Chapter 15: Young Ladies’ Talk at the Academy

“Baroness’s daughter who lingers around the princes?
Ah, that ab— ahem!
You mean Renaria Daches?”

“Oh my, so she is Lady Renaria?
I have heard she is the Cinderella girl everyone speaks of.”

“Cinderella?”

Apparently Cinderella does not exist in this world.
Which likely means Grimm and Aesop tales are absent as well.

When I was little, I read books, but they were mostly a blend of fantasy and history.
Perhaps fairy tales are scarce.

Books themselves are precious, mostly written on parchment.
Recently, for the sake of origami, plant-fiber paper has begun production.

Animal-based parchment makes my conscience ache.
If possible, I would like to promote plant paper more widely.

Duke Domi­trias’s lands have an absurdly fast-growing weed.
Livestock avoid it once mature, but its fibers are apparently excellent for paper.

I might create fairy tales.
Yes, perhaps even card games.
Entertainment is important.

“It means marrying into fortune.
That lady has gained the princes’ favor and is said to be quite… unconventional.”

“Her head is certainly unconventional.
She surrounds herself with men as though building a harem.

The First Prince, Lucas Orle Sandis.
The Second Prince, Leold Mir Sandis.
The Prime Minister’s son, Graham Dallen.
Professor Findor Tran.
Magic honors student Cain Druitt.”

“…Is that not many?”

“There are more.
Her preferences shift frequently.

She once favored Viscount Alfred Suolz and Sir Joshua von Damper,
but once she had them wrapped around her finger, she grew bored.”

“…My.”

“She changes men as though changing gloves.
Those she tires of are discarded unless they are among her favorites or princes.”

That is the reverse harem route.
If Kishtarial and Michaelis were added, it would be complete.
Surely not.

Jibril speaks of Renaria with visible disgust.

Of course.
An unmarried lady flitting from man to man appears shameless.

“Many of those young men were already engaged.
It is improper for a lower noble to approach them, yet she initiated contact.

Engagements have been broken across the academy.
Political marriages are collapsing.
The atmosphere is tense.”

A scandal machine indeed.

“Fortunately, Kishtarial and my brother have been afflicted with first love for years, so they are unaffected.”

Her ruby eyes glance mischievously at me.

First love.
Surely she does not mean—

Was I truly the only one unaware?

“Still, to captivate so many men, she must be remarkably beautiful.”

I hastily change the subject.

“She is merely novel.
Compared to you, she is unremarkable.

When she grabbed Kishtarial’s arm, he shook her off immediately.
When she attempted to cling to my brother, she slipped face-first onto the stone pavement.”

…Jibril seems to dislike the heroine intensely.

She laughs elegantly behind her lace fan, though her tone carries a sharp edge.

The reverse harem route fails if even one capture target’s affection is low.
Currently, both Kishtarial and Michaelis appear disinterested.

Michaelis’s route requires reconciliation with Jibril.
But they are close now.

Kishtarial’s route originally involved resentment toward his family.
But his mother lives, adored and fashionable.
And he seems to like me instead of resent me.

This deviates drastically from the script.

“I can use magic too, Sister.”

Jibril ignites a small flame in her palm.

“How lovely.”

“In the training grounds I could show more.”

“There are dedicated grounds?”

“Of course.
Kishtarial ranks top in both theory and practical exams.
He possesses rare dual attributes.
If he were not a duke’s son, the royal mages would recruit him.”

My brother is extraordinary.

“My brother is also excellent in fire magic.
His swordsmanship is the best in the academy.”

Jibril promotes Michaelis enthusiastically.

“Jibril, Michaelis is too good for me.”

He is earnest and honorable.
I cannot drag him into ruin.

My surroundings are filled with absurdly handsome men.
Kishtarial.
Julius.
Michaelis.

And I, born into beauty yet hollow inside.

Jibril offers to guide me through quieter areas.
Crowds make me uneasy.

Students glance our way.
At Jibril’s narrowed gaze, they avert their eyes respectfully.

She is formidable.

Raven accompanies me as guard.
He is likely foreign.
Dark hair and eyes are rare here.

His physical ability is astonishing.
He once subdued Kishtarial instantly.

His origins matter little.
He is kind.

Thinking of those who quietly protect me—
Jibril, Michaelis, Julius, Kishtarial, Mother Lati, Anna, Sebas, Raven—
And Father—

If I enter a convent, I will lose them all.

That thought frightens me.

“Are you unwell, Sister?”

“No, merely overwhelmed by the crowd.”

“Shall we rest in a private salon?”

“I am fine.”

I must not worry her.

“Perhaps you should greet Brother and Lord Kishtarial while here?
Julius would accompany them.”

“I came secretly.
Will they be angry?”

“…With your father present, who would dare?”

True enough.

Still, meeting the capture targets here is frightening.

“Milady.”

“Yes, Raven?”

“I have already informed Lord Julius of your arrival.
He should arrive shortly.”

“…What?”

My refined facade collapses entirely.

If Julius knows, Kishtarial and Michaelis will soon know as well.

Are they rivals?
Or is this a ruin flag?

Which direction is my fate heading?

Please, no dramatic confrontation.
No tragic flag.

A former shut-in cannot handle beautiful princes in three dimensions.

I have not toyed with anyone’s feelings, have I?

Surely I have not become a villainess without realizing it.

…Or perhaps Renaria too simply stumbled into a harem without noticing?