Chapter 8: A trustworthy person

A gaze bore down on me.
But I met it head-on.

“Do you…not have any friends?”

A sudden, piercing attack.
And a look of pity.

Ugh.

That hurt more than the whack on the head.

“I don’t want to hear that from you.”

I’ll return the favor.

But the creepy, voyeuristic delinquent looked smug.
It annoyed me.

Then,

“Linea!”

A black blur zipped past me and into the delinquent’s arms.

Fluffy black ears and a tail I wanted to pet. A beastkin? A wolf, specifically.

So, her name is Linea.
Not that I cared.

Linea looked triumphant, holding the black wolf beastkin.
I felt a strange sense of loss, like something was taken from me, even though the beastkin wasn’t mine.

“Good girl, Nina. You came at the right time.”

Linea started petting the wolf beastkin.

Starting from the ears and tail, down the neck, and finally, the head…

“Wait! Where do you think you’re touching, you creepy, perverted, lesbian?!”

Such indecent behavior in public!

From my experience, head-patting usually leads to something more.

That kind of thing should be done at home, between family members.

Are Linea and the wolf beastkin sisters…? Unlikely.

“I was just petting her head…”

“What? Linea, who is this brat bothering us? Trying to get between us.”

The wolf beastkin interrupted.

What is this animal saying? She’s small herself.
Should I add her to yesterday’s wolf barbecue?

But getting angry at a mere beastkin seemed beneath me.
I’d be the bigger person.

“This little one is Elena, my new friend.”

“Wh…wh…what?! Who’s your friend?!”

Flustered, I shouted, forgetting my manners.
And “little one”?

I hate it.

Even if I had no friends,
who would want a perverted, indecent, public-lewdness-committing, crazy lesbian as their first friend?

I hated it, but my heart fluttered.
It must be from anger and disbelief.

“Did you… think you were the only one who considered Elena a friend…?”

Linea’s usually cold expression turned gloomy.
She looked like a big, sad dog, which was kind of cute.

“Hmph! Whatever. I’m going to lunch.”

Uncomfortable with the word “friend,” I fled.

****

Step, step—

As I hurried towards the plaza where Sister was waiting,
Linea’s words lingered in my mind.

Is it okay to make friends so easily in this place full of crazy lesbians?
Does she have ulterior motives?

Maybe one friend is okay.
I have no one to rely on.
I don’t know how long I can last here alone.

A trustworthy person would be nice.

Step, step—

Footsteps behind me broke my thoughts.

I slowly turned, and
it wasn’t the blonde delinquent I left in the classroom,
but the noble ladies I chased away earlier.

Why did I think it was Linea?

I looked around, realizing I was surrounded.

Were they here for revenge?
I expected this, but they’re fast.

“We retreated because of that scary student earlier, but now we have another chance.”

They approached, their hands clenching and unclenching menacingly.

I couldn’t lose my composure.

I steeled my resolve and lifted my chin.

“Do you know who you’re dealing with?!”

I channeled my inner haughty noble and declared solemnly.

They hesitated, exchanging glances.
The students behind them murmured, confused.

As expected, they’re intimidated by my assertiveness.
Time to drive the point home.

“I am Elena Estelle, second daughter of Claude Estelle, Duke of the Caplea Empire.”

I didn’t want to flaunt my power, but I proudly revealed my identity.
They’ll apologize and beg for mercy now.

I’d magnanimously forgive them, ensuring they never bothered me again.

“Hee hee…how cute. You’re Princess Elena Estelle.”

A blue-haired lady approached with a wide smile.

She’s not afraid even after knowing who I am?
Any noble faction lady would be prostrating themselves by now.
Unless…

“Princess Estelle…or rather, Elena? You might have noticed, but we’re not part of the noble faction. Our parents work for the Mage Association.”

The others closed in.
I hadn’t considered this…

“Even if something happened here, it would just be us strengthening our bonds as friends.”

My mind went blank.
I had no allies here.
I stepped back, but they had completely surrounded me.

What are they going to do to me?

I’m scared.

Sister, help…

“What are you doing to my friend?”

A voice came from behind the wall of students.

A familiar, cold yet warm voice.
The wall around me crumbled.

Linea, dressed in her delinquent attire, pushed through the students, the little puppy at her side.

“Sorry, Elena, am I late? I forgot my wallet.”

Linea grabbed my wrist and pulled me away. She looked angry. Did I make her mad?

“Thank you, Linea…”

“What? Sorry, I didn’t hear you.”

“It’s nothing. You’re more rebellious than I thought.”

Especially for someone I thought was trustworthy.

“That’s harsh, after I saved you.”

Linea looked indignant but
didn’t say anything else.

****

The three of us—
or rather, two humans and one animal—arrived late at the plaza where Sister was waiting.
I decided not to tell her about the earlier incident.

I’m a grown-up, practically middle-aged considering my past life.
I didn’t want to worry her.

Linea was still holding my wrist, but I let it be, not knowing what to say.

Sister was already waiting, a murderous look on her face. I must have been mistaken; she was too far away.

“Sister!”

I quickly let go of Linea’s hand and ran to hug Sister. As expected, she greeted me with her usual bright smile.

“So, Ellie, how’s academy life treating you?”

Looking back, Linea and Nina seemed to be shivering.

Must be a chilly day.

There’s no way Linea would be trembling for no reason.

“So, who are they?”

“Just…someone I know from class.”

I wasn’t ready to call Linea a friend yet, so I gave Sister a vague answer.
And it felt like the right thing to do.

“I’m Elena’s friend. Call me Linea.”

Ugh, she called herself my friend so casually.
Embarrassed, I looked away.

“Fri…friend?”

Hmm. Sister seemed upset today.

Her…cycle isn’t for another two weeks.
Did something happen?

***

The academy food was surprisingly good.
Though the other three barely touched their meals.

On the way back to the classroom, I was lost in thought.

I didn’t know when something like that would happen again.

Yet, no one dared approach Linea.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

If that’s the case, maybe if I just stick with Linea… Huh?!

“Wh…what are you doing, you pervert! Why are you touching my side?!”

“You weren’t responding when I called… And please stop calling me weird names and use my actual name.”

What is this creepy pervert saying?

Is she stupid?

“Hmph, then tell me your name.”

“Oh, right. I haven’t introduced myself properly. I’m Linea. Call me Linne.”

I wasn’t asking for her name now.

I could have read her name tag.

But this was different.

I…didn’t know why. I just didn’t feel like it.

“It’s a pleasure to formally introduce myself. I’m Elena Estelle. You can call me Ellie, Linne.”

I’d planned to just hear her name, but I ended up introducing myself.

Linne looked impressed.

She looked kind of cute like that.
Though that’s a strange thing to say about someone taller than me.

****

There was still time before afternoon classes.

Linne was playing with her pet wolf beastkin.

They looked happy.
What’s so great about a furry animal?
Does Linne like beastkins with cute ears and tails?

I looked away, feeling strange,
and saw the noble ladies from earlier quickly avert their gazes.

I glanced around; they were whispering about me.

They haven’t given up yet.

But they seemed to avoid Linne, so
I’d stick with her like a friend for now, using her as a shield.

I still hadn’t truly accepted her as a friend.

Lost in thought, I remembered last night.

The huge presence in the mountains.
The fearless wolves and the drake.

Something was going to happen soon.
I should go back tonight.

I’d see the beautiful Lena, bathed in moonlight, again.

Thinking about Lena’s long, flowing golden hair,
I suddenly noticed Linne beside me.

Her blonde hair, loosely tied to one side.

Even though blonde hair is common, how could they be so different in personality and atmosphere?

If only Linne was half as nice as Lena…
Well, I shouldn’t expect much from a creepy, pierced, crazy lesbian.

Lena, radiating a mature beauty even in the dim moonlight.

My savior, who appeared like a comet in my moment of need.

Kind and caring, never boasting about saving me.

How old is she?
Older than me, right?

Does she have a partner?

If I could just hug her soft-looking body…

“Why are you grinning like that?”

Gulp…

I quickly wiped my mouth and glared at Linne, feeling exposed.

“I wasn’t grinning!”

She’ll think I’m a pervert, drooling over some girl.

I ignored her questioning look and turned away.

Just then, the afternoon class started, and the teacher entered.
Linne and I lay down on our desks, competing to see who could fall asleep first.