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 41: Mariana Ocean - Friends

Chapter 41: Mariana Ocean – Friends

It was the last holiday before the summer vacation was due to start, and I was riding in a carriage headed to the Aether Magic Academy. 

The carriage doesn’t go directly to the school located in the nobility district, so I got off at the nearest stop and walked the rest of the way. 

I had grown accustomed to this route to school.

Initially, I was scared, but wearing the academy’s uniform meant I didn’t attract unwelcome stares.

“Mufufu, finally at the love nest of those two.”

The route that used to scare me was now somewhat enjoyable.

The reason for going to the academy on a holiday was an invitation from my friend Alicia to have coffee after doing some weeding.

Originally, the plan was to enjoy the vegetables she grew in her backyard garden together, but various things happened, and it was canceled.

Alicia was so cute when she was fuming at the pests that ruined her garden.

I’m not fond of bugs, but I can’t forgive the ones that damage my friend’s garden, so I decided to help with pest control.

Alicia and Ragna.

I met these two about four months after enrollment. 

Although I attended classes diligently, I was far from the brilliance of nobility, spending my days in anxiety.

The quiet library became my only haven. 

As a sage’s progeny, the nobles deemed me worthy of respect and refrained from using harsh words or looking at me disdainfully.

It was lonely, but I had goals and persevered through the hardships.

During those times, a familiar scent tickled my nose unexpectedly.

“―This smells like… coffee…”

In the academy attended by nobles, there was only tea. 

I even sneakily visited the cafeteria and the small shop where you could buy things needed for class, but there was no coffee to be found.

As expected of a noble academy, even though there was a place in the library to make tea, I hesitated to bring in and brew my own coffee. 

Since I commuted from home and not the dormitory, I thought I just had to endure until the evening. Yet, the scent unconsciously moved me.

“*Snicker*, without even a servant, she can’t even drink tea anymore.”

“So miserable. I wouldn’t have returned to the academy if I were her.”

She was brewing coffee, humming without caring about the whispers around her. 

Her demeanor was elegant and dignified, embodying the very essence of grace and majesty.

“Wow…”

I remembered hearing there was another sage’s progeny like me at the academy.

I figured it must be her.

She was drinking coffee, after all. 

At the same time, I felt miserable seeing how scared and timid I was, always walking on the edge of the path.

I wondered if I could become friends with her, feeling a bit anxious, but then thought, no one who drinks coffee could be bad. 

So, I secretly followed her and finally gathered the courage to speak up.

“Ah, um, excuse me, is that… coffee?”

That was how I met Alicia, who became my friend. 

Looking back, it feels like a miracle. 

The story of how I fainted after learning she was from a ducal family has become a funny tale from the past.

“I really want to recommend this coffee to them soon.”

My steps quicken as I walk. 

I thought I could live on my own, but I guess deep down, I’ve always felt lonely. 

I’m not being deceived, am I?

I can’t be, because these two don’t have those black bugs around them.

I really hate bugs. 

My aversion to nobility started not just because I was run over by a carriage when I was little, but mostly because of these bugs.

I wonder when I first noticed that unpleasant or unfortunate people often have black bugs near them. 

These bugs are especially common around nobility, sometimes swarming in large numbers. 

That’s why I hated them so much.

Just before my parents died of illness, these black bugs were crawling all over our house, and I was terrified they would come for me next. 

No matter how many I crushed, they just kept coming.

However, Alicia and Ragna didn’t have a single one on them. I thought everyone had at least one, but strangely, these two didn’t have any.

Honestly, their standing at the academy is worse than mine. 

People say awful things about Sir Ragna, not because of anything he’s done, but just because of his family.

I wonder how he can still smile.

Maybe, and this is just a guess, it’s because they can still feel happy even in such an environment. 

That’s impressive.

There was a time when I felt sorry for Alicia because of the burn scar on her left eye, and without thinking, I asked if she wanted it healed.

“Don’t worry about it. This scar is like a badge of honor for me, a proof that I fought. Ragna accepts me for who I am, including this scar.”

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that…”

“It’s okay, thank you for being considerate. In the Brave territory, this is quite normal, and nobody minds it, so I’m fine.”

I felt bad for carelessly touching on her trauma, but Alicia, who laughed and forgave me, seemed genuinely strong. 

No wonder the bugs stay away from her.

She even suggested using the summer vacation to visit the Brave territory that they both love.

I felt truly seen as a friend and was immensely grateful. 

Though it’s called a wasteland by some, I wonder if that’s just a rumor gone wild, and it’s actually a nice place?

“Uh… maybe I didn’t get enough sleep last night…”

I staggered a bit. 

It’s no surprise after relying on coffee to stay up late.

Today, I’m staying over at their place. 

Will I be able to sleep well?

Is it okay? What if I encounter some wild scene…?

B-But, we’re still students, so it’s probably too early for that! Yes!

I cheered myself up and headed towards their house.

Being with those two… 

I wonder if the large black bug that has been following me since my childhood will finally leave me alone.