Side Story 1.1

“Delia, don’t you think Kartan is really amazing?”  

“W-what, Kartan?”  

Now in her third year, Delia was startled by the murmuring of her new roommate, Bianca.  

“Yes, Kartan. Kartan Roxen.”  

How should one respond when their roommate praises their lover?  

Delia found herself in a small dilemma.  

She couldn’t outright deny it.  

But agreeing too enthusiastically also felt a bit awkward.  

Even Delia, the top student at the academy, couldn’t easily find an answer to this problem.  

“Hmm, I guess so.”  

In the end, the words that came out of Delia’s mouth were vague.  

If someone were to ask why she couldn’t agree too openly, despite being Kartan’s lover…  

It was because both Kartan and Delia had decided to keep their relationship a secret.  

However, Bianca, unaware of this, seemed dissatisfied with Delia’s ambiguous response.  

“It’s not just ‘I guess so,’ Delia! Where else in our academy could you find someone like Kartan?”  

Bianca began passionately extolling Kartan’s virtues.  

“He’s tall, broad-shouldered, has a sharp nose, great skin. And his eyes? Where else would you find such languidly seductive features?”  

Bianca’s second round of praises continued with even more fervor.  

This time, the topic was his abilities and background.  

“The Roxen Family is wealthy, and his grades—he was valedictorian throughout his first year… Ah.”  

Bianca suddenly remembered that Delia and Kartan were rivals for the top spot and paused mid-sentence.  

“S-sorry. Now that I think about it, he’s your rival too. Was I praising Kartan too much in front of you?”  

Bianca gave an awkward smile.  

While it might not matter to others, excessively praising Kartan in front of Delia might have been a bit inconsiderate.  

“It’s fine. He’s not really my rival or anything.”  

“Really? If you say so, that’s a relief!”  

Seeing Delia’s nonchalant response, Bianca smiled bashfully.  

‘…He’s not my rival; he’s my lover.’  

Delia felt a bit bitter.  

The truth was, Kartan and she weren’t rivals at all, yet everyone around them always seemed to perceive them that way.  

This tendency had only intensified in their third year.  

Perhaps it was because of the immense weight carried by the title of “valedictorian of the Imperial Lapolis Academy.”  

Delia, too, had once been so obsessed with that title, believing that achieving it would guarantee glory.  

And that was precisely why they had decided to keep their relationship a secret.  

If their relationship became known within the academy, it would undoubtedly become a topic of gossip.  

If people found out that the two of them, who were competing for the top spot, were in a romantic relationship?  

Considering that the number of students per grade wasn’t very large, their peers’ attention would be on them every single day.  

That would be utterly exhausting.  

As Delia briefly reflected on the background of their decision to keep their relationship a secret, Bianca’s excited voice interrupted her thoughts.  

“By the way, Delia, aren’t you curious? What kind of person would Kartan date? It doesn’t seem like he has a girlfriend.”  

“Huh? W-well, yeah.”  

Delia swallowed back the answer that nearly escaped her lips: ‘That person is your roommate.’  

A secret relationship.  

Its downside was that Kartan was far too popular.  

Delia had to admit it.  

Even back when she thought Kartan was insufferable, she couldn’t deny his polished exterior.  

Even now, whenever she saw Kartan, his flawless face still occasionally took her breath away.  

If even she felt this way, it was only natural that many other female students harbored feelings for him.  

In truth, Delia didn’t like it.  

Hearing other girls praise her lover was far from pleasant.  

Still, it was clear that revealing their relationship would only make things more tiring for both Kartan and herself, so Delia had been the one to suggest keeping it a secret.  

‘I kind of regret it now.’  

Accepting the consequences of her own decision, Delia sighed inwardly once again today.  

***

The busy midterm season of the first half of their third year had come to an end.  

The academy, soon to enter its summer break, was quiet.  

And if one were to pick the least frequented place, it would undoubtedly be the library.  

Especially on a day when the library was closed after exams, no one would dare venture near it.  

That was why Delia and Kartan had chosen the library as their meeting spot today.  

Of course, even on regular days, the library was off-limits to students except for Delia, making it the perfect place.  

It meant they could focus on each other without worry.  

“Delia, how were the exams?”  

Sitting across from each other at their usual spot filled with memories, Kartan looked at Delia.  

“Hmm… They were fine.”  

Delia had taken the exams without any trouble.  

Even though she was now in her third year, the exams weren’t particularly difficult.  

Perhaps it was because she had let go of her obsession and lingering attachment to the Acremen Family, but studying even felt easier now.  

Delia’s current goal was to leave the Acremen Family.  

To prepare for life after graduation, she knew maintaining high grades was essential, so she hadn’t neglected her studies.  

Though her burning desire for first place had faded, she was still working hard.  

“And you?”  

Delia was more curious about Kartan’s thoughts. After all, surely this time as well…  

“Me?”  

“Yes, how did you do? The exams, I mean.”  

Delia’s eyes narrowed as she asked, watching him closely.  

“Me? Well, I guess they were okay.”  

Kartan shrugged nonchalantly, as if it wasn’t a big deal.  

‘Hmm. Suspicious.’  

But Delia couldn’t just let it slide.  

“Kartan.”  

“Hm? Why are you looking at me like that? You’re making my heart flutter.”  

Even though she called him quite seriously, his attempt to brush off the atmosphere made him seem even more suspicious.  

Delia grabbed Kartan’s cheeks, fixing his gaze on her.  

Then, she asked directly.  

“Be honest. You’re trying to come in second again, aren’t you?”  

One would expect him to show a guilty reaction, but Kartan’s expression didn’t change. He acted as if he had no idea what she was talking about.  

“Huh? What are you saying? Why would I do that? There’s no reason for it.”  

Smooch—  

Taking advantage of their proximity, he quickly planted a brief kiss on her lips.  

‘So cheeky.’  

Though the kiss was welcome, Delia couldn’t help but find her skilled lover irritating.  

Of course, when their eyes met, she almost got lost in his handsome face again…  

“I’m not buying it. Stop lying.”  

Delia tried hard to maintain a stern expression.  

By now, half a year had passed since they entered their third year.  

There was no longer any reason for them to make deals involving their grades.  

Yet, once again, Delia had taken first place in the midterms of the first half of their third year.  

Delia wasn’t happy about it.  

Kartan was a genius. If he truly gave his best, the top spot would surely be his.  

The fact that Kartan wasn’t first could only mean one thing: he was deliberately yielding the position to her.  

‘Why does he keep doing this?’  

Judging by his attitude when answering, it seemed that Delia would once again take first place in the comprehensive evaluation for the first half of the year.  

Delia didn’t mind being second. She was only trying to maintain good grades for the sake of her future; being the top student was no longer necessary.  

In fact, if Kartan were to take first place, she would feel even more content with her position.  

But why did Kartan keep doing this?  

“Answer me, Kartan.”  

When Delia pressed him, determined to get an answer, Kartan finally gave in to her piercing gaze and slowly confessed.  

“…Hmm, it’s not like I’m doing it on purpose.”  

Even Kartan, who was used to hiding his true feelings, couldn’t help but falter in front of the woman he loved.  

“I just didn’t put in my full effort. That’s all, really.”  

Hearing this, Delia slumped her shoulders in frustration and asked him weakly,  

“…Sigh. Did you think I’d like that?”  

Delia wasn’t pleased with Kartan’s consideration.  

Of course, back in her second year, she had been blinded by the pressure from the Acremen Family and done things she shouldn’t have. But that wasn’t the case anymore.  

Delia wanted to have a fair competition with her lover, Kartan.  

If Kartan kept yielding to her like this, it wouldn’t be any different from what had happened in her second year.  

As Delia sat there with a sulky expression, Kartan stood up, walked behind her, and wrapped his arms around her.  

“What’s wrong, Delia? Are you mad?”  

“…I don’t know. Just don’t do it again.”  

“Alright, I won’t do it anymore, I promise. Okay? So don’t be mad.”  

The tender way he comforted her, coupled with his playful tone, made it hard for Delia to maintain her stern expression.  

Delia understood Kartan’s feelings.  

He often told her,  

“I want you to graduate as the top student.”  

“Why?”  

“Because that’s what the Acremen Family wants.”  

Of course, he wasn’t telling her to fulfill the Acremen Family’s wishes.  

“You should give them a taste of their own medicine.”  

“A taste of their own medicine?”  

“Wouldn’t it be the ultimate revenge for you to graduate as the top student and then make your own choices as Delia, not as a pawn of the Acremen Family?”  

The greatest revenge would be for Delia to achieve the title of valedictorian they so desperately wanted, only to escape their grasp.  

This was Kartan’s wish, and it was also Delia’s.  

If that were the case…  

Wasn’t I just being stubborn right now?