Why Does This Keep Happening?! (2)

The rumor that Reinhardt and I were having a pleasant(?) meal together in the dining hall spread throughout the academy in an instant. I understand why it would, but isn’t this too fast? Is someone fanning the flames? No, there’s no benefit in doing so, so why bother?

Reinhardt didn’t make any particular mention of the rumor, and I didn’t go around saying anything either, so the rumor kept growing. Soon, all sorts of nonsensical rumors started circulating, like our marriage was already confirmed, we had already consummated(!), or that there might already be an imperial heir in my womb.

What consummation! I couldn’t even do it as a man, do you think I would as a woman?! If I had my way, I’d like to give those who spread the rumors an ice pack treatment, but as is often the case with such rumors, it’s extremely difficult to find the person who first mentioned it. Moreover, since it’s the kind of rumor that occasionally surfaces out of a “what if?” mentality, I can’t react to each one individually.

If I show that I’m concerned about these things, my reputation might plummet with people saying I’m petty or that I care about every little thing.

Wait a minute. Come to think of it, isn’t this actually good? The more my reputation falls, the better it is for me!

“Good. I’ll crush it.”

Having made up my mind, from that day on, I started actively seeking out people who were spreading strange rumors. I had to leave alone those who were saying true things (like Reinhardt and I were seen together more often or ate together), but as I started finding one by one those who were spreading unfounded rumors, before long, the false rumors disappeared…

But I experienced an unexpected butterfly effect.

Recently, Mari and I have been taking classes in the form of tutoring from Professor Elaine. Although the Magic Department was originally in this format due to the lack of personnel, since there were fewer people in our group than in others, it felt especially like private tutoring.

In my case, she mainly looked at my use of two attributes, lightning and ice, and the magic I use independently. For Mari, it felt like research and guidance based on her lack of basics and practical experience, and investigating materials related to the light attribute.

Our class time generally feels like self-study. Professor Elaine said that in my case, I already have a general direction, so as a senior, she can only help to a certain extent (I also heard that this wasn’t entirely meant in a good way). In Mari’s case, because of her rare light attribute magic, there’s a lack of materials, and ultimately, the user’s skill is the most important factor.

In fact, for both of us, the only proper classes are the first two periods we have with other groups, and the classes we have in our own group feel more like individual research than classes. Especially for me.

Today too, I was focusing on developing my own spell formulas, and Mari was solving assignments given by Professor Elaine. From what I overheard, it seems she’s researching ways to use light attribute magic more diversely… The progress is faster than in the original story. I remember Mari learning magic other than the laser cannon a bit later in the original story…

Well, whatever. From the standpoint of supporting Mari’s growth, it’s better if she gets stronger quickly. I just need to keep committing evil acts diligently like now!

For that reason, I need to keep getting stronger too. Because I need to become the biggest wall for Mari. And who knows? If I get stronger, maybe Mari will get even stronger too.

“Um, Lady Ariel.”

“What is it?”

Just as I was thinking this and in the middle of conceptualizing a spell formula, Mari suddenly spoke to me. Professor Elaine had given us each something to do and had temporarily left her seat due to a call. I heard that as the representative professor, she’s often called away to various places, so we’re used to this by now.

Anyway, right now we’re alone in a classroom specially prepared outside the magic tower, not outdoors for a change.

In this situation, deliberately speaking up must mean there’s something, right? Seeing that hesitant look, I have a hunch. This isn’t just meaningless small talk, but something important.

Mari is probably confused right now. After all, the villainess who had been tormenting her all this time suddenly helped her the other day. She probably needs to sort out her feelings soon. Is this person an enemy or an ally?

And my answer is simple. I am your enemy. It was just out of trivial pity. No, even pity might cause misunderstanding, so it might be better to say I did it because I was worried the room would get dirty. Alright, I’m prepared. Bring it on! I’m ready!

“Th-thank you!”

“Huh?”

But I didn’t expect her to express gratitude like this? Seeing Mari suddenly bow her head, my thoughts came to a halt. As I was internally flustered, unable to say anything, Mari raised her head and explained.

“Recently, strange rumors about me have disappeared. I heard that you were putting in effort…”

What nonsense is this? All I did was track down people spreading unfounded rumors.

Ah, is that it?! As I caught people spreading unfounded rumors, did it lead to a decrease in rumors not just about me, but also about Mari? Come to think of it, that’s really the case. It’s like catching a mouse while the cow backs up.

No, this is really unfair. I had no such intention at all. I was only trying to catch rumors related to me.

“I had no such intention.”

“Huh? But…”

“I only sought out those who were spreading strange rumors about me and His Highness. It has nothing to do with you. Do you understand?”

“Ah…”

What’s with that expression, like you’ve realized something? No, is it different? Is that a disappointed face? Looking closely, it does seem that way…

“Focus on your class now. Don’t you still have work to do?”

As I hinted for her to continue what she was doing without further words, Mari seemed to realize and picked up her pen again. Phew… That was a close call. I almost caused a strange misunderstanding. It would be troublesome if a different image of me were to form. After all, I need to remain Mari’s archenemy and villain.

Thinking this, I started to focus on my work again. Despite appearances, I’m quite good at concentrating once I start. To the extent that I wouldn’t notice if someone approached me from the side.

Because of that, I didn’t notice. The gaze that was stealing glances at me from the side.

‘What a truly kind person.’

Looking at Ariel’s side profile as she held her pen with a concentrated face, Mari thought. In Mari’s opinion, the disappearance of bad rumors about her was entirely thanks to Ariel. She didn’t know whether Ariel really intended it or if it was just a coincidence as she claimed, that it happened while she was catching rumors about herself and the Crown Prince.

But at this point, that doesn’t matter. Ariel Walpurgis. She was a proud and admirable person who lived up to her family name and her own abilities.

The more they lived together, the more Mari could tell. Even though she pretended not to, Ariel was always mindful and considerate of her. When Mari was eating alone at meal times, Ariel would casually come and sit nearby, eating with the Crown Prince.

From Ariel’s perspective, it might just be mealtime, but her mere presence prevented the nobles who usually picked on Mari from approaching carelessly. There was no one crazy enough to cause trouble in front of the Crown Prince and Lady Walpurgis.

Moreover, when they returned to their room, Ariel would always fill it with snacks and tea, pretending not to care. There was a cupboard in the dormitory room where snacks could be stored, and Mari had initially thought about making and filling it herself, but except for some empty space, it was already filled by Ariel.

Whether she had ordered a maid to do it or bought them herself, those snacks never seemed to run out, and Ariel had given permission to eat them freely. Thanks to this, Mari could enjoy snack time with flavors completely different from what she made herself. When Mari directly mentioned this to Ariel, she told her not to mind it at all, making Mari want to repay her someday.

That’s not all. On the day when she was suddenly bullied by the girl who introduced herself as Vera Charmant, Ariel showed undisguisable anger and restored Mari’s torn clothes to their original state. Mari had heard about restoration magic from her teacher too. While the principle itself isn’t a very difficult magic, it consumes a lot of magical power and is troublesome in many ways, so she heard it’s not often used in practice.

But Ariel used that magic for Mari without hesitation. Thanks to that, the uniform became so clean it didn’t even need washing, and Mari could wear it the next day after just dusting it off a little. And from the next day, Lady Charmant no longer picked on her.

For some reason, when their eyes met while walking in the corridor, she made a strange expression and quickly disappeared. Mari wondered what had happened, but overhearing the whispers around her, she learned that Ariel and Lady Charmant had a conversation that morning, and she had been like that ever since.

It’s clear that Ariel must have said something for Mari’s sake. Mari tried not to think this way. She thought it might be delusion, but the surrounding situation kept flowing in that direction.

“Just a lowly commoner.”

“How dare you, not knowing your place.”

These tags that had been following her incessantly since enrollment. But for some reason, even these words have started to quiet down recently. Sure enough, it was Ariel again this time. After she went to talk to some noble children known for their loose tongues, they all closed their mouths as if they had made a promise.

‘How should I repay this kindness…’

Stealing glances at Ariel, who was moving her pen with concentration, Mari sighed. If she could, she wanted to do something for her. Even though Ariel said it was for her own sake, the result was that she was helping Mari. Even if Ariel declined, Mari was full of desire to do something for her.

But her counterpart was a prominent duke’s daughter and the Crown Prince’s fiancée. Compared to that, Mari was just a commoner girl who, although talented in magic, still had nothing.

Mari’s worries deepened day by day.