Chapter 27

“I need some time to think about some things, including…who I want to be from now on.”

That’s what Yuri had said the next morning.

I think I understood what she was talking about but decided not to ask.

The freshmen’s ball was usually a joyful event in a student’s life at the academy.

It was for me, though perhaps less so for the young ladies who stood against me, and for many who bore witness to the commotion yesterday.

Rumours and fresh whispers had surfaced.

There were many who looked at me with admiration.

Plenty more looked on with fear.

Most looked on with respect.

However, their words - they chose to be more careful and quieter, so much so that I couldn’t hear them as much as I used to.

This was fine.

Yui and Victoria were still by my side.

Lord Michael and I had begun talking more often.

Prince Cain, however, was far away from me, both in mind and body.

As he feared, his reputation took quite the hit from my actions.

“So, they weren’t engaged?”

“Then, why did he help her?”

“…No way, was the prince forced into helping her?”

“Surely he must have had his reasons, right?”

These questions went unanswered.

I left them that way on purpose; Prince Cain left them because it would wound his already bleeding pride.

Still, life seemed to return to normal, although Victoria and Yui were very busy with their studies and hanging out with their friends from other classes.

It had been a very long time since I had lunch alone, but it wasn’t a lonely feeling. Well, maybe it was a little lonely, but I knew it was only a temporary thing.

Maybe I could just relax today or make some new acquaintances, or-

“Lady Raena.”

An unexpected guest could appear at my desk.

“Prince Ah-Rahm.”

The ever arrogant, all assured attitude and air was still there.

“Come with me for a bit.”

…I did fear this outcome.

***

Surprisingly, it was just us two in a private meeting room.

No servants, no guards, no prying eyes.

The future emperor and the future Armina Duchess - what an interesting combination we make.

Of course, more rumours might be spawned as a result of Ah-Rahm coming to my desk to see me, but that was fine.

Let more rumours spread about how well-connected Raena von Armina is.

Let your imaginations run wild.

Still, it wasn’t the first time we’d met in private.

Last time, it had been after I’d met with Prince Cain (and definitely not twisted his arm into giving me) where he gave me the Royal Decree that allowed me to bring down those conspiring against I and Yuri.

He had come on behalf of his fiancé, but what about this time?

“I saw your play last night.”

I giggled. “Did you enjoy it?”

He chuckled. “It was as exciting as I imagined it would be. In a single evening, you successfully destroyed three rivals, shown yourself to be on good terms with the future king of this country, the future duke of Wessex and demonstrated that you were a far more cunning and intelligent woman than your opponents believed you to be.

“I’m sure you’ve already started thinking about how my approaching you today can be used to your advantage in some way, shape or form, no?”

I narrowed my eyes a little. “…Perhaps.”

Ah-Rham laughed. “There’s no need to feign ignorance. We are both cut from the same cloth, Raena.”

I relaxed a little, crossed my legs and folded my arms. “So?” I dropped all pleasantries and stared daggers at him. “What do you want?”

Ah-Rahm dropped his bravado. “I wanted to ask you about your sister.”

“Yui? What about her?”

This was unexpected.

In the original scenario, Yui would naturally have caught the attention of Ah-Rahm along with the other male leads. She would have been a part of the student council and shared lots of interactions with him and the other male leads.

However, we were very far away from the original scenario, especially after last night.

…Is it possible that the events of last night are what triggered this?

Did Ah-Rahm become interested in Yui because of the role she played in my plan?

I didn’t see what happened after I went chasing after Yuri, so it’s possible something else had occurred. Yui said there were no issues, but maybe she was mistaken or telling me a small lie.

That last one could be true…these past few weeks, I’ve been nearly entirely focused on Yuri and this plan to destroy all threats to her and I.

Maybe Yui didn’t want to worry me, or maybe she was a little bit upset at how overfocused I was on Yuri.

“…How do you see her?”

Confused, I tilted my head a little. “What do you mean?”

“I mean…” Unsure of himself perhaps, Ah-Rahm went quiet, rubbed his head viciously in frustration and then, through gritted teeth, said, “How do you feel about her?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“You love her?”

“Of course.”

“Romantically or-?”

“Romantically, obviously.”

“…How much?”

I was starting to get a little upset. “Why does that-?”

“Raena, have you ever been obsessed with someone? Like truly, utterly obsessed with them?”

“…Of course.”

“So much so you want to kill them?”

…I did not like where this was going.

“What do you mean, Prince Ah-Rahm?”

He sighed and pulled his hair back above his forehead. “I love Claudia from the bottom of my heart. It’s not just a marriage of convenience or for power or anything like that; I love her. Yet.” Ah-Rahm started to laugh angrily. “Every time I see your damn sister, I somehow forget all of that and can only think of her and no one but her.”

“…What?”

“I’m not joking, Raena.” He stared at me, his very soul gazing into mine. “It’s gotten so bad I’ve considered leaving the school or even killing your sister just to get these damn thoughts out of my head!”

…What is he-?

Wait…

Is it possible-?

“Prince Ah-Rahm, do you hear a voice of some kind when you-?”

“How did you-?! You too?!”

I shook my head. “Not for Yui, but…for other things.”

“What kind-?”

“A voice like my own but that doesn’t seem to act or think like how I do,” I explained. “Is that the same for you?”

Ah-Rahm nodded. “It only ever comes up when I see her. No one else, just your sister…and I have no idea why. It’s like I’m there, thinking about what to buy Claudia to give her after school for our date, and then I see Yui and suddenly she’s all I can think about.

“I want to grab her, confine her, make her mine and then the second she’s gone, that voice goes too.” He laughed and spat to the side. “Honestly, there are few things in this world that can piss me off. This voice, whatever this nonsense is, makes me want to destroy everything.”

I couldn’t say anything to him, because I knew the exact same pain he felt.

There were times when I saw Yuri, Yui or Victoria and that voice would appear, the one that called me-

Villainess!

I flinched and spun around at the familiar voice I hadn’t heard in a very long time, before regaining myself and shifting back to Ah-Rahm.

“…You just heard your own again, didn’t you?”

I didn’t answer or nod.

I didn’t want to make it materialise.

It was just-

A mistake?! Hahahahaha! What a joke, Raena!

My head throbbed violently and painfully.

“Oi, are you-?!”

“Just…don’t…please. Don’t…say anything,” I hissed, grinding my teeth together.

“…I’ll let you rest here until it goes away.” He stood up and moved for the door. “I meant to say, it might not just be us who get these thoughts. I think the others on the student council, including Prince Cain, do too.”

“I won’t let any of you touch even a single hair on Yui’s head.”

Ah-Rahm smiled and laughed. “Raena. If you aren’t careful, you’ll die trying to stand between them and her.”