Chapter 160, 15 Years Won’t Crumble So Easily (: Fake)

Translator: Nonon

Proofreader: Silavin

 

POV: Mary

 

“I’m sorry, Vermillion. I lost my calm…”

“No, it’s fine… it was a bit surprising though.”

 

After seeing Violet and the others off and watching Mr. Clo and Ms. Robot take off, my excitement waned and although I cringed a little from embarrassment, I acted as calm as possible and apologized. Luckily no one but the people at the scene saw me, but looking back on it, it was embarrassing how I acted like a child.

…In terms of my cumulative age, I should be around 30 years old. I’ll just convince myself that my physical age overtook my mental age… Yes, we’ll just leave it at that.

 

“Kuh…!”

“What’s wrong, Older Brother?!”

“I was thinking about how I won’t be able to hear the voices of Milady, Lord Clo and Gray for a while…! So this is what they mean when they say that you only realize how precious something is until you’ve lost it, my Sister…!”

“Don’t say that, Brother! I am also, I’m also enduring…! Ah!”

 

As I was heading back to the academy after saying our goodbyes and having split away, I could hear the voices of the Bulstrode Siblings.

I could not hear them very well, but they sounded like they were in pain for some reason. Normally I would want to alleviate their suffering, but for some reason I feel like it’s better to leave them alone?

 

“That being said, Mary, do you like ancient technology like that? I’ve heard that some ruins have things like that…”

“I’m interested in them. But I’m not going to become a treasure hunter right this instant, so please don’t look so anxious.”

“Hmm… did it show on my face?”

“Yes.”

 

Vermillion seemed worried that I would go somewhere in search for an entity like Ms. Robot. When we first met, he was always calm and rarely changed his expression, but recently he’s become more expressive… In a way, it’s the same change as in the game.

 

“I see. But it’s true, so I don’t mind it. If you are going to go on a journey, I want to be with you. I know you don’t want me to find an excuse to run away from my royal duties, but a life without you is not a life worth living.”

 

… What should I do? I’m happy about his straightforward affection, but it’s still embarrassing. And at the same time, I feel guilty. As somebody not directly involved in the story, I definitely feel a sense of discontent in my heart that I could describe as selfishness.

And then those words…

 

“… Haha, thank you very much. Please don’t worry. I will be in the kingdom for at least three years while I’m studying at the academy. I’m truly enjoying spending time with everybody here.”

 

Oh no, I blurted it out again.

Even though I was trying to not say them after being told my Mr. Clo. The words that make me feel like things would go well if I just say them; the Heroine’s lines written by the scriptwriter.

These words are full of compelling force that feel so good. I always get carried away and end up saying them while making an appropriate expression.

 

“… Mary. Those words are what’s so beautiful about you. I don’t wish to tarnish them. But I—“

 

Then, His Highness stopped speaking, put his hand on my shoulder and after gazing at me for a moment, he tried to pull me in for an embrace. He wanted to hold on to me, so I wouldn’t become somebody else’s, but he must have had some inner conflict about it.

Mr. Clo didn’t deny my principles or actions. However, he said that my words were—

 

“Hey you two, have you two forgotten that I’m here?”

“Huh?!”

 

Before Vermillion could do anything, Kriemhild, who had been walking behind us, spoke, so he removed his hand from my shoulders.

 

“… Sorry, Nephrite. I forgot about you.”

“Ahaha, I kind of knew that, but if I just faded out quietly, it would be troublesome if somebody later said ‘wait, where did she go?’. Please leave your love affairs in the classroom.”

“I’m not sure that’s the advice you should be giving.”

“Love affairs at school are considered a part of the youthful experience.”

“I’m not sure that’s right either.”

 

As always, Kriemhild is able to make the atmosphere lighter no matter who she’s talking to.

Though she uses a certain amount of politeness towards Vermillion…I know the reason.  It’s because she had no opportunities to switch to a friendlier tone.

 

“Oh, and Nephrite. You and Violet seem to be as close as ever… I’ve seen you guys talk ever since she was at the academy, but have you always been so close?”

“No? When she was at the academy, I couldn’t talk to her much because people were all like “a commoner like you shouldn’t talk to His Highness’ fiancée, and the precious Lady Violet of the Ducal Family!’”

“… Did the people around Violet say that?”

“Yes. Well, even if I did talk to her, she was always very curt. The reason I can talk to her now is because I went on the investigation to Shiki and it became easier to talk to her then.”

 

Kriemhild is good friends with Violet.

She’s also cheerful enough to be able to talk with anybody in class regardless of their status.

Her skill with alchemy magic is inconsistent, but she has a natural talent that I lack.

The way she laughs is a little strange, but her smile is so innocent, it makes everybody else happy.

The nameless Heroine that I know, Kriemhild Nephrite, who’s in front of me right now. There are things they have in common, and things I don’t know about.

I don’t know if that’s something that changed because of my presence or if there was some other reason. It’s possible—

 

“I also heard that you were going to visit her in Shiki. Did you mean during the extended winter break?”

“That’s my… that was my intention indeed. Shiki had some rare items, so I thought it would be a suitable place to gather materials for my alchemy magic.”

“It might be none of my business, but at least visit your parents during the New Year holidays. It’s not like you’ll be swamped with meaningless greetings like me, so maybe it would be good to relax at home.”

“Oh… that’s true…”

 

It’s possible that her existence is simply fundamentally different.

Her appearance, abilities, personality, and talents might be the same, but there’s something different about her…

 

“? What’s wrong, Nephrite? …Did you fight with your parents?”

“Ahaha, you might be right in a way.”

“… I see. I might have said something rude then.”

“It’s fine, don’t wo- Please do not blame yourself, I am the one at fault.”

 

However, I felt something strange from those words.

She might have fallen into self-deprecation, but those words just seemed impossible to come from the girl I knew. I knew that it wasn’t right to lump her with her other counterpart, but I felt like I couldn’t overlook those words.

 

“Did something happen, Kriemhild? I understand if it’s difficult to say, but this is not like the usual you.”

“Mary, don’t meddle in the business of other people’s Families…”

“Ahaha, I don’t mind. It would come out eventually anyway… but I would be happy if you didn’t worry about it too much. It’s not really something I would talk about with other people.”

 

Kriemhild was smiling as always, it seemed somehow dry…  no, she continued speaking with her usual smile.

 

“When I went home the other day—“

 

With the same unchanging smile, she continued speaking about something that made me question how she could remain unchanged at all.