episode_0017

“… … .”

Silver hair that is rarely seen, and purple eyes that are even rarer.

I recognized her identity at a glance.

So it was immediately closed.

“Senior, I’m thinking of something urgent. I think I should skip club today.”

“Really? Then there is nothing we can do~”

Senior Runia nodded with a smile.

“But is the customer okay? You kept waiting for junior Wade.”

“… It’s okay.”

In fact, it may not be okay.

But even if that were the case, I really didn’t want to go into the club room with my own feet.

“See you next time.”

I hurriedly said hello to senior Runia and turned around.

But before I could even take a step.

I like it─

The door to the clubroom was opened.

“Where are you going? I waited so desperately for you to come.”

And the voice you hear.

It was clearly a thin and beautiful woman’s voice, but there was an unknown heaviness and dignity in it.

At that voice, I immediately stopped walking.

I wanted to ignore it and run away, but I had no idea what to do next.

In the end, I turned away, feeling really reluctant.

“… What brought you here?”

“Hoo.”

Instead of answering my question, the woman looked at me as if she was interested.

Those purple eyes had a truly captivating light, but to me, they were just eyes that I wanted to avoid.

“Do you know me?”

“… Yes.”

How can you not know?

Without exaggeration, there is probably not a single person within the Academy who does not know her.

Students, teachers, and staff.

Everyone knows her name and face.

She is the student council president of one of the student councils within the academy.

She is the princess of Reinberg, one of only two empires on the continent, and is almost certain to become the next emperor.

Because it’s Estelle von Reinberg.

***

“… So, what brought you to see me? ?”

I ended up facing Estelle across the table in the clubroom.

I don’t want to have anything to do with her, and if possible, I don’t want to share a word with her, but since I came here like this, I couldn’t choose that option.

If she puts her mind to it, it will be easy for her to make not only my academy life but also my life itself difficult.

… Well, actually, there is a threat that doesn’t have to go that far, but is close by.

“… … .”

There was a woman standing behind Estelle, glaring at me with cold eyes.

Judging from his actions and demeanor, I think he might be Estelle’s escort. I don’t even know the name.

She seemed quite displeased with me, perhaps because I had tried to escape reality a little while ago.

If this wasn’t the academy, he probably wouldn’t have pulled out his sword and pointed it at my neck without taking a long look.

“What do you think?”

This time, instead of answering straight away, Ainel asked me a question in reverse.

It was a conversation style that should be avoided for smooth interpersonal relationships, but she didn’t seem to care at all.

“… I can’t guess at all.”

okay. That’s the problem.

Why on earth did she come to see me?

To be honest, I have no idea at all. really.

“Hmm. That’s right.”

Estelle quietly looked at me at my words.

I’m sure it’s something that most men wish for, to be gazed upon by an eye-popping beauty, but all I could feel was my mouth drying up.

Estelle, who had been looking at me for a while, suddenly smiled.

“Well, actually, it’s not a big deal. I just came to see your face.”

“… Yes?”

… What does this mean?

“It’s literally like that. Wherever I go these days, I hear your name. When I heard it, it seemed like even though he was crazy, he wasn’t really crazy, so I started wondering what kind of face he was making.”

“… … .”

… In the end, my rumor reached Estelle’s ears.

Well, it might not be strange to see people recognize me wherever I go.

To be honest, I didn’t expect her to become interested in me after hearing that.

I felt like sighing, but I held back.

If it’s like this, it’s still okay.

Judging by her words and everything else, it seems like she really only has a little interest in me.

“Then is the business over?”

I don’t have anything that would make her more interested.

I am a human being with nothing special, and in her eyes, I am nothing more than a stone on the side of the road.

She must have noticed that fact through a series of conversations, and it was clear that the slight spark of interest she had in me was now completely extinguished.

“Yes. This should be enough.”

As I expected, Estelle got up straight away.

Then he started walking towards the door of the clubroom.

The escort driver followed behind her.

If Estelle walks out the door like this, it will be over.

She will never come back to see me again.

Thinking like that, I was looking at her back.

She suddenly stopped in front of the door.

“Did you say Wade Heblon?”

“… Yes.”

I answered nervously.

I wish I could just leave like this, but what else are you trying to say?

Estelle slowly turned around.

And he looked at me with sparkling eyes.

“You’re more interesting than I thought.”

… yes?

***

“You came.”

“It’s a little late today.”

“Hmm? It’s unusually fast.”

… From that day on, Estelle came to visit me quite frequently.

To the point where I feel like if I were to exaggerate a bit, they would come visit me every day when there are club activities.

To be honest, I felt like my blood was drying up every day.

It feels like someone I don’t want to meet or get involved with comes to me on their own.

Coming to visit didn’t mean we would have a special conversation, but it felt more difficult for me.

Even, the aftereffects of her frequent visits affected those around her.

“… Chairman Estelle seems to be very interested in Wade.”

“Yeah, that’s right. You come here almost every day… … .”

Rachel and Ira’s condition also became strange.

I don’t know why, but it feels like he cares a lot about Estelle’s existence and doesn’t like it.

Since they were opponents, they didn’t show it to their faces, but the atmosphere in the club was clearly becoming strange.

All these things combined left me having a suffocating time.

At times like this, I seriously wondered if I should change clubs.

I knew that it wasn’t a fundamental solution, so I didn’t put it into practice.

In those days, I tried to force myself to have a positive mind.

Yes, even if it is a club activity, it only happens once every few days.

It’s not that long, so it’s bearable.

One day, Estelle’s interest will gradually fade.

I decided to live with that positive mindset.

but.

“Oh, it’s Wade Heblon.”

“… … .”

Estelle eventually started talking to me not only in the clubroom but also outside.

Whenever we ran into each other, we talked to each other unconditionally, and there were even times when we sat together at a cafe or restaurant.

Even considering the fact that the conversation with her itself was a series of tensions, this was a pretty bad trend.

Having a conversation outside means that there will inevitably be witnesses.

Sure enough, recently, the gaze towards me, whom I was getting used to, was becoming more intense.

That too was natural.

Because the most famous and noble figures in the Academy frequently show me kindness.

It was inevitable that everyone’s attention would gather.

“What on earth have you done, you?”

Jack was no exception.

“… What are you talking about?”

What is this guy trying to say again?

“No, based on common sense, unless you did something, there is no way that person would follow you around like that?”

“I didn’t do anything.”

Not gonna lie, I really didn’t do anything.

We just had a normal conversation, and that was the end of it.

“Ah, you may have done something just because you don’t know about it. That person is not someone who will cling to someone for no reason.”

… I’ve certainly never heard of Estelle being friendly to anyone.

No, I probably wouldn’t have even approached someone with interest.

That’s why it’s even more questionable.

Why on earth Estelle became interested in me, I couldn’t figure out.

I felt like I wanted to ask someone if I could.

“Well, I don’t know the English, but isn’t that a good thing? They say His Majesty the future emperor likes you.”

“Good… … .”

“That’s right. If I just maintain this status, won’t he give me a position when he becomes emperor later? Then, how is life blooming, man?”

“… … .”

I was dumbfounded and glared at Jack.

I wonder what kind of comforting things this guy is talking about.

“Oh, now that I think about it, it might not work out like that.”

However, Jack immediately changed his words, as if something suddenly occurred to him.

“Considering the princess’s reputation, it might be sooner to have her head cut off than to succeed in life.”

“… … .”

I immediately closed my mouth at Jack’s next words.

“It’s not for nothing that he’s called a future tyrant.”

Yes. A person destined to become a tyrant.

That was the public perception of Estelle.

He is a strong figure who will become the next emperor, and although his abilities are certainly suitable for him, his temperament is too violent and unkind.

If he doesn’t like it, he’ll cut down even his own blood relatives with a single sword, and even cut off the heads of his loyal subjects in one day.

A princess without blood or tears. That is Estelle von Reinberg.

“But even taking all that into account, if it’s that face… … .”

Jack continued to say something, but I didn’t listen any further.

Estelle von Reinberg.

A person destined to become a tyrant.

People are afraid of her.

I hold my breath because I don’t know when or how a spark will fly, and I try to avoid being noticed by her.

It was natural for someone with the power to twist one’s neck at any time to react in that way if their temperament was violent.

But that’s not why I avoid her.

There is a more fundamental and important reason.

The reason I don’t want anything to do with her is… … .

Because she is the ‘villain’ of this world.