CH 69

“I wonder what will happen…”

On the day of the magic battle—

I muttered as I sat on a bench in the courtyard together with Mika.

I didn’t know the truth about it in my first life.

So, I didn’t know if Vivienne in the first life had memories of a previous life like Vivienne does now, or if the harassment actually happened or not.

I couldn’t possibly know everything about the little things that students in the grade above me did in the academy.

I didn’t know if it was really Vivienne who did it and got in trouble, or that Vivienne got into trouble because she was framed for it even though she hadn’t done it.

(If it really was Vivienne herself who did it in the first life, then nothing should happen if she doesn’t make any move now.)

Here was the plan we came up with.

First of all, the aim was that we didn’t want Vivienne to be seen wandering around in strange places, so we decided to have her sit in a conspicuous seat in the middle of the venue, even before the magic battle began.

And then, about Vivienne’s friends… After recalling the memories of her previous life, it seems that there was some change in her friendship. But she decided to have her so-called female cronies, except for the participants in the magic battle, watch the match with her.

(The only one of Vivienne’s cronies to participate is Marquess Delanois…)

She is a calm female student who always has a smile on her face.

It seemed that Vivienne also participated in the magic battle in the book, but this time she decided to present her research quietly instead.

It is the most peaceful evaluation subject that has nothing to do with conflicts and disputes. Although it’s plain and also a cultural subject, it’s much better than having unnecessary suspicion cast on her.

In truth, it would be nice if either I or Mika could keep an eye on things all the time, but the waiting room is separate for men and women. It would be a big problem to have a prince and a knight loitering in front of a waiting room that was purposely separated for men and women.

We also thought about dressing up as a girl, but I would be found out, and Mika would never look like a girl. Tillois, who has a relatively thinner stature, has the Dukes of Ackerson’s signature red eyes, albeit lighter in color than Vivienne’s.

We had no choice but to sit on a bench in the courtyard, just barely in sight of the waiting room corridor.

“There’s no problem with the robes so far, right?”

“Yeah. I just had a female knight who has been sent to guard there to check it out. I also asked her to watch around the area of the waiting room, just in case.”

If that’s the case, no one but the participants would be allowed to approach the waiting room.

The person whose turn is coming up goes in, gets changed, and comes out. Once the match is over, they get changed again and leave. That was it. In the first place, the reason why the robes are kept in the waiting room is because magic battles are fought with magic, and it would be a problem if there were any injustice in the equipment. Careful checking by the teachers is carried out the day before.

However, since the magic battle has a longer match time compared to the swordsmanship tournament, it will be possible for someone to have a time when no one is in the waiting room.

(That’s the problem…)

We could check the people coming in and out like this, and the knight that Mika had talked to would also keep watch.

Mika spoke with a bitter look on his face.

“The worst thing that could happen is if Baroness Tessier cut the robe herself.”

“If that’s the case, can we somehow get the proof of that? I want to make sure it won’t ever happen, but if Vivienne goes all the way to trial, we’re going to need that kind of evidence, aren’t we?”

“I wish we had the video crystal that’s currently under research…”

“Video crystal? What is that…wait, right.”

Could it be an ancient magic circle found in recently discovered ruins?

I had recently heard that researchers were trying to create a magic tool with the non-attribute magic inscribed in that magic circle that they had accidentally found. As usual, I was impressed with Mika’s awareness of recent news, but unfortunately, the video crystal is not available to us.

Due to a tyrant from nearly a thousand years ago, old books were burned, and the magic handed down from ancient times was eliminated. There was a dark history of large-scale assassinations targeting those who manifested the existing unique magic at the hands of the Rubrum Empire, which was at war at the same time.

I’ve only heard once that there were those with non-attribute magic as unique magic, and Baroness Tessier was the first person who had it that I had seen with my own eyes.

However, every time an ancient magic circle is found like this, if I think of it as a non-attribute magic…

(Even though the records are gone because of the tyrant in the past and the Rubrum empire, I wonder if it still existed unexpectedly, and they just don’t tell people when it manifested…)

I can’t help but wish I had that kind of magic as well.

On top of being useless, I have no special abilities. If I were the main character of a story, I think it would be nothing more than a dime novel like “The Diary of a Boring Slug”.

Anyway.

According to Mika, the video crystal is still under research and doesn’t exist yet.

From now on, the sixth graders’ magic battle is taking place. My brothers will probably win out to the end, and I hope that the case of Baroness Tessier will be cleared up by then.

My brothers and I would be participating in the magic battle, so we didn’t have to sit and watch from the royalty seat like we did at yesterday’s swordsmanship tournament, which was nice.

At that moment.

I saw Baroness Tessier walking down the corridor that we could see from where we were sitting.

Her chestnut-colored hair is neatly pulled back into a single bun high on her head today. The silver hairpiece sparkled beautifully.

She then opened the door to the waiting room and went inside.

Mika and I exchanged glances.

If she continued on her way, found the robe that was supposed to be prepared in the waiting room, and in the unlikely event that it had been cut to pieces, she would have taken some action at this moment.

The person who entered the waiting room previously was, for whatever reason, Marquess Delanois. She’s the one who would be Baroness Tessier’s first opponent.

(Good grief, it almost makes me wonder if it’s set up…)

However, after getting changed in the waiting room, Marquess Delanois bowed to us in the courtyard and left for the venue without incident.

I couldn’t just think that nothing would happen.

I kept an eye on things together with Mika. We waited for a while, but nothing seemed to be happening.

“Nothing seemed to change.”

“She unexpectedly came out of the waiting room normally…wait, we still have to see.”

Yes, that was the moment when Mika said it.

As expected, a disturbing voice was heard.

“Eeeeeek!”

“What’s the matter?!”

“This can’t be…this, this is-”

It must be the female knight whom Mika talked with earlier.

She heard Baroness Tessier’s voice and came rushing in immediately. I got up from the bench with Mika, who was sighing. Then we made our way into the building.

“What’s the commotion?”

“Y-Your Highness Nagi…”

Next to the knight bowing to me, Baroness Tessier, slumped on the floor with tears in her wide emerald eyes, looked up at me.

It made me think that the sight of her tears, as if they were overflowing jewels, would be enough to make many men want to protect her, even if she’s not using her “fascination” magic (probably).

“My robe is cut apart…”

I did see the dark blue robe with her name on it, which she was holding in her hand, being torn apart.

I looked around, wondering what could have cut it apart. The knight muttered, “What an outrageous thing to do…” as she helped Baroness Tessier stand up. Baroness Tessier whispered in a quiet voice while trembling.

“Could it be, this is Marquess Delanois’ doing…?”

“Marquess Delanois? Baroness Tessier, why do you think it was her?”

“…Because she’s my opponent.”

“What do you mean? Did she harass you just because you’re her opponent?”

The female knight raised her voice as if in a panic.

I exhaled a breath. I must not misjudge about what is expected of me here.

What is expected of me here— is not being a sharp-witted third prince with keen insight.

—But being the dim-witted slug prince instead.

Baroness Tessier is a pawn who should be let roam freely. Her denunciation was only after all the evidence was in place. I’m sure Mika knew this as well. While I act like a clown, I’m sure he would find some kind of proof.

With that in mind, I dropped my shoulder and opened my mouth.

“Oh no! Marquess Delanois did this? This is not good. If that is the case… No, It’ll be okay, Baroness Tessier. I know this because I asked the teachers. It’s probably stored here.”

While comforting Baroness Tessier, I opened the leftmost closet.

The female knight exclaimed in admiration.

“Oh, thank goodness. So, replacement robes were provided.”

“That’s right. I figured that since the academy always has something available in the men’s waiting room in case of emergencies, there would be one in the women’s room as well. Haha, it’s cute that it has light pink color. I’m sure it’ll look good on you, Baroness Tessier.”

“Ahaha, it’s true. Perfect for a lovely young lady. Is this something from an alumni? It’s very good quality.”

The knight joined me to compliment the pretty robe, which made it impossible for Baroness Tessier to argue. “Eh, umm,” she said while being slightly confused, but as it stands, there is no problem if we have a replacement robe.

“This is…but pink is a bit…”

“It can’t be helped. I will tell the academy about this matter. You are going to be competing from now on, you must not be distracted by other things. It will be alright. The wrongdoers will surely be punished by me, no, by the Knights!”

“Good for you. It seems that the Knights will take care of this matter. It’d be best to keep quiet about this so as not to interfere with the investigation. I’m sure they’ll do a good job of looking into Marquess Delanois as well.”

“No way!”

A dissatisfied voice came out from Baroness Tessier. The knight looked puzzled and tilted her head, but I added a few words.

“Brother Vincent will also be participating in the magic battle as well. He has a tense relationship with Brother Seth, but I think he will play fair in the magic battle. They are both in their final year and it’s their last battle. I feel really sorry about this, but I also don’t want him to worry needlessly.”

“…Yes.”

“Yes, that’s right. After all, the political matters between them and the things inside the academy are different. Mhm. It’ll be okay! Please leave it to the Knights!”

As I said that to Baroness Tessier, who was reluctant to say anything back, I heard the knight’s response and wondered if perhaps Mika had said something to her beforehand.

While exchanging these words, I stealthily pointed at Baroness Tessier’s head so that only Mika could see it.

Perhaps noticing it, Mika spoke to Baroness Tessier.

“Baroness Tessier. For the magic battle, ornaments are not allowed. There is also thunder magic, it would be trouble if you get injured by your ornament. Shall I keep it for you?”

“! …N-No, it’s okay. Right, the rule. I’ll have a friend hold it for me.”

“I see.”

“You’re right. It’s a beautiful hair clip. It would be terrible to have it break.”

Then Baroness Tessier, clad in a light pink robe, was escorted to the venue by the knight.

As I waved her off, Mika asked me in a whisper.

“How did you know?”

“Hmm? Because her hair clip was a bit off than when she was walking down the corridor earlier.”

“You really have an accurate memory.”

“She’ll probably throw it away somewhere, so retrieve it.”

Mika glanced back at the waiting room and saw two other knights whom the female knight had called for earlier. “I’ll be over there with them,” Mika said and immediately went after Baroness Tessier.

There was no definite proof yet.

Earlier, Mika had been looking around for something sharp, but he didn’t seem to find anything. If she had used magic, it should have left a trail. If there was nothing physical in that room, perhaps there was something with that hair clip that she had with her.

I chuckled as I approached the knights of the Order, whom I recognized.

“Amidst the students in dark blue, black, dark green, and dark red robes…she’s competing in the magic battle with a pink robe, huh.”

It looked very beautiful, of good quality, and elegant enough that any female student would think it was cute.

She must be the center of attention, I thought.

I chuckled again when I remembered how the ‘culprit’ said it.

—”Oh, ho, ho, ho! This is what I call harassment!” —

I suppose it is. I thought once again that it would surely be more unpleasant to be made standing in the venue in a cute, unconventional robe that everyone would be jealous of, rather than just having her robe torn apart.