Ch.3535. Feelings of Affection Only Grow

The academy square was still bustling with many people, but somehow I felt empty.

Ludion. Because he had returned alone after being summoned by Professor Reina.

My heart raced every time I thought of his name. Now, even denying my feelings for him felt painful.

I once thought my feelings might fade quickly since I was captivated too early. But now I could be certain.

That attraction I felt then was intuitive.

Recently, my feelings had only grown stronger.

I had been watching everything he did so casually.

How he helped me with campus service without showing any displeasure, despite clearly just going along with my insistence.

How he cleaned up alone in advance while helping Lilith with training in the sparring arena.

How he gradually came to school earlier, mindful that I was waiting for him every day.

How he deliberately avoided expanding his social circle, knowing I was uncomfortable with him mingling with others.

And… how he created opportunities for me to showcase my skills when I was feeling down about not being able to participate in student council activities.

He always tended to act for others rather than himself. As if it were only natural.

…Of course, if asked whether he was a perfect man, he certainly wasn’t.

He would sometimes randomly drop food despite eating neatly.

He would often say strange nonsense or do inexplicable things.

He would casually fix Lilith’s disheveled clothes during training.

And despite claiming it was for report writing, he would go into a room alone with Alkine…

‘Come to think of it, Alkine. Her eyes seemed quite different from the first day.’

Unlike when I first visited the student council with Ludion, Alkine’s eyes now held a subtle but unmistakable enthusiasm when looking at him.

I didn’t find it random.

Being in the same student council, I’d heard enough to guess what he had done.

Of course, he wouldn’t have intended it that way… but doing it unknowingly made it worse.

I wish he understood what it meant when a capable man helps others.

Not knowing my feelings at all. He really only chose to do things that annoyed me.

But…

‘I suppose that’s what I have to deal with, falling for someone like him.’

The one who falls in love first loses. That’s what Father always said.

[Current Favorability: 27/100]

[13 remaining until next reward.]

My favorability had already exceeded 20, and I had received the reward.

[You have achieved 20 Favorability!]

[You acquire a special reward and exclusive stat.]

[You gain ‘Mana Acceleration’ bonus as a favorability reward.]

[Exclusive stat ‘Time’ is unlocked.]

[Current Time value: 0]

I never imagined the reward would be an enhancement of ability rather than something material.

I couldn’t understand what the exclusive stat meant.

It had only been unlocked, making it impossible to use or even analyze.

But the performance of “Mana Acceleration” was beyond imagination, allowing me to cast more powerful magic faster than before.

I felt exhilarated by this rapid growth after so long.

Though I still couldn’t land a single effective hit on Ludion.

‘…Really, why does someone like him remain at the academy?’

That question still lingered.

But I had no intention of digging deeper.

His identity had long ceased to matter to me.

I just hoped that if I kept moving forward, someday I would reach him.

Lost in these thoughts, I found myself in front of the first-year advanced class building.

I could have gone straight to the dormitory, but I didn’t. Because Ludion would be inside.

Yet I couldn’t step in either.

Professor Reina had instructed Ludion to come alone, so I had no reason to intrude.

As I lingered nearby, I somehow made eye contact with Professor Reina, who was outside.

She approached with a grinning expression, clearly planning to tease me again.

“Who do we have here? I’m sure I only called for Ludion. Why is Celia here too?”

“…Where’s Ludion?”

Knowing that showing embarrassment would only invite more teasing, I asked boldly.

Professor Reina answered with a smirk.

“Ah, right. Of course. He’s currently talking with the Dean, just the two of them.”

“What?”

“It’s nothing to worry about. But if you’re concerned, would you like to go listen for yourself?”

Professor Reina took my hand and pulled me along.

Led by her, I reached the door of the research office, where I could hear conversation from inside.

There were two voices—one seemed to be the Dean’s, and the other was Ludion’s.

The content wasn’t much different from what Professor Reina had mentioned earlier.

It was about whether to handle it alone or reveal the truth.

But as the rumors had grown, so had the consequences, and this time he would clearly face unfavorable treatment if he didn’t reveal the truth.

So… I thought Ludion would choose to reveal the truth this time…

“Let’s just say the rumors are true.”

“No… you don’t have to go that far.”

“No. Please let me bear this alone if I can.”

Once again, he chose to shoulder everything by himself.

My face flushed. I felt happy but also somehow angry.

I had long been selfishly fantasizing about revealing my connection with Ludion to the Imperial Palace regarding this incident, but he was trying to protect me until the end.

That inexplicable kindness somehow made me feel small, and it hurt.

Of course! I was happy that he was thinking of me. But…

I didn’t want help that came at the cost of his sacrifice.

When I came to my senses, I had already burst through the door.

As I entered, I immediately locked eyes with the man I had been thinking about all this time.

Ludion. A peculiar person with unknown abilities.

A dull person who barely reacts no matter what happens.

A foolish person who acts without calculation.

A strange person whose thoughts I sometimes couldn’t understand.

A spineless person who finds everything bothersome yet can’t refuse.

An oblivious person who can’t notice my feelings.

But… the person I like.

I absolutely refuse to let such a person be branded as a “pervert who tried to invade the women’s dormitory.”

The thought of him being criticized for something that never happened made me want to destroy everything.

And… somehow I felt that the moment his reputation fell, he would distance himself from me out of concern for my reputation…

“I cannot allow that. Absolutely not.”

I stepped forward more assertively than usual to prevent that.

I would resolve this. If necessary, even by invoking the “Rubetia” name.

And… using this incident to mark him as mine… wouldn’t that be nice?

[Firm Resolve! Favorability increases by 7!]

[Current Favorability: 34/100]

The favorability notification, which had become welcome by now.

My face flushed again as the increased value was much higher than before.

///

My decision was completely overturned by Celia’s emphatic objection.

What followed happened incredibly quickly.

Even setting aside the facts of the incident, which were already clear, finding the rumor’s source was surprisingly fast.

They caught them in just an hour or two? I guess matters involving the princess get processed quickly.

The source was apparently some male student from the intermediate class… Since it was an extra with a name I didn’t recognize, and I didn’t want to confront some immature boy, I decided not to get involved.

The academy would handle the punishment appropriately without my intervention.

“Really, Ludion, you’re too soft.”

“I just prefer to let things be. He’s learned his lesson this time.”

“Who in the world would just let it go when they were almost falsely labeled a pervert…”

“That’s true. But it didn’t happen, right?”

“That’s exactly what I mean by soft. If it were me, I would have reported him to my father first thing!”

Oh… so she would ruin someone’s life first if they messed with her?

That doesn’t match her “Alignment: Absolute Good” trait. Though I’m sure she didn’t mean it that way.

The next morning.

The same daily commute to school, and students filling their seats in the classroom.

The professors had agreed to spread the truth about the rumor before classes began, so everyone would know the truth soon.

But… something seemed odd.

“Hey, Celia. Aren’t you a bit close?”

“Am I?”

“Yeah. Much closer than usual.”

Celia was clinging to my side much more than usual. So close that we would touch if I moved even slightly.

It was to the extent that… though I don’t take notes, if I did, it would have been impossible.

That’s why I asked her directly…

“Then I guess I am.”

She answered brazenly, showing no intention of creating distance.

What’s suddenly gotten into her?