After passing through their respective portals, Lillian and Marionette appeared in what was a bustling bazaar. Merchants who were given access to this realm sold a variety of items that could be described as wondrous to Lillian.
Marionette glanced around before calling out to Lillian, "Which direction?"
"H-huh? Oh! Since the Marketplace of Wonders is east of the Academy, we should head east." She pointed in a direction.
"Are you sure that's east?"
Lillian nodded confidently. For someone like her who had completed the game in its entirety, memorising the layout of the academy is a piece of cake to her.
Just as they were going to walk in that direction, Lillian froze and stared up at Marionette, who also stopped to stare back at her. "Didn't your family tell you about these things?"
Marionette raised an eye at her, "Quite the personal question you're asking."
"Eh? Aren't we friends? You even said it yourself!"
She rolled her eyes when she heard that, "I said that so the teacher doesn't get suspicious. Being friends with a Roselle is a very prestigious thing, Ms..."
Marionette then slowed down and stared intently at Lillian before asking her something that would've made her trip if she had been walking.
"What's your name?"
Lillian smiled wryly, her eyelids twitching a bit before answering, "Arius. Lillian Ker Arius, Ms. Roselle." Marionette nodded and folded her arms, "Now that we're properly introduced, are there any more personal questions you would like me to deny answering? I believe there isn't much time left."
"H-how about you leaving your apartment so late?"
"I woke up late."
"... That's it?"
"That was it."
Lillian watched as she nonchalantly said that without even a change in expression. She was baffled at how this woman, who was the villainess of the heroine, mind you, and also the heir of a dangerous family, casually "woke up late".
She gave a deep sigh and began to move her legs one after the other, of course, freezing again when she noticed a bright light appearing behind her.
She turned her body to it and gazed at it curiously. It was another portal, but brown. That was when a spark of realisation occurred inside her mind. She quickly stepped away from it but was unfortunately unable to dodge the person lunging through it.
THUD!
"Ouch... how harsh of that teacher! Couldn't she have been a little gentler with meh?" A beautiful girl with dark purple hair and bright yellow eyes groaned as she landed on something soft.
The girl, like them, wore the exact same blazer and skirt, but minus the cardigan and instead wore a brown tie.
Her eyes then glanced up towards a woman with crimson-red eyes staring down at her. She raised a brow at her before pushing herself off whatever she landed on - causing whatever under her to groan a bit.
"Hm? Oh, howdy there! Didn't mean to land on ya." The girl stared down at Lillian. She then glanced at her hand that was on top of Lillian's breast.
She then smiled perversely, "Well, well, well~... to think I'd catch myself a beauty like yourself." Her hand groped Lillian's left breast, garnering a glare from her.
She was then swiftly kicked off by Marionette, who stared disdainfully at her.
"Quite inappropriate of you to do that. Show some decency in public."
The girl just laughed it off. After getting off the floor and dusting herself off, she shot a smirk at Marionette, "Can ya blame me? If you saw a beauty below ya, would you NOT grope them just a little?"
"I'd rather not answer such a perverse question." She then turned away from the lecherous girl and towards Lillian, who had just gotten herself off the floor.
"Can you walk, Ms. Arius?" She asked, watching Lillian glare at the smirking Millis, who blew her a kiss. Lillian turned towards Marionette with a soft, playful smile. (3)
"Maybe... are you willing to carry me if I can't?"
"You're talking as if we're friends."
"So... is that a yes or a no...?"
Marionette huffed before turning around and walking in the direction Lillian had previously pointed.
Lillian sighed before having a certain boob-groping girl pat her back, comforting her, "Don't be so down, chum! I'm sure you can win her over! Perhaps even get her into bed if ya tried!"
"Huuuh...?" Lillian gave the girl a strange expression.
In response, she chuckled before holding out her hand for a handshake, "The name's Millis! Millis Vellen! A pleasure to meet ya! How 'bout you? What's your name?"
"Lillian Arius. And I guess likewise..."
Lillian couldn't help but accept the warm handshake. Millis's friendly behaviour was quite infectious.
"... Quite the soft hand ya got there! Ya wanna touch mine as well?" Millis said while gesturing towards her left chest, weirding Lillian out even more, "No, I don't!" (10)
Hopefully, Millis's perverted nature doesn't spread to Lillian.
Millis laughed and pulled Lillian by the hand in the direction Marionette went. Lillian sighed, 'So not only did I meet the Nonchalant Villainess but also... the Perverted Heroine...'
She moved her free hand towards her necklace, 'This necklace is no joke as expected of a rank closest to the Gods.'