CH 113

One year and several months after the mock battle the after-school classroom was bleak.

Winter is on the border of spring and everyone has their own thoughts and feelings but it is not……for them to have complicated feelings. It is because of the war of tongues that is going on in the seat next to mine.

“I wish you’d make up your mind which side you’re going to be on.”

“Huh? I’m the third daughter, so I don’t need you to tell me that.”

Next to me was a black-haired girl looking down on me and a cherry-red-haired girl. The two are in the same class, despite the fact that the school year has started and the classes have been changed.

“The girl who is organizing the students of the frontier territory and forming a faction, what do you have to say about it? My recommendation is to be on the Prime Minister’s side. Quickly, go wag your tail to the eldest son of Orrard.”

“Ha-ha-ha. Is it okay for Ms. Claire, who is on the royal side, to say such a thing?”

“Of course not. I can’t wait to destroy it.”

“Oh? Do you want to do it? I don’t mind at all.”

The air was even colder, as if it was about to freeze. In addition to the sharpness of their conversation, the content of the conversation was also about factions. It was no wonder I felt cold.

The school is already to some extent separated into two major factions, Claire’s royalist faction and Alfred’s Prime Minister faction, with the rest being neutral. Among the neutrals, Mist has gathered the nobles around the Piazon territory to form a large faction.

Naturally, there are people from all factions in this class, but instead of getting between these two, they quickly leave. That’s how scared they are.

I got up from my seat to avoid getting caught in the middle but at that moment, I heard a voice.

“If you care so much about neutrality, there’s one more house to worry about, isn’t there? Hey, Chris!”

Mist called my name. Damn, one step too late! I really want this to stop already! Suppressing my aching stomach, I have no choice but to turn around and answer.

“Oh no, I don’t know what you mean. I’m a little confused, can I leave?”

When I said that, Claire looked at me with a somewhat awkward and sad face. I felt awkward too when she looked at me like that.

Since the mock battle, Claire and I have been in an awkward relationship.

I did not see it at all when I was fighting with Mist, but after the mock battle, Claire has been troubled and depressed for a long time. It was so dark that it was already painful to watch, but she did not continue to be depressed for a long time.

However, Mist told me that Claire is still struggling with guilt over the way she beat me up. I told her that she should apologize to me to make me feel better, but for some reason, Claire has not apologized.

I don’t know why, but my guess is that there is no way she can apologize for beating me up. That’s what I think Claire is thinking.

Well, that’s why Claire can’t apologize to me even if she wanted to, and she still feels guilty about it. However, she has never done anything to me. Since the mock battle, she has been making cute gestures in front of me.

At first, I thought she was still interested in me. However, since she seemed to be trying to attract my attention instead of trying to get involved with me like before, I thought she was trying to make me think that “the girl you missed is such a nice girl.”

On second thought, maybe that’s why he never apologized.

I don’t know what to say, but the fact that I don’t understand Claire at all is probably the cause of my awkwardness.

“I don’t like this atmosphere.”

Mist uttered, perhaps unable to bear the awkward atmosphere.

“I don’t know what you don’t like about this atmosphere, but I’m going home.”

Mist’s face brightened as I said this and she stood up.

“Well, I’m leaving too! Chris, come home with me!”

“Hey, wait!”

The moment Mist held her bag, Claire stopped Mist with a loud voice. Mist looked at Claire with such a jittery look.

“What? Claire? Don’t tell me you’re trying to interrupt us leaving school, are you?”

“What? No!”

“What do you want?”

“Well, that’s……not what we were talking about earlier!”

“I’m neutral right now and I won’t change my mind no matter what you say. I’m done.”

“Damn!”

Claire bites her teeth in frustration and gives me a look like she wants me to help her. No, I don’t care if she does that…….And I don’t even know why she wants me to help…….

Mist grins at a frustrated Claire and hugs my arm!

“Let’s go, Chris-kun!”

“Wait, Mist!”

“What’s the matter, Chris?”

In contrast to Claire, who made a resentful face, Mist looked up at me with a grin on her face. Mist’s lax eyes met mine straight on, and I averted my gaze upward, strangely embarrassed. But I still felt the fluffy feeling on my arm that made my face hot……

“……!”

The moment I felt my heart beating fast in my chest, Mist took a short breath and let go of my arm. I looked at Mist, thinking it was strange that she let go so easily and saw that her cherry-white lips were pouting and her cheeks were slightly tinted pink.

What is this reaction?

While I was puzzled by Mist’s unexpected reaction, someone suddenly called out to me from behind.

“Hey!”

I turn around to see Alice who started talking while wiggling her fingers.

“I want to go home too……”

I was tempted to ask why Alice was there, but I wanted to leave as soon as possible, so I opened my mouth.

“No, I have something to do today, so I can’t go with you.”

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

After saying goodbye to the three of them, I came to a room on the top floor. Sitting on a sofa made of animal fur and in poor taste, an overweight man asked haughtily,

“What can I do for you?”

I replied clearly to Alfred in front of me.

“I want you to bring me into the faction of the House of Orrard.”