Pastel did her best in method acting.
Summoning my strongest friend into my body!
A blonde wizard girl immediately came to mind.
Yay!
I am Melissa! Melissa!
Not just any Melissa Camerott.
But the one and only Melissa Craft!
Not a greenhouse flower (a hereditary warlord) who loves fairy tales and always talks about her mother, but a schemer who slaughtered her siblings according to the rules of heir competition to seize the position of Viscount!
That terrifying schemer tried to stab the Emperor and join the Republicans, but what must have gone through her mind when the Republicans started making foolish moves and attempted to grab Craft’s leash?
“I’m disappointed.”
Pastel let out a big sigh first.
Imagining Melissa Craft, it was a feeling she could deeply empathize with.
Alright.
This emotional line feels right!
But wait.
If it’s Melissa Craft, would her hair be pink or golden? Pink seems fitting for Craft, but since it’s Melissa, I feel like it should be blonde. More elegant, perhaps.
Suddenly, she sensed the observing gaze of Nastasha Duke.
Whoa, thoughts took a strange turn!
No! No! I’ll think about this fascinating topic later! Having bought time with a sigh, let’s hurry to the next step!
Huff, huff.
To buy more time, she let out another big sigh like a devil.
“Ah, really.”
Now, she needed to make a plausible shadowy remark to instigate misjudgments.
The principle was to utilize Craft’s notorious reputation to help others forget the foolish Pastel experienced just now.
Since the Duke is no easy target, a simple throwaway comment won’t work. She needed to weave a lie with appropriate reasoning and a fitting backstory.
While Pastel may not be able to study, her brain was working at full capacity.
In reality, she hadn’t prepared anything, but it shouldn’t be too difficult to piece together a plausible issue from Governor Pastel’s life, just as digging into a celebrity’s private life and finding something to publicize isn’t as hard as it seems.
At this point, with the opponent misjudging Pastel’s true nature due to Craft’s notorious reputation, she had to throw them enough ideas to expand on her delusions.
Though she hadn’t thought of anything, if it’s Melissa Craft, there must have been a past filled with deep intentions!
Suddenly, an idea struck her.
It came to her!
Hooray~! I’m alive!
“I know the Republicans wouldn’t be eager to accept me. I don’t feel regret about that, though. Rather, I apologize for the undue worry caused by our family’s unnecessary past.”
For now, Pastel didn’t jump directly to the point, instead leading the atmosphere first.
This is the basic principle of business.
Set the tone first.
“I didn’t feel a rejection strong enough to warrant an apology. Despite the many contributions made by the Craft family to bring the Empire to where it is now, both the former and current emperors have excessively persecuted us, so many among us warmly welcome the Viscount’s joining.”
Nastasha Duke’s expression turned to one of troubled smiling. She had acknowledged the noble’s apology, but seemed to anticipate the next step’s awkward context.
“I see. Then, I’m disappointed after all.”
As they sat across from each other, Pastel felt pressure performing facial expressions, so she subtly stood up.
She walked toward the pastel-toned portrait that the Duke had drawn. Turning her back on the Duke allowed her to relax her expression and gaze eagerly at the portrait.
Pink and shimmering~.
Wow, it’s really beautiful!
How could the paint shimmer like that?!
I was going to present it to the devil, but maybe I should hang it in my bedroom?!
She felt a gaze from behind.
Whoa! I’m captivated by my own portrait!
Ahem.
“I tried to convey my sincerity to the Republicans by selecting an acting president for the Academy through a noble vote, but was my effort not enough? Was my expression lacking?”
The silence from Nastasha Duke resonated.
“We found that part interesting as well. Since it has no precedent, it’s worthwhile to study and discuss—”
“The highest authority should.”
Nastasha Duke’s words were abruptly interrupted.
Pastel held up the portrait. As she examined it and raised it high, the painting tilted in accordance with the angle and cast shadows. Yet, the well-made portrait shone even in the shadows.
“Shouldn’t it be someone who is acclaimed, desired, and takes the lead?”
She felt Duke’s gaze intensify.
Huh?
Though it was from behind her, judging by the instincts of a popular figure, it felt particularly strong.
Could it be that her strategy of throwing a seemingly philosophical yet nonsensical statement into the air actually worked?
If she retraced her thoughts on what the Duke might have been pondering…
Pastel: I originally wanted to join the Republicans, but I’m hurt because you suspected me! I’m so much of a republican that I even thought about who to elect through voting!
Duke: Whoa, this level of contemplation? I never realized that! Sorry!
Yes! Yes!
I’m alive! I’m completely alive!
Even if I run to Sky Island now, they won’t ostracize me for being a republican!
Neither will the Emperor, who entrusted me with the task of identifying the Demon Lord!
Wow! Time to stop this scary tightrope discussion and run away!
Pastel flipped the portrait over.
Then she placed it on her head.
With that, she spread her arms wide and turned around to face her bright gaze.
It seems there’s been a misunderstanding, so I’ll be going back now!
However, Pastel caught a glimpse of Nastasha Duke’s expression, which had turned somewhat serious. It seemed like a gaze directed at a competitor.
Uh-oh.
The atmosphere felt like it was shifting from childhood crush to rival!
Could this be some huge misunderstanding?!
A super, super huge misunderstanding!
Whoa.
Could this be the situation the Duke advised earlier?
– Ambiguous credibility leads to undue suspicion from allies.
Ahhh!
The Duke’s advice was too apt!
Acting out of character made me unknowingly raised suspicion!
Pastel felt her breath hitch. She couldn’t fathom what delusions Nastasha Duke might have conjured.
I have no hidden intentions!
I’m simply Pastel!
This is why it’s hard to converse with smart people…!
Just on the brink of a cold sweat, Pastel gathered all her mental strength and shouted as cheerfully as possible.
“But I’m young, so I don’t know much!”
I might have said something serious, but I was just a kid who miscommunicated without realizing my intent!
Young Governor Pastel has so many shortcomings that even the experienced Professor Horace should take the position of president!
“We have a generation gap, so shouldn’t you expect different levels?”
She might as well say she couldn’t even follow the Duke’s thoughts!
Yeah, yeah!
This may have sent an unintended signal, but Nastasha Duke looked shocked and then increasingly thoughtful.
Was that such a suggestion? No, did Craft really think the face of the unknown leader of the Republicans, whom she’s never met, would have understood her suggestion just from the distant election in Sky Island? She must have felt that way.
Wow…!
At this point, it’s terrifying!
I have no idea what’s happening, but it’s working too well!
Is this the curse of intellect? Is it true that intelligent people are more susceptible to scams?
I have no clue what’s going on, but I seem to have crossed a line I shouldn’t have touched, and it feels like I’m on the same side as a schemer but not a competitor.
I don’t know, I don’t know! After all, Sky Island is a frontier! I’ve already obtained the governorship, so if I flee, it’s done!
Pastel firmly secured the portrait on her head with both hands.
“I’m leaving since the atmosphere has been different than I expected!”
The abyss of central politics is terrifying!
She dashed away. Though confused gazes followed her, once she burst through the door of the painting studio, it disappeared.
A sunny garden and a vast lake stretched out before her. A few ducks floated by.
“Run! Run!”
Save Pastel!
Running down the white marble path, she turned back breathlessly. There were no pursuers, only the scenic lakeside dotted with canvases.
“Ahh!”
I’m really alive.
Wiping her practically dry forehead, she set the portrait on a nearby canvas.
Walking towards the lake, she splashed water.
Splash, splash.
Clear and fresh.
Pastel rubbed her cheeks and looked around as if searching for something.
Oops.
No towels.
There was no devil to hand her a towel or handkerchief.
Oh no?
How could dignified Pastel, who could even method act as Melissa, end up splashing water on her face in such an undignified way?!
Droplets of water dripped down her chin, leaving marks on her clothes.
So completely undignified.
Pastel rolled her eyes, then crouched down and discreetly lifted the hem of her white skirt. She grazed her face with the hem and then pretended as if nothing had happened.
“Wow! So clean!”
I should head back!
Walking softly, she picked up the portrait.
Pastel’s portrait sparkled in the sunlight.
Yay!
I got a portrait!
It was scary, but all in all, I’m happy since nothing major happened!
Taking her time, she examined the portrait.
Wow, it’s really well done.
The devil should have come along and received two of these!
Oh?
Thinking about it, if the devil had been there, this scary situation might not have happened!
Oh no!
Pastel clutched her head.
Everything would have been fine if only the devil had been around!
Why weren’t they there when needed?!
The devil is bad!
Completely, completely bad!
Having heard the words about severe consequences for engaging in high treason, Pastel, who came alone, might be the problem, fearing heavy scolding upon being alone, but still, the devil is bad!
Yeah, yeah!
So.
I guess I should ask for some marshmallows!
Hehe.
Pastel returned to the devil.
– Why on earth did you go alone?
The expression was angry.
With a new reason added, Pastel could really end up being scolded to tears now.
“Waaaah!”
Tears started to roll down her cheeks.
“Devil, you’re really, really bad!”
