Worry (1)
I decided to check on my state, Frey Katram, or rather, my own.
Actually, I can summarize it in one sentence: Right now, I'm in a state where I'm barely alive thanks to Iren's mercy, and it's enough to make me want to vomit.
Feeling this emotion intensely for 24 hours, 1 minute, and 1 second has naturally made my condition worse.
So, it's no wonder the magic department students are in shock. They don't know the full story, and to someone who doesn't know, my current state is one that shouldn't exist.
“Frey? Can you show me a light landscape with illusion magic?”
Violet-sensei asked me cautiously.
I waved my hand with a dazed expression.
Chiiik. The illusion magic that tried to overlay reality disappeared with a swish.
“Ah... I'm sorry, Professor. It failed.”
“......!”
“Unbelievable!”
“The top student in the midterms, Katram, failed a simple magic?”
The shocked students whispered to each other, but I just hung my head with no motivation.
At that moment, Iren spoke to me.
“Frey, if your condition is bad, you should rest-.”
“Hik, hiik!”
“......”
I jumped in place with a fit, then spoke rapidly while trembling.
“I'm sorry, Princess Iren, I didn't do it on purpose, but my body condition is like this because I have no choice.”
“No, calm down.”
“Yep.”
I froze like ice. Iren sighed, and the students naturally looked at Iren.
The princess did something!
It was the students' common thought. Iren, sensing it from the gazes, was about to go crazy.
What she did was, at my request, tell me her residence. Of course, in the process, the secret thread was revealed. But she didn't harm me in any way.
But because she couldn't say it out loud, she couldn't explain.
Iren felt her reputation plummeting in real-time. She had to do something.
First, to avoid me feeling anxious, she decided to separate from me.
I would calm down if she hugged me.
Shut up.
Aileen spoke inside, pouting. Even though Aileen is me, I felt annoyed.
During break time, someone approached Iren who was wandering outside.
The man who likes to meddle, Karl.
“Princess.”
“Karl. What's the matter?”
Iren expected inwardly. He might be able to loosen the tension between me and her.
But people say you get betrayed when you expect, don't you?
“Now, stop treating Katram like a slave.”
“What?”
“Until now, we've all thought that the princess's pranks on Katram are because they're close, since they're very affectionate. But.”
Karl closed his eyes and shook his head exaggeratedly. Like he was acting in a play.
“Actually, it wasn't. Katram was just piling up his feelings inside because he couldn't express them due to the power of the princess. That's why his mind is messed up now!”
From the first day, Iren felt murderous intent towards Karl.
Since it's for Frey, I'll endure it.
“So?”
“So? Didn't I already say it at the beginning!”
“You want me to give up on Frey?”
“Yes!”
“Karl Laupen. Your courage is admirable. You spout nonsense so confidently.”
“Nonsense? There is evidence.”
“Evidence?”
“Look at these.”
Karl unfolded what looked like a book. Something was dangling.
Pictures drawn as if real. They mainly depicted two students.
Iren and me. Mainly Iren dragging me, forcibly taking me to the library, sitting on me and laughing...
“Wait, you saw all of these?”
“I had a hard time pretending not to know. I kept quiet until now because I wanted to pass it off as the two of you being mischievous. But what is this! Katram is a legitimate branch of the Katram family! He can't be treated like a dog!”
“Who the hell are you!”
Iren grabbed all the pictures Karl offered while angry. Fortunately, since my life is precious, the incidents inside the library magic book weren't drawn.
“You can take them. There are many copies.”
“Copy...! You didn't erase them!?”
“This is the last bastion to protect Katram! So stop harassing Katram and let him go!”
“Ik! So it's not like that! Even in these situations, Frey didn't particularly have complaints!”
“But all of them have dissatisfied expressions?”
“Th-that!”
Iren's words stuck in her throat. Because Frey didn't like those situations.
In the end, Iren decided to be brazen.
“What's wrong with me treating Frey like a dog!”
“Eh?”
“You were there on the first day of the semester. Originally, I wanted to make Frey my slave! To become the master! So what's wrong with treating him like a dog? I'm the princess of the empire, and the only person who can stop this is His Imperial Majesty!”
“That's not right!”
“Why not?”
“Would Katram really give true loyalty to the princess like that? Wouldn't he always harbor resentment?”
“...”
“People's hearts can't be forced. If the princess treats people like that, something big will happen someday!”
It was the ultimate truth.
However, there was doubt whether Karl, who had given Frey the truth potion, could say such words. Iren couldn't counter because she didn't know this.
“The princess says she's in love with Katram but oppresses and harasses him. The magic department, including me, who received kindness from Katram, cannot just let this situation pass!”
“Wait, the magic department?”
“It's not just my will. The entire magic department has declared that they won't overlook this situation!”
Mana flowed out from Karl's hand like dust. This is the mark of a mage. When a mage solidifies their mana and gives it, the receiver becomes their representative.
The mana flowing from Karl was that of the first-year magic department students, except for the student who was taken to Alketo's lab, Frey.
Seeing that, Iren burst into laughter.
“Human relationships have widened. Frey.”
Iren was happy about that. Like me, Frey, who doesn't have many opportunities to interact with people, was trying not to widen human relationships.
As a butler, he didn't make time to do so, but every time I saw that Frey, I felt sorry for him. He seems to be a person who can experience a wider world, but he's trapped because of me.
But now, look. The entire class is petitioning the princess, who is me, for Frey.
This situation itself was both absurd and happy for Iren.
“Hmm, hmm.”
“Why are you laughing? No matter how much of a princess you are, you can't ignore the petition of the entire magic department!”
“No. Yeah. Karl Laupen. I acknowledge your hearts.”
“Then, are you going to stop touching Katram?”
“I can't do that. Rather, I'm saying it's a misunderstanding? What if I ask Frey directly? Where I don't exist. Then you'll know the truth.”
“Hmm.”
Karl's momentum towards Iren slightly weakened. Karl, who had a good relationship with Iren so far. If she says that, there must be some reason.
“Then, can I go now and ask?”
“Of course. But take this with you.”
“Communication stone?”
“I want to hear the moment Frey clears up the misunderstanding too. This much is fine, right?”
“No problem. Then I'll go.”
Karl walked briskly to the magic department classroom. Alone, Iren sighed and sat in a suitable place.
“This is resolved. How do I fix Frey?”
No matter how much I coaxed and comforted, Frey was in that state. Rather, when I approached, he had a fit, so I couldn't easily come up with a solution.
If this continues, the relationship will be even worse than at the beginning of the semester. I thought I had to prevent that.
Ziiing.
The communication stone connected to the one given to Karl rang. I activated the communication stone. Voices of Karl and Frey came out.
[Katram. Are you okay now?]
[Eh, I'm fine.]
[You seem fine, but you don't look it because the princess isn't here.]
[Wh-what? So why?]
[We thought Katram was being harassed by the princess. But the princess said it wasn't. Is it true?]
[Of course it is...]
While listening to Frey speak, I smiled.
“Yeah. Clear up the misunderstanding! Frey!”
At the moment I shouted inwardly. Suddenly, Frey's words cut off.
“Huh?”
I was bewildered. Suddenly, Frey shouted quickly.
[Th-there's no way the princess would harass me! She's kind, great, respectable, and a gentle person no one can surpass! I can't defy her for my whole life, so there's no reason for her to harass me! Hahaha! Isn't that right, Karl?]
[...]
“Eh, eh?”
Silence followed. I was surprised. Why? Suddenly, why was Frey saying such weird things that anyone could see were strange?
“Ah! No way!”
I hurriedly threw the communication stone and turned it off.
“Frey must have sensed my mana in the communication stone!”
Frey, who sensed me, must have panicked and said those things! I realized this and hurriedly ran to the magic department.
Bang! I entered the classroom without knowing and saw...
Swaa-.
The magic department students looking at me with even colder eyes than before.
“No way!”
I wanted to cry.