The Villainess in the Romance Fantasy Is Strange - Chapter 57



57. The Flow of Change (2)

It was evening, on the carriage road back to the Elebeth family’s mansion.

─Let’s go, Your Majesty!

“yes.”

Rattling-.

Leaning back against the back of the swaying carriage and closing my eyes, memories of a conversation I had with my brother a while ago came flooding back to me.

‘I wish you two would get married soon.’

‘How soon?’

‘If you think about the successor, what about after the debutante of Leah von Elebes is over?’

‘Brother, no matter what, that’s a bit… Isn’t it too early? We’re still students.’

‘Really? Then, after finishing the first year, it’ll be okay?’

‘No, that’s a bit too… … .’

‘If you allow it, I’ve made a lot of concessions. Right after the two of you finish your coming-of-age ceremony, no more than that.’

‘… … Yes, well. To that extent.’

“… … Oh my.”

I’m crazy. Why would I make promises I can’t keep?

If I could, I would go back in time and tell my brother that I made that promise, but the action has already happened and the glass of water has been spilled.

Since I declared in front of my brother that I would get married as soon as the coming-of-age ceremony was over, I had no choice but to… … propose to Leah.

“… … .”

How did things end up like this?

I let out a sigh and thought about it carefully, but I still don’t know what’s going on.

When I first entered the Reinhardt family home, I started talking to my brother with the sole intention of protecting Leah, even if it meant running away from home.

As we continued to talk, I felt like I was slowly getting caught up in my brother’s unique way of talking, and before I knew it, the conversation had ended with me getting married to Leah in three years.

“ah.”

No, it hasn’t been three years.

In this world, unlike in Korea, there is no calculation of age, so I have exactly two and a half years left until I turn twenty. I will have my coming-of-age ceremony in January when I turn twenty.

As my brother said, if we plan to set a wedding date right after the coming-of-age ceremony, there are less than three years left.

If we estimate generously, it would probably be around 2 years and 7 or 8 months.

“… … .”

and.

After calculating the exact figures, it became a reality again.

In three years, no, in two years and a few months, I have to marry Leah… … ?

This is not a joke, it was something I could never have imagined, so my eyes widened for a moment.

I sighed and slapped my cheek hard in the shaking carriage.

match-!

“……ah.”

It hurts so bad.

The tingling and burning sensation on my cheeks clearly showed that the conversation I had with my brother was not just my imagination.

“This is driving me crazy… … .”

Before I knew it, the strength in my lower body left me and my butt sank.

I sat roughly on the carriage seat, staring blankly at the stained ceiling.

As I stare at the stain that strangely resembles my brother’s eye, the rest of the conversation suddenly comes to mind.

‘I will contact Count Macmillan, and you go to Leah von Elebes this way.’

‘Are you telling me to return to my duties?’

‘No, the mission is suspended for the time being until the roots of the subversive forces you mentioned are uprooted.’

‘Oh, then what should I do…?’

‘Cain, from today onwards, you must do your utmost to protect Leah von Elebeth. Even before they have seen their heirs, you cannot afford for anything to happen to your bride.’

‘… … bride?’

‘Why, is that wrong?’

‘Oh, no. That’s not it… … .’

-Rumble.

The carriage shook.

The thoughts suddenly break off, then continue again.

‘Oh, and by the way. It’s your job to tell Leah von Elebeth the news of our marriage. Tell her yourself.’

‘… … Me?’

‘She is your bride-to-be, but I, as your older brother, can’t go and tell her what to do?’

‘ah…….’

‘Even though it’s a political marriage, courtesy between the two is extremely important. If you don’t know each other’s faces, it’s understandable, but if you know each other, it’s even more so. So, until you personally tell the other person and get their consent, I’ll tell you that we’ll keep quiet about the marriage.’

‘… … .’

‘So, Cain, you go and find Leah von Elebeth.’

Rattling-!

The carriage shook violently.

‘Propose formally.’

“… … .”

And then, my heart suddenly shook.

* * *

Three days later, on the day the midterm exam results were announced.

In accordance with the Bern Academy’s educational policy of encouraging and encouraging competition among students, the combined rankings of all students are posted on the bulletin board in the hallways and made public to the world.

To clear my mind and clear my head, I sneaked out and looked at the midterm rankings posted on the bulletin board.

—-

[Midterm exam combined ranking – 1st grade]

1. Leah von Elebes

2. Cain Reinhardt

3. Bern von Ed

4. Stella

…

…

—-

The result was as I expected, with Leah in first place and me in second place. It was a bit surprising that the third and fourth places were swapped. It’s not that it wasn’t, but if things were as they were, Stella should have beaten Bern.

Stella has the upper hand in written test, and Bern has the upper hand in practical test, so the two of them are fiercely competing for the top spot in the first year. In the process, Bern gradually develops a relationship with Stella, and during the final exams in the second semester of the first year.

The original flow was that he confessed to Stella, saying, “If I get first place, will you date me officially?”, but was rejected because he didn’t get first place.

The flow was not only reversed, it was completely destroyed.

“… … Bern won.”

Bern, who was originally not supposed to have beaten Stella even once before graduating from the academy, received better grades than Stella.

How did it come to this?

After thinking about it for a while, several plausible hypotheses came to mind.

First of all, the private tutoring incident between Edwin and Stella that should have happened right away would have disappeared. The one-on-one sparring episode in preparation for the practical exam would have also disappeared.

And, there probably wasn’t any private conversation between the two of you, where you could share little tips or tricks that could be used during the exam.

Considering that all the events that helped her achieve great things in both the practical and written sections had evaporated, it was no wonder that Stella lost to Bern.

Bern had been receiving private lessons from excellent teachers since he was young, so it would have been difficult for Stella, who had an extraordinary brain, to keep up with him without any tricks.

I felt a little sorry because I thought Stella’s grades were behind because of me and Leah.

But, there’s nothing I can do. You can’t lower my grades just because you’re sorry. Nana Leah has a cause.

“That’s right.”

He muttered to himself and then turned around.

Anyway, this isn’t what’s important right now. For me, the problem that’s right in front of me is more urgent and important than the grades of my classmates. ‘How am I going to propose to Leah?’

“… … .”

proposal of marriage.

Asking for marriage.

If you just look at the meaning, it seems like a very simple act… … The problem is, I don’t know how to bring it up.

First of all, can I try to have a casual conversation and ask a question in the middle of it?

Otherwise, can I just rent a big place like in a drama or movie and give them a gift and have them have fun?

If I had any similar experience, I would have taken note of it, but since I have virtually no experience with it, I have no idea what to do.

“… … Oh my.”

It’s a political marriage in name only, so why do they ask for my consent?

There is no answer.

Suddenly, my chest felt heavy and I let out a long sigh.

──Honey, are you worried about something?

The ring on my right ring finger vibrated slightly, and Venus’ voice came into my head.

It was not uncommon for Venus to suddenly speak to me, so I was planning to respond in a businesslike manner, but then suddenly I realized something.

“uh…….”

wait for a sec.

Venus, the owner of the ring I’m wearing now, is the goddess of love.

So, in this regard, you probably know a lot more than I, who is quite inexperienced.

As I thought about it that far, I made my voice sound soft.

“… … Over there, Venus.”

──Yeah, why is that?

“I have a few questions for you. If you don’t mind, would you please listen and give me some advice?”

──Hmm… … Advice. Advice given directly by a goddess requires a proper price, do you know that?”

“Ah, the price.”

I guess it doesn’t work with bare hands.

“If there is a price, what specifically… …?”

──Let’s see… … Oh, right. How about the Hatchling’s Reverse Scale that Aga brought me a while ago?

“… … The hatchling’s reverse scale?”

Aren’t you expecting too much from one piece of advice? Not only is the hatchling’s scale rare, but the young of the dragonfly are usually of a high-level dangerous species, making them difficult to find.

──Is the reverse scale a bit difficult?

“Yes, I guess it’s because it’s a difficult thing to find.”

──Then what about the branches of trees that only grow in the great forest?

“Uh, that too… … .”

The Great Forest is located at the westernmost tip of the continent, so it takes two weeks to get there. It may be possible to visit during vacation, but it is impossible to visit even briefly during the semester.

“Well, I know this may be a shameless request, but could you do something a little simpler? I can’t go far right now.”

──… … .

“If you help me just this once, the next time I ask you for a favor, I will bring you whatever tribute you desire, Venus.”

──… … Really?

“Yes, really.”

──Ahem… …! Since it’s a request from our Cain baby, I’ll do it specially. So, what are you curious about?

Okay, that’s it.

Venus’ permission must have been granted. I asked directly without hesitation.

“I would like to propose to Leah.”

──Yes, proposal… … .

──… … .

──… … Huh? Proposal?

“How can I propose without being rejected?”