Chapter 13
Chapter 13
First Meeting (12)
"...Return to the academy? You?"
A dubious voice slipped out of my mouth. At my question, Yuki suddenly flashed a triumphant smile.
"Of course! I’m officially part of the academy too."
The girl who had been crying just moments ago was nowhere to be seen.
"I was on leave because of recuperation, but I was supposed to go back next term anyway. And now I get to go with you…"
Her eyes were already painting a rosy future at the academy.
Gripping my shoulders tightly, she added with excitement,
"This is fate, Ian."
"You were calling it exile just a moment ago."
I couldn’t help but point that out at her shameless switch in attitude.
I pressed my aching temple.
The academy.
A place where the empire’s elites and noble heirs gathered.
Me—a commoner—attending alongside Yuki, a duke’s daughter?
It was obvious things would get noisy.
"My lady, I’m going there quietly to draw."
"I know, I know! You draw, and I stay by your side and protect you. The capital is full of hungry wolves."
"You seem like the hungriest one here."
I tried to gently push her hand away, but Yuki clung to my arm like a magnet.
Has she completely lost it? Is she that happy?
She looked like a stubborn teenage girl clinging to someone.
"Especially in the Arts Department, there are a lot of questionable people. Rich, idle noble daughters won’t leave a pretty boy like you alone."
"Pretty boy… me?"
"Yes. That’s why I have to stay by your side."
"You’re weaker than me. Who exactly are you protecting?"
She wasn’t even listening anymore.
Lost in her own imagination, Yuki blushed and started humming to herself.
Besides, our departments are different.
Will we even meet often?
"I’m in the Arts Department, and you’re in the Knight Department. Different buildings, different classes."
I answered as plainly as possible.
Drawing a clear line.
"What are you talking about! General classes and the dining hall are shared! And since you’re sponsored by the Castel family, of course you’ll stay with me."
…This is bad. My peaceful life is already gathering storm clouds.
"...Fine. But I have conditions."
"Conditions?! Say anything! As long as it’s not asking for the stars, I’ll agree!"
Her eyes sparkled instantly.
I took a step back, creating distance between us.
"First, do not call me for personal reasons inside the academy."
"Second, do not enter my studio without permission."
I raised a second finger, then looked at her coldly.
"And third, stop subtly touching near my shirt buttons like you’re teasing me."
"W-what?! That’s unfair! I was just fixing your clothes!"
"The ‘line’ I felt from your fingertips suggested something else."
"...Ugh."
She lowered her head, clearly struck.
But soon, she lifted it again and forced a proud smile.
"Fine. I accept those conditions. But I have one too."
"Go ahead."
"You’ll review my swordsmanship once a day. That’s official business, right? Asking a sponsor for advice to maintain a noble heir’s skill level."
Smart.
She used the excuse of sponsorship to maintain a connection with me.
"...Fine. One hour a day."
"Two hours!"
"One and a half."
"Deal!"
Yuki hummed happily and tried to cling to my arm again, but stopped when she noticed my cold stare.
"Tch. What’s wrong with staying close a little longer."
Despite her complaints, she couldn’t hide her smile.
After finishing negotiations with Yuki, I headed out of the mansion.
In my hand were the pendant Elena had given me and the academy recommendation letter.
I never expected things to turn out like this.
Just as I stepped out of the gate—
A smell I never wanted to get used to hit my nose.
Fishy. Concentrated. Aggressive.
"Ian—!!"
Too late to escape.
"Ian! Don’t die! We’re here!"
Kara and Millie rushed toward me.
Kara’s face was smeared with soot and tear stains, a red ribbon reading "Ian Protection Squad" tied to her hammer.
"Kara, Millie. I’m not dead. I’m fine."
"Fine?! You got crushed fighting the Duchess! We saw you fly like paper!"
"My ribs are cracked, not shattered."
Millie grabbed my sleeve, trembling.
In her hands were strange talismans.
"These are protection charms from the general store! They’ll make your bones as strong as steel!"
"...I appreciate it, but I’m fine. And… I’ll be leaving the village soon."
Silence fell instantly.
Kara’s hammer slipped from her shoulder.
Millie dropped her charms.
"Leaving? What do you mean? Where? Is the Duchess forcing you into the army?"
"No. Not exile, not enlistment. I’m going to the academy in the capital. She’s sponsoring me."
"The capital…?"
"The academy?"
Their voices overlapped.
Kara grabbed my collar.
Why do all the women here grab collars?
"No! The capital is dangerous!"
Millie’s voice trembled.
"The women there aren’t innocent like us! A delicate boy like you will be dragged into some noblewoman’s basement on the first day!"
Her imagination had already spiraled into tragedy.
Millie clung to my arm.
"Millie, please calm down. I’m going to study."
"That’s enough, country bumpkins."
Yuki appeared from the mansion gate, walking arrogantly.
She looked at Kara and Millie clinging to me like a victor.
"Ian is now officially sponsored by the Castel family. That means he’s under my supervision."
"What?! You dragged him into danger and now you’re taking him to the academy?"
Kara shouted.
"That was an accident. Who knew Mother would show up?"
Yuki shamelessly placed a hand on my shoulder.
"And the academy was Ian’s decision."
Kara and Millie exchanged looks.
"So don’t worry. Anyone who touches him will be destroyed by my sword."
Their eyes shook.
To them, Yuki was no longer just a noble.
She was a silver-haired villain stealing Ian away.
Kara’s lips trembled.
"Ian, listen. The capital is terrifying."
She grabbed my shoulders and shook me.
"No matter how weak you act—no, how delicate you are—it won’t matter! They’ll like it more! Noble ladies will look at you and say ‘What a fresh country boy’ and drool!"
"K-Kara, please. My ribs—"
Millie knelt and stuffed charms into my pockets.
"Keep these under your pillow! And this one prevents temptation! It’ll protect you from seductive noblewomen!"
"...Millie, the capital isn’t lawless. And I’ll be with Lady Yuki."
Both of them turned to Yuki.
"That’s the problem!"
Kara shouted.
"You’re the most dangerous one! Meeting him secretly every night and now taking him to the capital? That’s stalking!"
Yuki’s eyebrow twitched.
"That’s harsh."
Not entirely wrong.
"This is a necessary step for his future. Far better than you filling his life with eel extract."
"What?! Without eel extract, he’d have collapsed from your perverted behavior!"
"Perverted?! I said it was training!"
Yuki’s face turned bright red.
It seemed she had finally realized how she was perceived.
The situation grew chaotic.
I slipped out of Kara’s grip.
"Everyone, calm down."
People gathered around.
"Ian’s really going to the capital?"
"With the duke’s daughter? This is like a fairy tale!"
"More like she’s abducting him!"
My head throbbed.
And Yuki probably remembered her mother watching from the mansion.
"Fine. Let’s do this."
Her voice turned cold.
"Ian will leave with me next term. That won’t change."
Kara and Millie’s faces darkened.
"But before that, we’ll hold a farewell party in the village square this weekend. I’ll cover all expenses."
"A party?"
I asked, surprised.
Yuki winked slightly.
"Yes. Let’s show my mother how loved you are."
A farewell party.
"You can give him all your gifts then. If they fit in the carriage."
Kara and Millie exchanged determined looks.
"We’ll prepare the greatest farewell party in village history!"
"Ian! I’ll cook the best eel dish in the world!"
And just like that, they ran off.
Silence returned.
"...My lady, what are you planning? It would’ve been easier to leave quietly."
"Idiot. If we didn’t do this, they’d cling to the carriage itself."
Yuki adjusted my clothes—
and placed her hand on my chest again.
"Third rule. Violated."
"Tch."