Fastening the First Button Well (2)

Milano Academy has six classes a day. Two of these are so-called common subjects that all departments attend regardless of specialization, and the remaining four are subjects specific to each department.

The imperial directive at the time was that even if students had entered paths suited to their aptitudes, there were still essential things that needed to be taught.

Of course, the reality is that most people either pay little attention to or skip the common subjects. It’s unavoidable because the content taught in common subjects, such as history, continental affairs, and etiquette, is already known to nobles.

For those who haven’t completely abandoned their studies and have made it to the academy, these are things they’ve already studied in their families and heard until their ears were calloused, so it’s bound to be boring.

As a result, common subjects have essentially become subjects for commoners, and the professors in charge tend to tacitly overlook noble students openly doing other things or sleeping during class, as long as they don’t significantly disrupt the atmosphere.

‘That’s why I’m freely indulging like this.’

Despite it being class time, Ariel was enjoying the height of luxury, sitting still with her book open, spacing out.

Since common subjects are teaching content that’s actually necessary, they started the class right after a brief introduction and guidance, without any exceptions even on the first day. This is the result.

Most noble students were either sleeping face down or chatting among themselves, keeping their voices low, while commoner students were trying their best to follow the class while being mindful of others. It was like a textbook example of a boring class time.

For noble students, they judged there was no need to listen as it was all content they already knew, and that wasn’t particularly wrong. The content to be taught in the future would probably all be things they already knew anyway.

‘But doing that will decrease their lifestyle scores.’

While it’s a good method to openly slack off like that, thinking about the future, the real future, it’s a poor choice. Considering that they should graduate from the academy with good grades and live a sweet life later, they shouldn’t be doing that.

Milano Academy has, in addition to scores from subjects, lifestyle scores that professors objectively evaluate. To put it simply, it’s something like the impression professors have of students, and since it’s not a proper score, it doesn’t particularly affect grade points, but it has a very significant impact on networking, which is one of the reasons for coming to this academy.

On the surface, Milano Academy appears to be solely for talent cultivation, but in reality, it’s a venue for networking. While there’s certainly a purpose of learning as students, it’s a place where commoners can see noble authority, and nobles can see promising commoners. As such, unless one is extremely careless, one can’t help but be mindful of how they appear externally.

‘In other words, if you’re thinking about the future, even if you do other things during class, you should do it inconspicuously.’

Those who mainly show such behavior are either those who are already under someone and have nothing more to think about, or those who had no thoughts to begin with.

Ariel briefly recalled the actions of ‘Ariel’ in the original story. She couldn’t remember clearly, but she probably didn’t fall asleep during class either. Because she had pride from head to toe, she wouldn’t have slept in front of others.

‘Then perhaps Ariel also attended classes diligently in her own way?’

Recently, Ariel’s memories of the original novel have been gradually fading. She can remember the general outline, but even that outline was all narrated centered around Mari, the protagonist. Naturally, there was little to remember about ‘Ariel’, who played the role of the villainess.

Ariel deduced that, given ‘Ariel’s’ sky-high pride, she probably didn’t do anything that could tarnish her image in front of others. In other words, she didn’t openly sleep or do other things during class, and in her own way, she listened to classes diligently, but her grades weren’t good because she couldn’t concentrate!

‘She would have been mindful of her family’s eyes too.’

The Walpurgis Duke family is a massive family known to everyone. Thinking about ‘Ariel’s’ high self-esteem from belonging there and her somewhat desperate appearance, she would have acted to maintain her dignity anywhere.

In fact, even when bullying Mari, ‘Ariel’ never once degraded herself. Although her means of bullying were enough to make onlookers grit their teeth, she was the type to maintain certain boundaries and thoroughly maintained herself except when entangled with the crown prince.

‘But I can’t do that!’

‘Ariel’ is ‘Ariel’, and she is herself. Ariel has already planned out how to spend her school life. If she follows this plan, the villainess-making project can be successfully completed.

This distraction now is just the first button. She’s not paying attention during class. At first glance, this could be seen as poor class attitude, but Ariel has mastered the art of distraction without getting caught from her school life in her previous life. To such an extent that not only students but even professors couldn’t catch her with ordinary observational skills.

‘It’s truly a perfect plan.’

Anticipating the future ahead, Ariel laughed quietly.

‘Amazing…’

Mari was genuinely impressed. This common class they’re currently attending is a situation where nobles can openly slack off or take naps without much reprimand because it’s content they already know. According to the guidance given before enrollment, there’s something like an attitude score, but would nobles care about such things?

Only minor nobles or commoners like herself care about attitude scores. Mari has eyes and ears. Listening to noble students chatting as they pass by, she heard that even count families, let alone dukes or marquises, don’t care much about attitude scores. At that level, they can live comfortably for life just by living moderately in their family.

But Ariel is different. She’s a duke’s daughter and the crown prince’s fiancée. She could live a life of power just by staying still.

‘And yet she’s listening to the class so diligently…’

While other nobles are just pretending to listen or openly doing other things, Ariel has maintained an unwavering posture since the class started. Mari thought she might be dozing while sitting, but she occasionally changes her posture and even asks questions, showing the image of a diligent student that anyone watching would admire.

‘She was cool earlier too…’

Recalling how Ariel stood her ground with dignity against Elizabeth Scrania without backing down an inch, Mari’s head lowered unconsciously.

Commoner. There were plenty in this academy who would belittle Mari just for that name alone. She thought there would be few who would openly gossip due to the academy’s equality policy, but that was far from the truth. Even in the academy, those who saw it as just a passing place and had nothing to lose acted without restraint.

Elizabeth Scrainer wouldn’t have much to regret even if her academy grades weren’t good, as she could just return to her family. And it was hard to find anyone who would stop or intervene when a noble criticized a commoner in the academy.

But Ariel boldly stepped forward on the spot. By stepping forward and mentioning the words the crown prince had said, she gave Mari a shield stronger than anything else. Now, if anyone mentions the fact that Mari is a commoner, they’ll have to start by directly refuting Ariel’s words.

That wasn’t all. While protecting Mari, Ariel also gave Elizabeth an opportunity. She left encouragement, saying she hopes to see her in a better light next time.

‘She’s truly amazing…’

Mari discreetly turned her gaze to the side to watch where Ariel was sitting. Although her seat and Ariel’s were quite far apart unintentionally, it wasn’t a problem to peek as those sitting in between were all sleeping with their heads on their desks.

Ariel was listening to the class while maintaining a calm posture. It was just as she had seen earlier. With someone of a duke’s daughter’s status sitting like that, others who were doing other things also started to notice and began correcting their postures. The ability to change others’ behavior just by sitting still.

‘I want to stand by that person’s side.’

She wants to stand side by side with Ariel, her object of admiration. Although she’s already entered maintaining the joint top position from the entrance exam, what Mari wants isn’t just simple grades. She wants to become an amazing person who won’t be overshadowed by that dignified appearance, and stand side by side with her.

‘Ah!’

Did she stare too openly? When Ariel slightly turned her gaze this way, Mari hurriedly returned her head to its original position. Did she get caught? Surely she wasn’t caught?

‘Phew…’

Fortunately, Ariel seemed to think it was her imagination and looked forward again, and Mari exhaled a sigh of relief while suddenly realizing what she had been doing.

‘What is this, it’s not even a crush…’

Just as she was feeling a strange mixture of futility and self-loathing, the professor spoke up with perfect timing.

“That concludes the common subject class. Good work, everyone.”

As the professor’s words ended, Mari felt her strength drain away without realizing it.