Joy returned to the mansion, receiving a flurry of congratulations from the members of the Ducal Family.
She was the official apprentice of the Great Wizard Erginius and had made remarkable contributions in the war against the gods.
Her achievements were so grand that it wouldn’t be unusual for her to be declared the next duchess, pushing aside the eldest son.
If Joy wished it, Jeff would willingly throw away his title, but Joy had no interest in power at all.
That’s why she accepted the cheers of those around her with a pure heart.
However, once the noisy party ended and she was left alone in her room, Joy felt that everything she experienced was like a daydream.
The more she looked back, the more her two years were filled with unreal events.
Battling various Evil Gods. Becoming a disciple of the Great Wizard Erginius. Leading in the war against the gods. And emerging victorious at the end.
It all seemed too much for a silly person like her to have achieved, and Joy became afraid of sleeping.
As she lay in bed and closed her eyes, she felt like everything she experienced would dissipate like bubbles, leaving only the fake smile of a duchess forced to wear a mask in a bleak reality, making it impossible for her to sleep.
If Lucy were here right now, what would she have said? She might have laughed at Joy for having such ridiculous thoughts.
Hehehe. I wish she would come back soon.
Given that she just learned her long-lost mother is alive, it might be tough to meet for a while, but still, Joy longed to be with her.
When she’s with Lucy, there’s no room to worry about other trivial things because it’s just so enjoyable.
Just lying here seems pointless if she can’t sleep, so maybe she should think about what to do with Lucy later.
Lucy’s mission has ended, right?
So now, she should spend some joyful time as a female student of the academy!
For reference, Joy took out a youth novel published by a former female author from the academy, as she reflected the characters from there onto herself and her friends, bursting into goofy laughter.
“Joy, you say?”
Given the situation, Joy felt bewildered seeing Lucy suddenly appear.
At first, she wondered if she had fallen asleep and was dreaming.
Once she realized it was reality, she feared her delusions might be exposed.
And then, when Lucy smiled and opened her mouth, the words that came out seemed unbelievable.
Lucy… called me without any nickname!?
No way!
This must be a dream!
I’m really hopeless!
How long has it been since I saw Lucy that I’m dreaming about her!?
A dream where Lucy suddenly comes at night, calling me by my proper name!
“Should I seriously consult Phoebe about this?”
“If you tell her your worries, she’ll probably say something out of the blue.”
“True, if it’s Phoebe, she would definitely envy saying it’s a blessed dream.”
“Do I still look like a dream? You idiot.”
Puffed her cheeks, Lucy suddenly lunged forward and grabbed Joy’s cheeks before she could react.
Having learned what this action meant through multiple experiences, Joy waved her hands frantically.
“No! Absolutely not! Lucy is Lucy! This is definitely not a dream!”
“Really?”
“Really really really! So please don’t pull! It really hurts!”
Seeing Lucy gauging the situation with a playful look made Joy give up and tightly shut her eyes, but the pain didn’t come. Unlike usual, Lucy stepped back with a playful smile.
“…Am I really dreaming?”
“If you like pain, just say it. I can give you that much.”
“Not like that!”
As Joy shook her head urgently, Lucy let out a refreshing laugh.
Her light and lively laughter was completely different from usual.
Not the laughter of a mean little girl who could only mock others, but that of an ordinary girl.
Finally, Joy understood the situation.
“Is the curse broken?”
“Agra took the trouble to lift it for me, don’t you remember?”
“Everything that’s happened recently feels like a dream.”
“Puh. You’re really an idiot.”
“I see. Lucy’s curse has been broken. She has become a girl who can speak normally.”
Shrugging her shoulders, Lucy straightened up and bowed her head in accordance with noble etiquette without missing a beat.
“That’s right. Lady Partlan. There shouldn’t be any more rudity towards you.”
“That’s amazing. You won’t have to be afraid of meeting people anymore.”
Seeing that greeting, Joy felt mixed emotions of joy and a tinge of regret.
She knew this was a good thing for Lucy.
She also understood how happy Lucy must be to no longer suffer.
From now on, Lucy should be able to live loved by everyone.
Even when cursed, Lucy managed to draw people toward her.
Now that she could talk normally, there would be people who would want to befriend her naturally without her even looking for them.
So, there’s a bit of regret.
The fact that Lucy would no longer be just our friend.
That the good sides of Lucy could be known to others.
That the relationship between the two of them would change to be no different from others.
It’s a selfish desire, I know.
I also know that Lucy, who has suffered until now, deserves to be compensated.
I hate thinking like this. But still.
“I’m still scared.”
“…Huh?”
“Think of my position now! How many hyenas would rush in wanting to snatch even a crumb from me!”
“That’s true, but they wouldn’t simply approach you because they’d be wary of Lucy.”
“That’s a problem! Other girls will treat me like I’m half a god, but how am I supposed to live with that pressure?! Just imagining going into the social circle is terrifying! It’s full of perverted apostles who would praise me! I can’t endure that at all!”
Puhahaha!
Lucy, shuddering at the very thought, made Joy involuntarily chuckle.
“I’m serious, you know?!”
Puhahaha! It’s just… silly! Hahaha!”
No matter what changes occur, Lucy would still be Lucy.
My cute and precious friend.
No matter how hard others try to get close to Lucy, they can never be as close as I am.
Lucy would never like those kinds of people anyway.
“Hey idiot, you try standing in my place! Just imagine how disgusting it is to have perverts clinging to you! I can endure it only because it’s me, but you would just faint dead away!”
Heheh. Heh. No way? I wouldn’t! You might not know, but there are quite a few unhuman-like beings even in the social circle. I’m used to it!
“…Who are those perverts? Just say their name. I’ll turn them into eunuchs right now.”
They’re already gone.
Gone?
Yeah, at some point, they stopped appearing.
Blinking her eyes, Lucy smiled as if it was natural and sat beside Joy.
“Anyway, I came here because I wanted to thank you.”
“Thank you to me? From Lucy?”
“Yeah. Joy has become the first person to be my friend, and you have always endured because of me while never complaining even once. How can I not thank you?”
Joy thought she didn’t know how to respond to Lucy’s honest confession.
While she thought she had only received from Lucy until now, Lucy believed she had only given to her.
…What a fool.
“Actually, I wanted to say thank you a lot. Every time Joy helped me, I wanted to express my gratitude. I wanted to praise you whenever something happened at the academy.”
With her head down, Lucy’s ears were slightly flushed.
She must be embarrassed for saying such awkward words.
But the reason she didn’t stop talking is probably because it was something she absolutely had to express.
“I feel the same, Lucy.”
“Huh?”
“I’ve always wanted to say thank you too. That you’re kind. That you’re cute. That I had fun because of you. But I couldn’t because I was too shy.”
“Uh. Uhh?”
“So, Lucy doesn’t need to feel guilty about that. We’re both the same kind of people.”
“R- really?”
“Ah! Thinking about it, doesn’t this mean Lucy will say thank you to me from now on? That I’m cute? That I’m fun? That she likes me?”
“Uh… M-Maybe?”
“That’s enough for me. Lucy. I’ll be looking forward to it.”
Despite sweating coldly, the distress on Lucy’s face was clearly visible, yet she didn’t say she couldn’t do it.
Even with the curse gone, Lucy is still Lucy.
She still acts proud and cocky, but inside, she’s a delicate girl.
No, the curse is broken, so it’s even easier to tease her now.
Whenever she tries to act tough, it ends up being really obvious.
Hehehe. I wonder what kind of reaction Lucy would give if I dressed her in cute clothes.
She hated it before, but now, she would definitely make the cutest sounds.
“…Joy. Your gaze looks perverted.”
“How rude. Where in my pure eyes do you see that?!”
“It’s not just your gaze! From your hand gestures to what you’re saying, it’s all like that!”
“It must be your imagination. I’m a dignified duchess, after all.”
“Idiot!”
Lucy’s honest reaction was so funny that Joy couldn’t help but poke her.
But maybe it’s time to stop.
Lucy has more people to greet than just me.
Yawn. “Lucy. I’m starting to get sleepy.”
“Oh. Is that so? Is sleep more important than me?”
“Not like that. I just don’t want to monopolize Lucy all to myself.”
“…Hah! What unnecessary consideration. You might get pushed aside!”
“Let’s pray that doesn’t happen.”
As Joy awkwardly smiled, Lucy turned her body and grinned.
“Good night.”
“You too, Lucy. Have a good night.”
After Lucy disappeared with a gentle light, Joy rested her head on the pillow.
She felt like she could have a good dream tonight.
