Sakura had said that, but no matter how much I thought about it, I still couldn't understand Lilia. In the end, it seemed pointless to dwell on it.
"Hey, Alisa," Lilia said, looking directly at Alisa sitting across from her. Alisa responded with a quiet, "Yes?"
"I don't quite understand Theo's intentions," Lilia continued, her voice uncertain. "Do you know anything about it?"
"Theo... sort of. But I'm not sure if what I know is even accurate," Alisa replied, hesitating slightly.
"I see…" Lilia murmured.
If Alisa could understand Theo's actions, perhaps I could, too, Lilia thought. Recalling everything that had happened, all I could think of was the first time I met Theo, and the conclusion I had drawn then was:
"Is it because you want to get along with me...?" Lilia asked, her tone hesitant as she shrugged slightly.
But then, she quickly scoffed at herself. "Oh, never mind, that's just overthinking."
Sakura sighed softly when she heard Lilia's words, and Alisa lowered her brows in a sad expression, but Lilia remained oblivious to their reactions.
It would take about three hours to travel from the Duke of Aldis' mansion to the school. Considering that, even if I left the mansion after noon, I would still have enough time to reach the dorm by the end of the day. However, I wanted to spend the evening at the dorm to avoid running into anyone. Since most people would be returning to the dorm after classes, no one would notice if I slipped in now.
It was already common knowledge that Lilia had been ordered by the prince to break off her engagement. She could feel the weight of everyone's gaze on her, but she had learned to ignore it. At school, she'd be able to hide herself more easily, away from the whispers. It was the only escape she had for now.
– There's no way out of here, is there?
– It's so noisy...
Lilia knew it, too. So, for today at least, she would take refuge in the school. She would prepare herself overnight, and maybe, just maybe, things would look different. But deep down, she knew she was just trying to justify her decision to herself. Still, it was the only choice she had.
A little after noon, the school building finally came into view.
The grounds were vast. In addition to the large buildings for studying, there were training areas and even indoor facilities for exercises during rainy days. The dormitories were tucked away in a corner of the campus, even larger than the academic buildings themselves.
"Lilia..." Alisa began, her eyes on the school.
Before Alisa could continue, Lilia answered in anticipation of her question.
"You're coming with me."
"Huh...?"
"Is there a problem with that?" Lilia narrowed her eyes and asked, clearly expecting a reaction.
Alisa immediately shook her head, panic evident in her response. Lilia just turned away, dismissing it with a quick glance.
"Shut up. I can't believe I'm stuck with you until bedtime, dealing with your selfishness. Poor thing."
"Who are you talking about?"
"Who do you mean?"
He had a slightly smug grin, and the tone of his voice made it clear. Lilia frowned.
"Anyway, I'm loud and selfish, I guess," she muttered, as if it was a messy situation. But I was only joking, and Sakura laughed.
"Oh, I don't think so!"
Alisa screamed at the same time. Lilia froze in shock, not expecting Alisa to react to her whispered words. She looked at Alisa, puzzled, as the latter's expression hardened.
Alisa fixed her gaze on me seriously. Lilia hesitated, then nodded faintly.
"It won't change now... or even tonight."
"Yeah. I'll handle it."
With a sarcastic nod, Lilia spoke again.
"Hey, Alisa. Do you really think that's true?"
"Of course! Right now, I have no idea what Master Lilia's intentions are!"
"So, you didn't think this before?"
"Of course not."
Lilia didn't miss the slight interruption in Alisa's response, but she didn't take offense. It was the answer she expected.
"Alisa, you're not pretending you can't hear me, are you?"
"Huh? No, I... I can hear you..."
"Then let's talk about it honestly."
Lilia straightened her posture and said it firmly. Alisa's face darkened even further.
"Alright. I've decided things will change. I don't want to study it, but I will work on my temper. But personally, I have my limits, and I'm sure the people around me won't be convinced."
It sounded a bit sarcastic. Lilia herself was still uncertain about what had gone wrong. However, she noticed that the atmosphere around the Mansion had subtly shifted over the past week. And because of that, she decided to follow Sakura's advice and take her words to heart.
"I need someone to help me change. Someone who knew me well before and can tell me when I'm making mistakes."
"You... want that from me?"
"Exactly. Otherwise, there's no point in talking about this."
Alisa closed her eyes and fell silent. Her expression remained stern. Lilia waited patiently for her to respond, not interrupting her thoughts. The carriage rumbled along, and as the school came into view, Alisa finally spoke.
"Dear Lilia, let me tell you something."
"What is it?"
"Are you still after His Highness?"
That was a bold question. Lilia stifled a grin. She didn't let it show on her face, but inwardly, she found the directness amusing. She shook her head.
"Enough about His Highness."
"Is that true?"
"If you say there's nothing between us, you're lying."
Alisa finally smiled at Lilia's self-deprecating comment. She nodded, her expression softening.
"If you'll accept it from me, I'll help you. After all, I'm a maid devoted to Lilia."
Lilia nodded with satisfaction at Alisa's answer. Sakura had always said that having a collaborator was important. It's not just about getting things done—it's spiritual, and in some ways, it's the most crucial thing.
I greet Lilia with a "Hello" before turning my gaze back outside the carriage. I felt a bit embarrassed, which is why I acted that way, but Alisa, without a care, just continues talking.
"So, should I tell you how Lilia has been acting around me so far?"