Chapter 106: The Heroine Knows (V).
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Three Days Later
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The days went on and eventually classes started on Monday.
The high section of class 1-A was full of nobles entering through the door one by one, they talked amongst themselves and mentioned how their first foundation festival at the academy was fun.
From the stalls, the events, the bonding and the magic duel- well that's another separate thing.
A brunette girl standing at the front of the board talks to her friend, "I can't wait for next year. I didn't have much time to go through the other booths. I wish we could have a way to savor the memory… I could hire a professional artist but even they couldn't paint the moment in a single stroke."
The one having the said problem was a noble girl from the high section named Margaret Howard. She admired paintings ever since she was little but with the time it needed to take even one painting of them having fun they would need to stay still for a week before the sketch is even finished.
Margaret Howard was also a former anti-Analissa until the third day of the festival where the heroine bravely saved the entire play by standing out and taking on the heavy role of the frog prince.
On that day she… along with a few girls changed in their class.
"Didn't you know there's this new invention in the north where a student at the Académie de l'Étoile Dorée made something called a projector and a camera! You couldn't believe her presentation when she proposed the invention to the king of the northern kingdom!" Her friend shows her a newsletter pamphlet that she got from her father that's being distributed by the north kingdom's printing industries.
"You do have brought a lot of things that ponders me over, Lady Blaire." She observes the pamphlet closely, as she holds it in her hand Margaret couldn't help but be amazed by such high quality work. "H-How did you get that beautiful piece of paper? The color painted here is so vibrant and clean! Did your parents pick up something from the north again?"
Blaire Charming smirked. She had always been the kind of girl who loved collecting the most curious and fascinating things from the souvenirs her parents brought home.
The Charmings were once a family renowned for their charisma and unmatched ability to sway hearts and minds. In times of political tension, they served as the quiet architects of peace, advising royalty on how to navigate the delicate relationships between kingdoms. Though rarely given credit, they were the unsung heroes behind many alliances and reconciliations.
But centuries had passed, and with them, the family's importance faded. New kings no longer welcomed advisers whispering counsel into their ears, and so the Charmings were gradually forgotten. Now, they were little more than an ordinary noble house, one that scarcely anyone cared to remember.
She was the girl who almost said yes to Analissa Blanchet when she asked if they needed any help in the visual effects department in the play.
"Fufu, you haven't seen anything yet. That color is not painted, they have a new term for it now! It's printed!" She pulls out the same pamphlet, nearly identical. "You may also praise their consistency, they've begun thinking of easy ways for reproduction. This is a mere stepping stone in their future plans in progressing technology! My father told me I should go to the northern kingdom in the summer and make some friends. By the way, you can keep that."
The northern kingdom is one of the now leading societies in advancing their newfound technology thanks to someone very mysterious. A corrupt tycoon who loves money more than anything in the world, a woman who was rumored to have split personalities… during the night and the day.
"Thank you, Lady Blaire."
Mary Brightmoor, who had almost failed to wake up on time, let out a yawn as she stared at her group of friends, who were already deep in conversation.
"Yawn… good morning, everyone." She set her bag down on her desk and walked over to them, tilting her head with curiosity. "What are you all talking about so early in the morning?"
Her friends' eyes lit up. They had not seen each other since the magic duel competition.
"Oh, Lady Mary! Good morning." (Lady Margaret) gave her a gentle wave and a smile.
Mary Brightmoor came from a noble house that valued scholarship above all else, especially the study of magic. Her background alone had been enough to earn her selection and approval to fight in the festival's magic duel competition.
However, because of an unexpected circumstance, she had been forced to step aside and let Lady Evelyn Alarie take her place. The Alarie family was ten times more powerful and influential than her own. If Mary had refused the Duke's request, their small noble house could have been crushed in an instant.
"It's just a very well-made pamphlet. Do you want to see it? I'm sure it'll impress you." (Lady Blaire) held up the pamphlet for everyone to admire, and the moment Mary saw it, the half-Northerner immediately recognized where it had come from.
Lady Mary rested her chin on her hand. "Hm… that's a Northern commission from a printing company. So it made its way here too. My mother is originally from the North, so she brought back a few things last month."
Lady Blaire's excitement was impossible to miss. "That's wonderful! I never knew you were a half-northener! I was thinking of going there in the summer, or perhaps during spring break after our exams!"
Lady Mary smiled as she barely visits her other home in the north nowadays because of her duties and academic responsibilities at the academy, but after the exams they would have the long awaited summer break!
"You all do know that almost every new and rising business in the North is owned by one woman, don't you? Rumor has it she's around our age, or perhaps only a year older. She controls both the black market and the legitimate businesses in the capital city of the Northern Kingdom." A true norhtener would know the current state of the economic progress of the kingdom, there was only one person in control now and even the king can't stop her.
"E-Even the black market?" (Lady Margaret) asked, eyes wide. The black market in the nothern kingdom over a decade ago was controlled by just different groups and their leaders fighting for territory. "Isn't the Northern black market infamous for underground slave trading and the illegal substance trade?"
"Mm, I've heard that all the lords in the black market now only bow to one woman. They call her the Crimson Merchant," (Lady Mary) said with fascination in her voice. "A tycoon with no magic of her own, so she pours her money into other ventures that interest her. They say she purchases at least fifty slaves a day, and every one of them disappears right after. Oh, and there's another rumor that she eats girls for breakfast."
She paused, realizing how absurd that sounds. "Whatever that means."
Lady Margaret shifted uncomfortably at that. Was this daring merchant actually a cannibal?
"T-That has to be a silly rumor," she said quickly. "Or at least a gross exaggeration."
"I'm not so sure," (Lady Mary) replied. "I heard my mother once made a deal with her for a special item no woman could ever resist. It took her a lot of money before she managed to obtain a limited time product."
"A special item?!" (Lady Blaire Charming) leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with interest.
Lady Mary nodded. "It was… a new lipstick line from a well-known establishment. And not only that, my mother brought home this box. At first, I thought it was just a small, flat jewelry case for a necklace, but imagine my surprise when I opened it and found different shades of color palettes inside, along with a tiny brush for helping a lady freshen up."
She smiled faintly at the memory of her mother's overjoyed expression after getting that item from the mysterious northern tycoon. "The design was unbelievable, delicately carved, and the colors themselves shimmered with glitter. Mother was truly delighted to have it. It was the first time I had ever seen something like that. You can open and close it so easily, and it's so compact and flat that you could carry it anywhere."
"No way-!" (Lady Blaire) gasped, wanting something like that of her very own.. "That could become every young lady's new best friend. Does your mother know this merchant personally? Maybe we can get them too!"
"My mother only knows that she's a woman who drives a hard bargain." (Lady Mary) shrugs, as if recalling even more. "She also owns almost all the most established businesses in a few cities. There's also that chocolate place… I forgot the name in the western language."
Lady Margaret placed a finger against her cheek as she thought. "You mean the Black Swan Luxury Bakery? They serve the sweetest and most savory breads there. They even have that famous new item called chocolate fondue! Many nobles are having a hardtime even getting a proper reservation at their open air cafe!"
Mary laughs dryly knowing the feeling, her mother wanted to go only to be rejected because their status wasn't near enough to be seated for at least a week or two… they had to wait for six months before they were admitted in.
"We just call it Le Cygnet Noir. The line is long… but it was worth it. We went over there in the summer. A few royal elves also visited to give their own high praises, they rarely go out so imagine the shock."
Lady Blaire brightened at once. She had never set foot in the Northern Kingdom, and now she wanted to go more than ever. "Yes, that's it! But oh my goodness, the way you say it sounds so romantique. D-Did I say it right?"
Lady Mary gave a small nod. "Mm."
Lady Blaire suddenly grabbed both of their hands. "We are definitely going to the North during spring break! Oh, Mary, please come with us. We need a half-Northerner to be our guide! I still haven't brushed up on their language yet. We'll be completely lost without you."
Lady Mary laughed softly. "Alright. We can even stay in my family's villa, if you'd like."
"That's wonderful news!" (Lady Blaire) said happily. "It seems we'll be just fine, Margaret."
Lady Margaret's smile softened, though it quickly faded as another thought came to mind. "Speaking of news… has anyone seen Lady Evelyn Alarie or Analissa Blanchet?"
The group turned toward the two empty seats tucked near the corner of the room.
"...hmph."
Silence followed.
Lady Serene, who had been the first to arrive in the classroom, lowered her gaze. She had come early in the hope that her friend might arrive sooner as well, so she could speak with her personally. Hearing that she still had not come left a visible trace of disappointment on her face.
"I thought they would've been back by now," (Lady Margaret) added quietly.
"It's already been three days since the end of the Foundation Festival," (Lady Mary) said, worried that something might have happened to the two. "And today is the first day of class. The only thing I heard was that Miss Blanchet has been confined to one of the infirmaries and is still unconscious. That light magic she cast was wild. The magic circle was so huge it covered the entire arena. Just imagine how much mana it must have taken to cast whatever spell that was."
The mood shifted. The excitement from before slowly drained from the group.
"So…" one of them murmured, voice dropping to a whisper. "Then it really should be true that the Crown Prince tried to kill his own-"
The sentence died in her throat.
The girls fell silent all at once when they saw a familiar figure appear at the doorway.
Lady Evelyn Alarie had arrived.
Step, step, step!
"Lady Alarie! G-Goodmorning!" (Lady Mary) nervously greeted and wondered why she's the only one who's coming to school today. It's going to be five minutes before the bell rings, tardiness is not accepted after all.
The villainess looked eyes with the group of girls and did her best to greet them back without looking like she wanted to kill them, clearly in a bad mood. "...goodmorning."
"...!" Meanwhile, Lady Serene who was also in a bad mood suddenly changed her demeanor when she saw her friend coming in. She observed her condition and it looked like there weren't any more burns.
"Evelyn…" She bites her lip, trying not to cry and thanking the commoner girl for saving her in time.
Mary Brightmoor walks over the looming, depressed figure of the villainess who clearly wanted to be left alone to somber and think of the days ahead of what she'll do once she wakes up.
The villainess who was feared and well known to be a scary monster in the original game was now… weeping in her seat?
'Oh… why… do I live…?' She was creating her own sad girl podcast that only she can hear. 'Why does my heart break from a girl who's sleeping so soundly, she looks so peaceful and beautiful when she sleeps but my heart aches… oh… why does the light torture me so…'
The villainess imagines her awake and switched into a good mood.
'I'll bring her so much food to taste… oranges… and… a lot of sweets… I want to be with her reading a book by her side and lay my head on her shoulder…' (Lady Evelyn) was happily dreaming and then turned depressed after remembering that Analissa Blanchet is still not awake. 'Oh… but when will that happen? How could I be so stupid… to dream like this when she's not awake. If I had died instead maybe it would've been better.'
This was a whole new level of depression.
"Um… Lady Evelyn, how is Miss Analissa Blanchet?" (Lady Margaret) asks, being careful around the depressed girl fearing that she would snap.
Instead Lady Evelyn turns to her looking so worn out, "Her condition… is not good, she's in an infirmary recovering. My servants are taking good care of her. She will return to class once the nurse confirms she's fit to."
"O-Oh, is that so?" The girls around her fell awkwardly silent, though their curiosity remained. They still could not understand why the two of them now seemed stuck together like glue.
Lady Blaire, wanting to make friends, extended her hand, "I never got the chance to thank Miss Blanchet for... volunteering for the play. I thought we would never find a prince for the act, but she stepped in and saved us."
Lary Mary crossed her arms agreeing with her but also adding her amazing feat at the magic duel is amazing. "Indeed! She really is amazing. My perception of her has completely changed, her light magic is exceptional. My family has been studying light magic for years as well but in all of the world and elements, her magic circle has been the biggest I've ever seen compared to all my parent's documents in history."
"...Thank you for those kind words. Perhaps when she wakes up, you may tell her all of that yourself." Lady Evelyn's gaze softened, though her voice remained composed. "Analissa Blanchet is a girl who wants nothing more than to know all of you in a good way. She works hard every day in her studies to remain in this class, helps anyone who is in trouble, and..."
She paused.
"She is my dear friend."
Lady Serene's heart hurt hearing that. She couldn't believe the progress the two had made after the short time they've been together. Analissa Blanchet, a woman who's only been in her life for months… She has been replaced after years of being together.
The Lackey felt awkward talking to the girl she considered her friend… never even considering if the strong heiress of the Alarie family thought of her that way too.