“Hoh… quite impressive.”
The party venue was located in a separate building from the main hall.
It appeared to be used for events and celebrations — the décor was lavish enough to make you forget you were inside a school. And yet, far from cluttered, it carried a well-ordered beauty. As one would expect of the storied Lichberg Magic Academy.
“Lord Ouga. I’ve brought you a drink.”
“Thank you.”
“What will you do from here?”
“According to the plan, there’s someone I wanted to speak to, but…”
I glanced around the hall.
A handful of mocking gazes were pricking me from a careful distance.
”…Shall I put a stop to it?”
“Don’t worry about it. Most of them I’ll never deal with again in this life. No need to bother.”
Besides, all of them must be feeling anxious too.
Will their abilities measure up here?
When the nerves are restless, it’s natural to want a moment’s relief by looking down on someone whose noble rank is higher than yours but whose magic aptitude is nothing — like the incompetent (me).
I’d been buried in research to compensate for my magical handicap and almost never appeared in the public eye.
Father, too, almost never spoke of his family outside the house. He understood that information would become a weakness.
Which is why they’re all probably convinced House Veret has written me off.
“I’ll show them with results. Give it time, and the ones with twitching faces will be them. Don’t you agree, Alice?”
“No — I think it is exactly as Lord Ouga says.”
“That’s enough. All you need to do is believe in your master.”
“Lord Ouga…! Being able to serve you fills me with happiness!”
…Yeah, that got us even more stares.
If your loyalty’s that intense, please think about my feelings a little more.
…I’ll just call this practice for getting used to it.
Now then — since making contact had turned out to be difficult, there’s not really any reason for me to be at this welcome party…
”…She’s not coming.”
I’d been watching the entrance, but Liche showed no sign of arriving.
Was a handkerchief not enough cover for her? If I’d handed her a brand-new skirt that would have been creepy.
No, no — she’s surely just gone back to change.
“Lord Ouga. I’ll fetch you another drink.”
“Mm, please.”
I was killing time when the three guys from before walked in, smirking about something.
There was distance between us so I couldn’t hear them speak, but the cowed look from earlier was gone.
If they spot me and cause a scene, that’ll be a pain.
Nothing for it, then.
“Let’s go, Alice. Any more is a waste of time.”
I left the venue, careful to avoid their line of sight, and headed back to the dorm.
At the entrance, the dorm manager flagged me down.
“One moment, Lord Veret. A letter has been left for you.”
“A letter? From who?”
“A female student. Mashiro Liche.”
”…! I see. Thank you.”
I took the unassuming envelope, opened it as I walked back to my room, and read.
Lord Ouga Veret.
Thank you so much for saving me earlier.
There is something I’d like to talk to you about.
Could you come to the back garden tomorrow morning, before first period?
Please forgive me for relying on Lord Veret’s kindness.
Mashiro Liche
“Lord Ouga… this is…”
”…Yes, no mistake.”
It’s a love letter…!
Heh heh heh… To think she’s fallen for me already…!
So the overflowing power of my charisma did the work, did it.
A few spots were hard to read where the ink had bled and dried, but the gist of this message — no question.
Tomorrow morning, I’m going to be confessed to.
“Alice. Tomorrow morning will be early. Make sure to sleep right away tonight.”
“Understood.”
”…Looks like things are about to get fun, hm?”
”! Yes, indeed.”
Alice and I met eyes, shared a long laugh, and returned to our rooms.
——That chain of events brought us to now.
Liche looks visibly unwell.
“Why are you guys here? Picking on her again?”
“Nope, you’ve got it wrong. We came to be moral support for our friend here.”
”…What.”
“Yesterday we got jumped — but you’re the famous incompetent of House Veret, aren’t you? Written off by his own father because of zero magical aptitude.”
Even if I said no, that’s wrong, they wouldn’t believe me.
“And if it is?”
“Well, we just felt sorry for her, you know — getting tangled up with someone like you. Hey, go on. Tell him why you called him out.”
Pushed forward by his hand, Liche stood face-to-face with me.
She was clutching yesterday’s handkerchief, trembling.
Her eyes darted around — she couldn’t seem to calm down.
“Liche. Are you really friends with these—”
“OI! Just say it already!”
Ruark barked, cutting me off.
Tch. What a nuisance.
A public confession would be too embarrassing — of course she couldn’t…!
I took a step forward to deal with them like yesterday, but this time Liche spread her arms to bar my path.
“U-um…!”
She lifted her downcast face.
“Please don’t get involved with me anymore! You — you incompetent — you’re just a bother to me!”
The eyes that delivered the words had no shine to them… no life.
“Y-yesterday, you just misunderstood it…! So, you’re an incompetent who got the wrong idea!”
“Misunderstood…”
“I-I’m giving this back, too… so… that’s all…”
She thrust the handkerchief at me and walked past, away from the scene.
As she passed, I caught a soft whisper.
“I’m sorry.”
I dropped to a knee on the spot and put my hand to my head.
That sight must have looked hilarious to them — Ruark and the others cackled past me.
“So don’t get involved again, you hear?! You self-important incompetent!”
“Aaah, what a riot, what a riot!”
“What a fun thing to see this early in the morning!”
Their grimy laughter receded.
S-self-important… I see…
So her affection going up was my misreading…!
Was my attitude yesterday too smug-cool? If even the handkerchief was wrong, what was the right answer, damn it!
She’s hanging out with people like that… so confident bad-boy types are the ones who get the girls…!?
”…Lord Ouga. If we move now, we can still catch up. What is your wish?”
Even if we caught up, there’s nothing to do.
I’m the embarrassing fool who mistook her for confessing. If I press the matter, I might get hit with “stalker” or “creep” charges.
I aim for evil, sure — but uncool infamy like that, I don’t need.
But… but…! I refuse to give up on those boobs…!
In that case, change of plan.
For a while, I’ll watch and wait.
“When the moment comes, I’ll move. Leave it alone for now. But don’t miss the decisive window.”
“Understood.”
◇ Next time, Alice’s POV. Also, Mashiro is a good girl too, so please don’t come to hate her! Pretty please! ◇