A Scandal

Should I leave? Or should I wait?

This is a chance to enjoy a relaxed and peaceful lunch with my group of fans!

But…

Thinking of Lancera's cheerful and fond gaze, I subconsciously swallowed.

… I'll just wait here for a few seconds.

T-This is out of pity for her! Nothing else, okay?!

Wait!

No. It's not because of her!

I told my maidservant that I would be here with the Hall brat during lunch period. She's the one that'll be supplying me with my lunch, so if I'm not here, she won't be able to find me!

Yes! That's the reason I'm not going anywhere else!

With my eyebrows relaxed, I took a seat on the bench.

But…

Even as the seconds turned into minutes…

Not a trace of Lancera was to be seen.

M-Maybe she got caught up in something and… and she's unable to come on time… yeah, that's it.

"Miss Claremont… p-perhaps Miss Hall is not coming today?" Beside me, the maidservant who had arrived spoke in a quiet voice.

My hands slightly trembled as I set my teacup on the little cart that the maid had brought with her, before shooting the young girl a glare.

A bubble of fury rose up within me.

How dare she even suggest something like that?!

But I soon lowered my harsh gaze.

In the end, she's right.

M-Maybe that Lancera isn't coming.

Pressing my lips into a thin line, I replied to her while wiping my mouth with an elegantly embroidered napkin, "Indeed. Let's go."

I had spotted a group of familiar faces in the surroundings.

Taking a deep breath, I didn't know why my body felt so heavy as I dragged my feet towards the group of fangirls that were standing near me.

- "Hey~Hey~ Did you hear? The new volume of THAT book, is out!"

- "Which? There's too many books that call themselves THAT book these days."

- "Urghhh! You know, the one where SHE is the villainess!"

- "The Villainess and Her Victim?"

- "Mhm! Gosh… OUR princess is just so hot in that one! It should be forbidden for one to be so perfect!! Normally, it's the Hall princess that is ****. But in this book, its Asura that ****."

- "Yep! I can't believe Miss Asura would be so… and be **** and do **** and ****"

(VA Note: All the asterisks are on purpose. Let your imagination RUN WILDDDDD!!!!)

My footsteps froze.

Despite wishing I could go to the church immediately and purify my tainted ears, I urged myself onward. I felt like a lone hero walking against the terrifying storms and icy winds…

I saw from the corner of my eye my maid red as a tomato, and I inwardly squirmed in embarrassment while my facial features twitched ever so slightly.

Usually, I would've been outraged and secretly kill the people that was speaking a thousand times, before torturing them ten thousand times, before kicking them a hundred thousand times, before cursing their ancestors' negligence a million times (In my head of course)… but today, I wasn't in the mood.

"H-Hi there! What are you guys talking about?" I forced an oblivious smile on my face.

"Oh! Nice seeing you, Asura! Would you like to eat lunch with us?" One of the girls, a petite brunette, turned and invited me with an infatuated expression.

The daughter of a duke, Danielle Dyewater.

Even someone from a ducal family is gossiping about the yuri fanfics written about me?!

A-And! Look at her expression!

My back stiffened and suddenly, I no longer wanted to be here. "Haha! U-Unfortunately, I can't. I'll be on my way now, Danielle."

I nodded my head at the group and continued to walk, with my pace getting faster and faster as time passed.

Noticing my maid was having trouble keeping up, I resisted yelling at her in frustration and instead showed a caring and thoughtful smile. "Why don't you rest somewhere? I'll go ahead for now."

"Miss!" The young girl's face brightened and almost immediately went away.

My smile twitched and slowly faded. Am I that terrible of a person to be around?

Shaking my head slightly, I walked around aimlessly around the campus.

Where should I go?

…

It was on my third stroll around the school when I saw something that made me fall into a daze.

In a more hidden place behind the school, there was a man and a woman.

Sounds scandalous, doesn't it?

While I couldn't see the male (he was blocked by his companion), I did notice that the female had long, silky black hair.

Despite there being hundreds of girls in the academy having black hair, I knew, from the bottom of my heart, that this girl would have violet eyes.

... And... Her name would be... Lancera Hall.