The Heroine Becomes Obsessed 2
Vesperia boldly stepped up beside Rian. She turned to Iril, who stood there with a dazed expression.
"Great Mage! Can we head out right now?"
Iril rubbed her forehead as if nursing a headache, but she nodded weakly.
"...Yeah, no problem, Young Lady. I'll tag along as escort, so feed him all you want."
While that absurd exchange unfolded, Ardelia—who stood a short distance away—was a whirlwind of inner turmoil.
Monster.
Ardelia's clenched fists trembled. It was fear. A primal terror of an incomprehensible, unknown power.
But beneath that fear burned a fierce longing.
I need that boy!
Ardelia's gaze locked onto Rian. To escape her hellish future, she'd thought she needed a powerful faction to protect her.
And here was the answer, dropped right in front of her. No army or alliance could match this boy's value.
With him alone, she wouldn't have to fear anything!
If that kid sides with me... if that off-the-charts power protects me, I never have to dread the future again!
She was certain: he was the only lifeline that could save her from her horrific fate. That arrogant, rude commoner boy was it.
I have to get close to him. No matter what it takes, I need him by my side!
Ardelia quickly composed her rattled expression. Maintaining her imperial grace, she approached Rian and Vesperia as they chatted about barbecue.
"Excuse me, if it's not too much trouble."
The two halted at Ardelia's gentle voice. She curved her eyes sweetly and smiled softly.
"I apologize for my rudeness earlier. If you're heading out for a meal, may I join you? Of course, I'll cover my own barbecue."
The prideful imperial princess was bowing her head first, asking a commoner to let her tag along.
Vesperia lit up and nodded eagerly.
"Oh, Your Highness is coming too? I'm thrilled! Food's always better shared, right? What about you, Rian?"
Vesperia looked up at Rian. Ardelia watched him with expectant eyes too.
Why would he refuse when she was offering to pay?
But Rian's response shattered the princess's hopes.
"Nah, I don't want you coming."
"...Pardon?"
Ardelia's elegant smile twitched for a split second. Rian stared straight at her with a cool, unwavering face.
"Having you around would make the meal super awkward. You seem like a hassle, so no thanks."
"...!"
It was a brutally direct rejection. Calling an imperial princess "you" was bold enough, but dismissing her as a hassle?
Disbelief flickered in Ardelia's red eyes. But she didn't snap.
I have to endure. I'm the desperate one here. That boy could be my hope.
She recalled Iril's words from moments ago. Mana capacity equivalent to an at least 8-circle great mage. And magical efficiency surpassing a 9-circle great mage.
It made picturing him as a great mage all too easy.
Right. That boy's already superhuman. Whether he learned magic yesterday or not doesn't matter. His mana rivals the empire's top 8-circle great mages.
Great mages had an unspoken privilege to be rude even to royalty. It was the courtesy extended to those who transcended human limits.
If he's on the level of a great mage, bowing to such a superhuman isn't humiliating at all.
With her mind settled, Ardelia spoke.
"If my earlier words offended you, I sincerely apologize. I was ignorant of magical principles and failed to recognize your achievements."
"Never felt offended. I just don't like the scheming look in your eyes—like you're about to ask for something annoying."
Ardelia's fist trembled slightly at Rian's bluntness. She forced a businesslike smile and played her trump card.
"I heard the young lady is treating you to barbecue today. If you allow me to join this outing... next time, I'll summon the imperial palace's exclusive chefs for far superior, more delicious premium meat dishes than today."
Meat. Premium meat from imperial chefs.
At that tantalizing offer, even Rian's ironclad resolve wavered—his eyebrow twitched.
"Imperial meat dishes, huh. Hmm~"
Rian stroked his chin, pretending to mull it over. The diet of the world's top powerholder flashed in his efficiency-obsessed mind as the perfect compromise.
"That's an intriguing proposal."
Rian finally nodded.
"Fine, come along. But focus on the barbecue today—no distractions while I'm eating."
"...Thank you."
Ardelia bowed stiffly, her insides burning.
And so, on the first day of entrance exams amid the unprecedented destruction of the academy walls, an absurd sight unfolded: the empire's highest nobility—the princess—and the lady ruling the continent's north walked side-by-side with a commoner boy to a barbecue joint.
The presence of the 9-circle elf great mage escorting them only made it weirder.
Barbecue, barbecue, barbecue.
Whether the princess's gut twisted in anxiety, the lady brimmed with excitement, or the elf great mage clutched her head.
Rian's mind was filled solely with barbecue.
After the four departed, urgent footsteps echoed through the catastrophically half-demolished first-floor practical exam hall.
Tat-tat-tat!
Parting the hazy dust was a boy with a youthful yet chilling aura. Jet-black hair like deepest night, sharp amethyst-purple eyes gleaming.
The heir to the Edelgart Ducal House, rulers of the continent's north: Cassius von Edelgart.
If Rian had seen him, he'd have called him "the original male lead."
What... what kind of trace is this?
Cassius's refined brow furrowed. The devastation before him defied all common sense.
"Dean."
His voice was far too cold for a 13-year-old boy. The dean turned.
"Young Master Edelgart? Shouldn't you be in the swordsmanship division waiting room...?"
"I heard an explosion and came to check. More importantly, I heard Vesperia came here—have you seen her?"
Cassius was a new swordsmanship division student starting this year. Even from the distant arena waiting room, the explosion had rung clearly in his ears.
He'd grabbed his sword and rushed over immediately—for his stepsister Vesperia's safety above all.
But despite racing from the waiting room to this blast site, no sign of Vesperia.
All he knew was that she'd headed here with Princess Ardelia from the waiting room.
"Ah, ahem! You mean the young lady."
The dean felt awkward. He couldn't straight-up tell the northern duke's son about the insane stunt a commoner boy had just pulled.
A commoner shattering the barrier with some bizarre super-3-circle magic, then swaggering off for meat, followed by three others? No way.
"Ahem! The young lady is fine. She just left for an outing."
"An outing? In this chaos?"
Cassius's violet eyes sharpened with suspicion. The dean quickly continued.
"Yes. She's accompanied by the 9-circle Great Mage Iril, her disciple, and Her Highness the Princess."
Cassius's eyes widened slightly.
"The Great Mage... and Her Highness?"
"Indeed. But since Her Highness is involved, imperial security protocols prevent me from disclosing their exact destination. I hope you understand."
The dean smoothly covered the truth with a plausible excuse. The princess's movements were an ironclad shield no noble could pry into without risking treason charges.
"...I see."
Cassius nodded as if convinced. His only worry had been Vesperia's safety.
With the continent's strongest, the 9-circle Great Mage Iril, and the empire's future ruler by her side, no ambushes or terror attacks were a concern.
With the princess and Great Mage Iril, she's safer than anywhere on the continent. Plus, bonding with the princess benefits the family. Good.
Judging rationally, Cassius released the sword hilt and relaxed.
He glanced once more at the melted wreckage of the outer wall.
Probably an accident during a demonstration by Great Mage Iril.
He arrived at the most logical conclusion within reason. Even if told the truth, he wouldn't have believed it.
"Thank you for informing me, Dean. I'll head back to my waiting room."
Cassius bowed politely and turned away.