Chapter 87: The Third Day of the Festival (XVI).
Meanwhile back at the library...
"Ngh..."
Analissa who has just fallen, her body becoming numb and sort of paralyzed from chanting a spell that was beyond her level and skill.
It was already a miracle for her to be able to cast that without prior practice, for the only light spell she's been doing is [Heal] and well... [Light Orb].
"I'll help you up and you can sit down for now." (Lord Ein) was worried for the heroine and offered his hand hoping that before they went back into the coliseum they should rest.
Analissa shakes her head, insisting that they should get a move on and that they're wasting daylight. It's already a miracle that they were able to come back so quickly with all the unexpected shenanigans that happened back in the archive. "We need to go... she's waiting for me... I can't... move my legs... stupid legs!"
The ceiling falling unexpectedly is one thing... but the reason for it...
As expected, bringing someone who's not a part of the story would have some dire consequences. It was luck that they got out of there alive.
'I don't think we can go back to the hidden archives anymore.' (Logical Braincell) never encountered the story in having the need to go back there- still the entrance shouldn't be blocked.
'What do you mean we can't go back? Hah! I say if we're short on money we can come back, get those crystals and sell them to nobles with a big fat wallet!' (Horny Braincell) actually came up with a suggestion that seemed... logical?
'Well when that comes to it- hopefully we won't need money soon. We have Lord Ein to count on selling our part on the magic crystals- like he said they should be pure and untouched meaning... Those are strong mana crystals that could fetch a high price.' (Normal Braincell) nodded happily thinking of the money that they could get soon.
Lord Ein sighs still offering his hand to this thick skull of a girl, she tries standing up again, her knees shaking.
"Ah!"
Before she lands flat face on the floor Lord Ein catches her quick and persists her to stop being so stupid. He steadied her, his firm grip keeping her from collapsing fully. His dark blue eyes softened with concern as he looked down at the pale-faced girl.
"Lady Analissa, you can't keep forcing yourself like this," He said quietly, but there was steel in his tone. "Your body won't forgive you if you keep running ahead without care."
She bit her lip, her breath uneven, a stubborn protest forming on her tongue. "Y-Yeah... but... Lady Evelyn and Losimer must be waiting for me- I don't even know what time it is now?"
The knight exhaled slowly, exasperation flickering across his features.
'Of course... she's more worried about them than herself,' He thought, shaking his head slightly.
Analissa with good reason for wanting to move quickly, she's afraid of what the villainess would do. 'Knowing the villainess, she's bound to tear the academy apart just to look for me.'
Now with the confirmation of Lady Evelyn Alarie's romantic feelings- anyone would worry. In the game she wasn't an easy to kill rival or boss. She knew how to get her hands dirty when needed- her anger... is also a scary thing to see in the plot of the game.
Lord Ein stepped toward the window, peering at the sky beyond. He studied the shadows carefully, then turned back to her. His voice was steady, meant to soothe. "Based on the sun's position outside... It should be afternoon. Around lunch."
He came back to her side, his hand brushing against her arm again as if to remind her he was still supporting her weight. "So you see? They've likely only just begun waiting. A few minutes of rest won't change that... but it could change everything for you."
Lunch...
"U-Ugh... speaking of lunch... I haven't even eaten anything since this morning... I'm growing weak." (Analissa) struggles to move, her eyes blinking weakly before remembering that someone else is also waiting for food. "Losimer's popcorn... we've been gone for almost four hours."
Lord Ein shrugs, four hours is better than days or weeks stuck in the archive. "I honestly thought we weren't going to escape ever again. It was lucky that the book gave us the way out with everything collapsing. We were near death's doors."
Analissa fought off the urge to rest and sleep, she remembers about the book, the wand of light and the hidden archive. She wanted reassurance that what they did today- it won't get out.
"Lord Ein... about today..." She began, her voice quiet. "Don't tell anyone else what we did in the hidden archive. I... can't explain everything yet there's a few missing holes in my story. But I'm doing everything I can to save Lady Evelyn."
"I'm sorry... for keeping so many secrets," She continued, her fingers twisting into her cloak. "I... don't know how to feel about her either. I can't reciprocate Lady Evelyn's feelings yet... maybe one day. But right now my mission-"
She swallowed hard, she didn't expect for another route where the villainess could fall for her was an option. Now that the game is changing, there... should be new options for her to choose from but one thing is for sure-
"I don't want any of us to get hurt and drift apart."
Lord Ein's eyes softened, his tone steady and faced her squarely, his hand landing gently but firmly on her shoulder knowing the feeling.
No one wants to be hurt in this kind of one sided relationship.
"I know. I trust you and you can stop apologizing. You've been carrying too much alone." He eyes the girl guiltily before remembering all the things he did before, meddling in the two's romance journey- well it wasn't right. "...also about before- I know we already talked about this back at the archives but I promise I won't do that ever again. All the things I did- it put you in a position you didn't want."
"It's... a while since I've had a real friend and it's no excuse. I-I... I'll do better."
Analissa chuckles already forgiving him for being so clumsy, but this version of him is better than the original Lord Ein from the story. She reaches out her hand and says, "Pinky promise?"
Lord Ein laughs and interlocks his small finger to hers. "I swear on the Loucrat name... we don't even need to make a magic part to prove my loyalty to you. You're my friend, Miss Analissa."
"Thank you, friend."
"You rest now," (Lord Ein) said, taking the lead again, his voice turning brisk but still warm. "I'll wake you in thirty minutes. Just in time for lunch."
===
Duelist Waiting Room
===
Back at the colosseum the deafening cheers could be heard, the next bracket of winners will be facing each other now- its the time for the high and lower section of each year will be facing against each other.
"Next match! We want the next match!"
"Ahhh! Everyone's so amazing! Go Penelope! We love you!"
"The lower section is going to whoop the noble's ass-!"
And in the duelist waiting room-
Is the villlaineess looking over the crowd, scanning for any blonde hair that she could find.
Tap, tap, tap.
"Tch." She's been tapping her foot for what seemed like hours, the ever so patient Lady Evelyn Alarie could be seen her hands gripping her own uniform and glared so angrily at the noble stands where his father- Grand Duke Vernon sat, smiling in satisfaction as though the world itself bent to his will.
"If only he wasn't here," she muttered under her breath, the words carrying more venom than she intended.
Her father leaned back comfortably, puffing one of his prized premium cigarettes. The smoke curled lazily into the air, its sweet, heavy scent drifting down toward the stands below. Lady Evelyn's nose wrinkled in disgust.
She never understood it- why her father enjoyed smoking them, why he poisoned the air with them. Each drag seemed to her not a sign of refinement, as the court liked to pretend, but of arrogance.
The faint sting of secondhand smoke made her throat tighten, and the sight of her father's content smile only made her blood boil further... but she could do nothing. There was no changing a man who's been through it all.
Clack.
The door creaked open, and Lady Evelyn immediately stiffened, her eyes narrowing as her hand curled against her uniform. Her glare hardened when she saw the intruder.
"Evelyn, I see you're... here."
She recognized that voice. Of all people, it had to be him.
The man she despised most- Crown Prince Dereck Louvecroft.
"This is the waiting room," She replied flatly, her gaze fixed forward. "I'm supposed to be here."
Crown Prince Dereck stepped further inside, his tone far too casual for her liking. "Hm. Everyone else is either eating or practicing their incantations. Are you here brooding?"
"..." Her eyes flicked briefly toward him, sharp and cold. "What are you really here for? You know I don't waste time on small talk."
He tilted his head, studying her as though weighing how much truth to share. Then, with a faint smile, he asked, "Do you remember the day our parents told us we would one day be husband and wife?"
Lady Evelyn popped a nerve hearing that. This man in front of her is the last person she would ever want to be with till sickness or health, rich or poor. "I don't need a reminder of that day."
The crown prince smiles, eyeing her carefully like a hawk. "You're right. We never got along. No matter how many playdates they arranged for us, it always ended the same- arguments, shouting matches, us at each other's throats. I always knew that we're a match made in hell."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "You haven't changed."
"And neither have you," He replied softly, though the faintest edge lingered in his words.
Lady Evelyn eyes him, trying to read him and remembers the movements of Prince Dereck's opponent moving so sloppily- could it be that he's here to try and bribe her to lose?
"Are you here... to bribe me?"
Crown Prince Dereck froze for a heartbeat, then let out a low chuckle. "Heh."
Her suspicion sharpened. "Your last match was too easy. Too clean. You bribed your way out, didn't you? That opponent of yours barely even tried."
Crown Prince Dereck's smile widened, smug and unashamed. "That trophy has always been destined to be mine, Evelyn. The people cheered for me, they always will. And once I win... Lady Analissa herself will look at me in awe!"
He could already hear Analissa's voice praising him, telling him that she's the best prince in the whole world!
That enough gave him a boner.
Lady Evelyn's jaw tightened, her nails digging into the fabric of her gloves.
"...If you came here to buy my defeat with money or some deal," She said coldly, "then you're wasting your time, your highness. I'll refuse your offer every time."
"Tsk, tsk tsk." (Crown Prince Dereck) wagged a finger lazily, that infuriating smirk never leaving his lips. "I'm not here to bribe you like that."
"Little perfect Lady Evelyn Alarie," He drawled, leaning against the table as if the room belonged to him. "You're the only person I've ever known who cannot be bought. Money, land, titles, power- it all bounces right off you. That's the one thing I both respect... and despise about you. You're far too difficult to please."
Her eyes narrowed. "Your point?"
His grin widened. "Fine. Let's not dance around it. You should already know why I'm here. I gave you a warning, Evelyn. I told you to stay away from Miss Blanchet."
The smirk faded, his voice dropping lower, edged with something darker. "I've heard about the play."
Lady Evelyn's lips curved into the faintest smile, remembering the play and that missed kiss on the lips. Her tone remained cool however knowing that she's not alone. "Ah. So it's about the play, then. Did you watch it by chance?"
The villainess was clearly trying to make him jealous.
Because SHE already got to kiss the heroine on the cheek.
This bastard however- hah!
The best thing he could do is DREAM it.
"You're testing my patience, if you weren't my fiance then I would've already-!" He moves in closer, cornering the fearless villainess who doesn't dare move and just stares him down.
"Killed me?" (Lady Evelyn) finished for him and scoffed. "I would like to see you try, I don't want to waste my time talking with you, your highness. If you'll excuse me I have to get ready for my next match."
"...!"
The villainess' reaction- it's not what he expected.
He hates this...
He hates her.
"Evelyn, I suggest you be obedient and listen to ME." He punches the wall inches away from her face, hoping it would intimidate the woman. "Analissa Blanchet is my destined one. And I don't like other people messing with what's mine. This is your last warning."
The villainess rolled her eyes and told him a fun fact that he needs to hear, "Hmph, she's never been yours. Don't tell me such things, for Miss Blanchet belongs to herself. You don't own her."
That seemed to be the last straw.
"...I own anything and anyone that I want." He conjured flames in his hand.
"For being the crown prince, I've always known I've had that privilege." His voice dripped with arrogance. "That is my privilege as crown prince. The best toys. The finest luxuries. The throne itself..."
His smirk widened. "There's never been anyone who dared say no to me. Until you."
He leaned forward, venom in his words. "I've always hated your guts, and for reasons how you always blabbed about your righteous bullshit- how honesty and honor is always the right thing to do."
His smile turned cruel. "We all know... the Alarie family is not all that. Don't forget, your cousin- Olivia Charlotte Alarie abandoned her duties and died in suicide- for a woman. Leaving you to handle the matters of the lower branch estate."
Lady Evelyn froze, her nails digging into her palms.
"And yet," he drawled, voice low, "I've heard... rumors have it that she's alive and living her best life around the south. I have your family investigated, looks like... the mental disease you carry runs in the family."
"...!"
Evelyn Alarie's breath hitched.
Not because of his insult-
But because her beloved cousin... is alive?
'Sister Olivia.... She's alive?'
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