The Girl Who Fell from the Sky
The clink of teacups.
The chatter of young ladies seated around, gossiping away.
Elia Adventus was there at the tea party as well. It was a gathering hosted by Alley Justinia.
"A few more macarons here."
"Yes, Lady Alley."
"By the way, Maria Frendis. That half-baked noble lady who unusually got a junior baron's title—she's enrolled in our academy now. Of course, we true nobles have to graciously take her under our wing, right?"
Out of nowhere in the middle of the tea party, she brought up Maria Frendis.
The others around her immediately chimed in to flatter Alley.
"You're right, Lady Alley. How broad-minded of you."
"You're a role model for all nobles. How can you have such pure character..."
"Hehe... not quite to that extent. So, how about inviting Lady Maria to our next tea party? Everyone okay with that?"
A sly grin crept across Alley Justinia's face.
Of course, it wasn't a pure invitation to make her a member. She planned to invite Maria into her territory—the tea party—and humiliate her.
In the original story, Alley wouldn't start wary of Maria until a bit later, but right now, she felt an odd restlessness.
—"Lucas Deverlu. That guy's into simple girls. He's lived his whole life surrounded by glamour, so someone like Maria Frendis seems mysterious to him. And one more thing—ditch that strong-weak-weak-strong personality of yours. I'm serious, Alley."
Kael Lotus. The man dubbed a scoundrel in high society—his advice lingered strangely in Alley's memory.
As if the crown prince would just fall head over heels for a wench like Maria Frendis.
Suddenly, her gaze landed on Elia Adventus, quietly sipping her tea.
This time, Alley tossed the topic at Elia.
"By the way, Elia. How's your fiancé? I hear he's a scoundrel... If your family had no choice but to get engaged because of troubles, I could help you out."
Alley flashed a seemingly friendly smile, confirming her subtle superiority.
But Elia saw right through it—no sincerity there.
It was half mockery, half genuine curiosity about the scoundrel Kael—and a chance to voice pity for Elia, sold off to one.
Yet Elia deftly deflected the jab.
"He's a good man."
"That's... all?"
"Nothing else in particular."
Utterly unshaken. Impressively so.
She'd always been even-keeled, but around Alley Justinia, she restrained her emotions even more.
And insults to her family or herself? She was all too used to them by now.
"Are you happy with the engagement?"
With Elia unmoved, Alley got irritated and decided to dig deeper.
Elia simply nodded calmly.
"I am."
"But the rumors say he's a scoundrel..."
"That's not true."
Before Alley could finish, Elia cut her off.
With her red eyes locked straight on Alley's, her face blank but radiating an odd pressure.
Soon enough, Alley broke first and looked away.
"Just baseless society gossip. You know better than anyone those aren't reliable, Lady Alley."
"O-of... course. I'm not the type to be swayed by rumors. Ahem. Shall we change topics? What do you all think? Which clubs have you joined?"
No gains, so Alley switched subjects abruptly.
Her followers started sharing one by one.
Convenient bunch. Not brave enough to join in embarrassing Elia alongside the duke's daughter, but quick as ghosts to follow a topic shift.
Soon, the young ladies were blooming with club talk.
'That thieving stray cat eyeing my crown prince—I'll give her a proper scolding.'
Alley Justinia thought that, looking forward to the future.
"Hey, you there, freshman! No interest in clubs? Join the cooking club!"
"No, come to ours. Politics debate club—great for entering central politics later."
Day three of academy enrollment.
Morning: brief faculty intros in the grand hall. Afternoon: club promotions and festival.
Of course, I had zero interest in any clubs. They're optional anyway—no need to force it.
Sure, nobles prioritize connections, making it practically mandatory, but not for me.
'Better to head to the capital outskirts and do adventurer quests in that time.'
Hunting monsters during my year in Lotus Territory had become one of the few decent entertainments in this boring world.
Especially after the stone golem—I was hooked on combat.
"Hey, junior! Won't push the club, just sing one song!"
"Not interested."
"For real? Good singers get prizes?"
"..."
"Uh, gotta go then."
Someone yapped at my back, so I half-turned.
They backed off instantly.
Hardly anyone in society doesn't know my face. Scoundrel Kael—common knowledge. These club promoters were lesser nobles' kids; they'd recognize me.
Ignorantly approach, see my face, scatter like roaches.
"Kael."
"Ghost."
Brushing off recruiters, walking along—voice from somewhere, so I whipped around.
Elia was suddenly beside me.
"How do you make no noise?"
"Maybe you're not paying attention to me?"
Thought she popped out of thin air.
"Even so... whatever. You vanished during peak club promo—where were you?"
"Here and there."
"Yeah. Here and there."
Not that curious. Like she said, I don't pay her much mind.
Prefer solo anyway.
But she seemed to enjoy tagging along—yesterday too, always sticking with me.
"Which club'd you join?"
"None."
"No club? Why?"
"You're not in one either, Kael."
"Too annoying."
"Fiancés usually join clubs together."
She said it casually.
Was she always this cheeky?
Not a bad change, though.
"Be honest. You're enjoying this fake engagement."
"No way."
She's totally enjoying it.
Problem is, hanging with her offers zero content.
Then she darted ahead and stopped right in my path.
"What. Move."
"Kael. Don't you feel wronged?"
"Outta nowhere? By what?"
"Being called a scoundrel. Ever think it's unfair?"
Random question.
Hmm. Wronged by the nickname? Nah, no big deal.
If anything, it's been useful. Never hurt me—made positioning easy.
Nice guy does one bad thing? Finger-pointed. Scoundrel does one good? "He's changed!" Praise.
Even same bad deed: "Eh, he's a scoundrel. Typical." I've milked that image.
"No real thoughts on it."
"But you're not a scoundrel, Kael."
"I am, though?"
"No."
"I said I am."
"You're not a scoundrel, Kael."
"You... something happen?"
Her face looked off today.
Then—
Rustle—
"Wha—whoa!"
Someone dropped from the sky. Or precisely...
Thud—
"Agh...! So close to success!"
"Who...?"
Right into my arms.
Elia's face hardened instantly.
White hair, small light body. Chick-like, fluffy feel.
A white-haired girl squirming in my hold, wringing her hair.
"Scoundrel Kael."
"Wasn't, a sec ago."
"So closeee!"
She hopped out, shot up straight, arms sky-high.
Then clocked her situation, spun to me and Elia.
"Ahem, seems someone caught my fall. Which of you two...?"
"I did."
"What?"
"Yes! Grateful, lad! What's your department?"
"Hold up, Elia. What're you saying? I caught her—who even are you?"
"What? Then who caught me? Firm feel, pretty broad."
"Fir...m?"
Elia stared at me, utterly blank.
Blank, but heavy pressure. No idea why, but misunderstanding brewing.
"First, introductions! I'm Raphel Strahct, professor of magic at the Noble Academy!"
Even more shocking...
The girl from the sky called herself a professor.