Chapter 102: The Heroine Knows (I).
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Infirmary: 1st Day
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The nurse slept through one of the couches and let the young Alarie girl take the available patient bed beside her but it seems Lady Evelyn Alarie was merely covering herself with a thin blanket, still sitting in the same chair from last night and only leaned in to take a nap.
She needed to be on guard to make sure no crown prince would visit the heroine.
Her maids returned to the dorm, because they needed to make sure to guard her room and her final project for Professor Lionheart's class that also accounts for their exam which was the egg they've been taking care of for months.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Wah-! Ugh..." The nurse woke up to the sudden knocking, looking tired and brazen. She fixes her glasses and sees the Alarie girl already awake. "Milady, you... really ought to leave the infirmary and rest in your own dormitory. You've already been here for a night, oh please, can you consider?"
Lady Evelyn turns her head for a moment and replies with no hesitation, "...I'm staying."
"Oh what a fine morning." The old woman gets up out of her couch, with a groan feeling her back stinging pain, not wanting to deal with the Alarie girl anymore she ignores her and decides to let her stay as long as she doesn't make trouble.
"Sigh... who visits so early in the morning?" She fixes her hair soon after before opening the door. "Who is it?"
Clack.
The three maids were at the door, holding even more things and bows politely at the old nurse who had been patient and indulging at their master who can't seem to leave Analissa Blanchet's side.
Liara gave her usual smooth, charming and polite smile offering expensive goods to the nurse. "Goodmorning, pardon our intrusion. We are Lady Evelyn Alarie's maids, we've been here last night if you remember. We're here to bring more things for both milady and her friend. That also includes you as well."
Melody shyly walks over and gives her one of the most expensive cookie brands that's been made over at the north kingdom, it was a whole bag of it. These sweet treats would cost at least twice of the nurse's salary, the moment she saw a delicate black swan logo she immediately knew who made it.
"P-Please enjoy. It is from the Black Swan Luxury Bakery over from the north. These are the new frost delight cookies..." She lowers her head some more before going behind her sister's back to hide.
Liara smiles and upsells the gift some more. "This might not be enough to repay your kindness that you have given our lady but I hope you know that we are truly grateful for you letting her be here in the infirmary."
"Ugh... she's too bright." (Nayeli) complained, her sister was doing too much of the sparkling thing. It's giving low cortisol.
The nurse takes all of their offerings in hand, she didn't expect it to be so heavy.
"Oh my." The tin cans for the cookies were so heavy she felt a little embarrassed taking all of these but realizing that this was made by THE Black Swan Luxury Bakery which was a luxury place in the north she didn't dare say no.
With a soft click, she unlatched one lid.
As it slowly lifted, a delicate warmth escaped from within- followed by a rich, velvety aroma that immediately filled the air.
The nurse paused.
Inside, nestled neatly against dark velvet lining, were cookies- yet calling them such felt almost insulting. Each piece was perfectly formed, their edges smooth and precise, as though crafted rather than baked. Their surfaces held a subtle sheen, lightly brushed with gold, catching the light with every slight movement of the tin.
Thin ribbons of dark chocolate traced elegant patterns across them, while faint crystals of caramelized sugar glimmered like frost.
"T-Thank you, you are too kind." She leaned in slightly, the scent deepening- warm butter, rare vanilla, and something richer... something almost intoxicating.
The nurse carefully lifted one between her fingers, hesitating and remembering that they were literally in front of her waiting to be invited inside, "If you don't mind, please come inside and check up on your Lady Alarie."
'We've been invited inside! All according to plan!' The three maids smirks, knowing that their plan worked and soon the nurse would be mellow enough if Lady Evelyn asks to stay a few more days inside the infirmary.
"Please, I think that girl needs a break. She's been awake for who knows how long and she hasn't even eaten." The nurse couldn't hide her worry and since the noble girl didn't listen to her scolding she could only hope her own servants would be able to persuade her instead.
"Leave it to us." (Liara) said confidently but she knows that her young lady is NOT the easiest girl to manipulate into following their orders.
...
"Lady Evelyn you should eat, please you should take care of yourself too." The eldest maid tried pushing the packed breakfast in front of her, begging that she at least take one bite.
After a brief pause, she leaned forward slightly, her attention sharpening as she studied Analissa's face. Lady Evelyn shakes her head, "I don't need to... but bring me a basin of water. Her forehead seems a little hot, if she gets another cold... I don't want that."
It was like talking to a little toddler who just says no everytime you offer her to eat vegetables because she wants to play with her sick blonde-haired cockroach.
"You haven't been back in your dormitory since last night to eat dinner. Milady, please I ask you to take at least even one bite of your food-"
"..." The villainess doesn't listen and just gets up to fetch the basin of water by herself in the infirmary bathroom. The bags under her eyes were clear, the heroine doesn't realise how much power she controls over the villainess.
At this point in the story of the game, other routes should have been unlocked but instead the system glitched and now... a new path opened. Analissa Blanchet was ignoring the former love interests, the system slowly adapts and makes new possible routes instead for her own preference.
She skipped the [Elven Prince] and [The Butler] events in the academy's foundation festival just to retrieve the [Wand of Light] in case the demon king pulls up an unknown grimoire that belonged to someone very important containing ancient light magic spells of both defensive and offensive casting.
"She's not going to listen to us, sister. We're lucky that she's even awake at this point she barely ate. I get that she wants to be by Miss Blanchet's side the moment she wakes up but this is concerning." (Nayeli) crosses her arms, knowing that someone like Lady Evelyn with a lot of pride will not listen to her mere servants.
Liara sighs, placing a hand on her cheek worried for the overworked teenager in front of her. "Sigh... if Analissa was here what would she say? I'm sure if she was awake things would've been a lot easier for us to make Lady Alarie eat."
Melody nods agreeing with her sister.
Nayeli hits upon a bright idea and proceeds to wink at her sister for inspiration. If Analissa was awake she would surely tell their lady what to do and she would follow it no questions asked! "That's it-! Fufu, leave it to me my dear sister. Watch the master at work and hope that I'll be getting a big bonus after."
"Hah?"
Nayeli confidently breathes in before strutting inside to talk to their young lady once more, "Milady."
Lady Evelyn who was staring off into the sleeping figure of the heroine didn't even bother turning around. She only replies, "What? I'm a bit occupied."
Nayeli smirks, lowering her head and continues on with her plan in order to make their young lady eat her fill. "Forgive my forwardness but don't you think Miss Analissa Blanchet will notice you in such a horrible state when she wakes up?"
"..." Something inside the villainess irked, yet she said nothing and finally turned her head to look at Nayeli who stiffened where she stood.
"You barely ate, you didn't bathe yesterday and you never left her side which is commendable but I know your friend would say- that you're pushing yourself too hard." (Nayeli) was honestly doing random bullshit go technique, she didn't talk to the commoner girl to know their relationship on a personal level so she could only hope that these two had an inseparable bond enough that her words would be able to persuade her to eat.
'I see what you're doing, if this is your plan Nayeli then it might work-! It's a bit underhanded but I'll do anything for the young lady to eat something!' (Liara) seemed to catch on to her sister's thoughts and plans. She stepped closer and gently placed a hand on her shoulder, her grip warm and steady.
"Please, milady," she said softly, her voice calm but firm. "She would want you to eat... and rest."
Lady Evelyn remained silent. Liara's fingers tightened just slightly, as if grounding her.
"Miss Blanchet is a kind girl," she continued, her tone gentler now. "If she were the one to wake up like this... would you want her first thought to be guilt?"
She leaned in just a little. "To think she made you exhausted... that you didn't even take care of yourself because of her?"
Liara shook her head faintly, hitting the nail on the head, "I don't think she would want that."
The villainess stares at their tired and pleading faces before taking their words into consideration. The moment Analissa Blanchet wakes up is she'll be seeing a different side of herself. A woman who only sees her and her alone... would that scare her if she knew she causes her immense pain by simply not being there by her side?
If Lady Evelyn met such a person like that she wouldn't know what to do but see the logical reason for cutting them off.
'I must be going crazy, I never thought of my own well being for days. I... I don't even know where my familiar is right now. Where's Losimer? I-Is he okay? Did he even eat? What about the egg for our project? She takes her studies seriously... if she fails then she'll lose her scholarship and we won't be able to stay in the same class.' (Lady Evelyn) was overthinking on the spot, she thought of the heroine's reaction once she woke up and it didn't give the best results.
The two did a good job of convincing her because if the villainess continued to be neglectful it would lead to an unhealthy mental state.
"Now I hope you understand why we're saying this, Lady Alarie but you really have to stay strong for her sake." (Liara) cradled carefully in her arms was a neatly arranged stack of packed sandwich boxes, each one wrapped in crisp parchment and tied with a thin ribbon.
With a smooth, practiced motion, she extended the boxes forward, presenting them with both hands.
"Please, milady." A faint warmth rose from the neatly arranged parcels, carrying the inviting scent of freshly baked bread and delicate fillings.
The faint warmth and aroma from the sandwiches lingered in the air. Lady Evelyn's gaze shifted, then drifted back again.
A quiet sigh escaped her lips.
"...Fine." She reached out at last, her movements slow and reluctant, and took one of the neatly wrapped sandwiches from the box.
For a second, she simply held it, turning it slightly in her hands as if unsure what to do next.
Then, after a brief pause, she took a small bite.
...
She chewed.
Swallowed. Her expression remained stiff, almost guarded. The sandwich was packed with sweet filling, making her a bit in a good mood. The villainess turns to Liara and wants to give her thanks despite being a difficult person to deal with, she is glad she has patient and understanding maids by her side.
"...It's good, thank you." she said, a little too quickly- her tone awkward, as if the words didn't quite belong to her.
Lady Evelyn glanced away. Then, clearing her throat, she straightened slightly.
"Prepare a bath," she added, regaining her composure. "By lunch and after that I'll come back here. Send a letter to the student council that I won't be able to meet them today to discuss the aftermath of the foundation festival."
Liara nodded her head at once. "As you wish, milady."
Nayeli and Melody give their big sister a big thumbs up because this was already a huge feat, if there's ever any trouble it would be best to use Analissa Blanchet's name from time to time with proper jurisdiction and responsibility.
Lady Evelyn took another, quieter bite- this time without hesitation.
...
Meanwhile...
A blue-haired boy who wanted to get ahead in the visitor list, looked at the infirmary sign and wondered if this was the right one.
"Sigh... Is this the right infirmary?"
He opens the door, the nurse doesn't let him in but with a few charms and a solid face card he did a good job of manipulating the old coot into letting him in. "Madam, you look lovely today. I came for a visit and brought a few things."
Lord Ein Loucrat has visited the infirmary with his own set of gifts. He already knew that the nurse might have been given orders to not let just anyone visit Analissa's room so he did the only logical thing.
Charm his way into it.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Clack.
The door swung open just a little too casually.
"Well now- good morning, Student Council Vice President," the voice chimed, light and almost amused. "I did say I'd come back, didn't I? I'm here to talk with someone that belongs to you."
"Tweet! Tweet!"
The infirmary remained cool and pristine, wrapped in a quiet stillness. Sunlight filtered softly through the tall windows, brushing against white sheets and polished floors. The faint scent of herbs lingered in the air, clean and soothing.
At the center of it, Lady Evelyn sat beside the bed. She held a sandwich in one hand, taking a small, careful bite- her posture finally relaxed, her expression softer than usual.
Then- That voice slipped in and unraveled it.
Lady Evelyn paused mid-bite. Her fingers stilled. Slowly, she lowered the sandwich. Her gaze shifted toward the door. Standing there, leaning ever so slightly against the frame as if he owned the moment, was a young nobleman with an easy, almost mischievous smile.
Lord Ein.
His eyes gleamed with quiet amusement, as though he found the entire situation more entertaining than he should.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything important," He added lightly, glancing between the tea, the maids... and the sandwich in Lady Evelyn's hand.
A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"Yikes, I can feel your bloodlust where you're sitting Lady Alarie." The room, once still, now felt just a little less quiet. "I promise I'll give you answers, that's why I came to visit."
Because he had arrived.
And with him-
So had the answers he promised.
"Tweet! Tweet!" (Losimer) flies out his shoulder to land on his master's head and cries like a baby bird. "Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!"
Lady Evelyn didn't forget what this blue-haired bitch had done to almost humiliate not only her but everyone in class 1-A for ditching the most important major role on the second day of the festival.
He begged Professor Lionheart to extend the time for their play because everyone hoped for him to come back.
In the end he didn't.
And Analissa Blanchet was forced to take his place as the frog prince instead. She was so brave, handsome and gosh unbelievably charming as the role of a prince suits her very well!
"We need to talk, Einsel Loucrat." But the most important question in her mind, the heroine left alone to go buy popcorn in the morning but during lunch she came back with HIM and she was sitting at their family booth.
The Masochist nods, not feeling ready to face the music who is the one and only Evelyn Alarie. "As promised, I'll talk."
But for the sake of his friend- he'll do it.
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