Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: The Future Villains Arrive
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Only in the late afternoon did people finally accept that they hadn't been invited.
Feeling a sense of emptiness akin to getting all dressed up only for the appointment to be canceled, but a million times more somber, they decided to hold a consolation gathering among themselves.
They wanted to soothe their hearts by running into someone—anyone—and lightly mocking the Count Rudelriz's elegance, now that they were already dolled up.
They were insanely disappointed.
If only they could open that door! If they could just get inside!
"Even befriending just one of them would turn my life around, paving a smooth path ahead..."
Count Molion muttered unwittingly.
Realizing there were people around, he belatedly covered his mouth, but instead of snickers at his frivolity, sighs rippled through the crowd like waves.
"Right? They stick so much to their own kind..."
"Haa..."
That was it.
The reason this birthday party had drawn such attention wasn't solely due to the count's prestige.
It was the first "Count Mayches Rudelriz's birthday party" in six years—one that demanded attendance even if it bankrupted you.
And among the people the count had casually invited one afternoon in Repitelips Academy's cafeteria, not a single one was ordinary.
Bamper Leydin Orelot, crown prince of the Orelot Empire and one of the continent's rare spirit mages.
Daluh Dea, the sole saint of Ileneias and next pope.
Yan Friedelric, vice-guildmaster of the continent's top guild Baltan Catric and genius artist.
Calipan Jedkaizer, heir to the Jedkaizer Duke Family of the Roxidrane Empire and genius swordsman.
And Jayhan Rohawa, whose background was unknown (!) but presence topped them all—a peerless beauty and prophet of disasters.
...They were the very figures who would shatter Repitelips Academy's entrance competition rates next semester, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Mayches as the five dubbed "Ileneias's Future."
I was perfectly fine even as I heard the footsteps of Mayches's friends approaching.
A bit tense, sure, but first meetings with others were always like that.
When glimpses of their faces started appearing over Mayches's shoulder as he stood blocking the door, I thought Doria was spot on.
Not only was it surprising that there were people as handsome as Mayches in the world (not my bias—Mayches was famously so in the original story, ahem...), but seeing them all gathered together was truly a sight that soothed both body and soul.
Looking here was easy on the eyes, looking there was easy on the eyes... How could their features fit together so perfectly?
...But what was this unease?
My heart began pounding out of nowhere.
I'd never even stepped outside the Rudelriz estate, so why did I feel this strange sense of déjà vu from them?
But up until then, I chalked it up to my body sending warning signals from all the bustling around since morning.
However, at the very back of the group...
Spotting the edge of someone's face leisurely trailing behind, it was like a fog lifted from my mind.
'...Jayhan Rohawa! Anyone could tell it's Jayhan Rohawa!'
Because no two visuals like that could exist in this world...!!
I froze solid, like a block of ice.
I couldn't fathom how Jayhan had ended up at Mayches's birthday party.
Jayhan attending the academy? Had he made the kind of decision only the diligent would?
Me, sinner of sloth?!
Bang!
While I stood there dazed, Mayches's friends flung open both doors of the half-open parlor.
They swarmed naturally around me.
"Oh! Mayches's little sister! The owner of that shining name. The small, transparent White Flame that looks kindly upon the common folk—nice to meet you."
A friend with soft cocoa-brown hair and green eyes—his face already screaming prince—greeted me brightly.
"That famous Aiel... I finally get to see you with my own eyes..."
A friend with pale purple hair and golden eyes muttered something between enlightened resignation and conversation.
"You're the game queen Aiel Rudelriz, huh? Heard a lot about you. You look just like that guy Mayches. Uh... n-nice to meet you."
A friend with white hair and unusually moist pale pink eyes—seeming sensitive yet rough-spoken—scratched his head.
"Wow, actually seeing Mayches's precious golden child. He wrapped you up so tight, I thought I'd be the only one close to him forever."
A friend who looked my age, with dark blue hair and black eyes, eyed me curiously.
Like a wooden doll creaking on hinges, I stiffly turned my neck to look at each one.
Trembling all over, I screamed inwardly.
'You guys! You're not coincidentally sharing mugshots with this world's villains, are you...!'
I could feel my face draining of color in real time.
If my worries were just baseless paranoia, I'd have been thrilled, but seeing Jayhan Rohawa at the back—his ash-blond hair shimmering like it received the light's obedience, or perhaps its love—I had to admit it.
These people at my brother's birthday party were none other than...
The traitorous deposed crown prince, Bamper Orelot.
The fallen saint cursed by the gods, Daluh Dea.
The artist of slaughter and blood, Yan Friedelric.
The strongest and worst swordsman in history, Calipan Jedkaizer.
The beauty that brings calamity, Jayhan Rohawa.
...The very villains who would shatter Ileneias to pieces in the future!
"Aiel! Aiel, can you hear me?"
And the one cradling my cheeks, calling "Aiel! Aiel!" was the bloodthirsty pleasure mage Mayches...
No, no! This is just my cute brother, Mayches Rudelriz!
"I hear you..."
I barely squeezed out a mosquito-like voice from my constricted throat.
I had to pull myself together. I couldn't faint here.
Today was Mayches's birthday, after all, and I couldn't just plant him amid these seeds of doom and pass out carefree.
With one hand, I pushed Mayches away; with the other, I reached for Doria.
She immediately caught on and asked urgently.
"Strawberry flavor, or grape?"
What good was an urgent voice now? Was that even important...?
"Any..."
Doria pulled out the red potion I often chose from the ones always stocked in her apron pocket and promptly shoved it upside down into my mouth.
Gulping down the special healing potion Mayches made, my fading mind cleared a bit, and strength returned to my body.
I roughly wiped my mouth and handed the empty vial back to Doria.
Then I scanned the prospective villains again, who stood frozen like statues, faces like they'd witnessed something rare.
My eyes met each of theirs amid a strange tension.
I opened my mouth solemnly.
"H-hellooo..."
My voice trembled faintly, perfectly synced with my heart at 100%.
No helping it.
I was still terrified, every moment on the verge of fainting, barely overcoming it with sheer willpower. A solo human victory no one else knew.
Good thing my voice came out, or my heart might've jumped right out...
But they seemed to interpret my trembling voice differently.
"No strength in her voice at all. We knew his sister was frail, but..."
"Is it okay for her to keep standing...?"
Calipan and Yan whispered.
Knowing what they'd done in the original story, their prayers didn't reach me.
You guys worrying about someone else's health right now...?
Seeing my complexion improve, Mayches sighed in relief and knelt to meet my eyes.
"Aiel, you okay? Let's go rest in your room. You were up and about early this morning."
"Two personalities?"
Ignoring Daluh's mutter, I peered into Mayches's ash-gray eyes as he stroked my head.
He might've blabbed about Harrigal or whatever, but he was still my one and only pure-hearted brother.
"No. I wanna stay too. We have to cut the cake."
I pretended not to notice Bamper, standing by the cake, exclaiming innocently at the top tier.
"If it gets tough, tell me right away. Got it?"
Mayches nodded at my nod and signaled Doria.
Doria wheeled in the trolley with the cake all the way into the parlor.
Six maids lined up with Doria in the center. Then they skillfully began singing a tune.
"You were~ born to be loved~ Happy birthday~."
Mayches's friends awkwardly pretended to focus on the maids' singing.
All of them yielding to the unfamiliar situation, careful not to spoil the host's event.
For a moment, I forgot my fear and felt a bit embarrassed.
Because I'd loved cutting the cake and singing at my first birthday party so much, it had become tradition—and I hadn't expected to do it in front of others.
"Dearest Count~ Happy birthday~."
Doria and the maids finished the song professionally, without a waver.
Glancing sideways, Mayches wore the face of one who walked his own path, regardless of others. Brotherly, but admirable.
And then came the long-awaited cake-cutting ceremony.