Chapter 33: Arena Thirty-One: Foul Restrictions V
"I'm sorry..."
I apologized again, but Erika just waved it off.
Honestly, it didn't make any sense. I had attempted to take her life, for god knows what reason. My mind was still fuzzy. Everything felt... Distant to me.
"It's fine. I had authorized you, and you attacked. Besides... You could never break through my skill."
Erika smiled even though her breathing was ragged. She then spread her arms out, and muttered the name of the skill she had used.
[Gaia: Mother's Warmth]
Her lab coat, which was covered with dirt and burns, almost turned new. It glowed as a translucent barrier covered her whole body, seemingly originating from her coat.
"Just like nature protects us from disasters by giving us shelter, food and warmth, this barrier also protects me from all harm. And just like nature retaliates whenever she feels threatened by causing storms, famine and destruction, this barrier can return any attack it receives, making it worthy of its SS-rank."
Erika announced grandly, with her chest puffed up in pride. She seemed to really love her skill.
Sighing in relief, I stood up, fixing my dress and pants. Erika was unharmed, that was the most important thing.
"Even so, I can't believe you managed to pull that stunt off. Just how much SP do you have?"
Erika asked in a tone full of disbelief and curiosity. For once, I pondered whether to tell her or not. After a few moments, I just shrugged.
Unless asked, I wouldn't tell the teachers anything. That was the right choice, right?
Realizing my intentions, Erika chuckled and dismissed me with a gesture. I walked back to the crowd... Who unfortunately took some distance from me, scared.
It seemed that my days of isolation would continue...
...
"Anastasia! Anastasia!"
I broke out of my trance and turned towards the exasperated teacher in front of me. The old teacher was frowning while looking at me.
"I know you are well familiar with the strategies of the war, but please pay attention during the class! And if not, please don't hum inside the classroom!"
The teacher, Mr. Lux, frowned in displeasure. Well, I could understand why... It was my own fault.
So I decided to apologize.
"I'm sorry, teacher. I'll pay more attention to the class from now."
"Hm... Well, it's fine if you understand."
I nodded, and the teacher turned back to the screen in front of him, again explaining the countless strategies one could take in a war if the [Co-ordinator] class was absent.
Yet, the other students kept glancing at me and whispering. Arnold's stunts were known by everyone at this point... While I was happy that his reputation had increased, my own was going down.
I didn't like it that much. I didn't want people to think that I was a weak maiden depending on a man to help herself.
"What?"
I growled at the nearest group, who hurriedly looked away and looked down at their tablets.
"Hmph..."
I frowned. Cowards, all of them. How could these guys protect the empire next year, when they would get deployed on the frontlines?
...
"This is the report regarding the escape of Jeffery Valentina, my lady."
My personal butler, Zenon, bowed to me, but it only made me frown. Taking the tablet from him, I muttered.
"I am not yet 'Your Lady'. That is mother's position. Call me Lady Roxy, or just Roxy."
I commanded, once again.
"Denied. I have been instructed to show you the utmost respect, my lady."
But the butler stubbornly refused. I didn't know why, but Zenon was so specific at these specific times.
"Hmph... Whatever. I will try later once again."
"Your tries will be futile, my lady."
Zenon replied with a monotone voice, but his words still made me laugh. But then my eyes fell on the report, and my mind instantly turned gloomy.
Jeffery Valentina.
He was not worthy to be the heir of a major noble family, and even that disgusting family of his agreed on that. Yet, for some reason, he always got everything his way in the end. It was due to pure luck that I survived from his disgusting wiles... But the same couldn't be said for the countless daughters from the lower noble families under the Rubiat House.
He was like a plague destroying the empire. He needed to be put down... But for some reason, he got that troublesome ability from his mother. If only I could crucify him and torture him to death...
"My lady, your expression has turned evil again."
Zenon stated in a blunt tone, placing a cup of tea. How did he make a cup of tea so fast?
Sighing, I took a sip from the cup before reading the report.
As expected of that bastard, the whole report was filled with tragic tales of victims. Gritting my teeth, I read through the whole report.
Suddenly, a line caught my attention.
"It says the Winchester House lessened the punishment of Phillips Winchester? Is that true?"
"Yes, instead of a month in prison, it was decreased to one day."
"And no one objected?"
"No, the Winchester House is about to become relatives with the Imperial Family, so none of the minor nobles wanted to object. The Valentina Family accepted a monetary reimbursement of ten million credits and let it go. Lady Rubiat decided to step back, as you already know."
"Yes, I heard from mother. She didn't want to drag this matter... And we are uninvolved in the first case."
I nodded, pondering over the situation. This whole situation was absurd... Phillips had committed a grave crime by attacking a major noble family member... Yet he was let off the hook so easily.
It was as if someone was manipulating the whole situation to their liking.
"Who do you think it is, Zenon?"
I asked my trusted butler, who immediately understood my words.
"I believe it is either Phillips Winchester's personal servant Michael, or Jeffery Valentina himself... But up until now, I have not seen any connections between Jeffery Valentina and Phillips Winchester. Yet..."
"Jeffery escaped from a highly guarded facility."
I completed Zenon's sentence.
"Yes, my lady. I do not think that he could have done it without any outside help. So... I am confused, my lady. I apologize."
Zenon bowed, but I waved my hands to show that I didn't mind. Then, I presented my own hypothesis.
"I believe that it's Phillips Winchester. The one pulling the strings from the shadows."
"And what makes you think that, my lady?"
"Everyone knows about his bizarre ways of 'evaluating' someone. And everyone is also aware of his excessive 'praise' of Anastasia Valentina. And we also know that for some reason, Jeffery Valentina hates his sister. If we think in a twisted way then..."
"... Jeffery Valentina could be released to force Anastasia Valentina to grow. And the one benefitting from that will be Phillips Winchester, who wants Anastasia to become stronger, as he often mentioned during the selection processes."
"As expected of Zenon, you understand me well."
I smiled at my butler, who shook his head.
"You flatter me, my lady. I do not deserve such praise."
As always, he rejected my praise, huh...
...
"What do we do about Lord Jeffery, my lady?"
The servant asked his lady, who was sitting behind her desk while rubbing her temples.
Flora Valentina was currently in a bind. It had been around sixteen hours ever since Jeffery escaped the facility, and he had already put his hands over seven girls and caused havoc in the outer city by turning the guards against each other.
Due to that, his tracks became blurry and he still was out at large.
This was truly a bad situation for the Valentina Family. For now, the Winchester Family was taking the blame for letting Jeffery escaped, but if that boy continued his crimes, then the Valentina Family would also be asked to take the blame...
"God... Where did I go wrong... I tried to raise him as a good man..."
The usual strong Flora wasn't anywhere to be seen. Instead, the Flora sitting behind the desk was muttering in despair.
"You did your best, my lady. Lord Jeffery was a great child in the beginning. We all hold those memories inside us."
The old servant consoled his master. Just as he said, Jeffery was a good boy when he was just a child. But then...
"It all changed when he visited the Imperial Castle for his sixth birthday..."
The servant muttered regretfully.
Flora looked up at the old man, before whispering.
"Do you think the Imperial Family is the cause?"
"I... I can not assume such things, my lady. Please forget this old fool's mutterings."
The servant backed down meekly. No matter what, one couldn't go against the emperor.
That was blasphemy. That was evil. Anyone who even thought of going against the emperor deserved to die. That was the belief of the general populace.
While the noble families thought differently, they were still somewhat constrained by those thoughts. The old servant, who was merely a commoner, couldn't dare to defy the emperor.
The only reason he spoke up about the incident was that he respected his lady. Otherwise, he wouldn't have said anything.
"I understand... You're dismissed."
The servant bowed before leaving the room. Flora sat there, alone.
"Why... What did I do to deserve this..."
Her quiet complaint left her lips before disappearing into the air...
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone