The Start of a New Semester (3)
Bullying was something I could endure to a certain extent. Being pinched, having my hair pulled, or being tripped by someone only to land face-first in a puddle—I could handle it all. What truly made life difficult for Daisy was the crushing realization that not a single person was on her side.
My father had been dragged off to war and lost his life. My mother lacked the will to protect me. That day, I bowed my head to the young lady who had slapped me, apologizing for my supposed rudeness. From the next day on, I headed to the library, a place no one else visited. If I couldn't overturn the inherent difference in our status, I would at least acquire the knowledge and skills for a profession that wouldn't allow others to look down on me.
At first, I thought my efforts were finally bearing fruit. But I was wrong. Someone who had seen me in the library by chance had fallen for my looks and personally brought me to this Academy. The young noblewomen who slapped me never spoke *His* name, but it was far too easy to deduce who they meant.
What do the nobles actually think of commoners? How much do they look down on us to expect us to fall for such an obvious performance? Daisy wanted to spit in the face of the Third Prince, who was smiling with a fake, benevolent expression. But she was seventeen—an age where the excuse of "accidentally being rude" no longer worked.
"Yes, no, okay... I'll speak casually."
From that moment on, Daisy stopped thinking deeply. If you don't expect anything, you won't be disappointed. After all, there was no one willing to dirty their hands for someone like her. It would be easier to just give up and live as a doll that smiles brightly, just as they wanted. That decision had been made a month ago. And then, the day of the first class arrived.
A small hope had appeared.
"...That's how it is, so I don't think I can go against him. I'm sorry, Professor."
"Yeah. Thanks for telling me."
It was an explanation that didn't miss a single beat. If he liked her face, he should have just talked to her right then and there; why drag her to the Academy in such a shady way? Is it a case of "I like her, but I don't want to be the one chasing her"? I really can't understand women's hearts. So that's why people leave comments like [The manipulative male lead is so delicious lololol] while looking at guys like him. Meanwhile, the person actually involved is looking like this.
"So... you don't like him, but you can't risk his displeasure because of the scholarship? You spoke quite courageously earlier for someone in that position."
"Th-that...! It wasn't courage, it was just recklessness. I intend to apologize once he wakes up."
"You don't have to."
"Pardon?"
"I said you don't have to."
I didn't exactly create this system expecting something like this to happen, but it worked out that way. "The Wintergard family will be covering the tuition for all students who enrolled this year."
"...Pardon?"
"Employment-linked contract... I suppose you wouldn't know that term. Basically, it means we'll take students who graduate with excellent grades at the Academy as vassals of the Wintergard house. We're covering the costs in exchange for that."
This was the deal I had struck with my father and the Emperor. As a family that guarded the front lines of the war, we had gained wealth and honor, but we had lost most of our young vassals. I had persuaded my father by arguing that this was a good method, as we couldn't just hire unverified individuals. I hadn't expected the Emperor to actually permit it, though.
'It basically means we're poaching the talent pool as we please.'
No, perhaps he permitted it because he thought it wouldn't have much meaning anyway. In fact, nobles who weren't on good terms with our family had refused with all sorts of excuses. In the end, only commoners who could be swayed by money or those who would have been on Wintergard's side regardless would find it appealing. Thinking about it, it seems like a proposal the Emperor had no reason to refuse. Still, well.
"Is, is that really true? Oh my... me, in Wintergard...?"
Isn't it enough if I can help even one child like this? That is the original purpose of a scholarship, after all. Of course, whether she can truly reach that position in three years depends on her own efforts—.
"Thank you!"
"Huh?! Oh, uh..."
Whoa, that scared me. I almost instinctively shoved Daisy away when she grabbed my hand. Even though I'm older now than I was when I died in my past life, I still get startled like this. It seems trauma doesn't disappear that easily.
"Thank you so much, Professor. I thought all adults were people I couldn't trust..."
"I'll work really hard. I'll work really hard and..."
"...You don't necessarily have to show results, so don't feel pressured."
With those words, I stood up from my seat. I felt like I was going to vomit if I stayed any longer. I've eaten meals next to headless corpses, so why can't I get over this? People are definitely scarier than blades.
"I will take the Prince to the dormitory, Professor. Thank you once again."
"Ah, no. It's my job."
"Daisy, you head to your next class as well. Since something just happened, they likely won't show their true colors for a while... but if anything happens, come to my office."
"Yes. Don't worry, Professor."
I hoisted the Prince onto my shoulder again. I need to lay him down somewhere quickly and finish the rest of my classes. Let's not think about headache-inducing things. That's why I came here, after all.
"I'm sorry, Aisa. I'm a bit late. You've had lunch, right?"
Perhaps because it was my first lecture in a while, I had gone a bit overboard. Thanks to that, I felt like I’d been branded as a crazy professor who does full-length classes and extensions from the very first day. But it was truly shocking that third-year students didn't know such basics. Did they really have nothing in their heads but romance?
"No. I haven't eaten yet."
"Pardon? No, it's quite late..."
"...? Didn't you ask to have lunch together, Professor? I brought a separate meal. Please, eat."
Aisa began spreading out sandwiches and the like on the desk with an expressionless face. Seeing the stack of documents neatly aligned next to them, it seemed she had been working the entire time I was gone. Under normal circumstances, that would have all been my work. It was a moment where I felt grateful to have been reborn as a noble. Though, there was no need for her to work that hard.
"You can take your time. If I recall, there's still over a week left before the deadline..."
"It is your work, Professor."
"...That, asking to have lunch together earlier wasn't an order. If I'm late, you can feel free to eat first. You don't need to prepare anything for me separately, either."
"Yes, I understand."
I stopped myself from saying anything more to her mechanical response. I know well that even if I tell her to relax, it's difficult for her to actually do so, given that I am clearly her superior. I decided to just shut my mouth and eat the bread. As I picked up a sandwich, Aisa began to eat as well. For several minutes, only the sound of chewing filled the quiet office. Unable to bear the silence any longer, I blurted out a question.
"If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?"
"I am twenty this year."
"Wow, you've achieved so much at such a young age..."
I quickly shut my mouth, thinking it might sound sarcastic. The surname Veritas is given to intelligence groups recruited from slum orphans and operated secretly by the Imperial family. Those who are commonly called the dogs of the Imperial family. I remember them specifically because they appear in the story as forces often used by the princes.
'...But did a person like that appear in the original work?'
Aisa Veritas. Silver hair reaching her waist and striking red eyes. An appearance that would be hard to see in either my past or present life, and, well, anyway. If she appeared in the work, she would definitely be memorable, but I have no memory of seeing the name Aisa. Perhaps she was just a passing "Imperial Dog 1 or 2" who died off-screen. Thinking that, my heart started to ache for no reason.
"Aside from handling my secretarial duties, you don't have any other special tasks, do you?"
"That is the plan while you are employed at the Academy."
"...Once you finish your work, you can rest. I won't be leaving the Academy without any special reason, either."
"Yes, I understand."
"......"
In reality, Aisa is likely a person sent by the Emperor to act as my secretary and monitor. Even if he gave me something like immunity, it doesn't mean he wants me to act like a complete scoundrel. At the very least, he would need one person to be his eyes and ears. I understand that perfectly well. But I really don't have any thoughts other than wanting the kids to do well.
"About the student named Daisy in my class. Does she happen to share a room with a student named Olivia Bluesun?"
"Hmm... Yes. That was the case in the seating chart I memorized."
"Ah, I thought so. In that case, I'll have to use my authority to change their rooms. Until the matter is properly resolved, I need to separate the victim and the perpetrator..."
It was while we were discussing work matters, chewing on sandwiches, that it happened.
Thump, thump, thump.
A gait filled with anger, which anyone could recognize, began to approach from the end of the hallway. And then, bang!
"You! What on earth have you done on your very first day!!"
"...Dean?"