Chapter 112: Infirmary Visit (III).
Everyone in the classroom decided it was time to leave, visiting hours is almost over and somehow the whole hour they talked they've gotten to know each other better.
"Its been an hour so we'll take our leave." (Lady Margaret) says, standing up. It was a wonderful experience to see another side they don't usually notice for the heiress of the Alarie family.
"Will you continue to stay here, Lady Alarie?" (Lady Blaire) asks, looking over the fake sleeping girl.
The villainess nods, turning over to Analissa Blanchet with a soft smile, not wanting to leave her bed to make sure she's safe and sound. "I plan on staying here for the night but I'll swing by my dorm before coming back. I… might need to continue doing my work for a bit so I can have free time to take care of Miss Blanchet."
"I'll be back, Miss Blanchet." She reaches over Analissa's hand unconsciously and squeezes it gently hoping she could wake up and feel it. "I'll be out with you, Liara will be guarding her for now."
Lord Ein shrugs, "I can't believe you still have to work even when you're at the academy."
It was a very rare occurrence for a noble student to bring their family's work into the academy.
Then again knowing the heiress for the Alarie family things run a little too intense there for his taste.
"What kind of work even? My father never gives me any." He says, looking at the villainess with curious eyes.
The villainess looks over at the heroine for a moment then back to him.
"I… was left to take care of my deceased uncle's estate when I came of age. My cousin is gone now, I was close with her and I promised I would take care of things for her when she died." (Lady Evelyn) breathes in a moment before continuing. "She was the only cousin that I really liked even if she did come from the lower branch, I believe she would've been a much better heiress compared to me."
Years before… stories that surrounded the cold, cruel and sadistic Olivia Charlotte Alarie was always being told even around their home. Then as years came, she suddenly… changed.
She became kinder, soft and even caring towards the people she ruled over her domain but- a nasty rumor came how she loved a woman that of a man.
How the servants of the main branch hoped that their young heiress Evelyn Alariere wouldn't turn out just like her cousin.
"That's…" (Lord Ein) was familiar with the Alarie family and offered his condolences once more. "I… I met your cousin a few times at a party your family hosted, she was one of a kind. I remember attending her funeral and many people attended all for your cousin."
"Many people respected her. It shows that she's a true Alarie." (Lady Evelyn) didn't want to continue talking, with the new information at hand- her cousin was alive somewhere in the world and living peacefully… happily with a wife and maybe even a child.
Olivia Charlotte Alarie was a contending heiress for the family as well, but everything changed when she met a woman in the academy that became her lover. Not everyone knows the real reason why her cousin has faked her suicide.
"Well then let's go."
…
As everyone leaves, the heroine can finally take a breather taking in all that they've said.
She opened her eyes and saw the empty chairs that they sat on.
"Finally, they're gone." (Analissa) sighed a breath of relief hearing them finally all leave. "I didn't mean to hide away from them but there were just too many people-!"
A few people that visited she wasn't even familiar with them, not at all.
"I'll be bombarded with questions if I talk to them all at once and that's going to give me a headache." She'll be the center of the attention that's for sure.
Out of all of them the wants she wants to talk to the most has got to be Lord Ein.
"..."
The Japanese streamer takes in the quiet moment and realises that… her classmates came to actually visit.
To check up on her wellbeing and perhaps even become friends.
If this was in the original timeline… then it should be impossible but for some miracle things are changing for the better.
"It's nice how they came to visit. I guess with how I'm meddling with things they don't follow the script of the original world anymore." (Analissa) mutters deep in thought. She knows that by choosing this route there will be a lot more unexpected events in the future. "Still… a study group for the exams doesn't sound too bad. I just hope I won't step on anyone's toes when it comes to our ballroom dancing exams."
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Suddenly a knock outside the room could be heard and a familiar voice.
"Who is it now?" (Analissa) muttered, depending on the person who came back she was thinking of going back to fake sleeping.
She could hear the door opening and the nurse talking with someone.
"I'll be quick, I'll just give this to the commoner girl and I'll be on my way."
Analissa could hear the nurse sounding annoyed and tired with whoever was outsite. "Commoner girl- were you supposed to be with the group that visited Miss Analissa Blanchet?"
The heroine's eyes widened for a moment. "That voice… Could it be Lady Serene? I mean she's the only one who calls me a commoner girl."
Thud!
She places her ear on the door.
"I'm not with them, this is just… just give it to her already! You don't need to answer many questions, it's just a gift!" (Lady Serene) yelled in an annoyed manner and that didn't sit well with the nurse how she was being treated as some sort of…
Servant.
"Sigh… you should just get inside and visit her as well. Your other friends have already visited and you still have a few minutes left if you want." The nurse suggested and that left the other girl flustered.
"V-Visiting the commoner girl I mean… I'm not her friend-" (Lady Serene) tries denying it and that only makes things worse. "I-I'm more of a stranger or a classmate. We're not that close but I do have some respect for her."
Analissa covered her mouth in shock, squishing her face as she continued to lean over by the door just to hear her talking, 'Is the great Lady Serene Sinclair actually getting flustered?! Kawaii~sugi! She's such a tsundere! I can't believe she's here to visit me!'
The nurse, having no time to entertain this guest being so silly, turned her back and threatened to close the door to let the patient rest if no one important was going to visit back. "Then I won't give what you have, if you're not friends then you have no reason to visit."
She was about to turn the red-headed girl away before she finally mutters out-
"I…"
"But if you care for her then you have to come in and give your gift to her yourself."
"I… fine. I'm something like her friend, I owe her for saving my best friend but that's all. It's just some rejuvenating potions, a blanket in case she's cold and some scones inside this basket in case she's hungry."
"Being honest is not all that bad." The nurse smiles as she moves over to the side, "You're welcome inside now then."
"Thank you."
Step, step, step.
"I should probably go-!" As the footsteps became even heavier, Analissa Blanchet stood upright and eventually ran towards the foot of the bed before stopping to just sit down and relax~ our dear Japanese streamer has thought of a grand idea. "But then again… I want to confirm a few things first."
It's not always you see a girl who tells you she hates you actually going out of her way to check up on you.
'This is going to be fun.' (Analissa) thought in her mind, already making a script the moment Lady Serene walks inside the room.
Creak…
"Hmph." The lackey bites her lip as she stops right by the door, looking a little nervous. She didn't have any other friends except for Evelyn and she probably bit her tongue when she's forced to say that she was friends with the commoner girl. "Ngh… I wonder if that idiot is okay. I've been having a headache ever since that stupid crown prince decided it would be a good idea to try and kill his own fiance."
She glares at the door feeling guilty.
'If I hadn't… no… don't think like that Serene. It can only be because of Analissa Blanchet that Evelyn was able to live and I have to thank her for that.' Ever since the festival she's been feeling a little under the weather.
The commoner girl has been on her mind lately that it was starting to kill her.
That day, when she yelled at the guard and stomped her toe…
Analissa looked… so… fearless and brave when she pleaded to be let inside and to help her friend.
"..."
Not only that but the second day of the festival where that buffoon Einsel decided to skip his duties as the frog prince, the commoner girl even volunteered to save the play.
It was a moment of rush, but Lady Serene could see the mix of fear, nervousness and anxiety on her face when she was tailoring the crown prince's costume on Analissa's body.
Despite all that… she went through with it.
"...That side of her is honestly amazing."
Smack!
The Lackey slaps herself before she could slip her real thoughts to her mouth any further.
"No, no, no!" (Lady Serene) felt like flies were running around her stomach.
NOT BUTTERFLIES just flies.
She doesn't know why she's feeling like that and she doesn't want to find out why. "Hmph, I'll just go inside, place this on the table and then leave."
Click.
"My~ my~ to what I owe the pleasure~!" (Analissa) was sitting on the edge of the bed with her legs crossed and acting all smug. "Lady Serene Sinclair! I have been waiting for your visit~!"
Lady Serene raises her fingers shakily, "...you're awake?!"
"Yes, I have! I can't believe you came to visit me! Please have a seat my dear friend! Sniff… I never knew you cared for me that much. I'm so touched."
"..."
Analissa was acting like a smug goofball who must've heard everything she was muttering
Lackey holds out her basket and places it on the floor before turning looking dreadful, thinking in her mind. 'This idiot had me worried for nothing! When she fainted I thought she would be at the brink of death! I couldn't sleep a wink!'
"You look well, commoner. Hmph! You can have all of these as a thank you for saving Evelyn." (Lady Serene) felt a little embarrassed, so much that she wanted to leave. She walked over to Analissa placing it into her arms being unable to look at her in those deep blue eyes of hers.
"Seeing you in good condition… that's all that matters." She just wanted to get in, leave the present and if she's asleep maybe tell her thank you because at least she would have the confidence to tell her that when the commoner girl was unconcious.
But since she's awake and in good spirits might as well leave to do her own thing!
"Ah- no um… I was only teasing." (Analissa) was suddenly stunned seeing her face, pouting and so reddened it almost matches her hair color. She wasn't expecting for her to bring something as well. "You don't have to leave yet, my apologies. Why don't you take a seat?"
"No, that will be just fine. I needed to go back to my dorm anyway-!"
"You must've waited for them to leave before trying to visit me right?" She held the basket and saw that there was even a blanket on the bottom and on the top were scones. "Were you worried about me, Lady Serene?"
"No-! I wasn't worried about you, it's just nobles never forget to repay back their debts and favors! I dont care or even think about you often!" (Lady Serene) immediately snapped, her face flushing. "I owe you for saving my bestfriend."
"Hehe." (Analissa) chuckles shyly, placing the gift on the side of the bed. "Lady Evelyn will be back… did you two reconcile? Why not come inside and talk with her properly?"
"...No. I should leave."
"You should stay! I want you to!" The words escaped Analissa's mouth before she could stop herself.
Lady Serene's eyes widened.
"Shhh! Not so loud, you imbecile!" She hurriedly glanced toward the door, as if afraid someone might have heard. "I can't believe you! You have no right to order me to stay! I'm not your personal mutt!"
"No, it's just..." (Analissa) lowered her gaze. "I want us to talk, Lady Sinclair."
Lady Serene waited.
For a moment, Analissa said nothing.
And for some reason, Lady Serene's chest tightened.
"Hmph." She turned away sharply. "Listen carefully, commoner. You must always remember your standing. Don't get the wrong idea simply because I brought you something."
The Japanese streamer felt a little saddened by what she said.
If the villainess was her first favorite character- the lackey was the second.
"B-But… I haven't seen you since the festival, milady. Have you been alright?" The Japanese streamer asks her voice low and somehow feels like a soft whimper to the lackey's ears.
It made the ever so distant Lady Serene Sinclair take a hit somewhere in her chest.
"Don't look at me like that! You dare ask me how I'm doing when you're the one in the infirmary! You're so-! Your... charm is already troublesome enough as it is!"
Silence.
Lady Serene froze.
Analissa stared at her as the lackey's face slowly turned red.
"I-I mean-!" She immediately looked away. "Your charm is... dangerous! That's what I meant! Tempting people into lowering their guard! It is hardly something worthy of praise!"
Analissa tilted her head.
"Ahem." (Lady Serene) cleared her throat and crossed her arms tighter. "Hmph. In any case, someone like you should know better than to misunderstand my intentions. I could never imagine being friends with you- or being anywhere close to you!"
Analissa remained silent for a moment.
'I feel like she just complimented me…' Her lips twitched, feeling that she might've teased the lackey too much. 'But if I point it out, she'll probably yell at me even more.'