Don't Want to Be Ordinary Even Though I'm an Extra Character-Chapter 97: [96] Friendship dispute

-Arkan Lawrence-

As I took my first step, I began speaking. "Regarding our alliance, I have no objections to the terms proposed. However, if you’re asking about information on the Empire... I can help."

Aurelia observed my chess move with a neutral expression, her eyes focused on the board before us.

"Hmm... wait, you haven’t explained these pawns yet."

’Damn, I totally forgot!’ I immediately snapped out of my thoughts.

I cleared my throat slightly to cover up my mistake. "Ahem... Lady Galleas, these small pieces—" I quickly explained the basic rules of the game, from the movements of each piece to the primary objective.

Aurelia listened attentively. After a few short questions, she quickly grasped how to play.

As expected. Someone born into a noble family, accustomed to feudal politics and aristocratic intrigue, would naturally have sharp strategic thinking. No wonder she understood the game so quickly.

Is that the reason?

Her intelligence... her ability to read situations... Is that what made her capable of becoming a rebel leader, even though in the original novel, she was merely a woman who had lost her noble title?

I observed her for a moment, watching how her eyes carefully analyzed the chessboard.

Time passed, yet our conversation hadn’t begun. We were both too engrossed in the game.

For someone playing chess for the first time, this woman was quite talented.

But... still, I won again.

"Grrr... one more time!" Aurelia grumbled, clenching both fists over the table.

I sighed, looking at her with slight resignation. "Ehm... Lady Galleas, I think we should discuss our main interests first—"

"Silence! I won’t accept this loss!" she quickly cut me off, her eyes burning with determination.

...And why did the situation suddenly turn into this!?

It took a full hour before we finally started our discussion. I was mentally exhausted—and much more time had been wasted than I anticipated.

Haaah... The important thing is, Aurelia is now familiar with the game. In fact, she even managed to surpass me a few times... though in the end, I still won.

I let out a soft sigh before finally bringing up the main topic.

I looked at Aurelia with meaning. "There must be other Dukes who wish to know the information I possess... right?"

Aurelia didn’t answer immediately. Her eyes returned to the chessboard before her, her slender fingers tapping lightly on the table as if deep in thought.

Then, with a calm and composed voice, she finally spoke.

"You catch on quickly."

Her tone had returned to normal—elegant, calm, and somewhat difficult to read.

"Yes, I came here to seek clarification on the information you provided. Although your proposal to open a trade route is indeed tempting, my main objective here is to confirm the truth about the war."

Aurelia lifted her gaze, staring straight at me with a serious expression.

"You said that the Empire is gathering its forces and preparing to invade this kingdom... If that’s true, can you provide proof? What evidence do you have to support your claim?

And more importantly..."

She leaned back in her chair. "Can you tell me... who will start all of this?"

I took a deep breath.

"Hmm..." I paused, carefully choosing my words.

I knew the answer.

But telling her outright wouldn’t be a wise move.

The truth about this war... about how it will begin... is information that could shake the kingdom. If I presented it the wrong way, Aurelia’s reaction could be unpredictable.

I picked up a chess piece and twirled it between my fingers. "My answer might not be what you want to hear, but listen carefully, Lady Galleas."

I placed the piece back onto the board, right in the middle of the ongoing game.

"This war... will not be started by the Northern Empire."

Aurelia frowned. "What do you mean?"

I looked at her sharply. "This war will be started... by this very kingdom."

Silence.

For the first time since our meeting began, Aurelia’s expression truly changed. Her eyes widened slightly, clearly not expecting that answer.

She probably thought I would just provide standard information, like the Empire’s troop numbers or their military movements along the border. But no. What I knew was far more dangerous than that.

I leaned forward, staring deep into her eyes. "You want to know who will start this war?"

Aurelia met my gaze, her sharp eyes seemingly trying to read my expression.

I gave a faint smile, then uttered the name.

"Cecilia De Vryse."

Aurelia’s body immediately tensed. Her once-calculating eyes now radiated something sharper—anger.

"That wench?" she spat coldly, almost like a hiss.

I wasn’t surprised by her reaction.

Even though Cecilia was the daughter of Arelon, I once thought she had betrayed me. But I was wrong...

For the sake of the God Evil Sect, with whom she had allied herself, Cecilia started the war by orchestrating a devious scheme.

She staged an attack on the Empire’s supply route—a provocation so well-crafted that it seemed like an act of aggression from this kingdom.

And of course... the Empire only needed an excuse to act.

They had long coveted this kingdom’s territory.

And Cecilia handed it to them—on a silver platter.

I watched as Aurelia clenched her fists on the table, her fingers tightening as if restraining something. But just a few seconds later, she let out a deep breath and slowly relaxed her hands.

"Huuuh... Sorry, I showed something improper," she said softly, though a trace of tension still lingered in her voice.

I leaned back in my chair, watching her with curiosity. "It’s fine." I then narrowed my eyes slightly. "But to be honest, I’m curious... Just how deep is your hatred for Cecilia? At first, I thought you only knew her by name, but from your reaction, it seems like there’s something more between you two."

Aurelia immediately looked at me, her expression shifting. Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if evaluating my words carefully, perhaps considering how much she was willing to share.

After a moment of silence, she finally spoke.

"Hmm... This isn’t a pleasant story to hear," she said slowly. "But... I’ll tell you."

I remained silent, waiting without interrupting.

Aurelia shifted her gaze to the chessboard, as if piecing together the memories buried in her mind.

"Cecilia and I have known each other since we were children. You could say we were friends... because our parents were close companions."

I almost raised an eyebrow.

Marquis Vryse and Duke Galleas... were close friends?!

Lord Arelon! And Aurelia’s father?

This... was shocking news!

-Third-Person Perspective-

Arkan listened attentively as Aurelia began recounting her history with Cecilia—how they first met at a noble’s coming-of-age ball, one of the high-society events attended by the kingdom’s aristocrats.

At that time, it was Marquis Arelon himself who introduced Cecilia to her.

They had once been close friends.

But now, all of that had changed.

"We had a terrible fight while studying abroad at the Imperial Academy." Aurelia let out a sigh, her voice growing softer. "Even though I despise the Empire, I can’t deny that their education is the best."

Her eyes narrowed, staring blankly ahead. "And it was there... that Cecilia changed completely. All because of the influence of an Imperial noble who became her lover." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Flashback

"Hey! How many times have I warned you, Cecil? Stay away from them!"

Aurelia’s voice echoed through their dormitory room, filled with frustration and anger.

Before her, Cecilia stood with an indifferent expression, as if Aurelia’s words went in one ear and out the other.

"You know how power-hungry they are! We’re here to study, not to associate with them!"

Aurelia glared at her, fists clenched at her sides.

Their shared dormitory consisted of a single room—one space for two people. It was a spacious yet simply furnished room, comfortable enough for nobles studying at the Imperial Academy.

A place that once felt like a second home to them... was now turning into a battlefield.

Cecilia let out a long sigh, then leaned against her desk.

"Aurelia..." she said in a flat tone. "You’re too stubborn."

Aurelia scoffed, her expression growing tenser. "And you’re too naïve."

"No, I just don’t want to live blinded by hatred."

Aurelia rolled her eyes. "Don’t twist things around. I don’t hate the Empire, I simply understand how they operate. Do you really think they see you as a friend? No, Cecil. They see us as tools."

Cecilia’s gaze sharpened. "That’s just your prejudice."

"Prejudice? I call it reality."

Silence filled the room.

Aurelia took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

"I just don’t want to see you get caught up in something you’ll regret later," she said, this time in a softer tone.

Cecilia lowered her head slightly before giving a small smile.

"Don’t worry, Aurelia." She looked at her friend with an unreadable expression. "I know what I’m doing."

But in the end...

It was Cecilia who changed.

And ultimately... it was Aurelia who had to face the consequences.

Not long after that argument, bad news arrived.

Aurelia received a letter from her father—Duke Galleas and Marquis Arelon were at odds.

The reason? Cecilia.

And worse yet, all of it was orchestrated by the Imperial noble who was her lover.

A Few Days After Aurelia Heard the News

"LOOK! LOOK AT WHAT YOU’VE DONE?!"

Aurelia’s voice exploded, her anger truly uncontrollable this time.

They stood behind the academy, at the edge of a small forest often used by students seeking solitude. But today... it became a battleground for two former friends.

Aurelia didn’t want their argument to be a spectacle, which was why she chose this secluded place—to avoid being overheard.

But right now, she didn’t care if anyone listened.

Cecilia, standing a few steps away, simply let out a sigh. Her expression remained calm, but there was a slight tension in her eyes.

"Aurelia, you’re overreacting."

"Overreacting?! My father and Marquis Arelon nearly killed each other in the noble council, and you call that overreacting?! Cecilia, do you even realize what you’ve done?!"

Cecilia remained silent.

Aurelia felt a tightness in her chest, her hands trembling with emotion.

"Did he tell you to do this? That lover of yours?" Aurelia scoffed, her gaze full of fury. "How far are you willing to follow his orders, Cecil? Have you completely lost control of yourself?!"

Cecilia closed her eyes for a moment before looking directly at her former friend.

"Aurelia, you don’t understand."

"Then explain it to me! Explain why you did this! Explain why you made my family and yours go to war!"

Cecilia bit her lip. For a moment, she hesitated—but only for a brief second.

She took a deep breath, then spoke in a flat tone.

"This... is simply my role in this game."

Aurelia fell silent.

For the first time, she saw something different in Cecilia.

It wasn’t the stubbornness of an old friend... but the expression of someone who had chosen her path, with no intention of turning back.

Cecilia was no longer the girl she once knew.

And with that realization, something within Aurelia slowly crumbled.