Chapter 25

“Why are you… why are you by the Princess’s side?”

“Well, because we spent the night together.

And who are you to ask such a question?”

While I was holding my throbbing forehead, the two of them started talking, still eyeing each other suspiciously.

Sena turned her head toward me without answering Ariana’s question.

It was exactly as I expected.

“Spent the night… together? …With the Princess?”

Honestly, I wanted to ignore it.

But I couldn’t dismiss that look of confusion and anxiety on her face, not after everything Sena had done for me.

Whether I wanted it or not.

I hesitated for a moment but ended up responding to Sena’s call before answering Ariana.

“…Yes, did you call me?”

“Were you really in Wharton’s room last night?”

I nodded because it was true.

I was in the room, after all.

Ariana let out an irritated sigh, as if double-checking was annoying her.

Sena’s expression, which had been a mix of confusion and anxiety, now showed pure worry.

She probably thought something had happened to me.

Well, something *did* happen.

I just felt unusually good, that’s all.

Like the positive side effects of drugs or something.

Ah, now I’m thinking about it again.

This is going to mess with my head for a while.

My brain’s all fogged up with drug thoughts.

I poked my temple awkwardly.

It feels like my skull is itching from the inside.

I kinda want to dig it out and scratch it.

Sena, startled by my action, quickly continued.

“…Are you okay?

No, you can’t be okay. Something must’ve happened to you. You need healing.”

“She’s not even answering me.

So, Princess. Who is this woman, really?”

Ariana turned the question back to me.

Since Sena wasn’t answering, she decided to go through me instead.

Now I have to use twice the mental energy.

Can’t you cut me some slack?

“Princess~?”

Ariana dragged out her words, urging me.

I turned to her and started thinking about how to answer.

Who is Sena, huh?

I tilted my head and asked myself internally.

Who is Sena?

I know her name is Sena Blomberg, her basic info, her appearance, and that she’s Hans’s friend. But beyond that, I don’t know how to define her relationship with me in a way that would satisfy Ariana’s curiosity.

She’s not family, not a lover, not even a rival.

Definitely not a friend either.

Actually, the closest thing would be a master-servant relationship, but saying that outright would be problematic.

So… just an acquaintance?

That might be the most appropriate.

After all, “acquaintance” covers all kinds of relationships.

I decided that was good enough and told Ariana.

“Sena Blomberg from the next class.

She’s… an acquaintance of mine.”

“An acquaintance? Hmm…”

Ariana narrowed her eyes and trailed off.

I answered, but she didn’t seem convinced at all.

She clearly thinks there’s more to it.

Well, even I think Sena’s behavior is a bit excessive.

She’s oddly clingy and persistent for the depth of our relationship.

Look at her now.

She’s already trying to touch me with her hands glowing with healing magic.

I didn’t even bother to avoid it this time, just waiting for her to make contact, but Ariana grabbed Sena’s hand.

With her signature innocent smile, as if she knew nothing.

Though it was clearly intentional.

For a moment, their gazes clashed intensely.

It was like watching the transition from wariness to outright hostility.

“…What are you doing?”

“What am I doing? I’m stopping a rude underling from laying hands on the Princess.”

Ariana answered with a light laugh, while Sena frowned.

Sena tried to pull her hand away a few times but failed every time.

Ariana clearly had no intention of letting go or letting her near me.

Finally, Sena raised her voice.

“…Huh? You’re saying that?

You’re the one who’s always touching the Princess the most. How shameless.

I was just trying to heal the Princess, like always. To treat the wounds *you* left!”

As her voice rose, and her words echoed in my ears, my head started itching more and more.

I had the urge to flip my skull inside out and scratch it.

I can’t even tell if it’s itching or hurting anymore.

I tried to press my temple but stopped, thinking it might draw attention. Instead, I dug my nails into my wrist to endure it.

The sensation of piercing my skin was chilling, but it worked better than I thought.

My mind felt a bit clearer.

Maybe it was my arm that was itching after all.

“Ah, is that so? How saintly of you!

What should I do? Your halo might purify a wicked woman like me.”

Ariana laughed lightly at the end of her words, then immediately hardened her expression.

The stark contrast in her demeanor made Sena momentarily flustered.

“But tell me this. If you hate seeing the Princess get hurt so much, why didn’t you stop it in the classroom earlier?

Someone as strong, righteous, and smart as Miss Blomberg, why are you just healing wounds that have already been inflicted? What’s the point of repeating such meaningless actions?”

“I just didn’t have the chance.

If you don’t catch the scene, it’s all meaningless anyway.”

“Hmm? That’s not it.

You had the chance to stop it directly, to catch the scene.

I remember now. You passed by the classroom back then, didn’t you?

You ignored it then, so why are you making a fuss now?”

“…That’s.”

Ah, she did say that.

She was worried because she *saw* me getting hurt.

That also means she could’ve stepped in but chose to ignore it.

But that’s not a big deal, right?

Normally, if it’s someone you don’t know…

Even if someone is being harassed right in front of their eyes, most people would just stand by and watch.

In the end, not a single person among those who didn’t hold any hostility toward me in the classroom that day came to my aid.

After that, the only one who came to help me was her.

Objectively speaking, she is a good person.

At least her intentions are pure, no matter what.

But then, why is Sena so flustered?

Her trembling pupils and slightly pale complexion made her look like someone who had been deeply caught off guard.

Ariana wasn’t one to miss such an opportunity.

With a sly, picture-perfect smile, she quickly started talking.

“I know, I know. You must be worried about retaliation, right? For the Blomberg family, a minor baronial house in the outskirts, crossing a count’s daughter must have been really burdensome. But if you were going to do that, you should’ve ignored her to the end. Why are you stepping in now? Did you get too excited or something?”

Then, pulling Sena’s arm closer, she whispered into her ear.

Sena’s expression rapidly soured.

“It’s not my place to say, but isn’t this a bit too ambiguous? It’s like you’re trying to act like a saint or something.”

“No! I’ve been trying to help the Princess ever since. It’s just that I was too flustered back then…”

“Ah~ Is that so? Well, if that’s what you want, I’ll tell you.”

As she started speaking in a playful tone, an inexplicable sense of unease washed over me.

I let go of my left wrist, which I had been gripping so tightly that something started to flow.

I opened my mouth, but only my breath quickened. No voice came out.

I need to stop this now.

Whatever Ariana says next will definitely be…

“It’d be better if you didn’t approach the Princess from now on. Otherwise… something bad might happen to the other members of the Blomberg family? I heard your family relationships are fine, but what do you think?”

“You…!”

Yeah, it’s a threat.

If she crushes you with the weight of her family, there’s no way to resist.

Sena’s complexion turned from pale to ghostly white.

My mouth kept opening and closing, but no words came out.

Even if they had, it wouldn’t have made much of a difference.

What does it matter if she’s called a Princess?

She’s practically a commoner now.

What can I even do in a family feud?

Feeling helpless, I glanced down and saw drops of blood falling from my wrist, staining the rug on the floor.

When did this happen?

It didn’t hurt much after the initial pain.

“Huh? What’s wrong? Isn’t this it? I thought you were trying to get me to say this all along. Oh, what? Were you really that clueless? Hahaha!”

Ariana’s mocking laughter filled the empty hallway.

As the atmosphere grew increasingly hostile, something hard touched my back.

Startled, I turned around to see it was the wall.

I must have been backing up without realizing it.

I sighed and leaned against the wall, then slid down to sit.

I couldn’t stand anymore.

Even though I hadn’t done anything, my whole body felt drained.

I slowly looked up at the two of them.

They were still glaring at each other, paying no attention to me.

In this conversation, my existence was practically an afterthought.

Even though the topic was about me, my opinion didn’t matter.

In the end, even though I was bleeding, no one noticed.

Listening to them talk, it seemed like they’d solve any problem I had immediately.

What am I to them?

A pretty doll?

A trophy to show off their kindness?

A fragile glass that might break at any touch?

Either way, I’m not an equal human being.

More like a pet, I guess.

“What are you staring at? Get lost.”

“……”

As Ariana, who had been laughing, suddenly turned serious and snapped, Sena bit her lip and turned away.

Sena walked briskly down the hallway, and Maid Ai, who must have been eavesdropping nearby, suddenly appeared and followed her.

That kid was here too.

Well, if it’s a maid who’d help look for me, it’d only be her.

Ariana’s warning wasn’t just for Sena, so she effectively chased both of them away.

I didn’t want it, but the only person who showed me any kindness is gone.

Should I be sad about this, or happy?

I don’t know.

But I feel a little depressed.

I reached for my left wrist again.

I dug my nails into the deep wounds left by my nails and tore them open.

A sharp, searing pain rushed in, and a small groan escaped me.

But the effect was clear—the depression that had been eating at my mind began to fade.

Stimulation—stimulation that doesn’t kill me—numbed my mind and relaxed my body.

I guess I’ve been through too much lately.

I’ve become so numb that I can’t feel stimulation unless it’s like this.

The scattered wounds connected into a long line.

As if someone had drawn a line with a knife.

This makes it look like I slit my wrist.

I’m not at that point yet.

What if someone misunderstands? Hehe.