"Where is she!?"
Patricia pressed in before Alicia could even get a word out.
"Was she with you? Until when? Where was the last place you saw her?"
"Wait—hold on, you’re being very sudden," Alicia stammered, backing away. She was clearly overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of Patricia, who until now had always maintained a facade of effortless composure.
"Hey, take a breath. Calm down," I said, stepping between them. "Alicia, you visited me in the waiting room before the match, right?"
"Yes. After you left, Ragna, she curled up on my lap like a cat for a while. Then she said she had to get back to work and headed out."
Taking advantage of my absence to claim Alicia's lap... though I suppose that was nothing new for her.
"You. Sit down," Patricia commanded.
"What?"
"Just sit."
"Fine, fine..."
As I watched Alicia take a seat on the bench, Patricia immediately buried her face in Alicia’s lap.
"Right here," Patricia murmured. "This will do."
"What exactly is 'doing' what?" I asked, bewildered.
Patricia returned to her previous position with a brazen, indifferent look, leaving Alicia and me staring in stunned silence. Only moments ago, she’d been cackling like a classic villain, but this new streak of eccentricity was a bit much to handle.
"Anyway, back to the point," Patricia said. "What 'work' was she talking about? A class event?"
"Student Council business," Alicia replied. "She’s a Student Council Officer."
Since the conversation seemed to be flowing normally, I decided to keep my mouth shut. Alicia didn't seem particularly bothered, and I assumed they’d reached a silent agreement to set aside their past grievances in the face of this emergency.
"The Student Council?" Patricia asked, her brow furrowing. "Why would she—a girl so terrified of nobility—join a council full of prideful brats?" She paused, a look of sudden realization crossing her face. "That idiot baldy..."
"Bingo," I confirmed.
Edward had been the one to pull the strings. We’d never had any interest in the Student Council, and Mariana certainly wouldn't have joined under normal circumstances.
Edward had twisted the narrative. Just because he wanted to fight me, he’d invented plausible excuses to recommend me and everyone in my orbit for the council.
"In the first place," I added, "the only reason the council was empty enough for us to join is because you went around building that reverse harem. Everyone else turned into a brainless idiot because of you."
While it was technically better to select officers from the high nobility to avoid political friction, the grades of everyone under Patricia’s influence had plummeted. We had become the top academic performers by default. Even the son of House Pentagram had fallen into ruin, and I hadn't seen Volzea's grandson—that playboy from House Cascade—around enough to know if he was even still enrolled.
"They became idiots on their own," Patricia scoffed. "Don't blame me for their weakness."
"I suppose that's fair."
"Besides, isn't it satisfying to see those brats who coast on their parents' titles fall apart? You think so too, don't you? In your heart of hearts."
"Don't lump me in with you," I said, though I didn't entirely disagree.
"Well, enough with the pointless chatter. If you know where she is, lead the way. Where are we going?"
"She’s likely at the Handsome Man Contest Venue," Alicia said. "There’s another officer there who’s been neglecting his duties, and I think she went to drag him back."
"Is that so? Then let’s move. We're wasting time."
The sheer gall of this woman. She was the one who had wasted the most time with her little lap-pillowing stunt.
That’s my spot, by the way.
As we followed the briskly walking Patricia, Alicia leaned closer and whispered, "Mariana... she’s really the Saint?"
"Yeah," I replied.
Alicia gave a small, weary laugh. "I really am in the dark about everything, aren't I?"
Her words stung. She was right; there were far too many things I hadn't told her. Even now, listening to me and Patricia talk, she was being pushed to the periphery.
"I'm sorry."
I wanted to say something clever, something that would make it all better, but no matter how much I racked my brain, the words wouldn't come. A nagging fear held me back—the fear that if I told her everything, I would only be dragging her deeper into a nightmare.
"Oh? A lovers' spat?" Patricia chirped. "A man who keeps secrets is trash. Utter trash."
"Keep your mouth shut."
"Hmph. Besides..." Patricia suddenly turned her gaze toward Alicia. "You chose the path of ignorance yourself, didn't you?"
"What?" Alicia blinked.
"It’s the smartest move, honestly," Patricia said with a sharp, knowing smile. "If you’ve decided to play the part of the oblivious girl after I humiliated you, you’ll likely live a lot longer. If you hang around this barbaric idiot, you’ll run out of lives before you know it. If you want to keep the life you’ve salvaged, your best bet is to stay quiet, stay uninformed, and stay away."
Patricia, who likely knew the tragic end Alicia was destined for in the 'game,' delivered her warning with brutal finality.
"That’s..." Alicia trailed off, unable to find a retort.
She wasn't wrong. Within the influence of the Royal Capital Guardian Barrier, where destiny and logic were being forcibly rewritten, the safest thing was to stay off the stage entirely. That was why I had reflexively pushed her away and protected her from a distance within the Academy.
"Maybe you're right," Alicia said softly, coming to a halt. "In that case, perhaps I should stay—"
"Alicia."
I stopped and reached out my hand to her. I wasn't going to let her be left behind. If I only explained everything after the danger had passed, she would have spent the entire time suffering in doubt and worry.
"You know the story about the Royal Capital Guardian Barrier? About how the Hero fell halfway through and I took up his mantle?"
"Yes," she said. "I heard. You're going to fulfill that promise now, aren't you?"
"Actually, there was another part of that story. In that version, the Hero is the protagonist, and the heroine is a dragon."
"I don't... follow."
I looked her in the eye and continued. "That dragon is you, Alicia."
"What?"
"The dragon proposed to the Hero, but he turned her down for complicated reasons. Even so, the dragon loved him so much that she took human form to support the Hero's bloodline from the shadows. That was the origin of House Oldwood."
I’d only heard the details from Sebas, but I knew he wasn't the type to lie about something like this.
"I... that's a lot to take in all of a sudden," Alicia stammered.
"I was wondering what kind of nonsense you were going to spout," Patricia groaned, her irritation mounting. "What exactly is the point of this?"
Right. This wasn't going quite as smoothly as I’d hoped. I’d intended to be honest and then ask her to come with me, but I’d just ended up making things awkward.
"Well, you see... it's just... through all these years, after everything that's happened, we ended up engaged. It's like... destiny? Or something? I mean, it’s pretty moving when you think about it. Right? Yeah?"
"Pfft—hahaha!"
As I stood there stammering like a fool, Alicia burst into laughter. The shadow of anxiety vanished from her face.
"It’s been a while since I've seen you get this flustered, Ragna."
"I’m sorry..." I muttered. I really was a man of the Brave family—wholly unsuited for delicate conversations.
"Actually, I think I prefer you this way," Alicia said, a genuine smile returning to her lips. "It’s easier to trust."
"I'm glad to hear it."
"You’re trying to say that since I’m a part of this history, I have a reason to be there with you. But... I think there’s a much simpler way to say it."
"You're right." I took the hand she offered me. "Mariana is in danger. Let's go save our friend."
"Yes. Are you sure you're okay with me coming along?"
"Of course. I want to show everyone that everything worked out. And that we’re meant to be together."
I wasn't going to die again, and I wasn't going to lose. I would fulfill the wishes that had been entrusted to me.
"Oh, for heaven's sake," Patricia grumbled. "Stop staring into each other's eyes and move!"
"Hey, we're having a moment here. Do you mind shutting up and disappearing from my field of vision?"
"You are so annoying! Annoying, annoying, annoying! Fine! I'm going on ahead!"