Elena and the Princess

I must have aged ten years in that single moment.

I genuinely thought my heart was going to burst and kill me on the spot.

When the princess summoned me onto the podium, my heart hammered so violently I could barely breathe.

The only reason I survived that crisis was because I had played El Pandor Luntera dozens of times before. I knew the material cold.

Imperial etiquette. The history and distinctive traits of every noble house. The precise techniques for winning a noble’s favor. Thanks to my encyclopedic knowledge of every piece of TMI the game had to offer, I navigated the minefield perfectly.

The result was even better than I had anticipated.

“Whew…”

Feeling immensely relieved, I stepped down from the podium. I walked past the many nobles now watching me with eyes full of trust and took my assigned seat.

Elena then ascended the platform and began explaining the upcoming schedule. The entrance ceremony was drawing to a close.

“U-um…”

At that moment, the girl sitting beside me blushed furiously and called out to me. She said my speech had been wonderful and that she looked forward to our future together.

“Thank you for the kind words.”

“…Y-yes. I-I’m Charlotte. From the Verdian family.”

“House Verdian. The Garden of May is truly magnificent. I heard even the previous emperor praised its beauty.”

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

“…Ah! You know about our garden! Hehe… Edgar, you seem… incredibly knowledgeable. You really do seem like a noble.”

……Charlotte Verdian.

She was a third-rate extra I’d never paid attention to in the game, but I treated her with genuine kindness. She had a somewhat socially awkward side and didn’t come from an especially powerful house, yet she had approached me first with clear interest.

Above all, forming new relationships and uncovering fresh events and easter eggs was the real joy of this game. So I chatted with her happily.

But then—

“Everyone, attention. We have an important announcement.”

In the noisy atmosphere of the ending ceremony, Elena called for focus. We paused our conversation and looked up as she informed us that the Class Determination Battle had been postponed until tomorrow. The rules had changed, requiring last-minute adjustments.

For me, the delay was actually welcome. An extra day meant I could prepare even more thoroughly.

After the entrance ceremony, Ed gained a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠new nickname.

Sir Fix.

The nickname was unusual. “Fix” was a common blacksmith surname, while “Sir” was an honorific reserved for high officials or nobles. The two terms were never meant to stand side by side.

Yet the nobles had bestowed the title upon him. It was proof that they had acknowledged and accepted him.

“Acting all high and mighty when he’s just a commoner bastard.”

Of course, some used the name with clear contempt—mostly those who felt inferior to Ed, or those who simply couldn’t stand the sight of a commoner pretending to be nobility.

“No need to get worked up. He’s still just a commoner who only recently awakened his mana. We’ll show him the difference in class during the battle.”

And as people of the same feather tend to flock together, those harboring hostility toward Ed had already formed a group and were preparing to crush him.

“Crippling him wouldn’t be a bad idea. The bastard crossed a line he never should have.”

Among them was someone who had gone beyond mere disapproval and now burned with pure hatred: Max, the second son of House Sigmund.

He was one of the men who harbored deep affection for Enya. He had always found Ed’s ability to make her smile extremely irritating. Until now, however, his feelings hadn’t reached the level of intense loathing. Ed had simply been a minor nuisance.

Max had been certain that he would be the one to subdue Enya and claim her heart.

‘Fix, I will kill you with my own hands.’

But after Ed’s speech, when Max stole a glance at Enya’s face and saw her staring at Ed with flushed cheeks, an unbearable jealousy had flooded him.

Not only had Ed stolen her smile—he had stolen her heart as well.

“So, what’s the plan?”

The five people gathered around Max were now plotting how to destroy Ed. The mastermind behind the scheme was Max Sigmund himself.

“I heard the details from my father. The Class Determination Battle is fought in teams of five.”

“…And?”

“Teams and opponents are assigned randomly. But I intend to rig both. One of the supervisors is from our family. I’ve asked him to make sure Ed gets the worst possible teammates so we can crush him.”

“Hoo. So Sir Fix’s team will be full of trash?”

“Exactly. We’ll eliminate them quickly, then take our time with him. We’ll carve pain into his body one. By. One. So he can taste true fear beneath the shame of defeat.”

“Hmm… Is that allowed? I doubt they’ll permit outright torture.”

“That’s why we destroy the video transmission orb first. We’ll make it look like an accident right before we start working on him. The regular students won’t see anything. Only the supervisor in charge of our match will be watching.”

“Hoo. And that supervisor…?”

“Is one of ours. No matter what happens in that arena, he’ll simply stand by and watch.”

Max finished explaining his plan and drew his beloved sword—the family heirloom passed down from his father. It was an artifact crafted by a dwarf who had earned the title of Artisan.

The corner of Max’s mouth twisted into a cruel smile.

‘Edgar Fix, I’ll make you kneel as my slave. With this sword, no one can possibly defeat me.’

When I returned to the forge after the ceremony, James burst into tears and hugged me tightly. He had heard about my speech and was now proudly declaring that I was a blacksmith sent from heaven.

‘Haa… Here comes the doting father again.’

His behavior wasn’t exactly a good sign. I thought his excessive pride had finally calmed down lately, but this incident seemed likely to trigger another major flare-up.

“Who did you take after to be so magnificent! Who did you take ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠after to be so admirable! You are the pride of House Fix! Ed! Your father has no regrets left in this life!”

“What do you mean, no regrets? You’re not dying.”

“Kwa ha ha ha! That’s right! You must live a long life! Of course! I need to engrave the image of my son who will write the history of the Fix family!”

“Ugh, please stop.”

I could already picture it. Every person he met, every customer who walked through the door—he would brag about me to all of them. The resulting embarrassment would be entirely mine to bear.

“They say Her Highness the Princess cheered loudly and clapped! All the nobles in the hall were chanting ‘Fix!’ right?”

James’s exaggeration was truly something else. Even the smallest compliment about me would be inflated by two hundred percent.

-Woooong!

Just then, the communication orb in my pocket vibrated. It was Elena calling for me.

“Father, I’ll be back soon. The head professor is calling me.”

I showed him the vibrating orb. James grinned brightly.

“Yes! Go quickly, my son! The professor who recommended you must be so proud!”

“…I really can’t stop you, can I? I’ll be back.”

James gave my backside a few hearty pats as I left. I walked out of the forge, leaving his booming laughter behind me.

I crossed the academy grounds bathed in sunset light and entered the building that housed Elena’s office. I climbed the stairs, reached her door, and was about to knock when—

“Aaaah! Unniiiii~~~”

A woman’s voice, heavy with aegyo.

Then Elena’s clearly irritated reply leaked through the door.

“Haa. I told you to stop with the sudden outbursts. I’m not letting it slide this time.”

“Aaaah~~ I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Really! I’m reflecting, I swear!”

“Reflecting? You don’t know the meaning of the word. I’m genuinely angry this time.”

“…Hoo… Hoooooo… Hwaaaang…”

“I’m not falling for it.”

“Aaaah~~ Unniiiii~ I’m begging you like this. See? I’m on my knees. Look at me begging!”

“That trick only works once or twice.”

“Nooo~ It’s been so long since I saw you, I got too excited! I really didn’t mean to! But the kid you’re supporting was so interesting… I just wanted to test him a little…”

“……Sephi. It may be a joke to you, but to him… Haa. Never mind.”

From the conversation, it was clearly Elena and the princess. The two of them acted more like sisters than master and disciple—probably because Elena had become the princess’s teacher when she was only fourteen and the princess was five. That was thirteen years ago.

“So you’re not going to hug me anymore? Not going to pat my head?”

“……Sephi. You’re eighteen now. Until when are you going to keep clinging to me like this?”

I waited for a lull in the conversation before knocking, but it seemed they would keep going for a while. So I simply knocked.

Knock. Knock.

“Hoo! Aaaaaang…?”

The princess’s fake crying stopped instantly. Regardless, I announced myself.

“It’s Ed. You called for me through the communication orb.”

“…….”

There was a brief silence, followed by the sound of hurried movement—rustling fabric, quick footsteps. Then Elena’s voice returned.

“Come in.”

Creak.

When I opened the door, I saw the princess and Elena sitting elegantly with teacups in hand. The princess occupied the seat of honor while Elena sat beside her. They hadn’t been able to completely hide the evidence of their hasty seat swap—Elena’s coat was still draped over the head chair.

“I greet Your Highness the Princess.”

I pretended to know nothing and followed proper etiquette, kneeling on my left knee with my right hand over my left chest as I awaited her command.

The princess took a loud sip of her black tea, then spoke in a dignified voice.

“Yes. You may raise your head.”

I lifted only my head while maintaining the posture. There stood the empire’s greatest beauty, looking down at me with an arrogant expression.

Her fluffy, pastel-toned white hair instantly drew the eye. I had the ridiculous thought that lying on that cloud-like head would put me to sleep in under five minutes.

But the moment my gaze met the eyes beneath those curls, all such thoughts vanished.

Those crimson pupils, marked with a red circle that symbolized the imperial family’s strongest bloodline, were staring straight at me.

Still, she truly deserved the title of the empire’s greatest beauty. Her proud nose, crimson lips, and flawless porcelain skin that perfectly framed those features could make anyone lose their mind. She possessed a mysterious charm that put people on edge with just a glance. If I didn’t keep my wits about me, I might commit the rudeness of simply staring at her face in awe.

“Edgar Fix.”

She called my name. I looked at her face but made sure not to stare directly into her eyes.

Then she spoke.

“You… heard everything, didn’t you…?”

“…….”

Of course I had. The bickering outside the door. The obvious signs of a rushed seat change. There was no way I wouldn’t have noticed.

“Yes.”

I answered simply and directly. The princess’s cheeks flushed a delicate pink.

“I see.”

Slurp.

She drank her tea, then suddenly—Pfft!

The princess choked, coughing and laughing at the same time. Elena looked at her with an expression that said “pathetic” before letting out a long sigh.

“Haa……”

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠reason Elena had called me was simple. She had obtained the mineral I requested and wanted to hand it over.

“Orichalcum ore with over 85% purity. This is what you wanted, correct?”

“Yes, Head Professor. Thank you so much.”

I immediately accepted the ore. The princess, who had been glued to Elena’s side, smirked and said,

“That was actually acquired under this lady’s direct order. Six lives were sacrificed to obtain it.”

“Uh—that’s not true, Ed. Don’t mind her. She always makes jokes like this.”

“Ah, Unniiiii~ Play along with meeee~”

Just like in the game, the princess was an unpredictable character. Even as a veteran player, I had never properly cleared her route.

“Get out of here before you get dragged into her nonsense. You have the class evaluation tomorrow.”

“…Yes. Thank you for looking out for me. In more ways than one.”

“It’s nothing. I am your sponsor, after all.”

Elena smiled softly at me. The princess immediately shot me a sharp glare.

“Edgar Fix. How dare you try to steal the princess’s teacher? Accept your poison at once.”

“It’ll take some getting used to. You’ll be seeing her often from now on, so just roll with it.”

“Hey! Why aren’t you accepting your punishment?!”

“You can accept your own punishment.”

Elena lightly smacked the princess’s thigh. When the princess pretended to cry, Elena waved me off, essentially kicking me out.

I gave the princess a polite bow and left the room at once. Thinking about how that idiot Elena—despite her stern appearance—indulged every one of the princess’s whims, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

***

The reason I needed the orichalcum ore was simple.

A week ago, while crafting the top-tier equipment from the Mechanic Blueprint—the Plasma Beam Titanium Alloy Gauntlet—my Hand Skill had leveled up. At the same time, I had obtained another fragment of the blueprint.

And today, I would create the mid-tier combination formula from that blueprint.

All to prepare for tomorrow’s class evaluation battle.