The Duke’s Daughter Is Hated

Chapter 8

8. She is the exact opposite of me

Translated by KaiesV
Edited by KaiesV

Some time after the start of the second school year, the illegitimate daughter of a certain Count—— I have that Nathe Weshia-sama is the exact opposite of me.

「Louise-sama was concerned about her…」

「Louise-sama was…」

Louise Bersheik—— I heard that the Crown Princess is concerned about Nathe-sama.

I don’t understand what this means, even though I’ve never met her.

Unlike me, who is not spoken to for that reason, Nathe-sama is spoken to to an astonishing degree. I was worried about whether she would fit in at this school, being the bastard child of a count, but it seems that my fears were unfounded.

I’m glad she’s fine, I thought.

But when I saw that Nathe-sama was fine, I felt bad because people misunderstood me as if I was staring at them.

Still, I think that the Crown Princess is a person who judges without actually seeing her. She’s making assumptions even though she haven’t even talked to me at all, and she’s making some kind of special reference to Nathe-sama, even though she’d never met her.

She is simply adored by the Crown Princess, whereas I am hated by the Crown Princess as if I were a snake.

The words of one influential person affect everything about that person. Such is the nature of royal and aristocratic society.

I wonder if my school life would have been different if the Crown Princess had not disliked me. Would I have had a fiancée, made friends, and still enjoyed my school life?

I think about the “what if” stories that I can’t help but think about such as the following.

But thinking back, if I had not been disliked by the Crown Princess, I might never have realized how selfish I was.

And if I hadn’t noticed, I might have grown up selfish as it was. I feel like I am the center of it all—— I felt as if I was a princess, or perhaps a “villainess,” as the Crown Princess and her followers believed.

Thinking about it, should I be grateful for the reminder?

Nathe-sama seemed natural, despite the fact that she was being singled out by the Crown Princess. She looked rather puzzled.

Is this so because she had been living as a commoner until now?

「Shefinko-sama is very studious, isn’t she?」

「…I think this is just normal. I am just learning what I want to learn. Books can teach us about the world we don’t know.」

I often come to the library in the hope that I might be able to talk to Ihmut… But that is a secret.

I honestly am surprised that anyone would engage me in conversation for this long. Ihmut was an eccentric who tried to get involved with me when he heard rumors about me.

He is that eccentric guy, laughing amusedly, wondering what the fun is all about.

「You’re so serious. Shefinko-sama. I don’t know where they get off calling me a “villainess.”」

「I don’t know about that, either.」

Ihmut has a light tone because I don’t say anything in particular. I wonder if I can hush up to Ihmut too…? Does Ihmut recognize me as a friend? Can I consider him a friend? This is my recent concern.

Miloda was worried that Ihmut might be a bad man who is approaching me to deceive me, but I don’t see any particular advantage in his approaching me. Besides, my gut tells me that Ihmut is not a bad person, so I will trust my gut.

I stared at Ifmut for a long time.

「Do I have something on my face?」

「No. I’m afraid… By the way, what does Ihmut think of Nathe-sama?」

As if to evade the topic, I mentioned the subject of Nathe-sama.

「Ahh, That Count’s illegitimate child? I think she’s a good girl. I just don’t think the Crown Princess of this country would go out of her way to be overprotective enough to care. There are even commoners in this academy, and I guess it is a little strange that they care so much about a mere bastard of a Count’s family. As well as her bizarre dislike of Shefinko-sama.」

Is this because he was from another country?

Ihmut speaks very clearly. Of course, this is probably because there are no people around, but I am still surprised to be told so clearly.

「I think Nathe-sama is a good person, too. She works very hard, even from a distance, and she seem to help the teachers a lot.」

「Does Shefinko-sama care about the girl?」

「…I guess I am. I’m a little concerned because I’m on the opposite side of the fence, the one who is hated by the Crown Princess and she’s the one who is adored by the Crown Princess.」

I am a little concerned about Nathe-sama because we are on opposite sides.

Still, I feel that I have somehow allowed myself to be forgiven by Ihmut in this short period of time for having this kind of conversation with him.

「Hmm. I see then.」

「Yes, that’s right.」

「…By the way, Shefinko-sama, isn’t it about time you took off that brusque tone?」

「Eh…」

「Shefinko-sama, you’re using a more casual tone, don’t you?」

…I was glad to hear him say so, and I went on talking to Ihmut in my usual tone, regardless of how he knew my true tone.

For some reason, Ihmut also knew that I was roaming the streets with Miloda.

I even promised to go to the city with him.