episode_0021

Seina collapsed at the shocking statement she had just made.

Seina doesn’t love the prince?

“…Prince, you’re handsome, right?”

“Y-yes… I-I suppose?”

It was quite inappropriate to judge the appearance of a 10-year-old child, but that wasn’t important right now.

“…And his personality is good too, right?”

“Y-yes…”

Seina didn’t deny the words I threw at her.

Derren may be rough in speech and behavior, but his personality was actually very good.

From the fact that he befriended Shashana, a fallen noble, like me, he was showing that he was different from the aristocrats who were captivated by authority and superiority.

Anyway, what I wanted to say was that.

“…You have exceptional looks and a good personality, but you don’t love him?”

“…I-I’m sorry.”

With a slightly furrowed brow, Seina got up, shrinking her body as if she was scared.

Although I blamed Seina, it wasn’t her fault.

“…Is it just not the right time?”

“Huh?”

Seina still seemed clueless.

Maybe it would take more time for her to fall in love with the prince than it does now.

Then when would that be?

Since Seina will officially appear as the villainess in 2 years.

Within the next 2 years, there must be some event that will make her fall in love with the prince and even change her personality.

I don’t really understand.

As I sighed and scratched my cheek, Shashana scolded me.

“Ria… don’t be mean to Seina.”

“I’m not being mean, I just want to connect Seina and the prince.”

“Huh.”

I boldly revealed my purpose.

There was no reason to hide it, and by revealing it, I was solidifying the fact that I am your ally.

“…Why?”

Shashana tilted her head as if she was genuinely curious, and I prepared the excuse I had in mind.

“Well, they seem to get along, don’t they?”

“…They seem to get along?”

“Look, isn’t Seina very pretty?”

Not as much as me, but still one of the best-looking people I’ve met at the academy in the past month.

Shashana also agreed with me, calmly praising Seina.

“Yes, she’s very beautiful.”

“…P-please stop…”

Seina blushed and turned her head shyly, but I wasn’t interested in that.

“And look, the prince is handsome, right?”

“Yes, he’s very handsome.”

“So, wouldn’t they look good together?”

“Well… I guess so…”

No matter how smart she was, she was still a 10-year-old child.

I thought she might be convinced by this, so I put on a wicked smile, and Shashana stared at me with a stern expression.

“But, wanting love is different from just looking good together. If you’re forced to love someone when you don’t have feelings for them, that’s just torment.”

“…Where did you learn that?”

“From books.”

“Are you really 10…?”

Lost for words at her surprisingly mature rebuttal, Shashana began to gently stroke my head.

“…Do you touch my head a lot these days?”

“The sensation is addictive…”

“…You used to be so scared when we first met…”

When I first revealed that I was a fallen noble, she was scared.

But now, constantly raising her hand to my head as we became friends, I must have become more comfortable.

“Anyway, what are we going to do tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?”

What’s happening tomorrow?

I racked my brain, but nothing came to mind, so I put on an innocent expression. Shashana then informed me about the schedule for tomorrow.

Today ended with a brief explanation of the academy rules, but tomorrow…

Starting tomorrow, we will be diving into the real classes.

Before we get into the classes, there will be a basic assessment of our grades.

Although the first year is generally a joint class,

they said they will divide students into those with skills and those without.

If we were to analyze the reason, it might be to intensify competition by giving differentiation based on grades.

I sighed at the thought of dealing with familiar tasks.

I thought that since it’s a Romance Fantasy Academy, it would have a relaxed and romantic atmosphere.

But in reality, it was colder than I had imagined.

As I was pondering about the academy with my tongue slightly sticking out,

Shasha asked with a worried voice, “I’ve been teaching you reading and writing, but you still haven’t fully grasped it.”

“Is that so?”

I can confidently say that I have grown more than twice as much as before,

but when considering the whole as 100.

My previous skills were at 20.

Even if it doubles, it only goes up to 40, which is not even half.

“Then, you might get the lowest score tomorrow…?”

“Is that so?”

I lightly nodded at Seina’s worried voice.

I’m not sure what exam we will take or how we will score,

but since I can’t read and write, my score will inevitably be low no matter what.

“So, Lya is a fallen noble and a fool focusing on the management department…?”

“Vice head.”

“Yes, vice head.”

Don’t lower your position sneakily.

If you didn’t have it from the beginning, it’s hard to let go of the position you gained, that’s what being a socialite and an adult is.

“And Shasha is getting more and more talkative.”

Since she is in the fallen noble management department, I have nothing to say, but being a fool is a bit much.

As I reached out and pinched Shasha’s soft cheek, she apologized, saying, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t treat me like a fool. I was just lacking in education.”

If I were really a fool, I wouldn’t show this kind of growth.

“Hehe….”

Placing my hand on my waist and slightly pushing out my chest confidently, Shasha and Seina burst into laughter simultaneously.

What’s so funny about that?

As if they were mocking me, I pursed my lips, and they came closer, each grabbing one of my cheeks.

“Lya is really cute.”

“It’s so soft….”

“…Ugh…… No, what if Seina also does that….”

Your timid personality is gone, but you’re still pulling my cheeks.

…I guess bad company corrupts good character.

Since it’s undoubtedly corrupted by Shasha, I pushed my finger towards her.

“It’s all because of Shasha.”

“No, it’s because Lya is cute, so just accept it.”

“Even shameless…!”

“Not as much as Lya.”

Give back the shy and cute Shasha.

This shameless and cheeky behavior doesn’t suit Shasha.

I bit my lip, feeling embarrassed.

It’s humiliating.

To think that friends would treat me like this.

I won’t forget this resentment, and I will definitely take revenge later.

Forgetting favors but not grudges, that’s the average adult’s way.

As time passed with my determination, the night passed, and the next day came.

We each took various exams.

Since we were busy taking exams all day, we didn’t have time to meet with friends, and we had to go straight to club activities.

In my case, there was a club room assigned by Professor Mosan, so I headed there.

It was a quite remote location.

There was already someone in the club room besides me.

“Uh, um.”

Professor Mosan clearly said that I was the only one assigned to the Concentration Management Department.

What is this?

“…Um, so, Princess?”

“…Is this the Concentration Management Department?”

“…Um, yes, that’s right.”

Ignoring the fact that the tone was very stiff, why is this person here?

Astell.

The princess of the kingdom.

Astel.

“They said that if you come here, you can make up for your lack of study.”

“…Who are you?”

“The students of the academy told me that.”

No matter how you look at it, this doesn’t seem like a good situation.

“…Well, for now, I am the head of this department.”

“…I greet the head. Hello, my name is Astel.”

Receiving a graceful greeting, I observed Astel while brushing off the goosebumps that had risen on my arms.

…Certainly, the tone was excessively stiff, but since it wasn’t my place to say anything, I asked a question appropriately.

If she came here by mistake, I should send her back.

“Why did you come here?”

“…I took the exam, but I couldn’t read anything.”

Huh?

“…What?”

“…The language used in the kingdom and the language used in the country were different. I received a poor grade on the exam, so I came here to fill my shortcomings.”

“…Wait, then why are we having this conversation?”

Astell touched her earring slightly.

“…It’s a translation magic.”

…Ah.

I thought she was a mysterious princess.

But she’s just a stubborn princess.

No, why did she come to the kingdom academy if the language doesn’t even match?

As I was shaking my head, Astel approached me and politely bowed her head.

“I look forward to working with you. Head.”

“…Um, yes, well…”

I hope she doesn’t show courtesy if she’s giving me the creeps.

It was a awkward first meeting.