Man, I didn't want to add answers here. But guess I already did it, so...
8man appears in like 6 chapters. And telling when all the big guns arrive would be spoilers.
Event: The Villainess Steps on Stage
"My prince!" Ariel Woodhill looked way too pleased for her expression to be genuine. She walked as briskly as the droning of social norms allowed and bowed almost ninety degrees when she got close enough "It is my pleasure to be in your presence. From today onwards, I shall partake in this school life alongside his majesty."
That's… Not what Yukino expected. But then again, what should have she?
Yukino stole a glance at the knight behind the noble girl. Marcus' poker face would have been funny if Yukino hadn't looked for his reassurance.
"Ariel." Arnold's tentative greeting felt lacking even to Yukino in comparison "…You are indeed here." Yukino snapped her face at Charlotte. Why could the prince be bad with words but not her? Go ahead, correct him. Tell him what he should say instead with E. Ve. Ry. Sy. La. Ble. Bro. Ken. Down. C'mon! Be fair.
"That is correct, highness." Ariel didn't seem to mind, and simply humored the royal "It's a great honor to share the privilege of attending classes together. Please, treat me well." She bowed again, not as deeply this time, hands clasped in front of the hem of her skirt. The perfect posture and elegance of her movements complemented her features perfectly.
Whereas Hayama looked jovial, but without doubt masculine. Ariel's face already looked promising in the beauty department. The combination of blonde hair and green eyes should have reminded Yukino of another Sobu student, but Ariel's beauty simply left room for no comparisons.
For a moment, the Chosen's mind simply drew a blank.
"Good morning, Ariel." Charlotte broke the silence before it could stretch too thin "I'm sorry about your mother, but it's a pleasure to see you are doing well."
"Ah, thank you Lady Charlotte. Dear Mother is recuperating. She's by no means a weak woman." Ariel turned her attention to the brown haired noble, skipping Yukino at first. Then, with a double take and her eyes fell squarely on the Chosen.
They stared at each other for a moment where no one spoke. Yukino didn't register Lancelot and Charlotte sharing a concerned look.
"And who might you be?" Ariel's words reminded Yukino of the rank system. She hastily stood up to bow.
"Lady Ariel. I am Maria Theodore." Yukino winced "Viscountess Maria Theodore. At your service."
"Ah." Ariel placed her fingers on her mouth. Not quite covering it, not quite… Well, not "Are you perhaps the genius woman my brother talks about so much?"
Now Lancelot and Arnold looked at each other. Marcus caught something too, since his eyes were inquiring without saying anything.
Yukino had to stop herself from reacting when it clicked. She knows.
"Lord Vincent is way too kind." Hopefully Yukino could deliver a message in a similar fashion. Would it be acted upon, though?
"He is a weird one." Ariel nodded. Did that mean she knows he's like her? Must be. Otherwise the first message would have made no sense "But that's just the person he is."
"Funny." Lancelot took Yukino out of the loop, also making Ariel look at him even if just with a side glance "When he picked on Maria at the beginning." Charlotte rolled her eyes.
"Lancelot, please." Even Arnold knew better "What Maria and Vincent's relationship was like before is hardly any of our business. If they're fine with each other, that's it."
"Ara? Is Miss Maria so close to his highness as to refer to each other so informally?" Alright, first? Yukino didn't want to. And second… Why should she justify herself?
Ugh, so tired…
"Not only did she act as our personal instructor for close to a year now." The prince's voice became cold in an instant. If that's how Yukino sounds to people, no wonder they get the chills "She also saved our lives. Maria has proved herself worthy addressing me and mine however she pleases."
"Eh? Did that happen, now?" Ariel looked puzzled but… Not really. Her expression carried too much feeling. Making her a little too reactive for what she was told. It gave Yukino the feeling the younger noble merely humored the older one "When did that happen? My esteemed brother never said anything about that."
"That can't be the case." Charlotte's voice came level, but not soft. She too, was using her lord (lady?) wannabe voice "Vincent was there. In fact, he fought alongside Maria for gods know how many minutes before help arrived."
"Ah, during the march." Ariel's eyes lighted up in realization. She looked way too cute for someone her age too "He did say something about it. But he's always declined to talk about that particular event any further."
With good reason. Yukino's been told it was… Bloody.
"So that's how it is. Well, this can't be faulted. His highness is absolutely right." The blonde gave a shallow bow, lifting the skirt of her uniform as is the custom even while it wasn't long enough for it to be appreciated as easily "You have my gratitude, for protecting Lord Arnold where I couldn't."
"I just did my part." Yukino allowed herself to sit back down.
"Not many would, given the circumstances." Ariel replied matter-of-factly. She wasn't lying, but the way she worded it didn't sit well with Yukino.
"Ariel, is there further business here?" The prince asked, stealing a glance at Yukino taking a deep breath. So tired… "If not, I'll bid you farewell. As you can see, I'm currently busy."
What? She's… His fiancé! You can't just tell her off like she's an expensive maid!
"Is that the case?" The cheery tone ceased, as if a battery had run out and it diluted itself into shutting down. The blonde didn't look downcast, merely like an actor who had been told to stop "In that case, I shall be going. Best regards."
Huh…
Actually…
"Actually." Yukino spoke up her thoughts aloud this time "If Lady Ariel is alright with it, you may join us… If there's no objection." Charlotte gave her a funny look, Lancelot looked more curious himself.
The only one who didn't seem particularly eager was Arnold himself. The one whose opinion actually matters.
"Oh? Is there anything you'd like to discuss?" Ariel turned herself to face them once more. Yukino knew that body language. She most likely looked forwards to leaving.
Well, too bad. She can make her weight a bit lighter.
"Am I correct so assume you have control over the wind spirits?" Yukino forgot about customs for a moment. Beating around the bushes wouldn't help.
"You'd be correct. Brother trained alongside me." Ariel's response came out measured. As if she just said enough to pass for an answer.
"Then, won't Lady Ariel lend me her strength?"
"Eh?" Arnold reacted first. Snapping his head towards Yukino so fast something should have cracked there "Maria, you don't mean…"
"You want to give your responsibilities to me?" Ariel frowned "That's something totally unacceptable. Who do you think you are slacking like that?"
"There is a logic to it." Damn. She didn't bring her notes. They would be useful for explaining "Basically, since Lancelot, Charlotte and prince Arnold are already capable of it, they're no longer partaking in magic classes. Instead, they volunteered to help me stir along the students." No good, she's losing her.
Less words. Yukino needs to explain better.
"My aim is to stabilize the new curriculum from year one. Basically…"
"…To make it so even those who are graduating come out with the prowess of those who'll take classes for two and three years." Ariel brought her hand to her chin, cradling it pensively "I see. I guess it wouldn't be too fair for the third and second years to only get a fraction of the education."
"Correct. So I'll invest more effort in the third years. I'd like to request," Heh "Of Lady Ariel to lend me her strength for the first years. With further assistance, I believe it is possible to allow for everyone to learn properly."
"I am a student, though."
"I need not for you to give classes." Yukino shook her head. The very idea sounded crazy. Ariel is just a child "But act as a coach. There are just too many things to take into account. I need to investigate how things develop, since the way magic works can't be as simple as making friends with some elemental ghost things."
Her elements stirred. Yukino didn't know the meaning of what they were doing, but it came out as some form of protest.
"Ah, sorry. No offense." Yukino quickly apologized. Lancelot chuckled.
"I am of the same mind." The young noble approached the table once more, aware of who Yukino apologized to. Or at least, paying the words said to the air no mind.
Marcus quickly left and came back with an extra chair for the blonde girl. She sat down with a "thanks" and positioned herself so she could face Yukino.
"I would like to hear more."
"Oh, no. Here it comes…" Lancelot groaned. He didn't mean ill, but Yukino glared at him nonetheless.
She soon found Ariel doing the same thing.
Her way of carrying herself had felt jarring at first. Because Ariel didn't stop being cheerful at any point. Her expression felt like a mean. Something she uses to help herself navigate social norms and not something she actually feels.
The current her, though? That looked more like the real her.
Hayama must have taught her to get her own way while pretending to follow through whatever the situation called for. How very clever of him.
Also sweet. In a very strange, twisted even, way.
"Ummm, Maria. I'm not sure if this is a good idea…" Arnold's complains didn't come as strongly as Yukino would have expected. It could only mean he didn't know how to put his thoughts to words properly.
Yukino glanced at Charlotte. Pointing with just her intentions to the mistakes not corrected. Alas, her wishes of equality couldn't come to fruition.
"Nonetheless, it's worth trying." Yukino didn't face the prince while talking, choosing instead to look at the Windhill heiress.
Ah, she'll need some paper.
"…If you say so." Arnold huffed, not trying to keep the line of conversation any further. But clearly against it.
"I'm not sure if it's a good idea to talk about this now." Lancelot took it where Arnold left the words unsaid "Not that I'm underestimating Ariel or anything,"
"It's perfectly fine." The girl assured him with an even tone.
"Regardless. Our lunch time is limited. And maybe Maria is fine with talking business all the time. But this time would be better spent relaxing."
"Agreed." Charlotte didn't add anything else, simply keeping up Lancelot's point and turning to the royal in a silent motion for him to speak.
"That is correct." The heir apparent coughed on his fist "You will have to forgive us, Ariel. But I'm sure we'll have to get you up to date with our plans." The way he stressed "our" made Yukino turn to Charlotte once more. The Fatillas girl was growing visibly tired of her silent protests.
"Ah, don't worry about me." Ariel's smile returned. How regretful "I am yet to grab anything to eat either. Originally, I planned to simply pay my regards to my Prince. I didn't have in mind a lengthy visit."
"Will you be going to the cafeteria?" Yukino's question brought the attention to her, but this time something in their looks felt different "In that case, I can make you company. A change of ambience would be great."
"That's…"
"If you so wish." Ariel shrugged, even that motion looked refined. Neither her nor Yukino paid Arnold's unfinished protest any mind "Miss Maria can do what she pleases."
"Ah, just Maria is fine." Yukino couldn't know what Ariel knew, but if they'd be interacting anyways, at least that would help make things less tiring.
Yukino didn't notice the silence that followed.
"Is that so? Then, as a special treatment call me Ariel as well." Yukino would have thanked her, but she didn't feel like the situation merited it.
She felt the conversation… Natural.
"I will be bidding you farewell, then." It felt like a good change to the norm.
"There's no need to hasten this talk." Lancelot frowned.
"Ah, don't worry. I'm doing this because I want to." Yukino's words had a heavy effect on the mood. She looked at the nobles a bit bewildered.
Are they feeling ill? What's with that reaction?
"We're in the middle of tea." Charlotte informed her but it couldn't possibly be that important. She has seen nobles leaving food and refreshment alike left almost untouched because it tasted too salty, or simply because they had second thoughts and didn't feel like paying. It couldn't be that important if she left her tea unfinished.
"We can have more, later." Yukino assured her, with a small smile. As good as she could muster anyways. The feeling of these three standing in the way wasn't new, but it felt almost playful compared to the drowning resignation it had been before.
She changed. Hopefully for the better.
"Shall we go?" The green-eyed noble's small smile reminded Yukino of Hayama's neutral face. His sister, after all.
"Sir Marcus, my cloak."
"Here." The knight's neutral expression didn't fit him. Never. But it went well with the rigidity of his movements "Have fun."
"I will."
The other three weren't pleased. Then again, no one would like to be discarded in favor of the villain. No matter how charming.
Their good girl simply jumped on the bad boy's motorcycle and rode with him into the sunset right in front of their eyes.
Erwin wouldn't come early enough to know how to sort the landmine of the most powerful children's bad mood.