Marie sighed dramatically. “Look. I get that it’s just a contract between us, and there’s no actual love here. But you could at least make your feelings sound genuine.” She frowned, still chagrined.
Part of me wanted to defend myself, but knowing her, that would only make the situation worse. It was better to act deferential and be done with it. “You’re absolutely right.”
“Like, I have to wonder if you really reincarnated here. You seem like you have no actual life experience.”
“Well, I worked a regular nine-to-five in my last life. On my days off, I’d hole up at home and play video games dawn to dusk.” Marie probably had way more life experience, in truth. I couldn’t compete.
She sighed. “You’re hopeless.”
What had I done to deserve such harsh criticism? And criticism that involved my last life, in addition to this one? My shoulders slumped, and I hung my head. I didn’t have much time to be depressed, though, because the poor barons’ sons came and surrounded the table.
“Lady Marie, we brought today’s flan!” Lucle, ever the doting upperclassman, presented her with dessert this time.
How was I supposed to react to this? I settled for looking away.
Marie accepted the treat eagerly. “Thank you, guys.” She giggled. “How does the cafeteria make their flan taste so heavenly?”
The flan sat in an adorable miniature pot. That added flourish highlighted how much effort the chefs put into the creation. It looked every bit as delicious as Marie opined.
Marie dug in, scooping out her first bite. A smile of pure bliss broke over her face.
“She’s a goddess. A real goddess.”
“I can’t believe she’s so happy about something as simple as flan.”
“Seeing how much she enjoys it brings me joy, too.”
The guys encircled Marie, worshipping each tiny thing about her. Their dramatics earned stares from the rest of the student body.
I scarfed down my food, hoping to catch a quick nap before our next class started. As I swallowed the last bite, though, I noticed a familiar figure in my peripheral vision.
Olivia was fidgeting nervously, scanning the cafeteria for an empty table where she could sit down and eat. All the tables were occupied. Even where there was an empty seat, it would be hard for a commoner like her to work up the courage to sit down beside an aristocrat.
Something about her struck me as odd.
“She looks pretty helpless,” I said, more to myself than my present company. None of the guys heard me anyway, since they were busy fussing over Marie.
Remaining invisible, Luxion drifted close to whisper to me. “Her physique suggests deteriorating health. Her proportions have declined since I last recorded data on her.”
“You can seriously tell that much about a person at a glance?”
“Yes. Granted, a significant amount of time has passed since I last updated my data on her health. If you command me to investigate further, I can offer a more detailed analysis.”
“Nice.”
For a split second, illicit thoughts filled my mind. If I asked, Luxion could probably snag exact measurements for Olivia’s bust, waist, and hips. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I registered Marie happily spooning mouthfuls of flan into her mouth, and the temptation disappeared. Marie looked so happy, it seemed ridiculous to entertain fantasies about Olivia right now.
“Nah,” I said finally. “Don’t bother. Just tell me if you notice any problems.”
“Are you certain that is wise? I do not monitor her constantly. Should an emergency arise, responding quickly may be difficult.”
As much as that worried me, someone else was already swooping in to help our protagonist.
“Olivia,” said Prince Julius in an easy, friendly tone, “if you haven’t eaten yet, why not sit with me for lunch?”
Olivia winced. The other students in the cafeteria quieted, fixing their gazes on the commoner girl and the prince. Only the muted clinking of silverware echoed. The unnatural silence produced an uncomfortable tension the prince ignored all too easily.
“If that would be all right with you,” Olivia murmured, bobbing her head.
Julius’s face brightened. He beamed at her. “Of course it would, since I want to eat with you! Now, where should we sit?” He surveyed the tables for an opening. Some students who’d already finished their lunches and were only lounging around and chatting quickly vacated their seats for the prince. Julius escorted Olivia over.
Jilk spotted the pair and hurried there as well. “Your Highness, it’s not fair of you to sneak ahead like this,” he said. His eyes moved to Olivia. “Miss Olivia, do you mind if I join you two?”
“Huh? Oh, sure.”
As they settled in at their table, whispers erupted around them.
“Those three sure seem close.”
“What’s going on with them?”
“H-hey, look.”
With the worst possible timing, Angelica stepped into the cafeteria, shadowed by her usual crowd of followers. She froze, eyes trained on Prince Julius and his companions.
If the air had been tense before, it was suffocating now. That didn’t last long, however; Angelica spun and guided her retinue back out. I breathed a quiet sigh of relief. We’d just avoided nuclear war.
Meanwhile, Marie finished her flan. She set the empty little pot aside and stared solemnly at the prince.
“What is it?” I asked, curious.
She hesitated, then insisted, “Nothing. Maybe just my imagination.”
“Yeah? Well, if you’re done, let’s get out of here.”
I grabbed my tray and left my seat. Marie followed, hurrying along behind me.
✦ ✦ ✦
“You want me to have a personal servant?” Olivia blurted, jaw dropping. She could hardly believe Julius and Jilk had brought the topic up as they ate lunch. “B-but I don’t have that sort of money. I can’t possibly afford one.”
Only female students were allowed personal servants. They were essentially slaves who attended to their mistress’s well-being. Demi-humans could be purchased from the local slave market, where buyers were required to sign an official employment contract. Although those demi-humans were referred to as “slaves,” they had basic rights, including the ability to decline a contract if they didn’t agree to the conditions and stipulations. The biggest obstacle for a buyer was the monumental expense. Only wealthy nobles’ daughters could afford it.
“You seem so lonely lately,” Julius said. “And that makes sense. You probably feel intimidated, surrounded by nobility. I thought it’d be best if you had someone you could confide in.”
His comment sparked hope within Olivia. “Someone I could confide in,” she repeated, testing the words on her tongue.
Jilk smiled and nodded. “There’s a famous slave market right here in the capital. I hear a very capable elf is looking for employment there. He’s rather young, but he could offer you all kinds of support here at the academy.” He’d apparently used his connections to discover this.
The offer tempted Olivia, but she shook her head. “It would be nice. But, like I said, I don’t have the money.”
“I’ll cover the cost for you,” Julius assured her. “It’s not that much.”
“Oh…really?” Olivia’s voice was stiff. To me, it’s exorbitant. But he’s the crown prince; I guess it probably seems like a drop in the bucket. We really are from completely different worlds.
They were separated by a gaping chasm of monumental size. Olivia had never felt it more strongly than she did in that moment.
“All right. Please cover it, if you can,” she finally agreed. It’ll be worth it if it relieves some of my pain and suffering.
At this point, she was grasping for straws, and she knew it. But that was what drove her to accept Julius’s offer.
✦ ✦ ✦
After Angelica marched out of the cafeteria, her whole body trembled with barely constrained rage. Her followers were too daunted to say anything. She progressed down the corridor with long, quick strides. Anyone in her path scrambled out of her way.
Much to her annoyance, Stephanie’s voice rang in her head. “Be careful of that commoner Olivia… If you don’t treat her like the threat she is, she’ll steal Prince Julius right out from under you.”
Deep grooves formed in Angelica’s forehead, and she scowled. I can’t let myself be swayed by that lowlife coward’s words! His Highness is crown prince. Even if he’s infatuated with that commoner, he’ll open his eyes and see sense eventually. He must. I know he’ll come back to me.
The rational part of her brain dismissed the idea of Olivia stealing the prince as unrealistic, but it couldn’t keep Stephanie’s words from haunting her. That infuriated her.
I won’t be jilted. My love for the prince could never be outshone by her—by Olivia!