Gulp…
If someone is watching or controlling this world, I really hope they stop playing these tricks by now.
Well, it doesn’t even matter if the kid in front of me is from outside the original story. It’s pretty cliché to end up making friends with characters who have insane powers or skills when you get sucked into a game or novel world.
I have no idea what kind of abilities this Rena Meyer girl has. She just told me she’s the daughter of the commander of the Riclant Autonomous State, so I suppose that’s something.
The Riclant Autonomous State is one of the regions rumored to be featured in the sequel, so it’s not too surprising to meet someone like her. She might not just be some random character either, but one who could be added in the sequel.
In the original story, she fought the Emperor and foiled the conspiracy, but heroes and major characters died in the process. Even in that situation, the world didn’t end, which means there are other issues apart from the Emperor that will continue in the sequel.
I don’t know what those issues are yet.
Anyway, the fact that the commander’s daughter has come all this way means that they’ve probably deemed me a key figure in the Riclant Autonomous State. Thinking about what I’ve been through, it’s understandable.
…I mean, it makes sense.
But still.
“The noble class A’s quota is already full.”
In the sequel, since several heroines died, it became normal for new students to show up due to the vacant slots. There was a mention in the original story that Claire left the academy due to family matters.
However, no one has left the academy yet. Naturally, if Rena Meyer comes in, it puts us over the limit.
“Thanks to the governor’s grace and the Emperor’s broad-mindedness, I was able to transfer to the Hwangrip Rondaerum Academy.”
“…Really?”
Her stiff answer indicated she didn’t have any strong negative feelings towards me. I am not sure what her father and that governor are thinking, but at least she seems to harbor no ill will towards me.
For the meal, we had beef steak. Rena Meyer ate it with incredibly precise movements. When she sliced the meat with the knife, the sound of the plate and knife clashing was almost nonexistent. With those table manners, you wouldn’t be surprised if she was practically a noble. It was obvious she was raised in a very strict family.
“Do you have any dissatisfaction with going to the academy?”
“No.”
As I asked that, her hand froze.
And though her expression didn’t seem too emotive, when she lifted her head to look at me —
“The Hwangrip Rondaerum Academy is not only the best in the Empire but also in the world. There’s no one who would dislike the fact of being able to attend such a place.”
If it weren’t for the odd pressure in her tone, I might have thought she was just reciting something from memory.
You can’t read emotions from someone’s face, but you can pick up feelings from their attitude. The feeling I sensed from her was… anticipation.
“…”
Could it be that Alice can distinguish my attitude like this?
…If the pressure Alice felt every time I mentioned becoming the next Emperor was such a thing, it wouldn’t be surprising that she could recognize my expressions too.
And eventually, other kids would probably be able to read my expressions as well.
“And…”
And?
Seeing as this unexpressive girl seemed to hesitate just a little, I waited quietly.
“And I think it’s an honor to meet you, Crown Princess. I’ve heard of your achievements on the battlefield. Surely, there aren’t many heroes like you in the world. Especially from our autonomous state, you are the benefactor of many subjects.”
“…”.
Suddenly, my hand twitched, and I almost dropped my utensil.
What’s going on here?
Why does it feel so cringe-worthy talking to her?
I feel like I’ve acted this way before, but…
…..
Yeah. Alice’s face kept coming to mind.
“You must have been able to achieve such great feats because of the Fanggriffon blood flowing in you. I can’t imagine such an honor studying in the same place with someone like you.”
No, not a drop of blood flows in me. Honestly speaking, if it weren’t for Lucas, I’d be just some nobody!
But I couldn’t just say that outright.
The two noble students who had been somewhat dull until now were glancing over here.
“I’ll go say a word to them.”
Just as I noticed Rena trying to get up, I quickly responded, “It’s okay.” I was lucky it didn’t sound too rushed.
She gazed at me intensely, as if she were tensing her legs to rise from her chair.
Emotion could definitely be seen in her voice and attitude, but her face was devoid of expression, creating this intense ‘cringe’ vibe for me. Well, her youthful look and the elegance of her manners seemed quite mature, yet her words sounded incredibly immature in a way that was both cute and frustrating.
Cute, but the problem was that if I got caught up in her adorable actions, I’d feel incredibly embarrassed.
In such a situation, I felt sweat forming on my back and tried to calm Rena Meyer down.
“You don’t need to react to every little thing you say or do. The school you’ll be attending is the Hwangrip Rondaerum Academy. It’s a place where many noble students will be, so a lot of people are attentive to others’ actions or words. If you react to every situation, school life will become quite tiresome.”
Rena Meyer nodded at my advice.
“Thank you for the advice.”
“…”
Is this a concept?
I seriously pondered that.
No matter how I look at it, it seems her expressions and attitude aren’t aligned.
…Maybe am I showing such signs too? Perhaps everyone sees it but pretends not to notice?
Thinking of that gave me chills.
“In that case, will you accompany us today?”
“Yes.”
Rena Meyer said firmly.
“My things are already packed and ready at the train station.”
“…”
Uh… well.
Oh, I see.
“I’ll ask again, but…”
I asked Rena Meyer, feeling somewhat tense,
“What class will you be studying in?”
“Noble Class A.”
“…”
Ah…
Oh, I see.
Um.
Yeah.
…I’m not sure what to say.
*
“Whoa!”
A girl burst into the room, raising her hands and cheering.
Then quickly covering her mouth, she looked around. It goes without saying, but the room she was in for several hours this morning was a personal room. There was no one else around. Given the door’s thickness, the chances of being heard from outside were slim.
Still, a sense of unease crept in, prompting her to crack the door open and peek outside.
Nobody was there.
Having cautiously closed the door again, she exclaimed, “So cool!”
Rena Meyer spent her childhood following her soldier father around military compounds.
Though she was surrounded by kids her age, she could never truly relax. Her father was one of the high-ranking commanders of the Riclant Autonomous State’s military and also a close aide to the governor. The people around her were always cautious with Rena, and her father was strict. Rena’s daily life almost resembled a military schedule.
Hence, she habitually wore a mask and imitated the stiff demeanor of a soldier. Then the people around would praise her for it. Cool, capable, worthy of the commander’s family. She had real talent.
But that didn’t mean she was a soldier through and through either.
Rena dove into her bed and rolled around.
Her father was strict, but her mother indulged Rena’s childishness. Until her mother passed away three years ago, at least in front of her, Rena was no different from any innocent kid her age.
Since then, she had been getting by like this when alone.
That said, Rena didn’t harbor any resentment towards the profession of a soldier. If anything, she admired it. Influenced since childhood, she believed that such a profession was indeed a cool one.
And today.
Rena Meyer met a hero.
She had heard of Crown Princess Sylvia Fanggriffon’s legendary prowess from her father.
Moreover, the few soldiers from the autonomous state who fought alongside the imperial army, as well as surviving mercenaries, often mentioned the Crown Princess’s name.
Breaking through enemy trenches alone, crumbling them from within, that was the very essence of a soldier.
Plus, the very image of the person she briefly spoke to today exuding an aura of nobility: she was a perfect paragon.
“…”
I’m going to attend classes with someone like that.
Ughhhh!
Burying her face into the bed, Rena made an unrecognizable sound, thrashing her legs about.
On her desk, a puppy plush watched her silently.
It looked just like the character from that very famous comic about a land-digging dog.
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