But the training where I held back had some effect.
Sophia Bianchi used to have a tremendous ego.
When she first appeared, it was like she enjoyed fighting on the battlefield, and after beating the main characters once, she casually said something like, “I couldn’t control my strength.”
But this time, she started by losing to me.
Even Rena, who was on my side, didn’t get a death sentence, so that was something.
Of course, I fought by rewinding time a few times, but that wasn’t the only reason I could win.
Not long ago, I faced Lucas.
Not that he was looking out for me, but for some reason, he was incredibly angry at me. I came face to face with Lucas, who was wearing defensive gear and wielding artifacts as weapons.
And Sophia Bianchi’s skill wasn’t on Lucas’s level.
What was it a baseball player once said? Right before, he was facing a pitcher throwing a monstrous fastball, and when that pitcher got replaced, the next pitch seemed easy to hit.
That’s how I felt.
It’s not like my opponent was one I could fight without any abilities, but at least if I could rewind time, I could handle a cathedral knight of that level.
That gave me just a smidge of confidence.
That was the only positive effect I could gain.
But, conversely, there was also a negative effect.
That is —
“Sylvia!”
This time, Sophia Bianchi was clinging to me much more than before.
Back when she first got close, I didn’t realize it, but she was probably assessing me at that time.
As a skilled knight, Sophia Bianchi looked at me, and since I had no talent in her eyes, she probably thought it was odd to treat me as ‘important.’
However, it seemed like her gaze towards me changed after that training yesterday.
Well, it’s a relief that “clinging” doesn’t mean she laid her hands on my body…
“Ah, Sophia. How have you been?”
“Yes, of course!”
Her mood is entirely different from the original work.
Claire’s vibe changed too, but Sophia’s was even more extreme. Claire at least grew up in a completely different environment, so that made sense, but her… hmm.
Her environment might have changed, but it shouldn’t be to the point of shifting her identity that much, right?
… Perhaps it’s an act?
“You seem to be in a good mood today.”
Charlotte seemed to feel a sense of familiarity towards Sophia Bianchi. After all, they’re from the same region, even though the disparity in status is quite large.
“Yes, something amazing happened yesterday.”
“Something amazing?”
When Charlotte tilted her head and asked, Sophia Bianchi’s face turned towards me. Seeing her big smile felt a bit unsettling.
“Yesterday, Sylvia and Lady Bianchi had a training match.”
Before Sophia Bianchi could say it, Rena interjected.
“That’s right.”
For just a moment, most people probably couldn’t see it properly since it was that quick, but I felt an annoyance flicker across Sophia Bianchi’s face as she said that.
And seeing that made me feel relieved.
So, it means her character hasn’t completely changed after all.
“I had a training match with Sylvia yesterday.”
“Is that so?”
Charlotte smiled knowingly.
It’s like she can roughly imagine what might have happened.
“Anyone with pride as a knight would definitely change their perspective after fighting Sylvia.”
…..
Hmm, it feels a bit uncomfortable to praise her that much.
“……”
Alice, who had been silently listening, turned her gaze toward me and was grinning.
Thinking that Alice is the only one who can almost completely read my expression among them, it’s likely that her reaction comes from her accurately reading my face.
I barely stifled a sigh.
*
“Lady Bianchi.”
After class.
As everyone was packing up to return to the dormitory, I called out to Sophia Bianchi.
“Yes!”
Sophia Bianchi stopped packing her bag and flashed a bright smile at me, causing everyone in the classroom to turn their heads this way, not just those sitting around me.
… Maybe I should have found another place to talk.
But it wasn’t bad to see the reactions around me.
Since Sophia Bianchi wasn’t a character who met in school in the original story, this reaction was quite refreshing. Knowing how people perceive this character and how her image is forming could certainly help me.
This might sound a bit strange, but since there are so many gorgeous and pretty people around me, I’ve actually become unsure about judging others solely on appearance. If everyone is good-looking and pretty, how can I objectively assess the looks of someone I’ve just met?
Considering how many boys were gazing at the beaming Sophia Bianchi, it seems her appearance is indeed very impressive from an objective standpoint.
“Could we have a brief chat?”
I heard a collective intake of breath from the surroundings. It’s probably because I had hardly ever asked to talk alone with someone else.
By the way, I wonder what people’s assessments of me are like. The image that people around me have of me and how others perceive me must be entirely different.
Well, I decided to think about that later.
“Of course!”
Sophia Bianchi answered, as if she had been waiting for that.
Alice’s gaze felt intense.
I sent a brief glance at Alice before turning back to Sophia Bianchi.
“Then, please drop by my room later this afternoon. I’d like to talk about… yesterday’s training match.”
“Understood!”
Sophia Bianchi responded with a bright smile until the very end.
*
The most comfortable place to have a chat at the academy was obviously my dorm room. Like a room for nobles, the walls and doors are thick, so almost no sound escapes. Unlike the chilly temperature outside, it’s warm inside. Even if the conversation stretches on, there’s no need to change places midway.
As I walked into my room, Sophia Bianchi was glancing around, probably looking for things that are different from her own room.
I quietly prepared tea, letting Sophia Bianchi keep glancing around.
“Well then… let’s talk. Please take a seat.”
“Yes.”
Sophia Bianchi sat down without a hint of nervousness.
And she looked straight at me.
With her amethyst-like eyes fixed on me, it felt a bit uncomfortable. No matter how many years I spent living in the West, I still wasn’t fully accustomed to this kind of intense eye contact.
Let’s keep my mind steady.
There’s no reason for me to be uncomfortable here. In fact, the one who should be truly uncomfortable is Sophia Bianchi, who is undercover.
In that sense, she might be fulfilling her mission diligently.
“Sophia Bianchi.”
“Yes.”
“Are you from the Papal State?”
I shot straight to the point without mincing words, causing her to momentarily freeze.
“Yes?”
“I asked if you’re from the Papal State.”
Faced with her stunned expression, I poured tea into her cup and pushed it toward her.
Honestly, isn’t it strange to think she could use such swordsmanship without being noticed? It’s not like I didn’t mention anything about goddesses and all that.
Well, I guess there might be people in the Empire accustomed to saying stuff about goddesses. Not everyone believes in just one religion, but it’s definitely an influential one worldwide. This means there should be quite a few followers.
Since I, who knew the truth, was able to catch it, others might think, “There’s no way a real knight from the Papal State would act so openly.”
“Aren’t you going to answer me?”
As I pressed for her response, Sophia Bianchi blinked and then spoke.
“Does that mean… you’re saying I’m faking my imperial status?”
“Perhaps not lying. If that status is genuine, then it can’t be called deceit. It could be something real made for purposes, though.”
At least, it wouldn’t be something made just for this time. In the original story, she had always been Sophia ‘Bianchi’ and that name hasn’t changed even in the latest edition.
“If that’s the case, I’ll change my question.”
I looked straight at Sophia Bianchi, just as she had looked at me.
Sophia Bianchi seemed flustered but didn’t shy away from my gaze. Thanks to that, I could better see her expressions.
Is she doing this on purpose? Does she think that showing a flustered expression more clearly will spur the other person on?
Well, I guess I’ll find out soon enough.
“Are you a cathedral knight from the Papal State?”
“……”
In the end, Sophia Bianchi’s expression gradually stiffened.
“If you ask me how I knew, will you answer?”
“Hmm.”
I replied while watching Sophia Bianchi.
“If you show your hand and it’s beneficial, I don’t see any reason not to show mine.”
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