The Gloomy and Timid Princess Heads to the Academy

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Somewhere in Chile, there’s a word that can be summarized as “Who will take the lead?”

It’s been so long that I don’t quite remember, but I think it was that we all know we have to do something, but no one wants to do it themselves, so they send pleading looks for someone else to do it.

I suddenly thought of this when I realized that the most exchanged thing between Anastasia and me was merely a sense of awareness.

After my brilliant question failed, we both silently read our books as if we had made a pact.

To be precise, we were pretending to read while hoping for some sort of conversation to spark. I certainly expected that Anastasia felt the same.

After all, it wasn’t uncommon for our eyes to meet as I glanced at her while reading.

Two hours.

For two hours, we were on the lookout while pretending to read.

…To have invited someone to sit and then show such a pitiful sight.

I attempted to engage her in conversation at intervals. However, there was never a time when we surpassed ten exchanges.

I asked her about the perfume she wore, but when she replied she didn’t wear any, the silence resumed.

I started to discuss swordsmanship but trailed off. It’s not a topic I’m well-versed in, and she surely had deep knowledge in that area.

The sword was fancy, and her stance was incomparable to my clumsy one.

Above all, I didn’t want to hear about things I didn’t know.

If my assumption was correct and she was indeed of the same type as me, she would certainly get excited and endlessly talk about stories she knew.

One of my few advantages is that I can reflect on my actions.

When I realized in high school that I only spoke about games in an attempt to make friends, I immediately gave up on making any.

Knowing that I had nothing to contribute to the subject of friendship actually eased my mind.

That aside.

Having been that excited speaker before, I know the expressions of the unfortunate kids who had to listen to my stories, and I didn’t want to reflect those expressions back onto her.

I thought to myself, “If I manage my facial expressions, then it should suffice,” but I lacked confidence.

I wasn’t particularly skilled at hiding my emotions.

“…”

Since I had encouraged her to sit down, it felt awkward for me to stand up, and she didn’t seem inclined to rise either.

Either she wanted to stand but didn’t due to the atmosphere, or it was the same situation either way.

The silence, akin to a punishment, was broken by Dokan.

“Ah, Ho-yeon! …And Lady Anastasia as well?”

He almost called me too casually before glancing at Anya beside me and immediately switching to formal speech, sending a slight chill down my spine.

How is he able to switch so freely? I can’t even manage that fast.

“Ah, you have come.”

“You are… Dokan, right?”

“I never imagined Lady Anastasia would remember me! What an honor. As I mentioned last time, I am Han Dokan. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

For some reason, Anastasia’s expression toward Dokan didn’t look too pleased.

It was subtle but resembled the face of someone seeing something they didn’t like, possibly something disgusting.

…What’s going on?

“…Yes, it’s a pleasure.”

Her tone screamed that she was not pleased at all.

I also noticed that Golden Sun was standing naturally beside Dokan. There’s no way he wouldn’t know, so why isn’t he saying anything?

“…I’m Ethan. Since Dokan is having a study gathering here, I came to join as well.”

Oh, so Dokan brought him along. What a dirty insider. Friends just keep multiplying, huh.

I figured he would act like a punk, but he was unexpectedly polite. Also, it’s not even a study group but rather a gathering of friends studying together.

What the heck are you doing here?

“I don’t recall calling you.”

I hinted at Ethan to take a hint and leave.

We’re in the same class, and looking somewhat intimidating, I couldn’t outright tell him to get lost.

“…I thought Lady Anastasia would be participating, but is it not permitted?”

Technically, Anastasia came just to chat with me, so she hadn’t officially joined, but I understood what Ethan really meant.

‘Why can he join, but I can’t?’

Hearing that made my heart ache a bit, but my thoughts haven’t changed.

“One person should be fine, but two changes things.”

Ah, so you’re saying you won’t let me in.

“Ho-yeon, I don’t see a problem with one more. Since we’re both seeking knowledge, I’d appreciate it if you could also help Ethan.”

Why is this guy suddenly speaking up?!

With Dokan asking to include him, I couldn’t just kick him out. Ah, I don’t want to let him in though.

Right, I could just use Anastasia. Being the Northern Grand Duchess and having come first, if she simply says she doesn’t want to, I’d have the perfect excuse to reject Dokan, no matter how much he begs!

“I don’t mind at all.”

Ah, you’ve got to be kidding me.

Without needing to say anything, our eyes met, and she answered right away. I didn’t even have the energy to argue what kind of question I asked.

“…Hah. Fine, one person should be alright…”

“Thank you for your generous decision.”

For some reason, it now seems I have to teach three people, including Anastasia, who casually took out her notebook.

…What can I do? I sighed and opened my math book.

—

My encounter with Ethan, something I thought I would need to engage with eventually, was purely by chance.

I endured the harsh time disguised as Georg’s class and ran into him on my way to Ho-yeon’s class.

We were in the same class, and due to being tied to Ho-yeon, my priority had been low, but he was still a necessary ally in the end.

He looked like a total punk, but I knew he was just a facade he chose to hide his identity as a church Apostle.

Fortunately, he showed interest first, making it easier.

I casually mentioned that I was on my way to study with Ho-yeon and suggested he join the study group if he wasn’t busy.

When he asked who would be there, I answered Ho-yeon, and he immediately followed along.

However, when we arrived, Anya was also there. For some reason, she was sending me unimpressed looks.

Ho-yeon didn’t seem thrilled to see Ethan either.

Were they having some girl talk that I wasn’t privy to? No way of knowing.

Keeping up with Ho-yeon’s lesson was tough enough.

“So, the exponential function and logarithmic function are inverse functions…but. Anastasia, do you know what I’m talking about?”

“Yes, uh? Ah, yes! Of course. So…that…The exponential function and logarithmic function are inverse functions, right?”

“…Do you know what an inverse function is?”

“…Is it something difficult?”

Honestly, I didn’t understand a thing. I quit math in eighth grade, so what do I know about logarithmic functions and the like?

Naturally, Anastasia didn’t grasp a word, while Ethan surprisingly understood quite well.

“Indeed, if a raised to the xth power equals b, then x equals log base a of b.”

Well, if you’re an Apostle of the church, you need to be smart, in addition to being physically capable. Gloria had also shown sharp reasoning in the original narrative, so it made sense.

“That’s right, Ethan. And just one question for you, Anastasia. Do you know what a function is?”

“…No.”

While Ho-yeon sighed deeply, explaining what a function was, Ethan was busy acquiring knowledge by himself.

“So, how do you read this…?”

“First, look at the small print at the bottom, and then read the larger print above. Log base 4 of 64. It’s 3.”

Ho-yeon didn’t miss even that small whisper and answered sharply.

What I had imagined was Ho-yeon struggling to teach despite the gaps in her knowledge, but this felt more like personal tutoring.

Of course, I wasn’t going to criticize a tutor for not being able to do it either.

It felt like seeing an old friend I used to know. They were awkward with people, but they were fun to be around.

“…You wouldn’t happen to be able to do multiplication tables, would you?”

“What do you take me for…!”

I don’t know what high expectations Ho-yeon had for Anastasia, but I could confidently say Anya’s knowledge level would be below that.

“…Ah, let’s take a break.”

“Were there breaks? In that case, let’s rest.”

Even Ethan, acting like a loafer, became more restrained in front of a foreign princess and the Northern Grand Duchess. After all, he was more of a conceptual punks than a real one.

“Dokan. I was sure I only called you.”

“Ahaha…Well, you can’t just turn down someone who wants to join.”

While I was fully stretching, Ho-yeon approached with a somewhat angry expression.

“But still…!”

“Well, Lady Ho-yeon called for Ladie Anastasia as well, didn’t she?”

“That’s…True, but I’ve never called anyone else. She just came on her own.”

“Is that so?”

Then it seems that Anya also happened to join this gathering by coincidence. What a remarkable occurrence.

“Indeed.”

“Then I apologize.”

It seems she really intended to teach only me. Since I messed that up, I should apologize.

“…No, why are you apologizing suddenly? It’s fine; I didn’t mean to.”

“No, please accept it. I feel uneasy.”

This was also an apology for not being focused solely on her. I’m sorry, but I can’t just focus on her.

As long as there are possibilities left open, I didn’t want to give up.

“Ugh…if you’re going that far…”

For a moment, it seemed the status of being a princess had lifted, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

But that didn’t last long.

“Excuse me for interrupting. Lady Ho-yeon, I have something I want to discuss privately with you two. Is that alright?”

Ethan abruptly barged in.