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Translator: Nonon
Proofreader: Silavin
POV: Violet
The delegation of about a dozen people, all wearing uniforms that I myself had worn until just recently and followed by a horse-drawn carriage pulling their big luggage, were all people I knew well.
The ones I’ve had the most interactions with were the two men at the front.
“— Why are you here, Violet Valentine?!”
Tall and slender body. Brownish hair with a tint of blue, which would be considered long for a man. His normally soft black eyes were sharply glaring at me. A few people in the back looked at me with the same disgust and the rest looked around in confusion.
The people showing a particular dislike for me are His Highness’ close attendant, Ash Austin, who spoke confrontationally to me.
“… Do you not even want to bother with a reply, Valentine?”
And Chartreuse Calvin, with short dark green hair, who glared at me with his originally sharp and almond-shaped eyes. His well-trained body was poised in an alert position. Before, he would have referred to me politely as ‘Lady’, as would be expected from the son of the knight commander, but now he doesn’t seem to want to do that anymore.
“—Ah”
Many people are openly showing their hostility towards me. It’s a different kind of hostility from Schwarz, more similar to displeasure and disgust.
Just like that time merely 2 months ago, I can’t find the words to reply to the feelings directed towards me by the crowd.
‘Don’t you ever appear in front of us again.’
Calm down.
Calm down, Violet. Didn’t you just promise Lord Clo that you would work together?
I must act firm. Even if there are two people, who showed clear hostility towards me at that time without simply being opportunistic, now being vigilant against me, I have to turn forward—
‘I have never loved you.’
–Why? Even though I understand that I must act fearlessly…
I keep remembering His Highness’ words again and again.
I can’t speak. I don’t know what to say. My body trembles slightly and the eyes on me are making me shirk into myself..
Why am I always… such a weak woman?
“Excuse me, I am Clo Heartfield, the lord of this land. You appear to be the students of Azalea academy, but what business has brought you to Shiki today?”
Lord Clo stood in front of me, as I was unable to say a word, covering me and diverting my focus from the malicious gazes.
… I’ve been protected by this back all the time.
“Oh, so you were the Lord. Please excuse my impoliteness.”
After Lord Clo stood in front of me, Ash released his pressure on me, returned to his usual countenance with a soft smile and began to explain the details of what they were doing here.
“Azalea Academy 1st year, representative Ash Austin, accompanied by 14 people. We have arrived, albeit late, to investigate and subjugate monsters.”
As Ash finished his greetings, the students behind him straightened their backs and saluted as if they were soldiers, albeit a bit out disorderly, perhaps because they weren’t used to it.
“Uhh…? In other words, you guys came for the investigation instead of the soldiers?”
“Pardon? Yes, we will be investigating monsters in the surrounding area as a part of practical training… Have you not been notified of this?”
As they were exchanging information, Ash had a wondering look on his face.
According to him, in order for the students to gain experience, Azalea academy divided the students into multiple groups and sent them to investigate and fight together. To avoid the collapse of teamwork due to the differences in social status or gender, the teams were formed as a mix of both genders, nobles and commoners.
And it seems that their particular group was sent to Shiki.
“… Ah, I see. I understand the situation.”
—What was that? For a moment Lord Clo’s expression changed to something I’ve never seen before.
It wasn’t fatigue or doubt… but rather irritation?
“By the way,”
After they finished exchanging information, Ash once again looked at me, as I was hiding behind Lord Clo’s back.
He was looking at me with contempt that was different from before, as if looking at a criminal.
“That—“
“Fuhahahahaha!”
But before he could speak, Ash’s words were interrupted by the fluttering sound of the cloak and a loud laugh.
“Fufufu, welcome, the great Applegate, who are no inferior to Pale Riders! Come forward, ye who are ready to witness the mad sonata crowned with darkness and fire, performed by yours truly, who has defied the divine hegemony! I will pass judgement on ye with my own hands!”
Apricot, who had been showing off her magic to Gray and moved to the back when Ash’s group arrived, moved to the front and started spouting incomprehensible words.
However, even though she was saying strange things as usual, I feel like she’s different from her usual self.
“… Excuse me, what is she saying?”
As expected, the students, including Ash, were looking at her with confused expressions and were discussing among each other how to interact with her.
Seeing this, Apricot sighed, as if she was astonished, and shrugged.
“Fu, to think that you couldn’t even understand this level of mana… let us go, my retainers. There is no point in speaking to people who cannot rise to my expectations. We shall leave them to the Lord.”
Apricot turned her back at Ash’s group and left while laughing loudly.
Who exactly are her retainers in this context?
“Lady Violet, Cyan, I’m sorry but please look after Apricot. There’s no way of knowing what she will do if left alone.”
Looking at the departing Apricot, Lord Clo asked us apologetically.
… Oh, I see. Apricot’s performance was just a way to let me get away from this place. I had very little doubts because it didn’t look strange for her to act this way, but it’s true that I made her worry about me.
“I understand, Lord Clo.”
“Yes sir. Father and the students of Azalea academy, please forgive me for having to leave you… let’s go, Io.”
I bowed my head lightly while Cyan smiled and bowed as she bid them farewell before we left.
Ash and Chartreuse seemed to want to say something in response, but
“Well then, please let me show you to your lodgings.”
“If there are no problems with your denomination, we would like you to stay at the church where I serve. Would that be okay?”
“… Yes, I understand. Char, were there people from a different denomination here?”
“… No, none. I’ve already checked in advance.”
“Understood. Well then, everyone, please follow me. I will bring the horses to our private stable.
Lord Clo and the Father put themselves between us, and with Gray chiming in from the side, their gazes moved elsewhere and they were interrupted.
… Pathetic. I ended up having to borrow strength from everybody present.
But more than that, I’m more concerned about what I should do from tomorrow onwards. As the thoughts kept going round and round in my head, I suppressed the feeling of nausea and followed Ms. Cyan.
— Really pathetic.
“… It’s really Vi, after all.”
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