Ah, pretty. I think I am falling in love with my mom again.
“I am now able to properly meet the rumored Princess. I said hello last time, do you remember?”
“I heard that your body isn’t that well. Are you alright now?”
“Yes, she’s alright now, right Lala?”
“Yes! Lala isn’t sick at all.”
The ladies burst out an exclamation after I boldly answered their question.
“You resemble the Duchess; you are really cute.”
“That’s right. I am feeling full just by looking at her even without eating.”
Words of well-wishing came and went. My mother seemed relieved that no one was paying Valdwin attention.
“Children should also get along with other children. Would it be alright if I send Lala and Didi away?”
“Of course, Duchess. Adults should also talk with adults.”
The ladies laughed ‘hohoho’ with mysterious expressions on their faces,
Mom took Valdwin and me to the place where the children were gathered.
This is it – really this. Count Roister’s Camilla must have been on the invitation list, so Camila would obviously be here. This is Valdwin’s opportunity – opportunity to establish himself with Camilla before Einz.
“You can take good care of Didi, right Lala?”
“Just trust in Lala!”
Mom’s smile hardened. She then said to Valdwin again, “Didi? Lala will take good care of you.”
Valdwin nodded. Tch, you aren’t really believing in me.
Valdwin and I waved goodbye to my mom and headed towards the other children. The children who were scared at us first like meerkats flocked around us.
“What’s your name?”
“I am Laila, and this is Rudella.”
“Ahh ~ I am Lisa, Laila, and he is Lloyd.”
“I am Damon!”
“I’m Christy!”
The other children also introduced their names without using their last name since I did the same, but they weren’t the ones I am looking for. These children right now are not the ones who will help me make Valdwin the male lead.
Camilla, Camilla… over there!
The novel’s description of Camilla – she was said to be a beautiful woman with red hair like burning fire and mysterious purple eyes. Camilla was the only one who had inherited the red hair rare from the Roister County in the Empire.
If Laila Lorovante was called ‘the white deer’ because of her silver hair that looks like the melted moonlight, then Camilla was called the ‘red fox’. And that Camilla was standing right now near the balcony, looking like someone who straight out of the novel.
While Camilla had a lively personality, the young children were reluctant to befriend her because the Roister County had inherited black magic from generation to generation. It was the adult’s mistake as they thought that black magic was transferable just like how diseases are.
Fortunately, Valdwin was following behind me while holding my hand having no idea about anything. He sensed my gaze at him, and he smiled at me. Our kitty, isn’t your beauty upgrading every passing day…? That’s great, even the female lead will be enchanted faster with this kind of charm.
I put my trust in Valdwin and spoke to Camilla.
“Hi!”
“… Hi.” Camilla threw a vigilant look at us.
“I am Laila. This is Rudella!”
“… I am Camilla – Camilla Roister.”
She was clearly emphasizing her last name ‘Roister’ to see my reaction. That’s to be expected. Her level of vigilance was totally understandable for her not to get hurt because there were only foolish children now.
Black magic is manifested rather than being transmitted. Any power can be a good or bad power depending on how one utilizes it. That’s the same with black magic, and Camilla was the person who tried to use it in the right way more than anyone else.
That’s just her being the female lead. Our heroine who rises from the ordeal and becomes a hero!
The children who were following behind Valdwin and I fell from afar. They were clearly babbling about the black magic Camilla had inherited seeing how they were looking at our direction with vigilance.
Then one of them bravely came forward and spoke to me, “Hey, Laila.”
“Why?”
“It’s better not to play with Camilla.”
It was really a lot of courage. The problem lies on the parents who instilled wrong prejudices to these young children.
“Why?”
The kid looked into Camilla’s eyes. Her innocent face quickly darkened and became dull. She then bit her lip and bowed her head.
Ha, really. That’s because you don’t know the female lead, so stop being extra guys.
I shook my head.
The boy, who had not been able to answer my question, blushed at my reaction and cried.
“Camilla used black magic! They say it’s dangerous and can be transmitted! They said that we would have the same germs if you transmitted it!”
My goodness, what kind of adult said such an ignorant thing?
“My mother didn’t teach me that way.”
The kid flinched at my words.
“Camilla could be a better knight because she could use black magic! And black magic wasn’t bad at all!”
“M-my mom is not a liar!”
Oh, it was your mother?
“My mother is not a liar either. Even my mother never lies to me!”
Although it was annoying to fight to a kid’s level, it wouldn’t be too good to grab attention by acting in a conspicuous way.
I was very satisfied with my current life. I have parents who loved me and the cute Valdwin, and more than that, I was born with a golden spoon. Doesn’t this just make the world beautiful? Living the life of a successful fan and being wealthy!
But there was no need to step into confusion by doing something that would make me stand out. My life would be so flat if I didn’t love Valdwin.
The words I uttered based on such calculations must have stimulated the child’s heart.
“Ugh!”
The boy looked at me with tears in his eyes and cried out loudly, “I’m not playing with you anymore!!”
Yes, I also reject you.
The child took his friends and went to another place.
Urgh, what would I do if they go home? No, I didn’t do anything wrong, but rather, it was something their parents should apologize for instilling absurd prejudices to their children.
I decided to go out boldly.
“Nice to meet you, Camilla.”
Camilla took my hand carefully, “Nice to meet you, Laila.”
“Call her Rudella. She’s my study buddy. She’s very smart, kind and pretty.”
(T/N: I used the pronoun ‘she’ rather than ‘he’ for Valdwin since he was now dressing up as a girl, so I hoped it didn’t make you confused)
He had other charms that I can’t quite describe – a lot of that. Since I can’t put it into words, I say you should experience it yourself?
This is the most thrilling moment I have ever had since I entered this novel. This is the first meeting between the male and female leads!
Hold hands! Hold hands! Shake hands!
Did someone hear my prayers?
The two held hands, even though it was just like a slight rub of their clothes, they still did. I felt like I was raising all my children before sending them to marry.
I will allow you to marry!
That moment I was thinking of all those silly comments and giving them blessings with just them holding hands, Camilla asked me.
“By the way, Laila.”
“Hmm?”
“You really think so?”
“About what?”
“Are you being serious… about what you said that I could be a great knight, and that black magic wasn’t bad at all but helpful? So, you said that I could be a better knight than others?”
“That was the truth, Camilla.”
Camilla’s eyes trembled at my words. “But no one thinks so….”
“Then they are doing something wrong! That’s not the truth.”
“Laila….”
“I believe Camilla will use her powers for good.”
I know a little about you because you’re the female lead. You are a child born with that character. Don’t you know that any female lead can do it?
Camilla’s eyes twinkled.
This, did you just fall for me and not Valdwin? But since Valdwin and I stick together all the time, then it’s just like you falling in love with Valdwin! My dearest kitty, are you seeing this? Didn’t I just make the female lead your friend? So, cheer up!
Camilla hugged me tightly.
“Thank you, Laila….”
“Uh? Hmm!”
I patted Camilla on the back like an adult.
Like that, Camilla and I passed through the gates of being friends very naturally.
Did I get one step further from my death like this?
Laila would mix with those children and curse at Camilla, saying things like ‘so what if you are a Black Wizard?’ In fact, I wouldn’t be hated by the main characters if I did exactly the opposite of what Laila did in the novel, and then my chances of surviving would increase.
Oh, you’re clever Laila. Let’s do everything just like this!
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
But contrary to Laila’s thoughts, the two realized something as soon as they held hands.
‘She’s a kin.’ Valdwin’s eyes twinkled.
And Camilla’s purple eyes twinkled. ‘My fellow kin.’
‘So, you’re my fellow kin.’
Contrary to Laila’s expectations, it wasn’t a sweet and happy meeting.
“Nice to meet you,” Valdwin gave strength to his hand.
Crunch –
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“Nice to meet you too.” Camilla also gave strength to her hand.
Crunch –
It was only Laila who didn’t notice the sound.
“Then, the three of us are friends, alright?” Laila said naively.