Chapter 5: How to Avoid an Engagement(8)

Heh, I haven’t forgotten your mocking from before!

Now that I’ve come first, I decided to hold onto Lady Kerti’s hand firmly to get an apology from her.

“Your previous words, Lady Kerti, really motivated me.”

Honestly, Lady Kerti wasn’t entirely useless. Her mocking remarks made me study even harder, and as a result, I ended up being first. Hmm, maybe I should thank her.

After I held Lady Kerti’s hand, she almost started crying as she bowed her head.

“Hic, really…”

“Really?”

“S-sob, I’m sorry…”

“Sorry?”

I smiled warmly and repeated her words. I hadn’t meant to scare her; it was just a joke. She seemed to be quite scared. Did I look that fierce?

“Hic, I’m sorry…”

Seeing her hiccuping and apologizing was so cute that I couldn’t help but smile widely.

“It’s okay! Here, wipe your tears with this!”

I handed her a handkerchief. Lady Kerti hesitated for a moment, then took the handkerchief and slowly wiped her tears. Hmm, she kind of reminds me of a younger sister!

“Also, drink this. It’s Alec’s water, but he won’t mind if you don’t drink it.”

“Eh, my water!”

I could hear Alec’s anguished cry about his water being taken away, but I ignored it for now. Lady Kerti, who was struggling with hiccups, needed the water more urgently, so I told her to hold her breath and try drinking it.

“…Oh? It’s gone!”

After several attempts, Lady Kerti managed to stop her hiccups and smiled brightly with joy.

“I, um… thank you, Lady Radel. I apologize once more for my rudeness earlier.”

Lady Kerti turned out to be kinder than I expected. She formally apologized to me, twisting her hair with her fingers. Hmm? But this time, she doesn’t have her roll-up hair… What a pity.

As I stared at Lady Kerti’s dramatic transformation from roll-up hair to straight hair, someone behind me tugged gently at my hair.

“Ugh?”

It didn’t hurt, but it was surprising. Thinking that this seemed familiar, I turned around to see a familiar man standing there. That orange hair…

“Huan!”

Oh, it’s been a while! It seemed like the first time meeting him since the party. Lately, I’ve been so busy with exams that I hadn’t seen a strand of his hair, but here he is!

“Ugh, Lord Huan… hic!”

“…What’s this?”

Seeing Huan made Lady Kerti start hiccuping again.

Oh no, she had just stopped.

This clearly was Huan’s fault. Even though Huan hadn’t done anything, I felt that he should be held responsible. So, I shouted at him outright.

“You’re responsible!”

“Hmm?”

Huan looked startled and flustered. His cheeks were turning red, though I didn’t know why he suddenly seemed embarrassed. I pressed him relentlessly.

“I said, take responsibility!”

“What, what?”

What do you mean by what? I’m telling you to take responsibility for Kerti’s hiccups. Are you asking me to take responsibility? I’ve never seen you so flustered without even touching you. Are you sick or something?

“Huan?”

“I-I can’t take responsibility!”

When I stared at him persistently with a mysterious gaze, Huan’s face turned bright red, and he ran down the hallway. It was so pitiful and beautiful, like the back of a heroine, that I couldn’t help but admire it.

But why is he running away?

Huan seems to have changed in some way since I last saw him. I thought about whether I should follow him, but I was worried something might happen. Ugh, looks like I have to run again.

“Kerti, if you do as I instructed, it will stop again!”

“Yes, hiccup, I understand!”

Leaving Kerti behind, I ran hard and saw orange in the distance. That flashy orange hair must be Huan!

Looking out the window, I slowly approached Huan, who was cooling his red face.

“Huan, why did you run away?”

“Ugh……”

As I got closer, Huan hesitated. Is he really sick? I reached out carefully to check his temperature, but remembering that Huan dislikes physical contact, I pulled my hand back. I need to stop Huan’s face from turning any redder.

“You, you’re saying something strange!”

“Huh?”

Is he talking about the responsibility thing? It seems Huan has misunderstood something.

I explained to Huan in detail that it was a misunderstanding. As Huan listened to the explanation, his face twisted more and more.

“Don’t say things that can be misunderstood.”

Huh? He’s the one who ran off after misunderstanding things? I let out a hollow laugh at his absurdity. Huan seemed a bit embarrassed and quickly changed the subject.

“Anyway, you have a summons.”

“Huh, from where?”

“From the principal’s office.”

Wait, did I do something wrong? When I looked at Huan with wide eyes, he shrugged his shoulders. It seems Huan also doesn’t know why I’m being summoned.

Am I being expelled from the academy? I don’t think I did anything majorly wrong. Or maybe they’re giving me an award? I walked to the principal’s office, imagining all sorts of scenarios in my head.

***

The principal’s office, which I visited for the first time, was very spacious and quiet. Inside the large room were the principal, as well as the professors of magical theory and swordsmanship, all waiting for me with solemn expressions.

Nervously, I walked toward the principal while my legs trembled.

“Ah, are they really expelling me from the academy? After becoming the top student, it seems too harsh to be expelled. I hope it’s good news. I sat in the chair that had been prepared and looked at the principal.

The principal had a kind appearance, but the atmosphere was heavy. As I stared blankly at the neatly dressed principal, I suddenly doubted my eyes.

There was nothing where his hair should have been.

“Radel Karel.”

“Yes, yes!”

As I glanced at the reflection of the sunlight on the principal’s hair, I quickly responded when he called my name.

“Do you know why I called you today?”

“Um, expulsion?”

When I spoke honestly, the principal’s eyes widened. Then he burst into a loud laugh that shook the principal’s office.

Oh my, Principal?

“Haha, just as the rumors say.”

The elderly principal said this and handed me a piece of paper. As I looked down at the paper for a while, I realized it was an application for a transfer.

“This is…”

“I’ve seen Radel participating in the swordsmanship tournament before.”

“Oh my, did you see that embarrassing moment?” Remembering that dark history once more, I flushed red. I’ll have to kick the blanket tonight.

“It seems you have more talent in swordsmanship than in magic. So, I’m cautiously suggesting that you consider transferring.”

“Transferring…”

Indeed, I had a bit more talent in swordsmanship than in magic. Since I entered the magic department because of Eden, I had no regrets about it. But this is so sudden.

As I fell into deep thought for a moment, the magic theory professor, who had been standing quietly next to the principal, cautiously spoke up.

“Radel, I would also prefer if you transferred to the swordsmanship department.”

Oh, could it be for my talent and dreams? I looked at the professor, who was smiling kindly, with shining eyes. But after hearing the professor’s next words, I kept my mouth shut.

“Because I don’t want the classroom to turn into a mess during magic lessons anymore.”

Well, I couldn’t deny that. Lacking any talent in magic, I always turned the classroom into a mess during magic classes. For example, trying to create a small flame and ending up exploding the classroom, or attempting to create a small light and blowing up the classroom…

Anyway, I clearly knew that there were many ways to turn the classroom into a mess.

“Explosion…”

The swordsmanship professor’s expression turned pale upon hearing the magic theory professor’s words. It seemed that they thought of me as some sort of strange student who would blow up anything.

“I’m a harmless student, though. Oh dear.”

“Well, transferring is fine. But can I do it as I please? Aren’t there any approvals or procedures I need to follow?”

Transferring would involve complicated procedures, and my father’s consent would also be necessary. Therefore, even if I wanted to move, there would be various issues preventing it. After asking with the paper in hand, the principal gave a kind smile and said,

“Let’s just do it roughly since it’s a hassle.”

“Yes.”

It seems the principal has a rather straightforward personality. The principal handed me a pen and asked me to fill out the form right away. Since it seemed like a bother and I also preferred to do it now, I took the pen and filled out the application.

“After all, when you first entered, the aptitude test was for swordsmanship, not magic, right? So, transferring now is no problem.”

“I see.”

As I filled out the form, I listened to the principal’s words. The process was much simpler than I expected, and I was able to transfer easily. I handed the completed form to the principal.

“Hm, then from next week, Radel will be in the swordsmanship department.”

“Wow, that’s great.”

Submitting the application didn’t mean the transfer would happen immediately. However, if it’s next week, I believe there’s a field trip planned, so it seemed like it would be quite busy.

“Radel.”

As I was about to leave the principal’s office, the professor of magic theory stopped me from behind. I turned my head from the doorknob to see the professor smiling at me with a friendly expression, like a neighborhood grandpa.

“If you ever want some snacks, come visit anytime.”

“Ah, Professor!”

We are indeed snack buddies! It seemed the professor was quite sad about parting ways with me. Of course, we might run into each other around the academy, but it would still be lonely for a teacher to suddenly have a student leave. I covered my mouth with my hand and dramatically left the principal’s office, like a sad farewell scene from a movie.

I’ll definitely come back for snacks!

“Eek!”

Coming out of the principal’s office in high spirits, I was greeted by an exhilarating scream. Oh, my eardrums nearly burst…

Hearing the screams and cheers of women echoing through the hallway, I easily identified the cause. The crown prince and his fan club had occupied one corner of the corridor for a fan meeting. While the excited fan club members were in high spirits, the crown prince looked pale and exhausted.

Damn, we made eye contact. 

I was staring blankly at the crown prince when our eyes met.

“Are you not going to help? I helped you get into the party, so you’re not going to help me now, are you?”

I could almost hear what his eyes were saying. I sighed deeply. Why can’t I quickly avoid eye contact? Blaming my reflexes, I slowly approached the crown prince.

Honestly, I didn’t want to help the crown prince. Dealing with those overzealous fan club members and chasing them away was too much of a hassle for me. However, having received help from Eden at the last party, I felt obliged to repay him. Ugh, it’s such a bother.

“Radel Karel.”

As I approached, Eden gave a faint smile. When the crown prince called my name, several female students started glaring at me with fiery eyes. Though I was used to such looks by now and wasn’t afraid, it was still unpleasant.

“Your Highness, I see you’re here!”

Ignoring all the stares, I smiled brightly. At times like these, one must put on a brave face. I looked at the infuriating crown prince as if I was thrilled to see him. My facial muscles were straining and it hurt terribly.

“What, weren’t you giving up?”

“Hah, what makes you think I would address His Highness so familiarly?”

Even though I had only called him His Highness and not by his name, the girls began to show signs of jealousy and envy. Oh dear, what if you glare at me like that? I’m not scared at all.

With thoughts of how bothersome everything was and what I might have for lunch today, I was getting closer to Eden when something suddenly popped up in front of me.

Ah, that’s it! Is that the basic form of bullying—tripping?

A smug-faced girl had abruptly stuck out her foot. This was clearly an attempt to make me trip and fall in an ugly manner.

While a typical heroine might have fallen for such a trick, unfortunately, I wasn’t a heroine. Using the athletic skills I had been praised for by Vivian, I easily jumped over the girl’s foot.

“Uh…?”