Ch.85Hersy Minerva (1)

# Minerva’s Grand Mansion

In the largest villa on the island lived a single girl.

This girl was the owner of the mansion. The heir to the Minerva family, Hersy Minerva.

Her room was filled with chaotic magic circles and various books.

In that space where there was barely room to step, Hersy lay on her bed.

“I haven’t seen Ruide lately.”

Hersy sadly muttered while lifting the fox by its armpits.

[…He does seem busy these days. His mana usage has been overwhelmingly higher than usual.]

“I suppose so…? He went to Windsor. The academy already means nothing to Ruide. Someone like me… he’s probably already forgotten.”

The cause of Hersy’s depression was Ruide.

Recently, Ruide had become a recluse. He was often away from home and didn’t come to the academy.

There was a rumor that he had been spotted once at the academy’s fencing hall, but considering he hadn’t shown his face even once, perhaps he had already forgotten about her existence.

[That’s impossible!]

“…But, he hasn’t come to see me even once.”

[That’s absolutely impossible.]

Miho trembled her small body.

[He, he couldn’t have forgotten about me.]

“…You’re anxious too.”

Hersy hugged Miho.

“Still, I’m glad I have at least you, Miho. I’m not lonely.”

[Doesn’t Hersy have any friends?]

“……Could you refrain from saying hurtful things so casually?”

Hersy Minerva.

She wasn’t an easy person to get along with.

She had always maintained the position that she couldn’t become friends with anyone who didn’t suit the Minerva family.

Even if she did become close with someone, she kept her distance. It was partly because there weren’t people she liked, and partly because people of high status treated each other cautiously.

After all, it was common for small conflicts to escalate into family matters.

However, after meeting Ruide, her personality changed.

Hersy, who always thought of the worst first, became more positive, and she who normally wouldn’t tolerate others’ mistakes could now laugh them off.

But recently.

She felt depressed because it seemed like her relationship with Ruide had grown distant.

“Being with Dellin’s fairy was like a dream. Those were good times.”

[Oh, you sound like a human who has lived a long life.]

Miho spoke to comfort Hersy.

[You’ve been busy lately too, Hersy. He probably didn’t want to disturb you. It’s exam period. I heard exams are very important to you.]

“…Yes. That’s right. Actually, I don’t have time to be depressed like this. I need to study every minute I can.”

[Why are you so obsessed with studying? From what I can see, only my master could get higher scores than you.]

Hersy’s expression darkened momentarily, but it was very brief. She answered brightly.

“Because I can’t fall behind? After all, I’m the only heir to the Minerva family.”

Though she tried to appear cheerful, there was a bitter aftertaste.

Suddenly, she remembered what Ruide had said.

-Hersy, don’t you have any worries?

At that time, she said she didn’t have any to show a bright face, but no one exists without worries.

Hersy had worries too. And it was quite an earnest wish.

‘…I don’t want to be hated.’

The Minerva family operated under a strict competition system.

It wasn’t primogeniture, but rather succession determined by ability.

That’s why she could become the heir despite having two older brothers.

Because Hersy was the most outstanding.

But that wasn’t what she wanted.

‘I never wanted to be the heir.’

Hersy had two older brothers and two younger siblings.

When she was young, Hersy was quite beloved. She was especially close with her brothers. They adored her very much.

Until she was 5 years old.

-I appoint Hersy Minerva as the heir to Minerva.

In the Minerva family, where one is evaluated by ability.

The head of Minerva recognized that Hersy was the most outstanding and appointed her as the heir.

From then on, her good relationship with her brothers soured.

They didn’t openly dislike her, but even at her young age, she could feel their aversion.

It was due to their inferiority complex from being surpassed by a much younger sibling, but young Hersy was innocent.

-‘If I work harder, my brothers will love me again.’

She made the wrong choice.

From that day on, Hersy worked diligently.

She tried hard in everything and didn’t act spoiled.

All of that was to impress her brothers.

Hersy, who already had talent, achieved remarkable growth when she combined it with effort.

Her skills improved noticeably, but her relationship with her family didn’t progress at all.

-‘I… I want to get along well with my brothers.’

Hersy still couldn’t forget what she heard then.

-Annoying bitch.

She flinched.

Hersy opened her eyes.

“……When did morning come?”

It seemed she had dozed off.

Miho was sleeping soundly between her legs.

With a faint smile, Hersy stroked Miho. The arctic fox’s fur was extremely soft and warm.

She took a deep breath and carefully got up.

It was time to go to the academy.

**

Ruide looked up at the sky with a very serious face.

His lips were tightly closed, and his eyes were hardened.

He took a step. He looked around. He could see students moving busily. He spread his mana thinly and widely.

Ruide was currently contemplating a major life decision.

‘Where should I sleep?’

He thought while hugging his pillow.

A gift to himself for working hard.

He couldn’t sleep at Dellin’s Lake as usual.

He would get the best sleep in the best place. He needed to find a top-tier sleeping spot, at least as good as the cathedral rooftop.

Ruide suddenly thought of a place and ran toward it.

‘This is it.’

His eyes sparkled.

Lush green grass. The grass, swaying gently in the wind, was covered with dew, showing how well it had been maintained.

This grassy bed looked better quality than Dellin’s Lake and was already in Ruide’s memory.

However, he had never slept here before. Because there was a critical problem.

“Hmm?”

He saw Damon surrounded by four women. This was Damon’s affair spot!

Moreover, because of its scenic beauty, it was a popular dating spot. Many students besides Damon were enjoying it.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen your face. Did you finish your work with the knights?”

“Yes.”

Damon pushed away a woman’s arm with a thud and approached him.

‘Wow, what character.’

It was surprising every time he saw it. Not only did he openly cheat on his perfectly fine fiancée, but he also had such an attitude.

“Looks like you’ve been through quite a bit.”

“How would you know?”

“Don’t you know? Half of our house is frozen.”

“Ah……”

“Don’t worry though. It’s melting steadily. They say it will completely melt in about 15 years.”

Ruide felt sorry.

“Want me to melt it for you?”

“No need. It feels nice to lie on the ice after training because it’s cool.”

‘Damon, you’re a real man.’

His mental fortitude was admirable.

Ruide slowly got to the main point.

“I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor?”

“I need to repair the barrier, so please move aside.”

“Repair the barrier?”

“Yes.”

Ruide touched the air with an expression that said he was serious.

Complex threads of mana materialized.

“Hmph.”

Damon snorted.

“Seeing you with a pillow, it looks like you’re looking for a place to nap.”

“……”

“There’s no need to lie to me. I really liked the divine spear you gave me. Well, fine. I’ll move aside.”

Damon snapped his fingers.

The attention of students who had been discreetly watching turned toward them.

“Professor Ruide asks us to move aside for a while to repair the barrier. Cooperate, commoners.”

Damon left with those words, hands in his pockets.

The other students followed suit. They bowed to Ruide as they left.

In less than 5 minutes, the place was empty. Indeed, someone who was once a prince is different in many ways.

‘I should give him a gift later.’

Ruide took out a piece of wood from his spatial storage.

He cut it into a rectangle with mana and wrote on it.

[Under Construction! No Entry!]

After sticking the wooden sign at the entrance, he found a spot with good sunlight. He tossed his pillow down.

The preparations for his nap were complete.

‘Let’s start with a light 20-hour nap.’

Ruide lay down on the grass and covered himself with his robe like a blanket. The natural grass embraced his body softly, offering heavenly comfort.

“Invisible ability.”

He cast a magic spell he had developed in advance.

It was a magic that combined super-strong perception inhibition and invisibility functions.

‘Good, perfect. This way, no one will disturb me.’

Ruide slowly closed his eyes.

It was a lazy afternoon.

**

[Under Construction! No Entry!]

Thanks to the construction sign, the “Starlight Garden” behind the main building was quiet.

A man and a woman were standing there. The man was glaring with his arms crossed, and the woman was hanging her head low in front of him.

Both had silver hair and emerald eyes, clearly family to anyone who saw them.

Hersy and Klein.

They were the eldest daughter and son of the Minerva family.

“Why did you call me here, Hersy?”

“W-well.”

Hersy looked at the ground with a reddened face.

Last evening, feeling lonely, Hersy wanted to restore her relationship with her family.

So she called Klein, who was attending the academy, to this place that was empty due to construction.

It wasn’t easy because she had already been coldly rejected once.

Hersy was standing here after gathering a lot of courage.

“B-brother.”

Hersy raised her head after making a decision. She flinched when she met his cold eyes, but Hersy wanted to move forward.

She wanted to get along well with her family, like Ruide and Amelia.

“I’m really… sorry for everything.”

“……”

“It was because I was, um, arrogant. From now on, I’ll behave respectfully. I’ll never disrespect you, brother. It’s all my fault. I’ll, I’ll try harder. So… could we go back to how we were before…?”

‘I, I said it.’

The long-held knot seemed to melt a little.

Hersy looked at Klein nervously.

However, Klein remained cold.

“How much more miserable do you intend to make me?”

“…!”

Crash, Hersy’s hope collapsed.

“If you’re the heir to Minerva, put aside your personal feelings. And Hersy.”

Klein glared at her as if he could devour her.

“At the very least, respect me. Saying such things to a competitor is an insult.”

“Th-that’s not it. B-brother.”

Where did she go wrong?

Hersy couldn’t understand. However, she couldn’t give up so easily.

“Please, understand my sincerity. I don’t want to fight with anyone. If you tell me to give up being the heir, I will.”

Klein’s eyes widened.

And soon, they filled with great anger.

He raised his right hand.

‘Again like this…’

Hersy tightly closed her eyes.

However, Klein’s hand never reached her face.

“Y-you are.”

“…?”

Mumble mumble.

“Eek…!”

As soon as Hersy opened her eyes, she was startled and stepped back.

Ruide had been staring at her for who knows how long.

And he was chewing on a blade of grass.

‘…I see your allowance is still suspended.’

That was Hersy’s impression upon seeing Ruide after a long time.

“L-Lord Ruide, it’s an honor to meet you.”

Klein, who had been cold, completely changed his attitude when he saw Ruide.

He spoke with a gentle smile he would never show to her.

“I’ve been wanting to meet you. My lord. My name is Klein Minerva. I am the eldest son of the Minerva family.”

Klein extended his hand for a handshake. However, Ruide didn’t even look at Klein’s hand and said:

“Hello Hersy.”

Hersy had a blank face but responded reflexively.

“Good… morning, Ruide.”

Klein’s expression hardened at being completely ignored.

Ruide stared at Hersy intently, then grabbed her hand firmly.

“Let’s go eat.”