With the first snowfall on the Isle of Knowledge, the Academy's winter break officially began.
Ordinarily, I would have returned to Blackwood Manor for my third-year winter break—or rather, the Academy's final winter break. However, the carriage I was in was not heading toward the Blackwood estate but in a different direction entirely.
...To the royal palace of the Kingdom of Defrin, an ally neighboring the Argentinian Empire.
"......."
"......."
"......."
In the spacious carriage, large enough to accommodate at least ten people, silence reigned as Ethan, a few members of the Hero's party, and I sat quietly, each gauging the others' moods.
To explain this sudden journey to Defrin, we'd need to go back roughly a week.
⁎ ⁎ ⁎
-Grasp.
"......."
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"Ah, Princess Rainy. I hope you've been well."
-Nod, nod.
Once again, the blue-haired princess appeared at an unexpected time and place, clutching the hem of my dress. By now, I had grown somewhat accustomed to her sudden entrances. Since we'd crossed paths during the festival, her face had become a familiar sight.
And considering she was a character I'd had to interact with in the original story, I felt a certain sense of familiarity.
"Are you looking for Master Ethan? I believe he's currently at the swordsmanship training grounds."
"......."
-Head shake.
"Oh, I see. Thank you for greeting me even though I’m the only one here."
"......."
-Head shake.
"......?"
It wasn’t exactly a yes-or-no question, so I was confused by her silent head shaking. At that moment, her attendant, Lydia, stepped forward and handed me a letter.
"This is a message from Princess Rainy, Miss Lilith."
"Ah, yes... Should I deliver it to Master Ethan?"
"Excuse me? No, this letter is intended specifically for you, Miss Lilith."
"...For me?"
The question of why the letter was needed with the princess herself right in front of me almost slipped out, but I quickly understood, remembering that it was Princess Rainy.
As in the original story, communicating with her through ordinary conversation was virtually impossible.
"Please read it as soon as you can. And although I apologize for the imposition, we kindly request that you adhere to the contents of the letter."
"......."
"Should you comply with the instructions within, the royal family of Defrin will ensure you are well-compensated. Additionally, Princess Rainy extends her sincere apologies for having to convey her request in this manner."
-Nod, nod.
"Ah, alright...."
"Please try to read it in private if possible. Goodbye, Miss Lilith."
"Goodbye...."
With that, they left, taking along the sense of unease their "letter of misfortune" had left me with.
In truth, I already had a bad feeling about it from the moment I received this “unlucky letter,” knowing exactly what it entailed—thanks to my 24.9 playthroughs of Luminor Academy.
‘A letter bearing Princess Rainy’s unfortunate influence... I can’t ignore this.’
As I’ve mentioned, Princess Rainy’s unique magic is a “bad luck curse.” She’s destined to endure all the misfortune she’ll experience in life within her first 20 years, after which she’ll be free of it forever. And currently, she’s at the peak of her “bad luck phase,” meaning every word she says carries a supernatural curse.
The most extreme example? If she’s angry and says, “Get out of my sight!” her target could end up suffering an unfortunate accident and losing their life shortly afterward.
Given that her very existence radiated bad luck, even writing to communicate posed a significant risk. It must have taken her considerable time and effort to draft even this single page without releasing its curse.
...But why was I, rather than Ethan or the Hero, the one to receive such an important letter?
"Lilith, were you waiting for me?"
"...No, Master Ethan. Not at all."
"You look troubled. Is there something on your mind?"
"...No, there’s nothing. Thank you for your concern."
"If anything’s weighing on you, don’t hesitate to share it. I’m here to listen, always."
"Thank you for the thought, but really, it’s nothing."
"...Alright, Lilith."
Ethan’s expression was a mixture of reluctance, as if he wanted to say something more, but I had no energy to delve into his unspoken words. The letter from Princess Rainy had already left my mind in a state of utter confusion.
⁎ ⁎ ⁎
That evening, back at the dormitory after classes, I took a moment to be alone, sending Ethan to wash up first. Once alone, I retrieved the letter from my pocket.
‘A letter from Princess Rainy... Given the timing, it must be that event.’
This was the pivotal rescue event during the third-year winter break that formed the core of Princess Rainy’s character route. Like with Lyria and Lara, if you’d built up enough favor with her, she’d reach out for help in this manner.
And since I’d received the letter, I was apparently the one she viewed as most capable of assisting her—or the one she believed to have the highest favorability with her.
‘Ethan might still be her top choice, so she must see me as the most likely to help.’
Likely, she remembered how I had single-handedly handled her troubles at the café, figuring I’d be able to help her again. The fact that I’d salvaged the theater performance she nearly disrupted with her curse—or perhaps simply the fact that I was Ethan’s maid—might also have strengthened her sense of familiarity with me.
Though wary of the potential curse imbued in the letter, I couldn’t ignore it. Following Lydia’s advice, I opened the letter in private and began to read.
"To Miss Lilith,
I extend an invitation to you to join me at the royal estate.
A carriage will be prepared on the first day of winter break.
Yours, Rainy Ariete Defrin."
...It was exactly what I’d anticipated.
Though curt for a royal letter, this was a deliberate attempt to suppress the curse’s power.
Now that I’d accepted it, I couldn’t refuse the request. Turning down an invitation from a princess would be a breach of protocol on my part, and, worse, rejecting it could result in misfortune falling upon either of us due to the curse.
In short, the moment ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) I opened this letter, my presence in Defrin during winter break was inevitable, regardless of my wishes.
‘The problem is that going to Defrin alone is pointless.’
The final event in overcoming Princess Rainy’s bad luck curse is one that I cannot handle on my own. While I may be a strong Lilith by current standards, handling the demonic invasion of the royal estate single-handedly would be a stretch.
‘I’ll need the Hero, and likely a few members of his party. And Ethan... would probably be helpful, but....’
"Lilith, may I come in now?"
"...Ah, yes."
"What’s that letter about? Was it from some strange admirer, or...?"
"It’s a letter from Princess Rainy, Master Ethan."
"Ah, a letter from the Princess herself... ...Wait, Princess Rainy?"
Not wanting to risk Ethan being affected by the curse, I quickly tucked the letter away and carefully asked him about his winter break plans.
"Master Ethan."
"Yes, Lilith?"
"Would you, by chance, consider a visit to the Kingdom of Defrin during the break?"
"...Defrin?"
"For the record, I’ve already been invited by Princess Rainy and will be visiting."
"......."
For a brief moment, Ethan’s expression darkened in a way that indicated his discontent. But really, what could he do? Even he couldn’t ignore a direct request from a princess.
⁎ ⁎ ⁎
And that’s how the “Defrin Royal Expedition” was formed.
In addition to myself, the letter’s recipient, and Ethan, who insisted on coming along, the group consisted of Geffard José Guise and his partner, Silena, along with Natalie, Thomas, and Agnes from the Hero’s party—those with the freedom to cross borders. Cerista, the saint from the Church, couldn’t accompany us due to her restricted mobility across nations, and Seraphine and her escort, Luke, were also unable to join.
It was a roster remarkably similar to the original expedition in the story.
"Did the Princess also send you a letter, Hero?"
"Well, not exactly. But I had business in Defrin anyway, and since she was traveling home for winter break, I asked if I could join her carriage, and she kindly agreed."
"Then why did you... No, forget it. No point in arguing over it now."
Ethan, visibly irritated at having to make a long journey to a neighboring kingdom, and Geffard José Guise, who seemed to be tagging along with a grin, both contributed to a tense, ticking-bomb atmosphere in the carriage.
All I could do was pray that the mood would stay intact until the journey ended.