A Sudden Proposal
[Write the names of your three closest friends.]
During school days, this question had been simple for some but a Millennium Prize Problem-level ordeal for others. Marina's face stiffened.
'No way I could ever say it.'
I knew her past.
Before the semester started, despite being the daughter of a marquis, Marina was so shy she couldn't hold a social gathering like Jessica had.
At the beginning of the term, while everyone exchanged greetings and built friendships, Marina sat alone in the corner, reading a book.
By the end of the term, as the festival fever swept through and anticipation built for the upcoming ball, she skipped both the festivities and the dance, holing up in her room to study.
After three years of isolated solitude, disconnected from everyone, she achieved the feat of reaching grand magus status at age twenty-three.
Becoming a grand magus gave her a confidence she'd never had before, allowing her to stand tall in front of others.
But perhaps as a rebound from those three years—or her entire quiet life—she transformed into someone flashy in both appearance and demeanor. And yet... as if the will of the world itself conspired against her, she still couldn't make any friends.
"Principal, why aren't you saying anything? Anyone hearing this would think I asked you to name thirty instead of three."
"I-I'm thinking right now, so be quiet for a moment!!"
Was she starting to stutter because memories of her unnoticed school days were resurfacing?
To grate on her nerves even more, I kept pressing Marina without mercy.
"If you're pondering that deeply, you must have tons of friends, huh, Principal? I'm really looking forward to hearing those names."
The more I spoke, the uglier Marina's face grew—but only for a moment. Soon, she regained her composure, and a flush of color returned to her cheeks.
Had a brilliant idea struck her?
I shot her an expectant gaze, wondering what it could be, only to get a deeply disappointing response.
"...Ahem. Before naming names, I believe we must first discuss the definition of a friend. We need clear boundaries on where friendship begins and ends..."
"Sigh..."
I was disappointed.
To think the conclusion she reached after all that deliberation was something only a friendless loner would spout.
I'm no social butterfly myself, but for true insiders, friends aren't some grand concept worth overanalyzing.
To them, friendship just happens naturally at some point.
Or not.
"Principal, I'm truly disappointed. No one who responds like that to 'name three friends' could possibly have any."
"N-No... I...!!"
"Enough. You were just going to muddy the waters with definitions and claim some non-friend as one, right?"
My words hit the mark; Marina fell silent, her head drooping.
Sure enough, unlike me—who avoids shaky human connections on purpose, living like a lone wolf despite wanting friends deep down—she was the type who desperately wanted them but couldn't make any.
"Just... leave that etiquette class or whatever. I'll go, so stop with the pathetic excuses. I can't bear to watch anymore."
"......"
"......Anyway, I need to practice my Battōjutsu, so I'll head out. There are too many books; I'll grab them tomorrow."
With that, I left Marina and the fainted Jessica behind, exiting the classroom.
"Hic...!!"
Right before closing the door, I thought I heard a sob—but it must have been my imagination.
"Urgh...!"
Sudden abdominal pain made me stop and lean against the wall. Nana stepped forward from behind, trying to shield me with her large cloak.
"Nana, it's not like that—you don't need to hide me."
I'd just been startled by the abrupt pain, but it was already over, with no sign of the magic lifting.
The sudden agony wasn't a big deal anyway. With Nana's support, I straightened up immediately.
"Phew..."
"Your Highness... are you truly alright?"
"Sorry... but yeah, that ended yesterday, so no need to worry."
I pulled a handkerchief from my pocket to wipe the cold sweat trickling down my cheek, then spoke to Nana, who still gripped my arm.
"Sometimes my stomach just aches afterward. I'm really fine, so you can let go now."
"Yes.... But if it happens again, please tell me right away."
"Yeah, I'm always grateful..."
Gathering my strength, Nana and I headed to the S-Class special training ground reserved for knight department students.
As a magic department student, my reason for coming here was obvious: to meet my fiancée, Rain.
That day, despite the circumstances, I'd turned her away at the door without even inviting her inside. As the head of the house, I needed to apologize in person.
"Your condition isn't great—wouldn't it be better to send a letter later?"
"No, I was the rude one first. I want to apologize to Rain face-to-face. ...She's my fiancée, after all."
Nana's expression soured at that, as if something displeased her.
Though her face was hidden by her helmet, years together had taught me to read her bigger emotional shifts.
'Nana doesn't seem to like Rain much... or am I imagining it?'
Even if I asked directly, she'd refuse, saying a servant couldn't judge her master's partner.
I'd thought all knights favored the Sword Saint's kin, but maybe there were exceptions.
"This place hasn't changed a bit..."
"You're an academy alum too, right, Nana? Any memories of this training ground?"
"No... I feel some nostalgia, but no special memories. If I had to pick, maybe the time I smashed those guys who called me 'giant girl'?"
"Haha... You're never violent around me, but you've got a fierce side."
"Of course—I can't treat Your Highness like everyone else. But is she even in the training ground?"
"Who knows... If not, nothing we can do."
I'd first checked the women's dorm via Nana, but Rain hadn't returned yet.
With no choice, we'd come to the most likely spot, though she might not be here either.
"The only place I can think of where she might be is the training ground... Have I been neglecting Rain all this time?"
"Political marriages are usually like that, so don't worry. Rain probably doesn't know your favorite spots either."
"Maybe..."
As we chatted and walked, we reached the training ground entrance. Suddenly, Nana stepped ahead.
"Nana?"
"Your Highness... Someone's inside."
"......"
Rain's tense posture made it clear this wasn't just "someone's there."
I hadn't told anyone I was coming here.
It didn't make sense that a tail on me had overtaken us to wait inside.
"Nana... dangerous?"
"......Not sure. I sense raw killing intent, but it's not aimed at us. And there's only one presence from the room."
"No blood smell?"
"Yes, just sweat—no blood. Doesn't feel like a fight happened."
"Then... what's going on inside?"
"Maybe they're so deep in training they're radiating it. Intense image training can do that."
Even as she said it, Nana kept her guard up and slowly opened the door.
A wind rushed toward us, sharp as needles pricking our skin—not a mere breeze.
Was this the "killing intent" warriors like Nana sensed?
Hiding behind her, I couldn't see inside, but her rigid back told me something extraordinary was there.
"Nana... what's wrong?"
"Nothing... Just a student training alone. No Rain."
"Okay...? Who's inside, then?"
"Hard to say. I have a guess, but no personal acquaintance... Want to see for yourself?"
Nana stepped aside, and I looked up at the man monopolizing the training ground.
His long hair, damp with sweat and tied low, contrasted the killing intent that had tensed Nana—he looked remarkably refined.
Having shed his sweat-soaked top, his body revealed chiseled, powerful muscles.
"Ah..."
As I stared, entranced, his body stayed still, but his ponytail suddenly whipped wildly.
"Nana... what just happened?"
"He drew and sheathed so fast it's invisible. The ponytail whipped from the recoil."
"I-I see...!"
I didn't know why he'd sheathed again, but the form was stunningly cool.
"......"
Noticing us, he glanced over, then resumed the technique.
This time, slower—mindful of a novice like me.
The blade drew like wind, tracing a white arc before returning elegantly to its scabbard.
"Ooh...!!"
I nearly applauded, barely holding back an exclamation.
Finishing, he slung his jacket and shirt over his shoulder and approached us.
The earlier intent was gone, but Nana, still wary, positioned herself in front like a shield.
He stopped at a distance, glanced at her, then asked me,
"Not a knight department student, right? What brings you here?"
"Casual speech...?"
Nana bristled, but I quickly stepped forward.
"Nana! This is the academy—don't get upset over informal talk! Sorry for interrupting your training. We were looking for someone, but... your swordsmanship was just too impressive..."
"......What?"
Something irked him? His eyes widened in disbelief as he approached slowly.
Nana blocked him; he craned his neck to look at me.
"What'd you say? My Battōjutsu is impressive?!"
"Huh?! Uh, well..."
I had no idea why it bothered him, but I nodded. He shoved past Nana with immense force, grabbed my hand, and said,
"You... marry me?"
"Huh? Wha, what?!!!"
What the hell did this guy just say to me?!