#41
That homework the teacher gave was the first gateway to Persis’s route. And now, our Persis was just silently watching Iria without saying a word to her. At this rate, the class would end. The path to Persis’s route would disappear too. I couldn’t just sit back and watch.
I raised my hand high to interrupt the teacher who was about to end the class.
“Excuse me, teacher.”
“What is it, Andelion?”
“If it’s alright, could His Highness and I join Young Master Parten and Iria’s assignment?”
I spoke without even looking in Persis’s direction. With this, I would be completely marked by Persis. My already poor image in his eyes would become even worse—the thought nearly brought me to tears.
“Andelion.”
The teacher called my name in a low voice. I was in a situation where I could get scolded for trying to do something I wasn’t asked to do. The teacher looked at me with a stern face and slightly pushed up the glasses she was wearing.
“This is a school. Persis is also a student just like everyone else, so call him by his name. Also, addressing Rikin by his family name because he’s a noble goes against school policy, so address Rikin properly as well.”
I thought she was someone who followed rules strictly, but I didn’t expect her to be so particular about forms of address.
“I’m sorry.”
“There’s no need to apologize. Now, try saying it again.”
I thought she would let it slide, but the teacher made me say it properly again. With Rikin, it was fine since I often called him by his name. But Persis was different. We hadn’t been reunited for long, and calling him by name felt uncomfortable.
I slightly turned my head to look at Persis. Our eyes met as he stared at me intensely. He seemed quite displeased about being dragged into a situation he hadn’t asked for. His eyes glowed so fiercely that it sent a shiver through my whole body.
I needed to get out of this moment quickly. I turned to the teacher and spoke the way she wanted.
“I would like to help Rikin and Iria with their assignment, along with Persis.”
“That’s the request, but what does Persis think?”
Though it was different from the original story, I thought Persis would be interested in this topic. He couldn’t have changed that much. However, no matter how interested he might be, he probably wouldn’t want to do an assignment he didn’t ask for.
He would probably say he didn’t want to do it. I felt like I had done something unnecessary. I had acted hastily, and it was truly a bad choice.
“Yes. I would like to participate as well.”
At that moment, a song of joy seemed to play in my head. Rikin was being too forward, not giving Persis a chance to intervene. I knew Persis would be interested in this topic. I had worried about what would happen if he refused, but I was so relieved.
The teacher nodded with satisfaction at the students’ enthusiasm for learning.
“Very well. Iria, Rikin, Persis, and Andelion—the four of you will organize your thoughts and present them by the next class. I hope to hear even broader opinions than today. I’ll see you in the next class.”
After saying that, the teacher left the classroom. While I had gotten the situation I wanted, the thought of the four of us doing the assignment together filled me with dread. I had wanted to remain an observer as much as possible, but it seemed to be getting harder and harder as the days went by.
“Andelion.”
Iria, who had been a little distance away from me, approached and spoke to me. Seeing her face eased my anxiety a little. With her here, things might work out somehow. Iria had the ability to skillfully lead conversations even with people she was meeting for the first time. With her, it might not be so difficult.
“Thank you. I was worried about how to handle it with just the senior, but thanks to you, I’m saved.”
“Ah, n-no. I hope I didn’t cause trouble.”
“Trouble? Did you see how that senior was pushing me? When he said we should do the assignment together, I thought I was in big trouble!”
Iria whispered in a voice low enough that Rikin, who was far away, couldn’t hear. It sounded like she was exaggerating, but it was somewhat comforting to hear that I had been of some help to her. I lowered my head to hide my relaxing expression.
Whenever I stood before her, I kept feeling like a young boy of my current age. I couldn’t hide my worry and nervousness about saying something wrong. Even I was often surprised by this side of myself that I wasn’t used to.
“I can hear all your whispering, you know. Surprising, right? I have really good ears, junior.”
At that moment, Rikin approached from behind and embraced me, sneering. The moment I heard his voice, my rapidly beating heart instantly calmed down. Should I thank him for dousing my heated mental state with cold water?
“Please let go.”
“Our Ana, did you want to be with me that badly? Is that why you offered to help?”
Where did the Rikin who had been coldly exchanging opinions with Iria during class go? He kept grinning and wouldn’t let go of me. I tried to push his face away.
Though Rikin’s clinginess was annoying, I couldn’t deny his words. I couldn’t exactly tell him I was trying to remove him as an obstacle between Iria and Persis.
I kept pushing, but Rikin wouldn’t let go. Then Persis appeared behind Rikin and pulled his arm.
“Stop deluding yourself.”
“Delusion? No way! Ana likes me so much.”
Please, I wish he would stop calling me “Ana” in front of Persis. I was going crazy noticing how Persis’s eyebrow twitched every time Rikin called me that.
“Since it’s come to this, I look forward to working with you all.”
“Yes, looking forward to it too.”
Persis greeted Iria, who was sitting next to me. Iria also looked straight at him and lightly responded. It was a simple greeting, but to me, it was an incredibly moving scene. I almost covered my mouth with both hands without realizing it.
Finally, the two of them were getting to know each other. They made such a perfect picture just being together. I could already imagine their future, sharing pain and joy as they grew together. This was just the beginning. Despite various crises, if the two of them were together, they could overcome this much without any problem.
I calmed my trembling heart with such thoughts.
“Well, since there are four of us, let’s start by doing research in pairs. I’ll investigate the current imperial system with Ana. Rikin and Iria, you two gather evidence to support your respective arguments.”
Persis’s words changed my excited heart to ice, even more effectively than Rikin’s cold water had restored my senses. It was enough to make me regain the rationality I had momentarily lost.
“No. I think it would be better if people with matching opinions prepared together. I’ll work with Senior Rikin. You two should work together.”
I quickly said this while pulling on Rikin’s collar beside me. Persis’s face instantly distorted. It was understandable. Persis’s opinion was similar to Rikin’s. It was the opposite of Iria’s, so it would be difficult for him to work with her.
However, I couldn’t let go of the connection between Iria and Persis that I had worked so hard to create.
“Hmm, or since Andelion and I are in the same class, maybe we could do the research together, and Senior Rikin and Persis could work together? I heard you two know each other well. Since it’s our first time, I think it would be good to work with someone we’re comfortable with.”
Iria said this while slightly leaning against me. The warmth I felt from her beside me made my breath catch.
“What do you think, Andelion?”
She asked for my opinion with a slight smile.
I shouldn’t give in. No matter if it was Iria, I couldn’t grant her every request. I had a dream that I absolutely had to fulfill. For that dream, I should be able to overcome this level of hardship easily. That’s definitely what I should do, but…
“Sure. That’s a good idea.”
My mouth was already agreeing with Iria’s wishes.
* * *
“Where are you going this late at night?”
That evening. As I was getting dressed, a frost-like voice pierced my head. I slowly turned my body that was about to leave and looked at the sword standing neatly. I was planning to sneak out for something important to do alone, but of course it wouldn’t just let me go.
“I asked where you’re going.”
“Just going out for some fresh air.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“What if we run into Teacher Yaksi? She seems to know about the magic cast on you.”
“I’ll handle that myself.”
The sword’s cold voice insisting that I absolutely couldn’t go out alone felt somewhat unkind. I would only be within the school grounds, so I didn’t see what the danger was. I wanted to object, but the sword seemed unwilling to back down.
“I’ll be back soon. It’s just nearby. Don’t worry and wait here.”
“Can’t wait. Won’t wait.”
If it’s going to be this stubborn, I have no choice. I sighed and finished preparing to leave.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
