Barbarian Lilia (1)

Approximately one week had passed since the second semester of the second year at Luminor Academy began.

To get straight to the point, even though nearly ten days had passed, including the vacation, I hadn’t uncovered any information about Ethan’s ‘hidden fiancée’.

First, the possibility of him ‘finding a partner and marrying when the time comes’ was almost nonexistent. Based on what I’d observed of Ethan so far, I’d barely seen him dating, let alone meeting anyone for romantic purposes.

He was fundamentally the type to focus on his studies within the Academy. Occasionally, he would meet and converse with certain nobles (especially professors) or other figures unique to the Academy, but I always accompanied him to such gatherings, so they were far from being romantic encounters.

“If you’re from Luminor Academy’s Swordsmanship Department, you must have met my daughter, who attends the same department. Though she’s in a different year, she’s quite famous for her beauty.”

“Hmm, I’m not sure. Perhaps because I already have a fiancée, I don’t pay much attention to the appearances of other women, so I wouldn’t know.”

“Ahem, is that so. Well, in that case, it can’t be helped.”

Even if someone subtly probed about Ethan’s fake fiancée in this manner, he would always deflect the answer appropriately.

Even with a fake fiancée, not engaging in any marital activities whatsoever was illogical. Typically, nobles in this world would set up a fake engagement while secretly maintaining a relationship with the scion of an influential family behind the scenes.

That left the second possibility: a fiancée was already decided, but it couldn’t be revealed publicly.

Usually, this meant Ethan’s partner was either from the Imperial family or a royal family from another country.

The engagement itself was probably made much earlier. It would have been before Ethan fell into his cursed sleep, so it was highly likely to have happened at least ten years ago.

‘The most likely candidates… are roughly three people?’

Among the Imperial family, there was Second Princess Lushetia, or Princess Mezlen. As for foreign royalty, Princess Rainy of the Nostarina Kingdom.

Naturally, all three were beyond my reach. Furthermore, none of them were currently at Luminor Academy.

Princess Mezlen and Princess Rainy were too young, and Lushetia was simply too foolish to qualify for admission to the Academy.

In Lushetia’s case, while she was indeed foolish, the bigger factor was her lack of interest in academics. No matter how foolish, the Academy couldn’t refuse admission to someone from the Imperial family.

However, Lushetia did not enroll in 『Luminor Academy』, citing that she was too busy going out and having fun as she pleased.

‘That’s also why Seraphine despises her so much.’

In the original worldview, the only Imperial family members who could truly be considered Seraphine’s ‘blood siblings’ were Lushetia and Antonio.

With a foolish older sister who indulged in luxury above her, and a younger brother who had lost his will and felt pessimistic about life below her, it was entirely understandable why Seraphine in the original story would become infatuated with the Hero, having no one else to rely on.

At least in this world, Antonio had come to his senses, so things might have improved slightly, but that wouldn’t have alleviated Seraphine’s aversion to Lushetia.

‘I don’t know about the other two… but Lushetia is absolutely out of the question.’

If she really was Ethan’s fiancée in the original story, the Blackwood Family would have been doomed regardless. She was a horrible, villainous bitch who caused stress every time I encountered her at 『Luminor Academy』.

Well, there wasn’t anything I could do anyway. It would be a miracle if I wasn’t secretly eliminated for digging into the Imperial family or foreign royalty.

Therefore, the search for Ethan’s hidden fiancée ended here. It felt unsettling, but I wasn’t willing to risk my life to continue the investigation.

No matter how much I acted as Ethan’s temporary fiancée, I shouldn’t delude myself into behaving like a prospective Duchess. I was merely a Servant of the Blackwood Family and Ethan’s Exclusive Maid.

‘If only the original story had revealed who Ethan’s fiancée was, I wouldn’t feel so frustrated.’

The reason Ethan’s fiancée wasn’t mentioned in the original story was, naturally, due to Ethan’s death (or retirement). In 『Luminor Academy』, Ethan’s role was to exit the story right before the end of his second year and the start of his third.

For that unknown fiancée, it must have been a dream come true. The Ethan in the original story wasn’t as tall as he was now, and he had a terrible, bloated appearance, so she must have wished for the engagement to be broken more than anyone.

And the party who broke off the engagement with Ethan would certainly not go around proclaiming, ‘Actually, I was Ethan’s fiancée,’ so it was natural that I, who had played the original game 24.5 times, wouldn’t know.

‘As for me… I obviously wouldn’t be among the candidates.’

The only son of the Blackwood Ducal Family marrying a Baronet’s noble daughter from the frontier with ambiguous status? And if they investigated even a little, it would be revealed that I was originally a commoner?

There was no way Ethan would take such a risky action… well, I couldn’t say ‘absolutely no way,’ but it was highly probable that Harold, the head of the family, wouldn’t permit it.

‘Anyway, I decided to just think of it as a fleeting dream.’

Two and a half years remaining until graduation from the Academy.

This was precisely the amount of time allowed for Ethan and me.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

As is typical for academy-themed games, 『Luminor Academy』 naturally had a ‘Student Cafeteria’.

It wasn’t a cafeteria that served mass-produced food like those in my original world; instead, it was a place where various dishes were lined up, one plate at a time, and you took as much as you wanted.

The use of the cafeteria was free. More precisely, it was included in the ridiculously expensive Academy tuition, so not eating there would be a loss. Moreover, the quality of the meals wasn’t bad at all.

Ethan, Agnes, and I were also the type to frequently use the Student Cafeteria.

Agnes and I had never been particularly well-off, so it was out of necessity. Ethan, by nature, was not one for excessive spending.

He was the type to spend decisively when necessary but not when it wasn’t strictly required, so there was no reason to seek out other restaurants on the expensive Island of Knowledge.

Thus, it was our usual routine for the three of us to have lunch at the Student Cafeteria attached to the Student Council building. Occasionally, we would share a table with figures like the August Siblings, Seraphine, or Celista.

During one such ordinary routine, Agnes suddenly pointed out the relationship between Ethan and me.

“Lately, aren’t you two sticking together too much?”

“I don’t understand what you mean, Agnes-yang.”

“Is there a reason why an Exclusive Maid and her Master shouldn’t frequently accompany each other?”

“That’s not what I mean. Aren’t you two physically too close?”

It was mealtime. Agnes, sitting opposite Ethan and me, sighed and pointed her knife at us as she asked.

“You don’t need to be that close. It’s been like that every single time since the semester started.”

“Huh?”

“Hmm?”

“Is constantly sticking together in the cafeteria and shoving food into each other’s mouths ‘accompanying’? That’s just flaunting your relationship. Or are you protesting that I’m in the way of your date and telling me to get lost?”

“What are you saying, Agnes-yang? I’ve never once thought you were in the way.”

“There’s nothing wrong with having more people at a meal. Here, Lillith. Say ah.”

“Ah… mm, it’s delicious, Young Master.”

“You two are really messing around.”

That was Agnes’s blunt observation after seeing me eat the piece of steak that came from Ethan’s fork.

Well, to be honest, I wasn’t completely immune to embarrassment. It would be strange if I felt no shame at all, sticking so closely to Ethan and feeding each other every other bite.

But then again, being embarrassed wasn’t such a big deal.

Since this connection would only last until I graduated from the Academy anyway, I intended to thoroughly enjoy various things while I was still attending. I didn’t want to regret it later, thinking, ‘Ah, now that I think about it, I should have tried that too.’

It was a bit disappointing that I was doing things I’d wanted to do in my previous life when I had a girlfriend, but as a woman in this life. Still, it was better than not doing them at all, wasn’t it?

“Ethan, Young Master, say ah.”

“Ah~.”

“…Haa. If Seraphine weren’t so busy, I would just eat with her.”

“Didn’t I suggest you join the Student Council then? Since Young Master Ethan and I dropped out, there should be two spots left.”

“I don’t have time for that. I’m already busy with my research, so what’s a Student Council?”

Well, it was Agnes, so she would naturally be busy. She was busy not only with her studies but also with personal research, especially concerning Fire Magic.

Ultimately, Agnes had no one else to eat with besides me, which led to this situation. And I would spend as much time as possible with Ethan during the remaining two and a half years.

To let go without regrets when the time came, I had to enjoy everything now.

“Agnes-yang, won’t Prince Antonio be enrolling next year? From then on, you won’t have to endure Young Master Ethan and my flaunting, so I ask you to bear with us for just one more semester.”

“…What are you talking about? He’s just an acquaintance.”

“Even if he’s just an acquaintance, there’s no harm in eating together during mealtime, is there? Agnes-yang, do you perhaps believe that meals should only be shared with family, friends, or lovers?”

“…I’ve lost my appetite. I’m just going to leave.”

“Understood. We’ll stop now, so please sit down. Young Master, you too, please move away.”

“Ah, okay.”

“…….”

Agnes gave us a dumbfounded look as Ethan and I instantly moved apart the moment she said she was leaving, then she eventually sat back down and continued her meal.

Just as I was secretly smiling, watching Agnes, who had been eating dishes with carrots more frequently since my advice at the campsite the other day.

-Kwajajang!

A small commotion erupted from one side of the Student Cafeteria, drawing the attention of all three of us.