kscans

Chapter 31 - Friends

What is a friend?

If you were to ask, most would likely answer, "Someone you get along with." If you were to press for a more specific definition, you would probably receive a vague reply.

And if you were to ask Falty, "What kind of friendship do you have with Lupia?" you would get a smile, but never a clear answer.

And yet, strangely enough, during the final year of their time at the academy, Falty and Lupia were, for some reason, always together.

When Lupia’s friends were asked about it, they all voiced the same suspicion: "We’re worried something is being done to Lupia."

"…"

Only now was Liam reading through reports containing such details.

"What is the meaning of this…?"

But he had seen it with his own eyes—Lupia and Falty, spending time together.

"But… they are not friends."

Aristerios, Lupia’s father, had stated it unequivocally. Falty was no friend of Lupia’s.

But Liam had seen them together during their academy days. So why…? The question began to spin endlessly in his mind.

"I’ll… ask Falty."

The number of things that didn’t quite add up with what Falty said was growing. No, it wasn’t that they were growing, but rather that he hadn't paid them any mind before. Things that would have been obvious had he just stopped to think.

"They never had any connection before… so how could they be friends…? No… but they did seem to get along…"

Liam muttered to himself as he walked down the corridor. The words ‘royal command’ that he had thrown at Duke Calmond—it had been an irreversible blunder, and the Duke’s words at that time had been stuck in his mind ever since. He had never doubted it because Falty called Lupia her ‘friend,’ but how exactly did they suddenly form such a relationship?

They had been in separate classes until their third year. Perhaps Falty, with her sociable nature, had managed to befriend her in no time at all… but as he thought that far, he shook his head. First, he had to ask her himself.

Clenching his fist, Liam arrived in front of Falty’s room.

At this time of day, she should be free from her official duties.

Recalling the schedule he had memorized, he knocked on the door. A bright voice called out, "Come in!" from inside, and Falty’s personal maid opened the door for him.

"Oh, Liam!"

Falty’s face lit up the moment she saw him. Her expression brought to mind his former fiancée’s composed words.

‘Your Highness, a member of the royal family must not show their emotions so plainly.’

"Listen! The Queen just praised my recent progress, even if it was just a little!"

If he hadn’t married Falty, it would surely have been Lupia in this room. And the one guarding the door would have been her twin brother, Rupert. A future that should have been, one that could no longer be changed, inexplicably came to mind.

"Is that… so."

"Yes. She said my etiquette… well, it’s not on Lupia’s level, but she said I’m starting to get the hang of it!"

His love for Falty as she smiled so happily remained unchanged. And yet, there was a strange sensation, something whispering that this was ‘wrong.’ He understood that time could not be turned back from the present, but he couldn't help but imagine ‘what if.’ Even though he knew it could never be.

"…Um… Liam, what’s wrong?"

Worried by his silence, Falty looked up at him with concern. Liam decided that now was the time. He looked Falty straight in the eye and asked his question.

"…Falty, how did you become friends with the Duke of Calmond’s daughter?"

"…………Huh?"

Falty’s expression froze.

"I know you must be wondering why I’m asking this now… but there are a few things that have been bothering me."

"What… things?"

She couldn’t look directly at Liam’s concerned smile, but Falty instinctively knew she must not look away.

"No, it’s just something I was a little curious about. …You know, you weren't in the same class until then, were you? And yet, you were together so often in your third year, it made me wonder…"

"Why now…?"

"You said it yourself, didn't you? That you were ‘friends’."

"Well, yes, but…"

"And you also said she wouldn’t help you, despite being your friend, didn’t you?"

"…Yes, but."

For Falty, it was a terrible case of déjà vu. It felt just like when the tutors, who had refused to give her Crown Princess lessons, had treated her with such disdain. The ending had already been achieved. So now, she was on the path to the future.

That’s what the System had told her.

Her mind understood it, yet her heart desperately refused to accept it.

‘How did you become friends with the Duke of Calmond’s daughter?’

Because the System had assigned Lupia the ‘role’ of the ‘Rival Lady.’ And for one year, she had been forced to remain near Falty, the ‘Protagonist,’ to fulfill that ‘role.’

All because Falty had decided to aim for the ‘Grand Finale Ending.’

In the end, she had reached the ‘Queen Ending,’ but Lupia had been chosen as the ‘Rival Lady.’ A being whose sole purpose was to serve as a foil, a stepping stone for Falty to ascend to a brilliant future.

Why did she call Lupia a friend? Because getting along with her was the only path to the Grand Finale.

"…Falty?"

Liam watched Falty, who had been silent for far too long, with a worried gaze.

"Ah, um…"

"What’s wrong?"

It’s okay, Liam didn’t come here to blame me.

Falty told herself this, then smiled and continued.

"It was… just by chance."

"…By chance?"

"Y-Yes! …But why are you suddenly asking such a thing? Lupia and I are undeniably friends, and—"

"That’s what Duke Calmond said."

"…Huh…?"

A sensation like something inside Falty had turned to ice washed over her. She wanted to demand why the Duke was suddenly being brought up, but Liam’s next words left her even more speechless.

"Falty, have you ever visited the Duke of Calmond’s daughter at her home during your academy days?"

"N-No."

"Then, what about after school… you know, how the other girls would sometimes stop somewhere on the way home? Did you ever do that?"

"...!"

"…Falty?"

She couldn’t answer Liam’s questions. Because Falty had only ever judged the closeness of her relationship with Lupia by a numerical value. They had never once gone out together anywhere.

"Why… why are you asking me these things now, Liam…? Are you doubting me…?"

"N-No, that’s not it at all! I was just wondering, that’s all."

"Wondering…?"

"Wouldn’t you wonder, Falty?"

When she asked, "Huh?" Liam gave a wry smile and stated the devastating truth all too simply.

"How do two people who were never in the same class, whose families have no prior connection, and who aren't childhood friends, become so close?"

Falty desperately suppressed the urge to scream. The truth was, she had been so showered with the System's blessings that she'd never bothered with such minor details. Why hadn't she noticed? Because Lupia, albeit forcibly, had been by her side as if it were the most natural thing in the world… no, she had been made to be there.

"Does who I become friends with, and how… have anything to do with His Grace the Duke?"

She struggled to keep her voice from cracking.

"For him to meddle in the friendships between girls like that…"

"Of course he’d meddle."

"…What?"

"Considering Lupia’s family, it’s only natural, Falty."

"…Why?"

"…It would be one thing if this country had a great number of ducal families, but… Falty, you do know how many there are, don’t you?"

"…………Four… families…?"

"That’s right. For various reasons, such as princesses of old marrying into them. There aren't many families that carry the strong blood of the former royal house, even in a kingdom. Originally, the royal family wished for an engagement based on the ties between our houses… but the one I chose was you."

"Yes… that’s right."

Falty's own status wasn't low by any means; if anything, she was on the higher end. The possibility of becoming the Crown Princess hadn't been zero. But compared to Lupia's family, she was nothing but lower.

It wasn't that she had forgotten, but she had been far too careless. She was only the protagonist of the story for that one year. There was no escaping the ‘reality’ that was now upon her.

Wondering how the previous ‘protagonists’ had managed things was pointless now.

Besides, all the endings achieved so far had been ‘Romance Endings’ chosen by those former ‘protagonists.’ Falty should have heard this explained to her, but tragically, the memory clicked into place now like a puzzle piece. She had thought it had nothing to do with her, so it had completely slipped her mind.

"You were always together during your academy days, and you seemed to get along, but… when the Duke denies it so vehemently, it naturally makes me curious."

"You… met with the Duke?"

"Yes. He said he had something to discuss with my father."

"…I, see."

The definition of a friend. Whether Lupia was Falty’s friend or not.

The answer was ‘no.’

After all, Falty had used Lupia for her own convenience, had her stay by her side, had her keep smiling. Even when Lupia’s friends were suspicious, she had silenced them with, ‘Oh, but Lupia and I are becoming such good friends!’ At this point, it was painfully obvious how sloppy she had been, but it was far too late to do anything about it now.

"What… was the Duke’s business?"

"That’s not important right now. …So, how did you two become friends?"

"…How much of that do I really need to tell you, Liam…?"

"What?"

"Because…"

The training she had received as Crown Princess, however brief, was now proving useful. She smiled a little sadly and spoke with a hint of confusion.

"Lupia and I became friends before you and I grew close… so even if you ask me when now…"

"…Is that… so?"

"If you were asked the same thing, Liam, could you answer right away?"

"Well, perhaps… you have a point…"

"If you’re that curious, I think you should ask her with her present."

Smiling brightly as if to deliver the final blow, she concluded.

"But since we’re being prevented from meeting her, it would be difficult to ask Lupia the truth, wouldn’t it?"

Falty had a point. Right now, Lupia was away from the royal capital under the pretense of convalescing. It was easy to imagine that even if he went to her family’s residence in the capital, he would leave without being able to see her.

"…You’re right. I’m sorry, I asked a strange question. By the way, is your studying progressing well enough that you’re being allowed to participate in official duties recently?"

"Yes, it is!"

Falty’s learning speed was nothing short of extraordinary. The Queen herself had even praised her for it. Her academic studies, in particular, were as excellent as she had claimed during her academy days, and she was often praised for her aptitude. Her royal deportment was still rough around the edges, but she was showing results. …Then again, if she didn't, she would be branded a useless Crown Princess who did nothing but consume the people's taxes.

By changing the subject and shifting the focus just slightly, Falty believed she had somehow managed to get through the situation. But Liam didn't think so.

I’ll write a letter.

It didn’t matter if he received a reply. He couldn't rest until he confirmed whether what Duke Calmond had said was the truth. His instincts were telling him it was the right thing to do.