Chapter 15

Lord Michael Wessex apologised for his behaviour publicly and also announced he was going on a long journey of self-reflection and discovery.

At first, there were plenty of nasty rumours and the Wessex duchy took a hit financially, as did their reputation, though I helped them recover a little.

I published an article accepting Lord Michael’s apology and expressed my desire to improve our relationship and become friends.

Of course, the Armina duchy profited lots from the losses of the Wessex’s and then we benefitted greatly from forgiving them publicly.

“I wonder if I handled this like a villainess.”

“You would know best-woah! Don’t throw pens at people’s faces!”

“It slipped out of my hand.”

“That’s 1000% a lie! If you were Pinocchio, your nose would be so long it’d skewer me from across the room.”

I don’t know who this Pinocchio is, but I imagine Yuri just said something very rude about me.

“Perhaps Divine Punishment would stop befalling you if you learnt how to stop telling lies.”

“How are they lies?! After everything that’s happened.”

Well, I couldn’t deny everything Yuri said.

Some had begun to whisper that name when talking about me. They weren’t numerous, but they could become a growing number and that could impact me negatively.

Of course, I would not let that happen.

My enemies would try, and they would fail.

“…Raena, can I ask you this completely, utterly honestly?”

“It depends.”

“On?”

“If you’d like to see the sun rise tomorrow.”

“Oi!”

“I’m joking. Ask away.”

“…Did you actually have a plan last week for Lord Michael and Lady Victoria.”

“…I did.”

“I feel like there’s a but attached to that.”

“You…aren’t wrong.” I exhaled and leant back against my chair. “I thought that everything would work out as I anticipated like with Prince Cain, but nothing went as I initially intended.”

I didn’t make Victoria mine that day.

I caused a rift between her and Lord Michael.

Lord Michael declared war on me and insulted Yui, so I challenged him to a duel and won after greatly humiliating him.

And then I kissed Victoria and offered Lord Michael an olive branch.

What has been wrong with me lately?

I looked at Yuri as she flew along the bookcase searching for something to read. Not that she could even turn the pages without my help.

I was grateful to have met Yuri and for all her help, and to have someone I could drop my guard around, but I don’t think I had been acting like myself since meeting her.

If I hadn’t met Yuri, I’d never have gotten close to Yui or Victoria, nor would I have trained or studied this hard.

So, why did I feel so murky?

“Yuri.”

“What?”

“…It’s nothing.”

“No, no, no, no, no!” She quickly flew over to me faster than ever before. “When you speak like that, it’s never nothing. What is it?”

“…Alright. What if we simply didn’t trigger any of the story points from the original story from here on out?”

“…Huh?”

“Yui is no longer the same as the one in your ‘game’ and neither am I. If she simply stays her current course and doesn’t get involved with the male leads, then the bad endings won’t trigger and then there’s no need for our old plan.” Yuri wasn’t saying anything, so I added, “It might be easier than-”

“What if you end up engaged with Lord Cain like in the game? Or if one of the routes tries to play out anyway? Like a will of the world thing? Or if-or if-!” Trembling, she screamed and then yelled, “What about everyone’s happy ending or was that just a lie?!”

“It wasn’t. It isn’t, but-!”

“But what?! You’ve already saved Lord Cain and you’re maybe helping Lord Michael to become a better person, so why stop now unless you never actually wanted to keep our promise?!”

I had expected a bad reaction, but isn’t this too much?

You would think that I’d-?

“Why aren’t you replying?” Yuri asked through tears. “Was-were you…just using-?”

“NO, that’s not true, Yuri!” My sudden outburst surprised us both. “I wasn’t using you!” A lie once but now it was true. “It’s just…I don’t know. Lately, lately, I’ve been-”

“I don’t care!”

“…Excuse me?”

Unsure of what to do next or perhaps feeling bad about what she had just said, Yuri tried to fly away in tears.

The door was shut so that wasn’t-

“Good morning, my-”

“Shut the door, Teles!”

She did, just too late.

I got up and tried to run after Yuri, but I couldn’t see her.

There were two open doors along the vast corridor lined with paintings, curiosities and sculptures, and six open windows.

“…Shit.”

My silent swear made Teles faint from shock.

Where did you go, Yuri?

***

“What am I doing?”

After yelling at Raena, I flew around the estate aimlessly, my head hanging low.

I didn’t even know where I was going.

I just couldn’t stay near Raena.

“Why did I go and say all of that? Ah~ I probably made her really angry.” I remembered her expression. “That’s not it. I hurt her feelings. Really badly too.”

I guess I really was the same girl from Earth.

Just because I no longer look like her, I was still her.

The fairy couldn’t hide that.

Who cares now?

I’ve destroyed the only real relationship I’ve ever had and for nothing.

Raena’s my friend - she’d promised she would work to bring the best ending to life.

It’s not her fault things ended up this way.

“It’s all my fault.”

Sighing, I finally lifted my head and discovered that I’d ended up deep in the gardens of the Armina estate.

I think I know where I am, but this place is ridiculous.

Way too big.

Way too vast.

Way too many people and plants.

“Let’s go a bit higher.”

I flew up and saw I was maybe half a mile from the main house where Raena was no doubt waiting for me.

Probably to give me a big scolding or-

Isn’t that Yui there?

What’s she doing on that small hill?

Painting? Drawing?

I flew down for a closer look and, as I expected, she was drawing.

I’d never seen her drawing in the game or whenever Raena’s gone to visit her, so is this a secret hobby of hers she doesn’t want people to know about?

“Even though she’s so talented.”

I drifted closer to inspect the drawing in detail.

It was so meticulous that I’d assume it was a photograph that had lost its colour.

Yui put down her pencil and giggled softly.”

“Ah, how cu-hmm?”

As I turned to see the heroine’s adorable smile, I found a set of eyes staring into mine, and a hand encircling my body.

I was caught in a tight grip, but it wasn’t painful, but that’s not the point!

Did I just get-?!

“A pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Fairy.” She smiled very sweetly at me. “I’ve been waiting for a chance to talk to Onee-sama’s pet for some time.”

…

Yabe!