This is so weird! This is so weird! I don't get it at all!
It's evident from the start of the game that Arthur is the 'perfect prince' type character, who is always respectful and nice to everyone. Though it is later revealed in the story that he's still a child at heart, he was a popular pick for a reason.
So I never questioned his personality in this world either and didn't think much of my interactions with him, but…
Now that Hina pointed out all his mistreatment, I am confronted with the fact that the Arthur from the game wouldn't have acted like this.
But this world is supposed to be based on the game right? Even if this is a real world with real people, at least the basic premise should be the same.
Though I haven't interacted with him much so far, I don't think I've done anything to leave a bad impression on him. And based on his personality from the game, he wouldn't be someone to look down on others just because of their background.
But to my knowledge, I am the only variable in this world, so his change should have been triggered by me. If not directly then indirectly.
So that's where an idea hit me. What if his original personality was the same as in the game, but there is some sort of will or god in this world that forces things to work out in a certain way.
From what I've experienced this wouldn't be strictly enforced, since I have managed to make certain changes to the story, like Hina's role or the date event I modified.
So what if it's a bit more abstract than that? What if the roles the characters receive depends on the order I meet them in?
I met Hina first and became friends with her, which probably overwrote her villainess role. So what if now that the villain role is free, it gets forced on a different character? Like Arthur…
But would that be what he actually wants? Or is he still the same good person he was supposed to be, except now this world's influence forces him to become the villain?
If it's the latter, I don't like it at all!
Even though all of this is just speculation, if I didn't do anything and he actually became the villain against his will, I couldn't handle the guilt.
So while I still don't want to involve myself with the capture targets, this time I have to find out the truth.
So the day after our investigation, I gather my courage and approach Arthur in the student council office. Though for some reason Hina also insisted on coming along as well.
"Excuse me, your Highness."
"Hm? Ah it's you. Oh, and Lady Lazarius as well. How can I help you?"
"Tch, you still dare to put on airs."
His disinterested voice instantly changes when he notices Seraphina. Now that she pointed it out to me, it is pretty clear he treats me differently. I don't know how I haven't noticed it before.
"...?"
"Hina."
"Hmph."
I gently tug on Seraphina's sleeve to stop her. I don't want to involve her too much because I could put her in a difficult position. At the very least I should confirm the situation first.
"I was just wondering if I could talk with your Highness about something?"
"Haah, just make it quick. I'm busy."
"...!"
I see Hina get ready to interrupt again so I tug on her sleeve once more. Then I take a deep breath and ask the question that's been on my mind.
"...Is it true that your Highness has been treating me differently than others?"
"Huh? What nonsense are you talking about?"
Instead of the indifferent glances he gave me so far, this is the first time he actually looks at me. His gaze is filled with disgust, like he heard something so completely baseless and offensive he's physically repulsed by it.
Receiving such a look from the 'perfect prince' character, sends a shiver down my spine. All the reasons I prepared in my mind get jumbled up and I have a hard time piecing my thoughts together.
"Um… cleaning and things like that aren't a duty of the student council, right?"
"Let me give you some advice. Don't just go around accusing people of random things you came up with. Especially high nobility and royalty. You should keep your thoughts to yourself if you know what's good for you."
"I..."
T-there's no way this is the same character from the game right? Maybe I was wrong and anomalies exist in this world that divert from the game's story. I mean, I'm already not the real Lucy so he could just be an entirely different person too.
But that righteous anger in his eyes makes me think that he actually believes he's doing the right thing and just telling off a bad person.
So is he the same Arthur from the game but this world disrupted his worldview or is he really a completely different character now?
I… I'm too scared to confirm.
Bang!
In the middle of this tense atmosphere both of us flinch when a loud sound fills the student council office. We turn to Seraphina, who apparently picked up a large stack of papers at some point and threw them to the ground, causing that loud interruption.
"Sera-"
The prince tries to call out to her first, but he gets cut off by Hina.
"You shut up! There's only so much bullshit I can listen to without calling it out. What do you mean Lucy is speaking nonsense?! I was literally there you imbecile, are you calling me a liar too?"
A-ah, I've never seen Hina being so angry before. I feel like I should probably stop her, but just as that thought crosses my mind she immediately glares at me, forcing my words back down.
"W-wait, Sera. What are you talking about?" Arthur also looks flustered by this situation.
"You don't get to talk to me like that! You have been mistreating Lucy, my best friend every time you talked to her! I didn't know the prince was such a fickle person, talking about equality all the time yet treating someone so badly just because of their background. Heh, I guess I was wrong about you too."
"N-no I was…not? Huh?"
Arthur seems genuinely confused and he raises his right hand to his head.
"Of course you were! Are you really going to deny it right now?"
"Sera-"
"Don't call me that!"
"I… Did I really do that?"
"Hmph."
Arthur seems genuinely lost and seeing Hina's cold and unyielding gaze, he turns to me for confirmation. Unlike just a few moments ago, this time it feels like he's actually looking at me. There's no sign of the previous contempt or ridicule, it's as if I'm really facing the Arthur from the game.
"Hm."
I slightly nod my head, further supporting Hina's words.
"I… what have I been doing…? I'm not… like that… Ugh!"
"You… What's wrong with you?"
Arthur suddenly clutches his head and grunts in pain. Reacting to his sudden movement, Hina instantly pulls me behind her protectively and faces him. Then with another frantic movement he…
"...!"
"I'm really sorry!"
He bows his head at a perfect ninety degree angle and shouts out his apology. This sudden shift in attitude shocking both me and Hina. I even feel a wave of incomplete magic dissipating from Seraphina's hands.
Huh? Was she about to-
"Both as the prince of this country and as the student called Arthur, I have severely failed you. I… I really don't know what caused me to act like that towards you Lady Lucy, but it is no excuse for what I've done. I can only offer my sincerest apologies and I will accept any punishment you deem fit."
"What…?"
"Actually no, that's not enough either. I will also report myself to the disciplinary commission and withdraw from the student council. Someone like me isn't fit to represent all the students of this academy. Or even this country… Right, I will also give up my claim-"
"Wait! Just wait just a moment your Highness!"
This situation is getting more and more out of control, and Arthur seems completely serious, so I quickly interrupt him before he makes any hasty decisions.
"No, I don't know what came over me, but I have to repent. So I'll-"
"C-calm down your Highness! I forgive you! I forgive you, so please, just lift your head."
"I… really don't understand what's going on…"
With this sudden but seemingly genuine and regretful apology, I can't help but think that my theory about the world's will forcing roles upon the characters is the correct one. I feel like this is exactly how the Arthur from the game would have reacted if he was forced to behave unlike himself, but then came to his senses.
"Your Highness, could you tell me what you've thought of me ever since we first met?"
He might not be in the right headspace right now, but he seems a bit calmer now and I feel like this is my best chance to confirm my theory once and for all.
"I… don't know, suddenly it all feels a bit hazy to me."
"Hah, how convenient."
"Hina…"
Seraphina gives a cynical response to Arthur's words, but I look at her with a pleading expression. I want to hear what he has to say.
"..."
"Your Highness, did it perhaps feel like you weren't yourself or something like that?"
"Hm… maybe? I'm really confused too. Normally I wouldn't be so rude towards anyone else, but at the time it felt like how I was supposed to act and I didn't question any of my actions. Ah, but I don't mean this as any sort of justification, I was wrong to be like that and I'll still accept any punishments you give me."
"N-no, it's okay. I believe you."
"Lucy!"
"Hm?"
Just as I turn down his offer once more, Hina calls out to me.
"Why are you accepting it so easily? At least make him take an oath that he won't behave like that again or ask for some other form of insurance against him."
"I think it's fine. He might have been a little rude before, but if he's back to his usual self then I don't think there's any need to do anything like that."
"You…"
"...! Lady Lucy, thank you! I don't deserve such kind treatment."
Hina shakes her head with an exasperated expression while Arthur looks at me with slightly trembling eyes, clearly touched by my words.
Ugh, now I kind of feel guilty, he wouldn't have acted like that from the start if it wasn't for my existence, but at the same time it's hard to explain the real circumstances to these two. I can't just go and tell them that some sort of unseen will forced him to be like that, or go into the whole issue of this world being based on a game.
Well, at least everything got resolved in the end…?
***
A gentle wind keeps blowing the leaves of a large tree near the classroom window. My gaze remains on the moving leaves, completely oblivious to my surroundings.
"Hina?" Until a similarly tender voice finally breaks me out of my daze.
"...Hm?"
"Um, should we go too?"
Lucy asks while glancing at the now completely empty classroom. So class has already ended, huh.
"So now you're interested in my opinion…"
I emphasise the 'now' and then turn my head to the side, looking out the window again.
"Hina… Are you still mad about how I handled things with Arthur?"
"Hmph. I kept telling you to ask for some insurance in case he just changes his mind again. He even offered to give you anything, but no, it seems like I was just wasting my words…"
"Hina…"
"What? And I told you to stop calling me that… at least when we're in public." I mumble the last part quietly.
"Thank you for worrying about me. I know you only wanted to help, but I think there's more to this and Arthur is probably not a bad person."
"...whatever. Let's just go."
"Hm."
Haah. I still find this situation so strange. I wouldn't say I know Arthur that well, but we've known each other since we were children and there's also that unofficial marriage arrangement, so we have spent some time together.
So seeing him treat Lucy that badly made me think that I was just completely wrong about him, but when we actually confronted him about it two days ago, he backed down really quickly.
And he also looked genuinely surprised and remorseful of his behaviour. To call it just acting, well it did kind of look sincere to me too and he seemed to be ready for some big punishments as well…
But I still don't believe it, or more like I can't afford to believe it. Being up against the crown prince of this country is already a hard situation, I can't relax just because he acts like it was just a mistake or misunderstanding.
So until I am one hundred percent sure he really didn't mean to do it, I need to be on guard all the time around him and question all of his actions. If only Lucy was more cooperative in this aspect…
"How do you think you did?"
"Huh? What?"
Lucy's voice once again pulls me out of my daze, and now when I look around I notice that at some point we have already left the main teaching building and we're walking through one of the side paths.
"On the May exams. Are you okay Hina? You keep spacing out."
"Ah, no it's nothing."
Right, there was also that. My mind has been so focused on other things that I barely had time to think about it. And since the tests took place on the day right after our confrontation, the timing wasn't very fortunate.
"I performed like usual…"
Saying that isn't entirely a lie, but it's not really the truth either. All the extra studying I did together with Lucy and my own efforts during class gave me all the knowledge I needed to feel confident against Lucy this time, but…
During the actual test, my attention kept shifting away from the questions and I barely even remember what answers I gave at the time. But what's done is done, there wouldn't be any point in running away from it.
We approach the test results board, and the nearby students leave a gap upon seeing our approach. I act composed as usual, but I do feel a slight nervousness when looking up at the top of the board.
1st place: Lucy Castille - 100 points.
2nd place: Seraphina Lazarius - 95 points.
3rd place…
Ah well, I guess it's not surprising. At least I managed to keep my second place somehow.
"H-Hina…"
"Hm? What is it?"
I turn to Lucy upon hearing her slightly nervous voice. For some reason she looks really concerned, did something happen?
"Um, I… I'm sorry…"
"Huh? For what?"
"Th-the placements…"
Ah, right. I did make a big deal of it the last time didn't I? But to be honest now that I'm here, I don't really feel anything from this outcome.
Maybe I feel a little disappointed because I know I could have done better, but I have more important things to worry about. Also, I already reassured Lucy that even if I lost, our relationship wouldn't change and yet she's still so worried… this girl.
"Hmph. Don't think you've won just because of this. There are still many more exams to come, so be ready for defeat next time. And you haven't escaped from our study sessions either."
But admitting my indifference now would be kind of embarrassing… So I force myself to act like how I would have a month ago in this situation.
"Hm!"
And for some reason Lucy seems relieved and very happy upon hearing my words. I… did I really use to act in such an embarrassing manner back then…?