episode_0023

“Okay… the preliminary work is complete.”

Upon hearing my comment that books don’t suit her, Rachel’s expression turned sharp as if her perception had shifted from a good person to a slightly unpleasant one. Clutching the book tightly, she left the library.

Now that her opinion of me has definitely soured, it would be perfect to do something she dislikes, but it’s not the right time. If we fall out too quickly, I might not be able to retaliate at the right moment. The intensity of harassment could escalate beyond reason. After reflecting on this, she might even apologize to me.

If that situation arises, there would be no choice but to reciprocate or accept the apology. In that case, not only would retaliation be impossible, but regret would also be out of the question.

That’s why the time is not right yet.

When the time is right, then I’ll act.

Repeating the word “time” three times, I rose from the library and headed straight to the Royal Class.

Today is the day when the first-year students enroll. We, the second-years, go through several classes before the first-years arrive to welcome them.

The class showdown is to determine the class rankings before the first-years arrive. It’s to show the first-years how superior one class is over another. Specifically, it’s to demonstrate the strength of the Royal Class, although that ship has already sailed.

I completely ruined the class showdown using Ayla.

Now Lulu will listen to me very carefully no matter what I say. Perhaps she won’t accept an apology? I harbored such futile hope.

Well, that kind of behavior is exciting in its own way.

With these thoughts in mind, I arrived at the Royal Class once again, putting on the Royal Class exclusive hat before entering.

*Creak.*

The door smoothly opened, enveloping me in various colors of light.

I wondered what party was happening today, but it wasn’t a party.

“Yustia, what are you doing here?”

It was simply because the First Princess, Yustia, was using one of her moonlight spells, illuminating the classroom in various colors.

I asked her why she was doing such a thing, and Yustia replied as if it were obvious.

“Oh! Mirae… no, Shira! I’ve been waiting for you! Today is the day of the first-year enrollment ceremony, right? As both a princess and a future queen, I couldn’t miss it, so I’ve been waiting like this!”

However, her words were completely contradictory.

If she was waiting for me, why did she say she couldn’t miss the first-year enrollment ceremony? If it wasn’t a contradiction, she should have said she was here waiting for the first-years. What does waiting for me have to do with the first-year enrollment ceremony?

Baffled, I approached Yustia.

“That doesn’t seem to concern me.”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t say things like that with a bright smile.”

Yustia responded with a bright smile, saying, “What do you mean?” with a look that seemed to have everything in the world.

She appeared so delighted that other students started laughing along.

As much as Yustia may seem cute, beautiful, and elegant to other students, she doesn’t meet my standards.

To the other students, they probably can’t hear what Yustia is saying. The reason her loud voice isn’t heard is undoubtedly due to the influence of her moon magic.

I don’t know exactly what skill it is, but her ability creates a barrier that blocks all spoken words.

“So, why are you really here?”

Sitting on the chair next to Yustia’s desk, I stared through her, asking for the real reason.

Yustetia, after playfully descending from her desk with a remark to stop fooling around, gazed at me intently and said, “I just wanted to enjoy the entrance ceremony with my future husband.”

“Well, it’s quite an honor, isn’t it?”

“An honor, you say? I must admit, I quite like you.”

“Yes, my uncouth princess.”

“Yes, my uncouth future husband?”

As they exchanged coarse words in a verbal spar, the sound of the classroom door opening interrupted them.

Startled by the noise, they ceased their childish argument and took their seats.

Yes, I was seated there.

Then who had taken the seat?

“Yustetia, isn’t this a bit much? We’re not even officially engaged yet.”

“What does it matter? As long as we don’t announce the engagement, the plan remains unaffected, right?”

“······.”

With a knowing look, Yustetia flashed a sly smile at me and mentioned ‘plan.’

For me, plans were only about escaping. Could it be that this princess had caught wind of my escape plan?

No, that couldn’t be. No matter how wise and clever Yustetia was, she was still a woman of the past. She wouldn’t be familiar with modern terms.

So, if she was just guessing roughly… I could probably brush it off.

“Well, I don’t know about any plans, but for now, please come down.”

“Fine, I understand.”

Swiftly changing the subject, I instructed Yustetia to come down.

Presumably, Yustetia, now on the floor, left the classroom to prepare for the entrance ceremony…

“I’ve come down. The floor is clean. Did you wipe it with a wet towel?”

“····Why are you like this, really…”

No, she hadn’t.

Boldly, almost nonchalantly, a person claiming to be the First Princess knelt beside me, looking up at me as if to tease and provoke me.

Most of the students in the room were shocked by this scene, including the professor.

The mere presence of a princess in the classroom was surprising enough, but to see her smiling brightly and asking how the floor was cleaned naturally led to further astonishment.

My head was spinning. Thank goodness Ayla, Lulu, and Rachel aren’t here. If they were, the aftermath would have been catastrophic…

Ayla’s jealousy, Lulu’s anger, Rachel’s anger towards seeing me make a royal kneel before me in the future…

If they were here… Oh, I don’t even want to think about it.

“T-The princess…? Well, since the princess is in our Royal Class, I guess we can understand… If you suddenly kneel like this, we’ll all be executed!!!”

The panicked professor hurriedly approached Yustetia, who had knelt, reaching out a hand, but Yustetia instead brushed it away, saying, “I’m sorry, but this is where I belong. It’s part of the plan…”

“Please get up… Just sit down… I surrender.”

“Heh, you should have done that from the beginning.”

Yustetia, wearing a triumphant expression, climbed back onto my knees.

The professor could only stare in astonishment at the sight of both of us.

The princess kneeling once, then sitting on the knees of someone considered the weakest, would have surprised anyone.

“What on earth is happening here?”

“I-I don’t know…! The princess suddenly on the weakling’s knees…!!! Oh, I’m so envious, it’s driving me crazy…!”

“Don’t spout lines like something out of a novel, please.”

“Ah····! The princess, the sun of the kingdom····! On the knees of such a vulgar commoner····!!! Ughhh····! I will kill her.”

“Don’t imitate the cliché of extras who tear handkerchiefs as if jealous.”

“I will kill····! I swear I will kill them all····!! For meddling with commoners····!”

“The first part was fine, but the latter is not great. What’s ‘meddling with commoners’?”

Pointing out the light novel-esque tone of the students spouting lines like extras, she now plugged her ears.

I can’t hear anything now. I know nothing. Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh.

With my ears blocked, as I went ahhh, Eustetia looked at me with a puzzled expression.

But I didn’t look back at Eustetia. I only wished this time would pass quickly.

I don’t know why Ayla isn’t visible, Lulu seems shocked, and Rachel appears engrossed in her book.

Skipping class is freedom; they probably left happily. Maybe Rachel got surprised by the time and won’t come running?

However, it was already too late.

“Sigh… Let’s discuss this later. Everyone! Get up! It’s time to go to the auditorium for the entrance ceremony!”

Students rose from their seats at Professor Silin Pholos’s booming command.

Eustetia and I followed suit with those students…

“…Don’t increase the weight?”

“Pet me.”

“……..”

I couldn’t get up.

What’s wrong with this princess pestering me so rudely? Using moon magic to increase her weight, the princess appeared to be an annoying presence.

Many questions flooded my mind, but overthinking won’t lead to any conclusion.

Let’s not take it seriously; maybe petting her will solve everything.

-Swish, swish.

“Let’s go.”

“Hehehe… Ah, ah…! Cough… Yes, let’s go.”

Eustetia, her melting face quickly hidden, walked elegantly towards the auditorium, making a clicking sound with her shoes.

As we entered the academy auditorium simultaneously, we could feel the warm gazes of many students.

Oh, just to clarify, it’s about me. Eustetia receives admiring looks, while I get the cold ones.

This hierarchical world is filthy. I’ll abolish something like a king someday… Oh, that won’t work. But rulers must exist.

Clearing my throat, trying to find my seat, I even checked the benches on the outskirts when my spot wasn’t visible.

However, there was no seat assigned to me on the outer benches either.

Puzzled, I turned my head back.

“Hehe… Hehehehe… Hehe…”

Eustetia was laughing wickedly.

No, not wickedly, but more like… holding back laughter… that kind of appearance.

“A lost master… Hehe… Hehehe… Haha… Like a lost puppy… Hehe… So cute…”

Unable to contain her laughter anymore, Eustetia mocked me.

A lost puppy metaphor? Isn’t that too much? Well, it’s true, so I can’t argue.

But seriously, where did my seat go? I need to sit, right?

Thinking the same, I wandered around the auditorium once more. As Eustetia, still chuckling, grabbed my shoulder and, with teary eyes, said to me in a muffled voice.

I wondered what this princess was about to say, listening intently.

“Oh~ That was hilarious… Your seat is right next to mine. On the stage.”

….

Oh.

I must have looked dumbfounded.

This is messed up.