“Good for you,” Louis said after I told him about my encounter with the young woman.
“I know. I was hoping to become friends with her, but I just couldn’t approach her myself.”
“She’s the daughter of Count Telrose, right? I heard that she had been sick for a while and that’s why she had disappeared from the public eye, but the real reason was because of the kidnapping…”
“Really? Is that what people said?”
“Yes, and the timeline coincides exactly to when the kidnappings occurred. And from what you told me about her, I have a feeling it wasn’t her idea, but her parents’. They were probably too worried to send her out into the public eye again.”
“I see…”
The two of us were in the courtyard, which was on the opposite side of the chapel. Even though we were engaged, there weren’t many places where Louis and I could relax together. Not only were we in different years, but the academy was quite strict about keeping the men and ladies separate except for in general classes. The courtyard ended up being a very important place for us.
It was a popular location, not just for couples but as a place for everyone to relax and get out of the cycle of going back and forth between the classrooms and the dormitories. For that reason, we were incredibly lucky to get a bench to ourselves. I was sitting now with my head leaned against his shoulder.
“Are you taking any other classes outside of the scholars’ course, Louis?”
“I wanted to, but I have to help Father. I also have my work with the student council, so I just don’t have time to take extra classes.”
“Oh… Are you very busy with the student council?”
“I wouldn’t say I’m busy, but it does take up some of my time. If I find myself free, I do drop in on elective classes here and there.”
“Wait, you can do that?!”
“You can. It’s especially welcome with the classes that have a small number of students.”
“That’s wonderful. The ladies are highly discouraged from taking extra classes, and even if they did manage to get permission, it seems as though it would be looked down upon…”
Personally, I didn’t see why working harder at school would be a problem. However, since this was a noble academy, the number one thing you had to worry about as a lady was your reputation. If you stood out too much from the crowd, it could work against you. If your reputation started to suffer, it would be very difficult to turn it around.
Once again, I was confronted with the fact that women had very limited options in this kingdom—just like how I wasn’t allowed to join the army.
“I suppose it would be difficult to take classes in the knights’ course.”
“How did you know that was what I was interested in?”
“Anyone who knows you would.”
“Ugh, I guess you’re right. I just can’t help but be curious though. I wonder what a training course is like when my father isn’t in charge of it.”
“They definitely wouldn’t let you take a class in the knights’ course, but no one will outright say no to you taking an elective. I’ll leave it up to your judgment.” He patted me on the head.
It made me happy that he trusted me so deeply. “Okay. I knew you’d say that, Louis.”
“By the way, can I recommend a place for you to train?”
“What?!” I definitely wasn’t expecting him to say that.
“You know how there’s a forest next to the courtyard?”
“Y-yes…”
“There’s a building deep in the forest that’s not being used right now. It used to be a training building for the knights, but there were so many people joining the knights’ course that they needed more room, so they built a new training building behind the auditorium. The building in the forest is locked, but I have the key.”
“What?! I can train there?”
“You can. They don’t want to waste money from the budget to tear the building down, but they don’t have any other plans to use it at the moment.”
“Thank you so much, Louis!” If we weren’t in public right now, I would’ve thrown my arms around him.
“I should probably get going.”
“Oh…right. I wish we could’ve spent a bit more time together.”
“Don’t tempt me,” he gave me a smile. I looked down apologetically. “Let’s meet again soon.” He gently kissed me on the cheek, and I returned the favor.
“Of course. Can I walk halfway with you?”
“Sure. It’s not far to the academy building, but I’d love for you to walk with me.”
I took his hand and walked beside him.
“G-good afternoon, Lady Merellis.”
“Oh, hello, Lord Ruud.”
“Oh, Lady Merellis! It’s nice to see you.”
“Good afternoon, Lord Beryl.”
As we walked, several of my classmates said hello.
“It looks like you’re quite popular,” Louis remarked after the fourth or fifth instance of this happening. His voice was low and had a hint of irritation in his voice, which was unusual for him.
Meanwhile, I was very happy. Because the more irritated he was, the more it showed me that he loved me.
“I’m just saying hello. They’re my classmates, after all.” I always felt a dark shadow inside of my heart when I saw Louis talking to other girls. Sometimes I felt badly about it, but I just couldn’t help it. Of course, I never let it show, and I kept it to myself.
I couldn’t very well ask him to stop talking or looking at other girls, after all. I didn’t want to get in his way, and I certainly didn’t want to stand in the way of his dream, so all I could do was suppress those dark feelings.
To be honest, I wanted to be the only thing on his mind. I wanted him to be so full of me he might drown. It was a very greedy thought, but that was precisely why it made me happy to know that he felt the same way.
“Do you really think I’d be interested in anyone else but you? They’d all run for the hills if they found out the truth about me,” I said.
He let out a little sigh. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair of me.”
“It’s all right. It made me happy.”
“Did it?” He chuckled wryly, and I wondered if he sensed that I felt the same. He didn’t say anything else, though—he just kissed me on the cheek again. “Well, this is where we part. I’ll see you later.”
“Okay. Take care, Louis.”
As we said goodbye, he passed me the key. I looked at it in my hand. It was the perfect timing, as I was just thinking about how I would love some exercise. I only had one more class left for the day, so afterward I’d go train.
“Lady Merellis? May we have a moment?” Suddenly a group of three girls approached me. I didn’t recognize them, so I figured they must’ve been older than me.
“I’m sorry, but I have to go to class. May we chat afterwards?”
“…You’re disobeying your upperclassmen?”
“Would a good upperclassman invite someone somewhere with complete disregard for their obligations?”
They knew full well how rude they were being, but my response just made them angrier.
“Please invite me again after my class is over, and then we can have a chat.” I left, thinking that things were really getting interesting now. I turned the corner and then stopped. I wanted to see who had been following me. And as expected, that person bumped right into me once they turned the corner as well.
“Goodness! Pardon me, Your Highness.”
Surprisingly, the person who had been watching me was none other than Prince Edgar.
“No, pardon me.”
I slowly took a step backward. Why had he been following me?
“Are you really going to take those girls on?” he asked. At first, I didn’t understand what he meant, because I didn’t expect him to ask me such a question.
“Did you overhear our conversation, Your Highness?” I asked, now knowing that he indeed had.
“I just happened to be passing by.” His eyes darted away. It was a pathetic excuse. After all, the girls had approached me outside of the ladies’ classrooms.
“I think ‘taking them on’ is a bit strong. I was just accepting their invitation,” I said, getting back to the topic at hand.
“You sound pretty confident for a battle of three against one.”
“Confident? I was just curious as to what they could have to say to me. Plus, three against one… Certainly my upperclassmen wouldn’t do anything nefarious. Are you sure you aren’t overreacting, Your Highness?”
“Most girls would be terrified after being called out by a group of older girls here.”
“You’re funny, Your Highness. Did you come here to talk about the disposition of women with me?” He hesitated for a moment. “I will say one thing… What you’ve seen of young women so far is but one small side of them.”
He opened his mouth to say something but then closed it again.
“If you’ll excuse me, Your Highness, I must go to my next class.”
I left before he could say anything else.