Crossline Academy was in an uproar the moment the new semester began.

It was because rumors had spread that the second prince of the empire was in a relationship with a commoner. Some refused to believe it, but when they saw the two of them walking the campus grounds together, they had no choice but to accept it as fact.

He had always come to the lecture hall with his friends or his younger sister. But today he had arrived with Jeanne, and holding her hand at that, which caused an even greater stir. The faces of the two walking hand in hand were both flushed red, so there was no room to doubt they were actually together.

“So the rumor from yesterday wasn’t just a rumor.”

“Apparently not.”

The ladies close to Lilian glanced over at her with concern.

If it hadn’t been something Lilian had planned herself, she might have been displeased. But since it was her own doing, she was nothing but pleased.

It was a long-term plan, so she hoped dearly it would succeed to the end. She had told her brother that if he started dating Jeanne, he should make sure she couldn’t keep her mind on her studies.

“I heard the rumor yesterday and thought it couldn’t be real, but I was actually surprised it was. Don’t the two of them suit each other well?”

“Really? I’m glad Lilian thinks so.”

Everyone’s expressions relaxed with relief. It wasn’t as though she would be jealous of her brother being in a relationship.

And it wasn’t even a sincere one at that. She wanted to see the look on Jeanne’s face after her grades fell apart.

She wanted her to fall from the place where she had always been the one everyone expected everything of.

‘The stares are something else today.’

She had always felt Princess Lilian’s gaze on her, but today it was a notch more intense than usual. She was almost curious what method she would have used if Jeanne hadn’t accepted.

Watching her tremble all the way until graduation might have been entertaining too, but that could breed resentment.

That person……

With the second prince……

Every time she moved between classrooms for lectures, gazes kept finding her. Jeanne enjoyed every one of them.

That morning, when she had come out of the dormitory to head to the Academy, Ruhir had been waiting for her.

He had asked, face flushing, whether it was all right if he came to walk her every day from now on, and she nodded. She could only think it was impressive how much effort he was putting in for his sister’s sake.

A mischievous feeling came over her, and the moment she took his hand, she could see him go completely still. He hadn’t pulled away, fortunately, but she was going to do far more than this going forward. Would he react like this every time?

“Jeanne.”

“Yes?”

“You like reading, don’t you?”

“Yes. I do.”

The hectic first day of the new semester had finally come to an end. When lectures were over, Ruhir came to her side and asked if she liked books.

She had always stayed in the library since going outside the Academy cost money. And she genuinely liked books.

“I know an antique bookshop. Would you like to go together?”

“Don’t you have people to walk back with?”

“…… I told them I want to go around with Jeanne from now on.”

To anyone who didn’t know better, he looked like someone lost in the sweetness of a first relationship.

The fact that his real intention was to keep her from studying alone was amusing. Jeanne laughed quietly and nodded, and the whispers around them grew louder.

Someone said people were already placing bets on how quickly the two of them would break up. How wonderful it would be if she could join that bet.

She had not the slightest intention of breaking up anytime soon. She was going to date him for a full year.

In truth, even after eight years at the Academy, she was not familiar with the market district. She had always gone to the campus cafeteria or the campus bookshop inside the Academy. Most of the living expenses and scholarship money she received had to be saved, so it couldn’t be helped.

She followed Ruhir down an unfamiliar road and arrived in front of a stately antique bookshop.

It’s clearly been very well kept.

“Have you been to this antique bookshop before?”

“Mm, no. This is my first time.”

“Actually, this shop was a gift from my uncle some time ago.”

It looked like a lot of work to manage, so there was probably someone else handling it. Then again, this was the Academy in the heart of the imperial capital, so it made sense that a prince or princess might own a building here. The current imperial family was said to be especially close among siblings.

“Welcome, Master Ruhir.”

The inside of the antique bookshop had a cozy feel to it. There were sofas and chairs and tables that were just right for reading. Even a quick glance from the entrance showed books tucked into every corner in great numbers.

“Eric. This is Miss Jeanne Nova. She’ll be coming with me often from now on.”

“Good day, Miss Nova.”

“Hello.”

Ruhir showed Jeanne around the interior of the antique bookshop. She had half expected books to be books, but the quality of the information was different. It was several levels above what the Academy library held.

These were the kind of volumes found only in the professors’ library, the one students were not permitted to enter.

“Would you like to come here often from now on?”

“Really? Is that all right?”

“Yes. Of course.”

Her excitement was plain to see, and he felt reassured. The collection of old texts in the antique bookshop was vast enough that years of reading wouldn’t be enough to get through it all.

They had no bearing on exams, but they were old texts filled with valuable information. He had watched Jeanne reading books and studying in the library steadily for years.

“The shop is only open weekday mornings and closes when the Academy lets out. It doesn’t open on weekends. But if you’re with me, you can come any time on weekends.”

“…… Really?”

There was a limit to how much one could improve in magic through Academy coursework alone. Many people studied old texts to advance further, but old texts didn’t come cheap.

Every shelf was packed with old texts she had only ever heard of by rumor. How long would it take to get through all of these?

If she mastered all the magic contained here, could she grow stronger? Would she then be able to go searching for her mother’s last traces without hiring a mercenary?

Of course, an ordinary person couldn’t simply read old texts and freely acquire magic from them. But what about someone who already had sufficient talent? Jeanne Nova was among those with exceptional aptitude for magic.

She hadn’t expected things to turn out this way, but she was genuinely glad she had started dating Ruhir.

“Thank you for bringing me here. Ruhir.”

“Not at all. Honestly, using a place like this as a date spot is a little, well, but I’m the one who should be thankful that you like it.”

He laughed a little awkwardly, perhaps feeling a touch guilty himself. But Jeanne was genuinely grateful, so she pulled him into a hug.

She had thought she would only be able to take his first experience, but this too. If over the course of a year she could gain strength rather than Academy grades.

She had braced herself to be pushed away when she hugged him, but Ruhir didn’t do anything. When Jeanne tilted her head up slightly, his cheeks were flushed red.

…… Was the second prince perhaps weak to the opposite s*x? Or was it because she was his first partner in a relationship? Or perhaps it was because she was pretty and that was having an effect on him.

Born to a pretty mother, Jeanne had never been found lacking in looks wherever she went.

Her mother had always been proud, saying Jeanne was pretty because she took after her. Though being a commoner had certainly come with its share of unpleasant moments.

It seemed she was to the prince’s taste, which was a relief. Jeanne pulled him into a tighter embrace.

In that place that smelled of coffee and books, Jeanne held him for a little while. When she finally pulled away, she could see the flush had spread all the way down to his neck.

“Would it be all right if I browse and read some of the old texts?”

“Y, yes…… as many as you like.”

He cleared his throat quietly, steadied himself, and nodded. The moment she heard that, Jeanne got up right away and headed to the section where the magic texts were gathered. Since she had to finish before dinnertime, she pulled out only a reasonable number.

Then she sat down in a chair and began reading immediately. Ruhir watched her for a moment, then brewed some tea and set it in front of her. Not only that, but he also brought out a dessert that had no powder in it.

If she could come here every day going forward, she would have to.