1.
Let’s Make a Bet With God

By Antoinette Vanessa September 29, 2021

“You’ll die in a hundred days.”

I fell down the stairs at the academy.

It happened right after I passed somebody.
I was certain whoever that was had pushed me.

…Or, am I mistaken?

Nevertheless, I slipped and fell down the stairs.

Immediately after that, in a pure white world, I received a message from god.

“Forgive me.
The truth is, by informing you, I’m already going against convention.
You were supposed to die without knowing anything.
I’m sorry for giving you needless fear.”

God was a truly brilliant, truly beautiful young man.
He was slender and graceful.
His long, white, hair flowed down over a shoulder.
Bright skin.
White formal wear.
Only his eyes were golden.
Appearing like a devout priest, the young man looked exactly like the depiction of god in the ‘Nameless Sunset’—the last painting of a famous artist, Andre-Oscar.

Towards the young man possessing divine beauty, I posed a question.

“—Why did you tell me, then?”

“…It ma.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“I just thought that you’re very… pitiful.”

…Is that so?

Is he sympathizing with me?

Now, what should I do?

Certainly, it was befitting of a god.

Regardless, for him to pity a person he had only met once—it certainly was arrogant of him.

“To put it simply—did you know that you’ll be forsaken by your fiancé, the crown prince?”

Yes.

I was aware that my fiancé, the crown prince—Sazanjill Lukino Lapisenta, was having an affair.
It was a well-known fact for everyone in the academy.
The other party was none other than a baroness, Lumiere Alban.
Their relationship, of course, went beyond mere friendship.

“I see, so, how am I going to die?”

“For now, you’re going to die at the hands of your own fiancée.
He’s attempting to shield his beloved woman from a frenzied lady, one convicted of many crimes…”

“Oh dear.
It seems that everyone will end up believing I’m planning to assassinate Ms.
Lumiere.”

Honestly, I was anticipating that outcome.
If I were to be humiliated in public—which I doubted was going to happen—I expected to be slapped.
But… in a hundred days from now, I recalled that the king would be holding a dance party.

No way…

…Even if that guy is blinded by love, is he going to annul our engagement in public!?

Involuntarily, I showed a bitter smile.
This is no laughing matter.

“It’s as if I’m the villain.”

“You’re not wrong.
Should I refer to you as the villainess?”

“Oh my, that has a nice ring to it.”

Towards such a wonderful title, I clapped my hands in adoration.
With a serious expression, god continued the dark story.

“Afterwards, your family, the Elcage Family, will have their title stripped on suspicions of treason.
As a result, they’ll be sold as slaves.
In addition, your fiancé, who will abandoned you, is murdered immediately.
Even if he doesn’t die, he’ll end up paralyzed or in a coma.”

“What—!? He’s seriously being targeted by assassins—!?”

…What a magnificent development, where should I begin to retort?

I