A Third-Rate Villain Tries Her Best Today 104

Chapter 104: The Crossroads Diverge

Fritz frowned. He watched the two arguing in front of the goddess statue, then nodded in understanding.

“They really are fighting. That’s unusual for Woo.”

Fritz said that, but it looked more like Melaine was having a one-sided meltdown, crying and yelling, while Acrea was just standing there.

“Maybe there’s some kind of problem between their families…”

Sue mumbled to herself, and Fritz, his arms crossed, sighed and replied,

“I don’t know. Woo doesn’t talk much about himself. I didn’t even know that his brother Reeves was engaged to Vava.”

Fritz started rambling about things she hadn’t asked about.

“And he’s always trying to meddle in my affairs… It’s quite frustrating. Even though he does help me.”

He chuckled bitterly. His voice sounded a little melancholic, but the explorer’s hat on his head somewhat diluted the mood.

Come to think of it, in the novel, Acrea had hidden his feelings for Halo and had briefly fallen out with Fritz.

Acrea was a machine-like person. Even when he fell in love, his family and his own rationality always came first. He was an expert at hiding his emotions.

‘He’s not emotionless, he’s just hiding them.’

Was he hiding his feelings from Melaine too?

But it didn’t seem like it at all.

She knew his inner thoughts, but seeing him in person, it was hard to believe he had any feelings at all.

Sue and Fritz watched the two argue for several minutes. It was Fritz who got tired of the gloomy temple first.

“Let’s go. There’s no point in staying here if we can’t even hear them.”

Sue, who had been thinking the same thing, followed him obediently.

“Oh, Master Fritz!”

Sue called out to him just as he was about to turn around. She had finally remembered the ultimate reason why she had left the mansion.

“Lady Enzhe is suffering from terrible seasickness. She took some medicine and finally fell asleep, but she said she misses you…”

“Enzhe did?”

“Yes.”

Fritz, walking through the barren wasteland of the ancient ruins, spoke in a worried voice.

“I was worried about her, but it seems like she’s really struggling. Alright, I’ve seen everything I wanted to see. I should go back to the mansion. I want to see Bill again too, it’s been a while.”

Sue sighed in relief, watching him smile faintly.

All of today’s goals had been achieved. She hoped things would continue to go smoothly like this.

“Byron, where are you going? Are you coming back to the mansion too?”

Fritz asked, and Sue waved her hands.

“No, I’m going to explore the ruins a bit more.”

She didn’t want to see Enzhe anymore, and Enzhe only needed Fritz. As long as Fritz was there, everyone else was just an insignificant extra.

“I see. Then you should go to Hessen Cave. The scenery there is beautiful.”

“Hessen Cave is beautiful, right? I’ll definitely go there, Master Fritz!”

Sue clasped her hands together and flattered him. It had been a while since she had openly flattered Fritz.

Fritz smiled with satisfaction and took off the hat he was wearing.

“Byron, take this.”

He tossed the strange-looking explorer’s hat to her, and Sue caught it reflexively.

“I think Enzhe would hate it.”

He was right.

The clueless idiot had good instincts at times.

She watched Fritz’s retreating figure, then turned around. There was no one left in the old abandoned temple.

***

Today was the day Noel’s probation ended. Sue didn’t rush and headed to the Green Giant Class after homeroom.

The Green Giant Class was where Noel, who had miraculously advanced to his seventh year, had been assigned, and it was also the classroom furthest away from the Golden Lion Class.

“Noel.”

Sue called out his name clearly as she arrived in front of the Green Giant Class. Noel was just leaving the classroom after homeroom.

“Byron, why are you here?”

Noel looked at her, his face filled with surprise. He hadn’t expected her to come all the way here.

“Your probation is over, and I don’t know when I’ll see you again because of the Knights.”

Sue smiled at him as she approached. Noel matched her pace as she walked slowly.

“Oh my, that child…”

“The one from that incident…”

Whispers followed them wherever they went.

Raines Noel’s first day back at the Graduation Building, after being involved in the ‘Damon Keron incident’, was bound to attract attention.

Some students even openly objected to his return. It was a natural reaction, but those voices were quickly silenced by the pressure from above.

However, not everyone shunned him, thanks to the intervention of Marquis Yuna Vava and Grand Duke Antique during his reinstatement to the academy and the Knights.

Some even said, “If even Sue Byron is petitioning for him, there must be a reason.”

But regardless of whether they shunned him or not, they weren’t just surprised by Raines Noel’s presence.

“Lady Byron and Master Noel… I don’t understand.”

Giona Vercia murmured, watching them intently.

All the students were thinking the same thing.

Why are they close?

They stared at the two walking side by side, their mouths agape.

Sue and Noel tried to ignore the reactions. It would die down eventually.

Sue just wanted Noel to return to a normal life as soon as possible.

“How’s the dormitory?”

Sue asked as they left the academy garden. The garden was filled with the scent of flowers in full bloom.

“It’s better than I expected. It’s a palace compared to the dreary barracks we stayed in during expedition training.”

“Hahaha, that’s good to hear.”

Sue had finally felt comfortable around Noel after everything that had happened. Really, after everything.

Her worries about whether it was okay to be friends with him were unfounded, as Noel had willingly become her friend.

Sue had occasionally sent letters to Noel, who couldn’t leave the dormitory during his probation. The letters were filled with the same kind of idle chatter as the ones she had sent last year.

But there was one crucial difference: Noel had replied, and his letters, addressed to her, were delivered to her townhouse every time.

The replies were also filled with meaningless chatter, but Sue would smile all day, holding the letters with Raines Noel’s name on them.

Sue Byron’s first friend.

There were no other words that resonated with her as much.

“You won’t be able to come to the academy often now, will you?”

Sue asked, her voice filled with regret, as they reached the Byron family carriage.

“No, I have to prepare for the full knight exam now, so my training has increased. And I have to work harder, to repay the captain.”

His voice was firm, filled with determination.

Noel had decided not to give up on his dream of becoming a knight.

Or rather, it wasn’t really a dream, it was a deal.

He didn’t enjoy wielding a sword yet. But he wanted to repay Yuna for helping him. And Yuna wanted him to become a knight in the First Knights Division, so he had no choice but to wield a sword.

“Right, work hard, Noel.”

Sue smiled brightly. Noel smiled back. He was glad to see his friend looking cheerful.

“Noel, I have something for you.”

Sue casually took out a velvet pouch from her uniform. It was a white velvet pouch, tied with a blue ribbon. Noel looked at the unexpected gift, his face bewildered.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a gift I bought in Crimea. Open it.”

Noel untied the ribbon. An apricot-colored crystal necklace spilled out onto his palm.

“Ah… It’s a Hessen Cave crystal.”

He could tell just by the color. Apricot-colored crystals were a special ore found only in Hessen Cave.

“Yes, there’s a craftsman who lives in the caretaker’s mansion. He made this necklace from a Hessen Cave crystal.”

Sue explained, her voice confident, her hands clasped behind her back.

She had bought the necklace from the craftsman while taking care of Enzhe.

He wouldn’t throw this away, would he?

She hoped he wouldn’t.

Noel held the necklace, and the apricot-colored crystal, the size of his thumb, swayed gently in the air. The transparent crystal sparkled brightly, as if happy to have found its new owner.

“…How was Crimea? Is it still the same?”

Noel asked, his face softening into a smile. Sue recalled what she had seen in Crimea and answered,

“It hasn’t changed. Just a barren wasteland with a wall standing in the middle of it. Everywhere you go, there are broken ruins… But Hessen Cave was still beautiful. And… hmm, that’s about it.”

She almost blurted out about Halo and Melaine. Fortunately, Noel was distracted by the crystal necklace and didn’t notice.

Noel stared at the necklace for a while, then smiled brightly.

“Thank you, I’ll treasure it forever.”

A genuine happiness, different from before, was blossoming between them.