Alone in a World of White
The child who had fallen alone into a world dyed pure white trembled at the distant growls of beasts.
A world that offered no welcome to the girl who had fled without even seeing her mother laid to rest in her homeland.
"Hic... hic."
The cold wind struck her cheeks. At the steadily approaching footsteps, the girl sensed with dread that she would soon be torn apart by sharp claws and fangs.
"Found you."
"Eh?"
But the being that appeared before her was no beast of the forest. It was a child of similar age, with vivid red eyes. The boy, dressed in clothes of beast hide, shot something toward the sky.
"It's okay."
Those words were so profoundly reassuring that the girl lost consciousness on the spot.
"...Nn."
Cecilia sat up in bed and tried to recall the dream she had just had, but it had already vanished like mist, leaving only the faintest, flickering afterimages behind.
"Lady Cecilia."
"Ran. Good morning."
"Yes. You stayed up late last night chatting with your friend, didn't you?"
"Ah."
Cecilia brushed her bangs aside lightly and smiled.
"Mm. I had a few things to prepare."
"Aha! For the spring festival coming up soon?"
"Well... something like that."
"Aaah, I'm so looking forward to it. Big Sister Luche told me the academy's spring and autumn festivals have this almost demonic power that completely sweeps people off their feet."
"..."
"Lady Cecilia?"
"Y-yeah."
Finished tidying her hair, Cecilia rose and looked out the window. Outside stood Victor, chatting casually with her escort knight, Luche.
"...Uuu."
He's having such a fun conversation with Luche again. Cecilia got up and started downstairs.
"Your Grace, so you really have to trust the course I planned out for you."
"...Bullshit."
I stared in open horror at Luche, who had boldly presented me with a schedule that brought guerrilla training courses straight to mind.
"You trying to make Cecilia pass out?"
"Hiiing. Back in my student days, so many kids followed me around saying they loved it."
"From the North?"
"No. All from the capital. Every last one of them collapsed halfway through, which was a real disappointment."
"Looks fine on the outside, but the insides are pure muscle—so they get blown up the moment they try."
Luche was well past marriageable age, and her looks were perfectly fine. If she still hadn't found a partner, that meant...
"...What's with that pitying look?"
"Nothing. Just thinking Jester must have it rough. He lets his daughter date freely, and she turns out to be a toxic asset..."
"Aaaaah!!! You said it!! Even the other knights never say that, but Your Grace just—!!!"
"What you need at times like this is someone who can give you a cold, honest evaluation."
We were trading remarks about Luche's bleak romantic future when—
"Lord Victor."
"Cecilia, you're up—"
I tilted my head at the faint scowl on Cecilia's face.
"Cecilia? Is something wrong?"
"You're getting along awfully well with Luche."
"Well... she's basically like a big sister to me."
"Hmm."
"Why... are you looking at me like that?"
"What about me?"
"Hm?"
"I'm a noona too, you know."
"Uh..."
I paused to think. What answer would satisfy Cecilia here?
'Cecilia, you're like a big sister to me too!' No, that's wrong. That makes it sound like I see her as family, not as a woman. In that case...
"Hmm."
"Cecilia?"
Whether she had noticed my internal struggle or not, Cecilia's lips curved ever so slightly.
"Think it over carefully and let me know."
"..."
"Ran, let's go."
"Yes!"
I stared blankly after Cecilia as she walked away. Where did that kind of composure even come from? In contrast—
"Aaaaah, revise the evaluation, pleaseee!!"
"..."
Wow. Not acting her age at all—just like our family-register buddy.
"So?"
"He was so!! Completely flustered, and his face went bright red!"
"...Oho. So His Grace has no immunity in that department?"
"Mm-hmm! Just like you said, Chloe!"
Cecilia grinned brightly and clasped Chloe's hand.
"You're the best, Chloe."
"Haha. As if any of the second-year boys are normal to begin with."
"Uh... yeah?"
"Every time I look at you, Cesil, I start thinking I should snag myself a younger guy and live the good life. So I've been reading all kinds of books, and..."
"Ohhh. So did you snag—"
"...No one."
Chloe's eyes welled up as she hung her head.
"There isn't anyone... How does that even make sense?! Couples already, and the spring festival hasn't even started! Look over there—another couple!!"
"..."
"It wasn't like this last year! Why is it happening now!!!"
Watching her friend wail, Cecilia desperately tried to come up with words of comfort—
"Ah. There's a couple right in front of me, too."
"C-couple? It's an engagement... contract... relationship, I keep telling you."
"What are you even saying!! If you really think about it, this is all your and His Grace's fault!"
"U-uhh? How come?"
"Because!!! When people see the two of you being all lovey-dovey, they start thinking, 'Ah... I want to date too,' and then they start looking around!"
"..."
"And then they realize their own feelings, or start thinking about the other person, and in the end..."
The two of them watched the couples walking past. Fresh, brand-new pairs still carrying that bright, sparkling scent of early romance.
"You two are giving off that exact same scent with His Grace, and you still claim you're not a couple!!!"
"It's not like that. My relationship with Lord Victor is... I..."
Cecilia's face flushed as she twisted a strand of hair around her finger.
"It's unrequited love."
"Ugh."
"Ugh?"
"That just now... kinda hurt... His Grace needs to see this side of you."
"I-I can never let him see it!! What if my inadequate self ends up putting Lord Victor in an awkward position?!"
"Then."
Resting her chin on one hand, Chloe met Cecilia's eyes and asked,
"When are you going to confess those feelings?"
"...When I've risen to a position worthy of standing beside him."
"Frustrating, and at the same time, so very you."
"Mm."
"Must be nice."
"Quite the unusual pair."
At the familiar—and equally irritating—voice, Chloe's brow furrowed as she turned toward the sound.
"You need something? Ryan von Meyer?"
"Rather cold, for a former fiancée."
"Hahaha, of course I'm cold. Why wouldn't I be? The man who believed the words of a woman he'd known a few months and shattered a promise between two families that had lasted over ten years."
Ryan let out a short sigh and shook his head.
"Considering how easily you move on, I actually think breaking that engagement was a stroke of luck."
"Ha! So what, am I supposed to pine for you for the rest of my life?"
"You've changed a great deal."
"...Stop dodging and say whatever it is you came to say."
"Elysia finds the way the two of you get along uncomfortable."
Grind.
At the name that slipped from Ryan's mouth, Chloe bit down hard on her lip.
"Haaah?"
"I'd prefer it if that kind, delicate girl didn't have to feel troubled because of you."
"..."
"I can't even... believe this."
"So I'd appreciate it if you watched your behavior from now on. That is all."
Chloe clenched her fists as she glared after Ryan, who walked away the moment he finished speaking.
"Honestly... I really regret swinging a sword so hard all those years for a guy like that."
"Chloe..."
"Cesil, don't pay any attention to what that bastard said."
"Mm. I won't."
"...About... Crown Prince Baron. What about you?"
"I've erased him completely."
"Huh?"
Faced with Cecilia's eyes—emptied of all light—Chloe found herself taking an involuntary step back.
"The idea that a man like that still occupies even a corner of my heart is revolting. My heart should hold only one person."
"..."
"It's a waste otherwise. Jealousy, regret, lingering attachment—all of it should be directed at him alone."
"I see. You're strong, Cecilia."
"Hehe."
Smiling as the light returned to her eyes, Cecilia rose and headed for the classroom where the next lecture would be held.
"Hello!"
"..."
The moment I saw the pink-haired girl standing in front of me, I spun on my heel to flee. But—
"Your Grace!"
"...What."
I scowled at Elysia, who had blocked my path. Why did this girl keep showing up in front of me just to get on my nerves? Precious time I could be spending with Cecilia was slipping away.
She's waiting in front of the dining hall. I need to hurry...
"If it's all right with you, perhaps we could have a meal toge—"
"If you're a special admissions student, Elysia, I'm sure you already have people to eat with."
"Aww. Everyone said they were busy today."
"Then go with some of your other friends."
"I... hehe. I don't really have any friends of the same gender."
"What a catastrophe."
Her social life was an absolute wreck. Even the novel's Elysia had at least one or two friends to talk to when the male leads weren't around. This was something else entirely.
"Look over there..."
"At the Grand Duke again..."
"Did you hear the rumor the other day?"
The people around us were openly badmouthing her, yet Elysia stood there looking utterly unbothered.
"The type who doesn't pay the slightest attention to the noise around her, I see."
"Well... they're just the words of losers, after all."
"Oho. You say that rather easily. Or is that simply your real personality?"
"Oh my. Of course not."
"I used to wonder how a commoner special admissions student managed to survive among those vipers. You're no ordinary girl."
"Hic... hic."
At my words, tears suddenly began to spill from Elysia's eyes, drop by drop, as if she were some unjustly wronged victim.
"It was... truly hard, you know."
"..."
Her voice trembled thinly, but the flutter of her eyelashes was remarkably regular. Every movement was meticulously calculated—so well done that anyone who didn't know better would take her current act as pure, unvarnished vulnerability. She was performing the part of the fragile heroine crushed by the pressure of those around her.
She adjusts her performance to the situation... Come to think of it, when she was with the male leads, she always played whatever character they liked best.
Was she performing to match the image of the Northern Grand Duke she had inside her head right now?
"Pathetic."
"...Pardon?"
"Your tearful acting is quite accomplished, Special Admissions Student Elysia."
"A-acting? What are you talking about—"
"But I keep my time free for one person only. I have none to waste here."
I brushed past her.
"If you want to play at romance novels, go find an audience somewhere else."
I made it clear I would not fall for her performance.
Watching Victor walk away, Elysia let a low, sunken laugh slip between her lips.
"Heh... hehehe."
The eyes that had been wet with tears now held a bloodless, sickly gleam of madness.
"Fun... this is truly fun."
Unlike all the other male leads, who had been conquered so very easily, Cecilia's new man was like a sturdy fortress. How could a man be so noble, so beautiful? He was no mere toy that would crawl to her feet and lick her shoes the moment she shed a few pitiful tears.
"Haa... I'll have to change strategy. Beating on him like this won't even leave a scratch on the walls..."
In that case, she would drag Cecilia—the one locked tightly away inside that fortress—out into the open and break her. Yes. When the crown prince's walls had crumbled, Cecilia had crumbled right along with them, hadn't she? A fragile thing that would snap with a single tap.
"Haaaah... When that Cecilia you cherish so much collapses and falls apart, what expression will you make?"
She could already see it clearly: Cecilia, rotting and ruined, slipping from Victor's arms of her own will. And then the saintess—Elysia—who would cradle the broken wolf as he longed for the girl who had left him.
"Ha... haa... haa... Perfect..."
Just thinking about it sent electricity racing through her entire body; her legs trembled. This was why she could never stop. This joy of stealing other people's bonds.
"Thank you so much, God... for letting me be reborn into a world like this romance-fantasy novel... Heeheehee!!!"
Ignoring the glares and whispered gossip of the young ladies around her, Elysia quickened her steps.