Villainess and the Stalker - Chapter 1 -2 - Noble Girl and The Stalker

Chapter 1.2 : Noble Girl and The Stalker

And after some time, our little brother should’ve realized big brother’s duplicity after his match against big brother. Yet, for some reason, he never seemed to see through big brother’s deception.

It seemed…big brother’s skill in concealing his abilities was more adept than I realized. However, I still worried.

So I came to big brother and ask him whether or not he realized that little brother would come to resent him if he ever found out that big brother was deliberately throwing away their matches to him. Big brother just told me that he would increase the difficulties of their matches after little brother noticed that fact. Just like the way he used to be trained under father’s tutelage

This meant that he didn’t plan to cut any corner for our little brother training. After all, he was training him the way father trained him. Moreover, he also told me that he only ever yielded victory to our little brother once he had thrown everything he got at him.

Apparently, it’s something big brother had to do to prevent our little brother from losing motivation. Since he would lose it if he kept losing.

And, while our little brother’s strength was still far away from big brother’s level, he was by no means weak. No, no one would ever call him weak. After all, he was acknowledged as the 1st or the 2nd strongest youth amongst his peers.

Thinking up to that point, I decided to stop worrying about our little brother…

Once I finished pondering those stuff, I looked at the sun, and noticed that I had to return back to the academy. Thus, I started to walk towards the academy.

And noticed someone.

While I couldn’t see who it actually was from this position, I could see that someone was leaning on a tree when I shifted my line of sight slightly.

It’s a bit strange since I had done my search around this area properly. Yet, here was a person that I had failed to notice. Since that was the case, that person had to come after I had finished my using my detection spell.

My detection range was quite vast after all, so I should’ve realized it immediately if there’s someone following after me. Hence my conclusion. That person there wasn’t following after me, and only happened to come to this place afterwards. [TL : …………….]

In any case, I only hope that he didn’t see me using that spell, because, while it’s fine if he saw me using 1st or 2nd rank magic spell, which a lot of noble girls attending this academy could use those, it’s not fine if he saw the spell I had just used. .

The magic I used just now was that of 7th rank. Not something that was normal for students.

No one will realize the kind of sorcery I used just now unless They’re someshort of researcher. Still, it would still be troublesome if that person asked me…questions. Like why I could use that magic.

While I could use my uncle, a royal magician, who taught me since tender age and had it accepted as my excuse for why I could use that particular spell, that was not the part I was most concerned with. The part I was most concerned about was the amount of my mana.

I didn’t want to reveal the fact that my mana reservoir was big enough that I didn’t tire even after using 7th-rank sorcery.

That’s why I need to confirm it, whether that person witness it or not.

I just wondered. If he did witness it, would he understand the meaning behind what I did?

Whilst I was preoccupied with my worries, it was immediately dissipated as soon as I saw that person clearly.

Because that person was in fact my acquaintance. Moreover, I saw that he was quite focused on his reading material, the bulky-leather-covered book in his hand, expression that can be described as “Completely Absorbed In His Own World”.

He has a slender frame, and platinum blonde hair which shone like moonlight. His pupils, the same color as his hair, held an intellectual glint in it whilst also being languid at the same time. This made me feel like I was staring into a deep and stagnant pool of deep water.

His hands that was turning over the book pages were long and slender. Extremely suitable for playing one of the most beautiful music instruments I knew, the Sekigetsukin*. [TL* : 赤月琴 : Red Moon Harp]

More than anything else, what assured me was the fact that I knew that when he was reading a book, he was completely ignorant of his surroundings.

As such, without any wariness, I called his name.

「…. Ryuu. Ryuu Amapola. What are you doing here? 」

However, his eyes were completely glued on the book before me, ignoring my call and everything around him. Besides his fingers that were turning the page over once in a while, he gave no other reaction. It was as if I was completely invisible to him.

But, I knew that he didn’t do this on purpose. [TL : ……. This oniichan is worrying about your future]

Because he was simply that kind of person.

I recalled the time I saw him reading a book nonchalantly whilst he was sitting between two wuarreling brawny male students. I remembered how dumbfounded I was at that sight.

So, I knew that he would react like this, and that’s why I wouldn’t stop at just calling his name once. I called him again, but this time I also shook his shoulder.

「Ryuu. Can you hear me? I know that you love books, but even so, I, your friend, will be sad if you flat out ignore me, you know. Now that you’re finally here with me, can I have your time for a moment? 」

Thus, I pulled him back from the world in the book that he was immersed in, and when I did so, his eyes opened wide in surprise as he opened his mouth slightly. No doubt to apologize for his lack of attention.

「… Maria. I’m sorry.. I failed to notice you. My apologies, I…have always lost the sight of my surroundings whenever I opened a book.」

As expected, I was worrying for nothing.

He didn’t see me using that spell at all.

In the first place, he was reading his book, and I knew, once he started, he wouldn’t even realize I found him till I call.

I really was worrying for nothing.

「No, it’s okay. In the first place, this isn’t the kind of place where you will expect to meet your friend.」

Ryuu looked around and then smiled back at me when he heard my words.

「Yes, it’s definitely as you say. I came to this place so that I can read without anyone disturbing me, but…. Why are you in this place? I don’t think that this is the kind of place that a noble girl will visit.」

「It’s for this. See, what do you think about my skill? 」

I said as I showed the corolla to Ryuu.

I raised the corolla right next to my face.

Making Ryuu’s eyes widened from his astonishment.

「Certainly, it’s extremely beautiful……… So beautiful that I couldn’t even put words to express it.」

「Ara, it’s a bit scary when someone as eloquent as you praise me to such extent.」

「I am just stating the truth. Naturally, since you showed me the most beautiful treasure that couldn’t be seen even if you gathered the best craftsman in the world… Like, the corolla in your hand…. You’re the one who made it, right.」

I let out a faint smile when Ryuu stopped for a moment before he continued his sentence with the word “Like”. As if he was praising me instead of the Corolla in my hands.

Because for a moment, it truly felt like that. That he was actually praising me.

Though, I was sure that it was not the case. Since he, Ryuu, was looking at me with an impish smile on his face. The one he made when I was caught in one of his jokes. Well, though I seemed to be caught in another one. Again.

「… Did I got you once more? 」

「Oh, what a cruel things to say to a noble girl.」

I flicked Ryuu’s forehead lightly as a retaliation to his words, telling him off as I did so.

He would do something like this from time to time.

He was kind. He also had a good sense of humor. All in all, an extremely rare kind of man who went to this academy.

And, while it hasn’t been that long since we became acquainted, we were still quite close with one another. I enjoyed this kind of conversation with him, bereft of the undertones of political power play that often came from those noble sons and daughters aura around me.

Naturally, Ryuu was also a part of nobility who was enrolled in this academy. I heard that he was one of the rare foreign noble who came abroad to further their studies whilst also doing some cultural exchange here.

Though from the grapevine, I heard that his position were not that high, he was still considered a splendid noble indeed.

That might be why his hair color was slightly different from the noble of this country.

Anyway, while my mind was wandering, Ryuu continued speaking.

「I’m serious. You, are beautiful. Your beauty rivals that corolla, no, your beauty exceeded that of those corolla.」

Hearing those compliments from him didn’t fluster me like before. After all his first praise was done in jest. Despite that though, I was still a little bit embarrassed. He had given me such a high praise after all. Not for the first time either!

And, he praised my beauty this time!

「Oh you jest. That won’t be enough to make me feel embarrassed…」

「Have you…gotten used to such praises? 」

The meaning behind Ryuu’s words was clear. [ED:…? Why…do I think it’s not clear though?]

The job of a noble daughter was mainly to attend parties to look for suitable husbands.

Otherwise, we just needed to wear beautiful dresses, brightening the party venue like flowers decoration.

Well, if the girl had the choice to choose which one they’d prefer to put up with, I felt that the latter choice would be more popular.

For this reason, as long as they’re attending a party, noble girls would be judged. From their style, sense of fashion, the jewelry they wore, and all the way till their beauty. All of it were going to be judged and should it meet or exceed the standard, then they would be praised.

In short, he asked whether I’m used to be praised after attending so many parties.

But all those praises were empty. I couldn’t feel any shred of sincerity behind such flattery. Yet, I still had to smile when I received their praises, and I still had to return those praises back as well due to obligation.

When I did that, I always thought that it was extremely cruel of me. To utter such thing even though the truth was the opposite.

As such, I really couldn’t bring myself to enjoy such situations.

And yet, despite the teasing manner it was delivered, Ryuu’s praise were not lies. At least, not entirely.

I noticed. He truly felt that way in his heart. And, I sense a little passion in his words when he said it.

A person’s mana fluctuation couldn’t be faked. Therefore, as long as I understood the situation, I could read everyone’s thoughts from the fluctuation. Well, that was limited to their surface thoughts though.

That’s why I knew that Ryuu didn’t lie to me.

Naturally such a feat wasn’t as easy as flipping your own hand. I might be the only one who could do this in the entire academy. And usually, people who knew of my power wouldn’t approach me. Ryuu was different. Even when I told him my power. Even when I told him not to approach a monster like me. He still ignored my warning, and became my friend instead.

Even when he knew that I could read his mind, he still stood in front of me, keeping his gaze locked onto my eyes.

It was a show of trust and his deep affection as my friend.

No one. I repeated. No one had ever gone so far for me before. And perhaps that was why I felt a heartfelt gratitude towards him.

「I will not be flustered if those words were said by another person, but you see… You are different. Because that’s how you really feels.」

「What a convenient power. I mean, It prevents me from lying to you too! 」

He said as he smiled, mockingly making an exaggerated sigh as if it pained him. I knew it was another of his jest though.

Unfortunately, I wouldn’t be able to meet him frequently after we graduated from this academy. He was still a foreign student, and he would have to return back to his country when this was all over. Still, I felt that I would like to associate with him for a long time. He’s my friend after all.

◆◇◆◇◆

I knew her power.

The power to read the subtleties of someone’s heart.

That was the kind of special abilities that manifested in someone who had an excellent control of their mana.

And when I discovered that power of hers, I thought that she would discover my secret. And I was fine with it. I meant, it’s better if she knew it firsthand without me having to tell her about my heartfelt love for her. Or about how much I had come to care about her.

But I discovered a fact after I spoke to her. Namely about the fact that her power would only allow her to read the surface of people’s mind.

She couldn’t tell if it’s something along ambigous feeling.

If it was a strong negative emotion such as killing intent, she would be able to react instantly. Sadly, it seemed that she wouldn’t react nor notice if it was a positive emotion. Like my love for her. Or my willingness to protect her come what may. No matter what I did, and how much I tried, none of it reached her.

And she only gave a light reaction toward little teasing.

Moreover, it seems that she couldn’t use this ability unless the other party was quite close to her.

Hence I conclude. Her power wasn’t strong enough, and it was limited.

In short, her ability would allow her to know whether someone was a good person or a bad person.

Nevertheless, It was an extremely useful ability to have. Unfortunately, it was limited by her astonishingly beautiful heart. That was why she, Maria Di Lino, was unable to use her ability to its full potential.

She was such a wonderful person that she was bound to be tangled in some problems at some point, but that was fine. I would not let her be alone, and would cover all of her weaknesses.

Yeah.

I swore to protect her regardless of time and place.

Limited in this academy of course.

「Well it’s time to go back, Maria. The afternoon class is about to begin. 」

「Yes. I doubt you still need something to learn in this academy but… You’ll teach me in case there’s something that I can’t understand, right?」

She replied, believing me from the bottom of her heart.

The feeling of being trusted by her was enough to make my heart dance in joy.