Chapter 41
“Just what… Is going on here?”
Everyone was silent towards Lilia’s question . Even Kris awkwardly averted her gaze and looked elsewhere . When Lilia turned her eyes towards her two followers, they shrunk back, trembling .
“It has nothing to do with you . ”
Seemingly unable to endure the silence, Kris spoke . Lilia glanced over at her, and nodded in agreement .
“True . And what I decide to do is none of your business either . ”
“Hah…?”
As Kris was tilting her head at Lilia’s sudden declaration, Lilia made her way over to Sera . She stood in front of her desk and called out .
“Sera . ”
“……”
“Sera Valdia!”
Sera jumped at hearing her full name called and quivered in her seat . She timidly peered at Lilia’s face . Expressionless and calm, Lilia looked down at Sera .
“We need to talk . Come with me . ”
“Eh… Umm, to where…?”
Sera asked with fear in her eyes . Lilia felt a tinge of irritation .
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“Does it really matter? Just come with me already . ”
“Y-yes…!”
Sera sprung up from her seat hearing the coldness in Lilia’s words . Lilia began walking, and Sera after her .
“Well then, everyone, have a good day . ”
When Lilia said those words with a smile as she bid them farewell, everyone in the classroom couldn’t help but stiffen their expressions in unison .
Lilia brought Sera back to her room at the dorm . They sat down at a table facing each other . Full cups of black tea were set in front of them, which Lilia had tasked Alisa with preparing beforehand .
In the middle of the table was dorayaki bought from the south side . They weren’t exactly the best pairing for black tea, but Sakura kept pestering Lilia about how she wanted to taste them again so Lilia had them brought out here . These were in fact brought over just yesterday by Tina when she’d come to visit .
Lilia picked up a dorayaki and took a bite, indicating with her hand for Sera to help herself as well . Sera, while perplexed by all this, still reached out to take one and put it in her mouth .
“…! It’s, really good…”
“Right? This is a confection from the southern district . They’re one of my new favourites . ”
Sera looked on in wide-eyed surprise at hearing about the southern district . Though Lilia found it laughable that it could be shocking to such a degree, she herself would probably have had the exact same reaction if she had heard that some other upper class nobles had gone to the southern district .
“Well then, Sera . It’s about time we get to the main topic . ”
With Lilia beginning the real conversation, Sera quietly closed her eyes, and nodded . Straightening her back, she went to look straight into Lilia’s eyes in seriousness .
“Sera, what is that you plan to do from here on?”
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“I was thinking of returning back home . ”
Her answer was just as expected .
“For all the trouble that I have caused you, Miss Lilianne, please accept my deepest apologies . ”
Sera deeply lowered her head . Seeing that display, Lilia gave a scornful laugh .
“So basically, you’re going to run away . How disappointing . ”
“For you… To be saying that…”
Sera’s eyes narrowed, but she soon came back to herself with a start, and lowered her head once again . Lilia felt there was quite enough of the head lowering already, but she decided to let her do as she pleased .
“I spoke rashly . My humblest apologies . ”
Rashly, so she says, but that was probably just her real feelings leaking out . The one who drove Sera to this point was Lilia after all . What’s more, there was that incident where Lilia did in fact run away from the Prince herself, becoming a shut-in . That was probably where her words stemmed from . However, Lilia ignored all of that . Sticking to calling the kettle black, she looked coldly at Sera .
“No matter what anyone says, the fact that you have chosen the option to run away will not change . Or perhaps, are you planning on coming back again afterwards?”
At that question, Sera weakly shook her head, as one would expect . Lilia felt like she could, ever so slightly, understand what Sera was feeling . She herself was someone who had run away, and if not for Sakura, she likely wouldn’t have ever come back to the academy again . Although, according to that ‘story’ of Sakura’s, going back to the academy did indeed happen to her .
“So you don’t intend to remain at this academy?”
“No… Honestly, I cannot endure it . I’ve come to realise that during this one week . ”
That was quite understandable . Though Lilia had only seen her situation during lunchtimes, it would definitely take something else to withstand being so thoroughly ignored . It was, in a sense, even harsher than simply getting harassed .
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“Well then, Sera . I wonder if you have any intention of taking the third option . ”
“The… Third option?”
“Yes, Sera . You, shall become one of my people . ”
Not understanding Lilia’s declaration, Sera tilted her head .
“Though it’s not like I’m telling you to become my maid, or anything . In a certain sense, it would be like going back to how we were before all this . Following under me, and abiding by my orders . All the while, you would come under my protection . That’s not such a bad deal, is it?”
“That… Would be quite advantageous for myself, but… How is there anything in this for you, Mistress Lilianne? In any case, I do not see any reason for you to take in someone regarded as an enemy of His Highness . And I am certain that the other two would happily take on this same offer…”
“I have no need for something like that . ”
Sera’s expression cramped up upon hearing that . Up until recently, she had been in the exact same boat as the other two, and she never expected to hear that they were actually unnecessary . Putting it that way, it was like her whole school life up until now had been denied at its very core . But of course, it was them who had chosen to cling to Lilia, so they had no right to blame her, either .
“I have no need for someone who could betray me at any point . And regarding that, you no longer have anyone you can rely on other than me . There would be no way for you to betray me . One couldn’t ask for a more convenient chess piece . ”
Lilia let out a vulgar laugh . Sera’s face paled in response to this, but she did not deny it .
“However, His Highness has it out for me at the moment . ”
“Oh my, is that really a problem? There’s no need to worry about that kind of guy, at all . ”
That kind of talk would definitely get you punished for lese majeste outside of the academy . Sera’s eyes went wide, and then, she let out a wry smile .
“I’d been under the impression that all of this might have been a plan to get back with His Highness, but those words just now were your true feelings huh . ”
“Get back with His Highness? Me? Please don’t say that even as a joke, it’s quite disgusting . ”
“Mistress Lilia, perhaps that might be a bit much . ”
Alisa, who was standing at the ready behind Lilia, finally felt she couldn’t look on anymore and chided her lady to mind her words bit more . Lilia simply shrugged, and responded that she’ll be more careful . Sera looked on at this exchange with great interest .
“You seem quite close even though she is your maid . ”
“Well, it’s not as if there’s a rule against being close with your servants or anything . ”
“Yes, I suppose so . ”
Sera let out a relaxed laugh, but very quickly returned to a serious expression . She looked directly into Lilia’s eyes, as Lilia returned her gaze . Without a trace of mirth, she asked seriously .
“Mistress Lilianne, is it really alright? It may be strange coming from me, but as I am now, I believe I am no more than a liability . ”
“Well, I certainly don’t think so . Right now, I am asking you to come under my command . Make a decision already and give me your answer . ”
As Lilia began to feel a tinge of irritation and strengthened her tone, Sera immediately bowed before her . It was to apologise, as well as,
“I shall be under your care, Mistress Lilianne . ”
“Very well . Best regards . ”
Hearing Sera’s words, a satisfied smile rose up on Lilia’s face .