Volume 1 Chapter 30, Part 2 Mean Villainess, Thinking About Dreams
"Thank you very much"
If I ask too deeply, I might end up exposing something someday, so I probably won't ask too eagerly.
Thinking this, I turned my back to the teacher and started to walk away, but the teacher threw a small murmur at my back.
"──I thought Elena might have Ruby's memories."
That's what it was.
Hearing that, I responded without stopping, looking over my shoulder.
"No way. If that were true, I wouldn't have tripped over something as trivial as a stone divination."
That's what I said.
The teacher smiled with just a hint of sadness on his face.
Having returned to the classroom once, I picked up my things and headed straight toward the library.
I was going to pick up Rolus, who was helping Mister Bruno.
Mister Eliseo was worried about me, but there was no particular problem with wandering around the academy alone.
Well, if there were too many problems, it would be hard to keep going.
I knocked on the door of the private room Mister Bruno was using and gently opened the door to find the teacher and Rolus, as usual, buried in tons of materials.
"Hello, Mister Bruno"
"Ah, is it already that time!"
It seemed that Mister Bruno had lost track of time while working.
"Do you still need more time?"
When I asked, the teacher checked his watch and his work, uttering a soft grunt.
Probably, it's not quite the right moment right now.
"I'll wait at the library because I want to do some research, teacher."
"It's almost over! Sorry, Elena!"
"Okay, teacher. Well, Rolus, I'll be waiting for you at the library."
"Okay, Lady"
'Good luck,' he says, and steps into the library.
I'm not lying when I say I want to do some research.
I don't even know how to investigate the seal, but I thought I might be able to find some clues about that old-fashioned beauty.
There must be a book called The History of Clothing in this library.
"Clothes... clothes... here they are"
It was near the shelf of history books where Rudger always hung out.
It is a thick book that cannot be lent out, and contains information on clothing and accessories from over a thousand years ago.
I don't know how long ago that old-fashioned beauty is from, but if it goes back over a thousand years, there might be some kind of outfit like that in some records.
I decided to take a seat on a nearby chair and started looking from the first page.
The first page showed modern clothing.
I was unsure whether to start from the beginning or the end since I couldn't tell how ancient that old-fashioned outfit was, but it didn't have an ancient vibe after all, so starting from the beginning was probably fine.
When I went back several decades, I felt the presence of someone sitting at the seat directly across from me at the desk.
Since this area is Rudger's favorite spot, I suspected it might be him, so I didn't look up.
"Indeed, women like dresses and accessories, don't they?"
It was only when I was addressed like that that I realized it wasn't Rudger, and I also noticed that it was quite a bothersome guy.
"...Oh, Prince. Hello."
"Ah."
I thought, "Wow," but I wanted someone to praise me for managing to greet him without showing my surprise on my face or in my voice.
"Do you like dresses and accessories?"
"No... um, well, yes, I suppose."
My response was quite hesitant, but I figured it was safer to say I liked them than to be questioned about why I was looking at this book.
It was a hassle.
I wanted to keep the conversation brief.
"...Do you want them? Hmm? But wouldn't that outfit be out of style if worn now?"
"No, I don't want it, I'm just looking. This book is about the history of clothing."
"Do you like reading?"
"Yes, I like it"
Well, my original purpose was to find those old-fashioned costumes, but it's fun to see old costumes like this, so I'm not lying.
"How about wearing it?"
"I don't mind wearing it, but why?"
"...I'm sorry, the other day"
"The other day?"
"I told you we'd be friends if you apologized."
Oh, come to think of it, I did say that.
"I don't need an apology. I think it's a bit unfair to try to lure me with something."
"But then the apology is"
"'I'm sorry for insulting the important Attendant. I promise I won't harm the Attendant anymore.' If you could say that much, I might consider forgiving you, you know?"
I stated this without changing my expression at all.
He must properly understand that I am angry.
"...I understand. I'm really sorry for insulting the Attendant. I promise I won't cause any harm from now on."
"Huh?"
The prince in front of me said this and lightly bowed his head.
I was surprised because I never expected someone of his status to bow his head.
"Is that okay now?"
How much does he want to be friends with me?
"Uh, well, yes. So, you really won't harm me?"
"Just how important is that Attendant to you?"
"...About as important as my own life."
"Huh?"
"Well then, since you apologized, we're friends now!"
"R-Really?!"
The prince's eyes sparkled when he heard my words.
Did he want to be friends with me that much?
What on earth do you gain from this...
As I looked at him with a slightly bewildered face, he suddenly seemed shy, scratching his beautiful platinum blonde hair all over.
"Well, Elena, you said you had some commoner friends, right?"
"Yes, he's here"
"I've been thinking about talking to him, but he seems scared. How did Elena talk to him?"
"Well... I caught him with a fish and a bread..."
"...Isn't it unfair to lure people with things, Lady?"
"Well... well, that was the result of a lot of things happening, and I fished for the sake of becoming friends, or rather, I did fish, but, oh Rolus! If you were there, you should have called out to me! How long have you been there!?"
I was so flustered because I never thought that the words I had spoken would turn into a giant boomerang and hit me, when I noticed Rolus looking at me from a little distance away.
I've failed at my excuses, so I think I'll run away from here.
"Elena?"
"The attendant came to pick me up, so I'm going now!"
"Elena! Wait!"
I thought this prince was a bit angry, but he also seemed somewhat amused, and since he said he wouldn't harm Rolus, I decided to let him do as he pleased.
* * *
"By the way, Lady, what were you researching this time?"
"The history of fashion. Well, I couldn't really look into it because I was interrupted."
"Not about the cause of death...!?"
"I don't research people's causes of death that often."
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