Ch.69Birds of a Feather

# Carnar Kingdom’s Famous Visitors

The rumor that a celebrity from the Carnar Kingdom had come to study abroad at the Imperial Academy spread quickly.

From the next day, the two people assigned to the fourth year of the Academy’s university department instantly became the center of attention.

Luca, who was essentially designated as the next king of Carnar Kingdom, and Kanarin, who had built the kingdom’s most powerful faction from a fallen noble family—the very notion of them avoiding attention was absurd.

It was somewhat better when they were attending classes, but whenever they ventured outside, people inevitably followed them.

“Prince, why did you come to study in the Empire?”

“Well, because I wanted to have fun?”

“Hehe, how amusing.”

“Ahaha.”

Luca let out a soulless laugh reluctantly. He had come with the sole intention of enjoying himself freely one last time before ascending to the throne. Even when he confessed this literally, no one believed him.

Watching this, Kanarin snorted derisively beside him.

“Lady, you must be close friends with the Prince, right?”

“I heard you’ve been friends since childhood?”

“Friends…”

Kanarin’s lips twitched slightly. She glanced at Luca, who was busy making small talk, then immediately put on her business smile.

“Yes, we’re friends.”

Tsk.

Kanarin quietly clicked her tongue.

That’s when it happened.

As is often the case when crowds gather, whether intentional or by mistake, rude comments tend to emerge.

Someone from the gathered crowd asked a question like a gossip-hunting reporter.

“So are you really just friends with the Prince?”

At that question, Kanarin clenched her fist tightly.

It would have been easier if she could simply ignore it, but as soon as the question was asked, the surrounding noise dropped dramatically, making it difficult to pretend she hadn’t heard.

After a brief pause, Kanarin opened her mouth.

“…… Yes. Because we’re friends.”

An awkward atmosphere settled.

The impact of the rude question was so significant that Kanarin was about to turn away. However, a familiar face that appeared next caught her attention.

“Ah, Sister Narin!”

“Serin.”

Serin ran straight toward them with a face full of delight. The crowd parted like the Red Sea before the two women’s reunion.

Behind her approached Rahilt, who instantly captured the admiration of the women present.

“You surprised me, Luca.”

“Oh my… if it isn’t the Grand Duke of Elhader.”

“… Please don’t tease me.”

Luca raised his eyebrows at Rahilt’s newly prim reaction.

“Wow… no matter how much time has passed, you’ve really changed.”

“Changed? Me?”

“Who else would I mean? How should I put it… you seem to have become human.”

“I was human to begin with.”

It seemed it would take more time for his social awareness to improve. That was Luca’s assessment.

Besides, it was hard to take seriously when the dragon’s child who could cause natural disasters insisted on being human.

“Well, it’s a good thing. In many ways. Oh right, should I address you formally here since you’re a professor?”

“I’d appreciate it only in public settings, as it feels awkward otherwise.”

“Yes, understood, Professor!”

Luca played along cheekily.

Rahilt found it awkward that Luca, an acquaintance and his senior, was speaking formally to him, and wanted to leave quickly. However, Eshtiel came running up right after, causing him to miss his chance to escape.

“Big brother Luca!”

“Oh, if it isn’t Rahilt’s cutie? Seeing you again so soon after yesterday.”

“Hehe.”

Eshtiel’s eyes sparkled as she immediately revealed her desire.

“Big brother Luca. Show me that thing, that thing. The one where you make a pond in the air!”

She was talking about portals using spatial magic. Luca patted Eshtiel’s head and gently refused her.

“I can’t with so many people around.”

“Then how about the floaty thing?”

“Again, rejected due to the crowd.”

“Aww.”

As Eshtiel pouted, Luca’s cheeks rose impossibly high. Taking advantage of the moment, Rahilt picked up Eshtiel and gave a slight bow to say goodbye.

“I’ll come find you after my duties are finished.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

“I want to come too, big brothers.”

“Oh, the cutie is always welcome.”

At this cheerful permission, Eshtiel bowed her head. With that, Rahilt moved away from the noisy crowd. Meanwhile, Kanarin and Serin also exchanged brief plans.

“See you later, Serin. I have something to tell you.”

“I have lots to tell you too, so I’ll come find you soon.”

“Okay, got it.”

No matter how famous these study abroad students were, they still belonged to the Academy.

Luca and Kanarin returned to their assigned class before they could be late.

◇

As the sun was setting.

In the quieter hours of the Academy, Narin and I sat alone on an outdoor bench watching the sunset.

In the increasingly calm atmosphere, I was the first to break the silence.

“Have you resolved all the issues in the kingdom?”

“No way, we’re still far from it. Those guys messed up more than just a few things.”

She responded with self-deprecation and a clouded expression. I was slightly surprised by her unexpected answer.

“Then is it okay for you to be here having fun?”

“The king suggested it first. He said that after this much recovery, the remaining people should be able to handle things. Besides… Luca will soon succeed to the throne, so this is his only time to be free.”

“I suppose the kingdom will be in turmoil for a while.”

“That’s right.”

The Carnar Kingdom currently needed a symbol of revival—a symbol that could end the people’s anxiety and represent a future they could entrust themselves to.

For example, an unparalleled genius magician who defeated the evil black sorcerer’s plot—like the second prince, Luca.

“…”

“…”

Silence continued.

I had something I wanted to confide in Sister Narin, and it seemed she had something to tell me too…

But somehow it felt awkward for either of us to speak first without prompting. Perhaps it was because we shared the same circumstances as possessed individuals.

To break this atmosphere, I playfully recited a rumor I’d heard.

“By the way, Sister, you’re quite famous. I heard you got perfect scores on all the placement tests and even impressed the professors?”

The tests were in the Imperial style, meaning the history exam contained the Empire’s history, not the Kingdom’s. Geography, culture, etiquette, and other subjects were the same.

I had intended to casually change the subject, but thinking about it, her achievement was truly remarkable.

She cleared her throat shyly in response.

“Ahem, I have know-how from my previous life. It’s no big deal.”

“Were you good at studying?”

“Quite? Before I was diagnosed with a terminal illness, I was in the Business Administration department at Korea University.”

“…What?”

I gaped at this shocking confession.

Korea University’s Business Administration department?

That top-tier Korea University Business Administration department that stands at the pinnacle for humanities students…!

“Damn, what kind of life did you lead?”

“People all live similar lives. Elementary, middle, high school, then university, and I was even preparing for the civil service exam…”

“Which civil service exam, by the way?”

“The Legislative Civil Service Exam.”

Wow, my goodness. I had no idea… this woman lives in a different world.

“Sister, are you an alien standing before me?”

“Don’t say that… it’s embarrassing. I reincarnated before I could even start working properly. And what’s the point of bringing up my past life credentials?”

“Still. Having just gone through high school life, I should be amazed—that’s normal.”

“Mmm… thanks.”

Whoosh.

A cool breeze blew.

The trivial stories of our past lives scattered in the early spring wind, bringing us back to the present world.

“Sister, you have concerns, don’t you?”

“… Is it that obvious?”

“Of course it is.”

“You look like you have a lot on your mind too.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Of course.”

Chuckling laughter flowed between us. Then I subtly pushed back my turn to share my concerns.

“You go first, Sister. I’m curious.”

“Well, now that I’m about to say it, it’s quite embarrassing.”

“Come on, it’s just between us, what’s the big deal?”

“I guess…”

She trailed off, pressing her lips together, but soon gave in and opened up.

“Sigh… lately I can’t figure out what Luca is thinking.”

“The Second Prince?”

“Yes. He’s always been hard to read, but it’s gotten worse recently.”

“Hmm.”

Just scanning her expression gave me a rough estimate of the situation. Guessing the circumstances, I asked with sparkling eyes.

“Sister, this is a romance concern, isn’t it?”

“… Ugh, no. I, well…”

“What’s so strange about it? If you’re possessed, it’s natural to fall in love with the extra character whose life you saved by changing the original plot.”

“…… I don’t know.”

This was another unpredictably innocent attitude. From what I’d seen of them acting in the Carnar Kingdom, they were essentially more than friends but less than lovers…

‘It’s just one-sided love on my part.’

Realizing this made my stomach hurt a little. But that wasn’t the important thing right now…

“Sister, have you never dated? Not even once?”

“Ugh.”

Silence is strong affirmation. I unconsciously covered my mouth with both hands at this rather surprising result.

“No, I mean… Sister? I’m not saying this with bad intentions… you attended university and were twenty-three years old…”

“…… The idea that you’ll get a boyfriend when you go to university is a blatant lie told by adults…!!!”

While I was rambling, Sister Narin let out a quiet wail with a bright red face.

I was both puzzled and amused, and had to hold my wavering lips with my fingers.

“Ahem, I see. I suppose so. Well, I never even attended the entrance ceremony, so… how could I refute the words of someone with experience?”

“Are you making fun of me, Serin?”

“Hehe, how could I, a K-Confucian girl, dare to mock my elder…”

“You being a Confucian girl is the funniest joke I’ve ever heard in my life.”

“…”

That wasn’t a joke.

Anyway, Rahilt has to marry me, so what’s wrong with establishing premarital facts?

If that’s not being a Confucian girl, then I’m a Christian from today.

Be fruitful and multiply, huh? I’m just following a verse from the Bible!

What’s the problem!

“… Ahem. Anyway, forget it! I just don’t understand Luca—he neither stops people from coming nor holds onto those who leave. Did you see him this morning? Smiling and chatting smoothly with those girls.”

“I did see that.”

To my eyes, that smoothness looked like pretense—the kind of pretense he never shows to Sister Narin. Still, for the sake of the conversation, I decided to go along with it.

“But you’ve saved his life, fought alongside him… spent enough time together to be childhood friends? Shouldn’t that be enough to expect something special?”

“Well…”

She really doesn’t realize she’s already getting special treatment?

I recalled that this morning, there wasn’t a single instance where the Second Prince initiated conversation with anyone else. Building a good image is a natural virtue for someone who will become king…

‘Sister Narin… you have some tiring aspects.’

Surprisingly, Sister Narin’s level of obliviousness rivaled Rahilt’s.

But it was also quite novel and cute to see an older adult being jealous. Perhaps even more so because it was jealousy from a Korea University Business Administration graduate who knew everything except romance.

Either way, knowing that empathy is essential in these situations, I comforted her.

“I understand. I really do. Sometimes there are types who are too receptive to everyone around them, making dating exhausting. The Second Prince is quite the bad person, isn’t he?”

“… No. That’s still his good side. It’s Luca’s strength.”

Seriously, what does this sister want me to do?

“And if you put it that way, Rahilt is exactly the same. Just looking at you, Serin, I can tell you’re troubled because Rahilt is so popular. But he doesn’t reject anyone either.”

“That’s not true! My Lian is just too diligent and is fulfilling his duties as a professor. He’s different from the Second Prince whose true feelings we don’t know.”

Of course, Sister Narin is probably the only one who doesn’t know his true feelings.

“So you enjoy seeing that?”

“It pisses me off.”

“See, I’m right.”

“Ugh, really. You really know how to leave me speechless.”

Maybe it’s because she’s from Korea University. The quality of her debate is different.

In the end, all we had left were sighs accumulating like sediment.

“Sigh…”

“Haah…”

Should I tell Sister Narin about her blunders?

But if I tell her, it might diminish the Second Prince’s efforts, so I’m hesitant.

I’d rather not get involved and end up bleeding.

‘Love… is really difficult…’

As the twilight turned into a bluish navy color.

We sighed once more, as if by agreement.

“Sigh…”

“Haah…”

It was what we did best as fellow possessed individuals sharing the same pain.