Chapter 30
Episode 17: Dinner with the Royal Family
On the way to the central dining hall with Selen-sama, we chatted about various things.
「Ren, that orange dress is so cute! Where did you buy it?」
「Well, I have a sewing skill, so I usually make my own clothes.」
「What?! It looks like something from a store! If you have the chance, I’d love to have you make something for me!」
「Sure! Just let me take your measurements next time, and tell me the design you want, and I’ll make it for you♪」
Selen-sama seemed to really like the dress I made, and we made plans for me to make her one too.
After that, we talked about how since it was just a normal meal, we didn’t need to worry about manners, and joked about how maybe Slaine-sama might actually like me—though I’m sure that was just a joke. (I mean, I’m a commoner, after all.)
As we chatted away, the central dining hall came into view, and we saw Slaine-sama waving at us, so we hurried over to him.
「Slaine, did we keep you waiting?」
「Not at all. I just reserved a private room, so your timing is perfect. Ren, that dress suits you so well. You look beautiful.」
「Oh… th-thank you!」
「Slaine? Are you an idiot, flirting right in front of me?」
Selen-sama, noticing that my face had turned bright red at Slaine-sama’s sudden “charming smile” and compliment, spoke to him in a slightly irritated tone.
「Well, I was just being honest…」
「You seem suspicious… But whatever, don’t say weird things to Ren without going through me first, okay?」
「Okay…」
「You sound unsure. Anyway, where’s the room? We’re starving!」
「Oh, the room is this way.」
During their exchange, I found myself thinking that Slaine-sama, who was being completely overpowered by Selen-sama, was kind of “cute”, but I kept that thought to myself.
The central dining hall is a very large dining area, with a section that resembles a food court with regular tables, and a section of private rooms that require reservations.
Since Slaine-sama had made a reservation, we were having dinner in one of the private rooms.
After we entered the private room and took our seats, a waitress arrived with the menu.
「We’ll have three of today’s special dinners, and a wine that pairs well with the meal.」
「Understood.」
The waitress quickly exited after confirming the order.
「Is it okay for us to drink wine when we’re underage?」
「Ren? It’s perfectly fine to drink wine from the age of 10 here. Didn’t you know that?」
「No, I didn’t know.」
「Looks like I need to teach you about common knowledge too. From tomorrow, after classes are over, we’ll have a study session in my room to go over the basics!」
「Okay, thank you.」
When I asked about drinking wine with a puzzled expression, Selen-sama responded with a similarly puzzled look… I had no idea about that.
But learning general common knowledge was part of the plan at Tiarad Academy anyway, so it was helpful.
Afterward, we enjoyed our dinner while listening to Slaine-sama and Selen-sama talk, and I had a really good time, but it seems I’m not very good with alcohol.
By the time dinner was over, I was completely drunk and starting to feel sleepy.
Noticing this, Selen-sama decided to end the meal and head back to the girls’ dorm, so we left the private room…
…only to find someone waiting for us who gave off a very unpleasant feeling.
–
Episode 18: The First Prince
「Slaine, Selen, so here you are. You’ve enrolled in the academy, yet you haven’t greeted me. Why is that?」
「Oh, but we’re not usually on greeting terms, are we? Why bring that up now?」
The person speaking seemed annoyed, but Selen-sama responded with clear irritation. I wondered who this person was, addressing both of them so casually.
Then, a man standing behind the first speaker admonished Selen-sama.
「Selen-sama, you are speaking out of line! Even as his sister, you must show respect to His Highness, Prince Zex, the future emperor.」
「Papa hasn’t declared who will be his successor yet! Slaine might become the emperor, you know!」
「Someone who lost to a commoner could never become emperor. You shouldn’t speak such nonsense.」
The atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense… But Slaine-sama is far from weak.
It annoys me to see someone who doesn’t understand that belittles him.
Just as I was thinking this, the first prince turned his attention to me.
「So, you’re the rumored commoner girl? Are you trying to cozy up to Slaine to become his concubine? If you like, I wouldn’t mind having a taste of you first.」
With a sleazy grin, he looked me up and down as if devouring me with his eyes, making me hide behind Selen-sama.
「Even as the first prince, do you not know the difference between what you should and shouldn’t say?」
As Slaine-sama, his face filled with anger, tried to confront the first prince, his followers moved to block him.
「Slaine-sama, it’s fine to get heated, but how could someone who couldn’t defeat a commoner hope to defeat us? If you’re so eager, would you care for a 【Duel】?」
Slaine-sama, losing his calm in anger at the mocking tone of the first prince’s followers, responded sharply.
「Fine, then. I’ll challenge you to a 【Duel】. Brother, will you accept the 【Duel】?」
「Are you an idiot? I gain nothing from a duel with my foolish younger brother. Why don’t you fight one of my attendants instead?」
「Very well. I’ll challenge your lackeys to a 【Duel】!」
「Haha, there are three of us, so you’ll need to find two more on your side. We’ll prepare the duel application tomorrow.」
「Slaine, I can’t wait to see you groveling in the arena. Ahaha!」
Prince Zex laughed loudly as he left the scene.
「Slaine, I’m joining the 【Duel】 too! I’ll crush those idiots!」
Selen-sama, clearly furious, declared her intention to join the 【Duel】.
I was also deeply angered by the insults thrown at Slaine-sama, so I told them I wanted to participate as well.
「Um, I’ll join the 【Duel】 too. I can’t forgive anyone who speaks that way about Slaine-sama…」
「Thank you, Selen, Ren. I think I could win on my own, but having the two of you with me makes me feel much more confident♪」
And so, the three of us decided to challenge Prince Zex’s followers to a 【Duel】.
–
Episode 19: The First Class and Duel Application
After parting ways with Slaine-sama at the central dining hall, Selen-sama and I returned to the girls’ dormitory and headed to the large communal bath together.
While soaking in the bath, we talked about Prince Zex, the first prince.
「Zex-nii-sama is arrogant, as you saw. He acts all high and mighty just because he’s the first prince.」
「Y-Yeah. I could tell he has a completely different vibe from you two.」
「Zex-nii-sama doesn’t put in any effort like Slaine does. To tell you the truth, he scores below average in everything except academics, yet he’s in the S class just because he’s royalty. What an idiot!」
「So, even in a supposedly equal environment, there are still exceptions…」
Listening to Selen-sama vent about the first prince, I nodded in agreement. Our conversation ended up making our bath last a bit longer than expected.
The next day, after having breakfast with Selen-sama, I headed to the classroom, where we found Prince Zex’s lackey seniors waiting.
They handed Slaine-sama the duel application.
「Oh, Selen-sama and the commoner girl are here. This is the duel application form. Please check the contents, sign it, and submit it to the administration office. Now, if you’ll excuse us, class is about to start.」
As they passed by, they gave me a sinister grin before leaving the classroom. Slaine-sama was about to check the duel application, but the teacher arrived, so we decided to review it after class.
「Good morning. This morning, we’ll have a martial arts class. We’ll conduct light mock battles in the arena. These might also help determine the teams for future subjugation parties, so keep that in mind during the mock battles!」
「「Yes!」」
After the teacher’s explanation, we headed to the arena.
「Divide into two groups! We’ll do mock battles in order from the front! Now, split up!」
「「Yes!」」
We split into two groups as instructed. I was the first on the right side, and Cantera was first on the left.
When our eyes met, I smiled at him, and Cantera blushed slightly before returning the smile.
「Ren… you didn’t do that on purpose, did you?」
「Huh? Do what?」
「Ah, nothing. You’re a natural, aren’t you… It’s almost scary.」
「Huh… Selen-sama, what’s wrong?」
I had no idea what she meant, so I tried asking Selen-sama, but the mock battle began at the teacher’s signal.
「Alright, let the first match begin!」
「「Please take care of me!」」
Both Cantera and I readied our spears.
He made the first move, feinting a downward slash before launching a series of mid-level thrusts.
I lightly parried his thrusts with a quick 「Clang, Clang」 and then jabbed the butt of my spear at Cantera’s toes, causing him to lose his balance.
I then lifted my spear and brought it down, stopping just before it touched Cantera’s chest.
「That’s enough! The winner is Selen!」
With the teacher’s declaration, my mock battle with Cantera ended, so I approached him and called out.
「Are you okay, Cantera? You didn’t get hurt, did you?」
「Ah, I didn’t expect you to aim for my feet… You’re even better than I imagined, Ren.」
I had been worried about him getting injured, but his wry smile reassured me, so I sighed in relief.
Then I offered him a hand to help him up as he was sitting on the ground.
Afterward, we watched the other mock battles and exchanged thoughts with our classmates until the martial arts class ended.
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