Second Arc: Twenty-Fourth Chapter

The tea party carried on after that, but somehow my mood for it had been spoiled, so I left the school early.

The crown prince was awfully concerned for me and insisted he'd see me home, but I was tired, so I politely declined. If His Highness tagged along, I couldn't take off my corset and couldn't relax.

Lady Julia and the others were worried about my duel too, but there was a little under a month until the hunt. I promised them we'd talk the outfit over again another day, and headed home to the manor.

"Haah. Ahh, I'm worn out."

Freed from my corset, I sprawled out on the sofa and stretched. Not very ladylike, but it's just Sissi and me here in my own room, so I don't mind. Though Sissi's stare is rather pointed.

The thing about corsets is this. While you're wearing one it's the worst, but the sense of release when you take it off is just irresistible. Honestly, it's like you wear it for this very moment. If I had a beer to go with it, it'd be perfect.

Lounging about in a comfy dress, I took a sip of the tea Sissi had brewed. Ahh, this is so soothing.

Once I'd caught my breath, I spoke to Sissi.

"Sissi~, that reminds me — it's been decided that I'm going to fight a duel."

"Wha—?! Huh?! A duel — you mean that duel, the one-on-one kind?"

"Yes. I'm not sure which duel you mean, but probably 'that' duel, yes."

"Milady, and you hated the idea so much. What brought on this change of heart?"

"Well, a lot happened…"

And so on and so forth. I explained to Sissi how it had all come about at the tea party.

"And then, a divine voice rang out all around! And as if by magic, the wall of people split apart… and there, who should appear but—!"

Whew. I'd gotten carried away in spite of myself.

Sissi, having watched my gesture-filled, true-to-life performance… no, my explanation, let out a vacant little "I see~."

"What is it, Sissi. That's a half-hearted response."

And here I'd worked up a bit of a sweat. When I let out a disgruntled sound, Sissi gave a wry smile and shook her head.

"No, no. I understood the story perfectly. It was a little amus— …never mind. In any case, milady, so you've finally made up your mind to become a candidate for crown princess."

As Sissi nodded solemnly, mm-hmm, I tilted my head, puzzled.

"How do you figure that? I'm only entering a duel."

"Huh?"

This time it was Sissi who tilted her head. We stared at each other and fell silent for a while.

At length Sissi rubbed her temple with a finger and, with a sour look, opened her mouth. Has she got a headache, I wonder.

"Milady. I haven't the faintest idea how you've failed to notice, but… entering a duel is as good as declaring you've joined the race for crown princess."

"Wha… whaaaaaat?!"

At Sissi's words, I ended up taking the biggest shock of the whole day.

Aaah, my thoughtless streak — even being reborn didn't cure it…

You idiot, me—!!