Anoseka Volume 1 Chapter 11

This is MTL. So, I cannot guarantee that the translation 100% contextually accurate or appropriate.

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Chapter 11 "May Tea Party"

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Part 1

At that otome game school, it is not until May that the new students invite the girls to a tea party.

Why is it from May?

I don't know the reason, and I don't want to know the reason, but tea parties become more frequent at this time of year.

Originally, it was supposed to be a simple matter of bringing in the right vendors, but I had a fateful encounter a while back.

It was an etiquette instructor —— I call him "Shishou" who taught the boys about etiquette.

At first, I was not even interested in tea, but after drinking Shishou's tea, I changed my mind.

Tea ...... What a profound world!

I never thought I'd find such a wonderful hobby in my second life.

"I was born again"

I realized that tea is a wonderful culture.

My friends Daniel and Raymond look at me coldly, but I don't care.

"He's a simple guy, I am envious."

"I'm glad you got a hobby."

I can't help but feel envy in their gazes and tone of voice.

What's going on?

"What's the matter with you guys? You're being awfully confrontational today."

A bench in the courtyard at the school.

The three of us were sitting and talking, but I felt distant from them.

Raymond looked at me, his glasses shining suspiciously.

"I heard rumors. It seems that you are getting along very well with the girls in the advanced class who don't even have their exclusive servants."

When Daniel made a fist, he was in tears from jealousy.

"I envy you, this bastard! You should introduce us!"

He's pissed at me, but he's trying to use me to get me to introduce him to girls.

Not that I don't like you guys like that myself, but these two have got it fundamentally wrong.

"You mean Marie? I don't have that kind of relationship with her."

When I mention Marie's name, they both look at me and say, "Is that girl after all?"

As usual, Raymond seems to be suspicious of my relationship with Marie.

"How about that. Besides, I'm just jealous that you have a close acquaintance with a girl."

Daniel hangs his head.

"I too would like to get close to a girl who doesn't have an exclusive servant."

A girl in the advanced class who does not have an exclusive servant is a very special existence.

If I were to describe it in terms of rarity, would it be 5 stars? Or SSR or UR?

If they are regular advanced class girls, they'll have their exclusive servants.

Either they're poor like Marie, or there's a reason they can't have one.

"Ah, it's His Highness."

Raymond noticed His Highness Julius and the others coming into the courtyard.

As usual, His Highness Julius is walking around with his foster brother, Zilk.

Behind them, the girls can be seen chasing after His Highness and the others.

His Highness Julius and Zilk are cheered by the girls, but they don't seem to be very interested in them.

They look rather troubled by the girls chasing after them.

――What an enviable position.

"I envy them."

When I said that, both Raymond and Daniel looked at me and clicked their tongues.

You guys should treat me better. ——With that thought in mind, Daniel now notices a presence that has come to the courtyard.

"Now a scholarship student."

When Olivia-san appeared, His Highness Julius and others approached her.

We were watching the scene, but when we saw who appeared next, all three of us pulled our cheeks together.

On behalf of the group, I will say the name of the person who came.

"Even Angelica-san's here?"

When Angelica, the fiancée of His Highness Julius, arrived, the atmosphere of the place suddenly changed to a tense one.

When His Highness Julius was getting along with Olivia and her fiancé appeared on the scene, one would imagine a scene of carnage, and that is what actually happened.

"Your Highness, please consider your position!"

His Highness Julius brushes off Angelica with a sense of annoyance.

"Angelica, this is a school. Don't bring external positions into this."

"Even so, there is a limit! It is unthinkable in Your Highness' position to invite only the scholarship student to a tea ceremony! Please reconsider now."

In front of his fiancée, he is defending Olivia, a scholarship student.

After he met Olivia and invited her straight to the May tea party, his fiancée, Angelica-san, came.

It's an early event scene in the game, but looking at it like this, it's a real scene of carnage.

I'm curious to see the rest of the story because of my wild guts, but ...... The desire to run away prevails.

"It's nice to be handsome, isn't it? You're allowed to be friendly with other girls in front of your fiancé."

When I said so, Daniel was shaking his head quickly.

"No, no, it's no good. Besides, the other person is a scholarship student —— a commoner."

As for Raymond, he didn't question the relationship between Olivia-san and His Highness Julius.

"Isn't it possible to have a commoner as a concubine? There are precedents."

Daniel is surprised to hear of the precedent.

"Eh, is that so?"

There is also a Cinderella story about a commoner woman being brought to the royal court.

But this kind of attitude in front of your fiancée —— that would be a problem.

Looking at it this way, the protagonist of that otome game is surprisingly evil.

After quietly watching, the group disperse.

As for the flow of events, as per the events of that otome game, His Highness Julius protects Olivia and that's the end of it.

Angelica-san had retreated like saying 'Gununu'.

I get up from the bench.

"All right, we're going back too. ——Oi, what's up?"

As I was heading back to the school building, Daniel and Raymond were grabbing my arms.

"We're in the middle of a conversation!"

"I'd like to hear more about your relationship with Marie-san. As a fellow member of the group, I'd like to hear about it."

Group mate of the poor baron.

If I don't clear up the misunderstanding, it seems like I'm going to get in trouble.

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Part 2

——So, I decided to consult with Marie.

That Marie is in a state of depression.

"The May tea party, no one invited me."

It seems that not only the boys who are the target of the attack, but all the boys who hold the May tea party have ignored her.

Marie is holding her knees on a chair.

Looking at the situation, Luxion speculates on the reason why she was not invited to the party.

[In Marie's case, isn't it possible that the family household is so bad that the boys are hesitant? I guess they decided that it would be a big disadvantage for the prospective partner's family to have huge debts.]

At Luxion's calm reply, Marie stands up and shouts.

"I'm tired of hearing such arguments! You should be evaluating me personally more!"

"Don't be ridiculous."

A marriage between nobles, for example, is a political marriage no matter how you look at it.

Even if they love each other, there are many stories of people not being able to be together because of family reasons.

There are differences in status, differences in factions between families, and many other circumstances.

"Why! That otome game world was not a friendly world to a girl!"

"The boys are in hard mode, though."

Unfortunately, that was a hard mode for Marie, too.

I feel sorry for her when I see it.

"More importantly, you need to explain to my friends about the relationship between you and me. They think we're lovers. Thanks to that, I've been getting a lot of calls from them, asking me to introduce them to girls I know."

"You should be nicer to me! ——Or rather, why don't you introduce them?"

"I don't know any girls."

"What do you mean, goraa!"

"Ouch!"

[You both look like you're having a great time.]

Marie kicked me in the shin. It hurt a lot.

I mean, this girl has a power that cannot be imagined from her small body.

I wait for Marie to calm down from her freak-out, and then I resume my story.

"Well, I said —— I'm talking about not knowing anyone who might be able to introduce me to girls. Jenna —— My sister has a bad personality, and I'm sure her friend has a bad personality too."

I have my big brother [Nix] and my big sister [Jenna] at the school.

Nix is studying in the knight class, to which the knight family belongs, so he has no contact with girls in the advanced class in the first place.

Jenna's in the same advanced class as me but, —— If I asked her to introduce me to some girls, she would say something like, "We have no interest in the poor rural nobles".

Even though she herself is from that rural poor noble family.

I let out a sigh, and Marie says something unexpected.

"If you want, I can introduce you."

"Eh, you can do it!?"

When I was surprised, Marie looked at me and said angrily, "You are making fun of me too much."

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Part 3

The poor baron's group had come to a tavern we frequented.

The atmosphere in the restaurant was different from usual, as Marie had brought some girls she was going to introduce us to.

Seniors, classmates —— everyone smiles at me in a scary way.

"Leon-kun, I believed in you."

"Leon, you're the best friend ever."

"If you need anything, just come to me. I'll do everything I can for you!"

A few days ago, the people who glared at me as we passed each other made a 180-degree turn in attitude and had a funny smile on their faces.

There were six other girls in the restaurant besides Marie.

The first one is a girl playing with her long, wavy hair, and I get the feeling that she is not interested in us.

The second one is a petite girl who is nervous and looking down.

The third one was a girl with messy hair, slightly disheveled clothes, and paint on her clothes.

In addition to these three, the three people who bullied Marie whom I met last time, there are six of them.

I approach Marie and whisper to her.

"Oi, where'd you find all those girls? No, the three that bullied you in the first place are among them?"

"We just made up, or rather, started to talk to each other normally."

With the people who were bullying you? This girl is really mentally tough.

"I-I see. So, who are these new faces?"

We too had gathered information about the girls, but we didn't know much about the three who participated.

As Marie reaches for the food served, she talks about the three new faces.

"They are hikikomori girls."

"Hikikomori!?"

"The one who plays with her hair is a lazy person. The nervous one doesn't like crowded places, so she always studies alone in the school dorms. The last one has an artistic tendencies and isn't very interested in anything else."

All three were problem children.

But Raymond's glasses glint suspiciously as he listens.

"Marie-san, may I ask why no one has an exclusive servant?"

Marie, who drinks juice, pours the food in her mouth into her stomach before answering.

She spoke without any particular enthusiasm, as if she thought she was going to be asked.

"Those three don't have their exclusive servants, simply for financial reasons."

The three girls mentioned —— the girls who had been bullying Marie, had their mouths agape.

"I'm sorry. My parents are too poor to buy it."

When the boys heard that, they said, "No, don't worry about it!” Or something like that.

Marie talks about the other three.

"The other three are simply not interested. The nervous one [Ellie] is afraid of subhumans. The lazy one [Betty] simply doesn't like them. Cynthia, the artistic one, thinks they're in the way. All three of them seem to not want to leave their home once they are married. They don't care if it's in the rural or urban areas, and they're willing to marry as long as it provides them with an environment where they can stay indoors."

The lazy girl who plays with her hair —— Betty doesn't want to work, so servants are necessary.

The nervous girl —— Ellie wants books, so regular book purchases are a requirement.

The artistic girl —— Cynthia had a condition to let her to paint.

We shudder when we hear their terms.

——What's with those good conditions!?

Daniel stood up first.

"I'm going to really go at 'em."

"Wait, Daniel! I'm first!"

I look at the two of them starting a fight, and I shake my head 'yareyare'.

"What an ugly fight. Then I'll be the first to call out to them."

As I was thinking about who to call out to among the assembled faces —— Marie glared at me.

"What?"

"Not really."

Marie turned her face away and resumed eating again, and when I sneered at her —— Daniel and Raymond look at me and draw back.

"Leon, you must be kidding."

"Right. You are the worst."

I can't believe the reaction of these two people.

"Eh, why?"

In the end, a fight broke out within the group over the girls who had gathered that day.

That's how good their conditions were.

In a previous life, the three girls might have been problematic, but in this world, they are so good that I suspect that it might be a trap.

The boys in the same group started a fistfight to determine the order in which to call out to each other, though.

I tried to join the fight, too, to take my turn —— but only I was not allowed.

—— I wanted to talk to someone too, but for some reason people around me stopped me.

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Part 4

May Tea Party.

"So you're the only one who came to my tea party after all"

Marie's eyes sparkle in front of the tea and sweets I have prepared.

She probably wants to eat quickly, but I make her hold back because the tea is not ready yet.

"Isn't it fine. It's better than no one participating. But, these are from a popular store, aren't they? I've always wanted to try them~"

The May tea party is held in a rented room and girls are invited.

It is common sense at this school for boys to invite girls and entertain them.

Luxion floats around the room, looking alternately at me and Marie.

[Master, I'm glad the tea and snacks you prepared didn't go to waste.]

"Right. Everyone is so excited about going to a tea party of captured targets. A while ago, the guy who said that if I invited a lot of girls, they would gather, come on out here. They didn't show up at all."

I heard that Daniel and Raymond are also struggling.

This year there were several popular boys lined up, and I am told that the venue where they hold their tea parties is large and very grand.

Many of the girls were invited, and the other boys were on the short end of the stick.

——To be honest, I don't want to be compared to His Highness Julius and the others.

Because there's not a single factor where we can beat them.

"I really envy those five."

Marie looked at me as if she wanted to say something to me as I was depressed.

"What?"

"Aren't you ashamed to compare yourself with those five?"

"It's none of your business. I don't want to hear from you, who was trying to create a reverse harem with those five."

As I say it, I serve the tea I've prepared.

Marie is holding a cup in both hands and drinking tea.

"Ah, it's that. Now I'm glad I didn't succeed. Well, I wouldn't have succeeded no matter how hard I tried."

"Have you finally given up?"

Aiming for a reverse harem is too dishonest no matter how you look at it.

Marie put down her cup and began to eat one of the cakes.

"The captured boys are not as attractive as I thought they would be. They're only deredere with Olivia and a bit stupid."

I think you just can't forgive them because they dumped you, yes?

Luxion agrees with that assessment.

[Even though they have a fiancée, they often spend time together with Olivia, the protagonist. They must have their positions, too. I don't understand.]

"Luxion, you don't understand anything. What Marie is trying to say is that she can't forgive those five people for choosing Olivia over her. Charm is just an excuse."

They have a good face, financial resources, and power —— they seem to have it all.

Marie counters with a stern expression.

"Personality is also an important factor. What I'm trying to say is that those five people are no good."

"Is that so? They have a good reputation, though."

In the first place, it was Marie who said that personality was like a secondary consideration.

You're contradicting yourself at this point.

However, regarding those five people, the people around them may just be praising them in a casual manner, but I don't hear any bad rumors.

Marie was calmer and more composed than when she first entered the school.

"I mean, if I think about it, it's impossible to go out with them. Did you hear? Brad's tea party will be held in a private garden in the royal capital."

"Ah~, that's how it was in the game."

"Well, it's possible in a game, but not in real life, right? I wonder how much they spend for one tea party."

When it comes to financial matters, I can realize that this guy is a commoner like me.

But I'll tell Marie.

The sweets you are eating are also quite expensive.

"By the way, all those snacks and tea and stuff you're eating right now —— if you total it all up, it's going to cost you a lot of money."

Sweets in this world are quite expensive.

The sweets I have prepared are also quite pricey, as I have a craftsman go to great lengths to make them.

Hearing that, Marie's eyes widened.

"T-That much!?"

"It costs a lot of money to have a craftsman from a popular restaurant make a custom order."

When Marie learns the amount, she mutters something outrageous with a serious expression on her face.

"If I had that much, I could buy a lot of underwear and socks——"

When I heard it, I and Luxion couldn't believe our ears.

"W-What did you say?"

[Is there a problem with your underwear or socks?]

Then Marie blushes and begins to talk about the current situation.

"I stopped growing, so I've been using the same ones for a long time, and —— well —— even when my socks have holes in them, I can't buy new ones —— I have to somehow repair and mend them myself."

Marie said shyly, but I'm more likely to cry because I'm pitying her so much.

"Y-You, tell me that earlier!"

Rather than the tea party, you should solve that problem first.

Marie is in tears.

"How can I say such an embarrassing thing so easily!"

This girl must have been desperate to get out of her tough life.

Marie bangs on the desk.

"Do you know how I feel when my family told me that "you never grow up so you don't need a new one"~~~?"

It's just too cruel.

I sympathize and suggest we go to town immediately.

"Just calm down for now. Let's go to town and do some shopping after this. Anyway, let's just hurry up and get what you need."

Then Marie starts grumbling.

"I don't have any money. Coming soon, the adventure part —— not. I'll be able to get into the dungeon, and I'm planning on earning some money then. So I'll be like this for a while."

[If you don't have it, you earn it yourself. That's a wonderful spirit. I also appreciate that you don't easily commit crimes.]

Luxion gave Marie his honest assessment.

Isn't this guy sweet on Marie only?

"Eh? Is that so? This is a woman who wanted a reverse harem to get out of poverty."

[——Master should learn more from Marie.]

Do you want me to aim for a reverse harem?

If it's a man, is it a harem? There are no harem in this world.

If you do it, it's frowned upon, and the women are awful in the first place.

I would rather be single than have a woman like aneki around.

However, being single has so many disadvantages in this world that it is frustrating to not have a choice.

Marie is mumbling with a dark expression on her face.

"I have to do my best to at least buy what I need. ——As soon as I can get into the dungeon, I'll earn money in the dungeon every day. I need money to be independent."

——This girl is seriously going to challenge the dungeon on a daily basis.

"I'll at least buy you what you need, just don't do anything stupid like going into the dungeon every day."

When I tell her I'll buy it, Marie holds both of my hands and smiles.

She attached her elbows to her body, a sly pose.

"Really!?"

"It's too pitiful for a girl of your age to have socks with holes in them or something. I'll give you that much money."

Luxion teases me.

[Oya, are you hiding your embarrassment? Can't you honestly say you feel sorry for Marie?]

"——Shut up"

Marie was enjoying her tea and sweets with a smile on her face, thanks to the disappearance of one of her concerns.

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Part 5

When we went out into the city, I ended up accompanying Marie shopping.

Marie entered a store that sold women's clothing, so Luxion and I decided to wait outside.

Meanwhile, I was talking to Luxion, who had made himself invisible.

"Marie's circumstances never cease to amaze me."

[It was more than I imagined. ——About Viscount Lafan, I decide that it is not safe to leave the situation as it is. For Marie's sake, we should take some steps.]

"Aren't you soft to her?"

[Indeed, I am sweet to her. But then again, Marie is also a precious person who has old-human blood.]

"That's so."

Once I broke off the conversation, I was curious about one of the stores on the main street.

"That's the place where Marie stopped before, right?"

[Yes. A store that sells dresses and accessories. It looks like they will make a custom-made dress for you.]

It was a store that Marie had taken a liking to for quite some time.

Looking at the show windows and the interior of the store, the products they carry are of good quality but are reasonably priced.

Marie won't be able to get her hands on this.

"——A woman who can't even buy a pair of socks can only dream of a dress."

[Right.]

I thought about it for a minute and decided to take a look at that store before Marie came back.

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Part 6

Dramatic things continued in April, but since then things have been quiet.

As a mob, there are no big events happening to me in a row, and I am living an ordinary life.

Leading a normal school life, challenging dungeons normally to earn money for tea ceremonies——As these days went by, before I knew it, the first semester was coming to an end.

When I realized that every time I held a tea party, the only one who showed up was Marie.

Occasionally, Jenna, the second daughter, even comes in to chill out.

——Like today.

"Stupid brother, are you really going to marry Marie?"

"Haa?"

As I'm preparing another cup of tea, Jenna talks to me, seemingly uninterested.

"You invite her to every tea party. She doesn't seem to be here today."

"I guess since Jenna's coming over today, so she held back."

As I say so, Jenna lets out a small sigh.

Then she starts talking about Marie's problems.

"Even if she herself doesn't have a problem, her family is troublesome. They're in debt ridiculous amounts of money, I'm told."

I couldn't understand Jenna's true intentions as she ate sweets.

It's as if she is trying to give a warning.

"No, is Jenna worried about me in her own way? Or is she worried about getting herself involved in Marie's problems? I'm sure it's the latter.

"I'm not in that relationship with her. We're friends, friend."

We are both former Japanese, reincarnated people.

We are on the same wavelength in this world.

The sense of the Japanese people in the previous life is subtly not applicable in this world.

I answered honestly, but Jenna seemed suspicious of me.

"Well, you're the one who's going to have a hard time, so I don't really care. —— I did stop you."

Jenna, with her "I warned you" attitude, was not happy that Marie and I were so close.

"——Instead of me, did you reach an agreement on the marriage, aneki"

"Unlike you, I have a lot of choices. I have several people courting me right now."

"That's an enviable story."

Jenna's personality has become worse due to her pretending to be an urban person, but the boys still call out to her.

As for her appearance —— maybe there's some familial favoritism, but I don't think it's bad.

My parents' family, the Bartfalt family, is debt free and currently growing significantly thanks to my investment.

Since it is a rural Baron's family, there are no underhanded factions or other relationships.

For the boys at the school, Jenna seems to be an excellent choice.

What a terrible world it must be, that even such a terrible woman can be a good choice.

Jenna blames me.

"If you hadn't been so close to her, there would have been girls who would have made advances on you. Even though you took the credit for capturing the sky pirates, they misunderstood you because you've been hanging out with Marie the whole time."

"——That was a mistake."

If I hadn't been with Marie, I wouldn't have had a chance!? I tried to look surprised, but to Jenna, it seemed like playing dumb.

"You don't seem very disappointed."

"I'm seriously disappointed, though."

"You're saying things that you don't mean. You've always been elusive, but haven't you become even worse since you came to the school?"

Knowing that otome game, my behavior must seem inexplicable to Jenna.

I'm trying to avoid these kinds of topics, so I'm going to push the conversation back a bit.

"More than that, is Marie's parents' house really that bad?"

Jenna probably realizes that she has been sidetracked, but she doesn't seem to want to question me and answers my questions.

"I've only heard rumors, but I've heard it is the worst."

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Part 7

At the academy where the nobles attend, a party is held for the school year before the long vacation.

The purpose, it seems, is to teach students party etiquette.

Also, it seems that there is also a public appearance to be widely involved with people of the same age.

Such a party, however, is an opportunity for the girls to dress up.

It is also a day when each person prepares a dress and dresses up and tries to stand out at the party.

For girls who don't have the money, rentals are also offered —— but in Marie's case, she doesn't even have the money to rent.

"Uwaaaah! I knew I should have gone into the dungeon to make some moneeey!!"

With only a few hours left before the evening party, Marie regretted not entering the dungeon.

After all, she wanted to attend the party in a dress, not in uniform.

I find Marie in tears of frustration behind the school building and approach her with a paper bag.

"I thought that was the case, so I prepared a dress for you."

Then Marie raised her head.

But she was not pleased.

When she hears that I prepared the dress, she questions my sense of style.

"Did you pick it out? I mean, you don't know my size, do you?"

The answer to that problem was answered by Luxion.

[I know the exact numbers about Marie's body shape, so I don't have a problem.]

"What do you think my privacy is?"

I take Marie inside the school building, a little too forcefully.

"I had Luxion prepare a note with the numbers on it and gave it to the store. Rest assured I didn't see it."

I thought this would not be a problem, but then Marie becomes grumpy.

"Does that mean you're not interested in me? Are you mocking me?"

"——Tell me how to say it right. I mean, we're running out of time, so get dressed quickly."

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Part 8

The school has a dressing room for the girls —— a room with people who help them change their clothes, set their hair, and do their makeup.

For the girls, it is blissful, but of course, such people do not exist for the boys.

If you make an appointment in advance, they will help you change your clothes, so I asked them to do so.

As I wait, Marie who has finished getting dressed comes over.

"W-What do you think?"

"——It looks good on you."

When I praise her without joking, Marie looks down and her cheeks are flushed.

The dress she changed into was the one Marie had been admiring at the store.

I had it adjusted to Marie's size and prepared some accessories.

It was the dress that Marie longed for.

It was not a good time to make fun of her, so I just said my thoughts and closed my mouth.

I can at least read the atmosphere here.

Then Marie is teary-eyed, even though she has put on makeup.

"T-This is the first time I've ever worn a dress like this."

I hear that she worked in a nightclub, but I guess the dress she wore there was different.

"Good for you. Well then, let's get going."

I hold out my hand and Marie grabs my hand.

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Part 9

The party, held in a large venue, was extravagant for a party attended only by students.

It is a standing buffet party, and the food lined up is prepared by top chefs.

The venue was filled with live music, and I don't remember attending a party of this magnitude in a previous life.

I never had a connection to the party in the first place.

"Another world is amazing."

"Riought!"

I look at Marie, who has stuffed her mouth full of food.

Wearing the dress I just bought, she is eating the food deliciously.

What a thing to do in a pretty, well-made dress? But since she seemed to be enjoying it, I decided not to say anything.

More than that, I'd complain about the situation.

"By the way, why am I alone with you? Actually, I was supposed to be hitting on girls with Daniel and Raymond by now."

"——Leaving me alone here to hit on girls, don't you feel a little pain in your heart?"

Neither Daniel nor Raymond are here with the girls that Marie introduced us to.

Actually, I was going to go around with those two guys and talk to girls.

However, they were heartless enough to betray their promise to me because they already had the girls they were after.

Only they are trying to quickly find a partner and escape from the cruel marriage hunting.

——I can't stand that.

As I was thinking about interrupting them, Marie was holding a plate in her hand and placing a pile of food on it, her gaze fixed on a certain spot.

"——It's a great sight, isn't it?"

Marie's murmur was tinged with envy.

I followed her gaze, and saw that it was His Highness Julius and —— Olivia-san.

Olivia, in her school uniform, is surrounded by boys other than His Highness Julius.

Surrounded by five famous people, Olivia was the center of attention.

I ask Marie.

"You got any regrets?"

When I thought she hadn't given up yet, Marie shook her head.

"Idiot. I just thought we live in different worlds. In the first place, my values don't match those five."

Even the luxuries that would surprise Marie are at the level of ordinary or modest to those five.

Although she envies Olivia-san, Marie seems to have given up.

"I'm glad you understand. So now there are no more obstacles in Olivia-san's way."

The world will be saved if Olivia, the protagonist, is tied to one of the five people.

If only there were no irregularities, we could have that happy ending of that otome game.

So the big uncertainty factor disappears.

The two of us were standing by the wall of the party hall, watching the nobles' party.

In front of a sparklingly different world, it makes you think.

Before another world, we and His Highness Julius and his friends live in different worlds.

Even though we exist in the same world as them, there seemed to be a big gap between us.

"——Ah."

When Marie raised her voice, Angelica-san was calling out to His Highness Julius.

She glares at Olivia-san, trying to separate the two of them.

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Part 10

"Your Highness, shouldn't you be more selective about who you keep by your side?"

"I told you not to bring outside relationships into the academy."

At the party venue, Angelica, who was approaching Julius, was dressed in a dress that had been prepared for this day.

The dress she prepared was specially made for her a little while ago to attract Julius' attention.

Would he praise me? Even though she came to the party with such a feeling, Julius neglected her.

Not only that, Olivia, in her uniform, was surrounded by other nobles who were admiring her.

She does not say that she is not jealous.

However, her behavior stood out in a bad way to those around her.

Julius naturally defends Olivia.

He put his body between Angelica and Olivia, blocking her line of sight.

That was unforgivable to Angelica.

Behind Julius' back, Olivia's gaze wanders.

(Why it's you —— that's where I'm supposed to be!)

What is unforgivable is that Olivia seems to be in trouble for taking the place she should be in. The attitude of not understanding what it means to stand by Julius' side is even more annoying.

"——Special student, I warned you before, didn't I? Is that your answer?"

When she asks Olivia the question, Julius interjects before she can answer.

"What did you do to Olivia? Angelica, I told you I don't like to bring up outside positions?"

Once Julius said that, Angelica could not say anything more.

Since Julius wants to spend time as a student at the school normally, if she pushes her position any further, it will cause him displeasure.

Angelica also wants to fulfill Julius' wish.

But she wanted him to understand his position just a little better.

Looking around, the sight of the nobles surrounding Olivia attracts attention in a bad way.

"His Highness and the others are crazy about that commoner."

"I envy her."

"——Even though just a commoner"

The prince and nobles of their own country were enamored not of their fiancées or the girls of the school, but of a commoner. This has severely hurt the pride of the girls of the academy.

Angelica was one of those hurt.

"——Then at least have a conversation with the others."

She hopes that he will at least interact with the other students, but Julius seems to find it bothersome.

"When I feel like it."

Julius, who sees student parties as a playground, avoided the usual formal party-like behavior.

Angelica squeezes her hand.

(Why can't you understand that this is not a playground, but an important place for your future?)

.

Part 11

The scene of the carnage was still going on between His Highness Julius and Angelica-san.

Marie was strangely excited by the developing lover's quarrel while listening to the live music.

It seems like she is enjoying this situation.

"Hey, hey, when you think about it, isn't it wrong to flirt with another woman in front of your fiancée? I mean, if you think about it properly, it's no good, flirting with a guy who has a fiancée, right?"

That's not words you can say.

Not long ago, you were the one doing that no good.

"Why don't you look in the mirror? But I guess I agree with your opinion. I wish they wouldn't fight here, because it's getting a little awkward."

It can't be helped because it's that otome game scenario.

When I say it like that —— it's a terrible story, indeed.

Angelica-san is a villainous young lady, but she has a good reason for antagonizing Olivia-san, the protagonist.

When I actually see the event right in front of me, it raises a question.

"Is a man who leaves his fiancée to choose her really that attractive?"

What does Olivia-san think of this situation?

I don't know about women's feelings —— but if they're enjoying this situation, it sounds like they've got some character issues.

——I don't want to think that the protagonist of that otome game has that kind of personality, though.

Marie talks about this situation from a woman's perspective.

"But dumping your fiancée when you find a girl you like —— in other words, it's like saying publicly that if a more attractive girl appears, you'll dump her too. If I were her, I'd be disgusted."

"Isn't that what every woman dreams of?"

"There is a difference between dreaming and reality. You're just misunderstanding because you're temporarily excited. When you cool down, you will regret it later~."

Indeed, how would that work in real life? I think so.

They may be excited about their forbidden love! but the people around them can't help but feel downhearted.

Even now, the boys are nervous before the scene of the carnage, and the girls are looking at them with anticipation of what is to follow.

However, when Marie says the right argument, it sounds like a joke.

"That's a line I'd like to hear from someone who was thinking of a reverse harem."

When I laugh, Marie smacks me lightly.

"What! If you have a problem, say it!"

"Not really. I agree with you."

The two of us were talking excitedly —— strangely, the hall was quiet.

I looked around and all eyes were on us.

"Eh? Areh?"

Luxion, who is hiding near me, explains the situation in a quiet voice.

[Earlier, everyone in the audience was listening to the argument between Julius and Angelica. There was a break in the performance and a change of timing, and when things quieted down, you two had a lively conversation.]

—— In other words, people around us heard our conversation.

Me and Marie broke out in a cold sweat.

After all, all eyes in the venue were on us.

Marie tugs on my arm.

"W-What are we going to do?"

When Marie asked me about it, I thought for a moment —— and then I just took Marie's hand and ran away from the venue.

"Follow me as I run away! ——Ladies and gentlemen, my deepest apologies!"

"logies!"

When the two of us fled the venue together, the live music resumed afterwards.

——It's late! They need to read the air more!

After running away from the venue, we were all out of breath and complaining to each other.

"You, what are we going to do? We stood out!"

"Don't blame me! More importantly, I didn't get to eat all of the food."

Better to eat than to be charming —— this girl is a really ponkotsu reincarnator.

When we went outside, the area was dark.

Luxion shines his single eye and illuminates the surroundings.

Marie looked back at the venue and looked as if she had regretted leaving.

"I wish I could have enjoyed it more."

The sight of her hanging her head in disappointment makes me feel a little guilty, too.

This girl was looking forward to the party.

"If you're in the academy, you'll have plenty of opportunities to party."

"Do you think there will be more opportunities for me to party in the future? You seem to have forgotten how bad my parents' house is."

Marie's family, the Viscount Lafan, is a family with huge debts.

It would be nice if such a marriage proposal came to Marie, but in the worst case scenario, she may even be kept at her parents' house for a long time.

If so, there would be few opportunities to attend parties.

If Marie's story is true, she faces a future in which she will be forced to work like a slave in her parents' home.

——I decided to change the subject.

"Well, we'll talk about that another time——"

After the party before the closing ceremony, summer vacation awaits.

"Anyway, what are your plans for the summer vacation? Are you going back to your parents' house?"

When I asked, the answer I got back was terrible.

"There's no place for me at my parents' house. They will probably treat me like a nuisance when I return home. Then I'll stay at the school and challenge the dungeon. During the summer vacation, I will earn money to enjoy the school life!"

Seeing Marie showing her motivation, I was at a loss for words.

Is this how students spend their summer vacation?

There was silence for a while, and I couldn't stand it anymore, so I decided to invite Marie.

"It's not a city, but do you want to come to my parents' house?"

"Your parents' house?"

"I'm planning to go back to my territory for a long vacation. There —— There are hot springs."

"Hot springs!"

I was a little relieved to see Marie suddenly happy.

"That's not all! What a surprise —— there's rice, too."

"Riceeee!"

Marie, astonished, ran around on the spot.

For us reincarnated people, it's a delight to eat the staple food of our original world.

Marie was also very pleased.

"How about Miso? Soy sauce!?"

"No, that's still not possible. Fermented foods take time."

When Marie heard it, she was disappointed and said, "Eh~," and Luxion started grumbling beside me.

[If Master had not insisted on natural products, I would have prepared them right away. It's Master's fault for not being convinced when I explained that it takes time and effort to prepare fermented foods in the normal procedure.]

The food prepared in that way seems to be just something else with the same nutrients and taste.

"I want to eat natural products."

"I prefer natural products."

We look at each other when our opinions overlap.

A little embarrassed, we looked away from each other.

Luxion said, "I see. Then please wait another year".

This guy is awesome.

It seems that in another year, miso and soy sauce will be ready.

——Can't it be done faster?

Marie was excited to be looking forward to a long vacation —— suddenly got stiff.

"Oi, are you okay?"

"Ouch——I haven't worn high-heeled shoes in a long time, so I think I might have hurt my feet."

Apparently, it also causes shoe sores.

Seeing Marie treating her ankle with her own magic reminded me of the old days.

My little sister in a previous life once cried and wouldn't move, saying her legs hurt.

I left her alone and went home, but after a while I returned because I was worried.

——That girl was tired and sleeping.

Remembering it, I bend over with my back to Marie, who has finished her treatment.

"Come on, I'll give you a ride."

"You're so thoughtful. Please take me to the girls' dormitory."

Marie jumps on my back and says, "Hora, quickly!" She rushes me.

You could at least thank me first!

——How much do you resemble my little sister?

.

Part 12

Marie remembered the old days as she was carried by Leon.

Luxions illuminate the dark paths of the school.

(Reminds me of the old days. Come to think of it——aniki used to give me piggyback rides like this.)

It reminds her of that annoying brother.

She has regretted it ever since he died because of her.

Remembering the events of her previous life, she hugged tightly to Leon's back.

"Oi, it hurts."

It was annoying to see how much Leon, who complained, resembled his big brother in every way —— and that made her happy.

"...... You really are a guy who doesn't understand moods."

"Sorry about that."

Marie has mixed feelings about Leon, who even reminds her of her big brother in his reply.

Tears come to her eyes and she buries her face in Leon's back in embarrassment.

(In the end, I couldn't do without my big brother, could I.)

After her big brother's death, her life went crazy.

He had a bad mouth and his personality —— is bad, but he was a kind brother at heart.

That big brother and Leon seem to overlap.

But Marie thinks.

(I wonder if the big brother is also reincarnated? —— I hope he's happier this time.)

Remembering her big brother who died young, she looked up at the sky and saw the beautiful moon.

For a moment, she wonders if Leon might be her older brother from a previous life. She thinks about it, but then she realizes that it is impossible for two people to be reincarnated in the same world at the same time.

"Hey, what's your parents' place like?"

"It's a peaceful countryside. There's nothing there, but I like it."

"You don't seem to like the city"

"I don't like crowded places. In addition, I don't like the city because I don't want a busy working life."

"Uwah, that's words of no-good people."

(Aniki used to say something like that too.)

At Leon's back, Marie remembers all that has happened.

She was reincarnated into that otome game world and has spent her days striving to find happiness desperately.

She was determined to date and marry the male capture targets and be happy.

That wish didn't come true, but now she thinks it's not so bad.

(I've been trying to seduce the capture targets —— but I'm not feeling up to it. I don't think I'm good enough for the princes.)

Marie couldn't seem to get serious about seducing male capture targets.

Now she realizes the reason for that.

(I must have had terrible taste in men. I never thought I'd like someone like my brother, it's a shocking fact for the second time in my life.)

Marie thought about this while conversing with Leon.

.

Part 13

At the party venue where Leon and Marie slipped out, Stephanie was wearing a gorgeous purple dress and spending time with her followers.

Now the quarrel between Julius and Angelica is over.

"That was quite an entertaining sideshow."

Kara, who is wearing a modest dress, is wary of her surroundings as Stephanie calls their quarrel a sideshow.

"Young lady, it will be a problem if people around you hear it."

"It's okay. With today's events, Anjelica has lost her position. I pity the next queen when things like this happen."

Chuckling, Stephanie's gaze turned to the daughters of the great nobles who had followed Angelica.

She has a distrustful look in her eyes toward the unfortunate Angelica.

It seems to be a world Kara doesn't understand, and she can't believe her reaction.

"The other party is a young lady of a Duke. I don't think this is enough to shake her position?"

"Right. That's why she's still only complaining about it —— but if a mistake is made and the engagement is broken off, she's going to be thrown out of her parents' house. I'd like to see that Angelica fall to the ground."

Stephanie giggles as she imagines Angelica, who is a genuine young lady —— you could definitely call her a princess, losing her position.

Today, Angelica's family, the Duke Redgrave, is the head of the largest faction that unites many nobles in the Kingdom of Horfalt.

The reason for their unity is the engagement between Angelica and Julius.

Because of the authority of Julius, Duke Redgrave had risen to the top within the kingdom.

But if it were gone? ——The other factions that have been watching with their fingers in their mouths will regain their momentum and the factional battles will intensify.

In doing so, the Duke Redgrave would lose their position in the royal court.

They will not be able to behave as before.

Regardless of their status as Duke, they will not be able to behave as they have in the past if they lose their foothold in the country.

Stephanie stares at Olivia, who is surrounded by Julius and his friends.

"I don't like the commoner girl, but let's see what happens. But more importantly, the one with Marie is Baltfalt, right?"

Kara nodded in fright.

"Yes. A-Ano, aren't they aware of our secret?"

Do two of them know they are connected to the sky pirates?

Stephanie laughs at such concerns.

"I have connections within the royal court. I can suppress their testimony as much as I want. More importantly, I can't forgive them for going against me."

Stephanie licks her index finger.

"——We'll see what happens with Angelica, so maybe I'll play with Marie and Bartfalt next."