Vulgarly Got Into Heat (3)
“It might be a burden, but... it's a 'request' from your secret friend~?”
“....”
In a situation where Nakadashi was already under the spotlight, now they wanted my real name on the Imperial Academy's registry too? Part of me wanted to refuse.
Human greed knows no bounds and tends to repeat the same mistakes...
But surely I could at least make the effort not to screw up?
Seeing how I'd pulled aggro from Necroport and now Asbestos too, I'd made up my mind.
If I could just survive this one time, Nakadashi was done... service terminated!!
After all, no matter how good the dopamine rush felt, it wasn't worth dying over.
...But this is a request I can't refuse.
If refusing meant dealing with Rebeccite's sulking, better to just register at the Imperial Academy. I'll register and then lay low quietly.
Things would fade from memory with time anyway.
And if I ran low on dopamine later, I could always publish under a new pen name.
“...Understood. I'll register.”
“As expected~! A wise choice~! Ohoho!”
Shwaak—!
Rebeccite snapped open her fan with a radiant smile.
“Oh, and one last, last thing for real~.”
“....”
This had gone beyond the true finale into double-true-finale territory.
“Before your next work comes out, could you give me a little hint? Not the plot or anything, of course! It's more fun not knowing! Just~ let me be the one who knows about Teacher Nakadashi's new release faster than anyone else, in a special way~? Pretty please~?”
To me, Rebeccite's requests were commands.
“...I'll do that.”
“Ohohot! Yes! Then, hurry and write that next one~? Waiting is fun too, but nothing beats the thrill of reading it~?”
Clack—!
Rebeccite shook her fan as she opened the door.
“Then I'll go see my daaaarling~! Today was so much fun. Teacher Nakadashi~!!”
“...I had fun too. Take care on your way back.”
“Ohoho~!!”
Clack-clack-! Clack-clack-! Clack-clack-!
Only after the sound of her heels completely faded...
“Hoo—.”
I let out a long sigh and slumped into the chair.
I really thought I was done for. Rebeccite!
─But you survived, right?
Saying that wouldn't ease the bitterness in my gut.
Groooan—!
Of course, becoming 'secret friends' with Rebeccite was a gain, if anything...
...A double-edged demon sword, huh.
One slip-up, and it wouldn't end with just a finger or two.
And to top it off—whether intentional or not—she'd even blocked my plan to ditch the Nakadashi pen name.
But seriously, what do I do now?
This was way different from the Kidian situation.
Back then, I hadn't given a firm yes...
This time, I'd straight-up promised to write it.
At this point, I guess I really have to write something...
Creeeak—!
Just then, the academy president's door swung open, revealing a gleaming bald head.
Glance—! Glance—!
The Baldhead looked around the room for a moment, cleared his throat, and stepped inside.
“...Ahem, Rian Ludwig. It seems I've made a very big~ misunderstanding!”
“....”
“Earlier... well... I was a bit harsh on you. We never really thought you'd stolen those letters! I was just doing my duty a tad overzealously! No personal grudges or anything!”
Tap-tap-tap—
The Baldhead wiped the sweat beading on his head with a handkerchief as he spoke.
Look at that attitude switch-up speed.
Great family backing really was the best.
The Imperial Academy president groveling like this to a count's youngest son? Unreal.
“It's fine. I understand given the circumstances.”
“Oh! R-really? As expected! What a magnanimous soul!! W-well then... not that I like saying this, but...”
Gauging my reaction, the Baldhead whispered.
“If you could put in a good word with Lady Rebeccite later... y'know... about you... just one word?”
“....”
Finally, the real point from the Baldhead's mouth.
If I wanted, I could squeeze him dry using this as leverage...
But I had bigger fish to fry than petty stuff like this.
“Sure. When I see her next, I'll politely say I was well-treated.”
“....!!”
Shine—!!
In that instant, the president's bald head shone brighter than anything I'd seen all day.
“Guh! Thank you! Truly, young man!! To think I'd meet someone so reasonable!! What have I done!!”
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh—!
The Baldhead grabbed my hand and shook it wildly.
“Contact me anytime if you need anything!! From now on, think of me, Baldhead, as your backup!”
“Just hearing that makes me feel secure. Now that the misunderstanding's cleared... may I head out? I'm a bit tired...”
“Of course! Absolutely! I'll handle your Nakadashi academy registration swiftly and accurately!!”
Step-step—
The Baldhead personally escorted me to the exit and shouted.
“You did great today! Off you go!! And don't forget to put in that word with Lady Rebeccite!!”
“Yes, thank you. I'll be off.”
Swipe—
As I passed down the hall, I glanced at where the pink-haired woman had stood...
Of course, no one was there.
...But who the heck was she?
For some reason, she stuck in my mind.
Her looks were one thing, but freely roaming the imperial interiors meant she had some status.
And that gaze she'd fixed on me wasn't outright hostile, but it sure wasn't friendly either.
Step-step—
“...Huh? You?”
As I re-entered the inspection post, the inspector who'd patted my shoulder earlier went wide-eyed.
“Already out of the academy?”
“Yes, made it through fine.”
“...Good lord. You're the first.”
“Pardon?”
“Walking out on your own two feet, I mean.”
The inspector scanned me up and down with genuine shock.
“Usually... well, I'll spare the details. Congrats anyway.”
“....”
How many horror stories had they seen here that just walking out earned congratulations?
“Sluuuurp—!”
Passing the inspection post and breathing in the outside air, the reality of survival finally hit.
“Master Rian!!”
Soon after, Topaz came running, eyes brimming with tears.
Pat-pat-!
Her hands fumbled from my head down to my toes.
“A-are you okay?! No injuries?!”
“I'm fine. Nothing happened.”
“Really?! You're really okay?! You're not brushing it off?! Do you know what I heard while you were in there?!”
“What did you hear...”
“That the lady from the Asbestos family showed up!! I really thought!! I was gonna lose my mind!!”
Shiver-shiver-shiver—!
Topaz's hands were trembling.
And rightly so.
Even I knew Rebeccite's nickname, the Tyrant of Prodigies...
How must it have felt for Topaz, who knew high society far better than me?
“I'm really fine. Things actually went better than expected.”
“Master Rian always says that! With Lady Kidian, you said you were fine and look what happened!!”
...No rebuttal there.
“Topaz, people are watching. Calm down first.”
“Ah..... I-I just!... I was worried something happened to you!”
Finally noticing the stares, Topaz yanked her hands back and bowed her head.
“I know, I know. Thanks. Let's get in the carriage and talk.”
Clop-clop-! Clop-clop-!
As the carriage set off, I gave Topaz a rough rundown.
The forced confession at the academy. Rebeccite showing up and chasing off the president. Revealing my Nakadashi identity. And becoming 'secret friends' with Rebeccite.
“....?”
Topaz blinked.
She clearly didn't get it.
Not that I blamed her—comprehending it would be weirder.
“...So. You... became secret friends with the Tyrant of Prodigies? No way? ...Master Rian!! Have you lost your m-m-mind!!”
As expected, Topaz's scolding kicked off.
“What if she asks something and you can't refuse?”
“...Th-that's... true, but... no! Writing smut in the first place was the mistake...!!”
Topaz tried dodging with platitudes again, so I countered with a sly move.
“Oh, more importantly, I heard a name that's bugging me. You know 'Lilith Rosequartz'?”
“...Huh? Of course. You don't, Master Rian?”
—The effect was tremendous! Topaz's eyes screamed how do you not know this?
“You know I don't care about high society.”
“Even so... she's one of the Empire's Four Beauties? You seriously don't know?”
“Oh, that.”
Of course I knew the Empire's Four Beauties title itself.
A moniker for the empire's four most beautiful women.
Like knowing an idol group name but not the members.
“For your info, the Rebeccite you just met is one of them too.”
“...Huh? That neat freak?”
Her looks were top-tier, sure...
“To me, you look prettier, Topaz.”
“Eek...! Th-thanks, even if it's flattery!”
“No, for real.”
“Yeah, yeah, sure. Sigh... Anyway, it's not just looks... family background and fame factor in too.”
Hmm, with Rebeccite's personality, failing to make the cut would've caused a riot.
“Anyway: Her Highness Charlotte, Lady Elisha, Lady Rebeccite, and Lady Lilith. Those are the current Empire's Four Beauties.”
“Hmm...”
I nodded at Topaz's words.
Rebeccite was iffy, but Elisha? Totally legit.
“The other beauties are all from great houses... but Lady Lilith is the only marquess's daughter. Making the list anyway means...”
“Her looks are purely that outstanding?”
“Exactly. But...”
Shiiiiver—
Suddenly, Topaz's voice turned icy.
“Why are you asking about Lady Lilith?”