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Translator: penny
Chapter: 007
Chapter Title: Who Is She?
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They're straight-up extorting me. Makes me wanna grab 'em all and smear 'em with bean paste.
She was the flower of the Rosenberg Family, the empire's one and only ducal house, and the fiancée of the crown prince.
The pinnacle of high society, Elysia von Rosenberg—a woman who could make noble ladies faint with a single glance.
When a lady looks at a gentleman first to save face in saying what she needs to, isn't it basic etiquette for him to notice, approach, greet her, and speak politely?
Even Crown Prince Louis would respond if their eyes met, despite not hiding his displeasure.
But.
'Turn her head away? Dare to do that right in front of me?'
In Elysia's mind, Cassian del Parne's final expression replayed in slow motion.
The moment their eyes met, instead of panic or propriety...
'Ah, my neck's stiff. Better look at the clouds.'
He'd brazenly whipped his head away like that.
It was humiliating.
An insult.
She could deploy the knights right now, halt that carriage, and force that arrogant nose to the ground on its knees—and it still wouldn't be enough.
But strangely...
Elysia wasn't annoyed by the situation at all. Just baffled.
Which baffled her even more.
'Why am I like this?'
She posed the short question to herself.
And quickly understood the reason.
In noble society, rudeness was always a calculated act.
To demean an opponent, assert superiority, or send a political message.
A highly precise knife dance performed for various amusements and gains.
Elysia had lived her whole life amid such facades and intrigues.
People who offered poison with a smile, stabbed with feigned admiration.
But what about that man's back just now?
"...No malice."
Elysia murmured.
There was no contempt, no disdain, no calculation in his actions.
Just pure, transparent annoyance.
Like a child before etiquette lessons, eating whenever hungry regardless of mealtime, or lying down for a nap in broad daylight—endlessly honest instinct.
No intent to harm, no desire to trample. Just living like the wind, like clouds, flowing freely.
Undeniably uncouth.
Frivolous.
'Why doesn't it bother me?'
His words from yesterday's banquet echoed in her ears.
"And hey, a pretty face like yours—why waste tears on a guy like that? If you're pissed, go ram him."
"Anyway, if I were as pretty as you, I'd grab her by the hair instead of crying. Or slap her good. Plenty of options, right?"
Even recalling it now made her want to laugh.
And it lifted her mood.
Because witnessing his crude behavior firsthand made her realize his words to her yesterday were pure, honest praise—without hidden motives.
Elysia's lips curved into a gentle smile.
"Pfft."
'Yeah, a guy that genuine might've just had something urgent.'
That was when it happened.
"Lady Elysia?"
A deep voice came from behind.
Elysia schooled her expression and slowly turned.
It was Hector, the crown prince's closest aide and eldest son of the famed Belvius Marquis Family of swordmasters.
He eyed her with concern.
"What deep thoughts at the window? Something unpleasant...?"
"No, Sir Hector."
Elysia pressed her fan closer to her lips.
Behind it, her eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint she'd never shown him.
"Just saw a really amusing animal."
"An animal... you say?"
"Yes. Totally self-willed, etiquette be damned."
Her gaze drifted back outside.
"Strangely, it keeps sticking in my mind."
"...?"
Hector's expression darkened subtly, but Elysia didn't notice.
Her mind was already captive to one man.
The Parne Family carriage kicking up dust in the distance.
She couldn't tear her eyes away until it vanished.
"Really... an unpredictable creature."
Thus, Elysia decided.
She'd forgive his rudeness—just this once.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The next morning.
I used the spare time before afternoon classes to map the academy grounds in my head and scout around.
Couldn't risk another animal farm fiasco like yesterday.
"Exactly one month."
Show some morning effort for a month minimum, then once Father's surveillance slacks, I can sleep in peacefully.
A perfect hideout untouched by people, unpestered by beast cubs.
I found it behind the main building, near the trash incinerator—an old bench.
Smelly drawback, but that's why haughty noble noses avoid it. No better loner sanctuary.
'Perfect. Not even a rat here.'
I plopped onto the bench with a satisfied grin.
Finally, stretch out and relax.
Rustle!
The bushes shook noisily.
No way.
Nah, no way.
Who'd come here?
But my bad premonitions always hit.
Thud.
A brown furball landed at my feet.
Yesterday's squirrel.
Not sure if it's the same one, but those brazen eyes match.
And it wasn't alone.
The rabbit from yesterday hopped up next, lining up beside the squirrel.
"..."
...What the hell?
"Do these punks have GPS? How'd they find this place?"
Did they plant a tracker in my pocket?
I nearly barked a incredulous laugh.
Flutter!
A sparrow swooped from the sky, landing naturally on my shoulder.
These guys.
Aerial assault now?
Then.
More rustling.
My ears rang like Cyberwreck yelling, 'It's not over yet!' hook-agro style.
I couldn't take it anymore and bellowed.
"Argh! Seriously! Come out all at once if you're coming! You training stray dogs or what?!"
"...!"
Whoever was emerging froze.
Pink hair.
Pastel mint eyes.
Totally terrified face.
Lily.
"..."
"..."
Oh.
A person this time.
Shit.
Awkward silence amid the incinerator's acrid stench.
Lily trembled like an aspen—scared from my yell, or thinking I'd shown my barbarian colors.
Misunderstanding.
I swear it was at the beasts, not roaring at the Saintess.
I opened my mouth to clear it, but Lily spoke first, voice quivering.
"I-I... they just suddenly went somewhere, so..."
"..."
"I wondered why... and followed..."
Ah.
So you're the pied piper?
You herded these animals?
My energy deflated.
"Haa... Got it."
I sighed irritably, nailing it shut.
My mistake.
"Hic, hiik!"
My sigh made her shoulders jolt, then hiccups started.
Teary eyes finally spilled fat drops.
"S-Sorry... Sniff, hic! My, my fault..."
"..."
I froze like a paused screen.
What situation is this?
Crying over what I did?
One yell, one sigh—that's it?
Then, a flash in my mind: a future scene.
~A Glimpse of the Future~
Lavish imperial garden.
Lily, crowned crown princess, sobs in Louis's arms.
'Your Highness... Back in academy days, that Parne barbarian dragged me to the trash incinerator and made me cry...'
Crown Prince Louis's eyes flash red.
'What? Dared touch my love? Men! Deploy the knights—burn Parne lands! Every potato field!'
~End Imagination~
"..."
Rofan or not.
This plot works in straight fantasy too.
Way too risky.
Ah, that's why avoid protagonists.
Cold sweat down my back.
'...Fucked.'
Send her off like this, my life and family are toast.
I can chill with crops lovingly only because of the family backing.
I switched to max gentle mode—kinder than to my sister.
...Reality check hurts.
"No, didn't tell you to cry... Haa, fine, sit here first. Tears off."
"...Sniff. You, you'll go again?"
...How'd she know?
"Not going. Staying right here. No running, so please sit. Yeah?"
"R-Really?"
Aren't you better off if I go?
She'd whine about feeling chased again.
Sigh.
"Ever seen a man break his word? I swear on Parne honor."
My honor's already rock bottom, no loss.
And I break words fine.
But facing buttery knight-talkers, Lily bought it innocently.
She cautiously sat beside me, relieved.
Thud, thud.
As she sat, something tapped my thigh.
Looked down: the squirrel.
Front paw extended boldly.
'Hand it over.'
Rabbit ears perked beside it; shoulder sparrow pecked my earlobe.
These guys lost it collectively.
"...Ha."
I sighed deeply, rummaging my pocket.
"They're straight-up extorting me. Makes me wanna grab 'em all and smear 'em with bean paste."
"Y-Yes? Bean paste?"
"It's a thing."
Lily stared shocked, but I ignored, pulling jerky pack.
Talk tough, but I like animals.
Hate them looting my rations, though.
"Here, eat and scram."
Tore jerky, tossed to squirrel and rabbit.
Chirp chirp!
"Ah, fine. Yours too."
You've got conscience.
Veggie eater munching jerky's infuriating, but you're omnivore, I know.
Crumbled jerky dust on palm for shoulder sparrow.
They inhaled like pros.
Munch munch, nom nom.
Watching the peaceful yet bizarre mukbang, a prickly gaze hit me.
Glanced: Lily head down, staring ground.
Obviously hungry but pretending not—too obvious.
Right next to this chaos, weirder to ignore.
Grrrooowl—
Mighty stomach rumble from Lily.
Bigger, grander than yesterday. Rhythm section by tomorrow.
"..."
"..."
Lily clutched her face, burying deeper.
Ears beet red.
Jeez.
Everything with her.
Saintess dignity? Nah.
Sighed, pulled biggest meatiest jerky chunk.
"Hand."
"...Pardon?"
"Hand out. If hungry, just say. Geez."
"N-No, I'm not!"
She snapped up, eyes locked on jerky.
I chuckled, plopped it on her palm.
"Kidding. Skipped breakfast? Eat this. Animals eat, can't have Saintess starving."
Forget my roar too.
"...Thank you."
Lily cradled jerky preciously.
Glanced at me slyly.
Nom!
Bit fiercely with tiny mouth.
Cheeks ballooned munching. 100% sync with squirrel.
'Eats well.'
Now I gotta smoke more jerky home.
Aunt Marie might grumble.
Ah.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Same time.
Magic Department top floor, Lab Zero—strictly off-limits to outsiders.
Morning sun filtered through window cracks into utter silence, not even dust motes stirring.
Except.
Scrape, scrape, tap!
Chalk's irritable strikes on the blackboard, repeating.
"No, not this. Logic doesn't connect."
Iris von Evergarden swept disheveled black hair, muttering.
Dark circles hollowed her eyes; blood-red irises bloodshot, gleaming eerily.
Twenty hours like this.
Since lunch yesterday, she'd copied that scribble from Parne's barbarian—or starving second son—newbie onto her board, skipping meals and sleep to glare.
'Answer's right. Correct.'
She wasn't hung up on right/wrong.
'But the process... bizarre.'
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