Pastel gave her all to method acting.
I summoned my strongest friend into my body!
A blonde sorceress girl immediately came to mind.
Yay!
I am Melissa! Melissa!
Not Melissa Camelot, mind you.
But the real deal, Melissa Craft!
Not a greenhouse flower (military heir) who loves fairy tales and always talks about Mother, but a schemer who annihilated her siblings in the competition for the viscount title!
That terrifying schemer once tried to stab the Emperor and joined the Republicans, but what must she have felt when the Republicans messed up and tried to snag Craft’s leash?
“I’m disappointed.”
Pastel let out a big sigh.
The disappointment that the imagined Melissa Craft would definitely empathize with.
Alright.
This emotional line feels right!
But wait.
Would Melissa Craft have pink hair or blonde? Pink is the norm for Craft, but since she’s Melissa, I feel it should be blonde. A bit more elegant, maybe?
Suddenly, I felt Duchess Nastasha’s observing gaze.
Oh no, my thoughts are going haywire!
No! No! I’ll think about such interesting topics later! Now that I’ve taken a breather, let’s get to the next step!
Huff, huff.
Time to buy time with one more big sigh like the Demon Lord.
“Haa, really.”
Now I need to make a plausible black curtain statement and instigate misjudgment.
The principle is to use Craft’s infamy to make them forget the fool, fool Pastel they just encountered.
The Duchess isn’t someone you can throw a flimsy promise at so easily. I need to come up with a lie that has appropriate grounds and a fitting backstory.
Pastel may not be studious, but her brain is working at full capacity~ (for real).
Actually, I haven’t prepared anything, but just as digging into a celebrity’s private life can yield headlines, it shouldn’t be so difficult to weave a plausible narrative from Governor Pastel’s life.
Since the opponent might be biased in their thinking due to Craft’s infamy, I need to throw in a thought that expands the delusion.
I had no thoughts at first, but if it’s Melissa Craft, she must have had a deeply intentional past!
An idea sparked.
Eureka!
Woohoo~! I’m alive!
“I knew the Republicans wouldn’t be eager to welcome me. I have no regrets about that. Rather, I apologize for any concern caused by my family’s troubling past.”
For now, Pastel didn’t jump right into the main topic, taking charge of the atmosphere first.
This is a basic rule of business.
Lead the atmosphere.
“I didn’t feel so rejected as to warrant an apology. There have been quite a few contributions from the Craft family to get us to this Empire, and yet we’ve been unduly oppressed by the late monarch and the current one, so many among us welcome the viscount’s joining.”
The Duchess’s smile turned into one of discomfort. While she had to respond to a noble’s apology, it seemed she could guess what troublesome context might come next.
“I see. Therefore, I’m disappointed again.”
Pastel, feeling pressured, sneaked to her feet.
I walked in front of the portrait that the Duchess painted in Pastel tones. Now facing away from the Duchess, I let my facial expression relax as I observed the portrait with gleeful admiration.
Pink, pink, sparkle, sparkle~.
Wow, it’s truly beautiful!
How does the paint sparkle?!
I was going to give it to the Demon Lord, but maybe I should hang it in my bedroom?!
I felt eyes on me from behind.
Oh no! I got lost in my own portrait!
Ahem.
“In order to convey my sincerity to the Republicans, I tried electing a temporary acting president through noble voting, but was my effort lacking? Was my expression insufficient?”
The Duchess’s response echoed softly.
“We were keenly observing that part. Since there was no precedent, it held significant value for study and discussion—”
“The highest ranking person should indeed be.”
The Duchess’s words were interrupted.
Pastel held the portrait up. As it tilted, shadows danced across the artwork. Nonetheless, the well-crafted portrait shone even in the shadow.
“I believe it should be someone who is acclaimed, desired, and at the forefront.”
I felt the Duchess’s gaze intensify.
Oh?
Though the view comes from behind, judging with the intuition of a popular person, it felt extraordinarily intense.
Did my illogical throw of a plausible philosophical stance hit the mark?
If I were to reflect on what the Duchess might be thinking.
Pastel: I originally intended to join the Republicans, so it’s disappointing that I’ve been doubted! I’m such a republican that I even ponder whom to vote for!
Duchess: Oh wow, such a deep contemplation? I didn’t know this! I’m sorry!
Good! Good!
I’m alive! Absolutely alive!
With this, I can escape to the Sky Island, and they won’t pry too deeply into my republican identity!
The Demon Lord, who entrusted me with rooting out the Demon King, would be the same!
Wow! Now I must stop this terrifying tightrope conversation and run away!
Pastel flipped the portrait over.
Then she perched it on her head.
With arms wide open, she turned around to smile brightly.
It feels like the misunderstandings have been cleared, so I’ll be on my way!
However, Pastel could see the Duchess’s expression had turned serious. It seemed like she was looking at a competitor.
Uh-oh.
The atmosphere felt like it was shifting from old crush’s child to rival’s child!
What a huge misunderstanding?!
A truly, truly monumental misunderstanding!
Oh no.
Could this be the situation the Duchess advised earlier?
—Ambiguous credibility could cast unnecessary suspicion even among allies.
Eek!
The Duchess’s advice was frighteningly accurate!
By acting, I unwittingly raised suspicions about myself!
Pastel felt suffocated. She couldn’t fathom what delusions Duchess Nastasha had reached.
I have no ulterior motive!
I’m just Pastel!
This is why conversing with smart individuals is so challenging……!
Just before breaking into a cold sweat, Pastel gathered all her mental strength and shouted as cheerfully as possible.
“But I’m too young and don’t really understand!”
I might have said something serious, but I was just a silly kid who accidentally said the wrong thing without realizing my intentions!
Little Governor Pastel has so many shortcomings that the position of principal should be held by the seasoned Professor Horace!
“We’re a generation apart, so expecting the same level is a bit too much!”
I can’t even keep up with the Duchess’s thoughts!
Yes, yes!
Upon hearing this, somehow signaling something unexpected, the Duchess seemed shocked and suddenly deep in thought.
Was that really an invitation? No, what kind of thoughts does Craft normally have to assume that the head of the distant Republican company, who she’s never even met, would have picked up an invitation based solely on the election in the faraway Sky Island? It had the same nuance.
Oh wow……!
This is getting really scary!
I have no clue what’s going on, but it’s working way too well!
Is this the curse of intelligence? The statistic that clever people are more easily fooled?
I have no idea what’s going on, but it feels as though I’ve touched a landmine—technically I’m an ally, but not exactly a competitor anymore.
I don’t know! I don’t care! After all, the Sky Island is a remote place! I’ve got the Governor position, so if I run away, it’s all fine!
Pastel secured the portrait firmly with both hands.
“The level of discourse is beyond my expectations, so I’ll be taking my leave!”
The depths of central politics are terrifying!
She bolted away. The confused gazes followed, but as soon as she burst out of the art studio, they disappeared.
A sunny garden and a vast lake unfolded before her eyes. A few ducks paddled nearby.
“Run! Run!”
Save me, Pastel!
Darting along the white marble path, Panting, she glanced back. There was no one pursuing her; only the lakeside scenery filled with canvases lay in her view.
“Phew!”
I really lived through that.
As she wiped her forehead, which wasn’t particularly sweaty, she placed the portrait on a nearby canvas.
She walked toward the lake and splashed some water.
Blub, blub.
So fresh, so clean.
Pastel rubbed her cheeks and looked around as if searching for something.
Huh?
No towel.
There was no demon lord around to hand over a towel or a handkerchief either.
Oh no?
I’m Pastel, who method acted as Melissa! How could I commit such a vulgar act as washing my face without anything to dry off with?!
Drops of water drizzled down her chin. The droplets left stains on her clothes.
Utterly devoid of class.
Pastel rolled her eyes, squatted down, and slyly lifted the hem of her white skirt. She wiped her face with it. Then, as though nothing had happened, she pretended to be oblivious.
“Wow! So clean!”
I guess I should head back!
Walking lightly, she lifted the portrait.
The Pastel portrait sparkled in the sunlight.
Hooray!
Portrait scored!
I was scared, but all’s well that ends well, so I’m happy!
I leisurely examined the portrait.
Wow, it really is beautifully done.
The Demon Lord should have come too and received two of them!
Oh wait?
Thinking back, if the Demon Lord had been here, this terrifying situation might not have occurred at all.
Oh no!
Pastel clutched her head.
If only the Demon Lord had been around!
Why didn’t he stay by my side when I needed him?!
Demon Lord is bad!
Totally bad!
Having heard the warning to prepare for a scolding while enjoying the hallowed rebellion alone, Pastel was perhaps in trouble for coming alone, but no, the Demon Lord is still bad!
Yes, yes!
So…
I should ask him to make marshmallows!
Hehe.
Pastel headed back to the Demon Lord.
—Why did you go alone?
He had a displeased expression.
With the existing reasons compounded with new ones, Pastel might truly end up getting an earful.
“Waaah!”
Tears flowed down.
“Demon Lord, you’re really, really bad!”
