10. Lamieli Academy Entrance Ceremony (1)
On the road to Lamieli Academy.
Zeke and Serena had sent away all the servants who wanted to tag along, choosing to walk side by side just the two of them.
Serena had originally chosen the mansion not in the nobles' district but in a spot close to the academy, so it was a distance they could easily cover on foot.
She seemed aware that Zeke might find it uncomfortable, as she no longer even glanced his way.
Well, she did look, but her sidelong peeks were so frequent they were distracting.
Yet Zeke, guilty as he felt, said nothing about it.
Serena was usually the one to break the ice in such situations, but her silence now hung an awkward air between them.
'Is it that uncomfortable...? Then just bring the servants! They were dying to come!'
Zeke thought, masking his own discomfort.
Carriages crawled along in lines around them, while groups of what looked like students chattered in clusters of twos and threes.
It hit Zeke anew that he was heading to Lamieli Academy.
Tension coiled in his gut unbidden.
This was it—the romance fantasy proper was finally beginning.
True to its title, The Secret Girl of Lamieli Academy, the academy would be the main stage.
A parade of characters would appear, and countless events would unfold.
'Yeah, ride the secret girl bus back to Earth.'
Zeke steeled himself inwardly.
'Hope her driving skills are solid? What if this rotten dark fantasy vet says he doesn't need help...?'
Unlike the dark fantasy world where beating the true boss meant return, things here felt hopelessly vague.
But settling into life here had never been an option for Zeke.
'Whatever it is, just butt in. Gotta grab some investment shares to even have a shot at going back.'
The inconveniences of this backward life grated, but more than that, in a world with swords, mana, and monsters, he couldn't imagine enduring the thirst forever, living ordinarily.
So Zeke set his sights on returning to Earth, come hell or high water.
'It'll work out, right? I can go back? I have to? Otherwise, my heart's gonna break bad!'
Thanks to Serena's crash course, he had a knowledge base on local culture and customs.
But he still didn't know the major players on sight.
He turned his head.
Serena walked beside him like a stiff wooden doll.
"Serena."
"N-no, yes?!"
She startled at his call, whipping her head around before snapping it back to face front, like a buffering video.
"You look just like a doll."
"A-a doll!?"
"Any students among the freshmen I should watch out for?"
"Th-that doll comment just now... Um. Um! You mean ones to be careful of?"
"Yeah. Like imperial family members, say. Never know who might end up in my class."
Zeke started by probing for info on the Second Prince, asking about the royals.
Serena fixated on that "doll" remark but answered first.
"Well... The First Prince is already enrolled... The Second Prince is incoming this term. Haven't heard about the Third."
"Got it... What are they like?"
"I've met the First Prince a few times as a kid. Not sure now, but... delicate and caring? That fits. As for the Second... rumors say he's lively... proactive, maybe...?"
Serena tapped her lip, choosing her words carefully.
'First Prince is solid. Second's the fuckup. Knew it from his stalking the heroine. Creepy bastard.'
Serena's lessons had paid off; Zeke could parse noble-speak now.
As a duke's daughter, she couldn't straight-up trash royals, so this was her roundabout way.
The First Prince seemed low-threat.
The Second was the issue—the fool whose three pages of idiocy had dumped him into this romance world.
Not 100% sure from the stalking description alone, but he recalled a flirty academy scene with the leads.
So the heroine was probably a freshman too.
'Second Prince in that cliché? Male lead candidate, then. Hmm, stick him in my class?'
Mulling the wastrel prince's fate brought another must-have romance trope to mind.
"Oh, right. Any girls like that?"
"Girls...? Yes!? A girl...?"
Serena's expression blanked.
Now she really was a doll.
Zeke knew she was off today and pressed on.
"Yeah. Like foul-tempered, arrogant types. Ones where getting tangled means endless hassle. Girls to avoid."
Next up: the bully/rival to the heroine—the villainess.
Vital intel for Zeke, who'd pledged to back the heroine.
'Could be the 'regressed villainess turns good' trope, but rumors would fly if so.'
"Really... Etiquette lessons were wasted. You avoid swearing but don't beat around the bush either..."
Color returning, Serena shot him a guppy-eyed glare.
Maybe more etiquette time was needed.
Regret nagged her, though doubtful it'd stick.
"I'm not used to beating around the bush."
'This body's not, anyway.'
"Anyway... One comes to mind."
"Who?"
"From one of the three great dukedoms, like mine—the Yustia family's daughter."
Dukes ranked just below royals in power.
Zeke realized anew how lax Serena was on hierarchy.
"Name?"
"Iriel Yustia. She's incoming too. Avoid the redhead, Instructor."
"Got it."
Zeke nodded.
"Ah, we're here at the academy!"
Lamieli Academy stood at the heart of the empire's capital, 'Lamieli'—per Serena, the nation's premier educational hub.
All royals, nobles, meritorious houses' heirs, top merchants' kids—even talented commoners.
Next-gen elites trained here four years, building knowledge, networks, careers.
It preached strict meritocracy: no rank distinctions inside.
But power didn't bend to rules.
Nobles stuck to nobles, commoners to commoners—cliques by status.
Just enrolling sparked village festivals, posters, banners at gates.
Mid-explanation from Serena, Zeke wondered.
"By the way, Serena. Why sneak here? Isn't academy best for noble kids?"
"Ah, high nobles—marquis and up—have alternatives."
"Alternatives?"
"Yeah. Academy, or betrothal then bride training at home. Father wouldn't let me into knight studies..."
"I see. Supposed to get engaged, then."
'Makes sense. Forgiveness easier than permission. Bold move.'
Zeke nodded, surveying.
He had to admit underestimating this romance fantasy world.
Lamieli Academy sprawled around a Berlin Cathedral-like main hall with its domed roof, buildings arrayed like art in grand splendor.
Beyond classrooms: theater, equestrian grounds, dessert street, restaurant row, shops, botanical gardens.
Surrounding lands academy-owned, ever-expanding for student comfort.
Hiding his money-shock, Zeke told Serena,
"I'll go meet the principal first."
"Yes! See you at the ceremony!"
"Yeah."
Zeke parted from Serena and trudged into the main hall.
'Holy shit, what a scale...'
"Who might you be?"
Someone approached—a staffer, likely.
"Zeke Clayman. Here as swordsmanship instructor for the knight division."
"Ah! That! Yes, understood. I'll guide you to the principal's office."
The staffer led; Zeke followed up the stairs. Top floor, apparently.
Knock knock—
"Who is it?"
"I've brought Swordsmanship Instructor Zeke Clayman."
"Enter."
The staffer cracked the door; Zeke went in alone.
A white-haired elder sat at an antique desk.
Sharp eyes glared.
First impressions soured already.
"Hm, you're that Zeke Clayman—a whole month late?"
"Yes."
"What's your tie to the Yohayden house?"
"Made a connection en route; staying with them briefly."
'Phew, worried he'd flip if I said 'yeah' like in the interview, but body's polite to elders. Good boy.'
Zeke appreciated the body’s politeness—the casual speech it used toward the staff member earlier had worried him, but at least it seemed to know proper boundaries.
The elder sighed deeply.
"Damn it... Why the hell... Who... This guy and that, dukes all over... Haa, what the fuck..."
Muttering, head clutched—indistinct.
He scowled, looking up.
"Then! What's with the Yustia house!!"
"Yustia... house?"
Zeke startled at the name from Serena.
'Shit... This body's original owner tangled with them?'
"No relation."
"Really? Then why..."
"None."
The principal looked baffled, but Zeke meant it.
Whatever the body did pre-possession, no reason to honor it.
'Who asked for this romance possession bullshit?'
No interest cleaning up unknown past messes.
He knew Yustia was a powerhouse duke house.
But Zeke trusted himself.
'Fuck the backstabbers.'
The principal massaged his brow.
"Yustia's lady seeks you."
"I see."
"No relation?"
"Yes."
Zeke inferred from the words.
'Yustia ordered the body to infiltrate as instructor, aid Iriel or some shit.'
Encounter soon, likely.
This black-and-white romance world: Iriel Yustia, villainess lady.
Probe for info then bail? Tempting, but he shook it off.
'Even then, no good outcome.'
Unknown prior ties; faking familiarity risked instant bust.
Better cut Yustia strings clean.
'Their reaction'll give clues.'
"Can't you leave the academy be?"
"......"
'Not my call, though?'
He grasped the principal's bind.
Empire's three pillars: Yohayden, Yustia, Ira.
One instructor caught between two dukes—backlash fear.
But Zeke trusted only Yohayden—Serena, precisely.
'Heroine? On hold. Gotta see.'
With Serena all-in, switching risked crash-and-burn.
No desire to unsettle her hard-won trust.
'Cut ties? What can they do. Riding Serena Yohayden to the top.'
Serena and Iriel: rival dukes, even power, enmity.
Backing Serena? Simulations said fine.
'Consult Serena later.'
The principal tsked.
"Haa... You... Never mind. Don't speak."
"?"
"Done. Ceremony in an hour. You'd have duties, but another instructor covers. Just introduce yourself there."
Weary, he waved Zeke out.
Zeke sensed the principal wasn't a bad boss despite the vibe.
Low expectations anyway; this could build cordial colleague distance.
'Just a tired salaryman kowtowing everywhere?'
"I must've looked so weird..."
Recalling her behavior before him, Serena flushed crimson.
Zeke's image replayed endlessly.
Her mind tangled in chaos.
'Dressed like that...! Complimenting my clothes when he never does...! Then 'doll-like'?! Is that okay? Not? Yesterday he even brought my favorite flowers!'
Jet-black hair, wintry chill aura, sword-sharp gaze, heart-stirring low voice... with a sliver of warmth beneath...
Novel descriptions bled into Zeke in her head.
Haa— haa—
Her breath roughened; eyes turned faintly dangerous.
This... wasn't Instructor Zeke too much?
Bad for approaching with those eyes, that voice.
His fault.
Serena pressed her chest with her right hand.
Then it hit: ceremony soon.
"Gah! No! Then everyone sees Instructor Zeke like that today. How much time left?! At least fix my bangs quick!"
Heart racing to the auditorium, a voice from behind.
"Zeke?"