Side Story 3: The Villainess Who’ll Die in 100 Days is Quietly Enjoying her Youth (3)
Apparently, the class was in the middle of an examination for demonstrating the chromatic reaction of light. I too bravely tried to challenge it… but as expected, I managed neither a glimmer nor a flicker. No light came forth from my hands.
“God, this is far too cruel… After being allowed to witness such wonderful sorcery, could not a small fragment of this miracle have been shared with me…?”
Once the bell marking the end of class had finished ringing, my classmates began to act as they pleased, speaking with their friends or leaving the classroom. As I sat at my desk, dejected and sniffling, the young lady Anita Helge, seated beside me, spoke to me.
“…Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Shouldn’t you focus on what you can do instead?”
My, my, despite having such a haughty expression, she is gracious enough to say something so magnanimous.
…For one such as I, once a Duke’s daughter and a candidate for the next queen, a long time has passed since someone last deigned to give me advice from such a lofty position. I must say, it is not an unpleasant feeling.
“You are quite the kind person, Ms. Anita.”
“I-I didn’t mean it that way…!”
“My, for your face to redden so quickly. How utterly darling of you.”
“Da-darling, you say…?”
Yes, I find myself feeling a fondness for her honest immaturity. Had I too possessed such loveliness, perhaps my fiancé’s heart might not have strayed from me…
I smiled wryly at my hopeless situation. At that moment, a fine gentleman addressed me.
“Those words you’re using are pretty unexpected.”
The beautiful young man who offered to teach me sorcery… Come to think of it, I have yet to ask his name, have I not? But it is fortunate enough that he seems to be in the same class as myself. This has saved me the trouble of searching for him hereafter.
“Does Lady Travasta place her faith in God?”
Speaking of which, what is the religious view of this world?
When one does not know, the best recourse is to refrain from speaking of it… but in this very situation, I wonder if god, as always, is watching? If so, then I cannot say anything too heartless. That god is rather easily hurt.
“It’s not quite faith, but I do consider him a familiar presence.”
“Like family?”
“That is a secret… By the way, do you still remember your promise?”
“Ah, you mean the one about teaching you sorcery? Yeah, is now good?”
“Why, of course,” I replied, rising from my seat.
Then, to my surprise, Lady Anita, who was beside me, became utterly aghast.
“You mean to have Lord Dahl to teach you sorcery?”
“My, is that such a dreadful thing?”
As I slightly tilted my head, Anita jumped to her feet as though she were on a spring.
“He, at his current age, is already a full-fledged staff member of the Royal Institute of Sorcery!”
“Then wouldn’t that all the more make him the most suitable?”
I do not know what sort of organization that is, but if I were to receive instruction from someone all the more professional, should I not consider it an honor? Judging from Lady Anita’s flustered expression… well, this gentleman too seems to be one with a promising future. To lay favor upon one such as him could hardly prove disadvantageous.
I compose as friendly a smile as I can manage.
“If you are envious, Ms. Anita, would you not care to join us as well?”
“Eh?”
“I would feel all the more reassured if I could be taught by the both of you.”
I was not lying in the slightest. In truth, I was genuinely impressed by the sorcery of hers I witnessed just earlier.
Then, Lord Dahl himself, the one most concerned, smiled in a way pleasing to others and said, “I don’t particularly mind.” With that, Lady Anita, who could only be described as adorable, gathered her belongings while saying, “Then I shall take you up on your kind offer.”
“Well, shall we head to the courtyard?”
Thus, within that heartwarming atmosphere, as we all made our way toward the courtyard, a man’s voice rang out in the hallway, “Cecily Travasta!”
As expected, the act of suddenly taking another’s place is difficult indeed.
I could not help but respond a little too slowly.
“…Might he mean me?”
“Who else would it be but you?”
Lady Anita’s remark was a touch severe, but I shall take it as a whip of love.
Upon turning around, I was greeted by a male student wearing a different colored uniform.
As [Cecily] and the others appear to be in their final year, that boy in the blue uniform must be younger.
I don’t know who this boy with brown hair is, but for now, I shall simply reply with a bright, courteous smile.
“A good day to you. And who might you be?”
“Wha—? Have you even forgotten the face of your fiancé?”
“You are… my fiancé…?”
My, what a surprise.
[Cecily] was in such a pitiful state, I quite assumed she had no fiancé at all.
Except, even though he is in a different year, as he attends the same academy, must he not have known of [Cecily’s] unfortunate appearance? Did he offer her no aid whatsoever? All while he himself is dressed in such a manner as to cry out, “Behold, I am noveau riche,” simply ostentatiously adorned without purpose?
I cannot say how wealthy his household may be, but a gentleman who cannot make apply the minimum care in the woman who is to be his future bride—his prospects are plain enough to see.
Therefore, with a smile, I resolved to make a declaration.
“In that case, let us annul the engagement.”
“Haa?!”
Read the actual story “The Villainess who Only Had 100 Days to Live Had Fun Every Day” here~
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