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  2. Althea: The Legendary Saintess [Shoujo]

  3. Chapter 83 – Friendly Disagreements
Althea: The Legendary Saintess [Shoujo]

Chapter 83 – Friendly Disagreements

On that evening, as Regalus arrived late and joined Althea and Lily at the dining table, it was evident that Lily was tired. Concerned, Regalus addressed her.

"Lady Lily, are you alright? You seem tired."

"Huh? Oh, um... just a bit..."

She mumbled, glancing at Althea.

"Lady Gresha has been working on physical training with me," Althea replied with a cheerful smile.

"Really... with Althea... That's impressive, managing to keep up..."

"N-no, that's not it. I can't keep up, it's impossible," Lily denied, shaking her head vigorously.

"What's wrong?"

Regalus chuckled as he observed her, prompting Lily to start questioning with a scowl.

"Althea, you're so different from the academy. Despite being a young lady, you have such stamina... And on top of that, why hide it?"

"Normal young ladies don't focus on physical training," Regalus calmly responded.

"I know that. What I want to know is, why hide it?"

"Is there a need to broadcast it?"

"Huh?"

"Not hiding, just not broadcasting. Besides, it will be known to all students after the summer break. Right, Althea?"

"Yes, I plan to enter the martial arts tournament."

Unexpectedly, Lily stared at Althea.

"Huh?... Entering the martial arts tournament?"

"Yes."

"Althea? Not Laila?"

"...Laila, too, will participate?"

Althea turned to Laila and asked, to which Laila shook her head.

"I'm not participating. And isn't Lady Kaera participating? I wonder if she'll win. I'm looking forward to it."

As Althea spoke happily, Lily, with an incredulous expression, turned to Regalus.

"Lord Regalus, you love your sister, don't you? Would you be okay if something happened to your dear sister?"

"...Why would Althea get hurt?"

"Why? It's the martial arts tournament, right? It's filled with skilled male students. It's impossible for a female student to win in such a competition."

"Is that so? There have been female students participating before, haven't there? And they've done quite well, I think."

"That's true, but most of them aren't from knightly backgrounds. But Althea is—"

"Monclair. Though not from a knightly lineage, she's the daughter of Thomas, the greatest warrior of the great nation of RGC."

After Regalus's calm response, Lily fell silent for a moment before asking.

"Could it be... since childhood?"

"...Althea was almost abducted when she was young. And then... she lost her freedom. For three years until my magic assessment, she couldn't even leave the mansion. But Althea was strong. To ensure no one worried about her and to someday walk freely, she chose to train herself."

Lily was startled.

During the day, she had expressed, "Not being able to walk freely... Isn't that the same as imprisonment?" and realized she was just being selfish.

She had been training herself since childhood to walk freely, and I...

She reflected. And she also understood the meaning behind Laila's words, "Can't even protect yourself."

The lady Laila didn't rely on others to go out; she moved on her own. She felt ashamed for criticizing the lady, who wasn't being targeted.

 

Later, after dinner, Lily visited Althea's room and immediately bowed upon entering.

"Althea, I'm sorry."

"?"

Puzzled by the sudden visit and apology, Lily continued as she lifted her head.

"During the day, when I said, 'You can say that because you're not being targeted,' I didn't realize it wasn't appropriate to say to someone who had been abducted."

"...Even if you didn't know, it's not something you should say to someone with no experience."

Murmured Althea softly from behind. Somehow, it seemed that Laila didn't like Lily.

As Althea gave Laila a slight glare, Laila shrugged and stepped back into the room.

"It's alright, I apologize for Laila's rude attitude. And I don't mind what happened during the day. Since we're here just to chat, please, come in."

With a smile, Althea welcomed Lily into the room.

Seated as directed on the sofa, Lily was served tea. Laila, with a very dissatisfied expression, said, "Here you go," as she handed the tea.

"...Laila, do you dislike me?"

Lily asked, to which Laila glanced at Althea, then back at Lily, and replied.

"Is it necessary to ask now?"

Althea interjected, "Say what you think," softly.

Laila then said, "Lady Althea, may I have a moment to talk to Lady Lily? Since we'll be spending some time together here, it's better not to stay disliked, right?"

And so, Althea looked between Lily sitting before her and Laila standing beside her, then sighed lightly before speaking.

"Understood... Laila, please prepare tea for yourself as well and sit next to me."

As instructed by Althea, Laila prepared tea for herself and, bowing to Althea, sat beside her.

"Lady Gresha, I will try not to intervene unless necessary, so please proceed as if I'm not here."

As Althea sipped her tea, she spoke, and Lily nodded, starting to talk to Laila.

"Lady Gresha, I must admit, I don't quite favor you that much."

"Not like? No, hate, right?"

"It's not hate, per se."

"But you're always so cold."

"That's because you..."

"...me?"

"...Speak without considering your position..."

"...With whom? Lord Regalus? Or His Highness Siegfried? Do you like Lord Regalus or Prince Siegfried?"

"Why would you think that?"

"Well, isn't it annoying when someone you like is addressed so casually?"

"It's not like that! I couldn't possibly... like Lord Regalus or His Highness..."

"Then why?"

"It's not just about them, but above all, it's about Lady Althea."

"...Huh? About Althea? Am I behaving strangely towards her?"

"Don't you realize even until now? Even though we're not close friends, you address her without honorifics"

"But Althea, I meqn Lady Althea, says so, right?"

"True, but she's a daughter of a high rank noble. Moreover, a member of archducal family of the Royal Grand Central."

"...Doesn't that matter in the academy?"

"So, is this place an academy?"

"...No, it's not."

"That's the point. Even during dinner earlier, you addressed Lord Regalus casually and Lady Althea without honorifics. By the way, why  'lady', and not 'Her Highness' Lady Althea? I thought archducal families can be regarded as royals, isn't it?"

Laila questioned Althea, who was sitting silently beside her.

After pondering for a moment, Althea replied,

"I don't think so and you know it already Laila."

"But from what I heard, your family hardly gains any recognition since two generations ago"

"You are correct Lady Gresha, even if I want to enforce my status, it will only worsen our relationship with the entire nobility."

"Then it's strange to address Lady Althea informally without permission, right?!"

Laila stood up and eagerly confronted Lily.

"...Now that you mention it... maybe? But, does Althea dislike it? The 'lady'"

"Its different...!"

Interrupting Althea's attempt to respond, Laila continued.

"In fact, the way you asked was unfair, wasn't it? To be told such things directly to your face, there's no way Lady Althea would say she dislikes it!"

"...Is that so?"

This time, Lily asked Althea.

"...Well, unless it's someone entirely unknown or someone I don't want to get close to...," Althea's words made Lily slump, feeling dejected.

Taking a breath, Althea then addressed Lily.

"Um... Lady Gresha. It's fine if you address me casually as you like. I heard commoners like this way of communication out of convenience. And honorifics is just a sign of showing respect genuinely"

"Lady Althea!!"

Laila attempted to stop her, but this time Althea cut her off.

"Laila. Lady Gresha, you don't dislike Laila, do you?"

"Huh...? Um... no."

"Then why you hardly use any honorifics especially 'lady'?"

"...That's..."

Looking at Lily slouching across from her, Althea continued.

"That's because Lady Gresha doesn't always adhere to proper manners, depending on the time, place, or occasion... Other noble ladies have said the same. They find it rude. And even during the graduation party, you addressed Lord Regalus and His Highness casually, didn't you?"

Laila began to passionately explain.

"The graduation party is a miniature of society. It's a practice field. Everyone should enjoy the party with proper manners. Yet, Lady Gresha, hiding behind the term 'within the academy,' addressed Lord Regalus and His Highness just as casually as usual. Until then, I regarded you as a friend of Lord Regalus, but since then, I..."

"So..."

Althea interrupted Laila's words.

"...Laila couldn't forgive it when her lady's friend didn't uphold manners, is that it?"

"...Yes..."

Lily, who seemed to have realized something, spoke up.

"I understand what Althea is saying, I mean Lady Althea. I was just so insistent on blaming my classmates for being uncouth, but it's just so tiresome... But, yes, I understand the feelings of the angry young ladies of nobility. I'll be more careful from now on... Laila."

"...What is it?"

"Thank you. And if you notice anything else, please tell me. At first, I was... a little scared, but... there wasn't anyone else who would speak so straightforwardly like you... And Lady Althea."

"Yes?"

"If you'd like... would you be my friend?"

"I will not allow that!"

Once again, Laila interrupted Lily's words.

"Why are you interrupting?"

"It's way too early for Lady Althea to have friends."

"Why not?!"

As she watched the two of them bustling with activity, Althea smiled gently, enjoying her tea.

Surprisingly, they seem to get along well.

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