Chapter 59

It had been half a month since the cafeteria opened, and amidst the busy days, I was troubled.

“...What’s going on with those two, I wonder?”

I couldn’t tell if the relationship between Charlotte and Lord Zain had progressed, and it made me uneasy.

According to reports from Ranhart, they had been seen talking to each other several times.

It was rare for Lord Zain to interact with women, and since he was no longer seen with me, rumors were spreading that Grace Sentsberry had been discarded.

Moreover, during this half month, Lord Zain, who was currently in the capital and attending social events, had not contacted me at all. Perhaps this time, it was due to Charlotte’s influence.

Still, things were going quite well for me, and I had some hope that things might naturally fade away.

‘You wouldn’t understand my feelings, would you?’

‘I hate you as much as I love you.’

But when I recalled those words from the other day, I couldn’t help but think that he wouldn’t change his mind so easily. At the same time, I remembered being kissed multiple times, and my face grew warm.

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts of that day, I picked up Haniwa, who was looking at me curiously with a “pupepu?”

“Hey, Haniwa, what do you think? Does Lord Zain still like me?”

“Pupo! Papi, pupi!”

“Hehe, you’re so cute. What does ‘pupo’ mean?”

Haniwa’s efforts to communicate with gestures and repeatedly saying “pupi” were adorable, and it lifted my spirits.

Still, Haniwa loved Lord Zain, and the thought that they might not meet again pained my heart.

In the midst of this, Evan, who was drinking coffee, suddenly remembered something and spoke up.

“I’m taking two days off starting tomorrow, so please take the knights of the marquis family with you when you go out.”

“Understood. Where are you going?”

“Yes, to hunt monsters.”

The fact that Evan was being dispatched suggested that the opponent was quite formidable.

According to the information, a group of strong monsters had appeared in a location not far from the capital.

“Is there any change in the monsters?”

“It’s not clear yet, but the number of monsters has definitely increased.”

It seemed that, as in the novel, the miasma was spreading, and the number of monsters was increasing.

“Yana, has the price of magic mineral water changed?”

“No, not yet.”

“...That’s good.”

I felt relieved, but the situation was far from stable. If the supply of magic mineral water, an essential resource for various magical devices, started to dwindle, war would be imminent.

My heart felt uneasy as I opened my notebook, which contained as much information from the novel as I could remember. But would everything really unfold as described?

“What’s this? It looks like a timeline.”

“This records what will happen to Charlotte and Lord Zain in the future.”

Evan, who had peeked at the notebook, tilted his head.

Since I had already told him and the others various things, I answered honestly, and Evan responded with a surprised “Wow.”

“You don’t know what will happen to the young lady and us?”

“No, unfortunately.”

“I see, still, that’s impressive.”

They believed me without any doubt, and I felt a warm sensation in my chest.

Having people who believed in me so wholeheartedly was very reassuring.

“What’s this ‘Heart-Throbbing Kidnapping Incident’?”

“It’s when Charlotte, who was kidnapped by a stalker, is rescued by Lord Zain by chance.”

“And what about this ‘Magical Device Incident’?”

“It’s when Charlotte, who hasn’t yet awakened her powers as the Holy Maiden, goes to save Lord Zain, who is in danger, and gets injured.”

That scene was very touching, and I remembered reading the novel multiple times.

“It sounds like a lot of trouble. All these strange incidents.”

“Right? But that’s how it is.”

The heroine and the protagonist always face difficulties and hardships, but their bond grows stronger each time they overcome them, and their love burns brighter.

Still, thinking about how difficult it all was, I sighed, thinking that I was the one who would suffer the most.

“Miss, you have a visitor.”

“Who is it?”

A maid came in, looking flustered, to inform me of the visitor.

“It’s Lady Mariabel Winslett.”

“...What?”

◇◇◇

A few days later, I was sitting next to Mariabel at the Winslett Duke’s residence.

“I’m sorry for visiting so suddenly. I knew it would be a bother, but I just had to see you... Do you hate me...?”

“Of course not! I’ve always and will always love you, Mariabel.”

I couldn’t possibly turn away the anxious-looking Mariabel who had come to my house the other day.

It had been a while since I last saw Mariabel, before I went into hiding. Even though it was necessary, I felt guilty for making her feel lonely and anxious, which pained my heart.

When she asked to meet alone, we ended up here. I knew Lord Zain would be away until tomorrow, so it should be fine.

“Being with you makes me feel so much better.”

“Mariabel...”

Mariabel sat right next to me, clinging to my arm. She was as angelic, cute, and lovable as ever, and I wanted to stay with her forever.

She lowered her long, silver eyelashes and gripped my hand tightly.

“Did you have a fight with my brother?”

“...No, it’s not like that.”

Since she had spent so much time at the duke’s residence with Lord Zain, it was natural for her to think that.

– I had planned to have a proper conversation with her after the breakup, explaining that while our relationship had changed, Lord Zain and Mariabel were still important to me.

But since I couldn’t bring myself to say that I was running away because I wanted to break up, things ended up like this.

“If not, then why...”

Looking at Mariabel, who was staring at me intently, I felt that I couldn’t be dishonest or lie. I took a deep breath and spoke.

“I’m sorry, Mariabel. I want to break up with Lord Zain.”

“W-Why? Do you no longer like my brother...?”

Tears welled up in her golden eyes, the same color as Lord Zain’s, and I struggled to hold back from saying, “I don’t really want to break up.”

“No, I still care for him deeply and love him. But I think we should go our separate ways.”

“Please, talk to my brother properly. He definitely loves you, and you two should be together forever!”

I could feel the intensity of Mariabel’s feelings, and my vision blurred as I hugged her.

“Mariabel? The visitor...”

Lord Zain himself walked into the hall, and I froze, holding my breath.

He, too, seemed surprised to see me, his narrow eyes wide open.