Chapter 103: The Heroine Knows (II).
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Early in the morning: 1 Hour before the villainess and the masochist met
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The festival was over!
Everyone went back to their dorm rooms and slept peacefully with no worry.
"Hmm... hm... is it okay to visit the two of them today?" (Lord Ein) paced around his room and looked outside the window, he woke up to a wonderful morning with perfect weather, no dark clouds in the sky meaning it would be the perfect time to visit the two lovers cooped up in the academy infirmary. "But before that... what in the world should I do with you?"
He turns to the window's ledge where a familiar red sparrow was chirping angrily at him.
"Tweet!"
Losimer followed him after the incident at the festival.
Dark circles under his eyes were visible, oh-! He was thinking the whole night how to face the wrath of someone like Duchess Evelyn Alarie.
'I did tell her that I'll be visiting with answers, but I have to get some of the magic stones we got from the [Hidden Archive] appraised for money.' The Masochist truly had a long weekend ahead.
Usually one coming from a rich family would not need extra money.
'I need money... not having an allowance scares me. I have to repay Lady Harriot Yates for what she did to me in the festival. Currently, I have no money, this will help me get back up on my feet and have emergency funds for anything drastic in the future.' (Lord Ein) was determined to pay the kind classmate he has and a fellow comrade in watching the two girls' growth in their relationship.
That and he admits, he was too reckless and impulsive blowing everything on bribing the seniors for a private wedding booth reservation.
"Chirp! Tweet!" (Losimer) wanted to tell him that he's an ass for taking the nice blonde-haired girl to somewhere he doesn't know when it's literally his job to make sure she's safe. "Meep!"
Now he doesn't know if he can face his master without good results.
"I don't know what you're saying but for the record you followed me instead of your master!" He yelled angrily, shocking the little sparrow who was only doing his best to do his task given by his master.
On the last day of the festival, chaos consumed the arena and Losimer, who was usually resting on someone's head, was forgotten. He was scared of how scary his master's eyes looked and he worried for the nice human.
But there was something that caught his eye.
A book that she entrusted to him. It seemed to be important no doubt.
While the nice blonde girl trusts him, Losimer doesn't!
"Tweet!" He knows that those two will be fine without him and for now she needs to make sure that the nice human girl's belongings would be safe and will not be wrongfully used. "Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!"
However, no matter his effort, it seems that his words could not be understood.
"I still don't understand." The masochist didn't know what to do and that made Losimer frustrated.
It was only his master that understood him after all.
"Chirp!"
Lord Ein sighs, he's more of a cat person than a bird one. "To be honest with you I don't really like birds. I don't understand your appeal."
"CHIRP?!"
"Ow, ow, ow!"
"You can't blame me, birds do nothing but eat, drink and then take a big pile of feces without a care in the world." (Lord Ein) defended himself, with that Losimer only became even more depressed about his dislike for birds. "Not to mention you're a contracted familiar. While you have better intellect than normal birds, you're still doing nothing but eating, drinking and then taking a big poop. Have you done anything useful for your lady as of late?"
"T-Tweet?!"
If you say as of late then...
Well, he had the mission to spy on Analissa Blanchet but he was found out by her.
Failure.
Next, he was ordered to still stay by Analissa Blanchet's side and care for their seat at the arena but with the persuasion of popcorn he let her stray away which was the reason for her disappearance for the whole morning.
Another Failure.
Lastly, instead of coming to his master's side he went to the annoying blue-haired bitch because he took what looked to be a rare item hence the reason for staying.
Big Fail.
Hearing that made Losimer feel useless and depressed, he couldn't help but fear his master will abandon him for not doing that much of a good job.
"C-Chirp."
"As expected, I cannot believe you're an actual familiar of Lady Evelyn Alarie. I thought you'd be more... flashier, edgier or even possess some amazing traits. Instead you look just like any adorable sparrow you'd see in the trees outside the academy."
Losimer wanted to bury himself in shame, because he has worked hard on his job being a familiar contract only to be met with these harsh words. Sure a sparrow's weakness could be listed, he's slow compared to Lady Evelyn Alarie's familiar back at home...
He also easily gets bribed with food given to him by any human.
Is he... Is he more like a burden than a helpful familiar?
"S-Sniff... chirp..."
"Huh." (Lord Ein) couldn't believe what he was seeing. It was a bird crying, "I didn't know birds could cry tears. I've read how when they're in distress they would act out and pluck their feathers wildly. Then again, you're familiar with her contract."
"Tweet! Chirp, meep!"
He could feel the sadness on the little bird and eventually felt a bit guilty about what he said to him.
"Again I don't understand what you're saying. Sigh... here." (Lord Ein) puts the small little bird by his shoulder and smiles. "We'll go visit them now. You're worried about them both aren't you?"
"Tweet!"
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Present
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"Tweet! Tweet!"
"Ah-! Losimer!" (Lady Evelyn) takes the bird from her head to her hands, settling him in her open palms. "I'm so glad you're alright. I'm so sorry I left so abruptly, my head was just so... clouded. I don't know what happened."
"Chirp! Tweet" The little bird hugs his master, he never wants to let go. "Sniff tweet!"
The villainess wanted to pour her whole emotion out but seeing the three maids who were still inside the room with them, she coughed and ordered them to go out for now. "Leave us be for now, I must talk with Lord Einsel."
Liara, Melody and Nayeli lowered their heads elegantly as a maid should, before replying. "As you wish milady."
"I'm so sorry..." She keeps the little bird close to her chest before turning her attention to Lord Ein.
The last person who was with Miss Blanchet.
"[Obex Clastrum]." She felt anger, relief and confusion altogether when he saw the man standing before him standing with a casual smile as if nothing happened.
"And as for you, why in the world did you abandon the class play? Did you think it was fun? Leaving everyone in a state of panic. We looked for you, we thought something bad had happened. I even asked Professor Lionheart if we can delay it even for a few minutes-!"
Being late is never a good impression to leave in front of an audience in a play, they were after all class 1-A the class full of noble children with high expectations.
"Ah... I... I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused and I am grateful for everyone's concern. I never thought you'd try and find me." He never thought much about the consequences that came with it, he was sure that Analissa would take on the helm but their trust- he thought he could easily earn it again. "I wanted to watch it so I used the tickets we were supposed to give to our parents."
Lady Evelyn raised an eyebrow after hearing his explanation, so he left the play to watch it instead? Without any warning, or even a message he just plainly disappeared. That's not a good excuse!
"...you could've left a message or told someone that you weren't coming so at least we could've properly prepared- Serene was tearing her head out when we couldn't find you, no other boys in the class knew the script for the prince." The villainess was trying to calmly talk to Lord Einsel, honestly, she wants to release her frustration on him for being so stupid, selfish and-!
Lord Ein smiles putting two of his fingers together, acting all shy and playful, "I made sure to have Analissa Blanchet to take my role, we practiced during our free time and if I'm being honest the role of the savior prince suits her better. I never wanted to hurt anyone, besides I know you liked the very end of the play didn't you? I mean you two nearly kissed if only you didn't miss."
That stunned the villainess on a whole other level.
A flush crept across her cheeks, her face growing warm as she struggled to steady herself.
"Y-You!" She grabbed him by the collar and started shaking him, indeed, she liked it! But there was no way in hell that she's going to admit that now! And it was utterly shameful that her lips missed when the heroine's face was literally inches away from hers!
The villainess was so glad she casted [Obex Clastrum] beforehand or else her maids and the nurse might overhear her flustered squealing.
Lord Ein was enjoying the fun reactions the cold stoned Alarie was giving, so much for being a scary woman who's known to be strict, unforgivable and a down right merciless but when it comes to Analissa she's a real hot mess.
"You like her don't you~? Anyone with a half brain could see it a mile away." He continued to taunt and even boldly poked Lady Evelyn in her reddened cheeks.
"Shhh! Shhh! W-What are you doing?! A-Analissa-! I mean... Miss Blanchet might hear whatever you're saying!" Flustered, she quickly turned back toward the sleeping blonde girl, her movements a little too hurried. Her eyes lingered on her for a moment, as if checking whether she had stirred.
Only when she saw that Analissa remained peacefully asleep did Evelyn let out a quiet breath- though the faint flush on her cheeks refused to fade.
Lord Ein was having the time of her life, 'Oh goodness... that's literally the least of her worries because she already knows how you feel.'
"My... I never knew red could be such a good color on your face. So when did you realize that you liked her that way?" (Lord Ein) was beyond curious when could the little bold bird realized what she wanted?
Analissa Blanchet is not doing well on her progress with her feelings but it seems Evelyn Alarie now knows what she wants and is sometimes straightforward about it.
The villainess immediately forgets her anger towards Lord Ein and was enraptured by the opportunity to talk about her feelings openly. "...I guess when we went to the wedding booth, I wondered time and time again if I had the freedom to marry anyone else in the world. Who would it be?"
A brief pause followed.
Her gaze drifted, no longer on Lord Ein, but somewhere far away, as if replaying the memory.
"Miss Blanchet's face popped up in my mind and I immediately understood that what I feel for her is no ordinary love for a friend." (Lady Evelyn) lowered her gaze, her voice growing steadier despite the faint blush still lingering on her cheeks. Her hand moved unconsciously, lightly brushing against the edge of the bed near Analissa.
"...You should know that the whole class was worried we would cancel the play and disappoint their parents- their family who took the time to visit their children. You also don't take the class's effort, work and sweat into consideration." The villainess lifted her head, her expression sharpening as she turned back to Lord Ein.
Lord Ein didn't interrupt. Instead, he exhaled softly, the usual playfulness in his expression dimming.
"Truly... I apologize," He said, more quietly than before. "You're not the first to tell me that."
His gaze flickered briefly toward the bed. "Analissa Blanchet said the same thing."
He gave a small, almost self-aware smile. "She wanted the play to succeed... and to grow closer to her classmates. In the end, I was simply indulging my own selfish desire to see the two of you together. I arranged everything, the script, the roles... every detail."
Lady Evelyn's eyes widened slightly. "Y-You... Ahem, hold on a moment. I just realized we've been talking casually about my feelings... normally anyone would point out that it's wrong and unfavorable for a woman to love another woman."
Lord Ein chuckled softly- not mocking, but almost amused. Did she "I know. We've been hearing that same phrase all of our life."
"And you... support it? You're alright with me loving a woman?"
There was no question that Lord Ein would support all the way for their love, it doesn't hurt anyone and for some reason he can't stop watching over the two and wishing for the best for them. Especially the heroine.
"Of course." The answer came without hesitation.
Lady Evelyn took a step closer, her confusion only deepening. "What's your goal? I don't understand why you're so easily accepting... I thought you admired Analissa Blanchet the same way."
'Because you two like each other and it pains me to see that idiot acting like a fool of not making the right move to face her own feelings to love you!' (Lord Ein) wanted to yell that on the top of his lungs but he turned to his usual playful demeanor.
"Relax," He continued, slipping back into that easy, playful demeanor. "I'm nothing more than an observer. I merely like Analissa Blanchet as a friend, she's been fun to be with and she's a good listener."
The villainess thought carefully of what Lord Ein could be after.
'For Einsel Loucrat to be accepting of something like this is unsettling. His past is not clean, he would use any information he gained and use that to take advantage of whatever he feels like ruining.' Lady Evelyn's gaze lingered on him, sharp and calculating beneath her composed exterior.
Her fingers curled slightly at her side.
The Loucrat name alone carried weight. Influence. Power.
And danger.
'If we ever stand opposed... things will not remain simple. It would be far better to stand as allies... rather than mere acquaintances.' She knows with his family's background that things would be messy if they ever butt heads. 'He could use this against me in the future. I was too careless and told him what I really thought about Analissa!'
But the Loucrat house is in favor of the crown.
'I can't kill him without proper plans.' Her eyes turned dark, if he ever dares ruin the heroine's and her peace in the academy she'll do everything in her power to bring it back.
"I know you like her," he added, glancing briefly toward Analissa before looking back at Evelyn. "It's just love. There have always been people like you. People who felt the same... but never reached the ending they wanted."
'But I hope the two of you do,' he added silently.
Lady Evelyn's voice remained calm. "It doesn't comfort me that you know of my feelings for Analissa Blanchet. I neither trust nor distrust you. But I can tell... you care for her. In your own way."
"Mm," (Lord Ein) hummed thoughtfully. "I never thought it would happen, but we became friends. Sometimes I miss the way she used to insult me, she did it when we first met."
"After that I feel like I've broken free of something and then here we are now, good friends." He tilted his head, smiling.
There was a brief silence before Lady Evelyn Alarie thought this man must be losing his mind or at least his insanity is needing help.
"That's... honestly a little concerning."
The Masochist crosses his arms, "Change is hard, I'm doing my best, this is already good progress for me considering we're already nearing three months of our first semester."
"Three months..." The villainess realizes that he's right. Change is not easy, both of them only met Analissa Blanchet on the first day of school.
It's been almost three months... yet she's already fawning over her like an obsessed lover.
Lady Evelyn's composure faltered just slightly. "Do you think... could she ever return my feelings?"
Lord Ein nearly choked and wanted to laugh at Lady Evelyn's question.
'Yes. Yes. A hundred times yes. I would stake my entire fortune on the two of you confessing to each other before graduation!' Is what he would like to say but he promised not to interfere much with the two's love story and it wouldn't be fun if he heard the truth from him.
So instead, he shrugged casually.
"Who knows? You'll have to ask her when she wakes up. I don't think that's a question I'm allowed to answer."
It's a yes.
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