Chapter 40
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: The Princess and the Mage (1)
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If we were to hold a popularity poll for the characters appearing in Academy's Tenacious Mage.
'Celestina Belhart' would undoubtedly rank within the top three.
Even Kyle, that magic-obsessed dullard who knows nothing else, had lost himself staring at her for a moment, but her looks were only part of it.
The Third Princess's true worth lay in her personality.
Unlike other royals, she spoke politely to everyone, courteous and ever-gentle.
This personality probably stemmed largely from her family(?) situation.
She had five older brothers and two older sisters above her, plus one younger brother and one younger sister below.
She was ambiguously too young to vie for the throne.
Yet too old to monopolize everyone's doting as the baby of the family.
Her position was truly suffocatingly ambiguous.
Acting arrogantly like the other royals would bury her without a trace.
So she chose a different path.
Someone who cares for others, respects them, sees through to their true hearts, and listens intently to every word.
In a word, the 'ideal' ruler.
...or so she had to be.
The Celestina Princess before my eyes was utterly unlike the one I'd read about in print.
No need to invoke some dimensional barrier.
She was markedly different from the girl I'd glimpsed months ago in the interview waiting room.
Her tightly clasped hands trembled restlessly.
Her violet eyes, fixed downward, quivered pitifully.
Her cheeks were deathly pale, veins standing out stark white on the hand gripping her teacup.
The gentle, serene demeanor repeated endlessly in the original story was nowhere to be found.
Instead, a fragile girl teetering on the brink of shattering sat before me.
An awkward silence blanketed the room.
The only sound was the princess fiddling with her teacup, producing faint clinks.
What on earth did she want to say?
She'd gone to the trouble of keeping me here, only to forget her words?
I sneaked a glance at her with just my eyes.
The princess stared blankly at the cold black tea in her cup.
I couldn't take it anymore and sank deep into the sofa, tilting my head back.
Mmm, so plush and comfy...
Not quite on par with that bed from earlier, but this had its own charm.
Is this that legendary addictive cushion everyone's raving about...
At this rate, I'll really drift off to sleep?
Killing time like this wasn't the worst. Heading back just meant Odette's nagging anyway.
But this suffocating silence was... mentally draining.
Finally, I broke first.
"Um, Princess."
"Y-Yes?!"
Princess Celestina flinched in place, still clutching her teacup.
Tensed up the whole time, she even let out a little hiccup.
"Since you went out of your way to hold me back, it seems you have something to say to me."
No sense beating around the bush; it'd just waste time, so I asked straight.
"Ah! Th-that... um... H-how's life in the Ma Engineering Department?"
...Huh?
"A-are you... getting by okay?"
"Yeah, well. Pretty comfortable."
"Oh, comfortable... Th-that outfit... How's maid duty? Not too tough... is it?"
"This one's rough. Feels like dying a little."
"Yes... I-I see... Must be hard..."
And then, silence again.
Why did every exchange crash and burn like this?
...Time to bail?
I've skipped plenty, and Odette's probably due to hunt me down soon.
Maybe the princess had just wandered in, spotted me, and grabbed hold to diffuse the awkwardness.
"If that's all, I'll head out..."
"W-Wait!"
Her urgent cry froze me mid-rise.
The princess drew a deep breath and asked in a quavering voice.
"Are you... avoiding me on purpose?"
"...Pardon?"
Avoiding her? Me?
Her face was so earnest, so desperate, I blanked and missed my cue to reply.
Did she take my silence for confirmation?
"So that's it."
The princess began to crumble.
Her eyes glistened wet; no mistaking her conviction.
"Wait... it's not..."
I fumbled for excuses in panic.
Suddenly, memories flickered through my mind.
Looking back, this was my first glimpse of her since that interview waiting room encounter.
Vice-Captain Albert had begged me to 'look after the princess,' and I'd blanked on it entirely.
...Even I'd misunderstand in her shoes.
No, this was straight-up certainty.
Cold sweat trickled down my nape.
I had to say something, but my tongue was glued.
Lips parched, words lodged in my throat.
"I... get it."
The princess tried lifting her teacup casually... then set it down.
Her pitifully trembling hand.
"You've already aligned with another royal, so my clinging must feel burdensome."
I scratched my head awkwardly.
The misunderstanding had snowballed.
"W-well... I haven't aligned with anyone. Wasn't avoiding you either..."
My belated defense welled tears over her violet gaze.
"...What do you mean, no?!"
Raw emotion erupted.
Never dreamed she'd raise her voice.
"It's been over two months since semester started."
Her tone quivered, soon laced with sobs.
"Same year, sharing classes despite departments! How do we not cross paths even once by chance? Makes sense only if you're dodging me!!"
"..."
"Of course...! I couldn't approach first either. But... isn't this too much?!"
"...Princess. Calm down a bit..."
"Calm down? With everything piling up, my head's a mess...!"
My words snapped her final restraint.
"At the palace, brothers and sisters threaten and pressure me constantly...! So scary, but I thought the academy would let me breathe!"
Once the floodgates opened, tears and fury poured forth.
"Why do they all expect so much? Strip the princess title, I'm useless! Why's magic so damn hard? Senior Miriel hounds me nonstop! What did I do...!"
Listening, I sensed mountains pent up inside.
Pitiful... but why unload on me...
"And Linea Hall blows up monthly! Practice hall collapses! Guards and maids smother with overprotection! That magitech golem lately? Nearly killed us all!"
...Ah. Can't dodge blame there.
"And... and also... above all..."
Her hand groped the air.
Sniffling pauses; her throat rasped raw.
"So... so lonely..."
Yet she pressed on.
"Everyone envies, rivals, or uses me... Can't confide in anyone, suffocating..."
Her words crumbled.
Quavers turned to whimpers.
"And you shake me like this too...!"
I stared blankly.
Maybe now, finally facing her for real.
Not princess, not heroine.
Just a terrified academy freshman, breaking down before me.
I sighed softly, patting her slight shoulders.
"Um... deep breath first. Choking on tears isn't good."
Not my forte, comforting. Awkward pat-job.
"Hmm... might sound irresponsible, but... ease up on the pressure... wouldn't that help?"
"Hic... uu... ugh..."
"Still the academy, not palace."
Such prime beds wasted on tension? Shame.
"Can't you loosen up a tad?"
"Can't... They're vicious... Fled palace, still chasing..."
"Don't worry. Here at academy, I'll guard you."
Crying halted sharp.
She peered up, tear-smeared, hiccuping.
"You know why I—who had zero reason for magic—came here?"
Awkward rub at my neck.
"Half for you, Princess."
"...Pardon?!"
"Vice-Captain Albert said: handle academy trouble myself."
Keep the princess safe, basically.
My words done, violet eyes brimmed anew.
Relief tears? Disappointment?
"Then... why dodge me...?"
"No dodging, swear."
"Liar. Skipped Magic Department..."
"Department Head Lilliana lured with magitech demos..."
"I sent an invitation too... why ignore?"
"Eh... when?"
One of those trashed letters hers?
Odette'd flag it, though?
...Did I mumble discard it asleep?
I blinked vacant.
"...Too mean."
Her hands clutched my collar tight.
"Really, really mean..."
Then limp thumps on my flat chest.
Thud, thud.
For ages, face buried in my chest, tears flowed.
Luckily, no snot-rag desecration like some.
How much time slipped by.
Crying done, she peeled away—then clapped hands over face, head bowed deep.
Steam whooshed from lustrous gold locks.
Our princess: mortified beyond normal.
"Um, Lunaris."
Mumble muffled through fingers.
"That just now... total slip-up, one-off! Got it?!"
Prime misleading soundbite sans context.
"So today's stuff—never breathe a word! Promise?"
"Naturally. Want me to wipe it clean?"
"No! You'd forget protecting me too!"
Cheeks blazed, unyielding.
Downcast face: relief laced with shame.
I peeked window-ward.
Sun long set; night thick.
Yeah, loitered awhile.
"Gotta go now."
Full stretch, sofa rise.
"Later, Odette'll blow."
Doorward step.
"...Princess?"
Tiny hand snagged my sleeve desperate.
"Um... Lunaris. Sounds weird, maybe, but..."
Hesitance; courage scraped.
"Today... stay?"
"...Pardon?"
"I-I mean! You're my guard...!"
Stammers wrung excuses frantic.
"Gotta... protect me... right?"
"Strictly? More academy security than personal guard."
Sigh soft, continued.
"Even as guard, sharing bed with charge? Not standard."
"Uu..."
"Or do you bunk with guards usually?"
"N-no! Absolutely not!"
Violet eyes whirled.
This princess: teasing goldmine.
"Th-then... right, maid work! Said it's brutal?"
"Yep. Disciplinary forces it."
"I'll sweet-talk head maid for slack!"
Eyes popped unwitting.
Solid pitch...
"Know this? My bed's heavenly fluffy. Sleep heaven."
Ah, that bed's sorcery—I know.
Moment's recline evaporates fatigue.
Eyed my maid garb, her bed alternate.
Resigned sigh long.
"...Tonight only, then."