I Favor the Villainess Chapter 55Wind leaves

“Eh!? Onee-sama, you are returning to Sousa!?”

“Yup”

Claire-sama’s surprise reflected everyone’s feelings.

The morning after the Amour’s Festival, everyone in the academy became aware of Manaria-sama’s return to Sousa.

“The First Prince suddenly died. I moved up in the order of succession and once again I’m in the ugly situation of family conflict”

I give up, Manaria-sama laughed, not looking defeated at all.

This came as a surprise for me too.

In the game, Manaria-sama stayed with the protagonist until the ending.

What in the world caused the difference.

While I was pondering by myself, Rod-sama snorted in dissatisfaction.

“Are you trying to quit while you’re ahead?”

“I’m sorry but that’s how it is. Well, won’t there be plenty opportunities for a rematch. Right, the future king of Bauer?”

“Hmph, be ready for it”

Saying so, Rod-sama boldly laughed.

“Ah, I don’t want to go back. Rei, let’s run away together?”

“Please do it alone”

When I coldly replied to flirtatiously acting Manaria-sama, she feigned crying.

No, it’s not cute.

“Since I was rejected by Rei, it can’t be helped, I’ll go and get the throne. Then I’ll come meddle again”

“You don’t have to come”

“Hey Rei, you are beyond disrespectful”

Claire-sama rebuked me for the words that came from the bottom of my heart.

Cute.

Even so, she said it like obtaining the throne would be simple.

But, it would suit Manaria-sama.

“But, what happened to the matter of your sexual orientation being exposed that you mentioned before?”

“That’s a trifling thing. By nature, it wasn’t known to the citizens. I think it will at most be a disadvantage in the family conflict”

Well, not that I care, said Manaria-sama.

“I greatly enjoyed the past month. It’s truly a shame I have to go back to the royal palace”

“I feel the same, Onee-sama”

“… Please go back soon”

“Rei!”

Claire-sama stepped on my foot with all her strength.

It hurts.

I love her.

“Really… Rei, have a little more respect for royalty”

“My mind is already filled with love for Claire-sama”

“Je, jeeeez!”

Claire-sama blushed and turned her face away.

Yes, cute.

“Aaah. You’re totally getting along well. I wonder if I did an unnecessary thing”

Manaria-sama grumbled just a tiny bit dissatisfied.

But, I think.

Wasn’t it Manaria-sama’s aim from the beginning.

Becoming the bad guy and pushing Claire-sama’s and my relationship forward – that must have been Manaria-sama’s true intention.

(But well, I’m not good with what I’m not good with)

Whatever her true intention was or how grateful I’m to her, I’m not good with Manaria-sama.

She’s an opponent who brought me much grief and even now is idolized by Claire-sama.

Above all, I wouldn’t win against her the next time.

“By the way, Rod-sama. I have a single piece of bad news”

Saying so, Manaria-sama’s expression hardened.

“What?”

“The cause of death of the Sousa’s First Prince was poisoning, but the symptoms match the poison used on your country’s prince Sein – cantarella”

“What was that?”

That’s to say, the culprit is――.

“Naa Empire, huh”

“Yes”

It appears the Naa Empire, the country neighboring the kingdom that has had hostile relations with it for a long time, is working behind the scenes.

“The First Prince had advocated a hostile policy towards the empire from the start. They couldn’t stomach it”

Even if I take the throne, I don’t think it will change though, Manaria-sama said.

“The attempted assassination of Prince Sein and the successful poisoning of Sousa’s prince… The Naa Empire is becoming active. Please be careful”

“Got it. You too take care in your home country”

“I appreciate your concern”

Having replied to Rod-sama, Manaria-sama faced me.

“Rei, you also take care? You may be able to detoxify cantarella but when you’re afflicted by the poison, you might be unable to use the detoxification magic”

“It’s okay. The academy is in the midst of formularizing the cantarella detoxification magic”

Immediately after Sein-sama was targeted, to make sure anyone can use the detoxification magic, I submitted the configuration formula to the academy research institute.

Once they complete it, the number of people who lose their lives to cantarella should dramatically decrease.

“I see. As I thought you’re great. Claire, after all I――”

“I will not hand her over?”

“Recently, you two have become similar”

Manaria-sama smiled wryly at Claire-sama who found fault with her.

“Manaria-sama, it’s almost time”

Manaria-sama’s servant said.

It seems her carriage arrived.

“Ah, I will see you off to――”

“Claire, stay here. I want to borrow Rei”

“Onee-sama, you are still――”

“Haha, it’s different. I just want to have a secret talk between us two. That much should be okay?”

“… It cannot be helped”

She pushed my back with Rei, take care.

I have no choice but to accompany her to the carriage.

“Rei, there’s something I want to ask”

“What is it”

After we walked silently for a while, Manaria-sama spoke.

“Who are you?”

Asking so, there was a sharp glint in Manaria-sama’s eyes.

“Detoxifying an unknown poison, being aware of an unknown offering. Where did you get that knowledge?”

“… I can’t answer”

Manaria-sama wouldn’t accept a half-hearted deception.

That’s why I answered honestly.

“Are you a spy from Naa Empire?”

“I’m not”

“Really?”

“I swear on Claire-sama”

When I said so, Manaria-sama let out a suppressed laughter.

“Ahaha, then I’ll believe you. You’d absolutely never betray Claire, would you”

Ahaha, Manaria-sama laughed for a while.

“Is that the only thing you wanted to ask?”

“No, there’s one more”

Manaria-sama continued with the question.

“Do you still believe your feelings for Claire don’t need to be reciprocated?”

Her eyes said she won’t tolerate evading it.

“No. I’d like Claire-sama to respond to them now”

Firmly staring back in Manaria-sama’s eyes, I said that.

“It’s a thorny path”

“I know”

“Claire is straight”

“I’m also aware of it”

“Can you keep your feelings without giving up?”

“Absolutely”

I replied to her shower of questions without any hesitation.

“Yup, that’s fine. With how you are now, I can leave Claire to you”

Her face looked like father’s whose daughter is getting married.

It may be that Manaria-sama loves me, yet she cares for Claire-sama from the bottom of her heart.

“This far is fine. I’ve heard what I wanted to hear”

As she said that, Manaria-sama held out her right hand.

“It was fun. I’m leaving Claire to you”

“You don’t have to tell me”

I grasped her hand tightly.

“Then, see you”

Leaving behind such words, a person like wind left.

◆◇◆◇◆

“Claire-sama”

“What is it, Rei”

“Please let me hear that line again”

That line refers to the line Claire-sama blurted out during the Amour’s Festival.

“What might it be?”

“You’re feigning ignorance again”

Because she’s cute I teased her, and flushing, Claire-sama,

“Do not get carried away! It is not that I particularly――”

“Particularly?”

“Particularly… feel anything for Rei”

said so, turning her face away in a huff.

“Name”

“…”

“You are calling me by it”

“… I was not aware”

I don’t think Claire-sama loves me yet.

Even so――.

“Claire-sama”

“What is it”

“I love you”

“… Hmph”

I think Claire-sama and I took an important step forward.