4.

The Münuit Academy strictly regulated the entry of outsiders. Such was also the case for those who brought newspapers and newsletters. So distant from outside news, the students naturally turned to inside gossip.

In that sense, the student cafeteria was the main spot to exchange information. Words were added on top of another to create information or rumor. This is why many students visited the rather noisy cafeteria, even though they could simply eat in their rooms.

“The Second Princess of the Kingdom of Doighton came to study here.”

“From Doighton? That’s huge!”

“I saw her myself. Her hair was really blue. I’ve never seen hair like that before.”

“Amazing! A Doighton Royal came to study abroad.”

“Seems like Münuit must be pretty popular.”

Today’s topic was the blue-haired princess. Doighton Kingdom, a country of warriors. They may be poor but they are self-sufficient. Due to its extremely closed nature, only a few countries have exchanged with it. It’s also the first time a Doighton Royalty had come to study abroad, from a country that had received only a few delegates.

‘So her roommate is a princess.’

Johann cut a well-cooked lamb steak into appropriate sizes and brought a piece of it to his mouth. The tender texture stimulated the tongue, but his head was full of other thoughts.

‘This might be a great opportunity to learn about the Kingdom of Doighton. Although she may not be as influential since she isn’t the heir, so I don’t expect much from her.’

It is said that a lot of minerals are buried under the kingdom, but it’s just speculation. The Kingdom of Doighton was just as much a veiled country.

‘I wonder if she even knows her roommate is a royal?’

She probably doesn’t. I don’t know if she really is not interested in the world or if she’s pretending to. Johann found Elena, who never interacted much with the students around her, to be too uptight.

Viscount Evoy. Even though he was self-made, the Evoys themselves had nothing much. To be fair, it’s hard to set foot in the social world with a family like that. More precisely, it would be difficult to fit in.

With such a background, the time spent at the academy would be very helpful to Elena Evoy’s social life. Considering her situation, she should probably try her best to get along with him, but Elena was poised and calm. She didn’t seem to have much idea about the life she could get as a noble.

‘… Does she even know that I’m a member of the Royal family?’

Johann twisted his fork at the sudden thought. Does she… know Duke Pertan? When he recalled her eyes that don’t seem to be interested in anything in the world, it all felt meaningless. At least that’s how Elena seemed. That explains why she looks at me with those eyes.

‘That’s quite shocking.’

She looked as if she could die out of annoyance. The realization broke Johann’s heart at the time. Isn’t it normal to put on appearances no matter how much you hate them? As if there is no bad blood between you and them. 

‘But that can’t be the case. I saw her smile, too.’

Johann was mulling over her actions when he suddenly paused at the scene that came to mind. Come to think of it, I never thought I’d catch her smile. I thought she didn’t know how to smile because of her constant blank expression or sullen face. Besides, she looked pretty while smiling. She’s always pretty, but this felt a bit different.

‘What did I just say?!’

Johann was flabbergasted when he realized that he was thinking about how and why she looked pretty. The fork hit the side of the plate with a small tak. As people turned to look at him, he shook his head in denial. I almost dropped my fork. If I did, my dignity would’ve dropped as well.

‘What’s so pretty about her? But I mean, her smile is pretty.’

After denying it hard, Johann finally changed his mind. Liking looks is natural for everyone, regardless of gender or age. Rather, it’s strange to deny it. This was very basic for a noble who participates in high society. In fact, Johann was taught that it’s natural to consider family, looks and talent in someone, so it’s nothing unusual.

That must be why. Johann, who was reassuring himself, suddenly paused.

‘So what if she’s pretty? It doesn’t really matter.’

I’ve been going on with this for a long time. Johann realized that he was overly concerned with Elena Evoy.

So far, there have been only three categories of people for Johann. A person Johann needs now, a person he needs in the future, and nobodies who are neither of those things. To be honest, Elena Evoy is more of a hindrance than a necessity, and Viscount Evoy is the last person I’ll ever need. So just think of Elena Evoy as a passing breeze.

‘I was unable to judge my situation properly because I went through something unexpected.’

Yep, that’s it. Johann lightly pressed down his lower lip, raised his head to the hall that had become quiet for a moment. Everyone was staring at the same place.

“Elena, I’m so disappointed. We’re roommates. You should’ve woken me up!”

“I tried three times.”

“Oh, that wasn’t enough because I didn’t wake up.”

“You should take care of yourself.”

“It feels like you mean it if you say it with such a cold face!”

“I mean it.”

The star of the show was a tall, blue-haired, talkative girl with an icy face. She was the Princess of Doighton, who heated the student cafeteria today, along with the famous Elena Evoy to top it off.

The two people famous for entirely different things were an eye-catching combination. Noticing their strangely quiet surroundings, Princess Doighton looked around but Elena went straight ahead. As expected. Johann shook his head like a habit.

“I’ve never seen Miss Elena hang around with anyone before.”

“I know. I’ve never even seen her talk before.”

“Isn’t her tone a bit harsh? She seems difficult to handle.”

He heard several voices as he went back to eating. Obviously, people were talking about various things, so he didn’t know why he could only hear about Elena.

“I assume Princess Doighton doesn’t know much about her. It’s useless to get close to her.”

“Guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

“Now that the Princess is at Münuit, she needs to know about the Priston Empire. She should befriend someone suitable.”

A typical noble conversation. And they aren’t wrong. No matter how successful Elena Evoy was, there was a limit to what she could achieve. Not to mention, she was yet to achieve something. There were not many nobles who would talk to Elena Evoy, who had nothing of wealth or power.

“Johann, are you sick?”

“Huh?”

“You haven’t been eating… What’s wrong?”

“Oh. Thanks for your concern. It’s nothing.”

That, even I don’t know. Johann somehow felt offended and put down the fork.

***

Johann visited the garden whenever he felt stuffy. When I stare at the open wide sky from a garden full of grass, my heart becomes peaceful. And that wasn’t all. The stars shining in the black sky looked spectacular only at this hour.

And if I still had to find another reason-

“… Are you allowed to use magic here?”

Johann looked up towards the sky from a distance. He sometimes wondered how a statue about two stories high was maintained, and here he spots Elena, wearing a black robe, floating in the air. He could see a faintly glowing magic circle beneath her feet.

Not all magicians were the same. Basically, all magicians cast magic using formulas, but everyone had different methods. Some of them could only use magic by drawing mana from a specific tool, while others freely extracted mana from their own power without using anything.

In the former case, depending on their skills, the magician relied on various tools, while in the latter case, they were quite free. And usually, the latter magicians would be treated highly and have their names listed in the magic tower. It was usually the latter who held high positions in the Magic Association. Elena seemed to belong to the latter.

“Of course, I’m allowed to. As you can see, this is safer than climbing up here.”

“Safer…”

He had nothing more to say at her words. Of course, it’ll be safer than hanging a rope to the statue. However, the use of magic was strictly prohibited within the academy. Even outside the academy, it was a reasonable rule not to allow the use of this magic without a magician’s license.

How can a student be allowed to do that within the academy? Johann couldn’t understand it for the life of his.

“The dean allowed it if you’re wondering.”

However, the dean is a whole different story. This dean was rumored to be a scholar. He was a former wizard who served as one of the elders at the tower and was the first wizard to become a dean of the academy.

Well, that’s what they say. Johann had nothing to say when the dean himself allowed it. He wasn’t qualified to. He wondered if she worried about getting caught when Elena landed on the ground after finishing her work. As she took off the hood of her robe, her exposed face shone white in the moonlight. Dazzled, Johann blinked his eyes.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Me?”

“Because we keep running into each other.”

“… It’s just a coincidence.”

It’s just a coincidence. Well, that’s only half true. Johann never found himself as worked-up before as he was now. I wonder if it’s because she’s the first person ever who made me feel defeated other than my brothers? Johann’s curiosity about what kind of a person she was made him trace around Elena’s footsteps.

Now that I think about it, it’s pathetic. It would be better for me to study at this time. Johann looked back at himself through an objective lens. Perhaps, an unexpected defeat makes people act strange.

If my father saw me like this, “Pathetic brat. Don’t bring shame to the family”, is what he’d say. When he recalled his stern voice, Johann’s peaceful heart quickly sank low.

“You’re not smiling much.”

“What?”

“You usually smile a lot.”

Staring into the distance with a dark expression, Johann suddenly stiffened. It was because Elena suddenly appeared in front of his nose and stared right into his face with her head tilted.

“You smile like this all the time.”

She then smiled widely with the corners of her eyes bent. She couldn’t imitate his dimples but portrayed his smooth curved smile quite naturally. It was the smile Johann displayed when he stood as the Young Lord of Pertan in front of the outside world.

Johann was so stupidly stiffened that if his younger sister saw him like this, she would mock him wholeheartedly. Her amethyst eyes were twinkling between her half moon-like eyes. They sparkled brilliantly. Elena dropped it immediately, giving him a flash of shock.

“Thanks for keeping my secret from our classmates. Though, the rumors will spread one day.”

“…I just didn’t want to gossip. No need to be thankful.”

“Well, there’s nothing I can offer you in gratitude.”

“

Elena touched her chin with her hand. She was empty-handed with nothing.

“Would you like to see the eyes of the statue?”

“….”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be the one using magic.”

He didn’t look at her out of fear of being caught, but she had already misunderstood. Johann looked at her white and slender hand, then slowly raised his own. He found it funny being escorted by her, nonetheless, her hands were warm.

Elena, who suddenly released his hand, unbuttoned her robe and brought his chin down. Having no idea what was going on, Johann quietly brought his head down as instructed. She’s shorter than I thought. Johann had forgotten that he was much taller than average. Meanwhile, she covered Johann’s head by having her robe wrapped around him.

“…?”

“I thought you’d stand out too much.”

Elena added, “Please bear with it even if it’s stuffy,” and grabbed Johann’s hand again. I thought I’d miss her hands because they were so small.

On that day, Johann looked at the face of the large statue while floating in the air. For the first time ever, I’ve broken a rule.