Special thanks to every patron: Patrick F >w<
NOTE:
Changed Gyafun to Downfall~
This chapter is translated in collaboration by LynneSuzuran and Senhiro♥! We’ll be collaborating in order to increase the release speed!
Instruction: Go click the white cat to read the real chapter.
Spring when Bertia entered the upper secondary school and I became the student council president again as the high school 3 years……. Barty began to avoid me.Originally it was seen from the summer of last year when he was told the terrible things to Baroness Hironona.When I saw me, I had a lot of uneasy facial expressions, and as soon as I was in trouble, I was crying at me, but I did not try to consult with myself just by expressing a telling expression.Things like cheating that did not suit her also became common.Thinking from her rewarding way and the time she got a little more room, it was easy to guess that the words of Baroness Hironos were influenced, so I was thinking about how to handle …. Because her friends and my neighborhood candidates were also excellent, if you mutter with a gloomy expression saying “I do not want to see much of Bertia’s injured place”, I will contact Bartia and Hironona Bishoujo without permission It decreased to.Still Virtia’s uneasy state did not change.So I tried to spoil a lot of time we were together more than usual……. Then, taking the 1st place in the project of choosing the best couple (limited to fiancees) among the students in a ballot form as part of the planning of the event such as “cultural festival” that Bertia invented and planned Oops.Although I thought about how I will go out in the higher division even if I participate as a partner in the middle class project, I thought about how I will come out of the higher division, but because Miss Joanna who became a fiancé immediately after getting into a relationship asked to participate with Sean , Shawn has stipulated that “If either one is a middle-class student, even a couple of upper secondary students and secondary students can participate regardless of self-recommendation or any recommendation”, so if I noticed that Bartia and I I was to participate.
Bertia says, “Since Gafun is waiting in the coming year, I thought that I should make a good mind with my friends at the moment! This one is too strong,” I recall “It was terrible event!” It was terrible at the time of the award that “It is awful!” As a part of the service to the students shed with a smile there, on her cheeks embracing her shoulders I was kissing you.It is no surprise that it is the role of royalty to enrich these places, right?Of course I am gentle that I picked up Virtia like a red crumpled apples “unavoidably” and got off the platform.
I appealed our intimacy to such circumstances and thought that Virtia could be relieved a bit, but her attitude remained as usual.no. I began to escape from me more prominently as she got into the higher division.Because this has happened, there is only one measure I should take.”Do not you catch it if you run away?”Grab a hand on both sides of the face of Bartia who smiled and laughed at the side of the wall, and gathered her body with the foot.Of course, at the moment I saw me, I chased after she ran away like a drunken man … It seems like …… It is taken to the unpopular backyard, so you do not have to worry about the eye……. In addition, as I escaped with Bertia’s maidens, I got caught “inadvertently”, so now we are only in Zeno and Crocodile where we are observing the situation in a little place.”Do you have the option of escaping !?””This is the rumor” Wall Dong “, after I murmured the things I did not understand beforehand, I returned to the present condition, turned red and turned his eyes into doubt, I will glare at me with watery eyes The mouth corner rises with nature to Bartia.”The males have the habit of being tempted to want to catch prey to escape before their eyes?”
When she entered senior high school, she began to run away from me even more obviously.
Because things have turned like this, there is only one countermeasure that I can take.
"Since you continue to run away from me, then I have no choice but to catch you, right?"
I smiled widely while cornering Bertia to the wall, placing both of my hands on both sides of her head, while tucking one of my legs between her body.
(T/N: Omg Kabedon!!! Like this? No, no, like this? No, just kidding, it might be like this.)
Of course, I chased her who ran with lightning speed the moment she saw me… there is no need to pretend, as I led her to the rear garden where there are no people around, so there is no need to care about the public.
…In addition, since we strayed "inadvertently" during when she ran away along with her maids, there is no one other than Zeno and Kuro around this place, observing our condition from a spot apart from us.
"A, are you telling me that I have no option to escape?!"
And, "this is the rumored [Kabedon], right?", while muttering yet another icomprehensible word, she returned to the present condition, with her face getting bright red and her eyes loitering around. After that, I raised Bertia's face and when she looked back at me with her teary eyes, the corner of my mouth spontaneously elevated.
"It's in males' nature to catch the prey who escapes right in front of his eyes, isn't it?"
"Prey, you said, but I am not a fodder!!"
"You look pretty delicious, you know?"
"…I may more or less have meat, but it's not tasty to eat!! Please don't eat me!!"
"…That's the implication you got? How typical of you, Tia. Now that you mention it, even if it's not for food, there are also wild carnivores who chased after their preys so that they could play around with them, right?"
"Please do not treat people as toys!! Besides, what you've been saying is quite savage!!"
…I can still more or less deny that part about being [savage], but wouldn't it be way too late for her to notice about me [toying around wih people]?
Aah, since Bertia is obedient, could it be that she still hasn't realized about how I always had fun watching her reaction?
She is truly adorable (plus a bit foolish).
"Look, Tia is as adorable as a doll, so I end up wanting to play together with you."
"Oh my!! That is!! As adorable as a doll, you said!! I, I won't be deceived with that kind of f, flattery, okay?!"
Despite saying that, Bertia's face turned red and her expression made it clear that she wasn't dissatisfied at all.
Despite the fact that she went along with me and was moved by this easy-to-understand flattery while saying she won't be deceived by it, why would she even run away from me?
If there is a reason, then it'd be better for her to tell me quickly so I can make some countermeasure.
Although I have a feeling that the key is her previous talk with Baroness Heronia about [the fated girl]… but somehow, Bertia stubbornly won't tell me anything about that matter alone.
After saying various reasons such as, "I don't want to hurt Cecil-sama," she always runs away.
…and it's not escaping by changing the subject, what I mean here is that she physically runs away.
I thought to catch her, but now that I've managed to catch her, she still wouldn't disclose anything, could it be that to this adorable fiancee of mine, I have to be forcefu… a little bit coercive so that I could hear about her story. Since it can't be helped, I will just go through with it.
For sure, if only I was a real [villain], then the talk could proceed with ease, right? Since I will be able to choose any possible means besides being a little coercive.
Also, the other person who knows what the story is about would be the one and only character—Baroness Heronia. I have thought to ask about it to her, but… it will certainly bring me more trouble, so I'm putting it as my last resort.
As much as possible, I don't want to become an [acquaintance] of the bad kid who's bullying Bertia.
~~~~~
Bertia says, “Since Gafun is waiting in the coming year, I thought that I should make a good mind with my friends at the moment! This one is too strong,” I recall “It was terrible event!” It was terrible at the time of the award that “It is awful!” As a part of the service to the students shed with a smile there, on her cheeks embracing her shoulders I was kissing you.It is no surprise that it is the role of royalty to enrich these places, right?Of course I am gentle that I picked up Virtia like a red crumpled apples “unavoidably” and got off the platform.
I appealed our intimacy to such circumstances and thought that Virtia could be relieved a bit, but her attitude remained as usual.no. I began to escape from me more prominently as she got into the higher division.Because this has happened, there is only one measure I should take.”Do not you catch it if you run away?”Grab a hand on both sides of the face of Bartia who smiled and laughed at the side of the wall, and gathered her body with the foot.Of course, at the moment I saw me, I chased after she ran away like a drunken man … It seems like …… It is taken to the unpopular backyard, so you do not have to worry about the eye……. In addition, as I escaped with Bertia’s maidens, I got caught “inadvertently”, so now we are only in Zeno and Crocodile where we are observing the situation in a little place.”Do you have the option of escaping !?””This is the rumor” Wall Dong “, after I murmured the things I did not understand beforehand, I returned to the present condition, turned red and turned his eyes into doubt, I will glare at me with watery eyes The mouth corner rises with nature to Bartia.”The males have the habit of being tempted to want to catch prey to escape before their eyes?”
"No, it's unmistakably the compelling force…"
"No, wouldn't it be fine to just reduce the amount of snacks you eat? And while you're at it, it's fine to temporarily increase your amount of exercise, but do it in moderation, all right?"
I cut off Bertia's remark as she was still trying to push the blame for her weight gain onto the [compelling force], completely ending it there.
It wouldn't be good for her health if I were to pamper her and let her believe in her strange rationalization on how [it can't be helped that I got fatter].
Moreover, it would be troublesome if she were to behave recklessly under the impression that the [compelling force] had begun to operate.
"B-but, to not eat what was kindly gifted to me…"
"How about sharing it with the maids and eating just a little?"
"My sweets…"
"You're aiming to be first class, right?"
"…"
Between my arms, Bertia hung her head dejectedly.
However, since she didn't say no, it seemed that she agreed to my suggestion, albeit reluctantly.
"Ah, that's right. In addition, if you are aiming to be a first class villainess, then Tia, it wouldn't be good if you were not by my side, right?"
Next, I should forcefully emphasize that notion.
This time, she distanced herself from me under a pretext as incomprehensible as, 'The [compelling force] has started to work. Hence, I must separate myself from the capture target, namely His Highness, Cecil.'
She has comprehended that it was all her misunderstanding, but hereafter, my graduation ceremony is approaching along with the [Downfall] she speaks of, so I have no doubt she would feel insecure and behave recklessly because of it.
Though it did sound fun to have a chase each time, it was way too inefficient.
Since that was the case, I decided it would be easier to observe and control her if I were to tie her to me first.
"Wh, why? Cecil-sama is going to become lovey-dovey with the heroine from now on, and is bound to gradually be separated from me. I'll be desperate to hold onto that Cecil-sama, and rush down the villainess road. And, you, feeling that I am truly unpleasant at that time, on the day of the graduation ceremony…"
While speaking, tears rapidly emerged in Bertia's eyes and it wouldn't be strange if they spilled over at any moment.
Seeing Bertia rapidly blinking to hold back the tears while staring fixedly at her own hand grasping the front of my shirt, I reflexively displayed a bitter smile.
…If it's really that heartbreaking, then it's fine for her to not rush along the path of a villainess and just be my fiancée as it is.
Even though such thoughts arose in my heart, I wouldn't tell her.
Though I wouldn't have told her to begin with, but since she has her own reasons, anything I spoke of would probably end up with being resisted anyway.
If that's the case, then I should take the necessary measures while being unnoticed by her, and then all I have to do is just overcome the events that will happen on the day of the graduation ceremony.
I am sure she will be convinced once we are able to overcome that day just fine.
…Or to be more accurate, if she makes any vain struggle even after the result is out, then I'll just have to overturn that.
Furthermore, it wouldn't be an issue if she could feel relieved, like 'surprisingly, everything turned out fine.'
Besides, in the unlikely event that something does go wrong, as long as I take precautions against most things to some extent, I'll be able to adjust and do something about it.
Even up until now, there hasn't been anything I haven't been able to adapt to.
Then, all that's left is just how I could enjoy the situation.
"I'm telling you, Tia. In order for you to be a splendid villainess, you must be by my side and monopolize me. Because if you do so, you will become an existence that stands in front of the [heroine] and blocks her way."
"Eh?"
"After all, your role is to burn with jealousy when the [heroine] ensnares my heart, right? Since that's the case, first you have to cling closely to me and do your best to look over your shoulder1, all right?"
"B-but it's difficult for me to be by Cecil-sama's side anymore than this."
"What's difficult about it?"
"If we get really close, parting and betrayal will also be harder to bear, won't they? If we become any closer than now, I, I won't be able to bear being treated so coldly and unfriendly at the end."
Seeing Bertia with tears in her eyes and her head cast downwards as if she's enduring her overwhelming feelings, I felt a small ache in my heart.
Perhaps by letting her go now, it would be good for guaranteeing her heart's tranquility.
However…
"Then, I just have to not be cold to Tia until the end. If so, then wouldn't everything be all right?"
"Is there a way for [The Downfall] to be completed without you being cold to me?"
"Of course. Without being cold [to Tia], [The Downfall] will still be able to continue, so be relieved. So, won't you leave that all to me?"
"Really?"
"Without a doubt."
To reassure her, I gently patted her head and smiled.
Upon which, though she had an uneasy expression, she slowly raised her head to me.
"Then, I'll also try harder without running away from these feelings just a little bit more. Because I am a first-class villainess!!"
I silently nodded my head towards Bertia who had a resolute expression.
Sorry, Bertia.
I unexpectedly am enjoying my life at present.
That's why I'm unwilling to part with the distinct color you bring to my life.
Because there is no life more painful than a boring life.
But, I'll properly keep this promise.
A [Downfall] without being cold [to Tia].
In other words, it'd be fine to just do the [downfall] to someone else, right?
While watching Bertia holding back her tears with both hands clutched in front of her chest, I was speculating inside my head about what kind of [scenario] I should do.
***
Now then, I've decided on a strategy.
I suddenly found myself waking up. It's still dark, but somehow the air feels refreshing, huh… when I think about it, I managed to remember. That's right, I have arrived at the villa. Because it is much closer to the mountains than the mansion, I become able to spend the morning easily although it is a summer morning.
"Excuse me. Are you awake, Bertisama?"
A knock which sounds softer than the one I'm used to hear during the time in the mansion can be heard. Ah, did she come to wake me up?
"I'm awake-," I raised my voice while trying to get up, and coincidentally, the door opened and my eyes met with Heronisan who just came in.
"Good morning, Bertisama."
"…N, morning."
"It's about the right time for you to prepare and dress up before having a breakfast. I'm saved since you're already awake."
I could sense that Heronisan smiled a tricky smile from the expression of her eyes. Could it be that she's trying to tell me that I should be awake earlier?
Well, there are still a lot of things needed to be done although it's still morning. From washing my face, changing my clothes, brushing my hair, and then applying some make-ups, then going to the toilet afterwards, and then it's already time to eat breakfast.
Nah, applying the make-ups were excluded from my routine in the other world, and that's why I become confused about it now. After all, I was a man in the other world, so I didn't really pay a lot of attention to my personal appearance.
"Good morning. I'm bringing in the hot water-"
"Morning, Otomerisan."
The door opened, and Otomerisan brought over the hot water and towel. Ah-, it will mostly be the maids' jobs to do them, so I can be quite easygoing about it, huh?
"It's another fine weather today-"
Otomerisan put the bucket containing the hot water on the bedside, and quickly went to open the louver door. Then, I washed my face and felt completely awake.
When the louver door opened and the bright light entered the window, she suddenly stiffened her body. Heronisan looked outside with a puzzled expression, and the next moment, she seized and raised the basket that was besides the window with one hand. She then strongly swung it… wait, the white thing that I saw out of the window, isn't that Cecil-san's horse?!
"Wai-! Heronisan, stoppp!"
"…!"
Some way or another, Heronisan stopped at my command. I stood up from the bed in a hurry, made my way through the bedside and headed quickly towards the window. Otomerisan's body was stiffened for a while, but once she realized what was going on, she yelled, "But why-?!" Well, I understand her feelings.
Anyway, outside the window, there really is Cecil-san's white horse, but with the crow's head. In addition, it isn't just his horse, but there's properly a person riding on its back.
"Yo! Good morning, Bertisama."
"……Good morning, Cecil-san."
I think that perhaps my face is twitching, but still, I don't intend to hide it. Or rather, it's good that he wasn't hit by Heronisan's basket and fell down, maybe, so I slightly thought.
"Uhm, Bertisama, Cecil-sama. Are you really in the situation where you can exchange greetings carelessly?"
"Isn't that fine? At the very least, he doesn't seem to be coming over here to attack or creep into my bedroom sneakily."
As expected, Otomerisan's face becomes stiff at the comment that was retorted earlier. Nah well, no matter how you look at it, Cecil-san doesn't seem to be carrying any weapon, and in the first place, since he came here by such a gaudy horse, he would be found out right away after we spotted it.
"Please be at ease, Bertisama. This villa is being covered by a strong protective wall. I dare say that Cecil-sama won't be able to approach us from that position."
"Despite that, you were about to throw a basket at him reflexively, Heronisan?"
"…I really am sorry about that."
I was slightly amazed at Heronisan's words. Or more precisely, by the strong protective wall, which is a barrier, huh? Is this villa a secret hideout or something like that?
…Or could it be that since I have ever disappeared, the security's been made stricter?
If that is the case, then the same thing would be put up even in the mansion, and yet, as soon as night falls, the louver doors would be tightly shut and the guards are placed early.
Perhaps, the one who created the protective walls was Jigen-san, I wonder?
Well, let's not think too deeply about that thing first. To put it simply, the security is quite strict, yes.
First, let's deal with the next feudal lord who's smiling on top of his horse, in the middle of the sky, right in front of my eyes.
"So, what are you doing this early in the morning?"
"Actually, I am on my way to visit a grave."
Cecil-san answered my question quickly, stating it as something natural.
Visiting a grave, huh. Well, since it's currently Obon (Festival of the Dead), so it's quite a natural thing to do, but that's not it. Instead of quickly showing your face to the ancestors, why are you looking at the room of a woman that you just met yesterday? I am a man inside, though.
I unintentionally stared at him with scornful eyes. Cecil-san just lightly shrugged his shoulders, and continued his words.
"I just wanted to see Bertisama's face, although I may say that it's rude of me to come here in this sort of method."
………
There won't be anyone who's gonna blame me for getting my hands too attached to the window frame reflexively, right?
My shoulder was being touched by what could possibly be Otomerisan's hand, but for some reason I felt that it was quite lukewarm, perhaps it was just my imagination, though.
"Cecil-sama. It's not a praiseworthy thing to peek at the room of a feudal lord's daughter like that."
"I did not mean to peek in. But if my action seemed to be like that as a result, I deeply apologize."
As usual, Heronisan's words are harsh, but it seems to be a fair argument.
Since he is still a rich ikemen onii-chan who's riding a flying horse, so it's still tolerable in some way or another. In this case, if I was brought up as a normal girl, I wonder what would I think about this?
Ah, there is no way of knowing even if I think about it, so let's stop. For the time being, I should be more cautious.
"Even if you didn't intend to do so, we can only conclude that you're peeping, and in the first place… I'm still in my pajamas. Please give me a break."
"That is certainly true. Please forgive my thoughtlessness."
"But Cecil-sama, a, at last, the compelling force has begun to operate! Destiny has started to move!! There is only one more year at maximum until I experience [The Downfall] and until I have to get down from the stage. I'll have to say my farewell to Cecil-sama. I've decided that it's better for me to distance myself from Cecil-sama in order to serve that role flawlessly!!"
'Now then, in what way should I handle this?' Amidst my pondering, when I noticed it, Bertia has already started to run wildly. The fact that she furrowed her eyebrows with tears showing on her face as if she was enduring something has caught my attention.
"By compelling force, I wonder did something happen?"
Following those words, somehow there is one question that got caught up in my throat. 'Did something happen again with Baroness Heronia?'
It is not good for me to be making a statement that doubted someone imprudently when there is no evidence whatsoever.
Especially for the likes of me who's got a high status and influence, I have to be really careful in this kind of circumstances.
If I were to urge her to continue the story by deepening my smile even further, she would squeak her lips once and try to keep it closed. Because it then turned into a serious expression, it also brought about a grave ambience, and she slowly opened her mouth.
"Since it's Cecil-sama, I will tell you. Actually, I… have gotten weight."
"……Hm?"
"I'm telling you, I'm getting fatter!!"
"…Uhm, what do you mean?"
Towards Bertia's earnest expression, I also thought to inquire more about her story with my serious look. And since she didn't really understand my insistence, she would begin to spontaneously tilt her head with a question mark on her mind.
It was the usual occurence, but she went above my expectation.
She is truly a mysterious and interesting woman.
"During last year's autumn, precisely right after the [school festival] ended, for some reason, I have begun to gradually gain more weight. At first, I didn't understand why, but I've managed to realize it! This is the so-called [compelling force]!!"
Bertia held her own cheeks with both of her hands, as she earnestly talked about it with a shocked expression, but… I don't really get what she's talking about.
"Tia, there are several things that I want to comment, but for the moment, there is one question that I'd like to ask you, is that okay? Why would your getting fatter become the so-called [compelling force]?"
At my question, Bertia had a slightly dissatisfied expression that seemed as if she was asking, 'why wouldn't you understand that?'—though she didn't really say it.
…But I think I'm asking a proper question here.
"That is because, you know, after the first time I met Cecil-sama, I went on a strict diet in order to overcome my fate of becoming a third-rate villainess, so that I would overthrow the establishment of the original game's chubby self. Despite this, now that the downfall is right before our very own eyes, my body build has reverted back to the original game's Bertia's state of figure!!"
Uhm, in other words, since she was [forced] to get closer to the appearance of Bertia that came out in that [Otome Game], she thought that it was the [compelling force] that started to begin working… Is it okay for me to perceive it like that?
Well~, I think this is where I'm supposed to laugh?
No, Bertia seems to be very serious, so it's better for me to not laugh.
If that's the case, then I think it's better for me to give her an accurate explanation.
"Look here, Bertia. It might seem bad for you who've been earnestly worried over it, but the increase in your weight might not be due to the so-called [compelling force], but I think it's because of the content of your pocket that caused your dress to expand a lot, wouldn't you think so?"
"The inside of my pocket?"
She frowned quizzically, and then timidly put her hands inside the concealed pockets located in her own dress, and took out the things inside of them.
"…Are they the sweets you received from Ymir-sama and Otomerisama?"
Staring at the two baked sweets on top of her palm, Bertia blankly tilted her head. I spontaneously heaved a sigh in astonishment, and I don't think this reaction of mine is bad.
"Tia, ever since last year's autumn, accurately after the [school festival], you've begun to receive more sweets from the other noble daughters, right?"
"Wh! That is certainly the case!! For some reason, the people who didn't try to engage in friendships with me suddenly began to give me sweets. Could it be, the [compelling force] has already started ever since that time…"
"That's not it. After the event called [school festival], it has become a common knowledge that you are a lovely woman, and so the noble daughters who wanted to get along with you have started to approach you by giving your favorite things as the evidence of their intention. That's just it."
Actually, since the top rankings during the event to select the best couple were all monopolized by the noble daughters who were closely associated with Bertia and the fact that those noble daughters have been giving Bertia sweets was witnessed by a lot of noble daughters, a rumor has started to flow as if it was true. The rumor goes as this, 'If you present sweets to Marquess Bertia Evil Noches, your long-yearned love would come true, you will fortuitously find a dreamy love and become happy.'
Thus, there was an outbreak in the number of students who presented sweets to Bertia, but… since Bertia has her conscientiousness, each time she received the sweets, they would exchange greetings and then became [acquaintances], then after they got acquainted, there were a few people who'd sometimes consult their love or ask for advice or assistance, resulting in them being joined together splendidly. And so it has turned into such a condition where the rumor continued to be expedited even more.
Hence, since the amount of sweets presented to her increased, Bertia who [consumed] them would naturally gain more weight, such was the case.
I think that his refined bow is really cool, even from my point of view. However, only if he's apologizing not for the fact that he's peeping.
"Well then, please excuse me. Next time, I will come to meet you from the front, fair and square."
Cecil-san flew just like that, leaving a very refreshing smile just like the morning's air. Ah, this should be approximately where I should wave my hand and say, "Take care."
Uh unh, is an ordinary girl, no, a rich daughter, supposed to be that delicate?
Oh well, I understand the feelings that men want to look cool, but when he did that, it caused me who watched from his side to feel the cold air. I had better tell him, but I need to be careful in choosing my words.
But, for the time being, there is only one thing that I want to utter from my mouth.
"…What was that, just now?"
"I don't understand."
Heronisan answered shortly. Those girls also don't have any single clue on what's happening, how do you expect me to understand?
Nah, perhaps by some chance, I might be able to understand it. But this one, I don't understand it after all.
"Really, didn't he come just to see Bertisama's face?"
"No way, that's absurd."
In the middle of the conversation, Otomerisan's optimistic conjecture popped out, but I can't help but to perfectly deny it.
Nah, but actually, he's giving the feeling like he's got nothing else in mind besides that.
"Bertisama, you're popular, huh-"
"Well, since he's the next head of the Noches family, so he's perfect as a partner."
"…Ah-, that kind of thing? Could it be…"
As I expected, I can understand Otomerisan and Heronisan's lines.
Although I didn't fall in love at first sight with him, but it's quite likely that Cecil-san was charmed with me.
I see, that person is still single despite his age, that's because he doesn't have good eyes for women, huh.
No, I think he's relatively a good person as a friend. I still feel like a man inside, so honestly I can't imagine being in a love affair with a male partner. Well, even when I was a man, I didn't even know about girls, too.
"Or how should I put it, let me think for a while. From the way he's pushing forward, women wouldn't think that as a sweet move…"
There seem to be some reasons as to why Cecil-san is still single. Aside from the thing concerning the house, of course.
During breakfast, I talked about Cecil-san with my family and Joannsan. Unexpectedly, Shaun who's in the room next to me didn't even notice it happening. You, could it be that you still slip out of your room to do independence training early in the morning?
"Bu-! *cough cough* …Ta, Cecil-dono did that?"
"Oh my. It's good that he inherited his father's assertiveness, but he should have thought more about the right time and place, right?"
Tou-san seemed to choke on the water lightly, and coughed violently. By the next time our faces met, for some reason, I don't know how to react.
Kasan is simply being amazed. Eh, Cecil-san inherited it from his father? Which means, Kasan had possibly received that sort of attacks as well, huh……well, that is not something she could have chosen, though. It's no good, the Noches family. Shaun was originally from there, so I wonder if he would be alright. I am worried as his older sister.
"Fu-mu. Cecil-sama said that he was going to visit the grave, right?"
Said Joannsan while slightly thinking. Ah, since this villa is close to Noches's territory, he would understand the circumstances, I guess.
"Noches family's graveyard is still further inside the mountains from here, so it's not weird for him to be leaving his house early, but did he purposely make a stopover here? It's the first time I heard about this kind of thing happening."
…So there is no previous example, huh.
Which means, it's quite serious? Nah, even if he is not being serious, I'm still troubled. About many things, there are just lots of things that I need to think about.
Mainly, regarding the current head of the Noches family. Ah- well-, it's quite bothersome that I need to think about his house and family before thinking about the concerned person himself. Not to mention that Cecil-san doesn't seem to be a bad person.
"In the middle of his way to visit the grave, he purposely made a short visit just to see Ane-sama's face, huh? Nii-sama…"
Yup. But well, even when he is not a bad person, still, for having that kind of big brother, I understand your feeling that you're greatly perplexed as his biological younger brother, Shaun. Or more precisely, if I were to have that kind of biological big brother, of course I'd also be greatly perplexed, and even if I am not Heronisan, I would still want to throw a basket at him.
Because Bertia also returned to her original stable state of mind, all that's left is how I should approach the end.
Well, since there are already various controllable pieces and materials gathered, all that's left is how I should mobilize them.
"Hey, Kulgan. Recently, I heard that Baroness Heronia has been visiting your place quite frequently. How is she like?"
I addressed Kulgan, one of my aide candidates, who, identical to the time when we were in the middle school division, also became a student council member after entering the high school division. His hands which were quietly working on his clerical duties paused in their movements, and he turned to face me.
I asked Kulgan, one of my close aide candidates who was a student council member when we were in middle school division and similarly, also became a student council member in the high school division. Towards my inquiry, his hands, which were quietly working on administrative duties, stopped moving, and he turned his head to face me.
Even when there is no large-scale event going on, my aide candidates would naturally gather in the student council room everyday to work on things such as managing the student council itself, assisting me with my private royalty-related affairs and many other things.
Like always, the other members of my aide candidates gathered today as well. They also reacted to the words I uttered, specifically at the mention of [Baroness Heronia], which made their movements stop as they turned their gazes towards Kulgan and me.
"It's not a very good feeling. She's irritating as usual, but in addition to that, she's been enquiring of me about Bertisama and Bertisama's household."
"For example… 'do you know of any wrongdoing they've committed?'"
When I smiled and asked him that, Kulgan showed an astonished expression. Despite that, he nodded while furrowing his eyebrows.
"There've been several occasions where she's asked questions such as if I'd heard any bad rumors concerning Bertisama's household, or if I was being embroiled in troubles caused by Bertisama's relatives."
"Hmm~"
…As expected.
When Bertia talked about the [Otome game] before, she mentioned that Kulgan played a critical role in her [Downfall] event.
With this sort of timing where the [Downfall] Bertia spoke of is only just next year, when you think about it, Baroness Heronia's frequent approaches to Kulgan is, without a doubt, for the purpose of preparing for Bertia's [Downfall].
In truth, I managed to grasp the hidden meaning behind Kulgan's remark just now.
"What are you chatting about? Are you having a fun conspiracy talk? Lady Heronia has been causing me discomfort over the matter concerning Lady Anne, so may I lend a hand?”
Charles, who had been eavesdropping on our conversation, cut in with a broad grin while resting his chin in his hands.
Come to think of it, Charles has been quite irritated by Baroness Heronia since she kept telling him over and over again to give up on Lady Anne.
She also told Lady Anne that, 'Charles is an incessant womanizer'. On top of feeding her with a mixture of facts and lies, she also strongly recommended Lady Anne to proceed with her marriage talks to Charles' brother.
Well, no matter how gentle Charles is towards the ladies, it's justified for him to get mad at someone who would conspicuously hinder his romance that he painstakingly managed to seize.
"If that's the case, then I'm in the same boat. Even while I was reading a book, she would be next to me continuously speaking badly of Silica, and though she didn't understand anything, she asked me, 'Wasn't it difficult for you?' It irked me. Despite the fact that Silica scolded me out of her love to me. Silica was so adorable whenever she would eventually take care of me despite complaining."
Nert muttered with a sullen expression as he furrowed his eyebrows and raised his head from his book.
As expected of Baroness Heronia, she managed to anger Nert who is rare to anger.
"I'm also in this. Though I hate to swarm around and deprecate someone together… I dislike her. Even when I thought I could finally go on a long riding date with Lady Cynthia, just the two of us, she unexpectedly asked to tag along with us. While it couldn't be helped that she tagged along with us, but in the end she couldn't adjust herself to our speed, and then grumbled about returning midway. Just how many dates have been ruined by her…"
Ah~, from what I could grasp, it seems like Baroness Heronia is a person who can mount a horse, but is quite reckless to think that she would like to keep up with Bard and Lady Cynthia.
Nevertheless, it could even be said that in a sense, she is a person who battles on in difficult circumstances and resolutely tries hard to do something over and over again. Still, it isn't good for her to ruin those engaged couples' dates.
Furthermore, from Bard's statement, it seems like she didn't do it just once or twice, but has repeatedly done so many times over.
Although Bard would basically get angry for only a short period of time, he's the type who wouldn't budge.
However, so long as someone repeats the same mistake without even slight remorse, the likelihood of him not minding it would gradually drop.
"I also can't bring myself to like her. After all, she has said lots of things that hurt my Joanna."
Shaun has just entered the high school division, so he hasn't become a student council member yet. Despite that, he would hang out in the student council room. Taking this opportunity, Shaun also complained with his sharp words.
Well, it's inevitable for the [Capture Targets] to be fed up with [the Heroine] as she kept repeating her coercive approaches while ignoring the occasion and state of affairs, disregarding how each one of them already has their respective partner.
…Because the power of her light spirit gets interrupted by Kuro's dark defensive power, the special effects aren't functioning at all.
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Remember, click the cat to read the actual chapter~!
In other words, to be wary or to anticipate anything bad in the future. ↩