Chapter 47

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After the tournament ended, for about two weeks, I locked myself in my room, barely eating, and just burrowed into my futon, falling into a state of self-abandonment. I had tried to go unnoticed, to live a normal life as a student, to be someone who would only be remembered as "Oh, there was someone like that" in a corner of people's memories. But unexpectedly, I won consecutive matches and before I knew it, I had become the champion. Moreover, from the middle of the tournament, some people started calling me "The White Princess." Without even facing strong opponents like Zach and Safina, I quietly won the championship, so I was sure everyone must not be convinced, and they must be suspicious of me. Even if that weren't the case, I didn't want to be the subject of strange expectations. I just wanted to live a quiet life, so I wished to be left alone. Negative thoughts swelled in my mind day by day, and I became more and more hidden in my futon, not going outside.

However, on that day, two weeks later, I emerged from my futon with terrible bedhead. The reason was simple: the written exams were starting today.

As I gazed at the pale light of the dawn through the wooden-framed window with a dazed expression, the door to my room was knocked on. When I responded absentmindedly, Tüte, the only person I allowed to enter my room, came in with a change of clothes, a brush, and other toiletries.

"Did you know I was going to school today?"

"Since it's the written exams today, I thought you would get up soon, being the serious young lady you are."

"Sure, you're a great maid."

I smiled with a sigh, and Tüte bowed respectfully, starting to get me ready to leave the room. She skillfully prepared the toiletries, and as she wiped my face and body, I changed into new clothes. When I sat on the chair looking gloomy, she started brushing my hair. During this morning routine, which we both took for granted, I realized how much I had neglected it in the past few days and how much Tüte had been doing for me. Over these two weeks, Tüte had accepted all my whims and patiently comforted me.

"Thank you... Tüte."

"What's the matter, Miss? Suddenly."

"Yeah... just felt like saying it."

We conversed while looking at the mirror in front of us. After getting ready, I led Tüte to the dining room. I thought I needed to apologize to my parents, who had been worried but hadn't said anything, just watching over me until I calmed down.

However, on the corridor leading to the dining room, I ran into my father, Ferdid, who was talking to the butler. Seeing him in his military-like uniform, giving strict instructions with a stern expression, I was caught off guard and stopped in my tracks. When he noticed me, his stern face turned into a broad smile, and he ran over to me with incredible speed.

"Meaaaryyy! My dear angel!"

As he tackled me, he hugged me tightly. I froze in shock, and he lifted me up with his strong, muscular arms.

"Are you okay now? Can you go to school?"

Held in his arms, looking directly at my face, I realized how much I had worried him and bowed respectfully in response.

"Yes, Father. I'm sorry for worrying you."

Hearing my words and seeing my smile, my father, on the verge of tears, hugged me tightly again and nuzzled my cheek.

"Oh, my angel. I'm so glad, so glad. If you had stayed locked up any longer, I would have destroyed the academy."

(Huh? Father, what did you just say? It sounded like something dangerous.)

I couldn't hear his words clearly due to his tight hug and didn't realize the scary implications of his words. After a while, a cough came from behind my father, and we turned to see my mother standing there with a gentle expression.

"Mother!"

I ran to my mother, Aries, as soon as I was released from my father's embrace. She bent down and gave me a warm hug. Her ample bosom pressed against my face.

(Ah, it's soft... no, I can't breathe!)

I struggled to move my face out of her embrace and managed to look up at her.

"Mary... are you okay now? Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, I'm sorry for worrying you."

I answered brightly to erase the concern in her gentle smile.

(That's right, I have people who care about me so much. I shouldn't be sulking. I just need to reflect on my mistakes and be careful not to repeat them.)

Surrounded by my warm parents, I headed to the dining room for breakfast.

After finishing breakfast, I put on my school uniform for the first time in a while and got into the carriage waiting at the entrance. The coachman, confirming that Tüte and I were on board, started the carriage, and I headed to the academy, my stomach churning. I was worried about how I would face everyone after taking two weeks off, and my resolve from this morning began to waver as we approached the school.

Ignoring my growing anxiety, the carriage arrived at the academy without any trouble and stopped at the usual stop, letting us out. I took a deep breath, straightened my back, and looked at the school building.

"Are you okay? Miss, you don't look well."

"I'm fine, really. I'm going to the parlor."

To avoid worrying Tüte, who looked at me with concern, I acted bravely, took another deep breath, and headed for the parlor. I ignored the students who were looking at me and whispering, trying to calm my racing heart, and arrived at my destination. With another deep breath, I stood at the entrance to the parlor.

At that moment, the murmurs made me want to run away, but Tüte, standing behind me, urged me on, and I slowly entered the room.

Then, a girl in the same uniform as me, with chestnut hair flowing loosely, ran towards me with incredible speed.

"Maryyy-samaaaa!"

I received a tackle to the abdomen, but with my "attack nullification" skill activated, I managed to catch Safina.

(To think she would launch such a tackle... I must have worried her a lot.)

I petted the half-crying Safina's head, and then Zaha approached.

"Mary-sama, are you okay now? Is your body alright?"

Seeing me with unusual concern, I felt a bit puzzled but also guilty for worrying them, so I smiled.

"I'm fine, I'm sorry for worrying you. I'm glad to see you both looking well."

It had been a while since I saw them after collapsing from magical exhaustion, and I was relieved to see them both looking well.

"I only had magical exhaustion, so I woke up that day and was fine. What's more concerning is you. Why didn't you tell us?"

(Huh?)

As I tried to speak while still holding onto Safina, her words caught my attention. It seemed I had kept something from everyone.

(What? Could they have found out about my cheat ability?)

I felt a cold sweat run down my back.

"What? What are you talking about?"

I tried to stay calm, but my voice trembled, and they looked at me with concern. After what I did at the tournament, it was inevitable that they would notice something strange about my power, especially since they were close to me.

"Miss..."

Tüte, who seemed to understand the situation, also looked worried and called out to me. I turned to her, nodded, and then looked at the two of them, determined.

"I'm sorry, but..."

"Sure enough, you were hiding it, Mary-sama. You're frail and often ill."

"Huh?"

Just as I was about to reveal my ability, Safina interrupted with a confident statement.

"So, I was half-believing the information Magilka brought, but now everything makes sense."

"What, what are you talking about?"

Their understanding was completely off the mark from what I had in mind.

"Is this what they call 'Heaven doesn't give two blessings'? Mary-sama has genius talent and ability, but her body can't keep up. That explains the fluctuations in her power."

"Huh? What?"

I was in a panic, unable to understand Zaha's words.

"To hide your condition and worry about others instead of yourself, and even to push yourself to meet our unreasonable expectations... You must have been hiding your suffering from illness before the matches."

Safina, with tears in her eyes, gently held my hand and pulled it to her chest.

"When you won, you must have thought your job was done and collapsed in secret, wandering between life and death. Oh, Mary-sama, you must have suffered so much."

Safina finally broke down and started crying loudly, her sobs echoing through the parlor and drawing more whispers from the students.

"Hey, Safina! Who said that? That's a rumor!"

"Stop hiding it. Magilka said she heard the Duke and the headmaster talking about it while you were unconscious."

Zaha placed a hand on my shoulder with a knowing smile, and I felt even more lost.

"What? Father and the headmaster?"

Hearing that my father had been to the school, I was completely confused and turned to Tüte, who nodded, confirming it.

"The Duke said his daughter has always been frail, delicate, and weak. He thought she had gotten better when he saw her advancing in the tournament without her personal maid. He regretted not realizing that she was pushing herself to meet everyone's expectations and even blamed the school for not noticing. He also informed them that you would be absent until you recovered."

Magilka, with her golden pigtails swaying, had somehow heard about this and came to our parlor, accompanied by the prince.

"When I told the Duke, who had just finished talking with the headmaster, that Mary had collapsed the moment she won, he shed tears, saying she must have hidden her suffering to avoid causing trouble. He was also told that you had been bedridden and hadn't left your room, trying to hide your condition from everyone."

The prince added to Magilka's story, and the students around us listened with great interest.

(Oh my gosh, Father, why did you take the story in such a different direction? This is getting complicated.)

As Magilka and the prince spoke with concern, I could only give a dry laugh. Tüte, noticing my distress, whispered in my ear.

"What they said is true. As proof, the headmaster has made an exception and allowed me to accompany you. Your father told me this a few days ago."

Hearing Tüte's words, I finally understood the situation. I was relieved that my cheat ability hadn't been discovered, but I also realized that my current position was beyond repair.

(Why does everything have to get so complicated?)

Thank you for reading this far.