I Think My Fiancé Has Regressed

Chapter 16: Having a bad time (4)

My remarks to Miss Natalia had once again dampened the mood, but it wasn’t enough to stop the tea party, so we continued on our way…although Miss Natalia, who seemed to be in good spirits, suddenly became very quiet.

‘There is no need to be too aggressive, just express that you want to talk deeply about the topic.’

Despite taking Charlotte’s advice and speaking as gently as possible, she was obviously shocked to have her sophistication as a young lady of nobility criticized.

And just as the tea party was beginning to pick up again, this time it was Miss Elaine who spoke up.

“By the way, I’ve been really into reading lately.”

It’s not a topic I’m particularly confident about, but I figured I could poke holes in it, so I jumped in with my own hobby.

“So, if you don’t mind, could you tell me what kind of books you usually read?”

“The books I’ve been reading lately are history books about the three kingdoms.”

If it’s a history book about the three kingdoms, I’ve read it before.

There was a famous history book in my original world that had a similar story, so it wasn’t that hard to read.

“I especially liked the scene where General Aramis slits Milady’s throat in one fell swoop, and then comes back and drinks the still-cold wine.

It was such a cool scene, the way General Aramis was so brave and loyal, I could just picture him in my head.”

“I see…huh?”

General Aramis slit Milady’s throat? That doesn’t sound at all like the history books I know.

“I’m sorry, Miss Elaine.”

“What?”

“Wasn’t it Sir Wilbur, not General Aramis, who slit Milady’s throat?”

“Yes. …….”

Miss Elaine’s expression turned puzzled for a moment, but she kept her composure and continued to answer me.

“Moo, what are you talking about, Miss Arianna? The story of General Aramis returning from decapitating Milady in one fell swoop is so famous that even those who don’t know the history of the Three Kingdoms know about it!”

“…….”

“That’s how we were able to recapture the Milady-held fortress of Malbork and allow the Anti-Imperial Coalition to advance on Aleppo!”

…Aha, I see now.

The history book Miss Elaine was talking about, and which one she was referring to.

“Well, you all know about it, don’t you?”

Miss Elaine looked embarrassed and asked the others to agree with her, but having already seen what I had done to Natalia, the others didn’t seem to be inclined to rush in.

Turning to Miss Elaine, who looked uneasy at my expression, she opened up about the history books she knew.

“By any chance, Miss Elaine, are you referring to the history book you’ve been reading, ‘Three Realms Fighters’?”

“Yes, that’s right, Miss Ariana knows about it, so how could you be talking such nonsense….”

“You said it was a history book about the three kingdoms, so of course I thought you were talking about the ‘Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms’.”

“…What?”

“The Three Kingdoms Fighter tends to overestimate General Aramis, and even though it’s supposed to be a novel based on the Three Kingdoms Chronicles, it gets a lot of the history wrong.”

“…….”

Miss Elaine’s expression turned into an ‘ouch’.

Apparently, she only read the fictional version, Fighter, and has never read the original history book, Chronicles.

“It’s okay, Miss Elaine.”

“…What?”

“It’s not strange that you think of the Three Kingdoms Fighters as a real history book. It’s a novel based on real events, and the overall plot isn’t that different from real history.

Even someone as well-read as Miss Elaine might mistake it for an actual history book, and someone as educated as Miss Sierra might not even notice the difference between the two.

The most important thing is that Sir Marcos unified the three kingdoms and founded what is now the Kingdom of Leavrov. The fact that General Aramis stole Sir Wilbur’s achievements is a minor detail compared to the other big events, isn’t it?”

“…….”

Miss Elaine’s head tilted down, and then she said nothing.

Well, that wasn’t so hard this time.

After that, I’ve both been so careful to keep a low profile, and it wasn’t until the tea party was over that I finally got a chance to point it out.

…I’m afraid I’m going to make a habit of it, and I shouldn’t be doing this….

“Oh, that’s enough for today, folks!”

Miss Sophia, sensing that it was her turn to speak next, made a move to hurry up and end the tea party.

“Uh, I see,” she said, “I had an appointment with my fiancé today…”

“Well, I was hoping to go back and have some time to myself right now too!”

Miss Natalia and Elaine, wondering what was so urgent, followed Sophia and started to get up from their seats in a hurry.

It’s a little different than I expected, but if this is the kind of atmosphere we’re going to be in.

I guess I can’t put off what I wanted to say any longer.

“Miss Sophia.”

As I called out Miss Sophia’s name as she hurriedly put away her teacup, her body jerked up instantly.

“Yes, what?!”

“Why do you look so surprised?”

“Well, when have I ever been surprised….?”

“There’s nothing to be surprised about, I’m just telling you how much I enjoyed the tea you served me today.”

“Oh, I see….”

As Miss Sophia quietly mumbles to herself, “Thank goodness….” I say the last thing you need to say about today’s tea party.

“Peppermint, hibiscus, and rosehip, right?”

“Uh, how did you know?”

“Because it tastes so crisp and refreshing, and peppermint is the only herb that stays fresh after blending, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Well, next time, I’ll ask you to be a little more careful with your blends.”

Ms. Sophia’s expression, which had been reassuring me, froze.

“…What?”

“When you mix peppermint with herbs that have a refreshing flavor, you need to make sure that you mix it in very small proportions, otherwise it will only taste cool no matter what herbs you put in it. That’s why it was a little difficult to find the rose hips.”

“Yeah….”

“And for the hibiscus, try to use hibiscus from the Esna or Minia region if possible, as they have the best quality with larger buds and fewer impurities.

I’m guessing you’re using hibiscus from Mataram or Palopo…Hibiscus from these regions is cheaper, but not as good.”

“…….”

Well, that’s about it, I feel like I’ve been a little nervous for a while.

I’m sure I can’t do this more than once or twice a week, it takes too much mental energy on top of everything else.

“Well, everyone, I’ll see you next time.”

Leaving the three dazed young ladies standing there, I got up and started walking away.

I hope my behavior at the tea party today made sense. What if my actions made me look like a mean person who talked down to others in a social setting?

…Charlotte set this up, so the only person I have to blame is her.

“…So pick your lines well. You still have a chance.”

“Charlotte, you’re not coming?”

“I’m on my way, Ariana.”

I called out to Charlotte, who was still saying something to the last three young ladies, and quietly moved away from the chaotic scene.

* * *

~The next day~

“Good morning, Lady Ariana!”

As soon as I left my dormitory to attend my morning lecture, I was immediately greeted with a cheerful greeting by my door.

“Good morning, Lady Ariana.”

“Oh, hi, Ariana….”

I heard a calm voice, a little shaky, and when I turned to look, I recognized the faces I had seen yesterday.

“Good morning, Miss Natalia, Miss Elaine, and Miss Sophia.”

“If you don’t mind my asking, would you mind walking with us to the Academy’s main building?”

It was a rather casual suggestion from Miss Natalia, but the other two young ladies nodded in agreement.

“Are you sure you don’t mind? If word gets out that you’re with me, I don’t think your friend Miss Sierra would be pleased.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Ariana. Miss Sierra and I are just acquaintances, we’re not that close.”

“Well, yes….Miss Sierra, she doesn’t even know the difference between peppermint and chamomile….”

As soon as Miss Sierra’s name was mentioned, Elaine and Sophia seemed to draw a line in the sand with her.

…Is it possible that all three of them have crossed over to my side?

I remember all three of them being fairly close to Ms. Sierra, so it was an unexpected development for them to change their stance so quickly towards me.

All I did yesterday was impart a bit of liberal arts knowledge to the three of them….

If I rejected the three of them right here and now, they probably wouldn’t come back to me.

It would also make it a bit difficult for them to return to Miss Sierra’s clique, and by the time they graduate from the Academy, the three of them would be isolated in their social circle.

…As someone who’s been down that road once before, I’d rather not see that happen.

“Okay, let’s walk to the main building together.”

“””Thank you, Ariana!”””

For those who have trusted me and moved in my direction, it’s only right that I respond positively.

It’s not that I’m a nice person, it’s just that I think it’ll make Charlotte’s job of building public opinion a lot easier if I’m willing to forgive others.

And since all three of them will owe me a little bit of their heart, it will be easy for me to have the upper hand in the relationship in many ways.

However, if they betray me again after all this, then I have a simple and obvious solution: take them down with Miss Sierra.