A Fabricated Apology
Meanwhile, Ashytara was deftly taking notes in Professor Rohan Heywards' lecture while lost in thought. That thought was, 'How can I make the malice surrounding Ludenberg Lavante disappear?'
At first, she'd hoped the ill will directed at Ludenberg would grow even stronger. If that happened, he might tire out faster from all the hostility around him and come to rely on her. But after witnessing how most of the students around him regarded him with inexplicable fear and sharp antagonism the other day, those notions had vanished like mist in the sun.
The environment around Ludenberg was far more hostile than Ashytara had anticipated. Even accounting for how unstable he'd seemed that day, telling the desperate Cletta Peliche to get lost had been Ludenberg's fault. There was no defending that.
Yet the situation around him had shifted so dramatically afterward that it was enough to change her long-held views. People had turned against Ludenberg with alarming speed. Mocking him for his low rank? No. From what she'd observed since enrolling, Ludenberg had never initiated casual conversation with anyone first. And he certainly never showed hostility toward others unprovoked.
But suddenly, rumors spread like wildfire claiming he'd been antagonistic from the start. Whenever she heard these stories, it was always something vague like, "I heard Ludenberg has that kind of reputation." It laid bare the stigma already attached to him.
'They're all judging Ludenberg based on baseless rumors. Without ever even talking to him themselves.' Ashytara was reminded once again of how terrifying rumors could be. She'd felt it in her own childhood, but the malicious gossip around Ludenberg was on another level.
'Wait... rumors?' A sudden idea flashed in Ashytara's mind.
Rumors! If malicious ones were targeting Ludenberg, what if she spread good ones instead? Rumors had the power to turn lies into truth. All it took was three people. Even if those three were lying, to the listener, it became fact.
Of course, with the existing bad rumors, Ludenberg's aloof demeanor, and his lack of divine power, she doubted anyone would buy positive stories outright... but it was worth trying. Anything was better than doing nothing and letting things fester.
So how should she spread them? After much deliberation, she reached one conclusion.
'Cletta Peliche...'
The girl Ludenberg had rejected last time. If she, who'd received his hostility firsthand, started spreading positive rumors about him? People might actually believe her.
If Ashytara wove a bit of fabrication into the story for Cletta... it could work. She didn't care if it meant using the girl. To Ashytara, Ludenberg came before anyone else.
The moment the idea struck, Ashytara decided to act. She headed straight for the cafeteria. Most Knight Faculty students would be there now.
Upon arriving, she scanned the room. It didn't take long to spot Cletta with her light purple hair, sitting alone and poking disconsolately at her food.
Ashytara grabbed a quick bite and approached stealthily. Cletta, oblivious until someone sat across from her, finally looked up.
"Hi. Mind if I sit here if the seat's free?" Ashytara asked in a gentle voice.
"Uh... huh!?" Cletta startled, staring at her. 'What? Why is Princess Ashytara here? Did I do something wrong?'
Even in merit-based Solemnute Adem, a princess was another story. Trembling, Cletta wondered if she'd offended her somehow.
Her voice shook as much as her body. "Wh-what... brings you here...?" She stuck to polite speech, just in case. No need to risk trouble with casual talk.
"Oh... um, it's fine. You seem really nervous. You didn't do anything wrong, so relax. No need for formal speech—we're both Solemnute Adem students." Ashytara gazed pityingly at the quaking girl, speaking as softly as possible. She even added a slight smile.
Ashytara usually seemed impassive and sharp-eyed, hard to approach. But with her eyes curving gently, she transformed into someone remarkably kind.
Seeing that smile, and hearing it wasn't her fault, Cletta felt her tension melt away faster than expected.
As soon as Cletta calmed, Ashytara gave her a subtle smile. "There, feeling better?"
"Y-yeah... So, what brings you here?"
"Nothing big... just here to pass on an apology."
"An apology? Out of nowhere?" 'Has Ashytara ever done anything to apologize for? I can't think of anything...'
"Yeah. Not from me, exactly... Ludenberg asked me to relay it."
"...What?" Cletta's face went blank, as if she'd misheard. 'That Ludenberg? Apologizing?'
If anyone else had said it, she'd call it a lie. But this was Ashytara. Everyone knew the princess and Ludenberg had been close childhood friends—nobles still gossiped about it, even speculating on an engagement once. Though at Solemnute Adem, no one had seen them together, so rumors swirled that things soured after he failed to awaken divine power.
'So the rumors were true after all?' Cletta began to doubt the gossip.
"Ludenberg... wants to apologize to me?"
"Yep."
"Why not come himself? Um, no offense, but... shouldn't apologies be in person?"
Asking for help between students was normal. Refusals happened, especially from rivals—no obligation to teach. But...
'Get lost' was too much. She hadn't demanded sword lessons rudely; she'd politely asked for advice on her form. And they were strangers then.
'If he's apologizing, he should come himself—not send the princess. Is he insane? Even for House Lavante...' Cletta started seeing Ludenberg as even ruder.
Ashytara sensed things veering off-script. She racked her brain for excuses.
"Oh, well... Ludenberg is extremely shy around people."
"Even so..." Isn't that too much? Cletta bit back the rest. No offending a princess.
But Ashytara caught the implication. Before Cletta could spiral, she hurried on. "You know the rumors around him, right?"
"Yeah..." How could she not? Black Pavilion buzzed daily with talk of Ludenberg or Eden Asta.
"Exactly. So he avoids people and gets super nervous. He wasn't always like that. It even upsets me hearing about it."
Cletta felt sympathy swell as Ashytara spoke with downcast, bitter eyes.
Unbeknownst to Ashytara, her expressive face easily conveyed her emotions. Cletta found herself listening intently.
"What was he like before?"
Cletta caught Ashytara's eyes curving softly again—a dramatic shift.
"He was really sweet. Truly. He'd praise little things like they were amazing, stay humble even with compliments. When I wanted to quit, he'd say I could do it and lift me up."
These were fragments Ashytara had kept private. She didn't want to share, but for Ludenberg—for reducing the malice around him—she would.
To Cletta, it sounded like pure fiction. That icy Ludenberg? Sweet? What was she hearing?
"Then why tell me to get lost that day?"
That was the crux. Cletta had mustered courage to admit her flaws and ask for help. She'd have accepted refusal—teaching swordplay required real generosity. Even a harsh no would've been fine.
But Ludenberg had shot back with clear hostility. Despite her polite request. It terrified her. Pure rudeness—turning a simple refusal into venom. His fault, plain and simple.
Ashytara understood and nodded. "That day... sounds like an excuse, but his condition was really bad. He could barely attend class."
"What? His condition was bad?"
Cletta couldn't believe it. That steady sword stance, fluid motions she'd never replicate—even exhausted, his stamina had held. And that was at his worst?
"Yeah. There was a history lecture before outdoor training—he left midway because he felt awful. Spent the whole day slumped over his desk, hands over his ears."
"Wasn't that just an excuse to skip?"
Maybe Ashytara's kindness made her bold; Cletta spoke casually without thinking.
"No." Ashytara's tone was firm. "Ludenberg has never goofed off in class. Trust me—he was truly unwell that day, and he's regretted snapping at you ever since."
Cletta nodded involuntarily at the conviction.
"O-okay... So what did he want me to hear?"
"He's really sorry. He doesn't have time to train himself right now, so he can't help yet—but if you ask later, he'll give proper guidance."
"Wow..." Cletta was genuinely moved. That notorious Ludenberg?
Watching her awe, Ashytara felt satisfied—her plan was working. Of course, it was just a momentary deception. Truth would out, and Ludenberg might hate her for it.
But she wasn't worried. She believed he'd regret his rudeness to Cletta. Someone so scarred by baseless malice would understand.
Unwarranted hostility left deep wounds on the heart. Ludenberg, bearing them constantly, couldn't ignore Cletta's.
"Yeah. Oh, and I'll help too. Ludenberg can't use divine power, so I can assist with that."
"...Really?"
Cletta could hardly tell dream from reality. An apology from a duke's heir, and help from his princess friend? More unbelievable than cheap novels.
"You're not lying?"
"Of course not."
Cletta's face lit up instantly, her gloom evaporating like a lie.
"Thank you—truly. No one's helped me since enrolling. I'm so happy."
She seemed about to cry, so Ashytara cut in quickly. "Since we're at it, let's start today. Busy this afternoon?"
"No! Not at all!" Cletta rushed to reply.
Delighted at how smoothly it went, Ashytara smiled her kindest. "Great. See you this afternoon."
Her actions bordered on excessive. Few would go this far for a drifting old friend.
Yet if asked why she did so much for Ludenberg, Ashytara would answer:
'Ludenberg was the only one who reached out to me in my darkest days.'