Tilea's Worries

「Ugh… I can’t breathe…」

Ortidiot shoved a bag over my head, and I’m suffocating. I’m flailing, trying to escape the bag, but Ortidiot is absurdly strong and pins me down effortlessly.

…It’s no use. I’m about to lose consciousness.

Just then, a ridiculous scream echoes through the room, and the pressure holding me down suddenly eases up.

I immediately rip the bag off my head and gulp in huge breaths of air.

“Hah… hah… hah… That was close…”

I keep taking deep breaths, trying to calm down.

What just happened?

As my vision clears, I see Ortidiot smashed into the wall.

He’s twitching, spasming like he’s been hit by lightning.

“I’m so sorry, Miless-chan.”

“T-Tilea-san!”

Tilea is here.

Instinctively, I throw myself into her arms.

Ahh, she smells so nice. Warm and comforting, like basking in sunlight.

Tilea-san is so beautiful…

Seeing her up close, her beauty is even more striking.

A golden-haired, blue-eyed goddess.

And not only is she beautiful, she’s so kind. There's not a hint of arrogance despite her high status. She’s brimming with warmth. Truly a wonderful person.

Despite being of noble blood, she carries herself with a down-to-earth kindness, but at the same time, there’s a regal grace to her every movement. It's clear she's royalty. Normally, someone like me would never even get the chance to speak to her, let alone stand this close.

And yet, she’s holding me so gently.

I’m so happy.

I stay nestled in Tilea-san’s embrace for a while.

…

…

I’ve finally calmed down.

Ugh, I must’ve looked so pathetic, panicking like that in front of Tilea-san.

And on top of that, I clung to her while I was soaking wet, crying my eyes out and ruining her clothes. Tilea-san doesn’t seem to mind, but it’s so shameful. How could I be so rude?

I can feel my face turning red with embarrassment. My cheeks are burning—I’m sure they’re bright red.

As a student of the Magic Academy, I’m supposed to be an example for others to follow. But here I am, acting like a child.

Pathetic.

Get a grip, Miless!

I channel my magic internally, circulating it through my body to calm myself. It’s a simple relaxation technique every magic student learns.

Phew… Okay, I feel much better now.

I glance around the room.

Ortidiot is still slumped against the wall, twitching. His soldiers are standing there, mouths agape in disbelief.

Incredible.

To think Tilea-san could knock out someone as strong as Ortidiot in a single blow...

Tilea-san really is something. She must be as powerful as her little sister, Tim-chan.

“Tilea-san, you’re really strong, aren’t you?”

“Well, I’m a chef, you know. I can’t let a weak pervert beat me!”

Huh? A chef?

What does that have to do with anything?

And wait, she called Ortidiot weak? But he’s a fearsome warrior!

What’s going on?

Does Tilea-san not understand just how powerful Ortidiot is? Or was Ortidiot just holding back?

Could it be… Ortidiot is playing along? Maybe he took Tilea-san’s hit on purpose?

Tilea-san is royalty. Someone like Ortidiot would hesitate to hit back or defend himself against her, right?

That makes sense.

There are plenty of examples like this in royal history.

There was once a crown prince who fancied himself the greatest swordsman in the land. He had never lost a duel—because no one dared defeat him. His guards and instructors all threw their fights to appease him.

The prince, ignorant of their mercy, charged into battle thinking he was invincible, only to be cut down by an enemy soldier.

It’s the fault of those around him for never teaching him the truth.

Tilea-san might be in a similar situation.

Yeah, I should test this.

“Tilea-san, do you often hit and kick that pervert, Ortidiot?”

“I wouldn’t say often, but enough. Whenever he acts up, I make sure to teach him a lesson. But… I’m really sorry about today.”

Tilea-san bows deeply.

“P-Please, you don’t need to apologize! This isn’t your fault, Tilea-san!”

“No, it is. I wasn’t paying close enough attention. I can’t believe Ort did something so indecent behind my back.”

“The blame lies entirely with Ortidiot. You don’t have to worry about it, Tilea-san. But… didn’t Ortidiot ever fight back when you hit him?”

“Not really. He usually just takes it quietly. And if he did try to retaliate, I’d make sure he regretted it.”

Tilea-san seems to think of Ortidiot as nothing more than a naughty child.

But he’s clearly much stronger than that. His combat skills are nothing to scoff at.

It’s obvious now.

Ortidiot is simply humoring her. With his abilities, he could easily avoid her attacks or even counter them. But he chooses not to.

What a fool!

He’s no better than a sycophant, pretending to be weak to flatter Tilea-san.

I look over at Ortidiot.

He’s really committing to the act, lying there twitching with his tongue hanging out like he’s been knocked senseless.

A warrior, acting like this just to curry favor? It’s infuriating.

Get up already! Enough with the pathetic performance.

I glare at him, but he doesn’t move. He’s still lying there, eyes rolled back, twitching.

…Wait, is he really faking it?

He’s not getting up. Not even when I imagine jumping on him from a height—he looks like he’d break his leg before he even flinched.

Wait… Is he really just acting?

Looking more closely, he’s sweating and spasming. 

Could it be… Ortidiot’s actually hurt?

Was I wrong about him faking it?

Does that mean… Tilea-san really is that strong?

But her behavior doesn’t match someone of such strength… I’m so confused. Tilea-san and Tim-chan are both such mysteries.

Just then, Gil, the creepy pervert, finally regains his composure. He pulls out a potion from somewhere and starts administering it to Ortidiot.

As Ortidiot drinks the potion, his body starts to swell. His muscles are visibly bulging.

Wow, he really took a beating. If this were all just an act, it would be impressively detailed. If not, he’s definitely been through a lot.

Once Ortidiot finishes the potion, he starts to stir.

And then… he notices me.

His eyes narrow, glaring daggers at me.

Eep!

I quickly duck behind Tilea-san’s back.

Ortidiot cracks his neck and begins walking towards us.

Don’t be fooled by his unremarkable, plain face. He’s violent, a real monster.

He’s probably furious about being kicked by Tilea-san and might take it out on me. He might spare his master, but he definitely won’t hesitate to hurt me.

Ortidiot gets closer, his eyes sharp, like a predator zeroing in on its prey. He’s dangerous.

This isn’t good.

The fury radiating off him is palpable. He’s not just angry at me—he’s probably mad at Tilea-san too. He’s endured countless hits from her, and I’m sure his patience is running thin.

He might even strike back at her this time… or maybe not.

As he approaches, Ortidiot suddenly bows so deeply it’s almost ridiculous, groveling before Tilea-san.

Wow.

Ortidiot really is the type to suck up to those above him while bullying those below.

While he glares at me with murderous intent, he’s all smiles and apologies for Tilea-san.

It’s sickening.

Gil, the pervert, also tries to plead his case, but it’s pointless.

There’s no way Tilea-san can trust people like them. Tilea-san or Tim-chan deserve better than these creeps for subordinates.

And yet…

What? She’s listening to them!

At first, Tilea-san seemed skeptical, but then, little by little, she started agreeing with them!

She’s saying things like, “I see,” and “That makes sense.”

Wait, is she defending Ortidiot’s actions?

“Tilea-san, Ortidiot is a menace! He’s a liar, a coward, and a disgrace!”

I shout in desperation.

He tried to grope me, kiss me, and almost drowned me! There’s no way I can let him off the hook!

But Tilea-san just looks at me with a troubled expression and says, “Miless-chan, calm down. It’s all a misunderstanding.”

A misunderstanding?

A misunderstanding my foot!

To my disbelief, Tilea-san even praises Ortidiot, saying he did a good job.

How could she applaud such behavior?

Ahh… I get it now.

I’m just an outsider. She’d rather keep her subordinates happy than side with me. I’ve experienced this enough times from higher-ranking nobles to know.

So that’s how it is.

I trusted her...

I thought we were friends...

I really thought Tilea-san and I could have a lifelong bond, transcending rank…

I trusted her, and now I feel utterly betrayed.

My mind goes blank, and in a fit of rage, I lose control. 

I use magic, I scream, I vent

 every ounce of frustration I’ve ever felt.

…

…

It was really all just a misunderstanding.

Ugh, how embarrassing.

I had been judging Tilea-san based on her status alone.

I thought she would choose her people and her kingdom over me. What a foolish assumption.

I feel so ashamed of myself.

Tilea-san even dismissed Ortidiot and his men from the room and hugged me gently.

After all the terrible things I said and did…

She invited me here, treated me to delicious food, and was so kind to me. I could feel her warmth every step of the way, yet I still doubted her.

Tilea-san even cared for her little sister, Tim-chan, in a way that’s rare in royal families, where siblings often compete. She’s truly a kind person.

Warm and gentle.

Even now, she looks at me with eyes full of compassion.

When was the last time I saw someone look at me like that? It reminds me of my parents.

I can’t hold back anymore.

I bury my face in Tilea-san’s chest and cry. I know I shouldn’t—she’s of royal blood, after all—but I just can’t stop myself.

Between the threat of Elizabeth and my family’s struggles, the stress must have been gnawing at my heart without me even realizing it. But now, all those cracks are filled with Tilea-san’s warmth.

Ugh, Tilea-san is just too kind.

I sobbed in her arms like a child seeking comfort from her mother.

After calming down, I changed into the clothes Tilea-san provided for me.

Then, she even used some magic tool called a “dryer” to dry my hair.

Everything about Tilea-san’s care for me, from her words to her actions, is so comforting.

A magic tool like a “dryer” that I’ve never seen before.

The strength to defeat Ortidiot so easily.

Tilea-san is a person of many mysteries.

But there’s one thing I know for sure.

Tilea-san is a truly good person. Warm and kind, like the sun. She’s someone I can trust.

And yet…

As my hair dries and I start to relax, a nagging question pops into my head.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Tilea-san means no harm.

But why did she defend Ortidiot’s behavior?

It doesn’t seem like something she would do.

I decide to ask her directly.

And then…

Tilea-san begins to explain.

She passionately describes how effective and important “artificial respiration” and “the bag method” are.

Wait, what…?

So that’s what this was all about?

Tilea-san’s explanation sounds like the kind of backward superstition you’d hear in undeveloped regions. Where there’s no advanced magic, they follow the word of shamans without question.

They call it something bizarre, like “oxygen,” and they say people can get “too much of it,” which is apparently why people panic or get exhausted in tight spaces.

But anyone who’s studied physiology knows this isn’t true.

Humans need air to survive.

When breathing becomes erratic or they start sweating, it’s because there’s too little air. That’s why people in closed spaces breathe faster and shallower. It’s not because they have too much air, but too little. This has been proven through magical science.

And as for “artificial respiration”? Don’t get me started. Blowing into someone else’s mouth won’t magically help them breathe better. And pressing down on someone’s chest when they’re already weak from drowning? That would only make things worse.

Oh no… 

Tilea-san has been deceived!

Someone must have fed her these lies. It’s like those con artists who sell miracle healing potions to gullible people.

In Tilea-san’s case, she’s been tricked into commissioning an expensive high-grade golem for the purpose of practicing this ridiculous rescue method.

That golem was probably custom-made by the magical superpower of Xenon. It must have cost her a fortune, likely in the millions.

How could no one have stopped her?

This is where her sheltered royal upbringing shows.

She’s been tricked into believing that “artificial respiration” nonsense, and she’s spent a fortune on it.

Whoever taught her this must have profited from it somehow.

What a scoundrel!

There are always those who take advantage of kind, trusting people like Tilea-san.

I just want to find the person who misled her and punch them.

“Tilea-san, may I ask where you learned this knowledge? It wasn’t from your parents, was it?”

“No, no. This is some specialized knowledge.”

“I see… Then, who taught you this specialized knowledge? It wasn’t Camilla-sama’s education staff, was it?”

“Hmm, no. Tim doesn’t know about it. It’s something I picked up in the place I used to live. It’s, uh… kind of hard to explain… I’m not sure if you’d believe me if I told you the truth.”

Tilea-san hesitates.

I think I understand now. She’s a child of concubine lineage, isn’t she? That explains her reluctance. She probably didn’t receive the same level of education as her sister, Tim-chan.

Tilea-san likely didn’t grow up with Tim-chan, instead being sent to live in some remote countryside.

Royal courts are full of people with their own agendas.

It’s no surprise that one of them gave Tilea-san these false ideas.

At least her maternal family taught her to cook properly. She mentioned they ran a restaurant, so it seems that’s the only thing she learned properly.

But if Tilea-san keeps relying on this false knowledge, it will only lead to more trouble.

I can’t let that happen. Tilea-san is too good of a person to fall victim to such lies.

“Tilea-san, I’m just going to say it. That knowledge is wrong. That ‘net’ teacher of yours is not to be trusted.”

“Well, the ‘net’ isn’t a person.”

“Then, is it a book?”

“Sort of, yeah. Let’s just go with that.”

“Then whoever wrote that book can’t be trusted.”

“No, no, there isn’t really an author behind it.”

“What?! No author?!”

“Right. Sometimes there is, but most of the time, it’s just anonymous posts.”

That’s unbelievable.

Producing a book requires an immense amount of time and money. Even for personal use, a decent book would need hundreds of copies. If someone goes through the trouble of making such a thing, they have to ensure its content is reliable. Falsehoods would never make it into circulation. Every book needs an author’s name for accountability.

“Tilea-san, that’s what we call a bad book. It should never see the light of day. Please forget everything you read in it.”

“No, no, Miless-chan, you’re misunderstanding. The net is amazing! Where I’m from, everyone used it! If you didn’t know something, you’d just ask Google-sensei, and it would tell you everything you needed to know.”

There’s another strange word.

“Google”?

I’ve never heard of it.

But since she calls it “sensei,” it must be some sort of teacher. A teacher that claims to know everything sounds highly suspicious.

“Tilea-san, this Google teacher sounds shady. No one knows everything. They can only know what they’ve learned. This person is nothing but a fraud.”

“No, no, that’s not it at all.”

Tilea-san looks a little frustrated, scratching her head.

She doesn’t seem to believe me.

No matter how much I try to explain, Tilea-san won’t budge from her position. She trusts this “net” and “Google” far too much.

All right, then. If I have to argue this to the end, I will.

I don’t care if she thinks I’m being disrespectful. I’ll do whatever it takes to help her.

And so… I learned the shocking truth.

Ah… Tilea-san, you’ve had such a difficult life.

She hesitated at certain points, so I don’t know the whole story.

But it seems that for a time, Tilea-san lived apart from Tim-chan in a place called “Nihon,” an island nation.

She even mentioned living like a refugee in a place called “manga cafe.” How heartbreaking…

The East must be an incredibly unstable region. To think a member of royalty, even a concubine’s child, would have to live as a refugee...

Apparently, the “manga cafe” was a tiny room no bigger than two square meters.

I couldn’t last an hour in a place like that. If I had to live there, I’d go mad within days.

But Tilea-san says she lived there for weeks, even months, without any problems.

Even for a commoner, that’s impossible.

Tilea-san speaks of it so nonchalantly.

“Oh, I was young back then,” she says.

But I’ve done the math—she must have been quite young when she lived like that.

I think I’m starting to understand where Tilea-san’s strength comes from.

I don’t know the full details of how she reunited with Tim-chan and ended up living the life she has now.

But I do know she’s endured hardship.

It must have been during that time she came across the “net” and “Google.”

People naturally cling to whatever they can when times are tough. It’s human nature. It’s no wonder she’s come to rely on them.

But someone has to tell her the truth.

It seems no one has ever dared, probably out of fear of her status.

Even Tim-chan, who adores her sister, would likely be too biased to say anything harsh.

If

 no one else can do it, then I have to.

“Tilea-san, it must have been lonely, living apart from Camilla-sama. I understand why you came to rely on the ‘net’ and Google.”

“Ahh, I feel like I’ve really given you the wrong idea. Maybe I should have explained things from the start… about my past life, or something. But then you’d just think I’m crazy…”

“Tilea-san, you’re not crazy. The real problem is the ‘net.’ It’s led you astray with false information.”

“You know, you’re kind of misunderstanding things, but also hitting the nail on the head at the same time. The net really did mess me up back then, but my knowledge is still correct. Maybe I should start by explaining the concept of the future…”

“Please, Tilea-san, no more. Just listen to me. Deep down, I think you already know—the net can’t be trusted!”

“Pff—Miless-chan, wow. That one hit me in the feels. I haven’t heard that in a while.”

Oh, so she does realize it after all.