Lady Aidrin's Popularity
Uh-oh.
Having brought the entire situation to a swift conclusion, Kasha now quietly stared at Sillon. Aidrin sensed that something was terribly wrong.
And with good reason. Why else would Kasha have actively intervened to end the commotion?
Because they were an eyesore...!
A swarm of pests had crowded around her like gnats, desperate to ride her coattails and breeze through the exam. To make matters worse, they had caused a noisy scene, grating on her nerves. Naturally, the whole spectacle must have been an eyesore to her. Aidrin had no doubt about it. The Kasha Hanahan she knew was exactly that kind of person.
Of course, looking strictly at the situation itself, one could argue that Kasha had helped Sillon out of a tight spot.
But that's absurd.
As far as Aidrin was concerned, Kasha had absolutely no reason to help Sillon. Hadn't Sillon dared to covet the top spot in the second exam, trying to place himself above Kasha? Given Kasha's prideful nature, that was something she could never tolerate.
On top of that, a commoner causing a scene against nobles...!
Surely, in Kasha's eyes right now, that dazed, clueless, talentless fool of a boy looked like nothing more than a pesky insect buzzing out of turn. An insect she would gladly crush underfoot the moment she got the chance!
"Lady Kasha...!"
Her thoughts racing to that conclusion, Aidrin impulsively called out to draw Kasha's attention. She felt that she was the only one who could save this dazed, pathetic fool.
"..."
Kasha slowly turned her head to look at Aidrin. Her expression was displeased, as if she had been interrupted at a crucial moment.
Interrupted? Doing what?
It was obvious. Kasha had been setting the stage to utterly crush Sillon, and Aidrin had stepped in just in time to break her momentum.
Good job, Aidrin.
She needed to keep Kasha's attention locked on herself so she wouldn't spare a single glance for Sillon. That was the only way to save him!
Reaching that conclusion, Aidrin steeled her resolve, met Kasha's gaze, and continued speaking.
"Th-thank you for your help! Thanks to your intervention, Lady Kasha, we were able to escape a very difficult situation. I will never forget your kindness. If there is ever a time in the future when you require the assistance of Aidrin of the Telrn family, please do not hesitate to call upon me!"
She bowed deeply, showing the utmost respect.
Contrary to Aidrin's intentions, however, Kasha's attention didn't linger on her for even a second. As if Aidrin weren't even worth her notice, Kasha shifted her gaze back to Sillon before Aidrin could even finish her sentence.
"Lady Kasha—!"
Aidrin hastily tried to call her back to regain her attention, but—
"..."
"...!"
At Kasha's cold, annoyed glare that practically screamed stop bothering me, Aidrin's resolve crumbled. Just how badly did she want to crush Sillon?!
Oh no...! The idiot is going to get pulverized—
At this point, there was only one thing she could do! Aidrin screamed at Sillon with all her might—not with words, but with her eyes!
Hey, you idiot!
I am begging you!
Don't act cocky like you do with me!
Watch your step...!
You're seriously going to die!
Unfortunately, Aidrin's silent screams failed to reach him.
"My, my~ As expected of Lady Kasha Hanahan!"
Sillon spoke up in his usual frivolous tone, causing Aidrin's eyes to widen in horror.
"To resolve such a chaotic situation so effortlessly. Truly spectacular...! Ah, I can still picture it vividly. The moment you uttered 'Number Two' in that sharp yet resonant voice, everyone instantly understood your will and dispersed on the spot—ah. Is this what they call the majesty of one who stands at the very peak?"
Aidrin's jaw dropped as she watched him make a massive fuss, practically worshiping Kasha with his frivolous antics. Such blatant, over-the-top flattery! In Aidrin's mind, this was exactly the kind of behavior Kasha would detest.
Ah, it's over...
Resigned to the worst, Aidrin nervously watched Kasha's reaction.
"Stop making a fuss."
That was Kasha's response. She scowled deeply and turned her head away from him.
Wait, what...?
Was it just her imagination? Somehow, Kasha looked slightly embarrassed.
Could that actually be the right approach...?
Thinking she might as well try, Aidrin chimed in.
"Y-yes, indeed, Lady Kasha! You truly looked magnificent!"
Instantly, Kasha's expression hardened, and she glared at Aidrin. Her face practically screamed, Who do you think you are? Aidrin quickly cast her eyes downward.
I knew it, that wasn't it...!
Of course. There was no way the proud Kasha Hanahan would appreciate such blatant flattery! Her scowl from a moment ago hadn't been embarrassment; it had been pure disgust. Aidrin felt a pang of injustice at how differently Kasha reacted to her compared to Sillon, but one thing was certain: this was a bad idea!
"My, but still, it really is a shame."
Yet Sillon, that absolute fool, failed to grasp even that obvious fact and kept prattling on in the same tone.
Kasha's head snapped back toward him, almost as if she had been waiting for him to speak! Aidrin could guarantee it: if Sillon gave her just one more excuse, there would be no turning back. He would be permanently blacklisted by Kasha Hanahan.
"S-Sillon? I'll speak with Lady Kasha from here, so why don't you go on ahead—"
At that moment, Aidrin's voice froze in her throat.
Bloodlust...!
It wasn't quite that, but an equally suffocating pressure weighed down on her. The source of this pressure was none other than Kasha's gaze.
Stop interfering, you pest.
Unlike the silent screams Aidrin had directed at Sillon, this silent message reached Aidrin loud and clear.
"H-Hic..."
Shrinking back like a frightened fox, Aidrin was thoroughly banished from the stage this time.
Kasha gave Sillon a slight chin flick, gesturing for him to continue.
"What do you find so shameful?"
"Pardon? Ah, well, it's just—"
Sillon pointed to his own chest. Kasha looked at his chest, then at her own, before letting out an understanding, "Ah." For a fleeting second, a trace of disappointment flickered across Kasha's face, but she quickly masked it and asked,
"Did you also come to check my number?"
"You could say it was only natural. I truly wished to be in the same group as you, Lady Kasha. It is a great pity."
Not just his words, but his smiling face carried a clear look of disappointment.
"I—"
Just as Kasha was about to say something, Sillon's attention naturally shifted.
"Isn't that right, Lady Aidrin?"
"Huh?"
"You wanted to be in the same group as Lady Kasha too, didn't you?"
"Y-yes, of course...?"
"What a shame indeed. But please, don't be too disheartened. As I've already mentioned, having you by my side is more than enough for me, Lady Aidrin. The two of us will surely achieve excellent results!"
Aidrin, who had been half-dazed from Kasha's suffocating pressure, snapped back to reality at Sillon's call. She was conscious again, but she was too preoccupied with Kasha to actually process Sillon's words. Letting his voice drift past her ears, she carefully observed Kasha's reaction.
"..."
"Hieeeek...!"
And there she was, locking eyes with Kasha, who was staring at her with a gaze incomparably more murderous than before.
"You."
"Y-Yes?!"
"What did you say your name was?"
"M-M-Me?!"
"..."
"Ah, s-sorry! I am Aidrin! Aidrin of the Telrn family!"
Upon hearing her answer, Kasha immediately turned on her heel and walked away. Watching her retreating figure, Aidrin felt a chilling realization sink deep into her bones. At this very moment, she had been indelibly etched into Kasha Hanahan's memory.
It was something she had always wanted, but Aidrin couldn't find it in herself to rejoice. Judging by Kasha's reaction just now, her name had undoubtedly been written on Kasha's personal blacklist.
"I, I, I, I, I—"
With a soul-drained face, Aidrin stammered like a broken machine for a long moment before finally managing to form a coherent sentence.
"Am I... blacklisted? By Lady Kasha...?"
"Well, I can't say for sure, but Lady Kasha certainly didn't seem to be in the best of moods at the end there."
"W-W-What did I even do...?"
"My thoughts exactly. All you did was hang around with me, Lady Aidrin."
"...!"
That was it!
Just as Aidrin's eyes rolled back in fury and she was about to snap at Sillon, a voice she couldn't possibly ignore reached her ears. It was calm and even, yet carried a weight far more commanding than anyone else's shouting. It was Drin Libringer.
She looked at Sillon, let out a sigh, and shook her head.
"When I heard that 'the commoner' had gotten into a dispute, I had a feeling. And of course, it was you."
"Of course it was? Anyone listening would think I'm the only commoner participating in this Academy entrance exam."
"That may not be the case, but I can say with absolute certainty that you draw the most attention among them. For better or for worse."
"Ah, so a representative of the commoners, then? What an undeserved honor."
"Who said you could decide it was an honor, let alone an undeserved one?"
"It may be undeserved, but looking at it this way, it puts me on equal footing with you, Lady Drin, the representative of the nobles. So perhaps it's not all bad?"
"Good grief, you certainly have a way with words..."
Watching the two of them converse, Aidrin was thrown into confusion once again.
What in the world...?
According to Drin, they shouldn't have had any relationship to speak of. Furthermore, Drin was supposed to hold a grudge against Sillon due to the incident during the second exam. That was why Aidrin had assumed Sillon was completely out of Drin's good graces.
But what was this? Their conversation flowed as naturally as merchants exchanging goods and coin in a bustling market. Was this really how Drin Libringer treated someone she disliked? For that matter, was there anyone else in the entire Academy who could speak so casually with Drin Libringer?
Just as Aidrin was about to spiral into another state of cognitive dissonance,
"By the way, who is..."
Drin's attention shifted toward Aidrin. Before Aidrin could gather her thoughts to speak, Sillon beat her to it.
"Ah, this is Lady Aidrin of the Telrn family."
"Ah, I see. Aidrin of the Telrn family—"
Drin paused briefly.
"...'Lady'?"
As if the title grated on her ears. A faint crease appeared between Drin's brows, her skin as pristine as a snow-covered field. Aidrin felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of dread.