I'll Get Busy With Queen's Education... Huh?

Their usual discussion in the dorm.

"Come to think of it, being busy with queen's education is a classic setup too!"

"A classic setup?"

"Yes! The foolish Heroine fabricates bullying even though I'm not there! Then I shut it down with an ironclad alibi: 'Oh my, at that time I was at the royal castle receiving queen's education… How exactly could I have bullied you?'"

"I see… So I should claim I was bullied while Ojou-sama was away, then go tattle to His Highness?"

Quick on the uptake as always.

"But wouldn't His Highness figure it out if he looked into it even a little?"

"Love is blind. With his head in the clouds, His Highness won't notice a thing!"

"Ah, blind. True… so true!"

"His Highness Harks is head over heels for the Heroine… yes, completely smitten, right? If it comes from her, he'll believe it without question."

"Indeed!!"

Even so, Koleha felt a faint heaviness in her chest.

"Hmm…? Am I feeling unwell?"

"Eh, are you okay!? You should warm up and lie down! Should I call Roborovski-sensei!?"

"Ah, no, it's probably just indigestion from lunch. No need to make a fuss."

"If you're sure… Ojou-sama, please tell me if you feel unwell. Everyone would be sad if you got sick. I have potions."

"Kias potions, right? Make mine the less-bitter Naori grass type."

Thanks to Kias, potions had become easy to obtain, but that made the traditional, not-so-bitter Naori grass potion a luxury item.

"The producer of Kias is the one saying that?"

"I mean, I enhanced Kias with my magic, right? Maybe because of that, my body is too accustomed to it and the effect is reduced. By about twenty percent."

The wretched thing bared its fangs even at its creator, without reducing its bitterness one bit.

How very Koleha-esque, in a way.

"Heh, so that's why Roborovski-sensei had some Naori potions on hand."

"That's right. Anyway, back on topic. I'm thinking of going to receive queen's education."

Koleha forcibly steered the conversation back on track.

"… Huh? But didn't you already receive that kind of education? Tutors were sent from the castle, right?"

"That was prince's consort education. From there, you advance to crown princess education and then queen's education!"

"I see… But can you just show up at the castle and receive it? His Highness Harks isn't crown prince yet, is he?"

"… Ah. Come to think of it, I was told crown princess education comes after graduating from the academy…"

She also remembered that crown princess and queen's education expanded the knowledge you were permitted, or obligated, to possess based on your station.

She vaguely recalled her tutor saying, "We've taught you everything we can for now."

In her preparations for the serves-you-right event, Koleha had already completed the maximum education available to her at present.

"… For now, it looks like all I can do is review."

"Should we drop that plan?"

"W-wait! There are still things like tea parties with Her Majesty! The Heroine slips up while I'm away at events like that!"

"I see! Then we should start preparing for the tea party right away—"

At that point, Summer realized something.

"Um. I'm Ojou-sama's lady's maid, so I have to be by your side as Summer, right? And by the same token, if you go out, Hiiro would also be away…"

"Ah!? You're right!?"

Indeed. As long as Summer served Koleha, that's how it would be. And since Koleha's serves-you-right plan was a secret from Marquis Yarkot, she couldn't have a replacement maid assigned.

"… Summer, can't you actually split yourself in two or something?"

"Splitting myself is a bit beyond my abilities. I'm only human."

And so, they gave up on that plan.