Chapter 8. From Winter to Spring (8)

Well, it’s not like she’s used to being defenseless. Usually someone swoops in to save her every time she’s in trouble.

“Enough with the ‘heroine’ nonsense. Your play ended a long time ago.”

“……!”

I decided to lay it all out—

to drag her mind out of whatever fantasy it was still stuck in.

For some reason, she was convinced she was the heroine.

Which, okay—technically, she was the original protagonist of the novel.

But still, her obsession with being the star of a grand performance,

with playing the heroine and making others the villains—it had clearly gone too far.

She’d been hiding her true self behind that mask of purity all this time.

All because she wanted to be the perfect heroine.

Honestly… it’s impressive, in a messed-up sort of way.

“It’s time to wake up from your dream, Seria. You’re nothing more than a criminal now.”

“N-No, you’re wrong!”

I only stated the plain truth to help her come to her senses, but Seria clutched her ears and shook her head violently.

Was she trying to escape reality?

I barely managed to stop her from thrashing around, biting her lip like she’d gone mad.

She was surprisingly strong… I almost got punched.

“Huff… No way. I—I’m the heroine!”

“Seria…”

I was at a loss for words.

No matter what I said, she wouldn’t listen.

Ugh, so frustrating! I had no idea how to handle this anymore.

If I had known it’d come to this, I should’ve brought Tosoon with me…

A little rough, sure, but that bunny had a way of shutting down even the wildest people—or monsters—with just one bite.

Sigh, shame on my past self for leaving Tosoon at home.

“…Well, I’m leaving now.”

After watching Seria rant and rave a bit longer, I finally snapped back to my senses.

What was I even doing here?

I decided it was time to head back to the party.

Seria was too lost in her chaos to notice—perfect time to make my escape.

As she sat there on the ground mumbling to herself, I quietly began to back away…

Then—

“Ahh!”

“Now, where do you think you’re going?”

Suddenly, thorny rose vines moved on their own, tangling around my feet.

I fell straight on my butt.

And there she was—

Seria, who had already picked up her knife again, walking toward me with a terrifyingly calm expression.

Oh god. The crazy woman is coming.

“You’re not done hearing my story yet, you know?”

Tilting her head slightly to the right, Seria glared at me like she was ready to kill.

What scared me the most was that… she was starting to smile.

Yikes, this is turning into a horror flick! Please, can’t she just let me go now?

“You… what are you—”

“Did you think I was crazy? Ah, well, maybe I am. Half-crazy, I think.”

More like fully crazy, but I kept that thought to myself.

Her eyes were completely unhinged, but I didn’t want to poke the hornet’s nest any more than I already had.

“But even if I’m crazy, I decided I’ll kill you first.

I only failed last time because I let my guard down.

This time, I’ll make sure it’s done right.”

As she said that, she moved her hand, and the rose vines coiled around my wrists and ankles.

Sharp thorns dug into my skin, keeping me pinned in place.

“Oww, seriously?”

“Hehe, now you won’t be able to run.”

“Haa… You really don’t run out of tricks, do you.”

Watching Seria abuse her magic like this, I let out a long sigh.

That beauty and talent—what a waste.

I closed my eyes with a tired heart. Ugh, I’m exhausted.

“Oh my, have you finally given up? Haha! Don’t worry.

I’ll make sure to kill you painlessly!”

Seria’s shrill, triumphant laughter echoed through the garden, sharp enough to hurt my ears.

I frowned and slowly opened my eyes.

Then, with all the composure I could muster, I casually spoke back to her.

“I’m sorry, Seria…”

“…?”

“You can’t kill me.”

Clink. Shackles suddenly clamped down on both of Seria’s ankles.

Then, a pair of handcuffs snapped around her wrists, and glowing yellow ropes materialized out of nowhere, binding her entire body.

“Ugh! What is this?!”

“Got you at last.”

Seria flailed in confusion, completely caught off guard by the sudden restraint.

And the one who had mercilessly apprehended her—was a man I knew all too well.

“Kyle!”

There he was—my dark-haired knight, beautiful as ever.

Kyle had appeared with several knights in tow, dressed smartly in what looked like his new uniform.

Ugh, I wanted to run straight into his arms, but I was still tied up in Seria’s thorny vines and couldn’t move.

Hey! Seria! Let me out of this thing already!

“Just toss her into the carriage.”

“Yes, sir!”

Kyle casually handed Seria off to a nearby knight and strode toward me.

Bathed in moonlight, his face was dazzlingly handsome.

“You’re looking pretty good right now.”

“…?”

“K-Kyle… Is that… your thing?”

I flinched a little, startled by how seriously Kyle spoke while I was still tied up.

Kyle quickly drew his sword and said it was a joke, slashing away the vines in one swift motion.

Ah, finally! I’m free!

“Your timing was absolutely perfect!”

I stretched out my limbs and spoke to Kyle.

Just moments ago, Seria had been trying to kill me with a blade while I was completely bound.

Dozens of knights had been quietly positioned behind her, unnoticed because Seria was solely focused on me.

I knew then—I was going to be okay. The timing really was incredible.

If they’d been even a bit late… I’d have been torn to pieces. Ugh, just imagining it gives me chills.

“Are you hurt?”

“Nope! Perfectly fine!”

My wrists and ankles were slightly grazed by the rose vines, but it wasn’t anything serious.

I moved around a bit to show Kyle I was okay, and only then did he finally look relieved.

“Um, we’re really sorry. We let our guard down…”

While I was chatting with Kyle after so long, several knights cautiously approached me.

They must’ve been the ones who were supposed to be guarding Seria.

“You’ll all be disciplined. Prepare yourselves.”

Kyle’s eyes turned sharp.

Like he was ready to kill someone on the spot.

The knights shrank back in fear, breaking into cold sweat and unable to say a word.

With just a flick of his head, Kyle dismissed them, and they all scattered.

I don’t know what happened to them afterward,

but I doubt they got off easy.

“Uh…”

“As I was watching the knights leave, I turned my head and saw Kyle, his shoulders slumped.

Gasp—when was the last time I saw Kyle looking sulky like that?

It had been so long, and somehow, that made him look even cuter.

I wrapped my arms tightly around his waist and looked up to meet his eyes.

“Did you miss me?”

“Yeah.”

“How much?”

Kyle lowered his head slightly.

His face came even closer, and my heart started racing like crazy.

Oh no, I think it might explode.

I tried my best to calm myself, but then Kyle gave a lazy smile and gently lifted my chin.

“Do I really need to say it?”

“Eep.”

I quickly pulled away from him. Whew…

If he had kissed me just now, I honestly think I would’ve died of a heart attack.

Seriously, all I ask is that he gives me a little warning before initiating physical contact.

If not, my poor heart won’t survive…

“…The moonlight’s so pretty tonight. Want to dance?”

The mood was perfect, and I was finally with the person I missed so much—I wanted to dance.

The moonlight was beautiful, the breeze was cool.

Sure, my dress and hair were a mess, but who cares?

I took Kyle’s gloved hand and moved to the center of the garden.

“Oh right, like I said before—try not to step on my feet.”

“Don’t worry.”

And just like he said, it turned out to be an unnecessary worry.

Even with my clumsy steps, Kyle led me flawlessly,

and under the moonlight, we danced the most perfect ballroom waltz.

Heh… I kind of want to show this to Huan, who only ever stepped on my feet.”

“Ahem, sorry to ruin the mood, but I’m going to borrow Kailon for a moment.”

The Crown Prince suddenly popped out of nowhere, and I was genuinely startled.

Eek—what the heck! And Dia was with him too, which surprised me even more.

What’s she doing here?

“Radel, I was worried!”

“Ah, Dia.”

Dia gave Kyle a solid shove—thud!—and threw herself into my arms.

Kyle looked visibly displeased at her, then the Crown Prince grabbed him by the arm.

“Now, Kailon. Don’t you still have work to take care of?”

“Damn it.”

Kailon grumbled under his breath and let himself be dragged away by the Crown Prince.

I was trying to make sense of the situation when Dia, still smiling playfully, turned to me and spoke.

“Oh my, the Crown Prince just snatched Kailon away.

What’ll you do, Radel? Your love rival is the Crown Prince himself…”

“Huh?”

The Crown Prince… a love rival?

I imagined myself and the Crown Prince fighting over Kyle, with Kyle stuck in the middle.

Hmm… somehow it didn’t feel all that strange.

I let myself indulge in that dramatic mental image for a second before shaking my head.

Ugh, like I’d even stand a chance…

“Kyle’s gone again.”

“He’ll probably be back in a week.”

“I leaned my head on Dia’s shoulder as I watched Kyle walk away into the distance. Damn that Crown Prince bastard, stealing Kyle away again! I swore to myself that one day, I’d punch that smug royal face at least once.

***

“My lady, the weather’s so nice today. Why not go outside for a bit?”

Vivian’s nagging was cheerful as always. I had been fully enjoying winter break cooped up in my room, but at her words, I closed the book I’d been reading.

Hmm… I guess I have been lazing around too much. Even Tosoon went out for a walk with a maid—how could the owner be lazier than their pet? As I stretched with a big yawn, Vivian offered a suggestion.

“How about attending another party?”

Hmm, a party… come to think of it, the last one was a week ago.

During the winter party a week ago, the whole academy fell into chaos when Seria suddenly went on a rampage.

Countless imperial knights stormed into the ballroom, and the garden was full of men in gold-trimmed uniforms of the Imperial Guard, turning the place into a mess.

In the end, the party was canceled, and the students, disappointed, all had to return home.

‘Now that I think about it, Seria’s last appearance really was shocking.’

I still couldn’t forget the sight of her being taken away from the academy, completely bound.

To think the heroine’s downfall would be so wretched… well, I guess it was karma.

Seria had since gone through trial and was now imprisoned.

From what I’d heard, she wasn’t eating or drinking anything and simply lay weakly on the floor.

As for the marquis, his properties had been confiscated, and he’d been exiled from the Empire.

He was probably wandering the streets penniless by now.

Hmm, even after hearing about their final fates, I didn’t feel the slightest bit of sympathy. It just felt like they’d received the punishment they deserved, and I couldn’t help but feel satisfied.

For a while, Seria’s story was all anyone talked about in social circles and at the academy.

Women who had once suffered at her hands mocked her mercilessly, saying it served her right, while her followers looked devastated, their faces gaunt from shock.

It was strange to see how one person could make others laugh and cry like that.

‘I wonder when Kyle will come back…’

To me, Seria was no longer a major figure.

What mattered now was when Kyle would return to the Sirius Empire.

It had already been a week, and I hadn’t heard a word…

Could something have happened?

“My lady, I believe you’ve received a message…”

“Eh? From who?”

My communication orb—which I’d gotten back from the Crown Prince not long ago—was glowing brightly.

Hmm, who could it be? There weren’t many people who would contact me through it…

Of course, Dia and Huan also had communication orbs, but Dia had gone off to the western continent to hone her swordsmanship, and Huan had gone off vacationing on a warm southern island, so they wouldn’t be contacting me now.

Could this be some kind of orb spam?

I cautiously answered the call.