Chapter 35 - The graduation ceremony has arrived (1/2)

Sirius Deek, his real name was Rafael Walt. It seems that he was the son of one of the maids that had worked for Marquis Deek, he told us everything.

How he was raised, and why he was living as Sirius Deek. How he acquired dark magic.

And how, he’s always been manipulated as well by dark magic for seven years.

Listening to his story, rather than staying angry at him for being the culprit, everyone’s feelings changed.

Setting the original issue of attacking me aside, Maria seems to also have decided to forgive his crime of having locked her up for a few days. Especially since because, it seems that Maria was able to see the instant when the dark magic lost its hold on Rafael, so she had an easier time believing his story.

However, Rafael decided to turn himself in to the school officials anyway.

“I have to tell them properly myself. The things that happened to me and my mother…… About the man in black…… And about the real Sirius as well…… And about the manipulation…… I’ll properly tell them about the things I’ve done as well.”

After Rafael said so, he headed off to meet with the school officials to tell them about Marchioness Deek and her minions’ crimes, as well as his own crimes.

And then, a bit later, rumors about how Marchioness Deek and her underlings were arrested began spreading.

Only the part about forbidden magic was left out, and not public information but, they’ll probably still have to pay for their crimes in some way.

However, there were no rumors about Rafael whatsoever, where he’s been after he went to the school officials and how he’s doing, I have no idea at all, and I’m very worried.

And so, a few months later, it’s now almost time for the graduation ceremony.

Since the graduation ceremony is upon us, the student council members are all really busy. So, in order to not get in everyone’s way, I’ll work in my field to the point where I become a spirit of the fields, and I was on the way to my dorm room to pick up my tools.

“Katarina Claes-sama.”

I looked back when I heard a voice that seemed familiar for some reason. There was a boy with inconspicuous auburn hair standing there, wearing a uniform similar to what people from the ministry of magic always wore. Everything about his atmosphere felt very ordinary, and if he hadn’t raised his voice I probably wouldn’t even have noticed his presence, he left no impression at all.

Huh? Who’s this? When I heard the voice I thought that it would be someone I knew…… But I can’t remember him.

As I was thinking this, I looked into the boy’s eyes. They were gentle grey eyes that I knew quite well.

“It can’t be…… Rafael?”

I thought it couldn’t be possible, and asked in a daze. The boy, or Rafael, opened his eyes wide.

“You knew really well. Even though I’ve changed my appearance so much.”

Ahh, it really was Rafael.

Even though his appearance was completely different from a few months ago, but his gentle grey eyes were the same as always. When I told him so, Rafael smiled a bit shyly.

I haven’t seen his smile in so long.

“You’re coming back?”

Since he’s here all by himself, I wonder if that means he’s coming back to school.

“Yes. Since everyone has testified so much in my favor, I’m finally able to come back to school.”

We tried our best to do everything we could for him, with the things he’s experienced, and what Maria saw, and how gentle he’s been, and we used all of our connections to appeal to the higher-ups. It’ll be good if it was any help at all.

But anyways, he looks so different from the way he was before, I’m really surprised. I wonder why he changed his appearance so much……

“Could it be, that you’re going to enter school again as a new student under a different identity?”

After that incident, he just straight up left the school immediately. Although it was ostensibly in order to “receive treatment for a medical condition,” there were already rumors in society floating around that Marchioness Deek had been arrested, and that her son Sirius must have gotten involved in some incident as well. That’s why, it would probably be hard for him to keep pretending to be Sirius and attend school.

However, if he completely changes his appearance like this, it would be possible for him to enroll in school as a different person. Although, that’s just what I think.

“Nope, I’m not going to return as a student. Although, it is a bit of a pity that I wasn’t able to graduate properly. I’m going to be working for the ministry of magic from now on. As Rafael Walt.”

Rafael was able to dispel the dark magic affecting him on his own, but at the same time, he lost his own ability to use dark magic.

But even so, Rafael Walt himself has really powerful magic as well. It seems that his magic has been evaluated, and that he’s gotten a job working for the ministry of magic.

Well, there’s also the incident where he obtained dark magic powers temporarily against his will, so that’s why he felt it would be better to entrust himself to the ministry of magic, is what he told me.

Because of that incident, for the time being he’ll be working for the ministry of magic’s facilities at this school. In order for the students to not find out and cause a fuss, that’s why he’s changed his appearance.

It’s just about impossible to tell that he’s the same person as before, he must have been helped with his disguise by the work of a pro or something. If you’re wondering just how good the work of a pro is…… The disguise is quite high level, where even the shape of his face has been changed. As expected of the work of a pro. Until everything’s settled down a bit, it seems that he’ll remain in this form.

“Then, we’ll be able to meet like this again, right?”

“That’s right. Since we’ll both be here.”

“Hehe. Then, if we get the chance, will you make that delicious tea for me once more?”

“Yes. Happily.”

As he said so and laughed, Rafael suddenly and unexpectedly kneeled before me and held out his hand. This is the exact same pose that Jared had when he proposed to me so long ago.

Eh, huh? What’s going on? I had no idea what was going on and was confused.

“Katarina Claes-sama, once again, I’ll be in your care. I, Rafael Walt, wish to stay by your side. Would you please give me permission to stay by your side?”

“Of course. I’ll be in your care from now on as well.”

I laughed and took his outstretched hand.

“Ah, that’s why, uhh…… Please, you don’t have to call me ‘-sama,’ and I would like it if you called me as you always had before.”

When I said so, Rafael laughed with a bit of a troubled look.

★★★★★★★★

Finally…… Finally, the time has come.

Our second-year senpais will be having their graduation ceremony tomorrow night, and I was clenching my fists tightly alone in my dorm room.

It’s finally come. The final event in the otome game “Fortune Lover,” the graduation ceremony……

The otome game where the heroine is surrounded by nothing but nobles will end after one year of her studying magic at school and having love stories with her fellow students when her senpais finally finish school and have their graduation ceremony.

During the graduation ceremony, the heroine will officially be with someone from the capture targets, or even be with everyone if she was on the reverse harem route.

I somehow survived the Katarina Claes condemnation event, but I can’t relax my guard until the game finally ends.

Honestly, everyone’s completely become my important friends, and I can’t imagine that they’d exile me to another country by myself, or do something like take my life away, but…… I have to be careful until the very end.

I’ve had Tom-san’s masterpiece, the toy snake, prepared and stored in my dress pocket.

And just in case that I get exiled, I’ve prepared my own hoe, work clothes, and books on agriculture so that I’m always ready at a moment’s notice.

My sword skills have been evaluated that my swings are good. I’m also able to perfectly throw the toy snake quickly. Thanks to Mary who has a green thumb helping me, I can also properly raise vegetables now without having them die. And every day, I keep plowing my field with the hoe.

It’s finally time to test the fruits of my efforts all this time ever since I recovered my memories eight years ago.

Come if you dare, destruction flags!! I’ll show you the culmination of eight years of effort! Katarina Claes shall be your opponent!

I raised my clenched fists to the ceiling.

And so, while I was burning up with fighting spirit, I heard a knock on the door and Anne entered.

“Ojou-sama. You said that you would prepare a congratulatory bouquet for Nico for tomorrow, have you prepared it properly yet?”

Anne asked me as she looked at me dubiously because I had my fists raised to the ceiling.

There’s a custom at this school to give the graduating seniors that have taken care of you a gift of some kind. Well, that’s similar to my school in the previous world.

As for the congratulatory gift, flower bouquets are the most popular item. Some people also spend a lot of money on items like expensive accessories, but mostly only if they have a special relationship of some kind.

That’s why, I was also going to use a flower bouquet, but…

Then, I started thinking.

The devilish earl Nico, is extremely popular. It even seems that it’s to the point where he has something like a fan club. If so, Nico would probably receive a mountain of bouquets. In that case…… wouldn’t it be better if I didn’t give him a bouquet?

In the first place, it would probably be pretty difficult to take care of that many flower bouquets, and honestly, I’m not very good at decorating a flower bouquet.

That’s why, I’ll specially prepare something else for him.

And so, I showed the item I specially prepared to Anne. It was beautifully wrapped and it looked like a bouquet at first glance, but when you look at it more carefully you can tell that it’s not a bouquet.

“How is it, surely it’s ground-breaking!”

“…………”

It’s really such a wonderful idea I had. I’m so wonderful.

Well, I’ve prepared the perfect gift for Nico now! My anti-destruction flag countermeasures are complete as well!

“……Um, ojou-sama, what exactly is this……”

Tomorrow’s finally the final battle!

“……Um, ojou-sama? Are you listening to me?”

I raised my fists as high as I could towards the ceiling once more!

And so, this is how the night before the final battle went.

★★★★★★★★

The graduation ceremony began with the same feeling as the entrance ceremony.

The representative responsible for giving a speech for the graduating class was Nico. It should have been Sirius Deek’s role originally, but there was no way about it since he wasn’t a student here anymore.

At Nico’s speech, regardless of gender or age, many people’s faces started blushing, or sighing sweetly, having been completely enraptured by Nico. His devilish charm is really so frightful.

Jared was the representative giving the speech for the first-year students. By the way, it also seems that he’ll be the student council president for next year.

Jared’s speech as well, caused a lot of girls to sigh and turn red. As expected of a good-looking orthodox prince.

And so, while listening to all the girls around me sighing, the ceremony ended without incident.

And so, it’s finally time, the critical moment of the otome game, the ending event. The graduation party.

After the ceremony was over, everyone would gather in the school courtyard, and a buffet party would begin.

During this graduation party, the heroine and her capture target of choice would secretly leave the party…… And, the capture target would confess his passionate love for the heroine.

Therefore, I’m going to carefully watch Maria’s movements, meaning whoever Maria calls out will decide which ending it is. And so, I stuck to Maria much more closely than usual.

However, I can’t only stick close to Maria. After all, this is the graduation party. I have to properly say my congratulations to the seniors.

For the time being, I headed for Nico who was the person I had to congratulate first together with Maria.

When we arrived, Nico already had a large amount of bouquets on hand. There were even more bouquets placed in a bag next to him.

This is more than I would have thought. While being taken aback by the amount of bouquets, I congratulated Nico together with Maria.

And so, Maria presented her flowers to Nico first. The bouquet that Maria had prepared, wasn’t expensive but was a nice and lovely bouquet that seemed just like something Maria would prepare.

After her, I also presented the special item I had prepared to Nico.

At first glance, it appeared to be a flower bouquet, and I received a smile from Nico that one only sees so rarely, but…… After checking what was inside, he just completely froze up.

Maybe he was suspicious at the way Nico seemed, Alan who was close by peeked into the bouquet as well.

“Oi, what’s the matter…… I mean, what is this!? Grass!?”

Alan’s voice was so loud, that Jared and Keith came over as well. Offended, I responded to Alan’s remark as well.

“How rude! It’s definitely not anything like grass! They’re vegetables!”

“……Vegetables?”

Alan made a dubious look, and looked again at what was in Nico’s hand. Nico also confirmed what he was really holding.

A little behind them, Jared and Keith were trying to see what it was as well.

“I thought that you’d be troubled if you only got flower bouquets, so I picked some vegetables from my field and wrapped them up for you. This way, you won’t have to just throw a decorative item away, and I think it’ll be practical since you can fill your stomach.”

It’s not a flower bouquet, it’s called a vegetable bundle instead!

During this season, my field doesn’t have a wide variety of vegetables, since I made green vegetables such as leeks and onions the centerpiece, certainly it might seem a bit like grass at first, but it’s different from a flower bouquet, and is really excellent if you look at it with your stomach.

Ahh, what a wonderful idea it was! I was in love with the wonder of my idea, and kept praising myself. However……

“……Uh, no matter how you look at it, it’s grass…… I mean, calling it vegetables…… Bwa-…”

For some reason, Alan exploded into laughter. I wonder what’s so funny. How rude.

Nico who had finally melted from his frozen state said “thank you. I’ll treasure it as I eat it,” and Maria also said “it looks delicious.”

By the way, Jared was hunched over with his shoulders trembling again, and Keith sent a shocked look at me for some reason.

And so, just like that, the party was almost at its end before I noticed it.

Honestly, I’m really quite worried. As for why, it’s because I haven’t seen any sign that Maria was going to leave the party at all.

Rather, “I’m so happy that I’m able to be with Katarina-sama all day today” is what she said so happily next to me.

Why is it that you don’t have a capture target in mind, Maria…… Ah! Could it be that without me realizing it, you’ve gotten on the reverse harem route, and you’ll end up with everyone!

I’ve never cleared the reverse harem route, so I don’t know the ending, but I seem to remember hearing from A-chan that Katarina would meet her destruction end there too……

Ahh, which is it? Maria, is it the reverse harem, or have you decided on someone!

I’m so worried I’m so worried I’m so worried…… I waited and waited…… until finally……