Chapter 35: That Darn Village Girl

After deciding to completely let loose, Sevitis spilled all the bad things Eulalia had done as a child.

Including but not limited to leading some innocent boy up a tree, almost blowing up the kitchen, and forcing others to collect all sorts of weird items. Su Ling, listening nearby, was utterly shocked.

“So she’s actually this bad? But how does little Sevi know?”

“Hmph, I am a proper noble of the kingdom after all, so I naturally have my own unique information sources. I can’t just tell you that.” Sevitis puffed out her chest proudly.

“Hey, just tell me. If you don’t, how am I supposed to know if it’s true? This is way too different from the saint image the public knows.” Su Ling shook Sevitis’s shoulders and begged.

“Don’t worry, I absolutely didn’t lie to you about this. Especially the fact that she’s a village girl with a terrible personality—there’s no way that’s false.”

“She’s telling the truth, you know. I really am a village girl.”

“See, I told you I wasn’t lying. Even she herself says so.” Hearing the agreement from behind, Sevitis unconsciously continued along. “So yeah, that Eulalia…”

Sevitis wanted to keep digging up dirt on that wicked blonde.

But as soon as she started, a familiar scent mixed with a faint grassy fragrance hit her nose, making her freeze on the spot and fall completely silent.

Su Ling widened her eyes, opened her mouth, and pointed tremblingly behind Sevitis.

“Y-y-you, you’re that Eu…”

“Squid, right? I know you want to eat some, but unfortunately there’s no squid in the Blood Burial Forest. Come on, we should get going. After the exam, I’ll treat you to as much as you want.”

Sevitis was quick, pressing down Su Ling’s raised hand and pulling her forward without looking back.

“It’s not squid! Just now, behind you…” Su Ling tried to say more.

“There’s nothing. The forest is too stuffy, you’re hallucinating.” Sevitis interrupted without hesitation.

‘That’s right, that’s it. I must have been hallucinating just now too! How could that woman appear right after I badmouthed her? The Blood Burial Forest is so big, how could she catch me so precisely?’

‘Unless she’s also a member of the Spirit Race, and her true form is a dog!’

Sevitis’s pace quickened, wishing she could sprout wings and fly away, but she didn’t notice a flash of gold silently following behind them.

poke, poke

“Eep—!”

The sudden strange touch on her side made Sevitis flinch, her whole body trembling, and she abruptly let go of Su Ling’s hand.

“What are you doing!” Sevitis spun around like an offended cat, glaring fiercely at the culprit.

The blonde girl they had been loudly plotting about just moments ago was standing there, covering her mouth and shaking with laughter.

“Haha—Sevi’s reactions are just as amusing as ever.”

‘Damn it! This girl must be a dog spirit transformation. She’s a real dog!’

‘She’s the only one in the world who knows about my ticklish weak spot. Every time I get mad at her, she uses that move to break my composure.’

“What do you want, following me all this way?”

“Hey~ Didn’t we agree on another day?”

“Who agreed with you? And what does that have to do with you sneaking up behind me and poking my weak spot?!”

“Well, I just wanted to let off a little steam…” Eulalia smiled, but her gaze drifted lightly to the hand Sevitis had been holding Su Ling’s with earlier.

“Huh? I don’t know what you’re talking about. I haven’t even gotten mad at you for getting me tangled up with that Sixth Prince, and you’re taking it out on me?” Sevitis’s veins bulged.

She thought that after switching to this girl’s body, she’d be able to follow her thinking to some extent, but instead she found herself understanding women less and less—especially scheming blonde women.

Eulalia spun lightly and circled in front of Sevitis. She bent over slightly, pressed her fists together under her chin, and put on a pitiful, bashful look.

“I’m all alone in this forest, it’s so dangerous. I don’t even know where to go… So, could this kind and beautiful noble lady please help this ‘village girl with a terrible personality’?”

‘You’re dangerous? With her strength, the dangerous ones are the monsters in this forest and me—the harmless Duke Heir!’

Sevitis couldn’t even gauge the other’s strength with her eyes, which meant this girl could do whatever she wanted here. Did she really think Sevitis was as easy to fool as that dumb ox beside her?

“Let’s go, Su Ling the sidekick. We don’t need to pay attention to this babbling villain.”

Sevitis couldn’t be bothered with her, turned around, and pulled Su Ling to continue deeper into the forest.

“Is that really okay? Before the exam started today, I wonder who I kindly helped out of a tight spot.” Eulalia’s voice drifted eerily from behind.

Sevitis didn’t stop walking, just snorted coldly.

‘Seems like I’ve been giving her too much leeway. Does she really think this trivial matter can threaten me? Miss Sevitis is not so easy to manipulate anymore.’

“Oh, that’s right, I just remembered. On the night before the exam, that person ate quite a bit of my handmade pastries. In the end, she didn’t even say ‘thank you’ before running off…”

Before the words even faded, with a whoosh, the black-haired girl had let go of Su Ling’s hand and appeared in front of Eulalia. A standard professional smile plastered on her face.

“Oh my, I can’t stand seeing others suffer or be troubled. Please, how can I help you?”

Eulalia, satisfied, clasped her hands behind her back and looked at her with a beaming smile.

“I seem to have been separated from my guard. This forest is full of monsters, not very safe. Can you help me find them?”

“Sure.”

“Since you’re helping me find someone, leaving me alone here won’t do. So for now, I’ll join your group and move together. That okay?”

“No problem.”

“And also, I don’t usually exercise much, and I’ve walked so much today. Now I don’t feel like walking anymore. Someone will have to carry me~”

“Okay… okay my foot! Don’t push your luck!” Sevitis finally cracked, pointing at Eulalia and cursing.

“Huh? Not carrying? Then about that person I mentioned earlier, I remember another thing. Seems like she grew up with me, this village girl, in the same orphanage. What was her name…”

Eulalia feigned distress, extending her index finger and slowly twirling it in the air.

Sevitis grabbed that restless finger, took a deep breath, and forced a bright smile that looked worse than crying.

“Let’s talk this over.”