Rumors are just like that.
They start as nothing but gradually gain substance, and as decorative embellishments are piled on, things change until it seems like they were always there.
Even if everything is a lie, the waves created by it can make that lie seem like the truth.
In extreme cases, you could turn someone who ate chocolate into a guy who ate… well, you know.
If you think about it that way, this situation wasn’t so strange after all.
It’s true that I walked all the way to the front of the girls’ dormitory, claiming I would escort Seria, and I did indeed walk away without entering.
However, the distortion that I was stopped by Seria while trying to enter the girls’ dormitory wasn’t something I couldn’t understand.
Yeah. I get it.
I understand, but…
“Hmm. For someone trying to sneak into the girls’ dormitory, you look pretty normal.”
“Dean, I’m truly innocent!”
Having a one-on-one meeting with the headmaster of the Academy felt a bit too extreme.
How far will this go?
The incident began a little earlier when Lilith informed me about the rumors.
Feeling like things were escalating, I hurried to find Seria at the Academy Plaza.
It wasn’t a spot we’ve visited often, thanks to Seria’s dislike for crowded places, but, as always, a lot of people were gathered here.
From first years to fourth years, pretty much everyone who was extroverted and not busy was hanging out in this place.
And the moment we arrived, I felt it.
Some of the many eyes on us were pretending not to, but were definitely turned in this direction.
“…Rudion.”
Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who felt all those eyes; Seria furrowed her brow slightly.
The meaning behind those gazes was crystal clear.
“Are they the ones spreading the rumors?”
“Hey, watch your words. One of them is a princess.”
“Does it even matter when the rumors are spreading like this?”
“…Well, that’s true, but still.”
Regardless of whatever the case was, it was clear that the vibe was not positive.
Seria must have picked up on that atmosphere, as she apologized to me in a slightly glum voice.
“I’m really sorry for the trouble I’ve caused.”
“Don’t worry about it. Honestly, it’s my fault for being the cause.”
“How about we clear the truth now? I’d really be okay even if the royal family hears about it…”
“Not this again.”
“I really mean it…”
Forget it. At this point, I didn’t think the rumors would blow over even if we cleared the truth.
As Lilith mentioned, the rumors seemed to be spreading among the first years.
The people who had just been staring at us were all first years as well.
Of course, if we left it like this, the rumors would probably spread throughout the Academy in no time…
“Let’s go back.”
“Is it really okay to do nothing?”
“Doing something in this situation only complicates things.”
Unless I went and punched someone to violently redirect the rumors, any response will just be kindling.
Therefore, trying to clarify things now would only be a hassle and wouldn’t lead to a solution.
I was determined to find another way, when suddenly my messenger chimed.
It was a message from Professor Reina.
[Reina: Could you come back to my personal lab?]
[Reina: This time, without Seria. Just come alone.]
We had only just finished our talk, and now she wanted me to come back? What could have happened?
Thinking about this as I returned, I was met with the headmaster of the Academy, none other than Reina Trier’s childhood friend.
Dane Valhak.
The man who, under Reina’s pressure, dyed his beautiful blue hair the same orange color as hers.
A man who lived his life swayed by Reina, finally marrying her and still being swayed by her till the end.
But he was capable and had such character that he never tarnished the position of the headmaster of the Academy.
That man was seated waiting for me.
“Well, I’ll get some fresh air, so you two chat nicely!”
And just like that, the professor who had called for me ran off.
And here I was sitting down for a one-on-one meeting with the headmaster.
“So, you must be Rudion.”
“…Yes. I’m Rudion, the head of the Student Council from the first-year upper class.”
“Hmm. For someone trying to sneak into the girls’ dormitory, you look pretty normal.”
“Dean, I’m truly innocent!”
I laid out my credentials, trying to show that I wouldn’t do anything bad, but it didn’t seem to have much effect.
In fact, it didn’t seem like I needed such an appeal at all.
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ve already figured out the truth of the incident. I was just teasing you a bit.”
In truth, from the moment Reina casually called me, there was no room for any wrongful misunderstandings.
The headmaster… Dane started explaining the situation as if it wasn’t a big deal.
What was reported was just wandering around the girls’ dormitory, and the results of the investigation confirmed as much, but the way the rumors had spread was simply too sensational to just overlook it.
Honestly, it was still just gossip among the first years, and digging into it, it wasn’t a big deal…
But what kind of person was involved in this rumor anyway?
Seria Rubetia. Given that she was the imperial princess, whether this rumor was true or false didn’t matter.
What mattered was that such rumors existed linking her to this situation.
However, if we revealed the truth, that would inevitably lead to the royal family learning about it as well.
“…So, your choice has become quite significant.”
Dane looked at me seriously and presented me with two choices.
Well, in the end, it all came back to the same choices.
I could take all the blame myself, or drag Seria into revealing the truth.
Sure, the options were the same, but the outcomes were a bit different.
If I chose to take the blame, the headmaster would turn this exaggerated rumor into the truth.
That way, the story concerning the princess would be wrapped up neatly.
In other words… If I became the mad pervert who was trying to enter the girls’ dormitory, Seria would become the noble princess who stopped me.
Of course, I’d face punishment for it. Even if I hadn’t actually done anything wrong.
But instead, it would just go down as “this happened concerning the royal princess.”
It was an inefficient way to handle things, really. Unless you took into account the benefit of quickly and neatly resolving the incident, every other aspect made no sense.
But if I disliked that option and dragged Seria into the truth instead… It would definitely link back to the royal family.
Sigh, that seems problematic.
Honestly, I wanted to avoid getting entangled with the royal family.
Not because they were corrupt or anything; the Rubetia Empire was a good place, practically known for its monarchic hopes.
But…
Those people protect Seria like nothing else…
The royal family is filled with Seria’s fans, you know.
There’s a daughter and younger sibling doting over her. And even the caretakers are completely smitten with Seria.
Of course, Seria is cute, but their affection can be a bit overwhelming.
And… what happens when this incident reaches those people?
It would surely be interpreted as a commoner having a secret rendezvous with a princess, and who knows what I might suffer as a consequence.
“Let’s just consider the rumor to be true.”
I’d rather become a mad pervert than suffer at their hands.
That was the choice I made, yet somehow Dane looked even more bewildered.
“What? Are you really okay with that?”
I could tell he thought I’d arrive at this outcome from the start, but his reaction made it clear.
He had no intention of putting the blame on me from the beginning.
Of course, that way, it would cleanly wrap up for him too, but it certainly seemed too difficult for a mere student to accept.
He also likely didn’t expect me to choose such a ridiculous option.
From the start, he must have intended to warn me by creating such a scenario—like, ‘I’ll overlook it this time, but be careful to avoid such incidents from now on.’
But now that I chose this option, it was only natural for him to be flustered.
“No… You really don’t have to go that far.”
He even said something like that, showing he genuinely wanted me to change my mind.
But my resolve was firm.
“No. If I can carry this on my own, please let me.”
Living as a mad pervert vs. living while being bothered by the royal family, who are die-hard fans of Seria.
In this insane balancing act, the choice was crystal clear.
Seeing that I had made up my mind, Dane nodded with a very pleased smile.
“…You need this kind of guts to associate with a princess. Fine, I’ll let you do as you wish.”
Just as the handling of this incident was being settled, suddenly the door to the research lab burst open as if it were going to shatter.
Bang!
“No way!”
Startled, I turned around to see Seria standing there, the one who had been frequently mentioned.
For some reason, her face was flushed bright red, but her expression was so ambiguous, I couldn’t tell whether she was angry or something else.
She glanced at me briefly before speaking very firmly.
“I won’t allow that. Never.”
Hearing her voice, which was different from usual—calm yet somewhat joyful—I realized.
She had heard all of our conversation.
Though still blushing, I couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but… one thing was certain; this wasn’t heading in the direction I wanted.
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