NOVEL NEXT chapter 44
44 – Request
I had that thought again.
“How much have I changed over the course of four days?”
Miss Reina is obviously strict and cool, but.
“But in the end, I didn’t move with Prince Ike except when I came to the Magic Tower.”
“… You must be busy. I heard that you are sparring like us.”
When she blushes slightly like this, she’s such a cute person.
“Ike and I have been childhood friends since we were little.”
“How was your relationship?”
“It was a meeting for political reasons, but I think we stayed close.”
Miss Reina, who is usually sharp and cold, is when the two of them are talking.
Especially when the story of Prince Ike comes out, it gets a little softer.
Of course, now I know that even in normal times, it’s just the atmosphere, and it’s not that I’m angry.
“All are precious memories.”
Still, I wanted to see more of Reina-chan in this atmosphere.
Because the occasional smile suited me more than the usual cold atmosphere.
In that case, I thought it would be fine if Miss Reina and Prince Ike were friendly like before, but one very big problem remained.
The point was that Miss Raina was the fiancée of Her Highness Leon, the crown prince.
Aristocrats become a source of gossip even for the smallest act.
It is said that this tendency is especially severe the higher her position is, and when she reaches the level of Lady Reina or Her Highness Leon, it is said that it develops into a problem that harms her honor.
Actually, as a commoner, I couldn’t understand it.
Anyway, it was said that it was impossible for Miss Reina and Prince Ike to become close beyond a certain point.
Hearing that fact, I thought there was nothing I could do about it.
Until His Highness Leon spoke to me directly.
Some time after talking with Miss Reina.
After self-study in my room, I went out for a walk to get some fresh air.
And while I was sitting on a bench and resting for a while, His Highness spoke to me.
“Hello Miss Sophia.”
“Ah, Your Highness. Hello.”
I was also a partner in the attribute magic class, and I felt that he was very considerate of me at the tea party last time, so I didn’t feel particularly uncomfortable even when the two of us were together.
Of course, even if it was a coincidence, it was the first time the two of us had talked to each other.
“Are you adjusting well?”
“Yes. Everyone treats you kindly.”
“I’m glad. Unlike the other special students, Miss Sophia had absolutely no ties to nobles. She was worried about whether she would fit in well.”
All of Arcana’s special students are commoners, except for special cases, but most of them are said to have connections with nobles.
For example, 5th place in the entrance exam.
I heard that Damus Menners, a merchant-turned-special student, has connections with the Marquis family.
It’s quite rare for a commoner who has absolutely no ties to aristocrats to enter Arcana.
Dean Ender also said that during the interview.
If it hadn’t been for the magical power measurement that all commoners receive when they turn 17, I’d probably be working with my mother now.
“I heard from Ike. I hear you’ve been going out with Miss Reina lately?”
“Oh, yes. I am learning a lot from Reina-sama.”
The people who attended the last tea party.
Apart from Her Highness Leon, Prince Ike, Miss Helen, and Atal.
The fact that I was traveling with Miss Reina seemed like a shock to them.
Well, there was such a fuss at the tea party, but you wouldn’t think of it as being friendly.
Because I thought so too until we started talking.
“I’m glad. I think we got along better.”
But despite being shocked, there was no one to stop it.
Especially, Prince Ike asked me to continue to be close with him.
Since I was young, I moved constantly and didn’t have a relationship as a childhood friend, so I thought I was a bit envious, but that’s a different story.
“Is it okay if I ask you something?”
“Oh, yes. If I can answer.”
“From the perspective of Miss Sophia, what kind of person do you think Reina is?”
It was a rather unexpected question.
Miss Reina is Her Highness Leon’s fiancee.
She must have a much better idea of what kind of person she is than I, who I recently met.
“… I’d be lying if I said everything was fine now. Still, facing Reina-sama’s cold atmosphere, she sometimes gets scared.”
Even if you stay as her friend, the memories that are imprinted in her head suddenly come to mind.
If I said I wasn’t afraid of that, I’d be lying.
“But now I know. Reina-sama’s strictness doesn’t discriminate.”
What I learned after spending time with Miss Reina is that she is a person who always strives to walk the right path.
Now, there were times when I felt a wall that was difficult to explain to Ms. Reina.
It was because Miss Reina felt guilty about her verbal abuse in the past, and she drew her own line.
If she had been tolerant of her faults and had come to me without hesitation, I would not have walked with her.
“And as strange as it may sound, I think I would have left Arcana without Reina-sama.”
“… What does that mean?”
She looked at me with her eyes narrowed, as if Her Highness Leon could not understand.
She felt the pressure in her eyes for no reason, but I caught my breath and put my thoughts into my mouth.
“Recently, the more I learn various subjects from Reina, the more I feel it. The fact that Arcana’s lessons are really difficult.”
There were many things I couldn’t understand even after studying.
As a result, I was not sure about the correct answer I came up with.
“I don’t think of her performance on the entrance exam as a coincidence anymore. This is the result of my hard work. But it is also true that I have a hard time keeping up with the class. I can’t be confident that I completely understood what Reina-sama is teaching me.”
“It is unavoidable because most of Arcana’s classes are based on nobles.”
“I know it’s rude to say this, but until I talked to Lady Reina, I was blaming Reina for everything.”
The fact that I can’t keep up with the class.
Something that is difficult to understand even after preparation and review.
It’s all because of Miss Reina’s verbal abuse and low self-esteem.
“If I couldn’t even make that excuse, I certainly wouldn’t have been able to survive in Arcana.”
“Well, I think Ms. Sophia will survive even if that is the case.”
“Thank you.”
“So? After all, what kind of person is Sophia-san thinking of, Reina-san?”
His Highness Leon’s question reminded me of a conversation I had with Miss Reina.
‘I wanted to be friends with Miss Sophia, who is not a great person?’
With the mischievous smile she had then.
“Are you a friend who wants to get to know you more slowly and see you smile even a little more?”
Upon hearing my answer, Her Highness Leon nodded quietly, then opened her mouth again.
“Do you know that Miss Ike and Reina are childhood friends?”
“Yes. However, before entering Arcana, I hadn’t seen you for three years.”
“Right. There were several political reasons. The biggest reason was that if the fact that the prince’s fiancée continued to hang out with an affair man spread, it would become a source of gossip.”
As expected, it was a difficult story for me, a commoner, to understand.
“But I hope they get along like they used to.”
“… Yes?”
If Miss Reina becomes the subject of gossip, wouldn’t she also influence Her Highness Leon, her fiancé?
Is the position of crown prince a little different?
“So can I ask for one favor?”
“Please?”
“It’s a simple story. Give Ike and Rayna an opportunity to get rid of the awkwardness.”
Unfortunately, there were still many things I didn’t know about Reina-san to create such an opportunity.
I had hardly ever had a separate conversation with Prince Ike.
Still, the reason I accepted the request.
“I want to see more of them smiling.”
It was because I fully sympathized with His Highness Leon’s feelings.
After that day, I tried various things to create an opportunity as requested by Your Highness.
Ask Prince Ike about Miss Reina’s past.
When Miss Reina said that she would help her study separately about her attribute magic, she suggested that Prince Ike also accompany her.
However, the distance between the two did not get closer.
On the contrary, Miss Reina was stricter than when we were together.
From nob le mt l dot com
Prince Ike didn’t seem to have any complaints about the situation.
Nothing will change at this rate.
I couldn’t help but feel that way.
Is it okay if I bring up that story?
Actually, I thought a lot about this part.
If the two of you are hiding it, there must be a reason.
I don’t know if it’s okay for me to dig into it or if I’m trying to interfere too much.
But what made me change my mind in the end?
‘I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to live like I used to. But too much has already changed. Wouldn’t it take a very long time to fix them?’
That word I happened to hear in the Magic Tower.
It was because Miss Reina’s face looked so lonely when she said that.
Let’s talk about everything I know and have been curious about.
Instead, it’s me, Miss Reina, and Prince Ike.
When there are only three people around like this.
That time came sooner than I thought.
The way back to Arcana from the Magic Tower.
When the carriage stopped for a moment to eat, the coachman was away.
I took a slow breath and said to Prince Ike.
“Why are you using honorifics for Lady Reina?”
“… Yes?”
“… !”
And what came back was the confused image of Prince Ike.
It was Ms. Reina, her face flushed with redness, with a smile on her face.
★
Why is Sophia talking like this?
I couldn’t understand it with my head.
I didn’t use short language with Reina unless it was just the two of us.
Anyone who knows this must be Anna at most.
“What do you mean, Miss Sophia?”
First, let’s figure out the intention.
Maybe they have a hidden intention.
“The first time I met you two was at the Garden of Mist on the day of the entrance ceremony, right?”
That’s right.
In the middle of a conversation with Raina, whom I hadn’t seen in a really long time, Sophia started talking to us.
… Wait for a sec.
Maybe.
“At that time, I heard Prince Ike talk comfortably with Reina-sama.”
As expected.
Turning her head slightly, there was Reina glaring at me with her face still blushing.
I’m sorry.
I didn’t expect this to happen.
“Do you care about what other people think?”
“It’s not like that….”
“That’s right.”
Somehow, after trying to continue my excuses, I cut off my words, and for some reason Reina opened her mouth.
“As Miss Sophia knows now, even the smallest words and actions of nobles cause controversy. No matter how much Prince Ike and I claim to be childhood friends, with a little fairness, a new relationship can be created.”
“Wouldn’t that be resolved if we explained that part?”
“Just because it is controversial is a problem.”
“… Okay.”
At Reina’s words, Sophia lowered her head.
“Miss Sophia, why did you say this?”
If it was to get something out of this secret, it would be easier to respond.
But Sophia didn’t see anything like that.
On the contrary, it looked like he was regretting something.
“Mmm.”
Then, as if she had made up her mind about something, she silently nodded her head to herself, then looked back and forth between me and Reina.
“Then, I have a request for you two!”
“Please, are you?”
“Yes!”
For some reason, I felt the burning passion in Sophia’s eyes.
What the hell are you trying to say?
“As long as it’s okay in front of me, can’t we get along comfortably with each other?”
“… Yes?”
My voice and Reina’s voice overlapped and echoed.
“I already know that you two are casual, so I think it will be okay.”
What the hell does she want and do?
Neither I nor Reina could figure it out at all.