Chapter 21

Looking back now, I think I reacted in a pitiful way.

Recalling my own appearance, a mix of embarrassment and confusion welled up inside me, making me want to hold my head in my hands. I knew it myself, didn’t I? Even if the old Rabi might have, I should have been proud of my current appearance.

Of course, I always wanted to be healthy. But even if I was called a chicken bone lady behind my back, there was nothing to be ashamed of. I didn’t care about it. Or so I thought.

Staring at her reflection in the pond, Rabi let out a slight sigh. She puffed out her cheeks, trying to make them look bigger. After that, she wondered what she was doing and lightly tapped her white hair.

It must have been unexpected.

No matter how much she was called behind her back, she faced it boldly, straightforwardly, and it was a pure comment from a boy close to her age. It hit her heart.

Moreover, the situation at that time was dire. She honestly thought she was going to die. Her emotions were laid bare, and she was in a state of confusion, which led to her reaction. So it couldn’t be helped. Compared to Sai’s well-trained body, she was just a perfect skeleton. She tried not to care.

Playing with the pond water with one hand, she became aware of the piercing gaze stabbing into her back. Sai was there.

No joke, Sai was there. Always watching from somewhere. Without hiding his large body, he was staring at Rabi from about ten meters behind. It was too much. Wasn’t he supposed to be the prince’s guard?

At first, she thought it was just her imagination, but after being pierced by his prominent gaze and his conspicuous large body for a few days, it was clear that he was definitely watching her. Why? Receiving surveillance from Sai, she thought about various things and decided to change her break time destination to the courtyard. Even Rabi, who was known for her eccentric behavior, didn’t want to be seen as just a creepy person. A noble lady repeatedly going up and down the stairs without any purpose was terrifying enough to cause another incident.

If her destination was the courtyard, she thought, people might consider it as seeking a moment of respite. Incidentally, this place was where Rabi supposedly spilled Nella’s textbook in the game. The pond was wide and extended to the edge of the forest. Occasionally, the sound of fish jumping could be heard.

When she was framed by Nella, Baldo had suggested changing the scene, but no one called her out. It was Nella’s word alone. As a saint, it might have been different, but as just a baron’s daughter, she had no right to speak. So, Baldo, being Baldo, thought it best to let it slide. In the past, she hadn’t noticed, but Baldo was kind but indecisive, always trying to choose the path that hurt no one.

That’s why, despite various reasons, he had treated the crazy Rabi as his fiancée.

Thinking about the past, every time she played with the pond water, her thoughts became clearer. Rabi, with her teacup-sized magic, had water as the essence of her magic. Touching it calmed her heart.

(Then, is this why Sai...?)

In the current situation, it was impossible to condemn Rabi, and she didn’t want to do it either. But she couldn’t ignore the claims of someone she loved. So, under the guise of surveillance, he sent Sai to her. Thinking about it, it made sense. Then, for Rabi, it was convenient.

The inability to train freely was painful, but the most terrifying thing for Rabi was Nella. If Sai kept a close eye on her, Nella wouldn’t be able to easily approach Rabi. Nella was the kind of woman who would dispose of a useless toy without a second thought. All future conversations with her were terrifying. Nella might think that if Rabi were dead, she could get a new toy. The subjugation magic could only be used on one person at a time.

(But if Nella just told me to die, it would be over...)

There was no need for such a roundabout condemnation. Moreover, she had failed in her hasty attempt. It seemed Nella had some other purpose. The fact that she couldn’t understand it was the most terrifying.

The hostile gaze from behind still burned fiercely. She might already be under Nella’s control, but when she turned around and met his gaze, his already bad expression worsened. Rabi’s expression was no less fierce. Their mutual gaze turned into a staring contest, and the sound of the bell made Rabi jump up. The class was about to start.

Standing up, she tried to run but remembered her physical condition and hurriedly walked, only to trip and fall flat on the ground. Sai, startled, rushed to her but immediately stopped, remembering his position. Rabi noticed his hesitation.

Slowly standing up, they maintained a careful distance as they headed towards the school building. She knew she needed to move faster to make it on time. Sai watched her anxiously, his tension palpable. In the game, Sai was a character with a commanding presence but was a reasonable person.

Their distance was too perfect. Sai was not an ally, but he wasn’t someone who would frame Rabi. Knowing his character from the original work brought some relief, but now, the original plot didn’t matter. She needed to escape this place as soon as possible.

--- But, she lacked the foundation to live alone in the future.