It's Not Like I Want to Play the Role of a Misunderstood, Good-for-Nothing Prince in a Villainess Story! - Chapter 66 – Apparently Even Middle Schoolers Are Further Along

“Hmm…”

After everyone finished self-introductions, we disbanded for the day.

Misty was apparently going somewhere with her father today and left hurriedly, while Larba and the others went home while flaunting their lovey-dovey act to us.

Also, Larba didn’t show any signs of falling for Misty when she saw her.

It felt like she only had eyes for Driema now.

Also, Larba aside, I never expected Driema to actually stay back a year for Larba’s sake.

“…I wonder how far along those two are.”

I don’t think this country had any age restriction laws, and worst case, they could manage anything with financial power.

With that level of flirting, they definitely haven’t stopped at just hand-holding and hugs like me…

Should I ask?

Like, how far have things progressed?

“…………”

I can’t ask! I’m sure they’d answer if I asked. Larba is absolutely kind to me compared to her reputation at school, but I still can’t ask.

This is the type where being too close makes it harder to ask.

“What are you muttering about in the hallway?”

“Whoa!”

I turned around thinking someone was there…

“Oh, it’s just you.”

“What do you mean ‘just’?”

Stella was standing there.

“Why are you in a place like this? There are no more classes today, it’s over. Also, did you finish meeting your training group?”

“Yes, we just finished. The two upperclassmen and three classmates all said they were stopping somewhere on the way home and left first.”

“Ah…”

Come to think of it, this girl has no friends, huh?

That said, since we’re in different classes, I can’t say anything about that.

“Live strong.”

“Can I punch you?”

Don’t do that, you’ll lose even more friends.

“More importantly, follow me.”

I was then dragged to a nearby empty classroom.

What is it? The situation hasn’t changed much from when we exchanged information before.

“Thank you.”

“Hm?”

“You know, about Father.”

“Ah, don’t worry about it. It just worked out well personnel-wise.”

If Stella’s old man had been useless, the story would’ve been different, but he seemed competent.

“Apparently his salary is increasing, so starting next month I won’t have to worry about lunch.”

“That’s good.”

If that’s all she wanted to talk about, I’ll head home.

Just as I tried to leave the classroom, I was stopped.

“What now?”

“So, from what I heard, doesn’t it sound like Father ended up belonging to your faction?”

Ah, that.

“That can’t be helped. It’s how things went. I didn’t think it would flow that way either, but His Majesty and Count Tufal raised him to quasi-baron, and Count Tufal spoke with that kind of atmosphere, so I learned later that was the flow.”

“For all that, it seems Count Tufal likes you. Didn’t you arrange things behind the scenes?”

“No way, there’s no way that happened.”

To begin with, Count Tufal has been leaning toward my faction lately. I wonder why.

“Father praised you too. He said the Count was impressed by how accurately you filled the holes in the blueprints he made.”

“Anyone could do that much if they understood the surrounding topography, the distribution of monsters in the area, and the combat strength of the garrisoned knights. Well, regarding the topography and monster distribution maps, I memorized about ten years’ worth after finding the hot spring. I memorized it all at once, so there might be gaps.”

“Wait, you memorized all of that? Ten years’ worth?”

“Of course. I couldn’t point things out without memorizing it. Actually, I was a bit worried about what I’d do if things differed from information older than the ten years I memorized.”

“…………”

Also, the fact that he was impressed might well have been an act.

Like the saying goes about flattery making even pigs climb trees—he might have deliberately praised to reassure Stella’s old man that my faction was fine.

Count Tufal is actually a shrewd old man too.

Like with Marquis Ribauto, it’s not impossible that while things seemed to be going well, he was being played in someone’s palm.

I’m still lacking when it comes to those kinds of political maneuverings.

“…………”

“What, why did you suddenly go quiet?”

“Nothing, I just thought it was a bit creepy.”

“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?”

Stella ignored my complaint and changed the subject.

“More importantly, what are you planning to do about Misty Claudia going forward?”

What am I planning to do, she asks.

“I’m not planning anything.”

“Make sure you don’t cheat.”

“I won’t.”

“I’ll at least watch over you when you’re exposed on the pillory.”

“I don’t need that.”

Conversely, what am I supposed to do when warmly gazed upon while fitted in a guillotine stock?

That’s basically expecting me to not make the same mistake in my next life.

No! I won’t make mistakes though! Abandoning Misty to cheat is absolutely forbidden!

“By the way, how far along are you two?”

“Eh, you’re asking that? You can just casually ask something like that?”

“Of course I’ll ask. If things don’t go well with you, I might get caught up in it too.”

“That won’t…”

I was about to say it wouldn’t happen, but come to think of it, this girl’s father was practically in my faction.

Then she’d probably suffer collateral damage too.

It was a bit embarrassing, but when I told her about holding hands at a party dance and hugging once, Stella was shocked.

“Eh, why?”

“What do you mean why…”

“Middle schoolers? No, even middle schoolers are further along. Why have you only done that much?”

Even if you say that.

“I mean, I don’t know how far is acceptable in an engagement between nobles. Also, there wasn’t anything like that with Misty in the game.”

“That’s because the game’s Zeke chose Stella, right? Also, the game’s Zeke probably went all the way with Stella.”

“Eh, really?”

“Of course. Otherwise, why would the game’s Zeke choose Stella? Well, strictly speaking, there was spreading bad rumors and various other things, so I don’t think that was the only reason. But it’s one of the reasons, right? Also, you didn’t notice?”

“Not at all.”

I didn’t notice.

What I was thinking was stuff like “why are there so many execution variations” and “the creators must have really hated Zeke.”

“Wait, so have other classmates with betrothed already done it?”

“That’s… I wonder. I don’t have friends or a betrothed, so about that… but I might have heard talk about having done it while in the bathroom.”

Seriously? Looking like proper noble ladies on the surface but that much behind the scenes?!

Still, that’s strange. If she has no friends but in the bathroom… isn’t this girl eavesdropping?

But is it okay? Me too—wait wait, it’s not good to act on just my own thoughts, right?

I should consider Misty’s feelings too.

“But Misty might not want to, and that kind of thing requires mutual feelings, right?”

“That may be true, but you’ve been engaged for years now and that’s your progress… could it be you’re actually a coward?”

“I’m just treasuring her.”

“Have you told her that?”

“No.”

“Doesn’t it lose meaning if you don’t tell her? Not making moves might make her think she’s being treasured, but not making moves at all can make her anxious that you’re not interested in her.”

“Eh, really?!”

“…Maybe she’ll get fed up with you eventually.”

I want to say there’s no way, but I can’t refute it.

I never thought the words “eyes don’t speak as much as mouths” that I thought to myself when forming groups would come back like this…

Well, Misty and I don’t make much eye contact anyway. But that’s not the point.

“Well, do your best.”

“…Yeah.”

How should I act when I see Misty next?