NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 57 – Miss Althea
"Lord Tormandi, are you not going home?"
Kaera asked Richt, who showed no sign of leaving.
"Well, I'll go home. I will go home, but... as Claro also said, isn't it troublesome to come again tomorrow? I mean, I might just skip it...," Richt replied in a nonchalant tone.
Upon hearing the word 'skip', Althea reacted.
"Um... Lord Tormandi, do you dislike the Exploration Tournament?"
When Althea asked the question, Tormandi smiled wryly before answering.
"No? I don't particularly dislike it... It's not like I really want to win. Sure, winning would earn me some recognition and benefits, but... it means I can't go on dates while everyone's gathered, right? I really love girls, so if I can't go on dates, I won't be in high spirits... Well... if Miss Althea would go on a date with me, then maybe I could make an effort?"
"What?!"
This time it was Laila's reaction, but Althea herself tilted her head in confusion at the mention of "dates."
"Yeah, dates. ...Huh? You've never been on a date?"
"...I'm sorry..."
"For real? Well then, maybe I'll seriously give it a shot... Miss Althea, won't you go on a date with me?"
"We won't!!"
Laila, Kaera, and Julia's voices overlapped.
In the midst of their surprisingly united front, Richt was momentarily surprised, but he soon burst into laughter. After laughing for a while, he got up from his seat, heading towards the door.
"It's amusing, you guys. Because it's amusing, I'll come again tomorrow. But... Miss Althea, let's go on a date someday."
Saying so with a wink, he left.
As Richt's figure disappeared, Laila addressed Althea.
"Really... he's always so unpredictable... but Lady Althea, why don't you refuse? Could it be... you have a crush on him?"
Althea, chuckling, replied to Laila, who seemed lost in her own thoughts.
"No, it's not that. But rather than me refusing, everyone else spoke up first, so I lost the timing..."
"So, he's not your type, huh?"
"Yeah, that's right... I think he's fun, but... he's different from my brothers... Speaking of my brothers..."
While laughing softly, Althea suddenly wore a worried expression and gazed beyond the door.
Brother Sieg's expression... seems like that's how it is... I wanted to see it, but... I don't like seeing Big Brother not looking happy...
Seeing Laila relieved that Althea's type wasn't Richt, Kaera spoke up.
"Hey, Laila, and Miss Julia. Is it really... the darkness attribute?"
The questioning voice sounded somewhat chilly.
"Huh? Um, yes, it's true...?"
While Laila answered normally, Julia lowered her gaze.
"Does Lord Monclair know about this?"
"Yes, of course."
Althea, who had been worried about Siegfried's condition, noticed the exchange and was about to say something.
"Oh—"
"He's still here."
A familiar voice interrupted Althea, coming from behind. Turning around, they saw Siegfried standing there.
Noticing Siegfried, Kaera hastily bowed her head.
"I apologize, I'll leave now."
She said, attempting to leave the room.
"No, it's okay to stay... I came back because I was a little curious. Um, Lady Kaera, was it?"
Not expecting to be addressed, Kaera replied timidly.
"Y-Yes."
Siegfried's smile this time was gentle, unlike before.
"You don't need to be so tense. I want to remain just 'one of the students' within the academy. Anyway... You seemed really surprised, so I came back to talk a bit about the darkness attribute. I thought as Althea's friend, you might have some conflicting feelings."
Prince Siegfried's expression, unlike before, was calm as he smiled gently.
Familiar with Althea and Laila, it wasn't a problem, but Kaera and Julia, despite blushing slightly, desperately tried to maintain their composure.
And then Siegfried sat down and began to explain about the darkness attribute.
According to Siegfried, the darkness attribute is the opposite of the light attribute, often preferred by those who practice dark magic. However, it originally stemmed from magic derived from the power of darkness of the night.
It was said that humans cannot sleep and would perish without the darkness of the night, making it an essential force in the world. He added that this was something taught in the first year of magical studies.
After listening to the discussion, Althea raised her hand to speak.
"Um... Your Highness, may I ask a question?"
"Hmm? ...Of course, Miss Althea, go ahead."
"In class, you mentioned that this is something we learn about in class, right? Despite that, are there still people who hold prejudices against the darkness attribute?"
"Ah, like Miss Tonitos earlier?... Unfortunately, there are still those who harbor prejudices."
"Why is that?"
"I think it's because it's preferred by those who practice dark magic."
"If it's preferred, does that mean those who practice dark magic also use other types of magic?"
"Yeah, they do. There are creatures that use light magic too, as written in history books."
"That's unfair, then."
"...Yeah, it is. ...That's why we need individuals who see others based on correct knowledge rather than prejudice."
Saying so, Siegfried looked at Kaera. Kaera, after a moment of hesitation, lifted her head and said,
"...I also want to become someone who sees individuals without prejudice."
Then, she bowed her head to Laila and Julia.
"I'm sorry, I also felt a bit intimidated by the darkness attribute. Even though you're you..."
Julia and Laila were surprised by the sudden apology, but after exchanging glances, Julia, with tears in her eyes, smiled and said,
"Miss Kaera, please lift your head. That's... quite normal. But Miss Kaera, you're willing to accept it. It's us who should bow. ...Thank you."
As Kaera lifted her head, behind the smiles of Julia and Laila, Althea and Siegfried nodded, smiling.
After parting ways with Siegfried in the special room and leaving the central building to return to the dormitory, Kaera brought up a topic out of the blue.
"Come to think of it... Your Majesty, you addressed Althea as 'Miss,' right? During the initial meeting, you called her 'Miss,' but..."
"Yeah, now that you mention it."
Julia agreed. Then, Kaera continued,
"...And during Miss Julia's time, you called her Miss Trinton, and even with that second-year... Miss Tonitos, you addressed her by her surname, but you called Althea by her first name only... If it's necessary to distinguish me as her sister..."
Peering into Althea's face, she asked,
"...Is Your Majesty... in love with Althea?"
"What...?!?!"
Althea, taken aback by the unexpected question, seemed to panic, unable to form words. Beside her, Laila calmly answered,
"It's because His Majesty is close to Lord Regalus, Lady Althea's brother. Naturally, he's also acquainted with Lady Althea... They're so close that he calls her 'big brother' as well."
"...Big brother, huh... But His Majesty doesn't seem interested... he returned with such an expression. He looked so different from during the meeting; I almost thought he was a different person... Hey, Miss Julia?"
As Kaera asked while grinning, Julia also responded with a hint of excitement,
"Yeah, I think so too. If it's His Majesty..."
"W-Wait a minute...!"
As Kaera and Julia got excited, Althea interjected.
"It's not like that! It's not anything like that! Besides..."
"Besides?"
"Never mind. Anyway, His Highness just treats me, his sister's sister, like a little sister... I also think of him like a real brother. And... if someone overhears this, they might call it disrespectful. So..."
As she stumbled over her words, they reached the junction to the dormitory, so Althea hastily said, "Goodbye," and headed back to her room with Laila, leaving Kaera and Julia behind.
Left alone, the two looked at each other.
"Um... is this... awkwardness?"
"I-I don't think he's angry, though."
"Yeah... he left with a smile after all. He seemed more flustered than angry. ...But you know, if His Highness is Althea's partner, then I guess it can't be helped. ...I really wanted her to marry into Uranus, though."
"Come on! What are you saying, Lady Kaera? No, Lady Althea won't accept that."
"Well... but there's still time. If His Majesty makes a move, I'll give up... but if it's someone else, then Althea will accept, I'm sure."
"That's not good. ...Oh well... His Majesty, please do your best."
As the sun set, the two exchanged words about their dear friend's ideal future, though it was meddling in affairs not their own.
