Episode 115
Translator: RaidenTL
Episode 115
No one was foolish enough to miss that it had been intentional, not a mistake.
As if on cue, the students picked up the billiard balls from the floor. The one who had dropped them, however, coolly walked away.
Slowly, Cain followed Edgar, who scurried away to an isolated room in the corner, fidgeting as if trying to hide something.
Cain opened the door to the dark, unlit common study and spoke in a cheerful voice.
“You look quite troubled. That topic must be a sensitive one for the Löwe people. I was too slow to intervene. My apologies.”
Edgar, who had been staring blankly up at a bookshelf with his back to Cain, turned and forced a smile. Cain’s eyes curved as he spotted the filthy inferiority complex buried within them.
Ah, this should be interesting.
“Ah, no, it’s fine. It’s not like… what those seniors said was wrong, is it…?”
“Well, I suppose one could see it that way.”
Intoxicated by the fact that the heir to the coveted House of Ror had sought him out for a conversation, Edgar continued to speak his mind, oblivious to the kind of smile the man before him wore.
“Senior Sylvester, he shouldn't have… ah, he shouldn't have left the battlefield like that. The Löwe people relied on him so much, and yet he deserted his post just to protect some subordinate.”
“A sinner, then.”
“Th-that’s right. He’s a sinner.”
Having agreed with him in a fluster, Edgar met the crimson eyes glowing in the darkness and froze. Cain sneered, his chilling gaze seeming to pierce right through to his bones.
“Wow, how impressive.”
“Y-Yes?”
“And here I thought you were just a little rat, consoling yourself with another’s fall from grace and acting all high and mighty, only to start thrashing about in a fit of inferiority the moment he became someone to admire again.”
Edgar stumbled back, his face deathly pale. His heart pounded wildly, as if he’d been caught doing something wrong.
He was right. Though Edgar had grown up wanting for nothing in Löwe, ever since coming to Minerva, he had constantly fallen behind others. He had chosen Evan as the scapegoat to prop up his own self-esteem.
He had constantly reassured himself that the man who once strode so proudly across the battlefield had fallen so low and become so pathetic, and that therefore, he himself was fine.
Speechless with the shame of having his pitiful heart laid bare, his eyes widened at Cain’s next words.
“You’re quite clever, you know.”
Ah, I see.
Rationalization came in an instant. In that same instant, he forgot his shame. Once he had a justification, his hatred spread like wildfire.
The heir to the House of Ror couldn’t be wrong. Therefore, he, who had been acknowledged by him, must also be right. He didn’t hate that man for any personal reasons.
He hated Evan Sylvester because he was a morally corrupt person, and because he, unlike others, had the insight to see through to his filthy nature…
This sanctioned hatred ran wild. With trembling lips, he said, “That bastard needs to pay for his sins.”
“Edgar, you can do anything.”
A man with a twisted smile patted Edgar’s shoulder encouragingly. If he had been just a little more in his right mind, he would have noticed how cold that smile was.
His clouded eyes stared down at his own hands. This incredible person is encouraging me. He’s cheering for me, someone who hasn’t been looked upon with any expectation since coming here.
So there’s no way I can be wrong. I am right, and he is wrong. Therefore, he must be punished. I must prove it.
Prove what?
“I’m right. The other Löwe people don’t know how despicable he is.”
“Having a different perspective from others is a blessing.”
Edgar looked up at Cain with eyes full of blind faith. This person agrees with me. He’s on my side…
Sowing the seeds of tragedy was just this easy.
*
Meanwhile, in the Prefect Office, a strange fashion show was underway. Adrian stared at Elysia, who was standing there with a white sheet draped over her, and asked with a sullen face, “What is this?”
“You told me to pick a costume, didn't you?”
“You’re wearing your school uniform underneath, and you’ve simply thrown a white sheet over yourself.”
“You dense idiot. Can’t you tell just by looking? I’m a ghost.”
It was a truly half-hearted costume; she hadn’t even bothered to buy a new cloth, just grabbed a sheet from her room.
With a stern expression, Adrian snatched the sheet away. Elysia, whose light brown bob had become frizzy with static, casually smoothed it down with her hand and smacked her lips to get rid of the dust that had gotten into her mouth.
“Ah, please do something proper, not this! Do you need an allowance?”
I have plenty of money, Elysia grumbled, ruffling her hair.
“I just don’t know what to be.”
“If you really don’t know, just put on a pointy hat and go as a witch.”
“No, that’s too common.”
“My, you have a strange desire to stand out. Then how about this?”
From a rarely used shelf on the bookcase, Adrian pulled out a detective novel. He opened it to the first page, revealing an illustration of a middle-aged man in a hunting cap, lighting a pipe.
Adrian narrowed his eyes as he stared at it and said, “This could work.”
“Why would I wear something only old men wear—”
“Why don’t we go to a clothing store and have you try it on? I think it would actually look great. I can guarantee it’ll make you stand out. It’s an androgynous look, isn’t it?”
“Try what on?”
Evan, looking exhausted, entered the Prefect Office and set a bag full of thick books on the desk. Elysia, her expression curious, tried to sling the strap of the bag he’d set down over her shoulder, but horrified by its incredible weight, she dropped it as if flinging it away.
In the meantime, Evan took the book from Adrian, examined the illustration, and gazed thoughtfully at Elysia.
“I think it would look pretty… but isn’t it too similar to how you usually dress?”
It was a sharp point. Cross-dressing was only shocking when done by someone who never did it, but for Elysia, it was practically a daily routine.
Remembering something he had forgotten, Adrian muttered with a flustered expression, “Ah, but… ma’am, you’re going to draw a tremendous amount of attention anyway. Since the costume is your choice, I recommend you cancel the shocking idea and go for something moderately conventional.”
“Hm? Why me?”
“Look at who your partner is going to be.”
Adrian held up a hand and pointed at Evan.
“How many people cornered you today?”
“...It seems everyone is curious about the House of Sylvester’s next move.”
Evan offered a smile, avoiding a direct answer.
For the past few days, he had practically been living on the run. For him, a man of extraordinary stamina, to show signs of fatigue was a testament to how much he had been hounded.
“Haven’t you felt it lately, ma’am? You might already be under investigation.”
“...Ah, so that must be what that hostile presence was.”
“What hostile presence?”
“I just had a bad feeling. I guess that was it.”
Come to think of it, a few students had tried to strike up conversations with her, even though she was widely known for her rotten personality. It was possible an investigation had indeed begun. If so, was that feeling of being watched when she went out a result of that?
Having become involved with the House of Sylvester, a name that could be a blade aimed at anyone, the gazes directed at her were more likely to be hostile than friendly. That would explain the feeling of being targeted. And yet…
“But that doesn’t feel right…”
Even with a logical explanation, it didn’t sit well with her. An unsettling feeling remained. Elysia stared at the empty slot in her inventory where a potion bottle had once been, then scratched the side of her head and turned to look out the window.
One day until the banquet celebrating the start of Minerva’s fall semester. One day until she would face the culprit alone.
*
Elysia stood hesitantly before Siene, whose eyes were blazing. She had wondered why Siene had suddenly summoned her to her house right before the banquet. So this was it.
Staring nervously at her friend, Elysia’s expression turned to one of confusion when she saw the dress that was brought out. For Siene, who only ever chased after shocking styles, it was remarkably tame.
Delicate embroidery adorned the gray fabric. The material on the sleeves was thin enough to reveal the skin underneath, but that could be passed off as a design accent.
Elysia’s brow furrowed as she watched the hem of the dress sway, made from layers of thin, shimmering gray fabric.
“What’s this? It’s actually pretty nice.”
“The back is even prettier.”
Proudly, Siene spun the hanger the dress was on. Elysia grinned.
“Did you run out of money for fabric?”
“Do you have any idea how expensive this fabric is?! Honestly, you know nothing about trends.”
“What is this…?”
The sheer material wasn’t limited to the sleeves. The entire back was made of it. There were silver-thread embroideries of leaves here and there, but not nearly enough to cover all the exposed skin.
Seeing the bare back of the dress, Elysia shook her head.
“I don’t think it’ll suit me. Thanks for the thought, but—”
“Don’t be ridiculous! You have to wear things like this. Your features are so striking that flashy clothes look over-the-top, and plain clothes make people only see your face. This is the perfect balance.”
“Still, it’s too revealing…”
Elysia waved her hand dismissively, and in that moment, she witnessed something snap in Siene’s eyes.
“I even made the neckline modest, so what’s so revealing?! You’re being so timid over a little bit of back. What’s with you? Why are you so conservative?”
“Maybe you’re just too progressive—”
“You have to show off the lines of your body. So, shut up, and put it on.”
Siene, with a look in her eyes that said, I’ll kill you if you don’t put it on, took a step toward her. Elysia backed away from her, who looked ready to rip the school uniform right off her body, and reluctantly took the dress.
Elysia set up a screen to make a makeshift changing room and grumbled, “Aish, damn it. I’m so not the type to wear stuff like this…”
“I designed it to suit you, so shut your mouth and wear it.”
“You’re getting more and more rude, you know that?”
“Whose influence do you think that is?”
The sound of a scoff came from beyond the screen. Elysia slowly slipped her body into the dress.
Because the sheer material made it impossible to tighten a corset, the dress was actually comfortable. It was perfect for her figure, which was on the leaner side thanks to an exercise regimen that far exceeded her food intake.
When she swept the screen aside and walked out, Siene naturally moved behind her and tied a ribbon at her back.
After briefly adjusting the fit, Siene twirled a finger and commanded, “Look in the mirror.”
“…”
“You’re honestly impressed, but you’re holding it in because of your pride, aren’t you?”