“Now I see you’re good at jokes, too! But more than that, your upright posture is perfectly beautiful. We could bring you on as the imperial etiquette instructor. Isn’t that right, Hawkins?”
‘Damn, I shouldn’t have said anything. I just blurted it out because I was annoyed… So embarrassing! I could die of shame!’
I prayed and prayed that my face wouldn’t turn red in response to Evan’s smooth words, not sure if he was teasing me or actually complimenting me.
Evan laughed cheerfully. Mixed in with his laughter, it seemed like I could hear a few other students chuckling as well.
At the same time, it felt like he was glancing at my cheeks, which still held a faint heat. I couldn’t tell if he was genuinely laughing at my joke or just being polite because he noticed my embarrassment. Maybe he even laughed more on purpose for my sake.
‘Wait? Why am I overanalyzing Evan’s intentions?’
This really is dangerous. I need to keep my distance. I’m so sick of getting swept up in this kind of thing!
“I haven’t read that book, so I wouldn’t know.”
Was it really necessary to draw the line that hard?
Not that I wanted praise, but honestly, Hawkins, you make things so awkward! You’re really out!
“Oh, that book is really famous.”
Cecilia, who had been standing quietly between Evan and Hawkins, clapped her hands as she exclaimed.
Naturally, Evan and Hawkins turned to look at Cecilia. She smiled brightly, as if she’d been waiting for their attention.
With sunlight streaming through the window so brightly that the classroom, even with the magic lamps on, felt dark by comparison, Cecilia’s face seemed to shine even more radiantly than the sunlight itself.
Like a spotlight suddenly illuminating a dark room.
In that brief moment of stillness, I was sure everyone was thinking the same thing as me.
“Hawkins, you said you liked reading! If you get the chance, you should check it out. It’s full of all kinds of etiquette, postures, and sequences. I don’t like it because it’s so complicated… but you like difficult things, so you might enjoy it! Should I lend it to you? It’s practically new!”
Cecilia bubbled with excitement.
It was a mischievous display, like she was eager to pass on the complex and tedious etiquette book to Hawkins. She may have studied etiquette because she disliked it, but… the more I studied it, the more I liked it. There were steps and procedures, and if you followed the rules, you were always given the chance to speak, which made it feel fair to me.
Still, I understood that for some people, etiquette was just boring. But if etiquette was boring, did that make me a boring person too?
For no real reason, I started to feel a little down.
But there was no need to show it. The fact that a straight posture is beautiful is undeniable, and the things I’d worked so hard to learn were genuinely useful in social situations.
“If Miss Cecilia is offering… I’ll be sure to read it thoroughly.”
Hawkins answered with the same gentle, spring breeze voice I remembered from my past. Even his lips, which had been pressed tightly together, relaxed into a smile.
“Yay! I’ll bring it to you right away.”
Cecilia clasped her hands and grinned like a child.
“Time just flies by when I’m with Miss Cecilia.”
“Huh?”
“You’re as innocent as a child, it’s delightful.”
Evan’s openness in revealing his feelings was always surprising. Cecilia’s cheeks flushed adorably. Evan gazed at her with a soft look.
‘Is this how romance starts in this life?’
Once I was in spectator mode… things got a little entertaining.
Hawkins already looked somewhat wistful, even a bit anxious.
“Cecilia, about the book—when should—”
“I’ll bring it to you!”
“No, it’s probably heavy. Just let me know when, and I’ll come pick it up.”
“By the way, how do the two of you know each other?”
Evan seemed to suddenly remember his original question.
At his question, Cecilia swayed shyly.
“I met Mr. Hawkins in front of the dormitory the other day. I almost fell, and he helped me.”
Cecilia laughed, covering her mouth bashfully.
“It was nothing.”
There was a hint of pride in Hawkins’ calm voice.
You’re already this fond of her—what will you do later?
But the one Cecilia relies on and likes most is Evan.
Seeing Hawkins growing feelings for her with nowhere to go, I almost wanted to give him a hint.
Evan nodded at their words.
It didn’t seem like he’d really been curious—his expression was just polite. Then why even ask? Ah, I wish the bell would just ring now. It’s exhausting just being surrounded like this.
“Are you two friends?”
“…With Liana?”
Cecilia, exchanging glances with Hawkins, didn’t immediately answer Evan’s question.
She blinked, then gave Evan a big nod.
Then she took my hand, which had been resting quietly on my desk.
“Liana and I are childhood friends. My one and only friend.”
“I see.”
Cecilia beamed with pride at Evan, but… Evan was looking at me.
‘Why are you staring so intently?’
He’d been chatting with Cecilia just moments ago, making the air between them turn rosy, and now he wasn’t even looking her way, only at me.
“So, what brings you here?”
As if she’d forgotten how long they’d been talking, Cecilia awkwardly asked.
She squeezed my hand even tighter.
Ow, Cecilia! Isn’t this hand-holding uncomfortable for you? You never liked it before.
Evan didn’t answer, just continued to stare at me.
I looked back into his eyes. They were so clear, I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. His lips were still curved in that refreshing smile, but since his eyes weren’t smiling, I couldn’t tell how he was really feeling.
I should have left as soon as Evan arrived!
But it was too late to get up, after I’d already watched everything.
He must have come to see Cecilia—so why was he hesitating like this?
And why was I! What was I even sitting here for, watching these two people who already knew each other?
“I came to see who was acting so well.”
“……”
Huh…? Wait a second!
That was aimed at me, wasn’t it?
What nonsense!
Seriously, what, you came all the way here just to pick a fight?
‘What a petty guy.’
When I glared at Evan, he mouthed something silently. What was that? Narrowing my eyes and concentrating, I finally made out his lips moving clearly, which I’d missed the first time.
‘What.’
“What?”
He really just said something, right?
“What’s wrong?”
Wow, so shameless.
Evan looked at me, feigning innocence.
“Huh? Oh… nothing.”
I was so dumbfounded, I couldn’t even get the words out.
“Liana, are you okay?”
Cecilia looked at me worriedly and patted my shoulder.
“It’s fine, really.”
“Liana must not be fully awake yet, she always sleeps a lot.”
Cecilia spoke as if defending me.
“…But really, why did you come?”
Seriously, why did he come?
“Because I was bored?”
Oops. I said it out loud.
“Liana Credere. Do I look like someone who gets bored?”
Evan asked with a mock-solemn tone.
“Well, yes. Otherwise, what other reason would you have to come all the way here…?”
“……”
“Heh.”
The boy sitting quietly beside me shook with silent laughter.
Was he laughing at what I said? Maybe we’d get along better than I thought! Ollie! I think I like my seatmate after all!
When I laughed along, Evan wrinkled his nose.
I’d only ever seen his smiling face, but now I realized—even his frown was… handsome.
“What are you thinking about now….”
“Evan, what’s wrong?”
Cecilia, who’d been talking to Hawkins, glanced curiously between Evan and me at the sound of Evan clicking his tongue. When I shrugged as if to say, ‘I don’t know,’ she grabbed my arm and shook it, saying she was disappointed.
Hmm, Cecilia before she hit her growth spurt is really cute. But if you shake me like that, my head hurts, Cecilia. You might not know it, but I live with a headache these days….
I couldn’t bring myself to push her hand away, so I just smiled awkwardly. Then Evan grabbed Cecilia’s arm and gently set it down. Cecilia’s cheeks flushed.
“What’s this? Did you just grab her arm?”
“No way… He probably just brushed off some dust.”
“If Lady Margareta found out….”
As someone muttered under their breath, a sharp voice rang out.
“And what if I found out?”
A man strode in confidently through the back door, his sharp gaze full of energy as he stared down the speaker.
‘Margareta Torrento.’
As usual, her hair was elaborately styled, and she wore a flashy tiara. She glanced around the classroom with an indifferent expression before scowling. Then, just as quickly, she smiled again.
What’s with that face? That shift in mood!
And now she was making her way briskly over to us, her delight impossible to hide.
“Your Highness. What brings you here?”
It was a greeting fit for a duke’s daughter.
Not a hint of sloppiness in her graceful posture. Even my picky eyes couldn’t find fault with her etiquette.
“I have some business.”
But unfortunately, I seemed to be the only one impressed by her manners. The sparkle of enjoyment in Evan’s eyes faded to annoyance. At his indifferent tone, Margareta frowned.
I’d be disappointed, too.
Margareta glared at Cecilia and me, as if blaming us for chatting with Evan.
Lady Margareta! Don’t look at us like that. It’s not like I chose to talk with Evan!
“Your Highness, have you been well?”
“Well? Am I your grandfather or something?”
As Margareta led the way, other students who’d been quietly watching started to talk to Evan, their faces full of excitement. As they crowded around to greet him, it ended up encircling me, Evan, Cecilia, and Hawkins.
Margareta had no choice but to yield her spot to their momentum. In truth, she’d practically been pushed out. The calculation that forming a connection with the Crown Prince, the future Emperor, would be more beneficial than cozying up to a young, as-yet-undeclared duke’s daughter had surely already been made.
Margareta looked like she was barely holding back her irritation.
It was surprising. The Margareta I remembered was always angry and bullied Cecilia, but now, she seemed to be showing remarkable restraint.
A few ladies who couldn’t approach Evan instead drew near to compliment Margareta’s hair accessories.
The classroom buzzed with conversation. The seat of learning had suddenly become a social arena.
Cecilia, receiving occasional attention from the boys chatting with Evan, naturally blended in with them. I simply watched.
‘So annoying! I know it’s important to build connections at the Academy and all… but mobbing someone just to get in their good graces isn’t exactly dignified.’
And come to think of it, I’m a duke’s daughter too.
My family vouches for me—why bother competing with them?
In fact, it was more comfortable since nobody was approaching me.
I hadn’t even made my official debut yet, and already the idea of forming cliques at the Academy sounded exhausting.
Look, even Evan, though he keeps smiling, looks bored out of his mind.
When our eyes met, he raised an eyebrow.
What, are you jealous?
Instead of giggling, I just looked away.
Evan, you’re really popular. I never realized because you always stuck close to Cecilia. But you are the Crown Prince, after all. It looked like even students from other classrooms had come out.
Maybe it’s just because it’s the first day…?
I looked at them with jaded eyes.
“Miss Cecilia, I heard you entered as the top student. I don’t believe the viscount’s family has any great tutors—who did you study under?”
“Oh, you flatter me. We couldn’t afford a tutor, so I studied on my own using a book I got from Liana. It was old and worn, but to me, it’s a treasure.”
A young man with deep reddish-brown hair listened in surprise to Cecilia’s words.
“Self-study from an old book? You must have put in an incredible amount of effort!”
“Haha, not at all. I just read it over and over, not expecting much, but fortunately I was able to understand it.”
“A genius, aren’t you!”
At the young man’s lively, booming voice, even those who’d been talking with Evan looked at Cecilia. “That really is amazing,” “Showing off again,” voices mixed with admiration and jealousy rose here and there.
Margareta crossed her arms and settled in to watch.
By the way, the day Cecilia met those three had always stood out in my memory, but today didn’t feel nearly as special.
‘…Before my regression, there wasn’t such a crowd, was there?’
Where’s Benjamin, by the way? He was supposed to be with them. Is something changing again?
Was it because, back then, there was such a strong sense that I couldn’t intervene? Or was it because I joined in this time? Or maybe it was because I ran into Evan on the forest path yesterday…
Did that change their first meeting?
“Hello, I’m Vance Odeyo. You’re… Miss Liana, right?”
“…Hello, Mr. Odeyo.”
‘Oh my.’
I never thought he’d talk to me.
Trying to calm my heart, which was bouncing around comparing before and after my regression, I was startled by his sudden greeting.
A skinny young man with deep blue hair reached out his hand nervously.
“Th-thank you.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Smiling so he wouldn’t feel awkward, I gently shook his hand.
Then a few more people started talking to me, following his lead.
“I’ve heard a lot about you. Your hair is truly unique and beautiful.”
“I’ve never seen hair with so many different colors mixed in.”
“Your posture is so elegant.”
“I heard the Duke of Credere’s new estate is quite impressive…”
I responded appropriately to their comments.
The attention that had briefly focused on me would scatter again whenever Cecilia laughed, but the fact that they’d come over at all felt strange. It was such an unfamiliar experience… I tried hard not to let my awkwardness show.
Not that it took much effort.
‘A mask-like smile is my specialty!’
Unlike my rational mind, my heart pounded wildly.
I didn’t know if it was joy, anticipation, anxiety, or fear.
But so what if I don’t know? I’ll get used to it!
I handled everyone naturally, and when they went back to Cecilia, I maintained my composure. When a spot opened, someone else would come, and the cycle continued.
“It’s like a ballroom in here.”
Margareta’s voice, somewhere between sour and annoyed, cut through the commotion. The people crowding Evan, me, and Cecilia all glanced at her and fell silent.
They probably wanted to get close to her, too, but couldn’t manage it because of the mood. One person bravely tried to start a conversation, but was promptly ignored.
Thanks to her, the enthusiasm for socializing died down for a moment.
“Evan, if you don’t go now, you’ll be late.”
Hawkins, who’d been expressionless behind Evan the whole time, finally spoke.
“Right.”
Evan checked his pocket watch and nodded. At his gesture, those nearby offered brief farewells and stepped back.
“Oh, childhood friends must be quite close, right?”
Evan suddenly asked.