The Telltale Waist
The walk back from the training grounds to the classroom felt far longer than usual. Partly because Reina was clutching my sleeve and refusing to let go, but mostly because the students trailing behind us were staring daggers into my back, making it sting.
Cool magical air rushed in as I opened the classroom door. But that refreshment was short-lived—the atmosphere inside was thicker and stranger than the sweltering heat of the training grounds. I guided Reina to her seat and collapsed at my desk. Every joint in my body screamed in protest. Fighting the urge to face-plant onto the wood, I scanned the room.
Leonhardt caught my eye first. He had his head buried in his arms on the desk, shoulders trembling faintly.
"……No way. That noble soul, acting like some beast……."
A groan-mixed mutter drifted faintly to my ears.
Beside him, Seraphina von Lumière gazed at me with dreamy eyes, hand pressed to her chest. When our eyes met, she whipped her head away with a short sigh.
"Ahh, why must the barrier of status be so cruel……."
Next to her, Isabella von Aris was flipping open a holy book and frantically drawing crosses. Her lips moved nonstop.
"Oh Lord…… look upon this fallen lamb. Forgive the sins of the night, and erase their traces……."
Even as she prayed, her eyes flicked repeatedly to the gap between my collar and neck.
Did I get something on my neck? I scratched my nape self-consciously.
Then Elarra von Sterling's quill scratched wildly across paper, shattering the silence. Felix sauntered up to my desk with his usual cheeky grin and dragged over a chair.
"Baron, I've gotta ask—about that 'all-nighter' you mentioned earlier."
He leaned in, lowering his voice and narrowing his eyes.
"Did you really pull it off staring at the ceiling all night? Her Highness didn't…… let you go that easy?"
"……?"
"Whoa, impressive. Gotta have that kind of spirit to face the empire's top sword."
Heads snapped our way at Felix's words. Maximilian snorted in disgust while eyeing my outfit, Vargas stared intently at my waist and jotted notes with a grave expression, and Chloe de Valua yelled, "How vulgar—utterly shameless!" even as she'd already scooted her chair closer to me. Even Tristan von Shadow in the corner started chanting lowly.
"The pitiful lamb walking into the predator's maw of its own accord. At the end of bone-crushing pleasure awaits only doom……."
Why's this guy going on about bones crunching since earlier? It's creepy.
As the kids' bizarre reactions made my head spin, a chilling shadow fell over my desk, slicing through the chaos like a blade. A man whose eyes were hidden by the glare on his glasses—the top student of the entire first-year class and leader of the noble faction, Julian von Vander. The guy who was usually arrogantly confident was oddly avoiding my gaze, clearing his throat awkwardly.
"……Baron Evans."
Julian pushed up his glasses with a finger and spoke. But up close, his ears were red as ripe apples.
"I have…… an academic question I need to verify with you. No, as a fellow man…… ahem, let's call it an investigation."
What's up with the top student fumbling like this? Rubbing my throbbing waist, I nodded.
"Go ahead, young master. I'll answer the top student's questions as best I can."
Julian glanced around nervously, then asked in a hushed, cautious tone far from his usual logical speech.
"I…… heard the rumors. That you and Her Highness spent the night alone together. Surely you didn't…… really 'cross the line'?"
……!
"Young master, what on earth is that ridiculous nonsense?! I swear on my life, nothing like that happened! Cross the line? There's not a speck of the impure…… no, radical relationship you imagine between Her Highness and me!"
The classroom fell silent as if doused with cold water at my vehement denial. But Julian's reaction was the opposite of what I'd expected. He seemed even more flustered, polishing his glasses as his voice rose.
"B-but didn't you say it yourself? That you were tormented all night and your waist felt like it would snap! Normally, a man uses that phrase after…… you know, 'the deed'!"
"That was literal physical pain, not a metaphor! My waist is just…… a chronic issue!"
I shouted in frustration, practically spitting blood, but Julian had already pegged it as 'a shy man's clumsy lie.' Trembling, he patted my shoulder and murmured lowly.
"……I get it. Why you're hiding it so desperately. As a fellow man, I respect you. But Baron, that 'haggard look' of yours doesn't lie."
"Young master, please just listen to me……!"
"Investigation concluded. My respects for your…… 'passionate night.'"
Julian retreated to his seat in a daze.
……I'm screwed.
I slumped forward in total defeat. The more I denied it, the more these kids painted me as the 'romantic who seals his lips to protect his beloved's honor.'
Then Reina rubbed her cheek against my back and murmured sleepily.
"Cadel, why fight with that idiot?"
"……I'm going insane because of you……."
I sighed deeply and shut my eyes.
The academy courtyard after class was the opposite of peaceful for me—a minefield disguised as idyllic scenery. The moment we passed through the gates, hundreds of stares pierced my back. Not just from Class 1-A, but upperclassmen peeking over walls, scrutinizing us—precisely, my waist area.
"……That's the guy?"
"Oh my, he's slimmer than I thought? How'd that body last all night with Her Highness……."
"You can't judge a book by its cover. The baron's hidden stamina must be insane."
The whispers buzzing past my ears were more irritating and sticky than mosquitoes. Gritting my teeth against my burning face, I snatched Reina's wrist—she was clinging to my sleeve and skipping along.
"Hey, hurry up! Like you're sounding the alarm! Don't you know shrinking steps?"
"Why rush? I like it. They're saying you and I suit each other."
Reina slowed deliberately, basking in the stares. Her face beamed with the satisfaction of a collector showing off a prized treasure.
I half-dragged her into the dorm walkway for cover.
"Suit? Bullshit! Didn't you hear what they're saying? It's all crap!"
"What crap?"
"They're implying some epic deed happened between us last night! Like we crossed the line and went all night……!"
"Yeah. Not wrong. We were together all night, and you worked hard."
"That's a different context, you little blood clot! Come on, just say it. One word: 'No!'"
I wailed in desperation, and Reina stopped, staring straight at me. Her purple eyes sank lazily, lips curving faintly.
"Why? Sounds good to me."
"Are you nuts? You wanna see me dead? Did you see Leonhardt's glare? Flames were shooting from his eyes! I'll end up a corpse behind the training grounds tomorrow!"
"Who'd kill Cadel? With me here?"
Reina readjusted her grip on my hand, lacing her fingers through mine. Then, in a voice cool and crystal clear, she added,
"Anyone who touches even a fingertip to you, I'll wipe their whole family off the map. Don't worry."
"……Wow. So shameless. Is that supposed to be comforting?"
"Not comfort. A promise."
I clutched my nape watching her smile innocently while spouting horrors. I'd taught problem students for over a decade, but this flavor of 'madness' would overwhelm even my past life's teacher protection committee.
Giving up on a reply, I dragged her by the wrist into the dorm building, shaking off the jealous, shocked stares at my back.
Only after reaching the dorm room, locking the door, did I collapse to the floor. My mind felt like it'd run off to Andromeda. Even dealing with pissed-off parents in my past life hadn't drained me like this.
Empire princess and baron's 'adults-only scandal'? This wasn't just dismissal—it was execution.
"Haa…… life……."
As I tore at my hair, click. The door I'd locked swung open without resistance. More like the lock crumbled under Reina's mana.
Without the owner's permission, the silver-haired intruder slipped in as if it were natural.
"Cadel! I thought of a great idea!"
Reina's eyes sparkled as she shouted, face bright as a kid spotting candy.
I looked up at her with unfocused eyes and sighed irritably.
"……No ideas. Go to your room, please. Student, this is trespassing and property damage. Bad influence educationally……."
"Everyone says we're that kind of thing."
"……What?"
"Out there, yeah."
Reina continued matter-of-factly, like stating the obvious. Clutching my nape, I yelled,
"That's why! Just clear it up once! Official statement: 'Cadel's just my errand boy!'"
"No!"
"……."
My brain froze. What did I just hear?
Reina nodded languidly, approaching me.
"Too annoying to correct the misunderstanding. So Cadel……."
"Hey! Stop coming closer!!"
"Why? I like Cadel."
"Liking and getting this close are different issues!"
"Why? Anything's fine with Cadel."
As she leaned in, her dizzying scent and silver hair tickled my cheek. Instinctively, I scooted back until my back hit the bed headboard.
"Reina, respect boundaries! You're the student, I'm the servant. Socially……!"
"I'm an adult now too! I know everything!"
"Know what?!"
"Saw in books. Adults' study."
Reina pouted stubbornly and grabbed my chest. Her innocent eyes burned with madness—no malice, which made it more terrifying.
"Hey! Hands off! Let go!"
"No! Won't let go?"
"Calm down, Reina! This is a huge disaster!"
"Not a disaster."
Her grip tightened. Her inhuman strength yanked my collar, shoving me toward the bed. I clung desperately to her arm, but against her full power, I was helpless.
"Hey! You'll regret this later?! You're the empire's treasure, I'm just……!"
"Why keep running? Hate me?"
Reina burrowed into my arms, rubbing her face like a puppy.
"Like Cadel! Like him so much……."
Her voice in my ear sounded too innocently today, making it even more dangerous. I squeezed my eyes shut and screamed internally.
God, Buddha, principal…… save me! This crazy blood clot's trying to cross the line with pure eyes!