Title: Ano-Anoseka

Summary: Follows the epilogue of Marie-Route (Web Novel Version).

Looking around, I was greeted with a familiar scene. I was standing in one of the many walkways of the Academy. In the small grass area, Julius sat on a bench looking at his lap with a lonely expression.

This was where everything had gone wrong. Meeting the crown prince had caused so much suffering. Not just my own. Everyone had suffered. Julius and his entire family died during the civil war. All of his friends fell one by one in hattlr and died thinking of betraying their friends. Angelica had lost the boy she loved and her brother. Her father lost his mind over the loss of his son.

Worst of all, Sir Leon died.

It hammered in the fact that I never should have met Julius.

Turning around, I walked down the corridor. It should be in the direction of the faculty room. I should speak with Lucas, the man who had enrolled me, to find a way to undo this. While it would trouble him, I'm sure he would understand if I explained the situation to him. He was open minded enough to at least consider my warnings. Plus, why risk the entire Kingdom over just me.

It would be better for everyone for me to just disappear.

When I turned, a girl was behind me. It was Marie.

She roughly shoved me aside.

"Go away. You don't belong here," she snarled.

How odd. She was nothing like the selfless woman I had come to know. This was not the girl who had been willing to sacrifice her body for my freedom. She acted like any other noblewoman here.

I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised. None of the girls here tolerated my presence until after I... my body had become the Saintess.

After a few moments to collect my thoughts, I left the scene. Only a few moments passed before I heard a slap, and a rather loud conversation.

... How did Marie recite the same lines I had when I had first met Julius?

Had I stolen her role this whole time? Was the reasoning for all the tragedies in the future been because she was the heroine?

Marie, like me, had the power of the Saintess. Marie, unlike me, was strong enough to resist Ann's possession. Marie understood and accepted all of Ann's hatred. Marie, with Leon, had been able to overthrow the royalists. She had won.

The only thing that stopped her from being the heroine in a olot was that she had not been in a relationship with a prince.

Actually... I had heard rumor that Marie had also actively sought the company of Julius's friends in my previous life.

The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. She was the true heroine. I had been nothing more than the wretch who interfered with the story.

I smiled at the thought. Surely this world was already saved.

As I continued to aimlessly walk, I saw a certain individual standing in the walkway distracted. It was the boy I had loved in my first life, the one I had never had a chance to be with. He suddenly flipped a coin, caught it, and peered at it.

"Looks like fate decided against me watching the prince getting slapped. Man, it would have been fun to watch Olivia slapping the brat, but I suppose not influencing events is for the best."

Wait... how did he know I would have slapped the prince... was he? Was he the same as me? Was he the knight I had fallen in love with?

With hope in my heart, I approached him.

"Hello there!"

"Eh?"

Disappointingly, he was not like me. I suppose I should have expected that. If he had known what would have happened in the future, he would have stopped me from slapping Julius.

It still did not explain why he knew what I would have had done.

But did it matter? He was alive again. Alive and unattached.

I even had his attention on me only at the moment. The only cruel aspect of this world was that Sir Leon had duties that precluded him from pursuing me.

But did I have to leave it that way?

"Greetings, Lady Angelica. I do apologize for the delay of my introduction and hope that my gift will make up for my transgression," I said with a practiced curtsy that I had witnessed Ann do multiple times when she tried to curry favor with the nobles of the royal court.

Angelica, peered into the box I had presented to her. She gasped in awe and lifted a rather ornate gold carcanet inlaid mainly with rubies, but it also contained some mixed gems that gave impression of smoldering fire.

"Where ever did you find this Lost Item? I can positively feel the magic radiating off of this!"

"It is a high level dungeon item that supposedly amplifies fire magic to the highest degree."

I could not personally attest to its effects since I had been desperately trying to make enough money and had to sell the item in my previous life. Regardless of its utility, I was a highly valuable piece of jewelry beyond what one could hope to craft with our current technology.

"A high level dungeon item? But are you not a commoner? How would you have the experience and permission to venture into the dungeons for this?"

"Truthfully, I had some help. Sir Leon was most helpful and getting me permission to enter the dungeon and seek out the item. In fact, he was the one who found out I needed to introduce myself to you."

"Sir Bartfort? It would certainly explain how you managed to get your hands on such a magnificent find."

"He was very skilled and was ever thoughtful about my health when we delved the dungeon. Without his expertise, I might have been foolish enough to delve past the 27th floor and risk being too exhausted to ascend back to the surface."

"The 27th floor! My goodness, the necessary depth for graduation is 30 and is usually done with a full party of third-years!"

"Sir Leon was very skilled."

"You mustn't sell yourself short. Even if he were to have escorted you down to the depths that you went, you must also be skilled to have lasted as long as you did. It's no wonder that you were allowed to attend the Advanced courses on scholarship despite being a commoner."

"I thank you for you praise."

"Well, you've certainly made an entrance. I'll be dure to watch your time here in earnest," Angelica said with a smile. It was also a clear dismissal.

I was not done however.

"It may be impertinent of me and I do apologize, but would you be willing to lend me an ear in private? There is something I wish to know, and I believe you might be the best person to ask."

Angelica mulled over my request. It was jarring to see her act so hospitable to me already. For her to be cordial was one thing. For her to contemplate my request went against everything I had come to know about her. Her previous hostility wasn't something I could properly hold against her. I had stolen her love from her.

"Very well. Donna, Dally, could you spread word to the others that they are to intervene on Olivia's behalf should the other nobles decide to show her her place?"

The way she said the last part was a warning for them for sure.

"Understood," both said obediently despite the reluctant air they exuded.

After both left, Angelica got up and gestured for me to take a seat.

"Make yourself comfortable as I prepare some tea."

"Yes, Lady Angelica," I said as I took a seat next to the one Angelica had been sitting in.

After a few minutes, we had two cups of tea in front of us.

"So what is it you wish to discuss?" Angelica said as she took a sip from her cup.

"I wish to bear Sir Leon's children."

"Wha... Ack."

Angelica proceeded to cough on her hot tea as she had inhaled the liquid in shock.

"I wish for Sir Leon to claim me as his woman. I know non-nobles and nobles being together formally is possible since his mother is only from a knight family. While I'm of lower rank, I was hoping such circumstances could extend to me."

"Did Sir Bartfort put you up to this as payment for his services?" Angelica groused. She likely suspected that I was being taken advantage of. I feel I must reiterate, having Angelica look out for my interests was just so weird.

"Not all. I simply fell in love with him after he decided to help me with my problems for no payment. He was like those knight in shining atmor riding on a noble steed you find in novels," I gushed.

I couldn't help but recall the moment he saved me from Donna and Dally on the cruise ship. How he put himself in between me and my tormentors. He had nothing gain but everything to lose.

I'll not let him go. Especially not like last time since Marie had decided to claim Julius and his friends. I just knew he was my fated one. It was no coincidence that he frequently tried to save me in my last life. He was the gear meant to mesh with me.

"... Olivia, there are so many things wrong with your thought process that I don't even know where to begin."

"So it is impossible for me to be with Sir Leon?"

"That's not it. I'm more surprised you only aspire to be his concubine instead of his legal wife."

"... I can marry him? But what about the fact that I'm a commoner?"

"... I suppose it would not be apparent to you. For your information, it is almost guaranteed that you will become a noble as long as you graduate. After all, the royal family saw fit to enroll you despite your status. It's not as if anything you learn here could be applied to a non-noble profession with the exception of being a professional adventurer."

"But no one told me anything. I read my contracts from top to bottom and nothing was mentioned."

"Hmm. Such an oversight might be explained that such a promotion would be based on your actual performance. There is also likely a movement to push for more scholarship students. They would likely want to see if commoners could compete with nobles without extra influences."

My heart bloomed from the news that Sir Leon and I could be wedded together, but I tempered my expectations.

"... What about the scenario in which this is all conjecture? What if I am unable to become an acceptable marriage candidate for Sir Leon?"

Angelica took on a pained look. Had I said something that had hit close to home? Perhaps she had often thought lowly of herself as she wondered why Julius did not reciprocate her feelings. A part of me felt sorry for her since she was destined to be rejected. I could only pray that she wouldn't suffer nearly as much now that destiny had been realigned properly.

After a few moments to compose herself, Angelica developed a determined look. "Then I shall request my Father to find a suitable family to adopt you. There will be caveats of course, but it would be your best shot to marrying the boy you love."

"Really?! Thank you so much, Lady Angelica."

"Hold on. Before you celebrate, I would like to personally speak with Sir Bartfort. I can't and won't simply do all this if I find him unacceptable."

"Of course. I'm sure you find him to be an exceptional gentleman," I chirped. I know he would impress, especially since Professor Lucas had already taken him on as an apprentice.

"... There's one more thing," Angelica said with an almost pained expression.

"Yes?"

"... He needs to want to marry you. All the preparation would be for naught if he doesn't love you."

It was at this moment I felt doubt creep into my heart. I had been so excited at the prospect of marrying my knight that I had forgotten that Sir Leon might not develop the same feelings for me.

No!

I must have faith that I could attain my happily ever after.

Seeing my conflicted expression, Angelica decided to speak again.

"I just want you to be aware that he might not have even looked at you in a romantic light yet. After all, he does have a duty to marry a noble. Holding affections for you might not have even crossed his mind as something possible."

I teared at the thought. While I would work on gaining his love, the very thought that it might not happen hurt. If such a thing were to occur, it would feel as though the world and fate was against me. "Regardless, I must try. If I simply walked away, I know nothing would happen, and I would always regret wondering what could have been."

"... I'll make sure to put the thought in his head when I speak with Sir Bartfort. I'll make it very clear that you are a viable marriage candidate for him. It's the most I can do until you can convince him to pursue you. We'll talk about the details to ease the process once that occurs."

"Thank you, Lady Angelica! You don't know how much this means to me!"

"Angelica."

"Hmm?"

"I believe that if we are to go to such lengths with your love life, then it is only appropriate if you are able to speak with me without such honorifics. When we are alone, of course."

"Yes, Angelica."

AN

1) Honestly, I bought the first volume of both the main route and Marie route. Rereading the Marie Route at the start got me thinking about the web novel's end. Got me in the mood to write this. Kind of basic, but I feel like it's a pretty good progression from the epilogue/characterization of Olivia's thought processes. Obviously, Olivia should be more mentally broken, but it does detail how she may have viewed a sudden timeshift.

2) Rereading the beginning of Anoseka, I realize that Olivia always had a crush on Leon even before meeting him. Literally wanted to be swept away by him once she learned he was like a knight from her fairy tales... This girl really is just Leon sexual.

3) This snippet feels like a one and done kind of deal since it feels like it's one of those fics that would mostly rehash canon.

4) I'm curious how Olivia will see Leon in the author's Fanoss route. Actually, had he actually posted more for it yet?

Reader Response

Dimensionador: Maybe? I've slightly hinted it some of my fics, but never really committed to the bit. I'm not sure how to go about it in a reasonable manner since doing so would completely change Olivia's character in order to demonstrate that trait. Could be an interesting version like how I made Angelica villainous in Villainous Villainess.

Project Pseudonym: Eh. Genocide/mass murder is a bit of an extreme response to dealing with shitheads. And it's not like targeting his efforts helped him since it just convinced other nobles to target him anyway. And it's not like he can just leave due to his family's existence.

Symbolic Joker: Muhahaha. It ended just as it was getting good. Now the only way to get rid of this disappointment is to continue it yourself and post it. XD

Chosen-One-92: Same as the previous comment. Muhahaha. It ended just as it was getting good. Now the only way to get rid of this disappointment is to continue it yourself and post it. XD

Monkey D. Conan: Sounds very similar to my Boy's Boycott (25).

Frosty Wolf: Yeah, funny thing about that, I honestly feel that's one of those acceptable racisms. I've kind of observed that most of the world does the same things despite shitting on Asian culture for that. It's just that the culture puts more emphasis on it. Western cultures, while they will espouse individuality or taking charge, will still shit on people for doing so. Try to dress the way you want to express your hobby, you're now a nerd/weeb/etc. You try to change things at your job because you think it would benefit the workers more, get fired and wrecked. Have a different opinion on social media, get cancelled. The list goes on.

Obviously on day to day things, Asians can be quite a bit more egregious, but Westerners do a lot of the same shit without realizing it. And even when Asians are egregious about normalized public behavior, it's hard to admonish them for it when the opposite is letting TikTockers inconvenience everyone by basically blocking off public areas as their stages or actually committing crime.

Actually, if you want a fairly decent grasp of the whole fitting into a cog, you should watch My Teen RomCom and try to compare it to your own experiences. For outside highschool environments, there's plenty of animes about adults who kind of touch on the subject and it seems to be fairly universal in terms of what is sociall acceptable/unacceptable.

Vash111: Vivisection is only the beginning for their hell. Disposable conscious meat puppets are next.