I Possessed the Villain’s Childhood Friend – Chapter 35

It’s been a week since Rex ambushed Arcana.

Naturally, Arcana was thrown into chaos.

The barrier of Arcana, known for boasting the most formidable defenses where all the imperial aristocrats gather, had been breached.

All classes were immediately halted, and every student enrolled in Elemental Magic Studies had to cooperate in the investigation.

I wondered if revealing everything I knew about Avatarara might ease things.

I thought about it, but I never put it into action.

Avatarara, which had been lurking in the shadows of the empire’s history for centuries.

Their ability to operate thus far was entirely due to their knack for vanishing completely at the slightest hint of a trail.

If I were to disclose their existence here, it would undoubtedly make the complete eradication of them impossible.

“Who could he have been?”

“Well, I don’t know.”

The Crown Prince was greatly concerned about Rex’s presence.

Of course, no one could remain indifferent, but he seemed to sense something through his instincts.

“I’m glad nobody was seriously injured.”

“That’s thanks to Prince Aike’s efforts.”

For some reason, my reputation had risen in the midst of it all.

Everyone had fallen, yet I alone held my ground, buying time until reinforcements arrived.

Even Ender Dean, who had been suspicious of me, took my hand and praised my struggles.

I didn’t feel like he fought with full strength, but I didn’t want to say something so thoughtless.

One last thing had changed.

“Hello, Prince Aike.”

“Hello. Reina, Miss Sophia.”

For some reason, Reina and Sophia looked exceptionally close.

At some point, the two began to spend time together, and Sophia was definitely smiling.

Gone was the look of fear she had shown until now.

Just in case, I had separately approached Sophia to ask.

“Yes. She’s always been nice to me. If I don’t understand something, she kindly teaches me.”

She answered with a smile.

“I heard you and Prince Aike have been childhood friends. What kind of person is Reina?”

Now, she was even coming to me first to talk about Reina.

When I asked Reina, she only replied with a cold expression that nothing had happened.

Of course, it was a good thing that Reina and Sophia had become closer.

It was proof that all my efforts thus far hadn’t been in vain.

“Prince Aike, you seem to have a lot on your mind lately.”

“Is that so?”

But for some reason.

“Would you like me to give you some advice?”

“It’s alright. I’m just a bit tired lately.”

“Certainly understandable.”

With less time to chat with Reina, I couldn’t help but feel a bit lonely.

★

It was a tidy room.

Not a single item was out of place; it was, quite literally, like new.

“Welcome, Miss Sophia.”

Sophia maintained her composure as she slowly took off her shoes and stepped inside the room.

It felt awkward.

To think I would find myself in the room of someone I never thought I’d meet alone.

“Oh, hello, Reina.”

As she slowly lifted her gaze, there stood a girl.

From the moment Sophia first met her, she could tell she was truly beautiful.

Her platinum blonde hair shimmered, evoking the moonlight.

The violet eyes had a dreamy quality, as if one could become lost in them without realizing.

Her soft sky-blue loungewear and calm demeanor made it feel like she was looking at a doll.

“Is your injured left arm alright?”

“Yes. There’s no scar left. Please, come in. I may not have much prepared…”

On the table, center stage, sat an assortment of expensive snacks that anyone could identify as luxurious.

Had Sophia not enrolled in Arcana, she would never have seen treats of this caliber in her lifetime.

“Thank you.”

“I wanted to prepare something like the last tea party, but…”

“It’s fine. The dean has instructed us to refrain from using external facilities as a precaution.”

Three days had passed, but the shock from the ambush was still fresh.

For that reason, most students were spending their days confined to their dormitory rooms.

Of course, none felt dissatisfied with those measures, but Reina couldn’t help but think it was a bit disappointing that she couldn’t prepare more lavishly.

“…”

As the two sat facing each other, time passed in silence.

‘This is awkward.’

Such thoughts flickered through Sophia’s mind.

It was only natural.

Someone she had thought she would never talk to throughout her time at Arcana.

The girl before her was Reina Rozelia.

Just days ago, Reina had hurled insults at her, and now they were sitting here together.

In fact, it still felt surreal.

“…Miss Sophia.”

It was Reina who broke the ice amidst the awkward atmosphere.

“To be honest, I don’t really know how to start this conversation.”

Her expression remained completely unchanged.

“Yet, there’s one thing I must say. I truly apologize for everything that has happened until now.”

However, seeing Reina slowly bow her head, Sophia somehow felt a sense of sincerity.

“…I’m not sure how to respond. Please, tell me more about what you have to say, Reina.”

Reina looked a bit astonished at Sophia’s answer, then slowly began to share her true feelings.

With no secrets to hide.

★

“In the end, it’s just excuses. No matter how I was raised or the hardships I’ve faced, the fact that I hurled insults at you doesn’t change. Even if it wasn’t my true intent.”

After finishing her story, Reina seemed lost in lamentation.

And Sophia fell into thought.

The strict environment of a Duke’s house and the disappearance of a beloved servant. The disconnect from her childhood friend, Prince Aike.

To Sophia, who was a commoner, almost everything about Reina’s life as a Duke’s daughter was difficult to comprehend.

Especially since it seemed Reina was still hiding something more.

“…Then, why do you want to talk to me?”

Sophia resolved to keep the conversation going.

She believed that Reina’s one-sided apology wouldn’t change the fundamentals of their relationship.

“To be honest, whether or not you apologize, it wouldn’t cause a problem for me. In the end, there’s a clear social divide between us.”

Sophia was right.

The responsibilities bestowed upon nobility were significant, yet so was the power they held.

For someone like Reina, the eldest daughter of a second Duke’s house, the level of power guaranteed would be unimaginable.

It was improbable for someone like her, a special admission student at Arcana, to cause any trouble simply due to having been insulted.

Even though Arcana prided itself on the equality of students, the foundation of their existence was talent, and nobility was an emblem of that talent in the empire.

“Nevertheless, if you’re apologizing to me, there must be a multitude of reasons behind it. I’d like to hear those reasons.”

“….”

Upon hearing that, Reina fell into contemplation.

Was it truly alright to share this aspect with Sophia?

It would be a lie to say she had no worries.

However, Reina slowly gathered her resolve and made a decision.

She would no longer run away.

“I always believed I was alone. Even though I had a close servant and a childhood friend, I believed I would have to walk alone eventually as the Duke’s daughter of Rozelia.”

That was the strict upbringing Reina had known.

The leader was always isolated, as Duke Ricard had taught her.

“But recently, after experiencing several events, I’ve realized it’s more important to search for the precious things I have now rather than despair over an uncertain future.”

If only she had realized this sooner.

When Anna left, when she lost contact with Aike.

Had she acted instead of just thinking, Reina wouldn’t have been so lost.

She would have actively sought out Anna and gone to Arcadia to meet Aike.

Reina regretted that she did nothing back then.

“Now, I want to change. I want to step away from this narrow perspective and small world to learn more about life. Even for the sake of the person who made me realize this.”

“Is that person perhaps Prince Aike?”

“…Yes. The one and only, my knight.”

As Reina spoke, her face flushed, as if she were embarrassed.

In that moment, she seemed like an ordinary girl one could meet anywhere.

Sophia couldn’t help but smile.

The uncomfortable feelings she had held onto began to dissipate, and a single emotion started to take root in her heart.

The feeling she had first experienced upon meeting her.

That she wanted to be friends with this person.

Though she was still a bit frightened, she wished to learn more about this person who could show such an innocent expression.

Thus, it was only natural for Sophia, who liked to tease, to have a smile creeping onto her lips.

“Hmm. But honestly, I’ve found you quite scary until now, Reina. But since I’m a commoner, I suppose I have to follow whatever you say, right?”

“Uh. Ah, um, what should I do?”

Reina genuinely seemed flustered, darting her gaze around in confusion.

Watching her was amusing, but Sophia figured that if she went too far, it might lead to real trouble, so she snapped her fingers and quickly changed the subject.

“Shall we start from the beginning?”

“From the beginning…?”

“Yes! I’m Sophia Eris, a special admission student at Arcana this year. I look forward to our time together.”

Reina was momentarily taken aback by Sophia’s words.

But as she grasped the meaning, she steadied her breath.

Then, placing a hand on her chest, she slowly spoke.

“I am Reina Rozelia, the eldest daughter of the Rozelia Duke House. I look forward to our time together, Miss Sophia.”

“Yes, Reina!”

The two, who would have never understood each other before.

Now, they exchanged gentle smiles across from one another.

“By the way, why me specifically?”

Sophia asked Reina, who was sipping her tea.

Not understanding the question, Reina slightly opened her left eye and gazed at Sophia.

“What do you mean?”

“The prior conversation. If you needed someone to confide in, I believe there are many people around you besides me.”

Just thinking of Helen, it seemed like she got along well with Reina at the tea party.

Aital would have welcomed such a discussion too.

It was a reasonable question for Sophia to ponder.

“I didn’t need someone to discuss my troubles.”

Reina began to explain her question slowly.

“You didn’t leave Arcana after I insulted you multiple times. Instead, you even came to apologize to me. During the ambush, without a shred of doubt, you listened to what I had to say.”

“That’s true.”

“Seeing that, I realized. You’re a truly strong person, unlike me. If I want to change, I thought I ought to learn from nobody but you.”

Discipline was a crucial virtue for self-improvement.

But that didn’t necessarily translate to inner strength.

Reina envied Sophia’s strength in not fleeing, even when she was afraid.

“I’m not that amazing of a person.”

“I wanted to be friends with you, who isn’t such a remarkable person, Sophia.”

Reina spoke with a smile that was undeniably playful.