Chapter 130
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Scene 130: Ruin Viewing
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Miss! You cant!
Blanche was breaking out in a cold sweat.
She was trying to stop her lady, Bella Izarkhel, whom she served.
Hey, its fine.
Its not fine for me!
Bella had gone straight from paradise to the academy, and the place she arrived at was right in front of the presidents office.
Blocking the firmly shut door was Blanche.
....
.....
What youre trying to do right now is a crime.
Im just borrowing the counts viewing pass.
What Bella needed was a special viewing pass for the library, the Great Wall of Truth. Only Tristan, the librarys owner, possessed it.
Blanche cleared her throat and said,
Borrowing requires the other partys consent. Taking it without permission is theft
Blanche.
Yes?
Whats my relationship with the count like?
At Bellas question, Blanche reluctantly answered.
More than lovers, less than husband and wife.
You remember well. So, if were more than lovers but less than husband and wife, we can borrow each others things without asking, right?
No... thats...
Blanche, about to say what kind of nonsense that was, had no choice but to shut her mouth.
Bella wasnt seeking her agreement; she was unilaterally declaring it.
Ill just check if the book Im looking for is in the underground archive and return it, so dont worry. There wont be anything for you to worry about, Blanche.
Miss...
Blanche thought to herself.
What Bella was seeking with the pass wasnt just any ordinary book. It was a book recording curses so powerful they could drag an entire city to ruin.
Her guess was that Bella was going to such lengths to lift the curse on the count.
She wasnt unaware of Bellas feelings. However, having been abandoned once by Tristan, Blanche couldnt feel certain.
Whether that man truly deserved it.
Tristan was still a man hiding many things.
No one knew what goals he was still concealing.
Not long ago, Blanche had witnessed it with her own eyes.
Even the emperor couldnt touch Tristan carelessly.
Even when surrounded by the imperial guard in the palace, he never honored the emperor.
He didnt kneel and kept his head rigidly high, overwhelming the emperor in return.
It was a scene that vividly showed Tristans position in the empire.
That made him far too dangerous.
Blanche wanted to pull Bella away from him.
But as her guard knight, she lacked the power to stop Bella. In that case...
At the very least, I have to protect the miss no matter what...
In the end, Blanche yielded to Bella.
...Since you put it that way, I wont stop you. If thats your decision, Ill follow.
Hehe... Thank you.
Bella stroked Blanches head with a benevolent expression.
Our Blanche is such a good girl. So good.
Im not a child.
I know. But what can I do when youre so cute in my eyes?
Im not cute at all...
Thats what makes you cute.
Ahem... We dont have time. Hurry and go in.
Blanche easily opened the door.
Seeing that, Bella tilted her head.
Huh? Wasnt the door locked?
Oh...
Blanche realized her mistake.
One of her specialties as a former assassin was unlocking spells.
She had mindlessly opened it, so she decided to play it off.
Ah, yes. Looks like the count forgot.
Hmm... So even that guy has his scatterbrained side. How cute.
Y-Yes... Definitely cute.
Huh?
N-No?! I mean, definitely scatterbrained!
Hmm...?
Bella eyed Blanche suspiciously as she hurriedly shook her head, then slipped into the office.
Whew...
She felt utterly drained for some reason.
Was it the tension releasing?
Or perhaps she was finding a sense of stability in this life.
She had thought she always maintained her composure.
But lately, it felt like tiny cracks were forming in her once flawless emotions.
Blanche looked out the window.
Snow was falling over the campus.
She lost herself for a moment gazing at the beautiful, serene landscape, then slapped her cheek with her palm.
Get it together...
Lazing around admiring the viewhow lax.
One of the key lessons from her assassin days was to harbor no unnecessary emotions.
Carelessness stems from emotional gaps.
The only emotion she needed now was unwavering loyalty to Bella.
To repay the grace of being taken in by the Izarkhel family, she had to discard useless feelings.
And though she hated to admit it, the one who always stirred her emotions was that man.
Tristan...
Blanche bit her lip.
In his slimmed-down face, she could see the boy who had shot her off the cliff.
No, even now, she couldnt tell if she resented that boy or missed him.
She had sworn to kill him no matter what.
But now, she no longer had that confidence.
The blade of hatred she had honed was dulling with time.
In times like these, ignoring him was the answer.
Once Bella came out of the office, theyd leave here quickly.
Staying as far away from him as possible was the way.
Yes. That was best.
It was just as Blanche thought that and sighed.
Click.
!
Raising her head at the distant sound, she spotted a figure far off.
Click.
The woman walking down the hallway in high heels was Helga.
She was one of the top powerhouses Blanche had encountered, and the ultimate shield protecting that man.
Naturally, Helga was walking alongside the black noble.
Its definitely still early...
Recognizing the man, Blanche could only mutter like a groan.
Why now of all times...
As if by lie, Tristan was approaching.
The imperial guard knight left a message to come to the palace tomorrow night and an imperial telegram before departing.
It was anticlimactic for a messenger who came all this way, but whatever.
Coming this early is nice too.
Yeah...
Helga spoke as we walked together down the empty, quiet hallway.
I miss it. It feels just like going back to our academy days with you, Count.
...I have no memory of spending my academy days with you.
Its just a figure of speech. Hehehe...
Helga, who had been chuckling, suddenly paused.
...Oh? Whys that woman here?
A woman was approaching from the other side.
It was surprising she was at the academy this early, but it was a face I recognized.
Good morning... Count.
The beauty with the cold demeanorBlanche.
What brings you here so early?
I, um, that is... She hesitated before speaking to me.
C-Could you show me around the school?
The school...?
What was this now?
Yes.
Youre asking me for that?
Y-Yes...
Blanche trailed off.
Something was off.
Id never seen her like this before.
Helga must have thought the same.
...Have you been drinking?
No.
Then are you ill somewhere?
No.
Ah, then what?? Ah! Are you crazy or something?
...Im perfectly sober right now.
At that, Helga asked incredulously,
Blanche. Do you realize what youre saying?
Yes.
What kind of request are you making to the count right now? Do you think the count is some tour guide? If you want a school tour that badly, I can
No. I want the count to show me around!
Blanche pleaded desperately to me.
No, looking again, it wasnt desperation.
That was unmistakably a face hiding something.
I decided to probe her a bit.
I dont know the reason, but Im not your friend. Im heading to the office now, so step aside.
Y-You cant go!
Cant I...?
N-No, thats not...
Cold sweat beaded on Blanches forehead.
Seeing that, I was convinced and spoke.
...Time is gold to me.
I stared at Blanche with a stern expression.
If you keep wasting my precious time, youll have to pay for it in money.
...!
Recalling the debt she owed me, Blanche flinched.
Her trembling shoulders spoke for her emotions.
Ignoring her, I tried to pass by.
B-But you still cant! Please make some time for me!
Blanche blocked my path again.
I could even feel her readiness to fight.
But it was meaningless against me.
Persistent. Helga.
Yes.
That was enough.
Helga amiably placed a hand on Blanches shoulder.
Ill show you around.
N-No, let go!
Blanche couldnt budge under Helgas immense strength.
Count...! You cant go!
Now, now. Just trust this big sis and follow. Cutie.
Whore you calling cutie! Let go!
Listening to Blanches cries, I opened the office door.