episode_0003

2:30 PM.

The time clearly displayed on my wristwatch, shining brightly. Perhaps because I had unexpectedly gotten a ride from Ellis, I ended up returning to the academy much earlier than planned.

“I have some other plans. See you later.”

Ellis, who had been with me until just now, had already vanished, citing additional plans.

“…Should I go in?”

It seemed like my only option left was to return to the classroom where classes were likely in full swing. If that was the case, I should have just walked from the beginning. Now, the thought of returning to the classroom was painful.

Someone might say it’s an academy student’s duty to just go back into the classroom and start attending the class even at this moment. Well… would they really say that? Could they still say that, after realizing how ‘Lian Trice’ is being treated at the academy?

I felt as though the future was already being painted in my mind. The future if I were to enter the classroom now and start attending the class.

“…You’re late, Lian Trice. You haven’t been very noticeable for a while, but are you starting again?”

As soon as I entered the classroom and offered my apologies, the professor’s chilling words would begin.

“Here comes that guy again?”

“It seemed quiet lately as the professor said… What a troublemaker.”

If it was a quiet classroom, the voices of other students chatting loudly enough for me to hear would be the second thing I’d encounter.

And finally, the last thing.

“…”

Even the scornful gaze of the person who was currently most embarrassing to me.

Hmm. Just imagining it was dreadful.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I could handle the first and second encounters.

During the year-long possession period, I had somewhat adapted, and I had heard so much already that it didn’t affect me much.

“But the last one…”

However, the third encounter was difficult for me to adapt to, no matter how many times I experienced it.

There was something indescribable in that look.

A gaze that made the person in front of it feel utterly wretched, as if they should feel guilty even though they hadn’t done anything wrong.

I didn’t know the reason.

So beautiful, yet every time I fall for that gaze, I can’t understand why I feel this way.

Whether it’s because the emotions of the original character Lian linger within me, or if it’s because he was my favorite character in the novel “Sword of the Academy,” I couldn’t figure out the reason despite pondering it several times.

“Maybe I should go to the library.”

Thinking that, I turned my steps towards the classroom and headed to the library like a coward.

“Hello.”

“Welcome…”

As soon as I entered the library, I was greeted by the librarian’s voice, which seemed to realize my identity belatedly. As usual, I tried to greet the student visiting the library warmly, but I hesitated when I realized who it was. This was familiar too. I must have experienced this once or twice before. It’s more like a mild shock. It’s not like being blatantly ignored or insulted. If they had told me to leave the library right away, that would have been quite shocking. But still, I’m a student of the academy. No matter how much my pathetic image is ingrained, I can still come to the library as a student. Yeah. Something like that. After roughly striking a mental victory, I naturally moved my feet to the usual place I always went to in the library.

“History of the Empire, Economy of the Empire.”

Usually, the books I mainly read or borrowed when I visited the library were good for building knowledge here. After accepting the fact that I was transmigrated into a web novel, I had resolved to think of life here as a second life, considering both the present and the future. Efforts to break free from the image created by the original Lian, and efforts to prepare for life after completely shedding the pathetic image. The reason I started studying the novel’s setting at the library was the latter. Even though I was transmigrated after reading the original work, I didn’t know all the settings and backgrounds created by the author. It’s difficult to live here with only the knowledge I have. After clearly grasping reality like this, I made efforts to break free from the pathetic image. “Should I try reading a different book today?”

Of course, looking back now, it was all meaningless.

What’s the use of studying more?

What’s the use of making more effort to change my image?

It’s harder for people’s perceptions to change than for Gangsan to change, and even if they do change, I won’t be in this world by then.

Wouldn’t it be better to read one more interesting book?

Wouldn’t it be good to read at least one more book that I liked?

Suddenly, such thoughts came to me.

It was when that thought was about to lead me to a different bookshelf.

“Are you trying to find books elsewhere today?”

“…”

“You, who always read books related to the empire, are turning your feet away from that section. It’s quite strange.”

“…Labilaa, Princess, nice to meet you.”

Labilaa Phon Felias.

One of the heroines of this novel, the imperial princess, was staring at me, illuminating the sapphire jewel.

***

Actually, I was slightly surprised.

It’s true that I often met Labilaa, the imperial princess, at the library, but I didn’t think we were close enough to have a conversation.

Upon hearing my formal greeting, Labilaa slightly lowered her head and said, “There’s no need to be so formal. It’s just you and me here.”

“How can I not show respect to you, Your Highness?”

“Is that so? I distinctly remember you speaking informally to me when we first met.”

…Lian Trice, you crazy fool.

Did I really act like a fool even in front of Labilaa?

I wanted to express my admiration for Lian’s foolishness right away, but now wasn’t the time for that.

“I was foolish back then.”

“No, there’s no need to apologize. It was very interesting for me as well, being on the receiving end for the first time.”

“…I apologize once again.”

Once again, I bowed my head to Labilaa and once again cursed Lian inwardly.

This lunatic.

How crazy must he have been to do something that would interest the princess?

Sincerely apologizing seemed to have worked, as Labilaa flashed a bright, hearty smile.

“Well, what do you know. If you think that way now, I’m grateful for the princess’s generosity.”

“Thank you for your broad-mindedness, Your Highness.”

“Then let’s return to the original topic. Is it alright if I ask why you didn’t choose a book from here today?”

“Do you wonder what book I picked?”

“The book you always had with you when we met at the library was always from this collection. It seems like you skipped class today, and I was curious about any change in your state of mind.”

Labilaa already knew that I had skipped class. Why do so many people at the academy know me well? Well, Elise is sharp with information, but how does this one know?

I briefly considered skirting around the issue, but since she already knew I had skipped class, there seemed to be no need to lie.

“I’ve lost interest in studying.”

“Lost interest in studying. Even if I don’t know anything else, that’s not something you’d expect to hear from an academy student.”

“I won’t deny it.”

“Not denying it means you might expect me to ask you more questions.”

“How could I dare to block Your Highness’s questions?”

It wasn’t a pleasant thing to hear. She was the imperial princess who would eventually become the empress, while I was just a mere viscount’s son. Even considering my position within the academy, the answer was clear. She was the first imperial princess to enter the academy, and I was the troublemaker treated as a problem by juniors, peers, seniors, and even professors.

This was an undeniable fact, and the princess, still shining before my eyes, also knew it.

“I find you quite intriguing.”

“…”

“I had heard rumors that Lian Trice was an irredeemable troublemaker, but when I first saw you, I thought you were someone who proved those rumors true.”

“Is that so.”

“Why did you suddenly stop acting like a scoundrel, and why did you lose interest in studying today of all days? I’m very curious. At least you don’t have the malicious hobby of tormenting someone whose emotions are in turmoil.”

“···.”

“I’ll just let you be today. People need time to control their feelings. I’ll talk to the professor about your absence today.”

“······Thank you for the princess’s grace.”

“Well then, let’s meet next time. It’s almost time for club activities, so I need to head to the student affairs office.”

“See you next time.”

With those words, Labilaa, without any lingering attachment, fluttered her sparkling golden hair and moved away from me.

“···.”

Until the broadcast announcing the end of regular class and the start of club activities echoed through, I silently gazed at the spot where Labilaa had disappeared.