Big Failure!

Right now, Milady looked every bit like one of those villainess noble daughters from a storybook.

“Eek!”

Even Sophina flinched, trembling beneath the chill that filled the air.

Not good.

If this kept up, we’d undo all the progress toward a friendly atmosphere!

Tentatively, I called out.

“…Milady?”

“Hmm~? Is there some problem, Ailena~?”

“Your voice… sounds strange.”

“Ohohohoho~ What nonsense! I’m perfectly fine—what could possibly be strange about me~?”

Everything!!

“Milady! I beg you—please, calm down and act like yourself again! Look at Sophina—she’s terrified!”

If this continued, my Operation Friendship was doomed to fail!

“Oh? So you’re reprimanding me… for her sake, Ailena?”

Of course!

I don’t want you truly turning into a villainess!

But what I didn’t expect—Milady’s glare turned venomous, enough for me to feel the malice myself.

And Sophina—the target of that look—hunched her shoulders like a frightened little rabbit.

“Milady! You’ve gone too far!”

Before I could think, I rushed to Sophina’s side, wrapping her in my arms, patting her back to calm her.

“I’m sorry, Sophina! She’s acting… out of sorts! It must be her first time incognito, the nerves got to her! Please don’t take it to heart, I’ll apologize for her!”

“Ailena…? You just hugged her? Even though you promised me you wouldn’t embrace anyone else?”

Her voice echoed with ice.

Slowly, I raised my eyes to meet hers.

She was no longer pretending to smile.

Her expression was utterly cold, devoid of warmth—absolute zero.

“But Milady… you frightened her! She needed comfort!”

What, was I supposed to hug you instead?

“You would side with her… and even betray me?”

“Betray…? Milady, that’s far too much.”

A flare of irritation rose in me.

All I was doing… was trying to save you from heading toward destruction!

Yet none of that could be said aloud.

“Just as I suspected—it was right to follow you here.”

Milady’s face darkened further.

“Of course parasites would gather around you…”

Her gaze stabbed at Sophina again, even more vicious.

Sophina recoiled into herself, trembling harder.

“Milady! Please mind your words! Calling her a parasite is going too far!”

Even the game’s Katarina had never dipped to this—

At worst she disparaged with ‘lowborn,’ ‘mere commoner,’ or perhaps ‘stray dog.’

But parasite? Hateful, base, unworthy speech.

And I have never tutored her into becoming so crude!

“Ailena… silence.”

“No! I won’t! You are a daughter of the Duke! How can you speak so vilely?”

At those words, her expression twisted in pain.

“So that must be it… Ailena, you’ve been bewitched by this vixen. Why else would you care so much for someone you’ve only met a handful of times, to the point of opposing the one who has been at your side over two whole years?”

This was hopeless—Milady could no longer be reasoned with.

“Yes, of course… a thief must be handled before she can act.”

Milady rose, storming toward us—not at me, but at Sophina in my arms.

I could swear, if her sword had been at hand she’d already have drawn it.

Sophina panicked, wriggled free of me, and bolted toward the door.

Milady readied to give chase—

No.

I couldn’t allow her to turn into a villainess before the academy story even began!

I jumped in the middle.

But I had underestimated Milady’s force.

It was like being rammed by a wild boar at full sprint—I went down hard.

Even so, I clutched at her hem, tugging her off balance, bringing her down with me.

“Waaah!?”

“Thud!”

“Ow, ow, ow…”

Pain shot through every bone like they’d cracked.

But I didn’t care about myself.

I turned, panicked, to check Milady’s condition—

And nearly screamed.

She was sprawled on top of me.

One hand braced by my temple.

One leg wedged between mine.

Her face buried entirely in my chest.

Worse—her other hand was planted… directly atop my breast.

“Uhh…”

She, perhaps not realizing, gave a little squeeze.

“Nnnhh…!?”

The odd sensation made me jolt, a gasp slipping from my lips unbidden.

“Ailena… Ailena!?”

She finally snapped back to herself, eyes wide—then unconsciously squeezed again!

“Y‑y‑y‑yaah! Milady—please stop groping me!!”

“Waaahhh!!”

She jerked back, face flaming, utterly frantic.

“What on earth was that sound? What happened!?”

Uncle Lauber came bustling from the kitchen.

But the sight before him froze him in place.

“Er… well… glad you two are… enjoying yourselves?”

With a deeply awkward face, he shuffled back inside without another word.

Hey! At least let me explain myself!!

“Wow… never thought you two were that bold…”

Even Sophina gawked with teasing amazement.

“Don’t you start too, Sophina! Milady… please climb off me now…”

“Mhm.”

This time, Milady obeyed meekly—completely unlike the volatile fury from just moments ago.

Which meant… she was back to normal.

Sophina too—if she had the strength to make jokes, she must have shaken off her fear.

Relieved at last, I tried to stand—

“Ah! Ow ow ow…”

The pain forced me back down to the floor.

A heavy weariness washed over me, body and heart alike.

“Ailena!”

“Ailena!”

Both girls rushed anxiously to my side.

…If only I were still a man—what bliss this would be.

But no.

If I were, I’d never even have met Milady in the first place…

I closed my eyes, surrendering to stray thoughts.

“Ailena!”

“Ailena—I’ll heal you! Pain, fly away!”

A soothing warmth enveloped me, and the agony dulled.

“How is it? Feeling better?”

“Yes… much better.”

I managed to sit up this time.

“Sorry… I’m still unskilled with healing magic. I can’t completely restore you.”

Sophina’s head drooped with guilt.

“Even before… when I found a gravely injured boy, I could only give rudimentary treatment.”

…Unexpectedly, valuable intel dropped into my lap.

I shook my head.

“You’ve done more than enough. Thank you, Sophina.”

At my words, she smiled brightly.

Then I turned toward the silent Milady.

“…”
So much for today’s friendship operation.

It was an utter failure.

I sighed inwardly, then stood and took Milady’s hand.

“Sorry for troubling you both. Especially you, Sophina, for such an unpleasant experience.”

“It wasn’t unpleasant at all… actually, I’m happy. Because you came all this way just to see me.”

Her smile was sweet—angelic.

This girl… truly a saint.

“Then let’s leave it here for today. Until next time, Sophina.”

“Yes. Goodbye, Ailena. Goodbye, Lady Anisette.”

“…”
Milady didn’t even say farewell.

How dreadfully rude she was today.

Suppressing a sigh, I drew Milady away from Sophina’s shop.

On the way back, neither of us spoke a single word.

And that silence… lingered for days.