It's been a month since the party at Gilbert's family mansion, and I have been blessed to have been left alone by the boys in the novel for that entire month. Even Eric has barely been a part of my life for a month!

The reason, is that I have been going to an absurd amount of tea parties recently. I told my mother I wanted to improve my reputation with the noble girls, and within a couple days the invitations just kept coming. After the first burst of invitations it slowed a bit but then slowly picked up again. A tea party a day keeps the boys away apparently.

I'm exhausted.

But I have been working hard. I've been attempted poisoned a total of 7 times during the last month. I know it's sad to get used to always checking your food, but it's a habit already. Ah, I've let them off easily every time, like hinting likely that they shouldn't do things like that. Of course, they went pallid after my 'warning' and it never happened twice the same place... but it's still exhausting.

My target goal of changing my reputation is a little closer. My reputation has changed a bit. I have successfully gone from gaudy to devil eyed... It went slightly against plans... Well, there are less bad rumors too, but the 'devil eyed' is the one I hear the most when people end up whispering nearby. I've always had an excellent hearing you know?

The other rumors? Well... first of all that I am having an 'affair' with Lionel. Based on him conveniently being nearby during the assassination, and the breakfast next morning where we had a brief conversation. It's pretty rootless, but it's love gossip. These half adult girls try to copy the adults and though it's a mostly innocent version of what the adults do, it is a bother. They just can't help it. Of course I've done my best to kill off the rumor, and I'm quite sure Lionel has as well. As a future aide to his Highness it would be bad for him to make such a bold move as to attempt to get close to me.

Mmm secondly there is the rumor that the Alstair and I secretly hate each other. I've been brushing off their questions about Alstair a lot, and at one point I must've given an annoyed expression at them mentioning his name all the time. Since Alstair hasn't requested my audience about this rumor, it actually seems like it's getting stuck. I had expected more resistance from Alstair's side.

Others rumors?

Let's see...

- That I'm like a Lily when I dance. I'll take this as praise for my dance with Lionel.

- That I know how to ride and visit our family's barracks... Though I want to and can, I've never actually gotten around to do it. It's wrong, but not all that off for what I want to do.

- That I've gotten a bit more reasonable... I've gotten a lot more reasonable you know? You guys just keep poisoning me and spreading silly rumors.

- That I'm a demon. Probably spread by Bridgette.

- That I'm just pretending to have changed. This was wide spread in the beginning but now loses out to the demon theory.

...For some reason there is nothing pure and innocent like:

'She's turned over a new leaf!'

Well, I guess it is hard to impress young innocent girls when you have the boring attitude of an adult and doesn't fancy the position of princess, any of the boys in the kingdom or other silly romance things.

Ah, there is a cute rumor going around between our own maids, though, that I'm trying to mimic father's behavior.

While I am not... well... it's not an unpleasant rumor, so I am leaving it be.

So, let us summarize the fruits of my labor, versus the goals I have set:

I planned to put distance between the Crown Prince Alstair and I. This is going smoothly, other than an unexpected display of kindness during our dance.

I planned to change my reputation for the better... well... that is still in progress, but it is indeed a bit better than it was before. I'll take this as being good.

Finally, the plan is for me to save the heroine's mother, so that the heroine will not despise me later in life.

This part should be coming up soon. The reason I know this, is because in the novel it said it is to happen the day right after the midsummer festival, where the guards are tired from the day before. I have made a little bit of preparations... in the shape of repeatedly telling my father that the day after festivals are very vulnerable. As much as I want to arrange the guard schedule of the city myself, I simply do not have the opportunity, nor the authority to change it.

I've even planned that the Heroine's mother brings her daughter to the mansion on the day, because I want to see her. It's a bad excuse, but I truly do want to see her up close. If I end up dying because of her, I want to have seen her face while it still gleams with innocence. Furthermore, that way the Heroine's mother won't run to town when she hears of the attack.

Ah, also, I properly finished my ice nodachi spell, so that we won't have me retching up blood again.

Gah! Because I had to keep working on that spell, I kept remembering the rest of that event as well! That damned sadist actually tried to rip my night gown open! If his intentions had been impure even in the least, I would've cut him down as well, important character or not. However, since he was really attempting to use first aid, I have to forgive him... he even covered for me as well and finished off the assassin maid and hid any proof of a sharp blade... that boy has guts.

Anyway, all in all the preparations for my survival are going well... Gilbert aside.

So... why have you decided to arrive today, Alstair? The day before the festival?

---*---

I sip my tea quietly while watching the three young boys on the opposite side of the table. As with last time Alstair is in the middle, and has Eric and Lionel at his sides.

"So, what do I owe the honor of your visit, your Highness?" I retort to calling him by title instead of name because I am annoyed with his sudden appearance. I am in the middle of some quite important preparations, could you leave?

"It has been a while since my last visit so I thought it appropriate," Alstair says out calmly but with hints of a smile in his eyes. Liar. You could easily go a couple of months without visiting her in the past. Actually, longer, because Lily always came to you.

"Furthermore, it appeared that Lionel and you had started getting along..." Alstair glances between us, but there wasn't a shred of love nor friendship in our shared gaze. The reason was quite simple. I am annoyed with the rumor that we are lovers. To Lionel the rumor was actually more devastating than it was for me, so he is probably in a bad mood as well. We had both independently decided to act coldly towards each other.

"Is that so," I reply irritably and sip my tea again... I'm still paranoid, but this must be done. At least the tableware is made of silver.

After Alstair gives a small sigh an awkward silence spreads for a while.

"What do you find displeasing about me?"

...What?

I did a double check on the words Alstair said just now and end up staring at him blankly. I'd never expected something like this out of him. He never seemed to care enough for Lily to ask something like that.

"Mmm? What could you be referring to?"

I ask while brushing strands of hair behind my ear with a polite smile. Ah, the kid startled me.

"The rumor that you hate me. You haven't killed it off like you did with the rumor about Lionel."

...Ara.

Lionel and Eric both stare at Alstair dumbfounded, like they'd just heard something outrageous from his lips. Probably surprised Alstair had been listening to the gossip.

I wasn't surprised that he noticed, but I was surprised he brought it up.

I put down my silver cup of tea and stare at him directly. I couldn't really tell him about the 'premonition' so for now, let's be as honest with him as possible.

"One could say it is resentment a for one-sided love."

"That's why you made the deal?" He narrows his eyes at me as he begins to realize the severity of the deal we made.

"Yes," I declare coldly. Though, neither Eric nor Lionel seem surprised like they were last time. I think Alstair picks up on that as well.

"Even if we do not get along we will still be married, would it not be better to get along?" He argues with a hint of irritation in his voice.

"It would," I agree with him without actually leaving any intention of doing anything about it, and then slowly let a smile crawl unto my lips.

"Well, work hard, your highness. Maybe one day you'll conquer your trauma, though I doubt it."

I decided to provoke him since he'd already shown his true colors... and partly because my plan to distance myself from him was being ruined by his sudden interest in making up.

Alstair's eyes round in shock at my words.

"You thought I didn't know? Your highness cannot even dance properly at this point so it is quite visible."

I mock him, and his expression turns into a grimace, and to see that static smile of his wiped off and twisting into anger ended up being more satisfying than I imagined. To think the heroine had really believed him to be nothing more than a bundle of kindness.

Alstair gets up from the couch and with firm steps fueled by anger he approach me.

I in turn stand up gracefully and watch the boy approach me with such fiery eyes.

He grips my wrist tightly.

"I am not afraid of you, Lily. I will not act as you want me to," he sneers out at me viciously. He's still just a kid of course.

I of course just return a cold smile.

"If Your Highness says so, then it must be true."

Not like the anger of a child could startle me. It was nothing compared to everything I've been through.

His face distorts in a grimace. What? You expected me to get caught up in your mood? You sly kid. How scary.

So, are you going to break the deal?

Shove.

I blink as he unexpectedly lets go of my wrist and shoves me. Of course, as I tip over I grasp onto his shirt without thinking to keep from falling...

Scccchrrrchh...

My support disappears I hit the ground with a small thump... I'd properly grabbed the shirt though...

I look down to my hand still in the cloth.

No weight on me.

I look up and see poor Alstair turned red from his neck and up... His shirt gone. It had ripped when I grabbed it to keep from falling... I stare down at the cloth in my hands and then back up to Alstair in disbelief at the situation.

"Your highness, I suggest you get a new tailor," was the first words that escaped me as I hold out the fabric to him without thinking.

"S-Shut up!" Alstair yells at me flustered while wrapping his arms around himself after grabbing the ripped apart shirt from my hand.

"You're not cute at all!" Alstair snaps at me and then turns and walks out the room. I stare a moment at the door and then to Lionel and Eric.

Eric has his face in his hands like he is trying to hide away from a nightmare.

Lionel just calmly stands up and heads to the door.

"Then, I'll be going after him."

"Lily... send a proper apology to him..." Eric mutters out between his hands. He sounds rather depressed.

"...I will..." I reply hesitantly.

His Highness left without giving a proper goodbye.

I think I may accidentally have reinforced his trauma...

I cannot tell if that is a good or a bad thing...