Chapter 264

Cold Stares [Part 3]

"Thank you, Arthur-sama. We've received a heads-up from Rose-sama, but we didn't expect it to be this bad..." George heaved a long sigh of relief.

"George-kun must be having a hard time. After all, you are sensitive to signs and presences. But well, no one will really put in as much effort as Robert to harass people, so I think it will be alright. ...Nevertheless, isn't Lady Emma amazing? I thought she would feel down because she was told that she was not the Holy Maiden right after returning to the Kingdom..."

Arthur was surprised by Emma, who was currently talking enthusiastically about not the tales of her travels in Imperial Japan, but Imperial Japan's local specialties she bought as souvenirs. Even though his sister, Marion, and Francesca were distressed every day by the worsening reputation of House Stuart, Emma presented a lively appearance that didn't allow others to worry for her.

"We bought Imperial Japanese swords, 'katanas', for Marion-sama and Arthur-sama. For Francesca-sama, we prepared an (extra large) bottle of wine made from Imperial Japanese rice and a bright-colored Nishijin brocade. And then, a set of matching Karakuri puppets, tea seed oil, and combs for Catherine-sama and Caitlyn-sama. All of them will be delivered to your house by the end of the day by the Rothschild Company."

"Fufufu," Emma laughed with a smile that could convince others that she was the Holy Maiden instead.

Arthur, who grew up under the Church's deeply-rooted influence since birth, almost started to harbor doubts towards the Church for the first time. He couldn't help but think, 'Sure enough, isn't Lady Emma more of a Holy Maiden instead of that Lady Joanna?'

"Lady Emma, if there is anything that makes you uncomfortable at the academy, tell me, okay? I, and His Highness too, are on Lady Emma's side."

Arthur thought it was tactless of him to voice his worries to Emma when she was doing commendably great on her own. But if he didn't say it now, it would already be too late for him to do anything in the event that something undesirable really happened.

"Emma-sama, I'm also on Emma-sama's side. I'm confident I can beat those noble male students by a long shot. Count on me anytime."

"Me too, Emma-sama. I may not be the most reliable, but I will definitely, definitely always be on Emma-sama's side!"

"Even if the entire academy turns into our enemies, we will stick together with Emma-sama! Right, Caitlyn?"

"Yeah, we will side with Emma-sama even if we have to make an enemy out of the entire academy, Catherine!"

Following Arthur, Marion, Francesca, and the twins declared they would be the siblings' allies in rapid succession.

"You guys..."

"Thank you so much!"

George and William were deeply touched by their warm friendship.

Emma, the person the topic was all about, tilted her head in wonder upon hearing her friends' sudden declaration and, after thinking for a brief period, raised her beaming face.

"I love all of you too!"

"Kuh... s-such a strong destructive power... But really, Lady Emma, you should rely on me when you're in trouble, okay? You don't have to put up with such cold stares all the time."

Arthur almost turned mushy from Emma's smile, but recalling his pride in his 'playboy' reputation, he immediately pulled himself together, put back on the sweet gentleman guise, and repeated his earlier words with more emphasis.

"Cold... stares...? Now that you mention it, everyone's been a little on edge, haven't they?"

Emma nodded with a serious face as though she had only realized it now.

"Huh? Nee-sama, ONLY now? Really?"

"And here I thought you looked fine and indifferent to it... Aren't you too thickheaded?"

Even the brothers were taken by surprise by Emma's words.

"I mean, those kinds of eyes..."

Emma's cheerful face suddenly turned cloudy.

"...are just like water fleas compared to Grandmother's stare..."

That's right. Emma had already experienced the true horror firsthand.

That being the "Manner Demon" Duchess Hilda Sullivan's one-on-one teaching.

For Emma, Hilda's stare during the training session was synonymous with a grim reaper's gaze.

Even if the academy's students ganged up on her, Emma, who had struggled through the real deadliest death stare, had nothing to fear.

(True...)

When the brothers and the siblings' friends thought of the "Manner Demon" in their minds, they genuinely understood where Emma was coming from.

♠♠♠

Author's words:

...The author desperately tried to create an extremely restless atmosphere full of a sense of crisis.

...Readers-sama (for some reason) continued to read with peace of mind.

...incomprehensible...

Translator's comment: This chapter feels like a scene out of Emma's fan meeting.