I Was Rejected by the Main Character in a Romantic Fantasy-Chapter 97: The bet

“I’m fine.”

Ashillya pouted at the firm rejection. I tried to ignore her expression and looked around.

The reception room was also lavish. In fact, it seemed even more extravagant than other areas.

This was understandable, considering that it was a place to welcome guests. Of course, even with that in mind, it was still impressive enough to elicit admiration.

...How much did all this cost?

As I carefully examined the reception room’s luxurious interior, Ashillya spoke again.

“So, how art thy studies progressing?”

“...Oh, they’re going alright, I guess?”

“Oh dear. It seems they’re not going well?”

Is that so?

In truth, I had only thought about studying hard, not aiming for top ranks like first or second place, so it was quite ambiguous.

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As I scratched my head and smiled awkwardly, Ashillya looked at me with a smile that said, “I thought so,” chuckling softly.

Just as I thought I saw a mischievous glint in her red eyes, she spoke again.

“Then perhaps we should provide some motivation... what dost thou think?”

“...Motivation? Is that really necessary?”

Come to think of it, when I was younger, some parents would offer gifts or buy things their children wanted if they scored above a certain point on tests.

I remember working really hard to get what I wanted.

Of course, I never actually scored high enough to get what I wanted. Still, I suppose that was motivation in itself.

But when you think about it, Ashillya had no obligation to do this for me. So when I questioned her somewhat reluctantly, the answer came from elsewhere.

“Um...!! I-I think having motivation would be good...!!”

“...Sylvia?”

Why are you suddenly agreeing with Ashillya?

And with such an unnatural, textbook-like way of speaking?

“I agree too.”

As I stared at Sylvia, whose behavior seemed suspicious, Pamela, who was by my side, continued the conversation as if it were no big deal.

“...All of a sudden?!”

“What, did you think I’d be negative forever?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

If you suddenly start with self-deprecation, it puts me in a difficult position.

As I awkwardly avoided Pamela’s gaze, glaring at me with a deeply furrowed brow, I noticed Helena sitting quietly alone, watching me.

Hmm, Helena, you’re on my side, right?

Of course, this isn’t a situation where we need to take sides, but I still believe you’ll support me!

“Yeah, I think that’s right. Having a clear motivation can make you work harder.”

...Life is shit.

They say there’s no one you can trust in this world, but is this how I raised you, Helena?

Betrayed even by Helena, whom I had trusted, I had no choice but to nod reluctantly at Ashillya.

It’s true that having motivation does make you work harder, after all.

“Hehe, then it’s decided?”

“...What is?”

“How about we make a wager? Let’s say two wish tickets.”

“...What.”

“For all of our motivation.”

Suddenly including all of us in this?

As I looked at the four women one by one, showing suspiciously good teamwork, I received different reactions from each.

Ashillya, facing me and chuckling softly.

Sylvia avoided my gaze and smiled awkwardly.

Pamela, still glaring at me with her arms crossed.

Helena carefully observed the situation while giving me a gentle smile.

Among these various reactions, the one thing they all had in common was ‘agreement,’ so according to the principles of democracy, I had no choice but to accept the proposal.

“I... I guess so?”

“Excellent.”

“But.”

Just as I was about to realize something was wrong, seeing Ashillya’s satisfied smile, Pamela suddenly spoke up.

“How do we determine the winner?”

“Hmm... how about we keep it simple? By class rank.”

Class rank, huh.

Literally, winning the bet means taking first place.

Of course, since Ashillya was in different grades, there could be conflicts if someone took first place in both the first and second years.

‘Is that even possible?’

Unfortunately, no matter how hard I searched Felix’s brain, I could not possibly win first place.

I was sure I’d do well enough in the practical exam since I’d been training hard, and since I wasn’t stupid, I expected to do well in the written exam too, but...

‘Still, first place is impossible.’

That’s something only real monsters can achieve.

How can a hardworking ordinary person beat a hardworking genius, after all?

‘But come to think of it...’

Sylvia.

Good written exam scores. Average practical scores. Is there a possibility of raising her practical scores to take first place...? It’s a bit ambiguous.

Helena.

She has average written and practical scores. She is a perfectly average student. I’m sorry to say that the possibility of her taking first place is extremely low.

Pamela... is a bit unclear.

I don’t know her exact written or practical scores. To be ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) honest, she could easily achieve high scores if she wanted to, but it’s questionable whether she would seriously participate in this bet.

Ashillya.

She was the undisputed favorite to win. She had such overwhelming talent that she hadn’t missed first place even once since entering the academy.

‘Hmm, looking at it this way, isn’t this too advantageous for Ashillya?’

You might think that, but if you think about it calmly, Ashillya is in the most disadvantageous position.

Unlike us, who could focus solely on academy life, Ashillya had to travel back and forth to the imperial palace and handle imperial affairs.

Of course, the anxiety that she might still not lose first place even under these circumstances was creeping in.

“...If someone takes first place in both first and second year, who wins?”

At Helena’s cautious question, Ashillya turned her head towards her.

Helena stared straight at her, her blue eyes shining. Ashillya, meeting her calm gaze, slightly curled up the corners of her mouth and answered her question.

“If that happens, I shall consider it my loss and concede one ticket.”

The bet was naturally established thanks to Ashillya’s generous display of mercy(?).

...Wait, did I agree to this?

***

Before the meal, Felix briefly left his seat.

The four women sat quietly in the reception room.

There was nothing particularly curious about each other, nothing to ask, and they weren’t that close, so silence naturally continued.

And, as usual, it was Ashillya who broke that silence.

“...So, can I assume that thou hast also decided on thy stance?”

Pamela, who had momentarily frowned at the change in speech style from when Felix was present to when he was with others, soon averted her gaze.

She didn’t think the question was directed at her, but because she, too, was curious about the answer.

Helena was sipping her pre-meal tea with an exceptionally calm demeanor. While she would have been flustered by Ashillya’s question normally, today was different.

Helena put down her teacup calmly and slowly opened her mouth while staring at the rippling tea.

“I wanted to... confirm that.”

“...I see.”

Sylvia, Pamela, and Ashillya looked at Helena, whose attitude was strangely different.

“Yes, so.”

Helena also answered, looking back at them.

“I have to win this bet.”

“... I-I’m going to win too.”

At Helena’s bold declaration, Sylvia suddenly raised her hand and looked at her.

Strangely, as if their attitudes had changed, Sylvia and Helena smiled slightly, staring at each other.

“Yeah, I don’t plan on losing either.”

“...”

Pamela remained silent.

There was no reason to participate in such a ridiculous bet in the first place. Or so it should have been.

No, come to think of it, maybe there was...?

Pamela, who had shaken her head to clear her wandering thoughts, just sighed deeply. Ashillya smiled slightly as she watched the three girls.

“Of course, I have no intention of losing either.”

The girls smiled wryly and quickly averted their gaze from Ashillya, who spoke with the most noble attitude from the highest seat.

Whether they were competing for the same man, the difference in their worlds was unavoidable.

“However.”

But Ashillya’s words were not finished yet.

Everyone had to look at her with disapproving expressions at her next words.

Ashillya met their gazes calmly, wearing her usual playful smile.

“There’s no need for all of us to lose, is there? After all, we are allies.”

And then, Ashillya played her trump card.

“We mustn’t forget the essence of this.”

Ashillya’s smile as she said this was like that of a devil seducing humans.

And the humans present had no choice but to fall for the devil’s temptation.

Because the fruit the devil offered was too sweet.

And so, at last, the day of the exam dawned.