Emil seemed to realize she had said something wrong, scratching the bridge of her nose with her finger. “Can’t I misspeak…? It’s just, well, nothing worth paying attention to. Just a bit of an eyesore. A… boy from the same class.”
Evelyn’s expression returned to its lazy state. She brought her teacup to her lips and took a small sip.
Rustle.
At that moment, the hem of her skirt was disturbed again. The Big Guy’s plump, round toes once again climbed onto Erika’s knee, even trying to pull down her white stockings.
Erika just felt incredibly awkward and speechless.
‘What if we get discovered? Why are you doing this, you wicked Big Guy…?!’
Rustle, rustle.
The restless toes hooked under the edge of the stocking. With a nearly inaudible ‘snap!’, the stocking’s top elastic snapped against Erika’s slender calf.
Even this sound was almost imperceptible to a fairy’s sharp ears, but Erika was still scared into cardiac arrest.
“Continue, Emil.”
“I’m not really that interested… but I’ll listen to your story anyway.”
Fortunately, Evelyn and Miona’s attention was focused on Emil’s story. Listening to the Big Guy continue her flat narration, their serious expressions allowed them to concentrate on the tale.
“He’s in my class. I don’t know how old he is. In fact, I didn’t even know his name at first, but he just looks like someone you’d want to tease.”
“Ah—I get it. Some people just make you want to hit them, listen to their wonderful screams. Putting a collar on them would probably be very fitting.” Evelyn nodded as if in understanding, but Miona frowned in confusion.
“What kind of conversation is this? This isn’t the same thing as romance, is it?”
Facing Miona’s protest, Emil waved her hand dismissively. “Says the one talking. Don’t you have anyone you’re interested in, Miona?”
“No! I am merely fulfilling my duties as Head of House. I have no spare energy to worry about such boring things. Although, it’s true that many people are interested in me.” Miona boasted proudly, like a haughty swan.
“Interested in you? Give me a break. Even if there were, they’d be old perverse Black Mages, right? Those old men who pray naked under the moonlight.” Emil put on a face that said ‘You’ve got to be kidding, I’m going to be sick.’
Miona Drako was clearly infuriated, her face flushing bright red instantly. “Y-you insolent wretch! Many people have confessed their feelings to me, Miona Drako! Just yesterday—”
“Yesterday?”
This retort finally made Miona Drako calm down as if struck in a vital spot, immediately shutting her mouth tightly.
A flicker of confusion crossed her face, mixed with various other emotions, but it was soon hidden behind the ‘swish’ of a black feather fan snapping open. Behind the fan, her red lips moved. “Hmm, that’s right! Just yesterday, I even received a marriage proposal. In a courtyard filled with violets, the ground covered with moving poems and oil paintings, amidst a flock of white swans and fluttering white doves, that person knelt on one knee and poured out their feelings to me.”
“What time yesterday? Where? Who?”
“Um… morning… around ten o’clock… after class ended…” “This… smells like a lie.”
“It is not! That person waited for me until the very moment my class ended.”
“Heh heh heh.” Miona laughed confidently, revealing gem-bright eyes from behind the fan, sparkling with cunning light. “Ah! Yes, that person craves my attention, even saying that without my gaze, they are like a withered rose. To gain my attention, they are willing to do anything. They even issued a life-or-death challenge to an opponent they could never hope to defeat.”
Around ten in the morning… words carved on the floor… a duel… a flock of doves… Although she never said it all happened on the same day…
‘The protagonist is me?’
[Calmly assessing the situation! Gained experience through Calm Thinking… All Job Experience Points +5]
‘Hello? Ya-hallo?’
‘Why has Miss Erika become a prince-type protagonist and proposed? Was kneeling on one knee really not for drawing a magic circle?’
‘When did the obscure incantations on the ground become beautiful poetry? Why are the birds that only peck at heads suddenly so good at reading the atmosphere?’
It seemed poor Miona Drako’s memories were severely distorted.
But this story seemed to strike a chord with Evelyn. “To challenge an undefeatable opponent for your sake… Miona, it seems they truly like you. How romantic and devoted.”
However, human emotions are not universal. Emil’s expression was a mix of confusion and jealousy, letting out a scornful chuckle. “No need to say it, they must be a weakling, right? Bad at magic, worse at fighting, their status is surely lowly, and they’re definitely a playboy who’s said this to who knows how many people.”
Thud! Thud! Thud! Although Erika didn’t admit to the last part, for some reason, three invisible arrows pierced her heart, making her break out in a cold sweat.
“Hmph, it’s not like that at all! However, she holds a high position at court, possesses a strong thirst for knowledge, is diligent and studious—a person with great potential.” Miona snapped her fan shut with a ‘swish’ and pointed it at Emil. “Moreover, her beauty could topple cities and kingdoms, and she loves only me!”
Erika’s face burned.
The young girl even suspected Miona shared memories with her sister. The delusion indicated they weren’t that powerful.
Beneath the table, the Big Guy’s foot was gently rubbing against her calf through the stocking, occasionally giving a little kick. On top of the table, Miona Drako was making heart-stopping, tightrope-walking statements.
‘Miss, are you sure you haven’t hypnotized yourself? Where did these non-existent memories come from?!’
Miona Drako persisted relentlessly. “Miss Lyonesse, is the person you fancy truly more excellent, more intelligent than her? Not to mention she is still young.”
“Hmph, is that so? Although I absolutely refuse to believe such a thing, I’ll humor you for once. Then, bring that perfect partner of yours for me to see.”
“Eh, what did you… say?”
“Bring him for a look. If that person isn’t just a figment of your imagination, it should be possible, right? But you can’t do it, can you, Miona Drako? You’re always lying about various things because you don’t want to lose to me.” “I am not lying! It’s just that person is very busy with work, so it might be difficult to bring her over…” Snap, snap. The fan opened again, the force and speed of her fanning becoming more urgent and vigorous, truly a combination of strength and speed. However, Emil, who enjoyed tormenting others, would never easily let go of an exposed weakness, pressing her advantage step by step.
“That’s just making excuses! If they truly liked you, they should be able to put aside all their schedule to see you! Admit it now, you’re lying!”
Miona began to emit a low growl like a little wolf in response to her provocation. “Fine! Then I will bring her to see you. But if such a person really exists, Miss Lyonesse, you have to be my maid for a week.”
“No problem! However, whether this person is truly as outstanding as you say… let’s have Evelyn be the judge… How about it, Evelyn?”
“Hmm, it sounds quite interesting… Then bring him along next time we have class. I, Evelyn la Calista, will personally judge.”
Only then did the Big Guy finally remove her foot from between Erika’s legs. Even though the lesson had ended, the young girl felt as if everything was just beginning.
Rustle.
So, the moment the lesson ended, Erika hurriedly stood up, bowed to everyone, and prepared to make a run for it.
“Um, Your Majesty, Misses, I have another class next, so please allow me to take my leave now.”
Erika fled in a panic, choosing her escape route haphazardly.
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