Chapter 92: The Third Day of the Festival (XXI).
The crowd and Mr. Wazinki erupted in cheers.
"Alarie! Alarie! Alarie!"
Banners waved, nobles murmured, students shouted themselves hoarse. Though the match had been a blitz- mere minutes of violent magic- the consensus was unanimous.
It was spectacular.
No one had expected such ferocity from a commoner student of Class 1-B. Penelope Thatcher's control, her technique, her audacity- it had kept every spectator on edge, breaths held, eyes wide until the final blow.
Even in defeat, she had left her mark.
"Ngh…" (Lady Evelyn) grit her teeth as the adrenaline ebbed, her gaze dropping to her hands.
Frost clung stubbornly to her skin, jagged ice creeping along her fingers and wrists like shackles of her own making. The sensation was unbearable- burning and numb all at once, pain threading deep into her bones.
Mr. Wazinki descended onto the arena floor, nearly tripping over his own excitement as he brought the microphone to his lips. He interviews the villainess shortly coming down, "The winner is Lady Evelyn Alarie! Displaying such a prowess of ice magic! Well done! She truly has mastered elemental shape manipulation. I can't believe a young girl like you could create a huge snake like that."
"It is nothing," (Lady Evelyn) replied quietly. Her eyes shifted to Penelope, who remained encased in melting ice near the arena's edge. Lady Evelyn inhaled slowly, steadying her mana.
The ice cracked.
Then softened.
Water streamed down as the bindings dissolved completely.
"Ow- ow- ow," (Penelope) hissed as she straightened, shaking her arms and brushing damp strands of hair from her face. Despite it all, she smiled wide and sincere- as she looked at Lady Evelyn.
The first time she had seen the young noblewoman was when she attended a famous play that's being held in their small town with her servant whom she seemed to be close with. On that day, a monster attack happened.
Penelope saw how the young noblewoman didn't hesitate to leave, coming back to watch the play an hour later covered in blood but still sat down like nothing happened.
"Whew. As expected of Lady Alarie. I really was no match for you." She climbed back onto the stage, resting a hand on her hip, still grinning. "It was a wonderful match."
But then her eyes narrowed slightly. She noticed the frost.
"…Sir," (Penelope) said, pointing without hesitation. "Should we really continue the interview? I think her hands are… in need of assistance."
Lady Evelyn stiffened. She quickly hid her hands at her sides, fingers curling inward as if that alone could banish the pain.
"There is nothing to worry about," She said firmly. "I am perfectly fine."
"Ah… alright," (Mr. Wazinki) replied, uncertain but pressing on. "Well then- how do you feel about your victory?"
"…Relieved," (Lady Evelyn) answered after a pause. "I was struggling during the first minute of the match, but once I-"
She stopped to take a quick glance at the heroine who as quietly watching in the private noble stands with Lord Ein.
"Once I… I found my light. I knew that I no longer needed to worry, I can fight with all I've got." Her gaze shifted to Penelope.
"Miss Thatcher," (Lady Evelyn) continued instead, voice steady. "I commend the way you fought. This was one of the most difficult matches I have faced so far. You are a good duelist."
Penelope was flustered and didn't know how to accept such praise. Her hands started fidgeting and she lowered her head in thanks, "T-Thank you, milady. Hearing that from you means a lot!"
"Bwuahaha!" On the sidelines, the students from 1-A started cheering and laughing as they pointed at Owen who fought Lady Evelyn with all his but lost. "Hey, Owen! Does that mean you weren't that hard to fight?"
"Hmph! Shut up," (Lord Owen) snapped from the sidelines. "I put up a good fight! It's just- earth and water aren't a good match. I was clearly at a disadvantage."
"Oh please," (Mary), the one who was replaced by Lady Evelyn, waved him off. "I don't even know how you passed basic elemental class. If anything, you had the advantage over Lady Evelyn. Maybe it was a good thing I was replaced… I don't think I can fare well in a fight with the commoner girl from 1-B."
She laughed ominously thinking about the bad outcome, she too was also a water magic user and with the way Penelope Thatcher was just destroying the water with the pressure of air creating ripples it would've broken her. "The way that she moved just made me twice as dizzy. If I lost in front of all these crowds my pride and honor as a noble could never recover. My water magic might be good but when it comes to mastering its sub element of ice… I'm doomed."
Mr. Wazinki coughed awkwardly into the microphone, seeing that the villainess clearly wanted to finish the interview and said nothing else he decided that it was that. "Well- t-that's all! Thank you to both duelists for this lovely interview!"
Lady Evelyn dashed out of the arena, covering her arms.
She needed to get out of there before she broke down crying from the pain.
"...ngh." She held her frosted arms and wondered what in the world she should do. There should be stationed healers but for something like this-This was overclocked magic.
When a mage pushed their body and mana beyond their natural limits- when they forced spells through flesh without the buffer of a wand consequences followed.
Conjuring a snake using water was still possible.
But turning that snake into ice, it has a whole other method. It takes intense concentration, there is a limit on using them but for the villainess who wanted things to be over soon she went all out.
'Ordinary healing magic won't touch this easily,' she realized grimly.
It can't be easily removed by healing magic. Penelope Thatcher was a fearful opponent indeed.
"Ow-"
"Lady Evelyn Alarie."
The voice was calm.
Lady Evelyn froze.
She turned and found herself facing Professor Fraeya.
Silver-white hair fell past the elf's shoulders like spun moonlight, ears long and unmistakable beneath it. Her eyes, sharp emerald, held neither panic nor judgment, only quiet assessment. The air around her felt cool, steady, grounding.
"Frostbite," (Professor Fraeya) said flatly, reaching out to examine her arms. "You young lady is ridiculously reckless. Advanced ice magic without a wand and not to mention you're only a first-year. What were you thinking?"
"Professor Fraeya-!" (Lady Evelyn) stiffened. "I'm alright, you don't have to mind me. I'm completely-"
"Completely fine?" (Professor Fraeya) echoed, unimpressed. "Do you think I won't notice you being in pain? You might consider yourself an adult already but you are too young to be playing me to be a fool."
Silence.
"…My apologies," (Lady Evelyn) said quietly.
Professor Fraeya clicked her tongue, straightening. "I've always known that young human girls your age have difficulty asking for help. Were you planning on leaving your arms like this?"
Lady Evelyn lowers her head, "…Yes."
"No matter," (Professor Fraeya) sighed, already turning. "Come. I'll tend to your hands before your next match."
"Professor," (Lady Evelyn) hesitated, "healing magic only works on wounds and cuts. Not… this."
Professor Fraeya glanced back at her, one elegant brow arching. "…In case you weren't paying attention in class that is why we study potion brewing. Miss Blanchet did a good job answering recitation in class, perhaps you should follow her as an example."
"[Inventorium]." She reached into her inventory, producing a small vial filled with pale blue liquid that shimmered faintly like frost under moonlight. "I have a potion that will help. No side effects. You can rest assured. I will tell the coordinators that I gave you a potion for overclocking, these should ease you with the pain for now but it won't clear the crystals on your skin so easily."
Lady Evelyn accepted it carefully.
"Thank you."
The villainess eyes the elven professor in deep curiosity, she counts the time they've really talked personally. She wonders why in the world would she care to this extent?
"I was watching," (Professor Fraeya) continued as they walked. "I left the stands the moment I saw your arm. You did well out there."
Lady Evelyn hesitated.
"Why are you helping me, Professor?" she asked. "You should-"
"I am a professor," (Professor Fraeya) interrupted gently, "worried for her student."
She stopped walking, turning to face the villainess seriously. "And I know that the moment the others notice your condition, they will declare you unfit to continue."
Lady Evelyn's grip tightened.
"…But my father is watching. I cannot afford to lose face in front of my father. He wants me to win and I need to win."
"Winning for something like this, is it worth losing your arm over?" (Professor Fraeya) studied her for a long moment before exhaling a deep breath. "Your father truly is a harsh man even until now it seems."
The villainess widened her eyes.
Lady Evelyn asked cautiously, "Are you familiar with my father?"
"No."
Professor Fraeya's gaze sharpened- just slightly.
"But I am familiar," she said slowly, "with your cousin."
The words lingered in the air like a warning.
Lady Evelyn felt something colder than ice crawl up her spine.
Which cousin was she talking about?
"Olivia Charlotte Alarie."
===
The cheers gradually shifted.
What had once been a single name chanted in unison began to dissolve into scattered applause as attendants moved swiftly across the arena floor- clearing shattered ice, repairing broken stone, and resetting the stage for the next bout.
The match was over.
Lady Evelyn Alarie had already vanished from sight.
Mr. Wazinki returned to the center of the arena, straightening his coat as the magical amplifiers flared once more.
"Ladies and gentlemen," He announced brightly, "thank you for witnessing that thrilling blitz match! Let us give one more round of applause to both duelists- Lady Evelyn Alarie and Miss Penelope Thatcher!"
Analissa barely heard all the loud cheers and clapping that came soon after.
Her eyes remained fixed on the empty gate where Lady Evelyn had exited.
"Lady Evelyn is hurt," She whispered.
She rose abruptly from her seat.
"I should go down there and-"
"Miss Blanchet," (Lord Ein) said firmly, standing as well, "please calm yourself. There are healers stationed below. They will tend to her."
"But- she looked hurt," (Analissa protested), voice cracking. "And I promised I would be there to-"
"You would save her," (Lord Ein) interrupted gently, turning to face her, "but it seems you need saving yourself."
She froze, hearing that from Lord Ein is like a huge shock to her system. Analissa knows that the former Masochist has been "fixed" or in this changed forgotten his original code and purpose; he's becoming the new voice of reason in her life.
"The spell you used today is barely keeping you awake," He continued. "You look dreadful."
"I…" (Analissa) faltered, touching her cheek. Almost all of her mana reserve was used up on one single spell. "I… really do?"
"It seems both of you require tending," He said softly, he admires her determination to save Lady Evelyn Alarie but there's no way in hell she's going to sacrifice herself while doing it. "You should rest. Regain your strength before seeing Lady Alarie. Please, eat and drink."
He gestured toward the untouched dishes the servants had brought earlier.
"If Lady Alarie sees you pale and shaking, she'll ask questions," He added. "You haven't touched anything the entire time."
Analissa slowly sank back into her seat.
"I… I suppose you're right," She murmured, slowly taking a piece of bread and eating it bit by bit. She smiles weakly looking at the bread gratefully, "You're right… I feel like a bit of my strength is coming back. I've been so occupied watching her join the magic duel event that I forgot to take care of myself."
Lord Ein exhaled quietly.
"Is it really such a surprise? After knowing how she feels about you, I understand why you're double the worrywart than usual." He replies, crossing his legs and deep in thought. "Though… I don't understand how Lady Evelyn Alarie became the representative for the magic duel for class 1-A. I helped Lady Mary register into the event. This wouldn't really make sense."
Analissa nodded in agreement.
"Mary was eager to compete, it wouldn't make sense for her to be easily replaced." (Lord Ein) continued. "My guess is that her father was… unhappy with those choices."
The Japanese streamer's ears perked hearing of the villainess' father. 'Her father…? I don't think the heroine has met him officially but there have been mentions of him in the original game. He's a scary man… and the reason for the crown prince and the villainess' arranged marriage.'
Before she could respond, Mr. Wazinki's voice rang out again, louder and sharper.
"Now!" He declared. "With the arena restored, we shall proceed to our next duel!"
A ripple of excitement passed through the crowd.
"Please welcome- representing the royal house! His Highness, Crown Prince Dereck Louvecroft!"
The arena erupted.
Gasps, cheers, and hurried whispers surged like wildfire.
Analissa stiffened. Her fingers curled slowly against her skirt.
The man standing there, being admired by so many people, was the same one who defiled her image by commissioning artists nude portraits of her. "..."
"And standing opposite him," (Mr. Wazinki) continued, "Lady Mirelle Avalon!"
Applause thundered once more as the two figures entered from opposite sides of the arena, the atmosphere shifting instantly- heavier now, charged with expectation.
"Oh, Lady Mirelle Avalon. I haven't seen her in a while. I forgot she was competing. Did you know she's Lady Evelyn's distant cousin?" (Lord Ein) smirks, staring at the girl who looked nervous by just being there despite her confident words last match with Hecate Li. "Analissa, why don't you watch this match? A wind user against a fire one would be interesting."
She shakes her head, refusing to look at the crown prince. She glares at him… remembering the horrible thing Lord Ein has said to the heroine. He commissioned artists to draw her naked and to be made some sort of erotic content for him to enjoy.
She feels her body being defiled by just his eyes, it makes her feel awful.
It's wrong yet she can't do anything but look away.
"I could barely look at him," she said quietly, voice tight, "knowing what he did."
Lord Ein's expression softened then felt extreme guilt after remembering the reason why.
"You're right," He said after a pause. "…I'm sorry. You don't have to watch."
She exhaled, tension easing just a little.
"Thank you."
The duel bell rang and the next match began.
Thank you to my patreon! These are the awesome people that help us make better quality chapters and art!
Niko
Demi
Seralp
SharkByte
PlanetMDX
Luesk
Asteria
Drac_Sage
ARGR701
Lennie
BalleyGregory
AriQwerty
Luis
Anonymous
Alia
Griffin
Bakachu
DevilWithoutDetails
Couch_Potato
Cage Bloodrun
You can join Patreon to check out the latest chapters, art and many more! We are in need for your financial help! Please support us by voting on the story, sharing it or if you want to donate please do tell me! Thank you so much for reading otome game!