Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 29: The Highest Bidder, Part Four

By the time Lianna arrived back at their dorm, Enverna had still not finished staring at the article on her phone. She only noticed Lianna sitting next to her by the time she was right there, their legs nearly touching, and Enverna almost pulled away.

The article she’d sent earlier went into great detail about two things. The murder allegations and the freshly exposed engagement between Lianna and Enverna. Regarding the engagement, it theorized that the two girls had been pen pals of sorts, trading letters back and forth from afar, gradually falling for one another, until they finally decided to come together and marry.

After coming up with a very imaginative tale of long-distance romance, the article then went on to theorize that Enverna and Lianna had slain Instructor Vara specifically to empower Lianna.

That was the part that truly made Enverna feel awful.

["Under the pressure of her low-rank fiance, it is not difficult to imagine that Enverna was pressured to fight her teacher, who likely had her guard down as she went into the Haunted Woods with her students..."] Enverna read. [This article is casting most of the blame on Lianna, under the guise of speculation.]

Given that Lianna hadn’t said a word since she arrived, it seemed clear she understood this as well.

"So... That cat’s out of the bag, then," Lianna stated and Enverna had a hard time denying that. "I’m sorry. This is probably gonna be pretty annoying for you, huh?"

Enverna finally pulled her eyes away from the phone. She was baffled.

"What do you mean me? Lianna, this article is basically just an attack on you!" Lianna blinked. "I-It’s pretty much pinning the entirety of the blame on you, trying to get people to think that I was just pressured into helping you because I... Because we’re set to be married. Is that not awful?"

"Well, yeah, but a lot of people didn’t like me anyway cause I’m a child of mana. It is what it is. Even if everyone believes this story, the outcome isn’t going to be anything new."

It was hard to believe that she could be so nonchalant about this. If enough people read this thing and bought into the tale it spun, Enverna wouldn’t be surprised if she couldn’t take more than a couple of steps outside before getting attacked.

And yet, this was "nothing new", apparently.

"It is kinda weird that this person did put so much effort into smearing my image, though... I guess they really wanted some clickbait."

"Click... bait?"

Lianna waved the matter off.

"But, uh, while I was walking here, I thought of something... We can use this."

The shock Enverna felt, hearing Lianna brush the slander aside so quickly, was matched only by her curiosity.

"What?"

"The Gala," Lianna replied quickly. "I think this could honestly help us out with that."

As frustrating as it was, Enverna decided that maybe it was best to just accept that Lianna felt this way, for now, and hear her out.

"What do you mean?" She asked, trying to keep calm.

"Okay, so, here’s the deal," Lianna clapped her hands together. "During the auction, I... There’s a pretty high chance something bad will happen. Something that we could help prevent."

"Like what?" Enverna asked. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Well, think about it. That guy we fought at the Haunted Forest can absorb other Players’ power. With an ability like that, that gala’s probably going to be the best opportunity he gets to become stronger."

"I... I agree." Enverna contemplated the issue. Indeed, it did seem like that would be one of the best opportunities their enemy would get in the near future.

"Even if nothing happens in the end, we should at least be there to make sure everything goes smoothly."

"With the invitations we got, it won’t be like they can just turn us away..." Enverna added.

"Exactly. But, my point is that if people buy into this narrative, that means you’ll at least get to walk around on your own, without anyone breathing down your neck." Lianna gave her a smile that looked just a little bit sad. "Because most of the focus is, you know, going to be on me."

"But, what will you-"

"I can just put all of my own focus into keeping an eye on Jack, provided he shows up. And, well, maybe I can buy a drink or two while I’m at it."

Enverna remained silent for a time. She wanted to say something about the article, tell Lianna that the kinds of claims that were being made about her were laughable, but it looked like Lianna already had her mind on other things.

"... It doesn’t hurt at all?" Enverna asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Reading what was said about you. Doesn’t that..."

"Of course, it does," Lianna replied, melancholy tugging at the corners of her lips. "But, like I said, it is what it is. With any luck, you and I can help some people out at the gala and, well, maybe that’ll get people to question that story a little bit. I mean, there have to be a few skeptics out there, right?"

"I suppose."

"So, yeah." Lianna leaned back on the couch, putting her hands behind her head. "I’ll just keep working, keep walking forward on my journey as a Player. And, hopefully, I’ll be able to change a few minds along the way."

To say Enverna’s respect for Lianna grew upon hearing that would be an understatement. But not only did her respect for her increase. Her resolve to repair Lianna’s image did as well.

[We can’t just let such a thing pass... I have to help her. Somehow, some way.]

For now, though, all she could do was go along with the idea.

"Very well, then... So, a gala?" Enverna thought. "We’ll need some appropriate clothing."

"Hm... I can’t say I’ve gone to too many formal events," Lianna murmured. "How about we head into town and you show me a thing or two? Maybe we can look through a few dresses or something?"

Enverna agreed.

She agreed so much, in fact, that she quickly stood up, holding a hand out.

[She’s been so accommodating to me since we’ve met... Maybe it’s time I try to give a little back to her.]

"Come," Enverna said. "Let me show you a few things."

"Oh?" Lianna grinned, taking her hand and standing up. "What do you have in mind?"

"I’m going to help the rest of the city see the dignity you’ve shown to me," Enverna promised. "It’s the least I could do."

With a raised brow and a bit of a smirk that let Enverna know Lianna was equally amused and curious, the crimson-haired woman nodded.

"... Alright then. Show me what you’ve got."