A few days have passed since our first practical magic class and it has been fairly peaceful.
The heroine wasn't bothering me, though it seems like she's still troubling some people. At least, that's what I've heard from the rumors.
I didn't know the details, but I heard that she has been getting close to some boys and seniors. Normally, it would've been fine for people to mingle since one of the reasons why the academy was built was to also give opportunities for students to make connections with each other, including getting into relationships. Of course, there are lines you shouldn't pass, but as long as it's just on the level of holding hands, it's fine.
But the problem is that some of the boys she had been getting close to already have fiances...
Hah... Is she doing it on purpose? Does she not care whether or not the boy she likes already has a partner?
I can't help but sigh whenever I heard about Aria seducing another guy who already has a fiancee. It's... really unpleasant.
But on the bright side, she hasn't been bothering me or my friends.
She's showing hostility towards us, including Ellie, wherever she has the chance. But at least, she's not actually doing anything to us.
So for now, my peaceful academy days continue.
Now, I'm heading to the dining hall for lunch with Evelyn, Noir, and Ellie. Celine, Illya, and Valerie were unfortunately called by some teachers to help them with something, so they can't come along.
They looked super sad when they couldn't come. But when I promised them that I will eat dinner with them, they perked up again and became excited.
Ufufufu~ Such cuties~
"Pleeeeeease~ Will you reconsider my offer~?"
"I'm sorry... But I would have to decline. Respectfully."
Just then, I heard a sickeningly sweet, high pitched voice from around the corner that made me frown automatically... It was a familiar one.
When we arrived at the end of a hallway and turned the corner, we saw a crowd starting to form around the fluffy, golden-haired heroine, who was looking up cutely at a red-haired hotty.
No wait... Isn't that Keith?
My eyes immediately widened in surprise.
What a shocker! The guy sounded so polite that his face didn't even come to mind!
No, I guess the one I had in my head was the Keith from "Lovely Happenings". The Keith in this world is polite.
"...It's that girl again. And now, it seems like she's aiming for Varion-sama."
"Seriously? Does she think the gentlemanly Varion-sama would be interested with a harlot like her?"
"What a frog in a well. She can't even see that Varion-sama is clearly way out of her league."
"She must've gotten a big head just because she has affinity to the light element. I heard she can't even use it right."
"Really? What a waste of a talent."
U-Uwaaaaah... Those are some nasty comments.
Ooooiii. Heroine. Stop drooling over him. Did you hear them bad mouthing you?
"How unpleasant... Risa-sama, let's make haste to the dining hall."
"Evelyn-sama is right, Alterisa-sama. Let's just ignore them and go ahead."
"U-Uhn... We shouldn't get involved with her..."
Evelyn and Noir looked upset at what's happening, while Ellie seemed... afraid.
It seems like the fear from what Aria did to her when they first met still lingered in her heart.
But don't worry! I will protect you, Ellie!
I petted Ellie's head softly, causing her to blush and looked at me with a small smile.
"Alright. Let's go."
I also don't want to get involved with her. Being in the same class is enough.
"Ah."
I looked forward once again. But this time, my eyes met with Keith's.
Ah... We met gazes.
I then saw him talking with Aria hurriedly and then began making his way towards us.
W-What? Why is he coming here?
AH! The heroine's also looking at us now! No, she's glaring!!! That's a death glare!!!
Go away, Keith! Shoo! Why are you aggroing her towards us?!
But to my dismay, he kept approaching until he was right before us. He placed his right hand above his left chest and bowed politely to greet us.
"Good day, Alterisa-sama, Silium-sama, Raeven-sana, and lady..."
"A-Ah! M-My name is Ellie!"
"Lady Ellie. It is a pleasure to meet you this fine morning."
"Y-Yes! I-It is a pleasure to meet you as well."
Ellie bowed properly with her hands clasped in front of her, before she hid behind me shyly.
Fufufu~ Good job on your greetings, Ellie~ Your etiquette is improving tremendously! Normally, you should've given him a curtsy, but it's fine! After all, it's the academy and you're still learning!
But next time, you should properly greet people with a curtsy, okay? Especially when I bring you to a banquet in the future.
...
NO, WAIT! That's not the problem now! W-Why is he here?!
I snuck a peak to look at the heroine, and saw her glaring at us with her fists clenched tightly.
Fortunately, she turned heels almost immediately after slamming her foot on the ground.
Phew... Alright, that's good. Just don't come here. I... I dont' want to get in the middle of you and Keith.
I looked back at Keith, who was standing there with a bright smile on his face.
...Well, I'll forgive you for aggroing the last boss to us this time. But if you do that again, I'll turn you into a strawberry popsicle!
The girls and I curtsied as I lowered my head with a smile and greeted him back.
"Good day to you as well, Keith-sama. I noticed you were talking to lady Aria. Is it fine for you to leave the conversation abruptly?"
"Ah, please don't mind it. She was simply... insisting to have lunch with me, but I have declined her offer."
Oh, I see."
Did he already promise another lady for lunch? No, he's not a playboy anymore. So for him to reject her...
She must've managed to annoy Keith too. The heroine's ability to annoy people really is off the charts.
Alterisa shook her head tiredly and sighed.
I then looked at Keith and observed him from top to bottom once again.
Umu... I have to admit, he's still as cool and handsome as he was in the otome game.
No... He's even more handsome now. Because he's no longer a playboy, the prim and proper air around him made him even more handsome.
It's the gap moe.
His looks are that of a hot, flamboyant, playboy, but he's acting properly and politely. And that gap between those two traits made him even more attractive than he would be if he acted like he was in the otome game.
Now I understand why he's super popular even though he doesn't go around flirting with girls.
Look! Now he's acting all embarrassed! It's super adorable! Humu, you are a worthy opponent indeed. But I won't let you steal my Evelyn!
No matter if you are supposed to be engaged to her, I won't let you take her that easily! You need to defeat me first before you can reach her!!!
But then, Evelyn stepped forward and stood in front of me, as if shielding me from him.
"Well then, if you have no other business with us, we shall be excusing ourselves now, Varion-sama~"
"Eh?"
Eh? Why is Evelyn the one shielding me from him? I was supposed to be the one shielding you from him!
She turned to me with her beautiful, onee-sama smile and curled her arm around mine.
"Alterisa-sama, let's head to the dining hall quickly. Lest the dessert you've been waiting for sell out."
Ah! That's right! They'll be serving the new fruit tart today! I need to go before they sell out!
"Ah! You're right. Well then, Keith-sama. Please excuse us. Good day."
"Ah... Yes..."
I curtsied hurriedly and followed after Evelyn along with the rest of the girls.
--------------------------------X--------------------------------
[3rd Person POV]
Watching in a daze, the crimson-haired heir of the Varion ducal household stood as he stared at the back of the platinum-haired Goddess receding into the distance.
His first love. The love he had kept secret since he first met her. The yearning he had tried to keep deep in his heart for all these years. Yet, just one look at her figure had almost broken all of his effort to hide feelings.
Her loving smile. Her love. Her attention. They were the only thing he couldn't obtain in this world.
It was impossible. He knew it very well. She was the fiance of his close friend.
But try as he may, nothing could extinguish his love for her. He had met other ladies, all of them beautiful, intelligent, gentle, and distinguished. Yet in his eyes, every one of them paled in comparison to her.
A deep sigh escaped his lips.
If I can't have her smile... Then at the very least, let me protect it.
Even if it was only as a friend, he still wished to make her smile and protect it with everything.
This he swore to himself.
"Keith."
He turned to the familiar voice and saw his jet-black haired friend approaching him. He had a stoic expression just as usual, but as his friend, Keith had learned to tell the slight changes in his expression and figure out what he was thinking.
And now, he noticed a slight worry in his expression.
"Luke."
"I heard you were approached by her once again. What did she ask from you this time?"
A sigh escaped his lips as he smiled helplessly.
"She invited me for lunch."
"Did you decline?"
"Of course. But she kept insisting even after that. It was quite... exhausting."
"...You should just say no and walk away. If she keeps following you, walk faster until she gives up. She doesn't have that much stamina."
Keith let out a little laugh as he listened to Luke.
"Is that what you did?"
"No. I just turned the corner and run as quickly as I could."
"I see. It must've looked like you disappeared from her perspective."
"Mm. The only one who could match my speed is Alterisa."
Instead of envy or frustration, Luke sounded proud, and it was easy to understand why. Although he had never said it explicitly, it was obvious to tell from the tone of his voice and his expression when he talked about her.
Just like him, Luke was also in love with Alterisa.
"I don't doubt that. Now then, shall we head to the dining hall for lunch?"
"Of course. But before that, there's something I want to tell you."
"Hm?"
Luke came closer and lowered his voice as he leaned in for a whisper.
"We need to keep a close eye on that girl."
"Hm? Why?"
"I'm not sure, but Noir told me that her presence had shaken Alterisa multiple times since she entered the academy."
Keith's eyes widened in surprise before his eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Is that true? Do you know what she had done to her?"
Luke shook his head.
"No. But we should still be careful. Alterisa... She asked Noir or at least one of her friends to always accompany her whenever she's within the academy."
"...Does Lucas or Alexus know of this?"
"Yes. And I think they know more than we do now. When I asked them what she was worried about, they evaded my question and simply told me not to worry."
"Hah... Alright. I'll try asking them as well. In the meantime, try asking your sister for more information as well. As her close friend, she might know more than we do as well. I would've loved to ask Lady Silium about this as well, but..."
A sigh escaped his lips once again...
Evelyn von Silium was one of Alterisa's closest friends, perhaps the closest out of everyone. And although his relationship with Evelyn was... a friend of a friend at most, she was the only one out of Alterisa's friends that he could confide in the most.
After all, she was the most likely candidate to be his fiance, and they've met on several occasions orchestrated by their family. But even after those meetings, their relationship never advanced further than just a friend of a friend.
"...No, I'll try my luck with her too."
Perhaps, if it was a topic related to Alterisa, she would be more keen to open up and tell him more about the situation surrounding her.
After all, he was the heir of a ducal household. If she was as capable as he expected, she would put aside her personal feelings and "use" him to help her protect her best friend as well.
"In the meantime, can you tell me what your sister have told you over lunch."
"Alright."
AN: I hope you guys enjoy the chapter~!!! Please feel free to comment your thoughts! Would love to know your opinions~!!!