Episode 26
Fluffy purple hair swayed with every step.
Celia, renowned as a botanist and a master of herbal medicine, sought out Dustin, the academy’s rising star and the first student to be appointed as Commander of the Imperial Knights.
“What brings you here? To my room, no less.”
If asked if they were on good terms, the answer would be a resounding no.
They were rivals, vying for Yurius de Elliot’s attention.
In truth, Celia disliked Dustin more than the other way around.
Yet, she had sought him out for a specific reason.
“Aroa de Greenton. You know her, right?”
“We’re on the student council together.”
“You know that’s not what I’m asking.”
Celia’s usually drowsy, half-closed eyes flashed open.
“How much do you know?”
“Everything, if ‘everything’ is that she likes you and is trying to bully Master because of it.”
Dustin sighed softly as Celia spoke with a gritted teeth, her displeasure evident.
“I see. And what’s the reason for your visit? To blame me again?”
Celia had initially blamed Dustin for Basilia and Yuri’s first encounter.
So, his suspicion was understandable.
“No.”
However, Celia had a different reason for seeking him out.
“Let’s join forces.”
“Forces…?
“Not literally.”
Celia’s irritated tone prompted Dustin to clear his throat.
“You’re going to deal with her anyway, right?”
“Of course. She dared to target Master. I’ll ensure she never sets foot in the academy again. I’ll strip her of her precious reputation and make her life a living hell.”
Celia suddenly wondered if Dustin was even crazier than she initially thought.
She herself wasn’t above using public opinion to expel Aroa from the academy for targeting Yuri.
However, Dustin’s resolute expression hinted at something more sinister.
A chilling determination to torment Aroa for the rest of her life.
“Right, so I’m saying I want in on that plan.”
Not that my plan is as crazy as yours.
Celia swallowed her words and shrugged, prompting Dustin to nod after a moment of contemplation.
“Indeed. Your abilities could make her suffering even more exquisite.”
His cheerful tone clashed with the dark implications of his words.
“I’d like to hear your plan first.”
“Knowing her personality, she’ll likely use others to bully Master instead of acting directly. She might try to injure Master using a similar method as this morning.”
Celia had witnessed the incident firsthand.
“I’m not particularly worried about physical attacks.”
“Neither am I. It’s not about worry, but about the audacity of even attempting to harm Master.”
“Well, I agree with that.”
Despite their differences, they shared a common ground: their devotion to Yuri.
Although Dustin’s devotion seemed tinged with a darker shade.
“Anyway, I was thinking we could investigate the first and second-year noblewomen.”
“Interrogate them one by one?”
“Yes, I already issued a stern warning to two girls from Class A today, but I’m not sure what they’ll do.”
Punishing those who collaborated with Aroa was necessary, but…
Going too far could have irreversible consequences.
Celia sighed, noticing the menacing glint in Dustin’s eyes.
“Don’t go overboard. Remember, once you cross a line, there’s no turning back.”
Honestly, Celia didn’t care if Dustin crossed a line or not.
But she knew it would hurt kind-hearted Yuri, so she issued a warning.
“That’s unexpected. To think you would be concerned about me.”
“I just don’t want Master to be sad. Don’t get any ideas.”
“Haha, is that so? Don’t worry. I would never do anything that could harm Master.”
***
I’ve been feeling strange stares all morning.
A bit too intense, almost predatory.
“Excuse me.”
And when I approach them—
“Eep!”
They flee with strange noises.
“Everyone’s acting weird today.”
It’s an unusual start to the day, with neither Celia nor Dustin showing up to bother me.
This experience has made me realize how quickly humans adapt.
It feels strangely empty without those two constantly pestering me.
“Is she the one Master Yuri wants to be friends with?”
“Uh, yeah…”
She seems different from the haughty girl I saw before.
Maybe she has a twin sister, and I was mistaken about who I wanted to befriend.
That would be a weird plot twist.
“But why is she running away?”
“I don’t know.”
Maybe she’s embarrassed about tripping twice in front of me?
But then why is she following me around?
She runs away whenever I try to talk to her, but then she reappears, staring at me with those intense eyes while I’m chatting with Lia.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“Should I go talk to her?”
“Ah, no, let’s just leave her alone for now. She might need some time to think.”
She acts like a stray cat, so I decide to wait for her to approach me.
She seems friendly, but scared to get close.
It’s kind of cute.
“Isn’t she kind of adorable, like a little kitten?”
“Ooh, so Master likes that type?”
“No, no, don’t even think about it.”
“That’s a shame.”
She’s cute because she’s my type. Not everyone can pull off that act.
Well, Lia is pretty too, so she could be cute…
But if I had to compare, Lia is more like a puppy than a cat.
She would probably wag her tail and beg for head scratches instead of hissing and running away.
Hmm, that would be cute too.
I might fall for it if she just stayed quiet.
“Ugh, what am I even thinking?”
I shouldn’t be having these thoughts about my friends.
“Hmm? What’s wrong, Master Yuri?”
“It’s nothing. Anyway, you’re not the cat type, so don’t try it, and don’t tell anyone about this.”
If Dustin or Celia find out, they might try to do the same thing.
They seem like the type.
“Oh, Master Yuri, the kitten seems to have finished thinking.”
“Huh?”
I turn around to find Aroa something approaching, her face flushed and contorted in a mix of emotions.
“Uh, so Aroa… uh…”
“..! It’s Aroa de Greenton…!”
“Ah, sorry.”
I make a mental note to remember her name.
It’s rude to forget someone’s name.
“Y-you! Let’s talk… privately…!”
“Sure, why not? Lia, I’ll be back in a bit.”
“L-Lia?!”
Huh?
That reaction seems familiar.
“Are you two… close enough to use nicknames?!”
“No, we just shortened her name because it’s long…”
I don’t understand why I’m explaining this to her.
“Go ahead, Master Yuri!”
“Y-Yuri?! So you two are…”
And this girl is lost in her own delusional world.
We’re both girls, for crying out loud.
I know I’m a guy at heart, but I still look like a girl, right?
“People call me that because my name is a bit long too. You can call me that as well, Miss Aroa.”
“Ah, Miss Aroa…!”
She reacts to everything I say. It’s kind of cute.
“Roa…”
“Yes?”
“You can call me that if you want..! Y-Yuri…!”
She fidgets and blushes as she asks me to call her by a nickname.
And there’s a hint of tsundere in her voice.
Ugh, she knows how to use her tsundere charm.
“Okay, Roa. Shall we go?”
I follow her lead, not knowing where we’re going, and we end up near the student council room where we first met.
Did Dustin ask her to bring me here?
This guy knows how to delegate.
“Ah, whoops…!”
She keeps stumbling and nearly falling, even though there’s nothing on the floor. She must be incredibly clumsy.
“I seem to be asking this every time we meet, but are you okay?”
This time, she just stumbles slightly, so I simply hold her hand to steady her.
This girl is so light.
“Ugh, I-I’m not usually like this…”
“Hmm, it’s okay. You looked cute even when you tripped.”
Ah, I finally said it!
Nice!
“C-cute… Ugh…! I don’t know…!”
“Wh-where are you going?! Roa?!”
“Eek!”
She screams like a little girl and runs away again.
Didn’t she drag me here because she wanted to talk?!
Why is she running away?!
“Huh… Well, maybe she remembered something she forgot. Alright.”
***
This wasn’t my intention.
I just wanted to warn her to stay away from Dustin, so I kept following her, but…
Why, why does this keep happening whenever I see her?
“Roa? Ugh, ugh…”
It’s a nickname only my parents have ever used.
And she just casually asked me to call her that.
I must be going crazy.
There’s no other explanation for my behavior.
“Yu… Yuri…”
Yurius de Elliot.
I cautiously utter her nickname, which sounds much more intimate than her full name.
“Ugh, ugh… Yuri…”
My heart pounds with every syllable, and my wrist, where she held me earlier, tingles with warmth.
I didn’t feel this way when I first developed feelings for Dustin.
Back then, it was simply admiration for a handsome and capable man.
But why am I experiencing these emotions for a girl?
“No, no… this can’t be right.”
But I can’t deny the undeniable feelings surging through me.
I keep seeing a handsome man superimposed over Yuri’s figure. Am I losing my mind?
That strength, that reassuring voice, that unwavering support…
“Snap out of it, Aroa de Greenton! Get a grip!”
She’s the one I’m supposed to be tormenting.
She’s just an obstacle standing between Dustin and me…!
“Sigh…”
All I can do is sigh.
She’s completely oblivious to my feelings.
“Lady Greenton, are you alright?”
As I sit in class, lost in my thoughts, a nearby noblewoman approaches me with a concerned expression.
“Don’t bother me!”
I snap at her, afraid that I might have revealed my feelings for Yuri.
“Ah, I-I’m sorry…”
I’ve always gotten what I wanted, lived life on my own terms.
As the youngest daughter of the Dukedom, I took it for granted.
But these complicated feelings, sparked by my love for Dustin and now spiraling towards you, leave me utterly bewildered.
I want to see you.
That single thought consumes me.