I rarely heard someone say thank you to me.
Especially if it was from a person I was meeting for the first time.
The karma that Lucy had racked up in the past stretched out to an unimaginable extent.
For a stranger to greet me, something like “You bitch!” would have been appropriate.
Perhaps it could be softened with a touch of politeness and some sarcasm added, but the meaning wouldn’t stray far from “You bitch.”
So, I was perplexed by the sight of Frey’s younger sister, Parnah, bowing her head repeatedly and expressing her gratitude.
Thank you for making her human? Me? For Frey?
Is she misunderstanding something?
All I did for Frey was knock her down in a spar and annoy her with my mesugaki skill.
“I’ve seen my sister talk to our parents properly for the first time in her life! And asking them for something too!”
Huh? She spoke to them?! Frey?!
I was just as shocked by Parnah’s words.
Because she only began talking to her family and learned to feel joy after meeting the current sword saint and gaining insight into swordsmanship.
To think she had spoken to her family before even meeting the sword saint. What does that mean?
Amidst my confusion, a scene I witnessed earlier today came to mind: Frey swinging a sword at a street vendor.
No wonder her skills had improved! Did she practice the family’s swordsmanship?!
“Also, this is the first time I’ve seen her calmly sitting in a place where so many people have gathered!”
I could somewhat guess about this part.
Until she entered the academy, Frey was a madwoman who would suddenly wield her sword wherever she went.
Didn’t I experience something akin to an ambush on the day of the entrance ceremony?
However, the recent Frey had hardly committed such crazy acts.
The reason was simple. She had fixed her goal. Frey, who had taken a liking to me as a toy, had no intention of looking at anything else until this toy broke.
From my perspective, Frey was a sturdy sparring partner who wouldn’t break, so I had no reason to refuse the toy treatment.
It was a win-win situation.
“More importantly, it’s the first time I’ve heard my sister mention someone else’s name!”
That was surprising. No, it was shocking.
Frey rarely, if ever, uttered someone else’s name, even in the game.
I turned my head toward Frey to verify if this was true, but she seemed completely absorbed in stacking food on her plate.
Typically, if someone said something like that, they’d show some signs of embarrassment. That’s just like Frey.
“I’ve also seen our parents laughing while talking about my sister for the first time! All of this is thanks to Alrn Young Lady!”
Parnah’s words were so direct and energetic that they felt a bit burdensome.
However, knowing her circumstances, I couldn’t bring myself to tell her to stop.
The Parnah I knew from the game treated Frey as if she didn’t exist.
She had to endure all of Frey’s antics simply because she was born as the younger sister.
Every time Frey swung her sword, Parnah was compared to her.
She had to deal with the mistakes her older sister made.
Parnah couldn’t possibly like Frey.
How could she like someone who would kill the dog she adored and then nonchalantly reply that she knew it would go wild?
Even if she got angry. Even if she begged. Even if she threatened. Even if she clung to her. Frey remained unchanged.
So Parnah, and the Kent family, resigned themselves. They believed that Frey would always be like this.
Yet now, after entering the academy, she had changed. How could she not be excited?
“I’ve heard many rumors that Alrn Young Lady is a fearsome person, but they were all nonsense! She’s so beautiful, cute, dignified, and capable!”
That’s not nonsense. The evil deeds Lucy had committed were all facts.
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If you go out and say such things, you’ll be in big trouble!
Even now, the stares from all around are glaring. It’s this bad with me beside her, so what would happen if you said such things alone?
‘Um...’
“Hey. You’re listening to me, right?”
“Alrn Young Lady! I’m entering the academy next year! I haven’t taken the exam yet, but I’m sure I can pass!”
As I watched Parnah, clenching her fists in excitement, I recalled what kind of person she was.
Right. She wasn’t normal either.
If Frey moves in her own way, indifferent to others, Parnah is similarly unable to see her surroundings the moment her emotions catch her.
It would be a shocking story if Parnah heard it, but the two were different yet similar.
“If that day comes, I’ll spread the good points of Alrn Young Lady throughout the entire first-year class!”
No, Parnah, what kind of crazy talk is that?
‘...Are you joking?’
“Ha. What nonsense are you saying? You’re not even funny.”
“It’s not nonsense! I’m serious!”
But why are you so serious about it?! Why are you willingly walking into the criticism of others?! Now that Frey has changed, are you planning to create your own struggles?!
“Just you wait! I’ll definitely!... Ugh! Ugh!”
Thinking I had to stop her, I was racking my brain when a grown man came running from a distance, scooped Parnah into his arms, and covered her mouth.
Parnah struggled to speak, even with her mouth covered, but there was no gap in the man’s grip.
“I’m sorry! Alrn Young Lady! My daughter has caused you trouble!”
Count Kent, with a pale face, apologized and thanked me for getting along well with his daughter, saying he would treat me lavishly if I came to visit the estate later, then he disappeared like the wind.
What a hard-working man. I feel like he and Benedict could become good friends over drinks later.
After the storm passed, I was reaching for dessert when I saw that my plate was completely empty, and I turned my head away.
While all that was happening before me, Frey had inhaled all the food.
I shot her a cold glance of protest, but Frey was unfazed.
“Hey, idiot swordsman♡ Are you so stupid that you couldn’t even remember that you just ate?♡ Why not stop eating instead of snorting?♡” “Snort.”
Surprised by her unexpected response, I was left speechless, and Frey puffed up her shoulders in triumph.
I was annoyed, but I figured arguing with her would only get me involved, so I said nothing.
Instead, I sat down on a nearby chair and rested my chin in my hand. The party wasn’t over yet, so if I waited, dessert would be refilled.
<That probably won’t happen.>
‘What do you mean by that?’
<The party is nearing its end.>
‘...How do you know that?’
<There are signs.>
The orchestra had almost finished its final piece. The attendants were nervously glancing at their watches. High-ranking nobles were leaving the center of the party. Conversations were dwindling.
At first, I thought the old man was trying to tease me, but he wasn’t. Every point he made indicated the party’s end.
‘Then what about the dessert?’
<It won’t come out. Why would they replenish it when the party is ending?>
‘Freyyyyyy!’
Whether I lit the flames of revenge in my heart or not, time continued to flow inside the party hall.
At some point, the orchestra’s performance stopped, and a magic circle was drawn on the stage, revealing the duke amidst splendid fireworks.
With that alone, everyone focused on the duke, who expressed gratitude to those present with a bow, then announced the party’s conclusion.
“I’d like to thank all the esteemed guests who have graced this occasion once again.”
“Just a moment.”
Let me correct that. The duke attempted to conclude the party but failed.
Another voice interrupted his words.
Had it been someone of little significance, the duke would have ignored that voice.
He had the power to do so.
However, this time, the person he faced was not someone he could overlook.
“It seems you’ve forgotten something important.”
How could the likely next heir to the throne be ignored?
“Have I forgotten something?”
“Yes. Duke Partlan, you’ve forgotten something very important.”
“I apologize. Perhaps it’s due to my old age; my memory isn’t what it used to be.”
“Ha ha. That might be true. Allow me to remind you. Where are the victory remarks from Alrn Young Lady, who won against you?”
The First Prince spoke and, with a single nod, found me sitting in the corner.
No matter how I looked at it, I was not in a territory of luck or insight.
He must have kept me in his sight the whole time.
A stalker with power, authority, and malice.
It’s easy to distort the walls when you’re cooped up, but this is a bit unsettling.
Is this how the so-called First Prince behaves?
The future of the kingdom looks bleak.
“Come on, Lucy Alrn! Hurry up and come here! Since you’ve defeated me, you should receive a proper celebration!”
The First Prince raised his voice with an innocent smile.
What’s with him all of a sudden?!
You’re not that kind of character!
Why are you suddenly putting on a facade and trying to put me on the stage?!
What’s going on?! What’s his aim?!
At the sudden shout from the First Prince, I froze, and even Duke Partlan stiffened as the First Prince seemed to remember something, clapped his hands, and approached me.
“Right. You must have gone through a lot today and are in a difficult state.”
Huh?
“I didn’t show enough consideration.”
No.
Hey.
Wait a moment.
“I should have gone to you instead of calling you over.”
Sit down. Sit down.
I’m telling you to sit down!
“Like a loser.”
No matter how much I screamed inside, it didn’t affect reality.
The First Prince reached me and waved his hand lightly, creating a sound amplification magic that would ensure everyone in the party hall could hear anything I said.
“Now, once you’re ready, speak up. I’ll wait as long as you need. I’ve been waiting for this moment.”
He didn’t give me a chance to respond.
Not only that, but he also didn’t give anyone else a chance to interject.
It was a perfect timing and a perfect push.
As he had just said, he had been waiting for this moment.
<...Girl. Prepare yourself.>
...Ha.
Damn it.
Damn it!
Damn it!!!
Stalker shut-in!
I don’t know what you’re aiming for with this behavior, but remember this!
While you might be strong now, by the time I graduate from the academy, the situation will have changed significantly.
Be prepared to lick my feet!
Got it?!
‘This festival has truly been an honorable competition, Your Highness the First Prince.’
“I felt a lot of consideration from you during this festival. How is it that you can pretend to be so mediocre? Thanks to you, I was able to have an honorable competition. Ah, perhaps you weren’t intentionally pretending to be mediocre? Oops. I made a mistake there.”
“What kind of nonsense is that?!”
“Lucy Alrn! You’re being insolent!”
“Alrn Young Lady?!”
I wonder if I’ll still be alive by then!