Well, the Tea Party certainly could have started on a better foot. Stuck between the daughter of a Duke and the daughter of an Earl, I needed to find a way to diffuse the situation.

Sadly, the good times continued to roll as Clarice gave me a saucy smile. "So how are you going to try to seduce me, Leon~?"

I was dumbstruck by her forwardness and couldn't respond for a couple of seconds. The initiative was taken from me when both Olivia and Angelica set their teacups back down on their respective saucers with more force than was strictly necessary. Watch it! Those are really expensive!

I looked between the two girls and saw Angelica looking at Clarice with annoyance while Olivia looked at me blankly. Please stop looking at me like that Olivia, you're being scary again!

"Please just stop, Clarice." Angelica addressed our senior in a surprisingly pained voice. The girl in question actually flinched just a bit but quickly put up an amused expression.

"Hey now. I'm just trying to see what kind of fun Leon here has in store for me." Clarice tried to tease me, but her tone wasn't nearly as convincing as it was earlier.

"Leon and Olivia don't know you personally. So please, at least in front of me, drop the act." The third-year girl suddenly shut up and winced at Angelica's words.

"I guess I'm still not good enough to fool you, Angie." Clarice weakly laughed, her entire demeanor and posture changed right before our eyes. To my surprise, she then looked at me and actually looked genuinely apologetic. "I'm sorry about putting you through that, Leon. I've just been trying something new."

"Wait, Miss Angelica and Miss Clarice know each other?" Olivia voiced the question in both of our heads. My eyes widened when it lined up for me in my head.

My right palm met my forehead when I finally understood. "Of course they know each other, their fiancées are best friends."

Clarice giggled and explained their relationship. "Yep. Angie and I have been friends for years now. Though, I haven't been able to keep in touch as much as I would have wanted to."

Angie huh? They must be close if she's using a cute nickname. "I understand. We both have our respective responsibilities "

"You know what? I'll take it." I stated with a nod, glad that things didn't escalate. "Once again, thank you both for attending my Tea Party. I am Leon Fou Bartfort."

I then gestured to Olivia. "This is Olivia, she is attending in order to prevent any rumors that I'm trying to seduce either of you ladies."

"Miss Angelica and I are already acquainted, but it is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Clarice." Olivia took the cue and smoothly introduced herself to Clarice without ignoring Angelica. Nicely done.

Clarice's eyes shone and she enveloped Olivia in a hug, making the girl squeak. "You are just precious! I'm happy to meet you too!"

My friend looked at me in panic. She was well versed in dealing with anger and ridicule from nobles, but blatant affection was probably something completely new to her. I just shrugged and noticed that Angelica was looking at the scene with a fond smile. After Clarice got her fill of embracing Olivia, the four of us settled down to actually start enjoying the tea and snacks I had prepared.

"So about earlier…" I smoothly broached the topic. Olivia, Angelica, and I turned to Clarice in obvious curiosity about her behavior.

She looked bashful at the attention, Jilk sure was a lucky man. No, wait. He was going to trade in Clarice for Marie, wasn't he? Nevermind, he's a moron.

"Ah, do you want the long version or the short version?" She asked with an awkward chuckle.

"Whichever one would be easier for you to share."

"Leon already mentioned it before, but I am Jilk Fia Marmoria's fiancée." Clarice started, more for Olivia's benefit. "I have been hearing some rather strange rumors surrounding Prince Julius and his circle of close friends. Among them is that Jilk has been seen being uncharacteristically close to another first-year. A girl named Marie Fou Lafan."

As expected, that immediately got Angelica's attention.

"I tried to call for Jilk in order to get his side of his story, but he has been refusing to meet with me. He cites that his duties with Prince Julius are keeping him busy, but the rumors have not been abating." I blinked as Clarice's tone became more harried. "One of my classmates suggested that men would notice and be concerned about drastic changes in a girl they cared about. They said that changing the way I looked and acted might get his attention enough to have him talk to me."

"Did it work?" Olivia asked hopefully.

"It's still a work in progress." Clarice easily admitted. "Besides, Angie was able to see right through me immediately! I need more practice on being a delinquent."

She then looked between the rest of us and realized something. "Actually, this is a great opportunity to get some real answers. The three of you have heard the rumors as well, right? Do any of you…know…anything?"

She became more and more uncertain as she spoke when she noticed our respective looks of discomfort.

It didn't look like either Olivia or Angelica would be able to explain things well, so I decided to bite the bullet. "Do you want the long version or the short version?"

What followed was me trying to explain the current situation between Marie and the love interests in the context of someone paying attention to the rumors. Clarice was very skeptical of the whole thing until Angelica started talking about her own experience with the matter. I also expressed that both my sister and I didn't believe that Angelica was the one who ordered Marie's bullying, something that took the girl in question by surprise.

"There has to be a more logical explanation for this, yes?" Clarice asked, sounding more like out of desperation than anything else. "I mean, Prince Julius and his entire entourage? That just sounds absurd."

"If there was, I would like to hear the explanation as well." Angelica coldly muttered.

Yep, definitely time for a break. I clapped my hands to get everyone's attention. "Instead of dwelling on that for too much, I would like the opinion of you three ladies on a new tea I've been working on."

I proceeded to serve some Honey Lemon tea. They were a bit apprehensive when I told them about the ingredients, but Olivia took a chance first and noted how nice it tasted. Angelica and Clarice soon followed and were pleasantly surprised that such a simple recipe would taste so good.

"I apologize. This probably isn't what you were expecting when you invited us for a Tea Party." Angelica said as I went around to refill everyone's cups.

"Actually, that is exactly why I invited the two of you here." I responded with a grin. Both Angelica and Clarice looked at me in surprise and incomprehension.

"Leon was worried about how all of these events might be affecting you, so he wanted to give both of you a place to relax and vent out your problems." Olivia helpfully provided as I busied myself in getting more snacks for them.

"You did this…for us?" Angelica asked, looking at me like it was the first time she actually saw me. Weird, but okay.

I stood up straight, chin up, and exuded as much gentlemanly pride as I could. "I've sworn to only use my skill at hosting Tea Parties for good."

That got a good laugh from all three girls. This is the kind of Tea Party experience I had yearned for since the beginning. Why couldn't I meet girls as nice as the three I was with?

"You are a very strange man, Leon."

I shrugged at the third-year's comment. "You're not the first to say that, Clarice. You probably won't be the last."

That got another laugh.

The Tea Party went on a more lighthearted tone afterwards. Clarice and Angelica reminisced about fun times they spent together, with Olivia hanging on every word. The two of them also bonded over complaining and making fun of their respective fiancées.

I then let slip that Prince Julius and Jilk were idiots for neglecting the two of them.

"We appreciate what you have done for us and in the intent behind your words, but please refrain from insulting the men we love in front of us." Clarice stated apologetically, Angelica nodding along beside her.

Man, Julius and Jilk really don't deserve either of them.

Thankfully, both of them quickly forgave me for my indiscretion when I apologized and the three girls went back to talking about things that mostly went over my head. Even here, Girl Talk was indecipherable to me. I was honestly just happy to be there.

"So, can Angie and I expect more Tea Party invitations in the future?" Clarice asked jokingly as the Tea Party came to an end. I responded by jokingly clutching my heart in concern.

"As long as you don't drink me out of house and home, I'll see what I can do." I overdramatically delivered, getting a few more giggles.

"You're a very lucky girl, Olivia." Angelica commented but noticed our clueless expressions. "I mean, aren't the two of you a couple?"

Uh-oh, time to head this off. "We're friends."

Clarice and Angelica turned to Olivia for confirmation and she nodded with a smile. Whew! Misunderstanding averted! The two girls glanced at each other but didn't comment any further.

"Well, I'm glad I accepted your invitation, Leon. You have been nothing but a perfect gentleman." Clarice started speaking in a more formalized tone after Olivia and I escorted her and Angelica out the door and into the hallway "And you are just a lovely conversationalist, Olivia."

"Indeed, it was most enjoyable. Thank you both." Angelica added. I then noticed what they were doing when the students nearby started whispering to each other and pointing at us.

"It was a pleasure." I responded, with Olivia giving a smile and a wave. Hopefully, this will help with our reputation. Angelica's status among the first-year students may have been questionable, but Clarice was likely still highly regarded. I just hoped that she would drop the delinquent act after today.

"Well, I'll count that as a success." I declared in relief as Olivia and I went back into the room to clean up.

"Right! They both looked a lot happier now." She easily agreed. I wasn't sure if she had realized it, but Olivia probably just made a couple of pretty influential friends today.

"Hopefully, this will help Angelica cope with the whole Marie situation." That was the primary purpose of the whole Tea Party anyway. I wasn't sure if Control was actually in the room, but I made a mental note to tell them of our success later anyway. "She just needs to make sure that she stays calm and doesn't do anything drastic."

The days went by without any further major incident. Marie was still basking in her success, but at least Angelica hadn't blown up at her anymore. I was also correct in my guess that both Angelica and Clarice had taken a liking to Olivia. They even sponsored the dress that she was going to wear to the end-of-term party. Olivia protested of course, but that didn't stop the two noblewomen from getting her a pretty teal dress that tastefully highlighted her curves without exposing too much skin.

The party finally happened and I was happy to let Olivia spend it with Angelica. The two of them quickly became close and it showed. I had tried to take the opportunity the party presented to help out Raymond and Daniel get the attention of some of the girls, but we crashed and burned for being from what they called insignificant houses. I gave up at that point and seriously told them to try to look for girls in the higher years instead, something they admitted that they never even considered. I prayed that my friends would genuinely find better luck on that front.

We were about to go and get something to eat when Olivia suddenly ran up and grabbed my hand.

"Leon! You have to come quick!" I quickly deliberated the urgency and panic in her voice as well as who she was supposed to be with in the party.

"Angelica didn't stay calm and did something drastic, didn't she?" Olivia grimaced and gave a pained nod. "Of course she did."

I followed behind Olivia, with Daniel and Raymond tagging along as well, and ended up witnessing a scene that I had been dreading.

Julius and the other love interests standing protectively in front of Marie, who was just wearing her school uniform for some reason. She was also being held steady by a blonde haired blue eyed elf servant, probably one Julius got her. A frustrated looking Angelica wearing a red dress that was perfect for her stood a short distance in front of them.

And clutched in Marie's hands was a white glove, one that matched the singular one Angelica was still wearing.

Fuck! This was what Control and I wanted to avoid in the first place! Had we underestimated how mad Angelica can get? Did Marie trigger her on purpose? Dammit! I got too complacent because of the days leading up to the party and because Olivia was with her!

I glanced at a very worried looking Olivia and quickly whispered. "Give me a summary."

"I don't know what happened, she was fine earlier. She walked up and talked to Prince Julius. The next thing I knew, he and his friends started arguing about which one loves Marie the most. Angie got really mad and threw her glove at Marie, challenged her to a duel, and now–" Olivia's voice strained and had to take a few seconds to catch her breath. "She's all alone."

We watched Angelica, daughter of a Duke and the woman who was supposed to become the next Queen, look around for anyone who would stand at her side and found no one.

I knew what that feeling was like too.

I took a deep breath and set my game face on.

"Not while I'm here." I hissed before starting forward.

"Leon, what are you doing?" Raymond asked in alarm, grabbing my arm.

"Something crazy and stupid." I grit out and pulled myself free. Everyone was completely silent as they saw me walk up and stand next to Angelica.

The girl herself simply whispered when she found her voice. "Leon? But why?"

"I am a very strange man." I joked, echoing Clarice's words from our Tea Party. Angelica stared at me in shock before breaking out in a grateful smile.

"Thank you." I returned her smile and gave a thumbs-up. Turning back to the reverse-harem, who were regarding me with various expressions of surprise. I wasn't sure if they remembered me from the dungeon thing, but I didn't really care either way.

"My name is Leon Fou Bartfort. I put myself forward as Angelica Rapha Redgrave's Champion." I confidently stated while taking a step forward.

Angelica stepped forward so we were once again side by side. "I accept Leon Fou Bartfort as my Champion."

"Hey now, are you sure about this?" Brad asked me with barely concealed mirth. "I heard of your name before, an adventurer who became a Baron. An up and comer like you should have better sense in picking their allies."

Those words made the others regard me with a bit more seriousness, while Marie was looking at me with barely concealed shock. Didn't expect this, did you?

"Name your terms, Angelica." I stated without breaking eye contact with Marie. Prince Julius seemed to notice and moved his body to block my sight of her.

"I simply wish for Marie to stay away from the prince." Pretty much the same as in the game. I ignored the whispers and jeers from the peanut gallery.

I nodded and craned my head to try to get a look at Marie. "And you, Marie? What do you want out of this?"

"How dare you, Angelica." Instead, Prince Julius answered while glaring at his fiancée. "Your attempts in separating me from Marie will end in failure. My heart will never be yours."

I saw Angelica trembling from the corner of my vision and decided that I was going to leave the prince for last. I mirrored his earlier move and stepped in front of Angelica so the two of us were looking directly at each other.

"What are your terms, Marie?" I repeated in a much lower voice. I heard Olivia walking up and whispering to Angelica but kept my eyes right at Julius'.

After several seconds, Marie finally spoke up. "If I win, I don't want you to do cruel things like this anymore. I don't think it's right to wield your house's influence like a weapon and force others to do your bidding"

I couldn't help but scoff, making the reverse-harem collectively glare at me. Not only did I know that Angelica didn't use her influence as a weapon, I also knew that Marie just copied what the main protagonist of the game would have said in the same event.

Marie wasn't just a knockoff. She was a short, flat, knockoff.

"Just to summarize." I began, making sure not to let any of those idiots take control of the conversation. "If Angelica wins, Marie breaks off from the prince. If you win, Angelica leaves you alone. I assume we'll settle this via Armor combat?"

Chris looked like he was about to jump me but seemed to settle on talking instead. "Do you not have even the slightest awareness of the disparity in power between us?"

"I appreciate the concern, but I know exactly how outmatched this fight is." I replied while giving him the fakest smile I could do.

Greg then actually stepped forward and got right up to my face. "Stop trying to act tough just because you're an adventurer. Do yourself a favor and give up. You don't stand a chance."

I raised a brow at him. "If I really don't stand a chance, then you shouldn't be worried at all."

"We will settle this with one-on-one Armor combat." Jilk intervened before Greg could do anything stupid. "We shouldn't have an issue securing an arena. However, since there will be five of us, we will allow you to try to find other participants."

I originally would have been fine with one-on-ones, but the way Julius broke Angelica's heart earlier made me a little bit more vindictive. I wanted to make a statement. I wanted them to remember what was going to happen.

"Actually, I'll be fighting alone. In fact, I want to fight all five of you at once." The entire room erupted at my declaration. I could feel Angelica and Olivia trying to pull me away and saying things in a panic.

I couldn't understand what any of them were saying. The only thing in my sight was the five love interests that hurt my friend. I bared my teeth in a grin as they flashed looks of uncertainty.

Julius was the one who recovered first and spoke. "ThenI hope you are ready for this. Even with all your accomplishments, you will never be able to overcome the five of us. Not when we fight for the sake of love."

I hated how my plans didn't pan out the way I wanted to. But as I felt the blood pumping in my veins and felt a kind of rush I had never felt before in my life, I knew one thing.

I'll at least be able to take out my frustrations on five idiots.