Rare Affinity and the Second Princess
As twilight stealthily expanded its domain, Maness headed back to the dormitory, mulling over Almond's advice.
"But illusion affinity is different. How should I put it? An illusion mage specialized in that affinity structures their spells differently from what a general mage can achieve."
Structurally different. That meant an illusion mage's spells diverged from the commonly known illusion magic.
Right now, the illusion mages Maness knew from the original story were just two: Snowrobe's Metaph and the Magic Tower's Simonion. They rarely appeared in the story, so information on them was scarce. It was only natural to feel intrigued.
"We don't cover it much in class either. To begin with, people with illusion affinity like you are extremely rare."
Until now, he'd simply thought illusion magic was a minor branch, so few mages specialized in it. But the reality was the opposite—few possessed the talent for it.
Looking back, the illusion magic featured in the original story was limited to low-tier spells like Delusion or Reversal. Even Metaph's wide-area perception manipulation, if not blocked by anti-magic resistance, could yield tremendous results depending on its use.
If not blocked by anti-magic, that is.
Muttering his lingering frustration under his breath, Maness climbed the dormitory stairs. Suddenly, his quietly halted steps caught his eye. Wondering what was up, he looked up and immediately understood why the other had stopped.
The second princess of the Ropelt Empire. Charlotte Diana von Lopelt.
Unlike her fresh, swaying golden locks, her cold blue eyes glared down at Maness icily.
As their gazes met, Maness's thoughts raced from noting their shared blue eyes to questioning why she was glaring so fiercely. It didn't take long to pinpoint the reason.
"Another notice came to the academy. Apparently, you harassed the second princess this time."
On the day he'd first possessed this body in this world, the letter in his hand had detailed how the original Maness had made advances on the second princess. He should've caused just the right amount of trouble.
No matter that they were both students now, origins couldn't be hidden. Thus, the second princess held more influence at Snowrobe than any other student. Not just her position, but Snowrobe was a proper public academy.
"You're surprisingly bold, holding your head high like that."
He'd expected the opener wouldn't be friendly, but it carried more thorns than anticipated. Having experienced treatment she'd never known before, some understanding was in order.
"...I've decided to live quietly from now on."
"I may not have lived long, but I know well that people don't change easily."
By age alone, she was no different from other students. But considering the intrigues she'd faced in her position as princess, she likely had far more wisdom than her years suggested.
"That doesn't mean it's always right, though. It's late, but I won't make excuses for my previous rudeness."
Maness treated her with the utmost courtesy he could muster. Whether it worked was uncertain, but there was no gain in earning the enmity of someone who held the empire in her grasp.
Fortunately, Charlotte was a master at reading people. He's changed.
Living in the imperial court made one cautious of every gesture and word's end. Everyone around a princess was the same. Thus, she was hypersensitive to others' attitudes, discerning even the subtlest differences.
The wastrel before her was markedly different from before. From his demeanor toward her to his tone and gestures—everything. She couldn't guarantee he'd truly reformed, but something had undeniably shifted.
"So, did you corner a fellow student until he passed out again today?"
"Pardon?"
"The rumors are already spreading. That you dragged in Gail's second son unconscious after afternoon class."
But Charlotte believed people didn't change easily. So this Maness Pictri was wearing a mask. The type who feigned goodness while committing evils behind the scenes—the very sort she despised most.
"There were circumstances..."
"No circumstances justify knocking out a fellow student."
"I didn't knock out Boltman."
"A perpetrator's excuse never gains trust."
Facing Charlotte's sharp onslaught, Maness thought, What does she want me to do?
The second princess he knew from the original wouldn't blindly trust rumors like this. Such gullibility wouldn't survive the court, and indeed, her wise actions later proved key to resolving major events.
The reason for her aggression was simple and clear. The original Maness's precedents.
"Your Highness."
"I'm just a fellow student right now. No need for formalities."
"If you call me Maness, I'll treat you as one too."
He knew she wouldn't, but he said it anyway. As expected, Charlotte frowned and bit her lip slightly.
"I know you don't trust me. That's why you assume the Boltman incident was my doing."
"Are you saying it wasn't?"
When facing suspicion, don't cower—push back hard. And rather than endlessly explaining your side, target their weaknesses in turn.
"Unless you've confirmed it with Boltman himself, I see no reason to accept your accusations."
A crack formed on Charlotte's face, widening further. She hadn't anticipated the accused turning the tables on her.
"Th-that's..."
"I believe the noble and great member of the imperial family wouldn't reprimand someone based on mere rumors. Someone must have stirred things up beside you."
Whether someone had or not, it didn't matter—better if not, as it'd shame her more.
Silence stretched on. It was theirs alone; the surroundings buzzed softly with gathered onlookers.
Glare full of fury fixed on Maness, Charlotte chewed each word before parting her heavy lips.
"Are you saying I'm wrong right now?"
"Not wrong, but it seems you've been swept up by the atmosphere, so this is just clumsy advice..."
"I'm not someone who gets swayed! I think that because you are that kind of person!"
Charlotte's words tumbled out, tangled in fluster and anger. Time to stop pushing back.
Now, just prove the truth.
"How about a bet?"
"What now?"
"If the Boltman thing wasn't my doing, we treat each other like friends from now on."
The last proposal she'd want in this situation. She'd even bitten her lip at being called Maness— she'd hate it more than death. Having picked a fight publicly, she had to pay the price.
"And if you did mistreat young Gail?"
"I won't show my face around here again."
Charlotte glanced sideways at the crowd. With this many onlookers, backing out was impossible.
"You seem confident. Fine, let's do it."
"It's a promise. Then..."
With her agreement, Maness quickly scanned the crowd. During their prolonged standoff on the stairs, he'd noted one person with a sidelong glance.
Arrogant, haughty, utterly obnoxious.
"Boltman Gail."
At Maness's call, the crowd parted. Boltman's expression hardened at the end.
*
Watching the tense standoff between Maness and the second princess, Boltman was deep in thought.
Joining the corridor crowd, he'd overheard and wanted to shout, "Maness did knock me out!" But that would expose him as having been beaten unconscious by Maness.
In truth, it was the skeleton horde, but either way, it was a disgrace unbecoming of Gail's second son, who should shine.
How do I answer if someone asks the truth later?
Lost in dilemma, a sharp, heavy voice pierced his ears—like in the forest standoff.
"Boltman Gail."
The blocking crowd parted, leaving Boltman face-to-face with Maness.
"Eek!"
"Perfect timing. Come here a sec."
No escape. Whether lying that Maness knocked him out or admitting he fainted from the skeletons, his reputation as 2nd class leader would suffer equally.
Resolving inwardly, Boltman stepped forward to face them both.
Fine, with this, I'll lie to win the princess's favor...
"Thanks for afternoon class. Really."
"...Huh?"
The unexpected words hit like a hammer.
"You threw yourself to block the skeletons chasing me, right?"
"Th-that..."
"Even if I'm a total wastrel, I can't abandon a benefactor. I came back and found you passed out. You at least remember trying to save me, yeah?"
Boltman stared at Maness in shock, piecing it together.
He's proposing a deal?
If he agreed, Boltman becomes the magnanimous savior who even redeemed a wastrel—publicly, with dormitory students watching.
Surprised by the natural offer, what shocked Boltman more was Maness humbling himself, twisting facts to take the fall.
That would brand him not just a wastrel, but a coward who abandoned a classmate to skeletons. Boltman couldn't fathom preparing for such vilification.
Maness felt it too, but didn't care. His wastrel image was rock-bottom; no lower to fall, no change in treatment.
Better to leverage Boltman for equal footing with the princess—far more useful long-term.
And he was confident in this plan. Boltman, raised on Gail family teachings to seize victory, wouldn't pass up a chance to preserve dignity, princess or not.
"Hey! That's not wha—mmph!"
Iris's voice rang from above, but someone silenced her—thankfully.
"Is what he says true?"
Charlotte asked cautiously as Boltman hesitated.
If he agreed now, it was over. It'd plant the idea that "the second princess is equals with Maness Pictri" in countless students' minds.
To avoid that nightmare, she infused her subtle question with force: I'm the empire's second princess. Even if true, don't side with him.
But Maness's deal was too sweet for that to land.
"You remember it perfectly yourself. I believe you'll repay the debt you owe me twofold someday."