“Louelle, I have something to say.”

Fazel spoke in a serious voice.

“You and I are rivals before we’re engaged. So let’s study separately from now on.”

“Really?”

I didn’t particularly think of him as a rival. I listened carefully to Fazel’s words, cautiously brought up during dinner. If that’s what he thought, then to him, I was a rival.

“I’m going to study alone at home. And I hate people who ask for my notes.”

He grumbled, seemingly recalling something that happened recently.

Fazel’s notes were popular.

Quite a few students asked him for them. But Fazel refused.

“Okay. Then I’ll go to the library by myself.”

Fazel nodded.

“My guard knights will go with me too, so don’t worry.”

I reassured Fazel further with those last words. He smiled.

“Thanks.”

“It’s fine. If it bothers you, studying separately is better.”

We ate together every day and saw each other often anyway. I decided to stay apart from Fazel only during the exam period.

During exam periods, couples would have library dates while studying. Since Fazel and I got along so well, everyone seemed to think we’d be together at the library.

I sat in the library with my books, studying, when someone approached. Since he was a boy I didn’t know, I lifted my head to look at him.

“Why are you alone?”

His polite, courteous manner of asking was quite cute. He seemed to have expectations. I was somewhat popular, after all.

“Fazel decided to study at home.”

“Did you fight?”

“Not at all!”

I shook my head and said. However, the boy seemed to be eyeing the seat next to me, now that I was alone.

“Would you like to study together?”

“That would be uncomfortable.”

I said flatly. Then I started organizing my notes, and when I paid him no attention, the boy left with regret.

I had to hear the same story from four boys at the library.

* * *

“This is really annoying.”

I ordered sweet tea and dessert, soothing my study stress. After taking a sip of tea, my eyes sparkled. Drinking tea like this really did relieve stress.

Then Liliet, sitting in the seat across from me, asked.

“Can’t you go with Fazel?”

Liliet and I had now become best friends. I looked at her and shook my head.

“Fazel’s sensitive about studying with other people. It’s fine if it’s just the two of us, but there are many people in the library.”

Besides, he hated showing his notes. Previously, when another student asked to borrow his notes, he’d been stern. Part of the reason he didn’t go to the library was the hassle of students who might ask to borrow his notes.

Knowing Fazel’s personality, I didn’t particularly ask him to come with me.

Did I need to go together while making Fazel uncomfortable?

I smiled while drinking my tea. After studying, drinking tea with just Liliet had now become part of my daily routine.

I put a round scone in my mouth and ate it when Liliet, who’d been pondering something, stared at me intently.

“You’re going to the library tomorrow too, right?”

“Of course.”

“Come with me! I have to protect you, Louelle.”

She even knew how to say such cool lines. Liliet had fallen for me and was genuinely worried. Grateful for her feelings, I grasped her hand tightly.

Liliet and I started going to the library together to study.

When I went with her, this time the boys started clinging to Liliet instead of me.

While we were both troubled, Caslan, who’d come to the library separately, chased away a boy who’d been persistently sticking to Liliet’s side.

* * *

Fazel had lunch with Caslan. Since they finished the same class together, they ended up eating together somewhat unexpectedly.

“Fazel, you haven’t been going around with Louelle lately.”

Fazel lifted his head slightly.

“Ah, it’s more comfortable studying alone.”

Fazel spoke casually. Then Caslan looked at him and brought up something that happened recently.

“Do you know the number of kids confessing to Louelle has increased?”

“That happened?”

“Liliet couldn’t stand watching, so she’s been going with her, but they cling even more.”

Caslan had been going around with them lately because of that. At those words, Fazel’s hand trembled slightly.

Louelle hadn’t mentioned such things.

“That’s quite annoying.”

Fazel picked up his tray without finishing his meal.

“I’m leaving first.”

“Where are you going?”

“The library!”

Fazel spoke matter-of-factly and stood up.

Watching him hurry, Caslan smiled quietly.

“The rumor that they’re not getting along is false.”

The boys clinging to ridiculous rumors were fools.

Caslan smiled, thinking he probably wouldn’t need to be by Louelle and Liliet’s side today.

* * *

Before entering the library, I met with Liliet and waited for Caslan. But then Fazel came running to the library, and for a moment I thought I’d seen wrong.

“Fazel?”

Only after he came close could I be certain. I asked him in a trembling voice.

“What’s wrong? What brings you to the library?”

Fazel approached matter-of-factly.

“I heard from Caslan.”

“Ah, there were some annoying things.”

“You should tell me when things like that happen!”

Fazel spoke loudly, which was rare for him.

“I’m your fiancé!”

I couldn’t help but raise the corners of my mouth. I should apologize to him for getting angry, but strangely I felt good.

Seeing my mouth corners rise in a grin, Fazel’s eyebrows moved slightly.

“Don’t smile.”

“But I feel good.”

Fazel was genuinely worried about me. How could I not feel good!

“Let’s go to the library together from now on.”

Fazel stood next to me and walked slowly. He was matching the pace of my and Liliet’s steps.

“Okay.”

And so Fazel and I ended up studying together at the library. Fazel sat next to me and kept checking whether people were coming around.

“If they come, I’ll refuse on my own.”

I tried to be considerate so he could study, but Fazel shook his head.

“I don’t like other men approaching my fiancée.”

He sent a sharp gaze to a boy approaching. The boy looked at Fazel and me, then turned his body slightly and walked elsewhere.

With Fazel here, no one approached at all.

“It’s nice being comfortable.”

After saying that, I started studying again. Since I liked studying in an open space while talking moderately, Liliet and I chatted while organizing, and Fazel was looking at notes he’d already finished organizing.

Liliet’s eyes sparkled looking at Fazel’s notes.

While he briefly went to the bathroom, Liliet asked me.

“Fazel’s notes really seem well-organized.”

“Right.”

I knew from studying together. Fazel really organized well.

“I want to ask to see them too.”

“It won’t work.”

Even I, his fiancée, don’t ask. I smiled while looking at Liliet’s notes.

“You organized well.”

“But it’s weak compared to Fazel’s notes.”

Liliet consoled her disappointment.

Fazel, who’d returned from the bathroom, sat down. He looked at Liliet’s eyes and became stern.

“No.”

“I know.”

Liliet also knew Fazel’s personality, so she didn’t pester him.

“Fazel, just show me one page. Then Liliet will organize using that as reference.”

Fazel sighed.

“Fine.”

He obediently held out his notebook to Liliet. Then Liliet looked through the notebook thoroughly and gave it back to Fazel.

“The organization is really detailed and neat. But even if I try to copy that, it won’t help. It’s the realm of talent.”

Liliet said regretfully.

“But Liliet finished organizing quickly. My hands are slow so I can’t organize fast.”

After saying that, I opened my history book. But then Fazel took out a notebook from his bag.

“Look at this and organize.”

“Fazel?”

Fazel showed me his notes!

“You saw them a lot when we studied together.”

“I did.”

“Louelle is fine.”

While calling me his rival, he eagerly showed me his notes. Feeling our relationship was now more than friends, I patted his head.

Then Fazel’s face flushed.

Seeing that, Liliet grumbled.

“It’s hard for people without fiancés.”

This was all thanks to securing him early.

I looked at Fazel’s notes and organized them.

* * *

Aegis slowly examined the documents. Fazel had taken first place in the Academy again this time. It was a score close to perfect.

Second place was Caslan, third place was Liliet and Louelle. However, in Louelle’s case, she received a perfect score in one subject on the Academy exam, which became a topic. 

It had been a long time since a perfect score appeared on an Academy exam that made problems so no subject would have a perfect score.

In that sense, Louelle also received as much attention as Fazel.

“Truly remarkable.”

Aegis smiled slightly while examining the documents.

Nertian had decided to take the Academy exam next year. However, from what he saw, passing was impossible. Even if he passed, he didn’t know if he could surpass Fazel’s grades.

An outstanding illegitimate child.

On top of that, he used magic freely.

“Though Lady Louelle approached him anticipating this.”

At first, he’d let Fazel live as a backup plan to use if something went wrong with Nertian.

But now.

Aegis slowly stood up. When he stood, the butler entered and bowed his head.

“I’m going to the Academy.”

“Suddenly, sir?”

“I think I need to meet Fazel.”

The butler quickly prepared. In the room with a cool atmosphere, Aegis smiled.

What choice would Fazel make?

Watching that seemed like it would be interesting.

* * *

“Fazel is really amazing. Top of the class.”

I nodded. I felt good that Fazel, who had more desire to study than anyone and was obsessed with grades, got good results.

“If we sold Fazel’s notes, we’d make money.”

Caslan said, looking at Fazel sitting next to him. Then Fazel quickly put the notebook he was holding into his bag.

“I’m not selling. Being top is important.”

I expressed disappointment.

“Can’t we sell them after Fazel graduates later?”

At my suggestion, Fazel’s eyes wavered. Selling after graduation seemed appealing, and he pondered carefully.

“Then I’ll buy them too!”

Liliet raised her hand.

“We’ll have already graduated by then, so is there a need?”

I was curious about Liliet’s feelings. Then she smiled and said.

“I’ll pass them down to my child. I want my child to come to the Academy too.”

I tilted my head at her words.

As for me.

If I had a child with Fazel, I wanted to let them live freely. If they didn’t want to enter the Academy, why force it?

I just needed to build up enough for the child to live as they wanted.

I smiled brightly and asked Fazel.

“What about you, Fazel?”

“What?”

“Well, if we have a child later, will you make them enter the Academy?”

At my question, Fazel’s face, which had been blank for a moment, flushed.

“What are you suddenly saying?”

He gulped down the drink he was having. Fanning himself with his hand, seemingly cooling his hot cheeks, he glanced at me.

What did it matter—by the time we came of age, if he didn’t fall in love with someone, he and I would officially be engaged.

I smiled slightly, and Fazel sighed silently.

“We should just follow the child’s decision. We can’t force something this difficult and hard.”

After saying that, Fazel looked at me.

“Say things like that when we’re alone, okay? Think about us who don’t have fiancés.”

Complaints burst from Caslan’s mouth. I shrugged.

“Okay.”

I should have such conversations alone.

We organized opinions for the group project and stood up. In the carriage returning home, I tapped Fazel’s shoulder with my hand.

“Fazel, congratulations on first place.”

At my congratulations, Fazel smiled.