Chapter 34: Camille’s Affection Meter
DURING lunch break, Iris sat alone in the cafeteria at a table by the windows and stared vacantly out at the scenery. Reseda’s class was running late, so the boys weren’t there yet, and she had already finished her food. Honestly, she was used to eating alone in her past life as a grown adult, but…now that she was here in the world of HanaKoro, she was hoping to make friends, go shopping, and do other fun things like that…
But unbeknownst to Iris, her soilpox scars weren’t the only thing keeping her from having friends. First, she broke the Aptitude Stone, then she acted like a villainess at the bulletin board, and to top it off, she spent all her free time in the company of Reseda and Nigel. Interacting with Iris was not for the faint of heart.
She let out a quiet sigh. Meanwhile, the other students observed her loneliness from a distance. To them, Iris was a wild rose, unsafe to approach lest they prick their fingers on her thorns.
As Iris stared out the window, she spotted Reseda and Camille walking side by side like close friends. Their pink and blue hair blended into the sky behind them—truly a beautiful sight. I can’t imagine how much the devs must have paid these artists.
These days, Camille had learned how to wear her uniform fashionably, and with Iris’s help, she was starting to look like a proper lady. Their uniform featured a short tailcoat jacket over a vest, a white blouse, and a ribbon tie. Female students wore a high-waisted, calf-length flared skirt with lace trim, while the male students wore slacks. Additionally, Camille’s uniform was pink, signifying her status as the protagonist. Reseda’s and Nigel’s were blue, with a lot more decorations compared to the other guys. This made it really clear who the main characters were. All the other students, Iris included, wore wine-red uniforms—except hers was slightly darker.
They’re so happy together… You know, it might not be so bad, watching them chase their teenage dreams from the sidelines like an unnamed NPC… Honestly, they’re clearly perfect for each other. Just hook up already!
Iris spotted the supporting character, Mégane, standing at the windows a short distance away. She must have come straight to the cafeteria since Camille was with Reseda; she gazed at the two of them, her glasses glinting in the light.
“Well, if it isn’t Miss Mégane,” Iris greeted her.
Mégane looked at her, startled. “You know my name?”
Iris smiled broadly. Of course I know you, silly! You were a huge help when I played this game! You’d always tell me where to go to encounter each love interest, and what to do to raise their affection meter, and even what dress to wear! I couldn’t possibly thank you enough—you’re like a best friend to me! Or a platonic soulmate!
“Yes, of course.”
“You never cease to amaze, Lady Iris. I never imagined you’d care to know who I was.”
After Iris heard that the House of Pont had taken Camille in, she did some research on them. Mégane hailed from a long line of merchants; her father, in particular, was so successful in his career that the king awarded him the title of baron. In other words, they were first-generation nobility. Mégane was sure to feel inferior at this school, considering she recently rose from the rank of commoner.
“My family has done business with the Pont Company in the past, and I’ve always wanted to get to know you a little better,” Iris said with a smile.
Mégane summoned her courage to look up at Iris. “Lady Iris, I have a question for you.” Her voice attracted the attention of everyone in the room.
“And what might that be?” Iris asked. Oops, did that sound a little too evil? Mégane flinched and took a step back. Okay, too evil. Sorry.
“It’s about Prince Reseda and Miss Camille…”
At this, the entire cafeteria became eerily tense.
“What about them?” Iris tilted her head.
Was this the game’s way of calculating the progress of the affection meter or something? Oh dear, were you going around asking everyone during my playthrough, too? Bless your heart. That said, this wasn’t the right place to have this conversation. Talking about it here would only stir up drama.
“Do they seem…especially close lately?”
“Yes, I would say so.”
Iris smiled even more brightly. After all, she didn’t want Mégane to find her scary. Besides, their growing friendship was something to be celebrated—well, unless he was planning to lock both girls up and crush Iris’s vocal cords! But other than that, Camille was free to fall in love with whoever she deemed fit. As long as it didn’t bring grievous bodily harm upon Iris, she was willing to support it.
“…Does it not bother you, Lady Iris?”
“No…? Why would it?”
Mégane took another step back.
Oops, I scared her again.
“I had thought you and His Highness were going steady…”
“Oh my! What a wild and fanciful rumor! I don’t recall Prince Reseda having any sort of girlfriend. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.”
Hoping to reassure her, Iris smiled softly. As Camille’s moral support character, Iris wanted Mégane to have all the facts. Plus, she wanted to be friends with Mégane if possible, just like they were when she played HanaKoro…
Unfortunately, Mégane and the rest of the students interpreted this as more of a “mind your own business” statement. They were used to aristocrats being more passive-aggressive.
“I…I apologize for wasting your time,” she replied hastily, probably worried about getting on Iris’s bad side. Though Iris wasn’t Reseda’s fiancée, she was still the only girl he addressed by name alone, so everyone figured she was special to him.
“Oh, it’s no trouble. I was curious about it myself. But do remember that there’s a proper time and place for such things—we wouldn’t want to start any rumors.”
Mégane let out a shriek and looked at Iris in horror. What she heard was: I want your intel, but give it to me in secret. As the blood drained from her face, she curtsied and hurried away.
Wait! Come back! Don’t go, Mégane! You didn’t get to have lunch yet!!! What could have possibly frightened her off so badly? Iris tilted her head in confusion.
Just then, Reseda and Camille entered the cafeteria together. Now the mood in the room was even more awkward; Camille sensed this and started looking around. But Reseda ignored it and made a beeline straight to Iris.
“Hey, Iris. Did you already finish eating?”
“I did indeed. You can have my table.”
“Wait, don’t go. Hold it for me while I go get some food.”
“Very well.”
Iris had started to rise from her chair, but at his request, she lowered back onto it. Then Nigel walked over with his lunch and automatically sat down next to her. She saw Camille walking around with her tray, looking for a spot to sit, but no one was willing to make eye contact with her. Normally, she didn’t have this much trouble, but this time her usual lunch buddy, Mégane, was nowhere to be seen.
“Why don’t you join us, Camille?” Iris called to her.
At this, her face lit up. But as soon as she sat down across the table from Iris, the whole cafeteria began to buzz with murmurs. When Reseda returned with his food, he looked at her and scowled.
“I was really hoping to look at Iris while I ate,” he commented loudly, glancing at her. Hastily, she shot out of her chair.
“I…I’m so sorry, Your Highness!”
Reseda plopped down where she was sitting. Embarrassed, she moved to the chair across from Nigel instead. Ooh, now maybe the two of them can get to know each other! Nice thinking, Reseda! Iris grinned.
Now that the protagonist and her love interests were all present, it was time for the wicked villainess to make herself scarce. Not like Nigel would want to flirt in front of his sister, after all! But right as Iris moved to stand up, he grabbed her arm.
“Are you leaving already? I hate that we’re in two different classes… It feels like I never get to see you.” His gaze sent her reeling—yes, Iris, his own sister.
Chrysanthème Academy was a boarding school, and the dormitories were divided by gender. Though they were siblings, they couldn’t see each other as easily as they could back home.
“You make a good point. Would you mind if I intruded a tiny bit?”
“You’re not intruding. Lunch is the only opportunity we have to see you,” Reseda insisted, wearing one of his perfect flowery smiles.
Ever since they started attending the academy, his playboy traits had really leveled up. In HanaKoro, he was an “all-around nice guy” sort of playboy, but here in reality, he wasn’t nearly as aggressively flirty with everyone. Was it because Prince Bleuet was still alive? Iris smiled vaguely.
As they ate their lunch, Iris asked them about their classes. She was curious how high Camille had raised her affection meter with each of the boys. After all, if they were equally in love with her, she would get stabbed by all the love interests simultaneously, and that was an outcome Iris was rather hoping to avoid! If Nigel killed her, their noble house was done for. Then they’d stick Iris in the Tower of Prayer as a replacement…and since she didn’t have any mana, she’d have to offer up her life force… Iris shuddered.
So which one of them is she more interested in? If I knew, I’d gladly help her.
As Iris gazed at her, Camille bashfully smiled back, and Iris bit her lip. Hnng! So cute!