The child, left all alone in a world dyed white, trembled at the growls of beasts echoing from afar.
A world that would not welcome a child who had fled without seeing her mother laid to rest in their homeland.
"Sob... sob."
The freezing wind lashed her cheeks. As the footsteps drew closer and closer, the girl instinctively knew that sharp claws and fangs would tear her apart.
"Found you."
"Huh?"
Yet what appeared before the girl was not a beast from the forest, but a child around her age with red eyes. The boy, dressed in clothes made of animal hides, fired something into the sky.
"It’s all right."
Those words were so reassuring that the girl lost consciousness just like that.
**
"...Mmm."
Cecilia sat up in bed and tried to recall the dream she had just had, but it had already vanished like mist, leaving behind only a hazy afterimage.
"Lady Cecilia."
"Ran. Good morning."
"Yes. You were speaking with your friend until quite late last night."
"Ah."
Cecilia lightly swept back her bangs and smiled.
"Yes. There was something I needed to prepare."
"Aha! For the spring festival that will be held soon?"
"Well... that’s right."
"Ah, I’m so excited. I heard from Rushe that the Academy’s spring and autumn festivals have some kind of magical power that stirs people’s hearts."
"..."
"Lady Cecilia?"
"Y-Yes."
Once Ran had finished arranging her hair, Cecilia rose from her seat and looked out the window. Viktor was standing there, chatting with Rushe, his escort knight.
"...Hmph."
He was having such a fun conversation with Rushe again. Cecilia got up and began walking downstairs.
**
"Your Grace, I’m telling you, you need to trust the route I planned for you."
"...The hell."
I could not hide my shock as I looked at the itinerary Rushe had confidently brought me, one that called to mind a guerrilla training course.
"Are you trying to make Cecilia pass out?"
"Aww. Do you know how many people followed me around because they liked me when I was a student?"
"In the north?"
"No, they were from the Imperial Capital. I was disappointed when they all collapsed halfway through, though."
"She looks fine on the outside, but it turns out she’s all muscle on the inside. No wonder her prospects exploded."
Rushe was past marriageable age and not bad-looking either. If she still had not found anyone, then that was...
"...What is with that pitying look?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking Jester must have it hard. He sent his daughter out to date freely, only for her to turn into such an impossible marriage prospect..."
"Aaaah! You said it! Even the other knights don’t say that, but you did, Your Grace!"
"At times like this, you need someone who’ll give you a cold, objective assessment."
Just as we were discussing Rushe’s bleak future from every angle—
"Viktor."
"Cecilia, you’re out—"
When I saw Cecilia with a slight frown on her face, I tilted my head.
"Cecilia? Is something wrong?"
"You seem very close with Rushe."
"Well... she feels almost like an older sister to me."
"Hmm."
"Why... are you looking at me like that?"
"What about me?"
"Hm?"
"I’m older than you too."
"Uh..."
Let me think. What answer would satisfy Cecilia here?
Cecilia feels like an older sister too! No, not that. It would sound as though I saw her as family rather than a woman. Then...
"Hmm."
"Cecilia?"
Perhaps she had noticed that I was agonizing over it, because Cecilia’s lips curled upward slightly.
"Think about it carefully, then tell me."
"..."
"Ran, let’s go."
"Yes!"
I could only stare blankly after Cecilia as she walked away. What was that composure? Meanwhile—
"Aaaah, revise your assessment of meee!"
"..."
Wow. She really reminds me of my own sibling, acting so immature for her age.
**
"And then?"
"He got completely flustered and turned red!"
"...Oh? It seems the Grand Duke has no resistance to that sort of thing."
"Yes, yes! Just like you said, Chloe!"
Cecilia beamed as she clasped Chloe’s hand.
"As expected of you, Chloe."
"Haha, it’s not as if there are any normal boys among the second-years."
"U-Um?"
"Whenever I see you, Cecil, I think that maybe I should catch myself a younger man and live happily too. So I read all sorts of books, and..."
"Oh! Then you caught—"
"...No one."
Chloe lowered her head with tears in her eyes.
"There’s no one... No, does this make any sense? Couples already, before the spring festival has even started! Couples over there too!"
"..."
"It wasn’t like this last year, so what the hell is going on?!"
Watching her friend cry out in despair, Cecilia desperately tried to think of something comforting to say, but—
"Ah. There’s a couple right in front of me too."
"A c-couple? I told you, we’re in an... engagement... contract... relationship."
"What are you even talking about?! If you get down to it, this is all because of you and the Grand Duke!"
"U-Um? Why?"
"When people see you two being all lovey-dovey like that, they think, Ah... I want to date someone too, and start looking around them!"
"..."
"Then they realize their feelings or start thinking about the other person, and eventually..."
The two looked at the couples walking past them. Couples who had only just begun dating, giving off the fresh, sweet scent of young love.
"You and the Grand Duke give off that exact scent, and what? You’re saying you’re not a couple?!"
"It’s not like that. My relationship with Viktor is... my..."
Cecilia blushed, twisting her lips and hair together.
"Unrequited... love."
"Urgh."
"Urgh?"
"That hurt a little just now... The Grand Duke needs to see you like this."
"I-I absolutely can’t let him see! What if someone as inadequate as me only makes Viktor uncomfortable?"
"Then."
Resting her chin on one hand, Chloe looked Cecilia in the eye and asked,
"When are you going to confess those feelings?"
"...When I rise to a position worthy of him."
"It’s frustrating, but it’s also exactly like you."
"Yes."
"What a lovely time this is."
"An unusual pairing."
At that familiar yet irritating voice, Chloe frowned and turned toward its source.
"Do you need something, Ryan von Meyer?"
"You are quite cold toward your former fiancé."
"Hahaha, should I be anything but cold? You’re the man who believed a woman he had known for only a few months and broke the promise between our two houses that had lasted over ten years."
Ryan gave a short sigh and shook his head.
"Considering how loose you are, I suppose it was fortunate that I broke off that engagement."
"Ha! So what, did you expect me to pine for you for the rest of my life?"
"You have changed a great deal."
"...Stop changing the subject. If you have something to say, say it."
"Elysia is uncomfortable seeing the two of you together."
Creak.
At the name that came from Ryan’s mouth, Chloe bit her lip.
"Excuse me?"
"I hope that kind and sensitive girl will not be troubled because of you two."
"..."
"This is... absurd."
"So I would appreciate it if you were more careful about your conduct from now on. Goodbye."
Chloe clenched her fists, glaring at Ryan as he walked away after saying his piece.
"Seriously... I really regret that I ever swung a sword so diligently for a bastard like that."
"Chloe..."
"Cecil, don’t let a man like him get to you."
"I won’t."
"...Um... what about Crown Prince Baron? Do you—"
"I erased him completely."
"What?"
Seeing Cecilia look at her with eyes that had lost their light, Chloe unconsciously took a step back.
"It disgusts me that such a man could occupy even one corner of my heart. There must be only one person in my heart."
"..."
"It would be a waste. My jealousy, regret, and lingering attachment should all be directed only at that one person."
"I see. You’re strong, Cecilia."
"Hehe."
Smiling, with the light returned to her eyes, Cecilia rose and headed for the classroom where her next lecture would be held.
**
"Hello!"
"..."
The moment I saw the pink-haired female student before me, I immediately turned to flee. But—
"Your Grace!"
"...What is it?"
I frowned at Elysia, who had stepped in front of me. Why did this girl keep appearing in front of me and irritating me? Meanwhile, my meeting with precious Cecilia was being delayed.
She’ll be waiting in front of the dining hall. I need to hurry...
"If it’s all right with you, perhaps we could have a meal together..."
"If you are a special admission student, Elysia, surely there are people you can eat with."
"Oh, everyone said they were busy today."
"Then you can go with your other friends."
"I... hehe, don’t have any female friends."
"What a disaster of a social circle."
Even Elysia in the novel had at least one or two friends to talk to whenever the male leads were absent. But this was something else entirely.
"Look over there..."
"She’s going after the Grand Duke again..."
"Did you hear that rumor recently?"
Though people around her were openly gossiping about her like that, Elysia was completely brazen.
"You’re the type who does not care at all about what people around you say."
"Well... they’re just the words of losers."
"Oh? You say that quite easily. No, more importantly, is that your true nature?"
"Oh my. Of course not."
"I wondered how a commoner special admission student had managed to survive among a pack of vipers like that, but you’re no ordinary person."
"Sob... sob."
At my words, tears suddenly began to spill from Elysia’s eyes, as though she were some wronged victim.
"It was truly... difficult."
"..."
Her voice trembled softly, but the fluttering of Elysia’s eyelashes was remarkably regular. It was a meticulously calculated movement. To someone who did not know better, her behavior would seem entirely unfeigned; she was playing the fragile heroine overwhelmed by the pressure around her.
Adapting her performance to the situation... Come to think of it, when she was with the male leads, she played the kind of character each of them liked.
Was she now playing a role tailored to the Northern Grand Duke she had in her head?
"Pathetic."
"...Pardon?"
"Your crying performance is rather excellent, Special Admission Student Elysia."
"A-a performance? What do you mean?"
"But I reserve my time for only one person, so I have no time to waste here."
I walked past Elysia.
"If you want to imitate a romance novel, go find somewhere else to do it."
I told her that I would not be deceived by her act.
**
Staring after Viktor as he walked away, a low, sunken laugh leaked through Elysia’s lips.
"Heh... hehehe."
The eyes that had been wet with tears now held a chilling, bloodless madness.
"Interesting... This is really interesting."
Unlike the other male leads, who had been conquered so easily until now, Cecilia’s new man was like a solid fortress. How could a man be so noble and beautiful? He was not the sort of toy that would crawl to her feet and lick her shoes on its own after she pretended to be pitiful and shed a few tears.
"Ah... I’ll have to change my strategy. No matter how I batter at it this way, I won’t even leave a scratch on that fortress..."
Then she would drag Cecilia, who was hiding herself away so tightly inside that fortress, out and break her. Yes, was Cecilia not the one who had collapsed along with the Crown Prince’s walls when they fell? A fragile being who would snap at the slightest touch.
"Ahhh... What sort of expression will you make when the Cecilia you cherish so dearly collapses and breaks?"
She could see it clearly: Cecilia rotting away and breaking down until she fell out of Viktor’s arms of her own accord.
And then Elysia, the saintess, embracing the wolf who had broken after longing for the woman who had left him.
"Ha... haa... haa... It’s perfect..."
Merely thinking of it sent electricity coursing through her entire body and made her legs tremble. That was why she could never stop—the pleasure of stealing another person’s bond.
"Thank you so much, God... for letting me be reborn in the world of a romance-fantasy novel like this... Hehehe!"
Ignoring the pointed stares and whispered gossip of the young ladies around her, Elysia quickened her pace.
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