Who did this…?
No, the only person who could do something like that is one!
The face of Violet, who always did chores without protest, appeared in his mind.
Since Violet had always been very submissive, she had never suspected anything.
How dare you do this to me?
Marigold looked around with trembling eyes.
-What's that?
The people began to murmur.
-Wait.
This, uhm, I think there's a mistake.
Marigold managed to say, her mouth feeling dry.
Boom, boom!
At that moment, a loud sound like something exploding was heard.
The letters, which had grown larger and larger, floated in the air and shone brightly.
Those who were very skilled in managing mana circuits could make mana protrude from the circuit.
Violet had just used that technique.
-No no!
Bang!
Bang!
The letters began to explode with a piano-like sound.
Fireworks effects spread noisily around the huge letters floating clearly in the air.
Marigold, in a panic, tried to cover the mana circuit with her entire body.
But the letters floated over his head.
"What's going on, Marigold!"
Sierra, who was slow to understand the situation, also began to run from one side to the other.
Sierra was an excellent elementalist, but mana circuit work had nothing to do with it.
In the end, Sierra threw the mana circuit to the ground.
Despite that, the letters that had appeared did not disappear.
-No no!
This is a mistake.
It's a joke from my sister, who is jealous of me!
Marigold said, shivering.
"Then make him stop!"
Sierra yelled.
People burst out laughing as they saw the two magicians running back and forth.
To make matters worse, more people were gathering.
Ash Defendale, and...
Who is that pretty woman?
Just then, Marigold saw a couple standing near the back door.
The unknown woman had a hand lightly on Ash's arm.
The woman, with subtle makeup and dazzlingly beautiful blue eyes, was… Violet.
Violet had a smile on her lips, as if she was having fun.
—Violet!
What kind of joke is this?!
Marigold screamed hysterically, pointing at Violet.
Did I see her wrong?
There's no one, right?
But when he recovered, Ash and Violet were gone.
-Excuse me!
Isn't this something serious?
What made Marigold react was an unknown girl.
A girl who wore unusual clothes and wore her hair in two pigtails.
—What, what is...?
—If the task were yours, you could stop the movement of the mana circuit even if someone messed with it.
But seeing as you can't handle the circuit at all...
isn't it that someone else made it for you from the beginning?
The people who were laughing fell silent.
And they began to look at Marigold with suspicion.
Marigold had the strange experience of feeling cold sweat from every pore of her body.
—I, I, I….
—Of course it's not a task done by someone else!
Miss Marigold is a very talented student!
Sierra said.
—If you really made it, show the process of creating a mana circuit here and now to explain what happened!
Voices of agreement were heard everywhere.
Especially the magic school students who had always hated Sierra leaning towards Marigold.
-Yeah!
We've never seen her doing internships before!
Marigold put a hand to her head, as if she were going to faint.
—It's just… I'm very surprised and nervous, I can't do anything.
Sniff, sniff….
But the girl with the pigtails was still very clever.
—There were already suspicions that he made others do his homework during the holidays!
If you've been doing this for years there should be a thorough investigation!
Marigold looked at Sierra.
Since the pigtail girl's words were correct, Sierra wiped the sweat from her forehead without saying anything.
Damn, the dance is soon, I can't break down over this.
No matter what happens, Crown Prince Edgar would save her.
A problem that cannot be solved with power?
There was no such thing.
I am the wife of His Highness the Crown Prince.
I am the future empress.
Thinking that, Marigold felt a little better.
—Everyone knows what sisters are like.
Don't you have a naughty family?
My sister must have ruined my homework and put a terrible spell on it.
That's why the mana circuit went out of control.
You know my sister, Violet Everdeen.
—….
This time, the girl with the pigtails remained silent.
People also listened to his words.
—You know my sister's reputation, right?
Me too….
Marigold forced a smile.
—I'm Marigold Everdeen.
You already know who I am.
I would never do that.
At that, the angry expression of the dean, Herbert Gallerbil, softened.
Marigold was on the verge of fainting from hyperventilation, but she held herself together with great effort.
When you come home, I'll kill you, Violet.
Marigold thought, grinding her teeth inwardly.
──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ────
—Not bad, Violet.
I didn't know you had been doing your sister's chores all this time.
Ash said as he walked, holding Violet's arm.
—I didn't know I was committing a foul by doing it either.
No, in fact, I refused to know.
Violet looked at the ground with a bitter expression.
—Why do you look so sad?
For me, what just happened was pretty good.
—Well, when I entered the academy, they called me a prodigy because I was good with mana circuits.
I was very happy when I was accepted into the cavalry faculty, which is the most difficult in the academy.
—….
—But after that, I never received a single compliment again.
However, the mana circuit I made today still received praise.
Violet said softly.
-Foolishness.
Cheap flattery means nothing.
Ash giggled.
—Do you think so?
-Yeah.
If you really want, I can make people worship you until you're tired.
Violet looked at Ash blankly and then smiled slightly.
—Ash, it scares me that you can really do it.
I feel like you can do anything….
Just then, someone approached them at a fast pace.
It was Bluideen, his nose covered with a bandage.
—You, Ash Defendale!
At that moment, Violet turned her head.
Her well-groomed hair fluttered, and her eyes, with subtle makeup, looked deeper than normal.
Violet simply raised her head and looked at Bluideen squarely.
But Bluideen's expression was strange.
He, who had been so angry, stared at Violet with an expression as if he had been struck by lightning.
—Violet?
—How long, Bluideen.
Violet looked at Bluideen with a smile and gently squeezed the hand she had on Ash's arm.
…To be continued