in my memories, but I can’t recall it.
Thereupon, Marie called out to Julian with a lovely voice.
“Could you invite me, your Highness?”
“Actually, the boys have plans to arrange tea ceremonies in May. Since I don’t really want to hold a flashy one, I planned on only inviting acquaintances. So, I wanted to invite you too.”
Hearing that, Anjelica objected.
“Crown prince your Highness, there are rules to the tea ceremonies as well. I won’t say that it needs to be flashy, but a suitable scale──”
However, Julian didn’t cease.
Then I remembered this scene.
──Wasn’t this the game’s coercion event?
However, it doesn’t seem like the protagonist is here. When I stirred around trying to find her face while uneasy, Raymond seemed to have taken notice.
“What are you doing?”
“Well, there’s someone I’m looking for…is the honor student here?”
Raymond similarly looked at the surroundings, but shook his head.
“She’s not here. To begin with, the honor student wouldn’t mix in here. Look, just stay quiet. Bear with whatever you’re feeling until this storm passes.”
We can’t escape.
There were occasionally some students that would try to enter the courtyard, but run away after noticing the strange mood. I’m envious of those that were able to escape.
The prince seemed a bit annoyed while arguing with Anjelica.
“That’s enough, Anjelica. This is the academy. I’m just a student here. You’re my fiancee, but that’s no reason for you to interfere this much.”
Anjelica backed down after hearing that.
“…Excuse my discourtesy.”
Saying that and stepping away, Anjelica glared at Marie in the end before leaving.
Her surrounding followers also turned towards Marie with a harsh look.
“My apologies, Marie. I made you feel bad.”
“N, no, I’m fine. However, is it really okay for me to participate?”
Jilk shrugged his shoulders while smiling.
“His Highness is not fond of formalities. He hopes for a tea ceremony with a light mood. By all means, he wants you to participate, Marie. Besides, his Highness has never been so eager to invite a woman until now.”
Jilk chuckled while the prince looked away in embarrassment.
“A, anyways, I want you to participate. Look, let’s go, Jilk.”
When the prince and Jilk started moving, their followers left as well. However, they too looked at Marie with a complicated gaze.
Daniel and Raymond were relived after having finally been freed, but I looked at Marie’s countenance.
Perhaps not thinking that anyone was watching, Marie negligently let something slip for just a moment. It was really just a moment──but she let out a slight grin.
Turning away from Marie like that, I joined the two in leaving the location.
Part 2
There’s a class about manners for a tea ceremony.
The teacher of the class was a gentleman with a neatly-ordered mustache who felt like a male instructor. He was an instructor that wore a suit over his slim body and straightened his back.
Right now there’s a table placed in the classroom, with sweets and tea laid out.
It seems he’s teaching us how to use utensils.
“Ready? When you invite a woman to a tea ceremony, you need to think about how you appear. From your behavior and up to what kind of education you received, your partner will see through into what kind of person you are. If you properly welcome a woman, she will think of you in high favor.”
The boys sat silently in the classroom while studying the mannerisms.
My father said that he also studied tea ceremony manners under that mustached man, but forgot about them when he graduated. Indeed, it’s possible that one’s behavior in their usual life may be looked into, but would one’s partner look that far?
In any case, women partners are people that walk along with their sub-race slaves, their lovers, as if to flaunt them. I’d like to tell them that they should be the ones paying more attention to their regular behavior.
“Hey, Mister Leon! Please take these lessons with more tenacity!”
“R, right!”
As I responded to his warning, I heard the laughter and chuckles of my surroundings. The ones laughing are the heirs from rich noble houses or from the royal court.
“He’s a country bumpkin, after all.”
“He gets all prideful just because he accomplished a small achievement.”
“A savage like him may be cut out for being an adventurer, but not for this place.”
The instructor straightened his back and continued the lesson.
“The first thing that matters in the tea ceremony is the entire atmosphere. First of all, I’ve gathered utensils. It is out of the question to hold up a vacant room! Be very particular about each and every utensil, and then invite the girl into your specialized room. However, remember that the spot where you’re preparing your tea ceremony is not below third-rate.”
Is there even a meaning to trivial lessons like this one? While thinking that there wouldn’t be a use for them after graduation, the instructor seemed to have seen through me.
“Mister Leon…it seems you don’t understand. Well then, let’s put it into practice.”
Being called up, it seemed as if I was a guest to be entertained.
It’s not a big deal anyways.
I, who doesn’t have an interest in tea or things of that sort, was wondering what significance there was in things like expensive tea leaves. I think that even the cheap ones are fine.
I did my best to make a reply that seemed as if I was impressed on the outside, while mocking on the inside.
“Wow~, how enjoyable.”
Perhaps getting motivated, the instructor adjusted his collar.
“Well, do enjoy yourself.”
The instructor made a smile.
He did best to boast about pricey tea leaves and sweets. I laughed on the inside while being impressed on the outside.
At least I thought as such──
◇
──After the lessons were over.
When he left the classroom, I hurried after the instructor while calling out.
“Teacher! I’m deeply moved!”
Holding his head high, the instructor stroked his mustache in pride while looking back.
What a spectacle.
A gentleman even when looking backwards.
“Mister Leon, it seems you understand.”
I’m ashamed of my past self.
“Right! I had made light of tea. No, I was looking down on it. I am dreadfully embarrassed of that. I have deeply reflected on it now. I want to hold a perfect tea ceremony like you, teacher!”
The instructor nodded with a smile.
“Very good. However, you’re mistaken.”
“Huh?”
The instructor turned around to face me, then placed his right hand on his chest.
Each and every one of his movements seemed so tantalizingly gentlemanly.
“The important thing is to welcome them. Furthermore, I’m only halfway there. Even to this day, I cannot provide a fully satisfying hospitality yet.”
“I, I see. Even you’re not perfect, teacher?”
The instructor nodded.
“Yes, that is so. I too am aiming for that time, that moment where I reach the best hospitality, but I still haven’t arrived at that state. However, I can teach the basics. Mister Leon, how about we traverse the path of tea together?”
“Of course! Teacher──no, Mentor!”
As the instructor──no wait, my mentor and I were talking with a smile, I heard the voices of Daniel and Raymond from behind.
“…Did Leon hit his head?”
“Who knows? Well, it’s fine as long as he isn’t hopeless, right?”
◇
It was the May tea ceremony.
I got an answer from the person I sent an invitation to, so I borrowed a room to prepare in response.
There are several rooms dedicated to private tea ceremony use within the academy, and it’s normal for students to borrow them and provide hospitality there.
I originally wanted to borrow a full-scale room, but they were all full at this point in time, so I didn’t get to rent one.
I had a set of utensils, tea, and sweets.
I gathered these in accordance to what I consulted about with my mentor, I carefully made preparations from cleaning the room to changing the layout, and now all that’s left is for the girl I invited to come.
Luxon floated in the center of the room, checking the interior design.
[Remarkably elaborate. I would not think that this would come from my master that had tried rushing a merchant to finish business a couple weeks ago.]
“How annoying. If there’s something you notice too, then do say it.”
After having done one final look around, I took out my pocket watch and checked the time.
The girl I invited should come in just ten more minutes.
The one I invited was the second daughter of a baron household.
[I cannot understand this world. Is it not optimal to choose a partner based on the most suitable genetic information?]
“That’s impossible since there’s nobody that can check someone’s genes.”
[Then I have nothing to say.]
Right as Luxon finished talking, the girl had arrived.
“Hello~”
“Thank you for com…ing?”
The girl took a very light attitude. That’s not something to particularly be surprised about, but behind her were two carelessly laughing girls whom I hadn’t invited.
“Ah, friends. Let’s kill some time while we’re here. I was invited to a large tea ceremony by an earl from afar, but it isn’t time to depart there yet.”
A tea ceremony hosted by a prestigious noble heir would already be at the scale of a party. It seems they wanted to kill time while their carriage to the venue was being prepared.
“I, is that so? Well then, when are you departing?”
“In about thirty minutes. We talked about how we had a little spare time left, then I remembered that I had replied to a tea ceremony invitation and said I would go.”
The other two sat as they pleased on the seats I had prepared.
They began eating the sweets I had brought.
“Oh, I’ve also prepared some tea.”
The three surrounded the table, leaving no place for me to sit. They then got excited talking about the tea ceremony they’re heading towards, and ordered me to make more tea or supply more sweets like I was a servant.
When the time came, the three left the room leaving the food scattered around without even a word of thanks.
“Well, I’m tired~. The sweets were good, but girls won’t be pleased if you don’t buy more expensive ones. Pay attention next time.”
Perhaps thinking that she actually gave me advice, the girl left acting as if she had said something good in the end. The three were in high spirits while heading to the tea ceremony they were actually looking forward to.
I dropped my shoulders.
“Those sweets that I bought were made just today at the store. They had a hefty cost, and yet she said to get more expensive ones…”
When seeing the table being dirtied from the food scattered around, I stared up into the ceiling.
“…Mentor, the way of tea is still a very steep road.”
While putting everything away with feelings of frustration as if I was about to cry, I heard a voice outside. It was a quarrel amongst several schoolgirls.
“…You don’t belong here!”
“B, but, my invitation──”
“That’s where you’re supposed make the smart move, commoner!”
I heard the sound of footsteps.
Several schoolgirls said things like “Let’s hurry and go, the carriage is about to leave,” and left. I peeked from the room under the guess that the so-called commoner from just a bit ago was the protagonist.
I was expecting the person there to be someone with an aura that could definitely compete with that of her rival Anjelica──but the girl sitting down in the hallway betrayed my expectations.
There was the figure of an ordinary girl with light brown, medium hair that had a bob cut, and she held no spirit or aura.
She had greenish-blue eyes and had a gentle look, making her a complete opposite of Anjelica. She was a modest girl.
She was a beauty, but…an ordinary child.
“Is she the type that shines when she gets polished? Even so, she’s more modest than I thought.”
In the hallway was an abandoned, ripped apart invitation.
Luxon, who had been forced to act like an ornament for a while now, placed itself onto my shoulder and looked at the situation.
[…Is this what bullying is? It’s due to her being an honor student, but not a noble, isn’t it. Many students at this academy cannot accept that an ordinary person had been admitted.]
“Well, it’s pretty much like that. However, something about her seems… too ordinary.”
Looking at her being gloomy while gathering the torn pieces of the invitation, I turned my gaze towards the room.
“Perhaps I can still invite one more person in here?”
I voiced out loud about how the remaining sweets and tea leaves could support one more person. I couldn’t leave that lonely figure behind me alone.
“Hey, you over there! Have some tea!”
I tried calling out to her in a light mood, almost like that of a playboy.
The girl, who was the protagonist, raised her head and made a bit of a surprised face when seeing me.
Part 3
Unlike last time, the atmosphere felt like an actual tea ceremony.
“Hmm, so you received an invitation by the heir of an earl household from a remote region.”
“Right. He said it wouldn’t be bad for him to talk with an honor student and then invited me. However, everyone said that wasn’t acceptable and they refused me…”
I enjoyed the fragrance of the tea while popping a sweet into my mouth.
When I offered the protagonist some, she held back at first, but then nervously took them.
A smile returned to her sad face when eating the sweets.
Unlike the girls from before, she ate them in delight. I’m glad that I had prepared tea and sweets now.
The protagonist was then a bit perplexed when looking at the tea.
“T, this is expensive tea, isn’t it? Is it okay for me to drink this?”
She’s quite the shy and modest girl…who was the idiot that called her a sly protagonist again? Isn’t she a pretty good person?
“This a lot for just one person, so it helps that you’re drinking some of it. All things considered, it seems things have been tough for you.”
I don’t intend to get deeply involved, but I wanted to know who she’s been associating with. It wouldn’t be bad to know what kind of actions the protagonist will take hereafter.
…In addition, there are also some things I’m uneasy about.
“…I was pleased at being invited, and I was looking forward to it, but it seems there really is no hope for me.”
She made a sorrowful laugh.
That earl from abroad──the one hosting that tea ceremony is probably “Brad Fou Field.”
A rich narcissist with long purple hair, and owns a vast amount of land, even for a feudal lord noble. His household is of a large scale, and he’s one of those prestigious nobles.
He’s not someone who will get along with households like mine.
Brad is the type of person that strategizes before moving ahead. He could be called an advisor, the kind of person that would command an army because of his intellect.
I thought of him as a narcissistic guy whose forte is magic.
Though he has a specialty in magic, he’s useless in martial arts, and I believe he has a complex over that.
Feudal lord nobles have a strong tendency to boast about their martial arts abilities, more so than about magic──like how knights boast about being able to manage well with however amount of armor they wear.
Brad pays attention to this as a descendant of feudal lord nobles, so he has a complex about his martial arts and physicality, causing a provocation to anger him.
To put it briefly, this guy is bothersome.
No wait, thinking about it carefully, all the capture target boys are bothersome guys.
The gloomy protagonist, “Olivia,” cast her eyes downwards.
“It’s really would’ve been better if I didn’t come here, right? I’m trying my hardest to persevere, but I can barely make my way through what’s around me…I don’t know why I was enrolled here.”
Come to think of it, in the beginning, her status was low and the academy part was difficult.
Julian and the other guys are then supposed to follow her, but the Olivia right now was alone.
…It seems a little odd for her to be alone at this point in time. Even if people are ignoring her, she’s supposed to get involved with Julian and not be by herself.
Could it be that reality really is different from the game?
I didn’t know about how uninvolved she was until now since my choices for classes were different from hers. I thought that she was doing well.
Even if it wasn’t Julius, there would no problem if she had gotten close with one of the others.
Judging from what she’s said, it seems she’s been alone for nearly a month.
That’s a more miserable situation than mine.
An academy life without a marriage partner, let alone a friend, is far too lonely.
Well, from the standpoint of the boys from the advanced class, she’s not an eligible marriage partner. Her social status is too low. Us boys, who are frantically searching for a marriage partner, wouldn’t have the spare time to associate with her.
The capture target characters, who already have fiances, can get involved with the protagonist since they do have the free time.
I’m envious.
In addition, from the standpoint of the girls, they wouldn’t understand why someone like her is going to the same academy as them. She’s someone they can’t allow…so they think about forcing her between a rock and a hard place.
However, something’s a bit off.
It’s already May, so she’s supposed to have encountered the capture target characters. There was also a coercion event as well. That’s when I remembered it, I remembered Marie.
The ominous smiling countenance of Marie.
“U, umm”
Perhaps uneasy after seeing me pondering in silence, Olivia became flustered. Maybe she’s blaming herself for something she thinks she did wrong.
I wish that those other selfish girls would take notes from this goddess here.
Who was the jerk that said this protagonist was sly? I’ll knock them off their feet.
“I was just thinking for a bit. Well, since this is the first time we’ve had an honor student at this academy, it’ll get a bit rough sometimes, so don’t be too hard on yourself.”
Olivia nodded while going “I see, you’re right,” as she agreed to my advice. Anyways, there’s no way that my few brief words will leave a deep impression on her.
I don’t have much life experience, and though I was a adult in my previous life, I didn’t have to respond to such prideful people back then.
“…Is it okay for me to stay here?”
I immediately replied to her question.
“Hmm? It’s fine.”
You’re this world’s protagonist, after all.
Who you decide to capture has little relation to my life, but…you don’t have anyone. None at all. Well, I had wanted you to talk about who you had gotten involved with.
“W, why? I mean, I’m not worthy of being here.”
Though it’s a matter of course for me, perhaps it’s strange for Olivia. So I gave an explanation using a suitable excuse.
“Well, you see…oh right! Your admission is a decision by the academy and the royal palace! You shouldn’t complain about the position you’re in, and the other students don’t have the right to judge whether or not you’re suitable here.”
Olivia blinked repeatedly.
“B, but, the people around──”
“Even if you can’t endure it, you shouldn’t just drop out. In regards to the people telling you to go away, doing that is impossible since your stay was decided by the higher-ups. So why don’t you tell them that if they have a complaint, they can take it up to those higher-ups? I think few people would talk back to that.”
At any rate, the protagonist will surely be protected by the capture target boys.
So it’ll be fine.
Definitely…probably.
However, I’m uneasy about the flow of this conversation so far. Is it really okay that she hasn’t encountered a single person, or rather, that she hasn’t raised any flags yet?
Olivia slowly opened her mouth to speak.
“I…want to study more about magic. However, I’m unfamiliar with stuff like the regulations of an academy or unspoken rules…recently it’s been difficult with people causing mischief on things like my textbooks and many other items of mine.”
There are lot of unspoken rules amongst the boys, but it’s the same for the girls as well. No wait, the girls would probably have even harsher unspoken rules that are unclear.
Not knowing them would be a big disadvantage in the academy. Come to think of it, in the game, I feel like there was a scene where the protagonist was criticized about such things by the villainess.
At that time, the capture target boys helped her out, but…the Olivia right now has no boys that will assist her.
I couldn’t leave her alone in that bitter state, so I thought about what course of action would be good.
“I don’t know the unspoken rules amongst girls either…ah, come to think of it, one person that does comes to mind. That might work somehow.”
“Really?!”
The smile on Olivia’s delighted face dazzled.
For the sake of Olivia, I decided to call my sister, the second daughter.
I was worried that she wasn’t going to prove to be useful. With how much money I’ve lent to her…I’ll have her pay back a bit of the loan she owes me.
She’s a woman who moves upon a glimmer of gold.
I’ll have her talk, even if she doesn’t want to.
◇
I boiled some tea for my sister.
I seriously wanted to do it sloppily or stuff something nasty into it, but I stopped myself when my mentor’s face came to mind. It would hurt my heart doing such things in a tea ceremony.
She’s an annoying sister.
Behind her stood a tall slave with cat ears folding his arms.
“It’s quite remarkable that you’ve called for me, stupid brother.”
I laughed scornfully.
“And I admire the reason for why you responded to my call. Alright, quickly teach her the rules amongst the girls.”
I took a seat while telling a worried Olivia not worry.
My sister held her hand over her forehead.
“…I’m fine with teaching that, but what do you have to gain by supporting the honor student?”
I don’t have anything to directly gain from it, but Olivia’s happiness will help with the future of this country.
There’s no harm having her be indebted to me, and above all, this is the least I can do for her since Luxon may have originally been intended to go to her.
“This is why I don’t like people who think only in terms of gains and losses. How about having a kinder heart?”
My sister clicked her tongue toward my agitation.
She has that handsome slave, a lover that she was able to purchase, behind her because of me. Seeming to know that as well, she looked at Olivia.
“Within the girls in the class…did you greet the most distinguished girl among them?”
Olivia shook her head.
“I don’t get close to her.”
“Send a proper letter to her. It’s part of the rules to greet her with a present. If there’s a large group, ask someone to be the middleman. The ones following her have a fairly important position. Send a letter to those people, and some presents too while you’re at it. Aah, make sure to investigate what kind of presents they like.”
I listened to what my sister was saying and had a thought.
“Isn’t that just a bribe?!”
“You’re being noisy. There’s no problem as long as it does the trick. Anyways, don’t go with plain money or something unrefined. That will make them angry. Tea or sweets from a popular store is a safe bet. This is where mistaking their tastes will cause a hassle.”
Olivia’s hand, which was jotting down notes, stopped.
“T, that much money isn’t something I──”
My sister looked over at my face.
“It’s fine to have this stupid brother buy them. He’s the one that called me over here, so he can do it.”
I panicked when that subject was suddenly brought up.
I felt like it was troubling when the girls had ignored me, but then I was hit with a surprise attack.
“W, what…”
My sister ignored my reaction and continued speaking.
“If they send a reply back saying that they want to meet you in-person or that they want to return the favor for the present, then you’re done. All that’s left is to not rub them the wrong way and then you can peacefully graduate.”
Olivia looked at me with eyes that seemed as if she was about to cry.
“It’s fine…I’ll handle the bills.”
“Thank you. I’ll definitely return the favor!”
Seeing Olivia giving a word of thanks made me think about how the other girls around should be as kind as this child here.
Seeing my sister leaning back while eating the sweets made me shake my head. As I let out feelings of irritation, I noticed something from my sister’s slave.
That cat-eared bastard was reaching towards me, so I soon fled from that spot.
I’m not going to do something troublesome like a contest of strength with a beastman.
◇
A few days later, Anjelica called out to Olivia.
Olivia watched in nervousness as Anjelica drank an elegant black tea. Both the cup and its contents were of a higher grade than what Leon had prepared.
Treating it as if it were just a common-class item, Anjelica placed her cup down while looking at Olivia with a sharp glare.
“I don’t know who gave you the suggestion for it, but I’ll praise your greeting. It’s the behavior to take when meeting a superior. This isn’t a place for people like you. However, bear in mind that I will tolerate you if you stay quiet in the corner.”
Their location was isolated from the outside of the academy, making it slightly mysterious.
There are also peculiar rules about not keeping in close touch with the outside.
A similar kind to the one about making a “greeting,” like what Olivia had done to Anjelica.
It’s not particularly necessary, but it is important for making one’s academy life smooth.
Olivia has no power nor supporters.
She was in a really weak position within the school.
“U, um, then you’ll allow me to stay in the academy?”
In response to Olivia’s worries, Anjelica made a bit of a face like she had remembered something.
There were several girls following Anjelica, but they left and now only the two remained.
Upon which, she started speaking in a somewhat gentler tone of voice than just before.
“…You can just nod along, drink your tea, and then return back to your dorm. Just that much and we’ll be done. I suppose that this conversation turned more complex after you started asking all these questions.”
“──Huh?”
Anjelica sighed.
She made a slightly tired expression for some reason.
“Did you think I was going to try and drive you out? Honestly speaking, I’m not interested in the matters of an honor student. I don’t have the leisure to get involved with you either.”
Anjelica mumbled a few words towards the worried Olivia.
“You’re better than that girl getting close with his Highness the crown prince.”
“U, um, come again?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Anjelica made a slight smile towards Olivia.
It was a sight that made her seem appropriate for her age.
Olivia had an image of Anjelica that held more spirit and was easily agitated. Indeed, Anjelica had broken into a yell a couple of times in the academy.
“Honor student, who was the one that taught you about these greetings? Aah, don’t misunderstand, it’s not that I harbor ill feelings towards them. I’m just wondering who had supported the honor student that people distance themselves away from. A personal interest.”
The boys are focused on searching for marriage partners and don’t have free time while the girls dislike the honor student. She expressed her interest in knowing who would assist her.
Olivia was a bit worried, but voiced out Leon’s name.
She talked about how Leon brought in his older sister.
“The third Baltfault son, is it? He’s quite the oddball. Well, he has a good will.”
“You know about him?”
Anjelica made a small smile.
“You don’t know? He’s a knight from our generation with high hopes placed on him for the future. Actually, I was surprised when I heard that he had earned a baron rank by himself. There’s no doubt that he’s reached the ideal success as an adventurer. A fascinating person. All things considered, his nature isn’t bad. It wouldn’t be harmful either to have his Highness the crown prince speak with him.”
Olivia felt a slightly mysterious feeling as she looked at Anjelica saying that while smiling.
Source: 2slow2latemtl.icu
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