Villainess and the Stalker - Chapter 27 - Green-Haired Boy

Chapter 27 : Green-Haired Boy

「… Ryuu Amapola.」

When Hecate called me by my full name, I corrected her.

「Ryuu is fine. Amapola is just decoration.」

In fact, “Amapola” wasn’t even my name. It was just an alias that I used in this school.

The “Ryuu” part was, in fact, closer to my true name.

Hecate nodded in understanding.

「… Same with me.」

She told me.

「But wow, so you’re a Class-1 student.」

According to hearsay, every single Class-1 student was a cut above the rest.

The fact that Hecate was in this class meant that she was also one of those excellent students.

Or so I thought, but Hecate shook her head with an indescribable look on her face.

「… That’s not true. I’m not that great.」

「EH?」

When I tilted my head in confusion, Hecate seemed to be struggling to respond.

However, we were interrupted by someone who called out to her before she could reply.

「… Hecate. Ah, there you are… Um, you are?」

The one who approached us was a tall youth with blue eyes and emerald-green hair.

If my memories served me right, he was… Amongst the members of the student council.

I got a little bit worried since that kind of person suddenly spoke to me.

「You are. Ryuu Amapola, right? I’m Ylermi Pernu, the eldest son of Earl… Or so I want to say, but status means nothing in this academy.」

「… It’s an honor to have you remember my name. Though, I’ve to apologize for my lack of manner for failing to notice you.」

I replied politely, using honorific speech since despite being in the same year as him, this youth already had his own peerage and was also a member of the student council.

But, Ylermi then spoke to me.

「It’s natural for a member of the student council like me to know the name of an out-of-season transfer student. And also… May I ask you to stop using such honorific speech? I mean, we’re in the same year. It feels strange when you talk to me using such polite language.」

「But…」

「I said it’s fine. Though one of us might have to use honorific speech toward the other once we graduate from this academy, at the very least, please speak normally to me when we’re still in this academy.」

「… You’re right. Then if you don’t mind, Ylermi. Is this much all right with you?」

When I said those words while hiding my reluctance, Ylermi smiled at me.

「Ooh, thank you very much! I mean, the number of students in the same year as us who speak to me without honorifics is already rather small. Or rather, it’s only the members of the student council… It’s sad, right? And if it’s okay with you, will you become my friend?」

「… Yes, I don’t mind it. Please become my friend.」
I took his outstretched hand as a sign of friendship.

And then, I asked a question that had been weighing on my mind.

「By the way, Ylermi.」

「What’s the matter, Ryuu?」

「I assume that you and Hecate know each other, but may I ask about your real relationship?」

「Ah… Hecate, huh. Should I give you a full introduction about myself? I mean, it feels like I’ll be acquainted with Ryuu for years to come.」

In hearing Ylermi’s words, Hecate suddenly looked up and spoke.

「… Ylermi is my brother… From a different mother…」

Though she said it lightly, my instinct told me that this topic was a landmine.

Both Ylermi and Hecate were freshmen.

In short, they entered in the same year, such a case was normally impossible unless they were twins.

But there was another possibility that I never expected.

In short, they were born in the same year but from different mothers.

Well, I mean, leaving a descendant behind was the greatest duty of a noble. That’s why it was normal for the heads of large noble households to have two or three wives.

In short, they were step-siblings.

In any case, they seemed quite close, despite being step-siblings.

Ylermi added.

「It’s as she just said. My mother is the second wife of the Parnu family’s head, and Hecate’s mother is the first wife.」

But then, Hecate rebutted.

「Ylermi’s mother is the first wife now.」

「Hecate… That’s only what outsiders say. I’m sure that our dear father thinks of your mother as his first wife.」

「Mother is… Dead.」

Hecate ran out of the room along with her summoned beast, the white dog, as she said those words.

Ylermi raised his hand to stop her, but then stopped midway. He turned around to look at me, an indescribable look on his face.

「… My apologies. Her situation is really complicated.」

「Yeah… Still, I’m glad that she doesn’t seem to hate you. I mean, most people I know who are in the same situation as you guys usually hate each other.」

In short, a strained-sibling relationship normally started due to a family’s internal affair.

This was even more so the case when the siblings were born from different mothers.

Unless they found a solution as soon as possible, it wasn’t rare for such a situation to continue until one of them died.

Even so, Ylermi continued on.

「My relationship with Hecate is harmonious. Both of us often played together in our childhood since our mothers were good friends.」

「That’s another rare example, isn’t it?」

In most cases, their relationship would be strained with bickering.

This was all for the sake to make their own child the heir of the household.
「True enough… The truth is, my mother has a strained relationship with my father’s third wife. That’s why I never had the chance to have a good, proper conversation with my little brother, father’s child with his third wife. My little brother himself is a good child, but… Geez, noble society sure is troublesome…」

Ylermi’s expression showed he wanted nothing to do with the society he was born into.

He was an easygoing youth who treated everyone equally.

「Haha, I know what you mean. I mean, the situation at my household is also… A bit complicated.」

I practically understood what he felt.

I mean, when a man had several wives and they were going at each other’s throats, there was no way it would be a simple matter.

「Really? That’s rare since I hear that you are from Rilante Kingdom. I mean, even the nobles in your kingdom must adhere to the religious teachings of monogamy, right?」

「Oh, so you even know about that. Sure enough, it’s as you say. That’s why a case like your family’s shouldn’t exist… Supposedly. But then, my grandfather is still the head of the household, and he’s still alive and kicking in spite of his old age. That’s why various things happened between him, my father, and my siblings…」

「I see, that’s a common case in noble households too. Ryuu, it seems that both of us were raised in similar environments. I have this feeling that we can become good friends. We might be in different classes, but will you become my friend?」

「Yes, please become my friend too, Ylermi.」