I Married the Beautiful Female Protagonist In Order To Survive

13. Eat, how many bowls? (End of month)

Not only did she almost break her hands, which she had always been careful to take care of, but Zerola’s words from behind almost made Flora unable to stand!

What… what disgusting words did he say!? Were those the kind of things a normal person could say!? Not to mention within the academy, even among those flattering nobles whom her cousin the Queen saw every day, no one had ever said such a thing!

Know this: those obsequious noble scions, without exception, had their eyes fixed on the fact that her elder cousin was still “unattached.” Their flattering self-recommendations were as extravagant and varied as could be, unlike Zerola’s… utter crudeness!

Crude, even! And spouting such things with such brazen conviction! Shameless! How long had he held it in before daring to speak behind her back!? What did he mean by “always”!? She needed no pity from him!

“Who asked you to yield to me!?”

Now, more than disheartened by the genuine disparity in their strengths, Fillora felt a burgeoning unease, unsure how to respond. After all, those words… they struck with such force, branding themselves onto her heart like a searing iron.

“You only came here to see my disgruntled face, didn’t you!?”

With that, Fillora turned away. For the first time, she couldn’t be sure what her expression truly conveyed, whether she still maintained the noble elegance befitting her lineage.

“Ah, well, you succeeded! I’m thoroughly displeased, so bask in your triumph! Don’t linger here; aren’t there many places where a problem student like you can go!? Go flaunt it to your little fairy! Boast about how you frightened me! Wouldn’t that be far more amusing than staying here with me!?”

But, in the next instant, Fillora lifted her gaze and beheld… a serious expression on Zerola’s face, an expression so foreign it seemed almost… wrong.

“I didn’t come here to gloat.”

He wasn’t lying!

That was Fillora’s first thought. Yet, because she recognized its truth, a fresh wave of panic washed over her.

If Zerola hadn’t specifically come to flaunt himself before her, then… his words, coupled with his “harassment” every day for the past few days, would suddenly transform into…

Fillora dared not pursue that train of thought any further. And besides… another “uninvited guest” arrived, denying Fillora the opportunity to dwell on it.

It was Headmistress Mael, that… in the depths of Fillora’s mind: a nymph who relied on those swinging globes of hers to sidle up to Zerola every day.

As Headmistress, Mael could, of course, openly seek her out in a “VIP” area like this, but… somehow, just now… Fillora desperately wished that nymph hadn’t stumbled in at such a “fortuitous” moment, as if her arrival was solely meant to disrupt Fillora’s burgeoning thoughts.

“Zerola~”

Still she displayed her “figure” without restraint, a cooing voice that probably many students at the academy would never hear in their lives, now following Zerola at the price of nothing.

Vulgar.

Fillora felt she shouldn’t secretly criticize Mael’s behavior. After all, theoretically, there were no lawbreakers at the academy, so even if Mael was chasing after a “problem student” like Zerola, she shouldn’t pass judgement.

But… when she actually saw Mael “collide” with him, causing Zerola’s gaze to “honestly” flicker over her curves, Fillora felt that she was, just ever so slightly, losing her composure.

“I was wondering why I couldn’t find you lately, and it turns out you’ve been hiding here~”

Because: even though Fillora had no “romantic experience,” she could intuitively sense Mael’s “maturity” in this regard. She never seemed to employ the tactic of “belittling others to elevate herself,” but instead… she used different methods to subtly capture Zerola’s attention.

“Even if you’re always staring at Fillora, you can’t let yourself go hungry~ Look what I brought you?”

For example, today Mael held something extra.

Something that, once opened, made Fillora truly feel “threatened” in every sense of the word. Because Zerola’s gaze had indeed been ensnared!

“Wow! Mael, you can cook?”

At this particular moment, Fillora’s “observation” was incredibly sharp – Zerola stared at Mael’s lunch, so obviously and intentionally prepared for him, and his eyes widened!

“Just trying something now and then~”

Mael smiled, winking. “Then I accidentally made some extra for you, dear~ I just haven’t had much appetite lately, so I accidentally overdid it~”

Now and then!? Trying!?

Philorra discovered for the first time that the elf’s lies could be so… infuriating.

Look at that luster, that color combination! One needn’t even taste it to know its quality rivaled, if not surpassed, her own chef’s skill! And now, Guildmaster Mel, you dare say this was just “thrown together”?

Are you deliberately trying to steal Zerola’s attention, or simply trying to provoke me?

Or… perhaps a bit of both?

Unwittingly, Philorra’s gaze had shifted, and even to Mel’s “kind reminders,” her responses now carried a palpable hostility.

No, it was only now dawning on her: Mel’s words, from the very beginning… held a subtle, almost undetectable, challenge.

It was only now that Philorra truly perceived it.

“Philorra, be sure to rest, alright? Don’t let it interfere with your work.”

“Guildmaster, your concern is appreciated. As it happens, I was ‘just about’ to take a break.”

As the words left her lips, Philorra finally noticed: Zerola flinched slightly, then reluctantly tore his gaze away.

Perhaps… even if one isn’t particularly inclined, certain opportunities must still be seized.

“And… ‘conveniently,’ it’s about time I summoned someone to prepare lunch.”

Her gaze remained fixed on Mel; Philorra, who had originally intended to handle it herself, now opted for a remote communication, contacting her family’s chef directly for “takeout.”

“It’s nearing lunchtime. Hmm… today, prepare something ‘luxurious’ for me, both in quantity and quality, and have it delivered to where I usually am at the academy. Yes, that’s right, a serving for two! For. Two!”

With that, Philorra lowered her hand, her gaze drifting, before landing coldly on Zerola.

You like looking, like eating, do you? Want to see how big the steamed buns are? How white the baozi?

Eat! Today, you’ll eat your fill! Three bowls! You can’t finish them? Then they’ll be stuffed down your throat!

Eat yourself to death, you rutting stallion!

*The monthly ticket lottery results for January will be announced around midnight on February 1st.*

*In February, I have prepared various brand-new monthly ticket lottery gifts, and I hope everyone will participate actively. By the way, the points system will also be restarted in February. And the dakimakuras, new designs will be based on the number of monthly tickets, if there are enough, I’ll make them!*

*The specific details will be known when the update comes out. Everyone, grab your monthly tickets and get ready to charge!*