Under normal circumstances, a commoner would introduce themselves, as was proper etiquette. Could this one not even manage that much?
“You certainly don’t see her type among the aristocrats much. It seems my father’s policy has given us all a good laugh,” Rod said.
“Uh-huh…” the commoner said apathetically. Most people would have considered it an honor to even be addressed by Rod, but it seemed she didn’t agree.
“A refreshing reaction. Rae, huh? I’ll keep your name in mind.”
“Do as you please.”
“Rae, again, don’t be rude,” Misha chided.
“Do you know how many people would kill to be remembered by Master Rod?” I said. Even the ability to claim someone of the royal family knew your name could grant you an edge in high society. Was this commoner so ignorant that she didn’t even know that?
“Yo, come join us, Thane,” Rod called out.
“No thank you…” a sour voice replied.
My heart began to pound in its chest as I looked toward the back of the lecture hall. There sat the silver-haired boy for whom I secretly held feelings.
“I don’t think Thane likes this sort of large group,” Yu said with a troubled smile.
“Is there anything he does like?” Rod grumbled.
Thane was the kingdom’s second prince. He had a cold beauty and a troubled air. It’s true that he was the brooding sort, but that was exactly the thing that made my maidenly heart race. He was the polar opposite of that crass, loud commoner.
“Master Thane…” My heart leapt with joy as I said his name. My feelings were still unrequited; he likely only saw me as one of the countless nobles that populated his world. But that was fine for now. One day, fate would surely bring us together.
“Why don’t you go talk to him, Miss Claire?” the commoner said.
I was so surprised that I thought my heart skipped a beat. Could this commoner have noticed my feelings? I stammered, “Wh-why should I?”
“Well, you like him, don’t you?”
I was terribly shaken to have my crush announced publicly. I had been so sure my feelings would only ever come to light in a more romantic fashion—perhaps as Thane and I gazed into one another’s eyes all alone on a moonlit beach—certainly not like this. In my surprise, I said something I didn’t mean to. “O-of course not! I don’t care for Master Thane at all!”
My voice echoed through the lecture hall. It was already too late.
Thane stood up and left the room, his face still expressionless.
“Oh… What do I do? I didn’t mean to say that…” I said. Oh no… What have I done? What if he comes to hate me for this? I can only hope he didn’t misunderstand.
“You should apologize to him later, Miss Claire.”
“Why you—how dare a commoner like you act as though you know better!” I snapped. This was all your fault in the first place!
“Miss Claire,” the commoner said with uncharacteristic seriousness. She held me with her strong gaze, making me flinch back.
“Wh-what?”
“Master Thane can be sensitive.”
“Of course. You think I don’t know that?” Thane was a softhearted individual. That was why someone like me needed to be by his side to support him.
“All the more reason you should apologize.”
“E-enough out of you!” I stood up, slamming my chair back. I had made up my mind; I would do it. “I quite suddenly feel ill! I’ll be leaving early!”
“M-Miss Claire!”
“Please leave me be!”
I left the lecture hall, not allowing Pepi and Loretta to follow. I had but one objective—to fix the misunderstanding between Thane and me.
“Master Thane! Please wait!”
I ran through the hall despite knowing such haste was improper. I managed to catch up to Thane right outside the academy entrance. He turned around and showed me his usual displeased countenance. Faced with such an expression, I found myself fumbling for words.
“What?” he said.
“Um, well, I…”
“If you have no business with me, I’m leaving.”
Thane turned on his heel and made to depart. If I didn’t fix our misunderstanding here and now, I feared he might never look my way again—and yet I couldn’t find any of the right words to say. Oh, if only I could be as frank with my feelings as that blasted commoner!
For a moment, her stupid face came to mind.
“I like you.”
“Master Thane, I like you!”
In disbelief, Thane stopped walking and spun around to look at me.
Oh dear. What have I done?
“Um, you see, uhh…what you heard earlier was all a, well, uh, a misunderstanding!” I was in too deep to back out now, so I mindlessly said the first thing that came to mind. Wait, that makes me no better than that commoner! I continued, “When I said I didn’t care for you at all, I didn’t mean it in the sense that I hated you.”
Thane stared at me, silent.
I took that as a signal to continue. “Um…if anything…far from hating you, I…”
He continued to remain silent.
“I apologize…but I cannot finish that sentence just yet.” At some point, tears had welled in my eyes. This was an unacceptable state for the daughter of House François. I hadn’t spent all this time keeping up the act of a perfect noble only for it to come tumbling down now. This is all that commoner’s fault!
“I see,” he said finally. “I understand.”
“Huh?”
“It would seem I didn’t quite take your meaning. Forgive me.” On Thane’s face was a faint but unmistakable smile.
“N-not at all!”
Thane hesitated. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I know your name.”
“I-It’s Claire! Claire François!”
“Ah… Dole’s daughter, then.”
“That is correct!”
“Claire… You’re very brave.”
“Huh?” What did he mean by that?
“It must have been awfully embarrassing for a lady such as yourself to clear up this misunderstanding. And yet you still did.”
“W-well…I couldn’t very well allow it to stand.”
“I see… Thank you, for showing consideration even to a man like me.”
“But of course!” I gave the bow one offered royalty, which made Thane smile again.
“You’re a good woman, Claire. You’d be wasted on someone like me.” As Thane said that, he neared.
Huh? Huh?! I grew increasingly flustered as he drew closer and closer. Thane stopped right before me and looked into my eyes. I couldn’t help but blush like a tomato.
Then he said something too faint for me to hear.
“U-um…?”
“Let’s go back,” he said again, louder, as he gave me a pat on the shoulder and then walked back into the academy.
I followed after him, my heart racing a mile a minute.
I had worried over how things would go, but it had been fine—a little romantic, even. I was too worked up to think through what I had said.
But all’s well that ends well, I guess. Hmph. I suppose I could afford that commoner some gratitude.