That World of Otome Games is Tough for Us - Volume 4 - Chapter 6

Chapter 6:

The Tragic Heroine

SINCE SHE WAS OUT of school for the day, Angelica paid a visit to a certain noble family’s estate in the capital. She was there to meet with one of the expelled students. The girl’s father was politically powerful enough to have his own mansion in the capital city, which made him one of the elite in high society. Angelica was only going out of her way to visit because that man—a linchpin in her family’s faction—had entreated her to do so.

“I want you to at least hear what my daughter has to say,” he’d told her.

The man’s prominence in their faction meant that she couldn’t ignore him, so she honored his request and came as promised. A servant led her into the drawing room where the man’s expelled daughter waited, and Angelica took a seat across from her.

“I heard the gist of things from the faculty,” Angelica told the girl curtly. “I should think that you’re already aware that such foul actions—committed inside a dungeon—can never be permitted.” Their eyes met, Angelica’s gaze piercing, and the girl turned her head away, which Angelica took to mean that she had a guilty conscience. Nonetheless, she asked, “Why did you do something so reckless?”

“I-I did nothing wrong!” the girl blurted back, the words bursting out as if a dam had broken. “That girl isn’t even one of us. She’s a commoner. She’s not like those of us with respectable heritages and family titles. Surely you must see that!” 

She was probably referring to their ancestors having been adventurers, while the same couldn’t be said for the common folk. Olivia was no comrade of hers, so in the girl’s mind, she hadn’t betrayed anyone.

“She’s seducing the crown prince and his friends,” the girl continued. “That makes her nothing short of a blight on our kingdom. I tried to eliminate the threat she presents—that’s all. Expulsion is uncalled for.” She was coming up with all kinds of excuses to justify her actions. “Lady Angelica, I beg of you! Won’t you please convince the academy to let me return?” Her eyes, finally staring back into Angelica’s, were pleading.

Angelica felt a faint ache of pity for the girl, sharing her dismay over Olivia. She has a point. That girl is no ally of ours, given the way she ensnares the prince. Still, there’s a line one cannot cross, and this fool crossed it. However greatly she sympathized, the girl’s pleas didn’t move her to act. As much as Angelica detested Olivia, she also understood how reprehensible it was to attempt murder in the capital’s dungeon.

“Don’t ask the impossible,” Angelica said with cold indifference. “Your actions angered not only the academy but the crown prince as well. The best thing you can do now is reflect on your mistakes and repent.” Annoyed at how defensive the girl had been about her actions, Angelica rose from her seat.

The girl shot out of her chair, grabbing at Angelica. “Please!” she cried. “If I remain expelled, I won’t be able to enter high society anymore!”

Angelica slapped her hands away. “You made your bed. Now you must lie in it.” With that, she strode out of the dressing room as the girl broke into sobs behind her.

***

The following day, Angelica headed for her family’s residence in the capital. She needed to report the expulsions to the Redgraves, since the affected students were from their faction. Between penning reports and attending to her schoolwork, Angelica had been busy for the past few days. She didn’t have the free time for leisure that most students did.

What am I even doing? she wondered. I’m supposed to be the prince’s betrothed, but I haven’t even seen his face lately. He must be spending time with that damnable girl.

Here she was, with a packed schedule day after day, and he was gallivanting around with Olivia. The mere thought sank Angelica’s heart to a deep, dark place.

She submitted the report she’d written to her older brother, Gilbert Rapha Redgrave. He had the same blond hair and red eyes as Angelica, as well as a striking, handsome face. Gilbert, who was here at their estate in the capital serving as his father’s representative, was a highly capable man—even Angelica recognized that. She respected him, too, knowing that he would eventually inherit their father’s titles and lands.

After scanning her report, Gilbert affected a displeased look. “This is a disgrace,” he told Angelica bluntly.

Angelica assumed that he was referring to the scandal; she agreed that it was disgraceful. “My deepest apologies. I’ll crack down on the students and remind them to be more discreet in the future.”

“Not the scandal,” Gilbert corrected her. “I referred to your actions.”

Angelica was at a loss. “What?” Her eyes widened. She almost couldn’t believe what her brother had said. Nobles valued their adventurer heritage so deeply that she didn’t think that Gilbert, of all people, would defend someone who’d smeared everything adventurers stood for.

Her brother sighed deeply at her, disappointed that she couldn’t catch on. “What that girl did was absolutely heinous. However, you should recognize what it means that her father kept her in his house even after the news broke. He turned to you because he loves his daughter dearly and hoped you could reverse the academy’s decision.”

“Y-yes, but I have no authority in that regard!” Angelica protested vehemently.

Most nobles would have thrown their child out on the street for disgracing their family name. Angelica thought it was only proper to do so, but the father in question hadn’t; he’d ignored precedent and his actions’ potential effects on his reputation out of fatherly love.

“There was no need to overturn her expulsion,” Gilbert explained. “I’m well aware that it’s not within your power to do so. What she did was repugnant, and she incensed the crown prince. After her misdeeds, her father is probably already apprehensive about his position. He’ll eventually leave our faction regardless and ingratiate himself elsewhere.”

“I don’t see why it matters, then,” Angelica said hotly.

“Regardless,” Gilbert went on emphatically, ignoring her remark, “you should’ve heard the girl out properly. Even if you weren’t sincere, you should’ve shown her sympathy and protested on her behalf to the crown prince. Then she and her father would’ve owed you for interceding. Neither of them can truly believe you’d be able to overturn her expulsion. If they do, they’re utter fools.”

The girl’s father must’ve realized that he couldn’t completely shield his daughter from the consequences of her foul behavior. Trying to do so would’ve tanked his reputation completely.

Angelica shook her head, refusing to back down. “You want me to appeal to the crown prince and defend her? I wouldn’t have a leg to stand on. And it would only hurt our house if people believed we were trying to protect her and the others who were expelled.”

Gilbert snorted. “You don’t have to appeal on her behalf in earnest. The point stands that the academy ignored custom and rushed their judgment. You could’ve pointed that out to the prince, told him that this was too hasty. None of the nobility could fault you for saying that. It just has to look like you disapprove of a technicality.” It didn’t sound like Gilbert wanted her to defend the girl—not truly. He just wanted the optics of such a defense.

Angelica’s gaze dropped to the floor, her fingernails digging into her soft palms. “You want me to face off with the crown prince for appearances?”

Word of Julius’s rage over the incident had already swept the entire academy. Having to pick another fight with him about this would wound Angelica’s heart too badly.

Gilbert raised a brow at her. “Whatever his justifications, the expulsions were too sudden. Many people at court are questioning the prince’s actions. If he’s to rule peacefully, someone needs to remonstrate with him when the need arises.” In not so many words, Gilbert was saying that that was Angelica’s duty.

Her head jerked up and down. “I-I understand,” she said reluctantly. She couldn’t completely hide her dissatisfaction from her brother.

Gilbert leaned back and stared up at the ceiling. His voice finally softened. “Protesting to him will just be a pretense. You should take the opportunity to have a real conversation with His Highness.”

“I should?”

“Father often tells me that I take things too seriously, but you’re even worse than I am. You should learn how to relax and be more flexible.” Gilbert barked a short laugh. “Well—not that I’ve got any right to tell you that.” 

His sudden embarrassment was a much-needed balm on Angelica’s anxious heart. “I suppose you’re right… I’ll speak to His Highness.”

“Good. Do that.”

***

Angelica borrowed a room at the academy so that she could speak privately with Julius. Daylight was fading with the late hour, which meant that she couldn’t summon him to the girls’ dormitory, but she couldn’t visit the boys’ dormitory, either, for fear of how that might harm her reputation. This room was a perfect compromise. 

Anxious for an opportunity to speak candidly with the crown prince, Angelica had left her own retinue behind. Unfortunately, when the prince finally appeared, he was with his entire group. 

He didn’t look the least bit contrite over his lateness or the unwanted hangers-on he’d brought. “Sorry for making you wait,” he said dryly.

“No, it’s quite all right. I was the one who called you here suddenly.”

I anticipated Jilk coming, but I didn’t imagine he’d bring everyone with him. Angelica sighed to herself, glaring at the girl hidden behind the boys. Olivia’s eyes met hers, but… 

What in the world? For a split second, Angelica thought she saw Olivia smirk, but the expression was gone as suddenly as it appeared. Then Olivia affected a look of terror, clinging to Julius’s arm. He stumbled a little but looked pleased at their close contact.

“There’s no need for you to worry, Olivia,” he said to her gently. “We’re with you. You’re safe.”

She winced. “I’m sorry. I can’t help being scared.”

“Of course you can’t help it—not after what you went through,” Brad piped up. His attention turned to Angelica. “There you have it. Please make this short. Why have you gathered us all here?” He gesticulated as he spoke, every motion exaggerated.

Angelica wanted to roll her eyes. I didn’t call any of you here besides the prince. But no matter. Careful not to upset them unnecessarily, she kept her voice even as she told Julius, “I wanted to speak to you about those expulsions. I have no intention of admonishing you for them, but I must still insist that you were too rash in pushing them through. You should have observed standard practice and waited for an investigation to be conducted first.” She wanted to get all the pretense out of the way in hopes of speaking with the prince privately, so she gave his group no opportunity for comment before she reiterated, “I have no problem with the punishments, but the haste with which they were carried out was—” Unacceptable. Other nobles are voicing their dismay, so you must be more careful in the future. 

That was what she’d wanted to say, but Olivia interrupted her words when she burst into tears.

“Olivia?” Chris interjected. “Wh-what’s the matter? Are you in pain?” He was so unused to interacting with the fairer sex that he was panicking over how to handle her distress.

Olivia scrubbed her tears away with the backs of her hands, her gaze focused on Angelica the entire time. “Is it because I’m a commoner?”

“What?” The word exploded from Angelica’s mouth in a small burst of anger. She couldn’t countenance this unnecessary interruption, and her face hardened. Yet as she stared into Olivia’s blue eyes, the flame of anger that crackled within her went cold for a short moment. It was a strange sensation. Angelica shook her head vigorously, confused by what had happened.

A tremor in her voice, Olivia continued, “I hear people say that all the time at school. They say that I’m a commoner, so I’m not really one of you. That’s why what those girls did to me wasn’t betrayal, and they shouldn’t have been expelled for it. If an investigation was permitted, the issue could’ve been completely swept under the rug.”

What Olivia said reminded Angelica of what the expelled girl had told her: “That girl isn’t even one of us. She’s a commoner.” 

The memory left her momentarily stunned. Once she got her wits about her again, Angelica finally burst out, “D-don’t be absurd! It’s customary to launch an investigation whenever expulsion is being considered as a possible punishment. We can’t give you special accommodations!”

The momentary pause before she came up with her answer didn’t escape Greg’s notice. “Awfully suspicious, the way you hesitated there. Ain’t like you to be so ruffled, Angelica.”

Greg was normally a meathead, but he had a wild beast’s sharp instincts at times. Angelica was confident that, if she hadn’t been so rattled, she could’ve given a more composed response. Yet her stomach twisted with anxiety for some reason, and that distracted her. She pressed a fist to her heart. What is it? Why I do feel so off-kilter?

Angelica was struggling to control her emotions. They had become like a tempest swallowing her whole. All the pent-up rage she could normally suppress came roaring up. She was naturally a very passionate person, but she normally tried to contain herself. Only when she ran out of patience did her true feelings start to slip out. Her family had warned her to be careful. Even her tutors had stressed how important it was to master her emotions. She tried, she truly did, but today she was having a hard time keeping it all in.

“You’ve no right to speak to me!” Angelica screeched at Greg. “I only called His Highness here to warn him that he’d been too rash and that his actions are stirring up trouble. This commoner wasn’t even on my mind!” The moment the words slipped past her lips, she knew she’d made a terrible mistake. The color drained from her cheeks, but it was already too late.

“Of course,” Jilk said coldly, his eyes like daggers. “That’s how you really feel.”

“N-no, I—” 

The words caught in her throat as Julius stepped toward her. His eyes burned with fury. “Even you look down on her for her birth, Angelica?”

“No, Your Highness! That wasn’t my meaning when I spoke. What I meant was—”

“If even you hold her in contempt because she’s a commoner, then the other students must feel the same.” The prince nodded to himself. “Now I see just how egotistical our nobles are.” A rumbling, ironic laugh spilled from his chest.

His reaction stunned everyone.

Angelica’s hand shot out, gripping his. “Your Highness, please listen to me. I am not criticizing you over the expulsions. I only wish you’d taken a little more time in handing the punishments down. That’s really all I—”

Julius had a smile on his face, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “What would extra time have accomplished, except to give the perpetrators some way to mount a defense and escape expulsion? No, I don’t expect you to answer that question. You might not be corrupt in that regard, but the same can’t be said for other people. Most students here look down at Olivia for being a commoner, so there’s no telling what they might do to her given the chance.”

“Y-Your Highness…” His words suggested he had some measure of faith in Angelica—that he trusted that she wouldn’t do anything so heinous to Olivia—but he was right that other students might. Still, his words brought her a measure of joy. He still believes in me.

Julius gently peeled her hand from his and turned away from her. “I know for certain now that Jilk was right to propose that we expel the culprits promptly. I can only imagine what dangers she’d have been exposed to had we waited, since the majority of the school looks down on her for her birth. I was too naive; I should’ve been stricter with them.” With that, he took Olivia’s hand in his and slipped out of the room.

The other boys scrambled after the two. Only Jilk stayed behind.

“I’d thank you to leave His Highness alone, Miss Angelica,” he told her.

Angelica scowled at him. “You have no right to make demands of me.”

“But I do,” Jilk shot back, refusing to back down. “His Highness and I shared a nursemaid, so I’m like a brother to him. And having grown up alongside him, I want to devote myself to his best interests.”

“Quit beating around the bush.”

“Give him space for as long as he’s at the academy. You can surely understand that, as an older-brother ­figure, I want him to have as much time as he can with the woman he loves.” It might’ve seemed understandable that Jilk wanted to give Julius freedom until ­graduation—if he hadn’t phrased it as though the crown prince didn’t hold any love for Angelica.

“Is…is His Highness that serious about her?” Angelica’s voice wavered.

Jilk smiled indulgently at her. “Once he graduates, he’ll fulfill his obligations as crown prince and marry you. I don’t see any problem with him enjoying his time here at the academy until then. Do you?” It wasn’t really a question. He was telling her to grin and bear it, since she’d have her whole life with Julius. She just had to be patient.

Angelica hung her head. He makes it sound like I’m nothing but a hindrance to His Highness. Or is it worse than that? Does His Highness dread marrying me? Tears pricked the edges of her eyes.

“I think it’d be best for you to keep your distance from the prince while you’re here at the academy,” Jilk reiterated. “Now then, if you’ll excuse me.” Without waiting for a response, he fled.

Angelica covered her face with her hands. “Your Highness…”

***

“Eeeeek! It’s all slimy! Help meeee!” 

Marie was trapped inside an enormous spiderweb. The more she struggled, the more the silky threads tangled around her body, binding her in place.

“Are you all right, Marie?! Don’t move!”

As we proceeded deeper into the dungeon, we’d reached an enormous, seemingly empty chamber. We’d all let our guards down, and Marie had marched blithely on ahead of us. At that point, a spider had launched itself from the ceiling and captured her. It took mere seconds to wrap Marie up in its web and make off with her. Our raiding party gave frantic chase in hopes of saving her.

“You stupid spiders! Release Marie!” I howled at them, slinging a short sword through the air and piercing the forehead of one of the creatures. It writhed in pain, but the blade hadn’t sunk deep enough to kill it.

“Trust me, I don’t taste good!” Marie shrieked at them. Despite my advice not to move, she continued flailing, looking pretty provocative in the process.

“You dummy! I told you not to move!” Now I was even more anxious to save her, if only to prevent the other guys from seeing her in such a compromising position. These enormous spiders were surprisingly nimble, though; none of my attacks were hitting.

“We must save her!” Lucle was as frantic as me. “Damn it! What a place to encounter a strong enemy. We’ve got rotten luck.” These spiders were a fairly rare monster in the dungeon, so even the third-years were finding them difficult to combat.

I debated using the item Luxion had given me to save Marie. If I did, the whole raiding party would see it, and they’d inevitably have questions for me. Still, if it allowed me to save her, that would be a small price to pay.

I was reaching for that item when Ellie’s voice boomed through the cavern. “Thousand Arrows!” 

She’d taken off her glasses for her incantation, her ponytail whipping through the air behind her. A magic circle manifested in front of her outstretched hand, and from it, a thousand magic arrows burst forth. A single arrow wasn’t very strong alone, but the spell’s power was overwhelming due to sheer numbers. Arcs of light tore rained down on the spiders and cut straight through the webs covering the ceiling.

“Bwah!” Marie cried as she slammed against the floor.

I dropped my hand without grabbing the item and sprinted over to her. I wanted to pull her free of the spiderwebs, but she was thoroughly wrapped up. “Are you okay?!”

“D-do I look okay to you?!” she spat back at me. “If you guys are saving me, you could at least be gentle about it!” She let out a pitiful whine. “I swear I’m like a tragic heroine.” She had been terribly unlucky, getting captured the way she had and then violently dropped to the floor.

“I think you’re more a comedy heroine than anything,” I deadpanned.

“How do you figure?!”

“I’d say that’s pretty obvious.”

I was relieved that she still sounded like her normal self. I turned back to the other spiders, but the battle was already over. Ellie’s magic had pierced each one; they disappeared in puffs of smoke before my eyes.

I was genuinely shocked. “I didn’t know she had that kind of magic.”

The other guys encircled and showered her in praise.

“That was amazing, Ellie!”

“Where’d you learn magic like that? From books, I assume?”

“Whatever stands in our path, we’ll be fine if we have Ellie with us!” Raymond said, then told her, “Since you’re a mage, rest assured, I’ll protect you. I’ll be your knight.” 

He was promptly beaten viciously by the other guys in the group for getting ahead of himself. Ellie froze at the sudden outbreak of violence, but it was Raymond’s own fault for trying to lay claim on her.

I leaned toward Marie. “Did you know she was that powerful?”

“Of course I didn’t. She’s normally locked away in her room. She never shows up to class.” That made sense.

Betty strode over and sprinkled chemicals onto Marie.

“Whoa!” Marie screeched, but when she realized what was happening, she froze. “Wait—the spiderwebs are disappearing.”

Betty sighed at her. “That’s a potion that dissolves cobwebs. You should always bring at least one bottle when you venture into a dungeon.” Like her two friends, Betty normally cooped up to focus on an activity—drawing—so I was shocked that she’d carry such a niche item for our trip. Not even the upperclassmen had thought we’d ever encounter giant spiders, so Betty was surprisingly well prepared.

I whispered to Marie, “So, uh, are your friends secretly way more incredible than we ever gave them credit for or what?”

“Yeah, they’re definitely incredible,” she said haltingly, her view of them having changed as well. “But I wish they were like this all the time.”

I couldn’t have agreed more.