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“EMMA… Explain yourself. There’s a rumor that you treated two second-year students, the Stanley and Allison boys, cruelly yesterday.”
“Hello to you, too, Ian.”
A few minutes earlier, upon entering the classroom where she would take her placement test, Emma found over half of the seats already occupied. Among the students, she spotted a young man whose refreshingly good looks made him conspicuous. Ian. He waved her over when he noticed her, so she strode over to take the empty seat next to his. Those were the first words out of his mouth the moment she sat down. He couldn’t conceal his surprise at the turn of events.
“The second- and third-year students are quite pleased by your behavior, too. It seems they enjoyed hearing about an attractive new student who cut down those two libertines with nothing more than her sharp wit,” Ian continued. “But did they actually do something awful to you to earn your ire? I’m sorry if they did, especially because I wasn’t there yesterday to escort you.”
What Emma wanted to know was how Ian automatically assumed the “attractive new student” in the rumor meant her. He spoiled her too much, being more considerate of her than her two older brothers and Bernard. Which was saying something since those three indulged her as well.
“It wasn’t that dramatic, Ian, so calm yourself. I just…thought it might be time to behave like my real self.”
“Truly, Emma? Are you sure you want to do this?”
Ian was deeply, genuinely worried. Even though he’s the one who said he preferred the real me. She pouted, ready to give him a piece of her mind before she paused and reconsidered. The Ian who had said that was four years in the future, so she decided to be generous and forgive him.
This led her to recall her last sight of him on her last day as a time traveler. Ian, in the future, developed into a young man with a rugged, muscular build. But the one next to her now, eyes wide in consternation, was still a boy. Though his height remained the same, this Ian was thin and lanky, almost adorable. The other girls agreed with her assessment because, the whole time, she sensed the endless covert glances they directed his way.
Oh, I forgot he amasses quite a few admirers among the female student body. Even Annette used to tell me how much she fancied him. That’s right, she had feelings for Ian, not Bernard, back then.
Staring at the girls sitting behind him, Emma gave them a slight nod in greeting. They snubbed her and turned their attention away. Blast… It seems I’m destined to repeat the rough beginning I had here…
At this point, the other students weren’t aware of Emma’s affinity with the element of time. They would find out during their first lesson after the classes had been decided by the placement tests. Until then, they would frown disapprovingly at the imbalanced, peculiar duo she and Ian made. The handsome heir of a marquess and the daughter of low-ranked nobility whose only saving grace was her beauty, one who already had a different young man as her fiancé. Emma would weather such cold treatment from those around her until the end of their first extended recess, consigned to being a social outcast for the duration.
Ahhh… Not this again… While she debated the idea of jumping forward a few months to a less socially fraught time, she absently sensed someone’s approach on her other side.
“May I sit here?”
“Yes, of course.”
Emma responded politely, automatically dredging up a ladylike smile… Then she froze, her face stiffening in shock.
“Thank you.”
From behind a fringe of sparkling silver hair, she just glimpsed pale purple eyes.
“Glen, that’s where you’re sitting? Then we’ll take the row behind you.”
“Fine with me.”
He turned toward his attendants and replied matter-of-factly.
Why…is he here? Emma had met him the day before yesterday, no, four years from now, at the function in the royal palace. He looked younger in the present, but she had no doubt it was the same rude boor. The first time they ran into each other was at the buffet table. Their second meeting that night—not wanting to recall it, she forcibly blanked her mind.
In any case, his enrollment at the Academy was supposed to take place two years from now. She should know. On the first day of her third year, the school halls echoed with her friends and other girls’ ecstatic shrieks.
Why?! Why is he here?! Is it my fault… But how?! The only thing I changed was the time I arrived at the dormitory yesterday! Was that enough to change the course of events so drastically…?
Emma didn’t want anyone, especially Ian, to take note of her inner turmoil, but her facial muscles refused to cooperate as she tried desperately to craft a ladylike smile. I wish Grandmother had taught me what to do in situations like this. No, no, it isn’t her fault. She mentally shook her head, attempting to shake off her unrest.
“My name is Glen Ray Bering.”
He introduced himself, most likely prompted by curiosity as to why she stared so fixedly at him, unmoving. Not a word escaped her lips. She knew she had to reply because custom dictated so when one was addressed by a higher-ranking noble. But…her voice was stuck in her throat. Even knowing how impolite it was to keep staring at him, Emma could neither look away nor speak. She felt helpless and betrayed by herself.
“Emma? Is he an acquaintance of yours?”
“Huh?! Oh…um… I don’t…believe so…”
Ian’s concerned question broke her self-inflicted trance. Yet she was unsure how to answer him, so the best she could manage was that halting response. She wasn’t technically lying because they didn’t know each other now, but Emma herself did know him. Then there was the fact that he shouldn’t even be here yet.
In the next instant, the air around her shifted as “Glen” huffed in amusement.
“Perhaps you’re actually quite meek, hm?”
“Ngh!”
He heard! He knows about how I treated those upperclassmen! Though “Glen” spoke leisurely, his gaze was knowing as he looked down at her. Emma blinked, experiencing an uneasy sense of guilt, quickly followed by the memory of her atrocious behavior at the dinner party. He had definitely been part of the audience subjected to her figure insulting Bernard to the ends of the world.
Her overwhelming sense of shame threatened to swallow her whole. The only consolation she had was that he didn’t know about it in the present because it wouldn’t happen for another four years. Actually, she would make sure it didn’t occur at all this time.
Blast, blast, blast… Emma’s face heated up. She had to stop her train of thought now before she unwittingly made a greater fool of herself. With that, she dropped her eyes to the textbook in front of her, still not having uttered a single sound to him. And she made sure her right hand stayed out of his sight.
“I’m Ian Henry Stephenson, her escort.”
“Ah, Marquess Stephenson’s son, then? Nice to meet you. I’m Glen Ray Bering.”
“Bering… You bear the same name as a dukedom in the Olano Kingdom.”
“I’m an exchange student. I’d appreciate whatever you can teach me about Reauxvil.”
“Of course. It would be my pleasure.”
While Emma remained frozen, Ian and Glen conversed congenially, smiling at each other. They politely paid her no heed. Realizing they had noticed she was upset but chose not to comment only added to her embarrassment. Even though she was the only one who knew about what happened four years in the future. You’re ridiculous, Emma Grace Seagrove.