I’m Telling You, I’m Not The Villain! – Chapter 28

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Lord Fourth
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It was Eilly’s voice that cut him off before he could answer.

“What…?!”

“What’s the meaning of this?”

She confronted Elisha with an icy voice and a sharp gaze. A chill filled the classroom.

“Did I say something wrong? If you know you’re being shameless, just apologize and leave quietly. And… never appear before Master again.”

He had never seen this dark side of her before. Eilly’s usual cheerful and innocent demeanor was gone, replaced by a stern, almost ruthless, aura.

“B-But…!”

Elisha was speechless, her lips moving soundlessly.

“But…!! If Arnold is okay with it…”

“Would you be okay with being treated like that?”

She was like a wolf, relentlessly pursuing its prey.

“……!”

Elisha’s eyes trembled. She couldn’t bring herself to say “yes” and bit her lip lightly.

“Even Lady Elisha seems to understand.”

“Then isn’t it settled? Apologize for your wrongdoing and leave quietly. And… don’t show your face again. That’s what’s best for Master.”

As she finished speaking, the classroom became even quieter. Whispers of “Is this a lovers’ quarrel?” filled the air.

“…..”

What should he do…? The unexpected confrontation between Eilly and Elisha had created a tense atmosphere in the classroom.

“What’s going on here~?”

But the tension was short-lived… A woman entered the classroom, like a savior. Her voice was still sharp and stern, but it was a welcome sound at this moment.

“P-Professor…!”

“Professor Adria!”

“W-Well, this is…”

“Never mind that, why is it so quiet in here?”

It was Professor Adria. She walked in with an air of authority, despite the tense atmosphere.

The ominous feeling created by Eilly and Elisha’s confrontation quickly dissipated.

“Hmm? A new face? Class is about to start. I don’t care what happened, but if you’re not in this class, you should leave.”

The professor looked at Elisha with a puzzled expression. Then, she waved her hand dismissively, ordering her to leave.

“Ah… Yes…”

Elisha nodded at Adria’s words and turned towards the door.

“Arnold…”

Before leaving, she glanced at him with an apologetic look and then quietly exited the classroom.

“………”

Eilly’s hostility also subsided. Adria’s arrival had instantly dispelled the tension that had filled the room.

“Now, now, focus.”

Thwack – She slammed the corner of a textbook against the podium, breaking the awkward silence and asserting her presence.

“Everyone, open your books.”

The classroom returned to its usual warmth. He was almost grateful to the usually harsh Professor Adria this time.

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“…Why did you do that?”

It was lunchtime, and as he walked down the hallway with Eilly, he asked her about the incident that morning.

“I apologize, Master… I got carried away…”

She apologized, admitting that she had lashed out at Elisha in a moment of anger.

She pursed her lips, seemingly embarrassed that she had spoken on his behalf without his permission.

“I see…”

But honestly, he had expected it. She had always had a negative view of Elisha.

She seemed to find it absurd that Elisha was now asking for forgiveness and wanting to improve their relationship after all the years of rejection.

“Master… I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Are you… going to forgive Lady Elisha?”

Eilly’s eyebrows twitched, and her lips tightened anxiously. She seemed afraid that he would say something different from what she wanted to hear.

“Hmm… Well…”

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. But it was just a pretense. He had already made up his mind about Eilly’s question.

“I think I should give her a chance.”

He told Eilly that he would forgive Elisha. The reason was that Elisha would be a valuable ally if she was on his side.

He had seen enough evidence of that in the game. The financially stable Grain family wielded considerable influence, almost on par with a duke.

He had already established a good relationship with Philip, the head of the Grain family, but having Elisha on his side as well would be a significant advantage.

She was worth forgiving, despite all that had happened. And the pressure was less since she was a heroine he had expected to be disliked by from the beginning.

“Yes?”

But Eilly stopped walking at his answer.

“Eilly?”

He turned around and saw her eyes wide with shock.

“Why…?”

She looked as if she couldn’t comprehend his decision.

“Master…! Lady Elisha has been despising you for years!”

“You’ve always been kind to her, but she never even looked your way…!”

“And yet… and yet, you’re really going to forgive her now…?!”

She looked desperate and anxious, as if something precious was slipping away from her.

“I… I object…”

Why did she seem so uneasy? It felt less like hatred for Elisha and more like a desperate plea.

“Why are you so -”

“Please!”

Eilly bowed deeply, cutting him off.

“Please reject Lady Elisha…! I can’t understand her…!”

He had never seen Eilly so earnest. She was trembling, as if about to collapse.

“Alright. I’ll think about it.”

Pressured by the atmosphere, he backtracked and said he would consider it, but

“Ugh…?!”

She let out a short groan and pursed her lips, still dissatisfied with his answer.

“…Yes, I understand.”

A brief silence followed. Eilly seemed to have decided to respect his decision.

“I apologize for questioning your intentions, Master.”

She bowed her head again, apologizing for challenging him.

“No, it’s alright. It’s lunchtime. Shall we get something to eat?”

“…Yes.”

But as he tried to lighten the mood, they started walking down the hallway again in awkward silence.

Unlike usual, they walked without speaking, both staring straight ahead.

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‘Alright. I’ll think about it.’

I apologize for doubting you, Master, but I couldn’t trust those words.

Because of your expression, your demeanor…

I instinctively knew that you would forgive her.

But it can’t be helped.

Because that’s who you are, Master.

You’re so kind that you embrace even those who treat you terribly.

“……..”

But this time… I dislike your generosity.

Five years. A whole five years. It’s not a short time for a human.

And yet, you’re willing to accept someone who has been looking down on you for five years. I can’t understand it.

So… Master.

If you truly think about it, please don’t forgive Lady Elisha’s sins.

If you accept her with your kind smile—

—I… I might go crazy.

………

“Sigh, Eilly seems very upset.”

He sat alone at a table in the academy cafeteria. Usually, Varis and Eilly would be sitting beside him, but…

“……..”

Varis hadn’t joined them, saying he wanted to give him and Eilly some time alone, and Eilly had said she had no appetite and wanted to rest in the dormitory.

“She seems to really dislike her.”

It was a lonelier lunchtime than usual.

“…….”

“May I join you?”

Just as he was about to sip his soup, someone spoke to him.

“Elisha?”

It was Elisha. She smiled brightly.

“Yes, if you don’t mind, I’d like to eat with you.”

However, there was a hint of sadness in her expression, as if she still felt apologetic.

“I don’t mind.”

“Really? Then, excuse me.”

She nodded happily when he allowed her to sit down.

“Arnold.”

As soon as she sat down, she brushed her hair behind her ear and looked him straight in the eye, as if she had something serious to discuss.

“May I… hear your answer?”

She was waiting for his response to her apology in the classroom. She was smiling, but there was no hint of composure in her demeanor.

In fact, a closer look revealed her anxiety and impatience.

“My… answer?”

“Yes… I said I was truly sorry and that I wanted to get closer to you, even now.”

She seemed incredibly nervous, as if taking a gamble.

“What do you think?”

She had been wrong to despise him all this time, but she was still hoping for a chance.

Her expression was a complex mix of resignation and a glimmer of hope.

“………”

She seemed worried.

She was probably afraid of being rejected. Her expression showed that she had already given up hope.

“I forgive you.”

But contrary to Elisha’s anxiety, he readily forgave her.

‘Please reject Lady Elisha…! I can’t understand her…!’

‘Alright. I’ll think about it.’

“……”

His conversation with Eilly flashed through his mind, but he pushed it aside.

“Really…?!”

Elisha’s gloomy expression brightened instantly.

“Are you sure it’s okay to forgive me so easily?!”

She looked as if she was about to burst into tears of joy.

“Well… it doesn’t really matter.”

“Thank you! Thank you so much!!”

She covered her mouth with both hands, overwhelmed with emotion.

“Arnold…!”

Suddenly, she stood up and approached him, and—

“E-Elisha…?”

—leaned her head on his shoulder, hugging his arm.

“Hehe… I’m just… so happy.”

She whispered in a loving voice. The alluring scent of her perfume filled the air, creating a slightly seductive atmosphere.

“I’ve said it many times, but I’m truly sorry for how I’ve treated you… And thank you -”

Elisha’s cheeks flushed crimson, a shy and affectionate blush.

“I know I can’t make up for all the pain I’ve caused you, but I’ll devote myself to you from now on…!”

Her voice was clear and filled with determination. Her confidence was almost overwhelming.

“I-I see…”

He was a bit embarrassed by their current state, Elisha’s change of heart aside.
They looked like a couple openly displaying affection, he wished no one was watching.

“Oh….”

But contrary to his wishes, someone saw them just as he was thinking that.

“Master…?”

And it was someone he really didn’t want to see them.

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Hi Lord Fourth here!
I just realized that this chapter was not published for, I think, technical reasons at the moment of the update that saved the chapter as a draft instead.
I apologize for realizing so late.