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Translator: Xini
Proofreader: Silavin
There’s still something that needs to be settled.
My feelings on the incident caused by Rivers while en route to escorting him back to the academy.
Roshenna Rivers was kind to others for someone from a bourgeois family that bought their title. He behaved no differently even while associating with the upper echelons of society like me.
His magic proficiency lay somewhere between A and B class. He did excel in academics, but his personality was nothing to write home about but… he didn’t strike me as a guy who could transform an orc into that.
I know he’s skilled, but considering his personality, I have some questions regarding his behavior.
I was certainly surprised to learn that he had concealed something called word magic, but he was a cowardly guy, who couldn’t take a life, so much so that he could never kill a monster or even wring the neck of a fish. I don’t think all of that was just an act.
A guy like that not only killed a monster but also experimented on it… just what exactly brought about this change in him?
That said, all of this might sound odd coming from me, considering I failed to see through his facade.
However… Baron Hearfield had a clue as to Rivers’ real character for some reason. I may be barking up the wrong tree as I failed to realize that Rivers had loved His HIghness to the point of losing his grip on sanity. I wish to learn from this experience and become better at discerning others’ character.
“If the perpetrator insists on silence…”
Rivers, who was restrained and contained in the coach, refused to speak a single word on the stunt he’d pulled.
Even if I tried to speak with him, he simply said, “I have nothing to say to that woman’s ally,” and refused to budge.
I suppose the woman he mentioned is Violet but I wonder since when he started seeing us as allies.
Just because I helped thwart Rivers’ plan, it doesn’t automatically make me her ally.
“He accused us of being her allies. What do you think, Char?”
I casually asked Char who was next to me, after making sure no one could hear us.
Char dropped the enigmatic expression on his face, gave my question some thought before he answered.
“Well… I suppose there’s no reason to deliberately treat Valentine…no, Violet with hostility at the moment. As such, I don’t mind if people consider us allies.”
“That’s a surprise. I never thought I’d hear you say something like that.”
I may not have a leg to stand on, but I certainly remember Char having a very aggressive attitude towards Violet.
And now he says he doesn’t feel that way anymore. Just what brought this on?
“You witnessed it too, what she’s like now.”
“Yeah… she did things that the Violet we knew would have never done.”
She was haughty and self-centered, aggressive and overbearing towards that girl, naturally that’s the image that stayed in our mind.
“I’m not asking you to let bygones be bygones. But please, lend me your strength just this once.”
What we saw after the kidnapping incident was an ex-duke’s daughter, explaining the situation to us, asking for our help and proceeding to lower her head to us before she even heard our reply.
As the situation was dire, we were going to help even if she hadn’t bowed to us.
However, just to save any future trouble, it would be better if we explained the situation to the rest of the students. That was not her cunning plan, rather she bowed her head to us simply out of pure concern for her kidnapped butler.
Us…?
We couldn’t believe it was the same Violet Valentine we knew.
She was someone who put pride before everything and she would vehemently disregard anything she doesn’t approve of. We could see none of that in her now.
That said, her change in attitude doesn’t erase her past sins. I,… His Highness and I’m sure Char too, haven’t forgiven her for what she did to that girl.
I am in love with that girl and it’s the same with His Highness and the others. Violet’s behavior which was a direct result of her ugly jealousy of that girl can’t be excused in such a short time. I don’t intend on taking the law into my hands like Rivers, but a proper atonement period needs to be–
“Are you alright, Lord Clo?! Did you burn yourself? Are you hurt anywhere? Let’s get you some first aid, I’ll bring Ivory immediately–”
However, her expression back then was something I’d never imagined she would make.
She wasn’t trying to exploit the situation to her advantage or keep up appearances, it was simply an expression born out of love and concern for a precious someone.
It wasn’t out of fear nor was it a formality, but an expression that made apparent her concern for the person she loved.
When she makes an expression like that, it makes me unsure about where to redirect my anger.
Maybe for others like Rivers, even that would only serve to fuel their anger, but it’s starting to feel weird for me to resent her.
Because, I am in love with ■■■■.I can understand where Violet’s coming from.
Setting aside the matter of forgiveness… I’ve known her since childhood and I realized the obvious fact that the girl who I’d only ever seen with a sour look on her face was in love too.
And this is what ■■■■ had to say on the subject,
“I wanted to draw your attention to the fact that you’ve grown too close-minded. I’m happy to learn about your feelings for me, but just keep in mind that those feelings don’t excuse any kind of behavior.”
It was warranted as what she said was true. I’ve since reflected on myself and strive to practice self-restraint. Though, I do slip up on rare occasions.
Violet back then was in love with His Highness and unable to see anything but him.
Violet Heartfield now is in love with the Baron and seems to be still aware of her surroundings.
She, who holds ‘love’, the same feeling as me in her heart, had matured in the right direction.
…Which means, I have no right to criticize her anymore. As a fellow human, I can only wish for her happiness. Though I can be bitter about it.
Char seems not yet aware, seeing as how he accepted to help despite his mixed feelings when Violet beseeched us. He also did not notice that his opinion of her isn’t the same anymore.
Also, this may be off topic, but there’s something I’ve been curious about as of late.
“By the way, what’s up with you lately? You’ve been acting weird ever since your spar with that Sister.”
Char, my best friend since childhood, was acting strange.
Ever since the spar, he’s been in a daze and even when he got his new sword, his behavior was unusual.
After entering the academy… probably around a month later I should think. Just like me, he also met and became close to ■■■■ and since then he’s been acting weird, but lately he seems to have gotten worse.
“…It’s nothing, really. I didn’t see anything. I didn’t see… no, I can’t say that as a knight. The Baron told me to not worry about it, but that’s a part of a woman’s body that shouldn’t be…”
“Char?”
“It’s okay, I didn’t actually see it. It wasn’t fully visible. However, is it alright to dismiss it just because of that? As a knight, as a man, I need to take responsibility… but I have her so I can’t exactly give myself up… alright then, I’ve made up my mind.”
“What is it, Char?”
“Ash. Sorry but could you let the school know I’ll be absent for a few days? Depending on how things go, it may take a while for me to return.”
“What are you talking about?”
“There’s something I need to do as a man. I’m sad I won’t be able to see her, but if I return without making amends I wouldn’t be able to show her my face. Well then, goodbye, Ash! I’m going back to Shiki to take responsibility as a man should!”
“Huh?! Hold on, Char! Guys, two of you wait here and the rest, follow me. We need to go bring back Char! If need be, you are allowed to exercise force!”
“Ehh, ro-roger that?!”
Was this guy always that much of an idiot?
Is what went through my mind as I saw him running off towards Shiki.
In the end, we caught him using a thingamajig that Nephrite cooked up using her alchemy magic. Since he resisted, we had to knock him out.
Is the eccentricity seen among Shiki’s residents infectious…?
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