NOVEL NEXT Chapter 11 - To the Academy - 6
During the brief conversation between Hestia and me, the classroom had already filled up. I scanned the classroom to see if there were any familiar faces.
“Oh my, how nice to see you again.”
“Eck.”
I made eye contact with Lily. A bizarre sound escaped my mouth without me realizing. She stood up from her seat and approached me. Wilhelm, who had been sitting next to her, seemed determined to ignore me.
“Yesterday, um, due to the unfortunate incident, we didn’t get to properly greet each other.”
As she said this, Lily glanced sideways at Cordelia. Making us recall yesterday’s incident—I don’t understand her intention. Could she possibly think Cordelia hasn’t said anything? I was at a loss for words at her bold attitude.
“I don’t know what you heard yesterday, but I’m very interested in Duke Mikhail?”
She mentions yesterday’s incident again, as if she knows exactly what I’m thinking.
“Lady Adamas, I’m not particularly interested.”
“You’ll probably become interested soon.”
Lily smiled at me with her eyes. It’s incredibly impactful. Honestly, if I didn’t have Hestia, I might have fallen for it. I can feel my heart pounding.
It’s a strange feeling, hard to describe, when the head and heart act separately. I clearly haven’t done anything wrong, but I feel guilty towards Hestia. I just confessed that I like her a few minutes ago.
“Excuse me, Lady Adamas, but I am engaged.”
Just as I politely rejected her, Hestia, who had been listening beside me, stepped forward.
“Ahem, Lady Adamas? Do you have some business with ‘my’ Mikhail?”
Did she just emphasize “my”? Hestia’s face turned red. Though her face reddened from the embarrassment of such a statement, her attitude remained confident. She seems to have become a bit more honest than before, which is cute.
“Oh my, you two. You seemed to be fighting in the corridor earlier. When did you reconcile?”
“Lady Adamas. We never fought.”
I responded politely to her words once more. Please don’t ignore my signal that I don’t want to get involved personally.
“I thought you were fighting because Lady Gracia’s face didn’t look so good.”
She took a step closer to me. It’s already close, and she’s moving even closer.
“You’re too close.”
I took a step back accordingly.
“I wonder why someone who already has a lover is so willingly approaching another man.”
Hestia, unable to stand watching this anymore, interjected coldly.
“Lover?”
“Everyone saw you close to His Highness the Crown Prince yesterday. Do you intend to deny it?”
Judging that this wasn’t something Wilhelm should hear, Hestia spoke to Lily in a small voice. It probably wasn’t audible to the other students.
“Ah, there seems to be a misunderstanding. While it’s true that the Crown Prince and I are close, we’re not yet in a romantic relationship?”
Lily smiled and answered Hestia’s words. She didn’t seem inclined to hide anything, as she didn’t lower her voice. Poor Wilhelm. So they’re not even dating? Judging by her attitude, she truly seems to be leading the Crown Prince on, as if she’s swollen with gall.
I glanced briefly at Wilhelm and found him glaring at me as if he wanted to kill me. I understand. What would it feel like to see a girl you’re interested in, who says she’s not yet your lover, approaching another man to be friends? Thinking about it this way, I feel sorry for him. Does he know he’s a fish trapped in her fish tank?
“Don’t misunderstand. I don’t have a hobby of clinging to men who already have lovers either. I just mean to be friends. Right, Duke Mikhail?”
Lily said. Honestly, I don’t particularly want to be friends either. Why would I want to befriend a suspicious female friend who might make me fall for her against my will? Especially when I have such a pretty fiancée.
But I can’t say such things in front of everyone watching. Both she and I have a certain image to maintain. If I rejected her here, I would look like a strange person.
“Or perhaps you lack confidence?”
Lily leaned toward Hestia and spoke in a small voice. I heard it, but the students sitting in their seats probably didn’t.
Hestia’s face turned red. She seemed very angry but couldn’t find the words to express it, her mouth just opening and closing. I gently took Hestia’s hand.
“Duke Mikhail?”
“If it’s just that, then it’s fine.”
I reluctantly agreed to her somewhat pressuring question. I couldn’t answer in front of the entire class that I dislike being friends with her without a special reason.
“Great. Then, um, since we’re both Academy students anyway, is it okay if I call you Mikhail?”
“Feel free to do as you please. However, I’m more comfortable with ‘Lady Adamas,’ so I’ll continue to address you that way.”
“So stiff.”
I didn’t bother to respond further and went back to my seat with Hestia. Hestia puffed her cheeks, seemingly displeased. I comforted her with a whisper.
“I’m sorry. But I couldn’t reject being friends in front of the entire class.”
“I know. I know, but… ugh… still, I can’t help disliking it.”
I couldn’t respond to her words and just held her hand more firmly. Honestly, I would feel bad too if Wilhelm came and asked Hestia to be friends and she accepted. Especially if I heard such provocative comments openly. Thinking about it this way makes me feel even more sorry.
“Then should I go now and tell her I don’t want to be friends after all?”
If Hestia wants, I’m willing to go and say that right now. After all, we won’t see these people again after graduation, and what’s important to me right now is her.
“Hah… no. There’s no need for that.”
“I’ll really be good.”
“Show me with actions.”
Hestia sighed. We sat back down in our seats next to Cordelia, where we had been sitting before we left.
“Why did you say she could speak casually to you, but not me?”
As soon as we sat down, Cordelia asked grumpily.
“Honestly, I didn’t want to permit Lady Adamas either. I just told her to do as she pleases because I couldn’t reject her in front of everyone.”
“Then if I stand up right now and ask loudly if I can call you Mikhail, will you allow it?”
“I understand, so please bear with me.”
“Alright, Mikhail.”
It seems she was quite annoyed that I had firmly drawn the line against casual speech yesterday, but readily permitted Lily to speak casually.
“Happy now?”
“No, Hestia. Why are you doing this to me?”
After hearing my conversation with Cordelia, Hestia leaned her head towards my ear. She whispered in a chilling voice. The atmosphere was good until just now, why is this happening? It’s all because of that suspicious and treacherous woman.
“Please, you know I couldn’t help it.”
Hearing my nearly pleading words, Hestia pulled her head back. Then she chuckled.
“I’m joking. I won’t get upset over something like this. Although I am a bit sad. But more importantly, I didn’t know Mikhail could make such an expression.”
“I’ve never seen you joke like this either.”
“You’ll hear it often from now on.”
“I’d prefer if you refrained from these kinds of jokes.”
“I’ll consider it. And I really was a bit upset about you agreeing to be friends with Lady Adamas.”
“No, that’s… I’m sorry.”
I couldn’t even think of how to respond and just apologized.
“Pleased to meet you all. I am Viktor von Armus, the guidance professor who will be in charge of your guidance for the next year.”
Not long after my brief conversation with Hestia, a very stern-looking man entered the classroom. Not a single hair was out of place in his parted hair, and his suit showed not a single wrinkle. He gives the impression that even if he were pricked with a needle, not a drop of blood would come out.
After a brief self-introduction, he immediately explained about life at the Academy.
“Although I am your guidance professor, I won’t be teaching you directly. The course I teach, ‘The Relationship Between Politics and Administration,’ is not a subject for first-year students. Instead, I will be in charge of morning and evening assemblies, and as I mentioned earlier, student guidance.”
According to his explanation, we come to class in the morning, complete attendance and morning assembly, attend our scheduled classes, and after classes end, we gather again for evening assembly, after which we are free. As long as we follow the school rules, they won’t interfere with what we do.
“After classes end, please follow the control of the dormitory supervisors, not us.”
The dormitory rules are also very loose, with no particular restrictions unless it’s unauthorized overnight stays. Even overnight stays are possible if you inform the supervisor in advance. Since you never know what might happen in four years, I asked about overnight stays on my first day of moving in. It might seem a bit fishy, but as long as I don’t get caught, what’s the problem? I tend to be honest about my desires.
“From Monday to Thursday, attend the classes you’ve registered for, and on Friday, devote yourselves to club activities. Club registration is until next week.”
The schedule is bizarre in many ways. On Mondays and Wednesdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, we attend the classes we’ve registered for. From 1st period to 4th period. Classes last 1 hour and 30 minutes, with 15-minute breaks. The 1st period starts at 9 AM, and morning classes end at 12:15 PM. Lunchtime is from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM. Effectively, with the additional 15-minute break, we have a 1 hour and 15-minute lunch break. Afternoon classes start at 1:30 PM, and dismissal after evening assembly is at 5 PM. On Fridays, we dedicate the entire day to our respective club activities.
Club participation is mandatory. Everyone must join at least one. If there’s no club you want to join, you can have individual study time under the name of a “self-study club.” Having never participated in club activities before, I’m a bit excited about it.
“Hestia, why do we even need a class?”
During break time after the teacher’s explanation, I asked her about something I had been curious about from the beginning. If we’re choosing our own classes to attend, is there a need to have a separate class like in high school? We are adults under the laws of this world. There’s no need to have a separate homeroom teacher to control us.
“What are you talking about? Isn’t it obviously necessary?”
“But why? Can’t we just attend our classes individually?”
“…?”
Hestia tilted her head. Our conversation isn’t meshing. I stopped asking her. She has an expression that truly doesn’t understand my question. Does this mean that the characters in the story can’t recognize critiques about the setting?
Seeing that she doesn’t even understand the question, there’s probably no plausible reason for it. It might be one of those forced elements, similar to the correction of my memories or my body’s reaction to Lily.
Having separate classes is simply because, when setting up this world, it was convenient for the development. They made it so that the protagonist could choose which classes to take, like in a university, but for school events, they needed to gather in class units for active participation, so they made them live like high school students.
“Never mind, just pretend you didn’t hear it.”
I glossed over it. Hestia still has an expression of not understanding what I’m talking about. It leaves me with a somewhat bitter feeling. It makes the fact that she and I are from different worlds tangible.
I stood up from my seat. It’s 8:45 AM. It’s time to go to our respective classrooms. Except for ‘Understanding Marriage,’ she and I are taking completely different subjects.
“If I had known this, I would have insisted on taking more classes together.”
“Instead of thinking about playing with me, focus on studying hard.”
“Alright, see you in a bit.”
‘Understanding Marriage’ is during the 2nd period on Mondays and Wednesdays. It’s a bit disappointing, but I said goodbye to her and headed to the classroom for ‘Basic Swordsmanship I,’ which is my 1st period. Ah, but if I sweat, I’ll smell. I’m not sure if I can wash up in just 15 minutes.