Chapter: 26
There are days when coincidences pile up like a tower of Jenga blocks about to topple. Irina, who usually walks to school with Louise, caught a spring cold and headed straight for the infirmary, while Erich had to show up early due to an interview with the swordsmanship instructor. With their other friends also scattering due to various circumstances, the once-bustling road to school with Louise was unusually quiet today.
For Louise, it felt a bit strange to be walking alone—it was a rarity compared to being with someone else. However, sometimes she found herself wanting to stroll leisurely by herself. After all, even the most familiar paths feel different when you walk them solo; it’s like discovering a whole new level in a game you thought you knew inside and out.
As Louise walked, she enjoyed the morning breeze, taking in the flowers blooming in the flowerbed with light, carefree steps. By the time she reached the classroom, Erich would most likely be there, finishing up his interview. And when Irina returned from the infirmary, she’d definitely ask if she was feeling alright. That’s how her day was supposed to start.
But then came a voice—swoosh—that interrupted the tranquility like an unexpected jump scare in a horror movie.
“Lady Louise?”
Upon hearing the unfamiliar voice, Louise turned around, surprised. The girl with wavy red hair cascading down to her waist had striking green eyes that sparkled like emeralds. She was covering her mouth with a red fan, looking down at Louise as though she were perched on her throne, looking at a mere subject.
“Are you Louise, daughter of Baron Naird?”
Though it sounded like a question, there was an air of certainty in her tone. The voice of the assertive female student rang out like an echo in a quiet hall.
“Yes, that’s correct. My name is Louise Naird,” Louise replied, surprised but polite. It wouldn’t be right to ignore someone who had called out to her unexpectedly.
“I’m Marghetta Valenti, the Vice President of the Student Council, and I’m also your senior by a year.”
Louise’s eyes widened at the mention of “Valenti.” Valenti, as in the family of the Iron-Blooded Duke, one of the five noble houses in the Empire? And Marghetta is the youngest daughter of the Iron-Blooded Duke, dote of his later years, spoiled like a favorite pet.
“Greetings, Lady Marghetta,” Louise said, this time with a proper bow, not the casual nod of greeting earlier. In the Empire, the influence of dukes was formidable, to say the least. Sure, there might be five of them, but their power didn’t diminish because of that—oh no, it was as intimidating as facing five dragons at once.
Marghetta shook her head lightly. “No need for all that, Lady Louise. In the academy, we’re all equals. I’m just one of your many seniors.”
“Yes, of course, Senior,” Louise replied, but internally she knew everyone underestimated the weight that came with such status. Life after the three years at the academy would stretch out for decades, and no one truly respected the titles in the same way.
However, standing in front of Marghetta, it dawned on Louise that, well, she might just be scarier than the royal family she was used to mingling with. With the Third Prince holding no power, her status as the beloved granddaughter of a duke could make even ordinary nobles tremble with just a flick of her hand.
Noticing Louise’s slight tremble, Marghetta smiled softly, like a cat with its prey. “I wanted to speak with you about something. Do you have some time?”
“Yes, of course!” Louise responded, her heart racing like it was in a wild chase scene.
“Thank you,” Marghetta replied, and there was no way any noble would dare refuse her request. Louise fell into line behind Marghetta, moving like a shadow, her thoughts swirling in a small whirlwind.
*
Following Lady Marghetta into an increasingly deserted area, my body trembled out of sheer anxiety. It was unnerving to suddenly interact with someone who existed far above my social paygrade.
I had lived through this with Ainter, Rutis, Lather, and Tannian four times already, yet my heart was still unaccustomed to the pressure.
‘No! It’s going to be fine,’ I told myself, shaking off the anxiety. I’d had tense first encounters with them too, and now we were all friends enjoying club activities together. So surely, I could handle this. Right? Surely, I had done nothing to offend the lady.
Just then, Marghetta stopped walking and turned to me, her expression serious.
“Lady Louise, you need to reflect on your actions.”
Oh, it seemed I had unknowingly crossed some invisible line. gulp
I lowered my head beneath the chill of her serious gaze. I could feel the frosty aura surrounding her like she was channeling winter itself.
“This year, the academy faced unprecedented events. You understand what I’m referring to, right?”
“Yes… yes…” I stammered, my heart thumping like a drum that had lost its rhythm.
And then Marghetta’s words hit me like a brick: the unprecedented entry of foreign dignitaries into the academy. It’s a big deal! In this delicate situation, it was imperative to keep our distance, but here I was, elbow-deep in the social pot cooking with them like we were pals.
The anxiety I felt rapidly turned into frustration. Was it really so wrong to want to be friendly with those who looked lonely? To enjoy cookies together and laugh?
But before I could voice my thoughts, Marghetta’s sharp gaze returned. “Did you understand what I said, Louise?”
As she called my name after what felt like a lecture, I struggled to hold back tears and lifted my head, caught between panic and defensiveness. I couldn’t retreat; acknowledging my fault would mean parting from my club members.
Just as I prepared to respond, out of my peripheral vision, I spotted someone familiar approaching behind Marghetta.
‘Carl oppa!’
Seeing Carl loosened the knot of tension in my chest, and before I knew it, a smile crept onto my face. Marghetta’s brow furrowed slightly as she turned to identify the source of my joy.
“Oh, Sir Carl. Long time no see,” she acknowledged with a softer expression that seemed to thaw the ice—just a bit.
*
I was unsure at first, but Marghetta truly was the same one from last year. I had heard she entered the academy but never expected to run into her here.
“Long time no see, Lady Marghetta. How have you been?” I greeted, bowing slightly to be polite. Marghetta folded her fan quietly without a word and stared me down, her eyes unyielding and intense like an interrogation scene.
“Lady Marghetta?”
Silence. She seemed dissatisfied, lightly tapping her cheek with the closed fan as if considering some unsolved riddle, which only left me more confused.
Ah…
“What’s up, Mar? How’ve you been?” I finally ventured a casual tone.
With a heavy sigh of resignation, Marghetta finally smiled and opened her mouth.
“I’ve been well, Sir Carl. I heard from my father, but it’s such a pleasure to see you here at the academy.”
“Couldn’t have imagined meeting you here! How is the Duke?”
“He is resting at home since last year. Apparently, he’s depressed after the proposal he courageously made was rejected outright.”
“How unfortunate,” I said, my sympathy oozing like the excess pudding in a young noble’s dessert.
Margretta chuckled softly, “Indeed. I hoped Sir Carl could help lift his spirits.”
“Just prayers from me will suffice,” I said while shaking my head. If I visited the Iron-Blooded Duke, I might be wrestling with him—literally!
I quickly glanced back at Louise, noticing the glimmer of tears threatening to spill and her awkward smile. Poor girl, it looked like she must have taken quite the verbal beatdown from Marghetta.
“What’s the business with Louise?” I asked, slightly intrigued.
“I was just giving her advice as a senior,” she responded casually, but I could feel the underlying tension radiating off her.
It didn’t sound simple at all, but I decided not to pry any further. Questions would only lead to the conversation dragging out longer than an overripe fruit on a tree.
Sensing my reluctance to dig further, Marghetta readopted her aloof demeanor, hiding behind her fan again.
Now that I think about it, I could swear I remember seeing that fan last year—such a curious accessory. Did she never leave home without it?
“Well, I have to go now. Let’s meet again, Sir Carl.”
And just like that, she vanished like a magician’s assistant—one moment she was there, the next poof.
While I was watching Marghetta’s retreating figure, Louise tugged lightly at my sleeve.
Crap! I should’ve checked on her first, but I was too caught up in Marghetta’s presence.
Turning around, I found Louise gazing up at me with glistening eyes. Ah, of course, facing a royal like Marghetta would be daunting; her reaction was understandable. Though familiar with prince-like figures, those encounters didn’t prepare her for this kind of social power play.
“Are you alright? What did she say to you?” I asked, concern creeping into my voice.
“It was merely advice…” she replied, but the hint of distress lingered.
“You need to learn how to lie better,” I noted wisely, giving her a light nudge.
She darted her eyes around nervously, then, after a few moments of hesitation, finally confessed.
Hmm.
‘Not entirely wrong, huh?’
I didn’t want to admit it, but Marghetta wasn’t completely off the mark. Coming from someone like her, it was actually spot-on advice. If Louise weren’t the story’s protagonist, I might’ve thought the same.
Caught in a balancing act between supporting Louise and siding with Marghetta, I patted her shoulder gently and handed her a handkerchief. Watching her dab away her tears while giving that lost kitty look felt awfully pitiful.
As I observed her, my mind started racing.
‘She’s definitely not the antagonist.’
The very first thought that popped into my head after watching the interaction between them was whether Marghetta was the villainess in this story. You know, the tropes are all familiar in romance fantasy novels—there’s always a character like that lurking about. Of course, I wasn’t a connoisseur of the genre.
However, Marghetta didn’t fit the archetypical mold of an antagonist. She wasn’t madly in love with Louise or trying to steal suitors from her. Instead, it felt more like she was giving genuine advice as a senior and noble with status.
Logic kicked in: five groups trying to topple the Academy, so having a villainess lurking around didn’t quite make sense. Guess the original author had some scruples. At least the Academy seemed devoid of crazy drama… for now.
Relaxed from my thoughts, Louise timidly piped up, “Um, oppa, do you know Lady Marghetta?”
She added cautiously, as if she might fall from grace if I said yes. I shook my head resolutely. “Familiar? Not really. I mean, we established some acquaintance, but pretty much nothing close.”
“But she allowed you to call her Mar…” Louise pressed, her curiosity piqued.
“Honestly? I have no idea why.”
I had just gone along with it because I thought I’d never have to say it again. It would be foolish to ruin my chances with an esteemed noble family over a nickname!
Admittedly, I agreed partly because I assumed that after the Iron-Blooded Duke’s marriage proposal for Marghetta, I’d never see her again. Yet, here we were—what a twist of fate! Turns out, life’s surprises are as hard to predict as a cat on a hot tin roof!
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