Chapter 77
Chapter 78
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: First Event
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As I hurriedly stepped out of the classroom,
I spotted Ruena already making her way to the end of the corridor.
In the academy, I wouldn't normally call out loudly, but this was an exception.
As I approached Ruena,
I called her name urgently, without even catching my breath.
"Ruena─!"
"...Huh."
At that moment─.
Ruena's steps began to falter.
I didn't know how she'd woken up, but
it seemed the sleeping pill's effects hadn't fully worn off.
'She seemed fine walking earlier...'
Probably, hearing my voice made her relax.
Thinking that,
I carefully grabbed her stumbling arm.
"Hey, pull yourself together."
"...Celen."
Ruena slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes were a bit unfocused.
No─.
Not just a bit, quite a lot.
For a moment, a prick of long-forgotten conscience stabbed at me.
I felt a little guilty for using the sleeping pill.
It had been unavoidable to protect Ruena, though.
Infusing my hold with apology, I supported her more carefully than usual.
Then─.
Ruena suddenly clung tighter to my arm.
As expected of an Eliad.
Her grip was surprisingly strong for someone half-asleep.
A bit flustered, just as I tried to push her away,
she went further, rubbing her cheek against my chest and whining.
"Uungh.... I'm dizzyyy...."
"Hey, hey─!"
My mind went blank, white as my hair.
Ruena acting like this wasn't new, but...
This wasn't the empty Eliad mansion—it was the academy.
Full of eyes and ears everywhere.
Half-asleep, had she forgotten this was the academy corridor?
I looked down at Ruena and let out a long sigh.
Normally, I'd scold her just loud enough for her to hear, but...
Today, it was clearly my fault.
Instead of pushing her away,
I tightened my grip on her arm, holding her firmly.
If she fell like this, it'd cause an even bigger commotion.
Once her posture was somewhat steady, I carefully asked,
"Feeling really dizzy?"
"Yeah, dizzy, sleepy..."
"...I see."
"Mhm. Yawwwn, why am I so sleeepy..."
Then why'd you come out instead of just sleeping?
The words rose to my throat, but I swallowed them.
I was the one who'd drugged her, after all—no right to lecture today.
For now, the priority was getting her away quickly─
via a route avoiding the crown prince.
'The direction she was heading... definitely the crown prince's inspection route...'
Was this the compulsion they mentioned?
There was a women's restroom on the opposite side too.
Much larger and nicer than the one she'd been going for.
Yet she chose that direction.
Too suspicious to call coincidence.
I turned toward the restroom on another floor.
I had to block any chance of them meeting.
Fortunately─.
Ruena followed my lead without protest.
As usual, though.
『Yeah. She listens to you well. For now.』
For some reason,
Melissa's telepathy echoed in my mind.
The ominous prediction that after this time, she wouldn't be the Ruena I knew.
That my words,
my actions,
even our time together might all become meaningless.
My fist clenched involuntarily.
Right then─.
Ruena rubbed her cheek against my arm like a cat.
The same as always.
No trace of wariness.
Exactly like usual, which made it feel all the more unreal.
A weary voice slipped out.
"...What are you doing. Again."
"Hee, Celen's scent... nice..."
"...What?"
"It's cool... and warm... just nice..."
Cool and warm—what was that?
Her usual quirky words.
Somehow, it deflated my tension.
And truthfully, it brought relief, so I ruffled her hair.
"Fuwahhh─?!"
"Snap out of it. You want us both tumbling down the stairs?"
"Then, you'd catch me, right, Celen."
"In a tumble, what could I do? Be your cushion?"
We bantered lightly as we reached the restroom.
I pushed Ruena inside and sighed in relief.
Five minutes left.
If we held out these five minutes, the compulsion wouldn't matter—it'd be proven pointless.
'Block the door instead?'
Might be the surest way.
No matter who, even the crown prince couldn't enter a women's restroom.
'If no one was around, I'd try it.'
Maybe because the crown prince was in the central corridor.
This usually deserted corner had more people than normal.
I clicked my tongue in frustration.
'Oh, right. I can't block it openly, but girls can easily.'
Ask Marian or Melissa?
As I thought to use telepathy─.
Melissa's voice rang in my head first.
『Hey, kid! Where are you now?!』
『Me? Third floor. West end, bent section, women's restroom.』
『What? Ruena─!』
『Inside.』
Her tone was urgent.
Completely unlike her usual sarcasm.
An ominous thought flashed, and I held my breath.
『Listen! The crown prince is heading that way!』
『...What? This isn't on the inspection route─.』
『I told you, kid! That doesn't matter against compulsion─! No time! Block the door, or whatever—stop them meeting, hurry─!』
The crown prince coming here?
To this obscure spot students avoid?
It made no sense.
His official route ended around the central corridor.
That's why staff focused there.
'This... is the compulsion?'
No time to panic.
I had to prevent their meeting somehow.
I shouted urgently toward Ruena in the restroom.
"Ruena! Stay put, don't come out!"
"Huh? Why?"
A chill ran down my spine.
Her voice came from right beside me.
Creeeak─.
I stiffly turned to look at Ruena.
"...You, why."
"Huh? Finished my business and came out... Eh, Celen?!"
"Yeah, good. Let's head to class quick. We'll be late."
"Ah, aa─?!"
I grabbed Ruena's hand and hurried off.
Fortunately─.
The crown prince wasn't alone.
Guards accompanied him on inspection.
Avoid the distinctive, rhythmic boot steps, and we'd dodge collision.
I moved opposite the sound.
A longer way, but─.
Preventing their meeting trumped tardiness.
"C-Celen? Why this way?"
"Can't you hear the footsteps? Noisy that way."
"Oh, yeah..."
Ruena's puzzled voice suddenly cut off.
She stopped dead.
'What?'
An ominous sensation swept over me.
I whipped around to look at Ruena.
The bizarre sight froze my breath.
Ruena stared blankly at one spot.
Her eyes─.
Completely different from before.
An expression I'd never seen.
Not drowsy or tired.
Like a living doll.
Utterly emotionless, unreal.
'What...'
Too shocked,
my body froze solid.
The Ruena I knew never had eyes like that.
Holding my breath,
I followed her gaze.
Beyond the window, the slow-moving inspection procession came into view.
The crown prince at the lead.
Ruena's eyes never left him.
That alone drained the blood from my body.
In that instant─.
Marian's words resurfaced.
"But I'm certain. Your childhood friend will change. ...In a fortnight, due to the compulsion I mentioned."
Despair flickered, but I shoved it aside.
Compulsion or whatever,
I wouldn't let Ruena get swept up.
My words,
my actions,
our time together meaningless?
Then─.
Engrave them deeper.
Shout louder,
hold tighter,
stack more time until no force can intervene.
Impossible to ignore.
I took a deep breath,
yanked Ruena, and called louder than usual.
"Ruena─!"
"......Huh."
Right then─.
Focus returned to her vacant eyes.
Ruena blinked a few times.
"...Celen?"
She looked at me.
The doll-like gaze gone completely.
A bit confused,
but the usual Ruena Eliad I knew.
I sighed in relief and flicked her forehead as always.
"Ow─!"
"Not snapping out? Hurry or we'll be late. What're you spacing out for."
"Oww.... It hurts."
Her usual reaction calmed my racing heart.
But it wasn't over.
Per Melissa, the event started next.
The crown prince, chancing upon Aren, shows favor.
Ruena witnesses, starts antagonizing Aren,
triggering villainess flags galore.
'...Aren. She said no cooperation.'
A week ago─.
I'd talked to Aren too.
Asked if she'd help block the event.
Her answer:
a firm refusal.
Aren Brendina.
With the same cold eyes from our sword duel, she said,
"No. I'm not giving up. ...I promised."
Per Melissa,
Aren Brendina married the crown prince in the first playthrough.
Even promised marriage.
Unfulfilled due to failure, but
afterward, she kept pursuing the crown prince route.
To her, that future was sacred.
Different stances,
but I too had to protect Ruena.
So I couldn't force Aren to yield.
'Persuasion wouldn't work anyway.'
Proof─.
Beyond the window, the crown prince met Aren.
Her usual stoic face
bloomed into smiles after a few words.
'Worst case.'
The power of compulsion?
What now?
I racked my brain desperately and glanced at Ruena beside me.
Expected her staring out the window.
But Ruena looked only at me, smiling brightly the moment I turned.
Innocent, sunny smile.
So familiar, only for me.
"Ehehe."
"...Ruena."
"Yeah?"
She tilted her head,
confused, then looked where I'd been gazing.
Aren and the crown prince reflected fully in her eyes.