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Patricia Austin, one of the main heroines of the original work and a steadfast ally to the protagonist Eugene.
Even at first glance, she was a beautiful woman with an air of nobility that was difficult to match even by Iris. Her well-groomed, snow-white hair was clean beyond comparison, and her silver eyes reflected the world like a mirror.
Her family, Austin, was one of the five ducal families of the empire and was also the strongest supporter of the imperial family.
Through generations, the Austins have upheld a strict code of conduct, and Patricia, raised in such an environment, grew up to be an outstanding young lady with both culture and ability.
Even after entering the academy, she faithfully followed the policies of the empire and the academy, and when she became a sophomore, she took on the important task of the disciplinary committee and worked hard to guide those who were undermining the school customs.
As she traversed through her days in the academy, fate brought Eugene into her life.
Attracted to him, Patricia soon becomes close friends with Eugene, and as they go through various events together, she comes to realize her feelings for him. Even when Eugene is chosen as the hero and ordered to defeat evil, Patricia always stays by his side and fights alongside him.
Patricia, with her family's prestige, her own strength, her feelings for Eugene, and even her thoughts and way of thinking most similar to Eugene's, was always the strongest and most reliable ally by his side in the original work.
But to me now, she was nothing more than an annoying and troublesome existence.
"Oh… aren't you Senior Austin? It's been a long time."
"…It's been a long time."
When I give a soulless greeting, she reluctantly nodded her head with an unwilling expression.
"Are you here to see that commoner? Unfortunately, I don't think he's in the classroom."
"I know. I didn't come to see Eugene today. I came to see you."
As soon as the word "commoner" came out of my mouth, Patricia narrowed her eyes and frowned. As if she had heard something she didn't want to hear; then she looked at Ellie behind me and made a fleeting expression of sadness and compassion.
When she felt Patricia's gaze on her, Ellie avoided those gazes and completely hid her body behind me. Then, Petricia's expression instantly changed to a fierce one and she glared at me.
"Edwin Reed. From the way you speak, it seems you haven't reflected on your mistakes at all. I clearly told you that mentioning your status directly is prohibited by the rules. Really, what on earth was Professor Erasmus thinking…"
Her eyes were filled with disgust as she looked at me. Judging by her words, it seems she came to find me after talking to Professor Erasmus.
It seems that the professor's promise to persuade her has turned out to be nothing more than an empty bubble.
"I won't make this long. Release that child immediately. And for what you've done…"
"I'm sorry, but I don't think this is something for you to interfere with, senior. The disciplinary committee has already been here several times to check."
"Edwin Reed. How dare you say that…!"
Patricia was furious, but there was nothing she could do to stop me now. No matter how it looked to others, as long as Ellie didn't testify, there was no way to prove my guilt.
That was the loophole I exploited in the first place.
Patricia may know that, but I think she came here anyway to try to do something.
"Well, I will admit that my 'commoner' remark was a slip of the tongue. Please forgive me, or feel free to punish me with demerit points as you see fit. I have business to attend to, so I must go now. Goodbye."
While not as intense as Eugene, dealing with Patricia was just as exasperating. The more we interacted, the more apparent it became. As we continued to talk in parallel lines, her anger only seemed to grow.
Since I already had the professor's assurance, there was nothing she could do to me. The only problem was that Patricia came looking for me too soon, before I could make my move.
As I was about to greet her casually and slip away, Patricia suddenly grabbed my hand and tried to take Ellie away, "Wait! Before you go, let that child go…!"
"Don't touch her!!"
But her attempt was foiled when I quickly pulled Ellie towards me.
"…Hiccup."
Ellie ended up in my arms. It somehow reminded me of the time I met Iris.
"Senior Austin. Isn't it a bit too rough for a young lady of a prestigious family? Don't touch other people's things without permission."
"I…I…other people's things…hiccup."
I immediately let go of Ellie, but she hiccupped softly, startled by the sudden loud noise. And seeing Ellie like that, I felt the anger that had been rising inside me subside somewhat.
I wondered why I was so angry with Patricia, even though I had nothing to do with her personally. But thinking about it, there was a reason. We didn't have a good relationship before I lost my memory, and I didn't like her very much because her personality was similar to Eugene's.
"Other people's things! And what do you mean, don't touch them? Edwin Reed. She's not an object you can do whatever you want with! Release her immediately!!"
Patricia continued to yell at me, her expression outraged, as if she had been provoked by my casual reference to Ellie. And seeing her like that, the anger I had barely managed to suppress felt like it was going to explode again.
"Senior Austin. I'll say it again. Don't touch other people's things without permission. I used to respect you a little, senior, for always emphasizing manners and morals, but now I see that none of that applies to you."
—O…!
"Edwin Reed. What are you saying…"
Patricia's expression became even colder as she heard my words. She clenched her teeth and glared at me, looking like she was about to attack me at any moment.
"That's enough, Austin."
And then, at that moment, a familiar woman's voice is heard from the end of the corridor.
Bright purple hair, blazing red eyes, and a confident, even arrogant tone of voice.
With a dignified gait that befits all of that, my cousin, Estelle, appeared from the other side.
* * * * *
"Silla…"
With her unexpected appearance, Patricia turned her head and furrowed her proud brow.
"Austin, I clearly warned you. If you persist in harassing my brother for trivial reasons, I won't stand idly by. Yet here you are, ignoring my words and engaging in such antics? Have you stooped so low as to match the commoner's level, even in intellect?"
As Silla approached and took her place between Patricia and me, it felt as though she was enveloping me in protection. She briefly glanced at me with a light smile before swiftly turning to Patricia, her expression turning cold in an instant. It was a face I hadn't seen often, one that appeared only when she was genuinely enraged.
"And is my brother wrong? No matter how I look at it, it seems like she's just following our Edwin around after seeing his charm. Even if you are a leader, isn't it overstepping your bounds to meddle in such things?"
"Silla. Are you calling that charming? Just by looking at him?"
The tension between the two was palpable. It seemed as if sparks could fly from their gazes alone. Patricia, who had always addressed me with respect, now openly showed hostility towards Silla, speaking to her in an informal manner.
Their relationship, like oil and water, was irreconcilable and on full display.
"Why? I haven't said anything inappropriate. Don't you have eyes to see? What's so wrong about it? Among people I know, there are those who, despite putting on airs, readily accommodate commoners. Compared to that, isn't this rather forgivable?"
"You!!"
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"Austin. Why are you so angry? I wasn't even talking about yourself."
Even as Estelle said her words, she continued to walk her steps. The distance between the two had become really close, and now their noses were almost touching.
"Enough. Your words now are an insult not just to me but to my family…"
"Ha, insult? Fine, what will you do about it then? Trying to do to me what you did to Edwin? Go ahead. I'm genuinely curious about what you plan to do."
"…Silla. How dare you…"
"Austin, don't be mistaken," Estelle said, her lip curling in a sneer. "I told you not to keep trying to bite me. What makes your family so great, anyway? How dare you speak of insulting Silla?"
"Your family only rose to its current position because your ancestors faithfully served as dogs," Estelle continued. "And that's all you'll ever be. So why do you keep trying to stand next to noble blood like a mongrel? Huh?"
"Hah, Silla. You really have a big ego. Don't you think you're the one who's mistaken? Anyone would think your family is the royal family. If you were so great, you would be the emperor, but now you're stuck in that backwater."
Patricia, who had been pushed back by Estelle the whole time, suddenly counterattacked. What she was now touching on was Estelle, and even more, a taboo among taboos for her family.
The conversation between the daughters of a prestigious family continued with an unbelievable back and forth.
Perhaps Patricia's counterattack worked properly, Estelle, who was in good spirits, momentarily stopped. And her anger erupted even colder and more fiercely.
"…I think I need to teach you a lesson. Good. I'll take care of your gang while I'm at it…." Estelle muttered and tried to take off the white gloves she was wearing. Patricia swallowed her saliva and prepared to respond to Estelle's actions.
As it happens, there was also a witness named me, and Estelle appeared to be challenging Patricia to a duel with her. But no matter how fair the duel was, this was a big deal that couldn't be compared to what happened to Eugene and I.
If Silla and Austin, who were in charge of the main axis of each faction, collide, the aftermath will be enormous regardless of victory or defeat.
Estelle knew that and had always been restrained, but now she seems to have lost a lot of her coolness for some reason. While watching the battle between the two, it was fortunate that my mind at least calmed down.
Now it was I who should stop the fight.
"Senior Austin. Stop it. Sister too."
Just before Estelle threw off her gloves, I stepped in between them. Estelle, who had been staring at Patricia, was surprised.
"Edwin, what are you doing now…!"
"Sister. Calm down. You're not acting like yourself. How can you be so angry about something like this?"
"Something like this! You're now...!"
Estelle was about to snap back at me, but she stopped for a moment. Then she took a few deep breaths and quickly regained her senses. Estelle, who had returned to her usual expression, smiled at me lightly, "…Yeah. You're right. I don't need to waste my energy on this kind of thing. Okay, I got it, so get out of here."
I was worried that my persuasion wouldn't work, but fortunately Estelle seemed to have that much sanity left. I sighed in relief and stepped aside at her request.
"Austin. You should be grateful. You are worth a thousand things, and yet my brother saved your dignity, which is what nobility is all about."
Estelle even used my actions of intervening in the fight to attack Patricia.
Patricia muttered softly as she glared at me and Estelle in turn with an expression of anger., "…Silla. I will never forget today's insult."
"Whether you forget or not, that's up to you. Give me penalty points or not. Edwin. Originally, I was going to meet you and have a chat, but I wasted my time on something so useless. Follow me. There's still some time."
Estelle responded indifferently to Patricia's words and beckoned me to pass by Patricia, and I looked behind her and gave Ellie a quick glance.
Ellie, who noticed my signal, nods her head very slightly and steps back, and I follow Estelle up the stairs of the stone tower.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere…"
Behind me, I could faintly hear Patricia approaching Ellie and asking about her condition.
If you want to read the first 25 chapters for free and read up to the final chapter for a cheap price patreon.com/Makima02