The Villainess Who Was Dumped Got Married into My Family, a Mob Noble from the Frontier, and Turns Out, She's an Amazing Capable Wife? - Chapter 117: I Won't Leave You Behind

Chapter 117: I Won’t Leave You Behind

“Where is she!!”

Before Alicia could respond, Patricia was already closing in on her.

“Was she with you? Until when? Where did you last see her?”

“Wait, hold on, suddenly…”

Alicia was taken aback and stepped back, intimidated by Patricia’s sudden agitation, which was a stark contrast to her previous calm demeanor.

“Hey, calm down. Alicia, she was in the waiting room before my match, right?”

I stepped in between them and asked Alicia.

“Yeah, after Ragna left for his match, she was purring like a cat on my lap before heading back to work.”

So she was using my absence to get cozy with Alicia… well, that’s not new.

“Hey, you, sit down.”

“Huh?”

“Just do it.”

“Um… okay…”

As I imagined her purring on Alicia’s lap, Patricia made Alicia sit on a bench and buried her face in Alicia’s lap.

“Here? This is good.”

“What’s good about this…?”

Alicia and I were left dumbfounded by Patricia, who quickly returned to her original position with a smug look on her face.

Just moments ago, she had been cackling like a villain, but now she was acting completely bizarre.

“So, back to the topic, what job are you talking about? Is it a class event?”

“It’s student council work. She’s a student council member.”

The conversation continued normally, so I decided to stay silent. Alicia seemed fine, and it seemed they were putting aside their past issues for this emergency.

“Student council? Why would someone as scared of nobles as she is join the student council, full of prideful people?”

Patricia said this suspiciously, then seemed to come to a realization on her own.

“That stupid baldy…”

“Exactly.”

I subtly confirmed her suspicion. 

We weren’t interested in the student council, and Mariana wouldn’t have joined if not for some event. Who could have twisted things this way?

Yes, it was Edward.

Wanting to fight me, he came up with a plausible reason to recommend me and those around me to the student council. But the situation was more complicated than that, right?

“To begin with, it’s because you created a reverse harem that everything around us turned into a garden of fools.”

Even though we chose from among the nobles to reduce friction, our surrounding grades dropped, making us the top performers by far. Even the son of the Pentagram family ended up falling behind.

The Cascade family’s son, who seemed like a playboy, and Vorsea’s grandson were hardly seen attending school.

“They became fools on their own, not my fault.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“Isn’t it satisfying to see those brats, who rest on their parents’ status, fall from grace? You feel the same, don’t you? Deep down.”

“Don’t lump me in with you.”

I denied it with words, but I couldn’t say I didn’t understand the sentiment.

“Anyway, enough of this pointless talk. If you know where she is, lead the way. Where is she?”

“Probably at the Handsome Grand Prix? There’s another council member shirking work, so she might be fetching her.”

“Is that so? Let’s go quickly; we don’t have time to waste.”

How audacious—she’s the one who wasted the most time.

The thought of her using Alicia’s lap was starting to bother me more and more. 

That should be mine.

As we followed Patricia, who was walking briskly, Alicia muttered.

“Mariana was a saint…?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

I nodded at Alicia’s murmur, and she smiled wryly.

“I really don’t know anything, do I?”

Her words struck deep in my heart. 

Indeed, there were many things I hadn’t told her, far too many. Even during my conversation with Patricia, Alicia had been mostly left out, merely listening.

“…Sorry.”

I wished I could say something comforting, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find the right words. 

I was afraid that speaking carelessly might drag her into something dangerous.

“Oh, is this a lovers’ quarrel? Men who keep secrets are trash, absolute trash.”

“Mind your own business.”

“Hmph, well… didn’t you choose to be ignorant yourself?”

I thought Patricia was trying to provoke me, but she suddenly directed her words at Alicia.

“Well, maybe that’s the smartest choice. If you decided to live quietly and pretend to be ignorant after what I did to you, then you’ll live longer that way.”

Patricia smirked wickedly.

“If you hang around with violent idiots, you might not have enough lives to spare. If you were lucky enough to get a second chance, it’s better to stay uninvolved and keep to yourself, don’t you think?”

Patricia, who probably knew Alicia’s fate in the game, ended her words with a sneer.

“…That’s…”

Alicia seemed to have something on her mind but didn’t respond.

That’s right.

In a world where fate and unseen forces played a part, staying off the stage was the most crucial thing.

That’s why I had instinctively kept my distance, protecting her from afar within the academy.

“Indeed, that might be true… In that case, I’ll stay here.”

“Alicia.”

As Alicia stopped, subtly being told not to come, I reached out my hand to her.

Leaving her behind was not an option. 

Revealing everything after it was all over would just make those waiting worry even more. 

So, I had to say it.

“The story about the protective barrier of the capital city, where the hero collapsed halfway and I inherited the role, right?”

“Yes, I heard. You’re going to fulfill that promise now, aren’t you?”

“Actually, there’s another story. In that story, the hero is the protagonist, and the heroine is a dragon.”

“Huh…”

Alicia looked puzzled, so I continued.

“And that dragon is you, Alicia.”

“Eh?”

“The dragon proposed to the hero, but the hero, due to various circumstances, had to decline. Even so, the dragon continued to care for the hero, took human form, and supported the hero’s bloodline. That’s how the Oldwood family started.”

I had only heard bits of this from Sebas, but I trusted it wasn’t a lie.

“Even if you suddenly say something like that…”

“What are you trying to say out of nowhere?”

Patricia, growing impatient with me and Alicia’s confusion, complained.

Hmm, this isn’t going as I expected.

I thought if I spoke honestly, we could move forward together, but now they just seem bewildered.

“Um, well, you know… it’s like, after all this time, we ended up engaged, so it feels like fate, you know? It’s kind of touching, right? Yeah. Yeah?”

“Pfft.”

As I stumbled over my words, Alicia burst into laughter. 

The worry on her face had vanished.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you so flustered, Ragna.”

“I’m sorry…”

I couldn’t put it into words properly, proving once again that I was still part of the Brave family.

“But maybe that makes you more trustworthy right now.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“What you’re trying to say is that I’m connected to this too, so I have a reason to go with you. But… there’s a simpler way to put it.”

“You’re right.”

I told Alicia, who had taken my outstretched hand.

“Mariana is in danger. Let’s go help our friend.”

“Yes. Can I really come with you?”

“Of course. Let’s show her that everything turned out fine and that we’re together.”

I won’t die or lose. 

I’ll fulfill the wishes entrusted to me.

“…Hey, stop staring at each other and get moving already.”

“Oh, could you leave us alone for a moment? We’re having a nice moment here.”

“Ugh! Annoying, so annoying! Fine, I’ll go ahead.”