A Favor
"Blair, would it be alright if I had lunch on my own today?"
"Yes...?"
Blair's mouth fell open at Ophelia's words. Ever since entering the academy, her lady seemed intent on placing more and more distance between them. At the training grounds she had avoided her, claiming she wanted to train quietly by herself. When forming teams for the recent assignment, she had sent Blair away, saying she wished to try working alongside her other classmates.
Because her lady's will was firm, Blair had hidden her sorrowful heart and retreated with an effort to appear indifferent. It had been the same when one of her teammates lay in the infirmary and her lady skipped meals to remain shut inside. Blair had swallowed her feelings and obeyed the wishes of her one and only lady. Yet now Ophelia was even trying to push her away at mealtime. This time, Blair refused to yield.
"That will not do, my lady. Did you not skip meals for nearly the entire day just the day before yesterday? Ensuring you maintain your health by eating properly is one of my duties."
"It's because there's someone else I want to eat with."
Blair's face turned deathly pale. To dine with another person instead of her? In that case she could not possibly step back.
"I wish to accompany you. Surely it is not a seat where my presence would be unwelcome?"
Ophelia considered Blair's words for a moment. When one thought about it, she, the person she was inviting, and Blair were all fellow students. There was no real reason to object to classmates sharing lunch. When Ophelia nodded, life returned to Blair's face, which had looked as though she had lost her homeland.
After the previous class both of them had free time until lunch. Ophelia read a book in the garden while Blair stood guard at her side. After a while Ophelia checked the time and rose; Blair naturally fell into step beside her to escort her. Yet from Blair's perspective the direction they were heading seemed strange.
"I do not presume to suggest my lady has taken the wrong path, but is this direction correct?" Unable to contain her curiosity, Blair asked. The route Ophelia had chosen led toward the distant lower-class building. It was difficult for Blair to imagine her lady having any connection with lower-class students or professors.
"Yes, it's correct."
At the confident reply Blair could only close her mouth. Before long they arrived at the lower-class lecture building. Once inside, Ophelia stopped along one side of the corridor. It was obvious she was waiting for someone. The thought that anyone would dare keep her lady waiting filled Blair with a strong conviction that she would dislike the other party no matter who it was.
"What is it? What's going on?"
"Isn't that Lady Ophelia? Why is she here?"
Soon the lower-class students whose lesson had ended poured into the corridor. They spotted Ophelia and whispered among themselves in surprise. Ophelia's normally serene expression shifted subtly. Others might not have noticed, but Blair caught the change. The excessive attention from the unexpected crowd appeared to discomfort Ophelia slightly. Nevertheless, having come all this way, she waited steadfastly for the person she meant to meet.
It's that boy.
Blair soon identified the person Ophelia's gaze had fixed upon. A slender youth of small stature. Once she confirmed his identity, she recalled the lower-class student from the same group as Ophelia that she had heard about. This was the first time she had seen him in person.
"Do you have a moment?" Ophelia approached the boy who had emerged from the crowd of students and spoke to him.
Blair checked the name on his tag. Kael. Even the name displeased her.
"Right now?" His vague answer displeased her as well. Her lady had come all this distance in person; the least he could do was bow deeply and agree at once.
"Ah, then would you like to eat lunch together? I was just heading to get something."
Kael, who had seemed momentarily flustered, smiled and made the suggestion first. What was more, he spoke to Ophelia without any honorifics. Blair felt her insides begin to boil. To act so familiar simply because they had once been placed in the same group.
"Sure, that sounds good. I was worried the timing might not work since I came suddenly, but this is fortunate."
At Ophelia's easy reply Blair grew even more bewildered. Her lady was speaking to Kael in the same comfortable tone she used with her.
"This is Blair. Would it be alright if the three of us ate together?" Ophelia said, introducing Blair.
Kael gave Blair a light wave, but she responded with only a stiff nod, her face rigid.
"Let's go quickly. If we don't hurry we might have to stand in line."
Though the situation could have been awkward, Kael paid it no mind and spoke to Ophelia again. His ill-fitting attempt to appear relaxed only made him more detestable in Blair's eyes.
"Line...?" Ophelia, who had never waited in line for a meal before, asked in puzzlement.
"Ah, you probably haven't visited this cafeteria."
"No, it's fine. Let's go somewhere nearby. Blair, you're alright with that too, aren't you?"
At Ophelia's question Blair nodded. If her lady wished to go, she would willingly walk through the gates of hell itself. Glancing at the boy who looked like a demon from the abyss, she moved forward beside Ophelia.
The place Kael led them to was a shabby student cafeteria, quite unlike where Ophelia usually dined. It was a cheap establishment mainly used by commoner students. Ophelia, accustomed to the buffet service she had used that morning, looked somewhat awkward receiving food on a tray, yet she did not show it.
To bring her lady to a place like this. It was so absurd Blair was speechless.
"I wonder if the food here will suit your taste."
Kael sat across from Ophelia with his tray and spoke casually. While he ate with evident satisfaction, Ophelia's hands moved more slowly than usual. The memory of her lady's recent fasting rose in Blair's mind, and it felt as though blood tears were streaming down her face.
"I don't think taste is that important."
"Haha. You really can't lie, can you?"
Hearing Ophelia's answer, Kael laughed as though delighted. After forcing her lady to eat such a meal and then grinning like that, Blair could not help but feel her temper flare.
"I came because there's something I want to apologize for."
After exchanging brief pleasantries, Ophelia brought up the main topic.
"My lady...!"
Blair, who had endured in silence until now, could no longer remain quiet. Her lady was not the sort of person who would ever create a situation requiring her to apologize to anyone.
"Blair." Ophelia spoke her name and sent her a stern look. It was only a small change in expression, yet Blair understood its meaning perfectly.
"I'm sorry..." Blair turned her eyes away, swallowing her indignation. The gaze that could have devoured the boy across the table naturally fell on Kael. To dare make her lady apologize.
"Even though I explained everything properly to the professor, it seems the story spread as if I had done it alone. I'm sorry."
Ophelia brought up the same topic she had already shared with Blair—the story of defeating the boss troll during the assignment. Blair could not help but admire her lady's profound generosity once again. If Ophelia had not been present, that Kael fellow would not even be able to hold a spoon right now. She did not know how much help he had actually provided, yet with his meager contribution he had received excessive praise from her lady.
"I don't mind. It was something the whole group accomplished together. It's only natural for the leader to receive attention."
This time, at least, Kael gave an answer Blair could approve of. Strangely, however, Ophelia's expression wavered subtly. Did she dislike his response?
"That aside, I have one favor to ask of you."
Kael suddenly changed the subject. A favor, of all things. This sly boy was clearly trying to take advantage of her kind-hearted lady.
"A favor?"
Yet her lady's expression brightened. It was a subtle change others might miss, but Blair noticed it clearly. She could not understand her lady's reaction.
"Could you go out with me on the weekend?"
Bang!
I had expected Ophelia would come find me sometime soon.
She has a personality where she can't live with debts.
With her pride in her own skill, she always wanted to repay any help she received. Still, I hadn't thought she would come this quickly, so I was a little surprised when I saw her in the corridor. Since the chance had presented itself, I naturally suggested we eat together. I had something to ask of her.
I don't have a single coin left.
The money I earned on Bingryong Mountain had all been spent on scrolls and potions, and those scrolls and the expensive rapid-charge potions had been completely used up killing the troll. The academy provided a living allowance, but it was barely enough to keep me breathing and fed. It was nowhere near sufficient to buy the items I would need going forward. The problem was that as a first-year there was no real way to earn money inside the academy. So I had decided to leave the academy grounds on the weekend. Even in a short time, depending on the request, there was a good chance I could secure some funds.
However, leaving the academy required a professor's permission, which was practically a privilege reserved for upper-class students whose skills had been recognized. Fortunately I had Ophelia, who shared a connection with me through our group, and she would feel she owed me a debt. It looked like I would be able to head out on the weekend sooner than I had originally planned.
"Could you go out with me on the weekend?"
That was how lightly I had suggested it, yet—
Bang!
"What kind of scheme are you plotting against my lady, you sly bastard!"
I never expected the knight who followed Ophelia around like a shadow to explode like that.