I suppose I could find another servant and ask. So I wandered the halls, only to stop dead in my tracks. Before me was... an impossibly beautiful sight.
A sea of flowers stretched out before my very eyes. A central, indoor courtyard of sorts, perhaps? Drawn in by the breathtaking landscape, I found a door leading downwards, and eventually walked slowly into this floral garden.
As soon as I had stepped foot into it, however, a girl stood up, seemingly surprised at my entrance. Although I should have called out to her as a gesture of courtesy, I hesitated, surprised at the encounter. She was the first to speak.
“...L-Lady Katarina. Why are you in... a place like this?” The girl was none other than Mary Hunt, fourth daughter of the Hunt family. We had exchanged pleasantries a short while ago.
“...Um. For a ch-change of pace, yes?” I could not possibly tell poor Mary that I had stuffed my face full of snacks, dashed to the bathroom, and became lost on the way back. In fact, I had no obligation to do so — and so this little white lie would do just fine.
“What are you doing here yourself, Lady Mary?” Having eaten too much and needing the washroom aside, I found it even stranger for one of the Hunt daughters to be hiding here on such an important occasion.
“...I... I am not very... good with crowds...” Mary replied, in that same soft, almost inaudible voice that she had greeted me with earlier.
She’s such a beautiful girl! What a waste for her to be shrinking away like this, hiding her face from the public!
Hmm. Or perhaps... is it really my face? Do I really look like a scary villainess?
Even if I did do my best to smile, there was a high chance that this villainess-face of mine would simply scare the beautiful yet fragile girl before me. In any case, I had to let her know that I was completely harmless!
“Th-This... This is quite the impressive garden. All these blooming flowers... stunningly beautiful, truly.” I tried my best to dispel my villainess-like aura, delivering my lines with a slight smile on my face.
I really did feel that way about the garden, however, so the compliments were sincere. Although the Claes manor’s gardens were respectable in their own right, this little garden had a unique charm of its own. The flowers in particular were especially prominent. The Hunt’s gardener must be a skilled individual indeed.
Hmm... That’s right!! What a great idea!
If this mystery gardener was so skilled at growing flowers, perhaps they would be able to provide me with some gardening advice, and even revive my wilting crop corner.
With that in mind, I quickly posed the question to Mary. “Say... Lady Mary, could you please introduce me to the gardener overseeing this magnificent garden?”
“...Huh...?”
“After all, these flowers are blooming splendidly! I would very much love to discuss certain matters with this amazing gardener of yours.”
Despite Mary’s increasingly uncomfortable expression, I inched steadily closer, my excitement causing my nostrils to flare as I heaped praise upon this unseen gardener of mystery.
Finally, Mary responded, in an almost inaudible voice. “...That... would be... me.”
“Eh?”
“I... I am the one who takes care of this garden...”
What?! Mary is the caretaker of this wondrous garden?!
“All of it, Lady Mary?! You take care of this entire garden all by yourself?!”
“Well... Not all of it, just this the plants in this little corner here...”
In other words, Mary was responsible for the sea of blooming flowers in the corner that I had been staring at all this time.
“...Incredible.”
“Huh...?”
“It’s incredible, Lady Mary! That you have cultivated such an impressive garden! How is it? What is the secret? How do all the flowers bloom like that? There must be some trick to it! Soil? Is it the soil?!”
“...A-Ah... Um. Lady Katarina.”
I was now dangerously close to Mary, having forgotten the concept of personal space in my excitement. Before I knew it, I had cornered this poor, fragile young lady, and was breathing on her very skin.
No good. I had gotten far too excited. With a quick but deep breath, I took a small step back, assuming as elegant a smile as I could. “W-Well. I would very much like to discuss the particular details of how you have managed to cultivate such an impressive garden, Lady Mary.”
“...Discuss? Particular... details?”
“Yes. Very much so.” If possible, I wished to hold this discussion with Mary before this summer’s harvest season.
Although Mary seemed surprised at the fact that I had tilled the earth and seeded the fields, she listened carefully to my description of the problem. At the very least, she no longer seemed frightened — and at that, I heaved an internal sigh of relief.
Eventually, I concluded my explanation.
“...If someone like me could be of use, I would give it my all. However, Lady Katarina, I have never cultivated crops or vegetables before. I cannot make any assumptions on words alone... I deeply apologize for being unable to help.”
“W-Well then! Could you not... visit? Perhaps?” I said somewhat desperately to Mary, who was hanging her head.
“Ah, but...”
Although Mary seemed somewhat reluctant, I continued pleading, even suggesting that I arrive with a horse carriage and escort her to the manor.
The life of my crops is on the line! This is of utmost importance! I recalled the cruel fate that my morning glories and cucumber plants had faced in my previous life.
Finally relenting under my continued assault, Mary agreed to pay a visit to the Claes manor and have a look at the crops herself.
Mary, however, fervently refused to be picked up, apparently willing to make the journey herself. With that, I was once again in a somewhat jovial mood, and was safely led back to the reception area by Mary.
Keith, however, let me have quite the earful, having been worried all this time at my sudden disappearance. For some reason, it felt like our big sister-younger brother relationship was now somewhat reversed...
And so it came to be that the first tea party in my life came to an end — relatively plainly, as opposed to a huge social embarrassment.
A few days after the tea party, Mary paid a visit to the Claes manor, as promised. To address the problem my crops were facing, Mary had even read up on crop cultivation in advance. Ah, what a kind, gentle girl.
After some conversation, I found out that Mary and I were the same age, and we became fast friends. Although she was somewhat afraid of me at first, Mary was now all smiles. And my crop corner would also eventually recover, albeit after countless visits from Mary.
“Mary... thank you so much! Because of you, the crops are doing well again!” I cheerfully said, gazing at the now-restored crops as I did so.
“No, you worked hard too, Lady Katarina.” Mary replied, that same gentle smile on her face.
Ah, to be smiled at by such a lovable, beautiful girl. A feast for the eyes.
“I was sure they would all wilt and die... But now look! You’re really something else, Mary.”
“... Th-That’s not true...”
Despite her humble demeanor, Mary really did have quite the talent at cultivating plants. It almost seemed like her very hands breathed life into ailing plants of all kinds.
Yes — Mary’s hands are special. Come to think of it, isn’t there a term for this sort of thing?
“You have quite the green thumb, Mary! Maybe even green hands too, ha!”
“...Green thumb?”
“Yes, a green thumb. It’s a term used to refer to those with a particular talent for cultivating plants, you see. Of course, it refers to more than just your thumb... Special hands, maybe!”
“...Special hands...”
“Yes! By your talented hands, you breathe life into dying plants! You’re really quite good at it!”
I held Mary’s hands strongly in my own. Mary,
however, had her eyes wide open, and was preoccupied with staring at her own hands, now clasped in mine.
“...My hands are special...?”
“Yes! Green thumb, hand, you know! You’re a special and wonderful person!” I said, laughing. Mary smiled ever so slightly in response.
Ah, her smile is a true blessing. Like a blooming flower...
“Lady Katarina... your fields have now recovered, but... if it is possible, may I visit you again?”
“Of course! Come visit anytime!” I declared, laughing wholeheartedly as a I responded. Although Mary had asked the question in a reserved manner, she seemed pleased by my response.
“A green thumb is really quite remarkable, isn’t it?” Keith, who had been standing quietly next to me this whole time, said.
“Quite. Especially if they are on hands like Mary’s! She works wonders on plants.”
“Yes. A long time ago, I read a book called The Girl with the Green Thumb, and so I know of the phrase. Did you read that book too, Big Sister?
“Hmm... I don’t think so, Keith. At least, it wasn’t from a book... Somehow it just floated to the front of my mind.”
I remembered the phrase as I looked upon Mary. Did I learn of the phrase from some other place?
“That aside, Big Sister. Lady Mary has sure become more cheerful as of late.”
“That’s right! Although... she was quite afraid of me at first.”
“Eh? Afraid of you, Big Sister?”
“...Yes, unfortunately. It has to be this villainess-like face of mine.” I replied, in a self-deprecating manner. I really hate this villainess-like face that I’ve inherited from my mother.
Keith, for his part, seemed surprised. “...I don’t really think you look like a villainess, Big Sister... Also, Lady Mary did not act that way towards you alone — she was like that with everyone at the party.”
“...Eh? Really?”
“Yes. She has a somewhat shy and shirking demeanor regardless of who she is speaking with. Perhaps there are certain circumstances in the family that have caused her to lose her confidence.”
“...Circumstances? What do you mean?” I asked, puzzled.
Keith could only stare back with a look of exasperation. “What exactly were you doing at the Hunt manor, Big Sister? Were you not listening to the conversations at the tea party at all?”
“...Ugh...” Come to think of it, I had immediately busied myself with attempting to take leftover snacks back home as soon as we had finished our social greetings. And after Keith had caught me in the act, I had responded by... stuffing my face with more snacks.
In the end, I hardly participated in any conversations at the tea party. In fact, that was why my lack of noble etiquette was not exposed! Yes, that was my plan all along. Yes, yes. Let’s leave it at that.
As if giving up on me, Keith sighed deeply. Ah... Well. I do apologize, my dear adopted brother.
Keith slowly explained what he had heard at the tea party to me, his hapless sister. From his words, it would seem that of the four Hunt sisters, only Mary looked different. The reason for this was simple — Mary, the fourth sister, was born of a different mother.
Marquess Hunt’s previous wife had died of illness, and after he remarried, he had a child with this new wife, said child being Mary. However, due to the fact that Mary’s mother was not of high noble status, she was not exactly welcomed in the Hunt family, with family members on both sides protesting their marriage.
To make things worse, Mary’s mother had passed on when she was still five, again due to illness. While the marquess did what he could to care for Mary, her sisters did not feel positively toward her at all.
They would torment her with verbal abuse daily, claiming that the “stench of commoners oozed from her being,” or that she “had no class.”
“...So that was why Mary acted in such a fashion...” I could hardly fault her for it — it was plain to see how one could lose confidence in themselves when subjected to such treatment on a daily basis. Thinking that she was somehow inadequate, Mary slowly became afraid of appearing before others.
“However, she is very much changed, now. I do believe Lady Mary will be all right,” Keith said, an empathetic expression on his face.
Is there something else about the matter that my hardworking adopted brother knows about? Although I had tried asking him about it, Keith deflected the question without much effort.
While Keith himself had been somewhat reserved and afraid when he had first come to the manor, he had matured significantly these past few months. Giving his all at etiquette and magic training sessions, he became more and more dependable.
Although I told him there was no need to rush towards adulthood, Keith claimed that he was doing it so he could protect what was important to him. He even told me those very words with an air of maturity about him — alas, it made me feel incredibly lonely. Attempts to find out what exactly Keith was trying to protect were deflected, as usual, and I could only sulk in response.
“On another note, Big Sister. Is Lady Mary not soon to be engaged to Prince Alan?”
“...Eh? Is that right?” I responded, halfheartedly agreeing with Keith. While I would have liked him to remain my cute little adopted brother for a little while longer, it seemed like Keith was quickly maturing into quite the young adult.
And again... what is this thing he wants to protect? What if... Wait. Is there a girl he likes?! Hold on, wait up! You should at least introduce this mystery girl to your Big Sister! I won’t allow any strange girls into this... Hmm? Keith seems to be saying something.
“...Keith. Could you please repeat yourself?”
“...Big Sister...” Keith stared at me, exasperation plastered across his face once more.
Ah, brother of mine. I do apologize.
“As I was saying, it will soon be time to announce Lady Mary’s betrothal to Prince Alan.”
“...Eh? Who’s Mary getting engaged to again?”
“Prince Alan. You remember, yes? Prince Jeord’s twin brother, the fourth prince in line to the throne?”
“?!”
“As she is now, there is a high chance that Lady Mary will be announced as Prince Alan’s future bride, yes.”
“...Engaged? Future bride? Prince Alan?”
“Well... it has not been confirmed yet, but now would be a good time for it. The Hunt family is known for its riches and high social position, even amongst the other marquesses. A most fitting candidate for the prince, as they are of the same age as well... Big Sister, where are you going?!”
After listening to a little over half of Keith’s explanation, I ran off, heading straight for my room. Prince Alan... Alan Stuart. He’s one of the possible love interests in the game!
Rushing back to my room, I quickly retrieved the “Archive of memories on the game I played in my past life” and cross-checked its contents.
After laying out the archive on my desk, I flipped through its pages rapidly before eventually coming to a stop at Prince Alan’s entry.
Alan Stuart
Jeord’s twin brother, and fourth in line to the throne. Up until age five, he had a considerably weak constitution, and his caretakers were not sure if he would survive. As a result, those around him did everything they could to ensure that he would live, eventually spoiling him in the process.
Due to this, his personality is a little twisted as well — although nowhere near Jeord’s level. Feeling a massive inferiority complex due to Jeord’s savant-like capabilities, he hardly spoke to his older brother, seeing him as an arch-rival.
At the age of fifteen, Alan would enroll in the academy with his brother, and often compete with him both academically and magically. When the results of the academy’s first test are published, however, Alan came in third, with Jeord in first place, and the protagonist in second.
While Alan had resigned himself to the fact that he could never outdo his brother, he takes great offense to being bested by a commoner girl, and in
turn views her as a rival too.
After some interaction, Alan would eventually fall for the protagonist, charmed by her optimistic nature. As the game progresses, the protagonist would tell him that “You are perfect as you are, Alan.” This declaration, in turn, brought some measure of peace to his heart, and eventually Alan’s bitter sense of rivalry with Jeord would diminish as well.
In this scenario, Katarina Claes, all-time villainess, was nowhere to be seen. Although she did attempt to bully the protagonist due to her good grades (despite being a commoner), she did not have much screen time in this route at all.
In Katarina’s place was another rival: none other than Mary Hunt, daughter of Marquess Hunt. Although she respects Alan from the bottom of her heart and is somewhat jealous of the protagonist, she does not engage in any bullying or mean tricks.
Instead, Mary conducts herself as a noble lady with excellent upbringing, being skilled at social etiquette and dancing, unlike the commoner-born protagonist.
Although Jeord and Katarina hardly care about Mary’s existence, Alan is fond of her, although not in a romantic sense. Instead, he views her as a lovable little sister, and the two get along well.
In fact, even the endings of the game were different. Should the protagonist obtain a happy end and succeed in romancing Alan, Mary would give them her blessing, asking the protagonist to “take care of Prince Alan from here on out.” Her eyes, however, would be filled with tears, and her heart filled with sorrow.
In the bad end scenario, Mary and Alan live happily ever after instead, and that was that.
I thought intensely about the information I had just processed.
Why is it only Katarina that suffers?! Isn’t Mary a rival character too? You don’t see her desperately escaping Catastrophic Bad Ends!
To begin with, why is Mary such a gracious character even though she’s a rival?! Katarina is the only one who’s a villainess, apparently?
My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!, Volume 1 Page 9