That World of Otome Games is Tough for Us - Volume 3 - Chapter 8.1

Chapter 8:

Cunning

BY THE TIME OLIVIA next opened her eyes, her limbs were heavy as lead. An uncomfortable weight bore down on her head, slowing her thoughts. It didn’t take her long to realize she had a fever.

“But why now?” she asked herself again. It was such a shame to be sick during the trip when she finally had time to study like she’d wanted.

She sat upright in bed and contemplated what to do next. Should she go ahead and study despite her fever or prioritize recovering?

“I guess for now I should try using healing magic on myself.”

The healing magic Olivia knew worked well on physical injuries. However, entirely different magic was required to recover from ailments like fever. She pressed both hands to her chest, and faint light enveloped her body, but the spell intended to cure her illness couldn’t do so fully.

“I suppose that’s good enough,” she said. “I haven’t yet studied how to remedy sickness, so I have no idea whether this is the right way to do it.”

The magic at least reduced her symptoms’ severity, but it hadn’t cured her entirely. Her body was still heavy and her mind sluggish.

“I guess I have no choice but to rest for the day.” Suddenly overcome with drowsiness, Olivia flopped back into bed. 

With the worst possible timing, a knock came at the door. As much as she wanted to ignore it, she responded, telling her visitor that the door was unlocked.

The door swung open, and Kyle stepped in. “Mistress, if you don’t get up soon, you’ll miss breakfast.” He paused. “Mistress?” Noticing something was amiss with Olivia, he hurried to her side. Worried, he pressed a hand to her forehead. Relief passed over his face when he found that her temperature was lower than he’d feared. “Thankfully it’s only a minor fever. This is what happens when you skip meals to study.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Shall I explain the situation to the staff and have them prepare something light for you to eat? It won’t cost you any money if we do it that way.” Kyle knew all about her financial situation, which was why he made this suggestion.

Unfortunately, Olivia had no appetite. “I think I’ll just sleep a little more. If anyone comes to visit, please tell them I’m resting…” She’d barely finished her sentence before her eyelids slid shut and she drifted into unconsciousness.

Kyle sighed. “You really are a hopeless case, Mistress.”

***

It was the students’ second morning aboard the ship. Most of them gathered in the main restaurant for breakfast. The staff were serving a luxurious spread, and entertainers were staging a live performance for the occasion.

Marie desperately wanted to partake in the top-quality meal, but her troublesome acquaintances were preventing that. She stood in front of Cynthia’s room, hollering at the top of her lungs and bashing her fists against the door.

“Cynthiaaaaa!” she shrieked. “If you don’t hurry up, breakfast will be over! I want to indulge in the gourmet food they’re serving and enjoy my time on this luxury cruise liner! So, please, wake up already!”

Bam, bam! Bam, bam, bam!

She struck the door over and over again, screeching, but Cynthia showed no sign of waking up.

A vein bulged on Marie’s forehead. “Open up already, would you?!” Her angry, booming voice seemed to have no effect.

Behind Marie stood Ellie. She hugged a book to her chest, fidgeting nervously. “I don’t think Cindy’s going to get up, Rie.”

Unlike timid Ellie, Betty was ambivalent. She stood there, yawning, with a sketchbook in hand. She’d stayed up late again the previous night, painting. “I don’t see why we have to eat breakfast anyway.” She wasn’t a morning person, and it showed.

Marie glanced back at them. “All three of you have locked yourselves away in your rooms since lunch yesterday! The professors have been hounding me to come check in on you!” She wasn’t terribly happy about being stuck mothering her three friends, but she did it all the same. “It’s not like I want to do this, either, you know. I’d rather enjoy the cruise, but I can’t, because you three are acting like shut-ins!”

At this rate, breakfast would end before they got their food. Marie tried the doorknob, twisting it violently.

“Wake up, Cynthia!” she yelled. “I’m begging you, open your eyes! I want to eat the omelets the restaurant serves!” She was nearly in tears at this point.

Behind her, Ellie and Betty glanced at one another and shrugged.

“She may as well just go eat by herself,” said Ellie.

Betty shook her head. “She’s too good at looking after other people. The professors take advantage of that.”

Marie was already out of breath, her shoulders rising and falling in a rapid rhythm. Since she’d woken that morning, she’d been running around trying to round up the girls. When she caught her breath and paused to glance back, she noticed that Ellie had plopped down on the floor and now had her nose in a book. “Why’re you reading, Ellie?”

“What? B-because Cindy’s not coming out anyway.”

Marie was on the verge of tears. “Don’t sit on the floor and read! You shouldn’t bring a book to breakfast in the first place!”

“Huh?!” Ellie’s jaw dropped.

She wasn’t the only problem.

“Same goes for you, Betty! Don’t start sketching! And look, there’s already paint on your hands!”

Betty only shrugged. “Who cares? I can still eat with them.”

“You can,” Marie agreed, “but you shouldn’t! You’re still an aristocrat, whether you like it or not!”

Betty might not care whether her hands were paint-covered, but Marie wanted her to be at least a little mindful of proper etiquette, given Betty’s position in society.

“I hate all that status nonsense,” Betty sighed.

Cynthia wouldn’t leave her room, all Ellie wanted to do was read, and Betty didn’t mind getting paint all over her hands before they even ate. 

“Graaaaaaah!” Marie roared in frustration, her voice echoing along the corridor.

Why do all the girls around me have so many issues?!

The most unbelievable part was that although these three were quirky—and that was putting it lightly—they were ridiculously popular with the academy guys. That was bizarre, since in Marie’s previous world, most men would’ve written them off.

Marie pounded the door with her fists again. “Wake up! You’re going to make us all miss breakfast!”

She was causing a ridiculous amount of ruckus, given that it was early morning. Cynthia’s door remained firmly shut, but the neighboring door cracked open, and a blond elf boy’s head popped out.

Marie’s fists dropped to her sides. Her gaze was glued to Kyle. Hold on. If Kyle’s here, I’m guessing it means Olivia’s in that cabin.

“I’m envious that you have so much energy early in the morning,” he said. “Nonetheless, my mistress is under the weather this morning, so I’d appreciate it if you could tone it down.” His voice was soft, but there was hostility in his words.

Marie’s gaze darted awkwardly. He’s got a point. I was making a big fuss. Everyone else already left for breakfast, so I naturally just assumed no one would be left in their cabins.

She cleared her throat. “S-sorry about that! I was a little panicked. My friend won’t come out of her cabin.”

The only reason she was being so deferential toward Kyle was his employer. Olivia was a commoner right now, but she’d eventually awaken as the Saint, an extremely special figure within Holfort. The Saint was so special in the game that she was, in fact, even permitted to marry the crown prince. Olivia would thus eventually become queen. Even if she didn’t, she’d marry another of the love interests, all of whom were from high-ranking, respected houses. Either way, she’d far, far outrank Marie.

Given the unnatural foresight Marie’s knowledge of the game provided, she naturally apologized and acted more respectfully than she might’ve otherwise. That served to soften Kyle’s sour mood.

“Why not ask to borrow a key so you can get into her cabin?” he suggested.

“Good idea. I’ll do just that. Girls, let’s go get a key.” Dragging Ellie and Betty along, Marie left. That was my first interaction with Kyle, she mused. He’s way more arrogant than I expected. Was he really that bad in the game?

Marie had pictured Kyle as an impertinent but adorable younger-brother figure. Their brief conversation was enough to completely ruin that image, though. She felt that he’d been an immature brat.