Presently, we were in the academy's cafeteria.
I was standing by Lucretia's side with my hands behind my back, contemplating whilst she ate, but she seemed to have paused halfway through to turn and stare at me for some reason.
"...Is something wrong?"
Slowly, as if taking something in, she opened her mouth.
"Will you not eat?"
Reflexively, I glanced at the line of noble students being served trays with food of all sorts.
"I don't think they serve non-students."
'Besides, I had plenty to eat this morning. I also have some snacks in the Storage, so I'm fine either way.'
I wasn't really hungry thanks to that masterful chef in the residence feeding me more breakfast than I was ever used to, so I felt like I could go for a while without eating anything.
Despite that, Lucretia either seemed to not get the memo, or simply not care.
"It matters not. With my permission, you may eat irrespective of the academy's rules."
"I appreciate the concern, but I'm alright."
Although her expression didn't change much, it felt like her eyes narrowed slightly. Was it just me?
"...I cannot be having the man who is supposed to act as my bodyguard skipping his meals. Do you understand?"
"Ah, I'm really not hungry, though..."
"..."
She continued to glare at me, seemingly not knowing how to respond to my stubbornness, but what could I say? I simply wasn't hungry. For someone used to eating no more than a single cup of noodles, a sandwich, or a simple bowl of cereal for a meal, a full breakfast like the one I had barely managed to stuff in this morning was enough to last me until late into the afternoon, at least.
Even if I wanted to eat, whether I would be able to keep down more than a few mouthfuls was doubtful.
"Fine. Have it your way."
Eventually, she whipped her head back to her own food and resumed eating. I couldn't tell if the impression I was getting was wrong, or if she really was begrudged.
I have no idea why she would be, though.
'She really is a different person compared to yesterday, huh...'
I recalled that scene: the distraught girl from back then, a young lady at her wits' end―with vague streaks of tears rolling down her cheeks that reflected faintly under the moonlight, like a scene plucked right out of a drama series―was nowhere to be seen.
As if that segment was no more than a dream, all I could see in her now was the individual known as the Young Lady Archduchess, and even from that noble aura alone, I was able to recognise immediately just why she was recognised as the Antagonist and no one else.
Even just sitting here, quietly eating by herself, she emanated this silent pressure so that no other students dared to sit and eat at the same table as her. Regardless of if it meant they had to take their meal and go eat elsewhere, even if they had to move outside the cafeteria altogether, they would do so if it meant not having to dine with the "Villainess".
At least, that was the sort of mutual sentiment I could gather from the observant, wary crowd. It was funny, but at the same time, evoked a sense of stark loneliness.
Eventually, however―and perhaps as was only inevitable―this momentary tranquility was soon shattered.
"Lady Lucretia...!"
Of course, neither I, nor the person whose name had been called, needed to see the face of the person who called her to figure out their identity. That whiny, high-pitched voice was one I would never forget after all that god-forsaken crying this morning, after all.
'Oh, god...'
The Protagonist stormed up to the two of us, Lucretia shooting her a lazy sidelong glance from her seat.
"...Lady Tichá. Might there be a problem? I presume you are aware that your current actions are, in fact, quite disrespectful, and as a matter of course, rather inelegant for a lady of your standing."
Appearing to fume at Lucretia's calm, yet stern admonishment, the Protagonist pointed a finger at her quite rudely.
"Disrespectful? Then, what do you call not allowing Sir Enki to eat!? No matter if he is your attendant or not, you can't treat someone like that! It's simply not acceptable...!"
My brows impulsively furrowed when I heard those words, but I immediately undid the act to not let such a frown show on my face. It was also a struggle to keep my mouth shut when my name was suddenly brought up out of nowhere, but when I thought about it, this event was likely due to me being recognised as one of those aforementioned 「targets of interest」.
'Then, does that mean this kind of thing is gonna happen more often from now on...?'
Honestly, the thought alone was enough to sap all energy from my body.
There was no time to dread the notion, however.
"...What?"
Despite being an Antagonist, she still lived as an ordinary resident of this world―Lucretia naturally didn't know anything about the existence called a Protagonist, nor details about a Beloved or anything like that.
As someone who lived in that sort of 'reality', it only made sense for her to be confused by the Protagonist's abrupt confrontation and frankly ridiculous remarks.
Only I, who had knowledge of what a Protagonist really was, even if that knowledge was yet incomplete, could understand it.
...I think, finally, I was beginning to properly comprehend the Librarian's explanation.
The existence known as a Protagonist wasn't something that existed in the 'real world', but rather in the 'essence'.
Something that didn't exist 'there', that should never exist 'there'.
――And yet something that would destroy 'there' regardless.
Perhaps even, that's precisely why it was such a parasite―a blight, a plague, and a terribly cancerous thing. It wasn't something natural, something that belongs.
Lucretia also didn't know about the earlier 「scene」, and so in her eyes, the Protagonist and I should have nothing to do with each other.
On the other hand, thanks to what I had learned earlier, I held an inkling as to why the Protagonist was acting in this bizarre manner.
Of course, even if I more or less understood the reasoning behind it, the fact that she could confront Lucretia whilst so oblivious to all prior existing context, with absolutely nil self-awareness, yet still able to so confidently assert her nonsensical self-righteousness was just...
"Do you not even realise how unfair your commands are? Look at him standing there; you won't even let him sit down! How could you?!"
'...Fucking crazy.'