The Gloomy and Timid Princess Heads to the Academy

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“…Lieutenant. Do you understand why Ho-yeon shows interest in that empty-headed guy?”

Waiting at the entrance of the department store under the command of the Black Wolf, the aide expressed his discomfort as they watched the others carry their luggage to the dormitory.

“If it’s about what tricks the enemy is playing, I’d gladly answer… but, hmm. To ask about a girl’s heart from this old man is quite something.”

“Looks like you don’t know either, huh?”

From their point of view as beastmen, Dokan was a terrible man.

Lacking in strength and stamina, constantly eyeing other women—it was hard to see why Ho-yeon was drawn to a guy like that.

Besides, they couldn’t just intervene at the side.

Like Byeolbi had commanded regarding Dokan, their orders to leave Ho-yeon alone unless her life was in danger were strict.

They couldn’t defy Byeolbi’s orders, which held higher priority than Jeongho’s.

“…Sigh, I don’t understand why Ho-yeon is interested in such a loser.”

“I feel the same. That man is so weak, he wouldn’t be useful as a warrior. Rather, the girl next to him doesn’t seem bad, though.”

Despite pouring out complaints and grievances about Dokan, they at least acknowledged his looks.

“If it’s just because she was smitten by his face, that would be fine. Because then, people can change their minds when they see his true nature.”

“I was hoping the lady would do just that.”

After escorting Ho-yeon and her crew to the academy, they headed somewhere, but not toward the lodging they were staying in.

Feeling a bit disgruntled, they considered cleaning up any criminal organizations hanging around nearby by wandering through the back alleys.

Since Ho-yeon said they could strike anyone like slave traders or armed robbers without hesitation, they thought about doing just that.

Of course, she wouldn’t be pleased if she found out, but they felt the urge to move their bodies this way.

Ignoring whoever was following them, they deliberately acted like lost travelers, and soon they were surrounded by men who appeared out of nowhere.

“What they have is mine. You can do whatever you want with the body. I hear beastmen go for a high price these days?”

“Oh, that’s nonsense. If I catch it, then the body and possessions are mine.”

“Pfft, ridiculous.”

Filled with expectations for the future, they watched the fools prattle on and smiled, Black Wolf and the lieutenant both.

They needed to nip any potential threats to the lady in the bud.

The alley was littered with thirty bodies, all bearing wounds from swords.

– – – –

“…I feel a chill.”

To be specific, it felt like a lot of people nearby had died suddenly.

“Oh, Ho-yeon. Are you cold?”

“…Not cold, just suddenly got goosebumps.”

“Is that so? I experience that sometimes too. Suddenly shivering for no reason.”

Anya nodded as well, so it was reasonable.

The body can shiver for various reasons. Heart attacks or seizures can happen without warning.

Perhaps it was Anya’s touch or gaze that gave her the chills.

Though she didn’t harbor any malicious intent, the touch of a girl felt a bit unfamiliar.

Other than maids and her mother, she hadn’t interacted with girls her age before.

Back home, noble daughters approached her at every banquet, but she’d always shunned them.

Being evaluated on her appearance by a same-sex friend felt like quite a fresh experience.

Hmm, there were many firsts since coming to the academy.

She even made her first real friend. And a same-sex friend too.

…And now, her first male friend. Not a lover, just a friend.

A male friend.

Oh.

“If I tie the ribbon like this… Yes. You look a little better.”

Just because they exited the department store didn’t mean Anya’s dress-up session was over.

They bought a lot of outfits, not just dresses, so Anya was busy mixing and matching tops and bottoms.

For an hour.

Dokan had long since complained of body aches and collapsed in his room, while Anya kept me from resting, insisting on doing this.

“By the way… Ho-yeon. Are you not tying your hair anymore?”

Ah, that.

“…I don’t feel like it.”

It got annoying, tying it alone every day, so at some point, she just stopped. She lost the hair tie she usually used.

She had extras left, but there was no urge to tie it back.

“Ah… feeling lazy… Yes. That makes sense.”

I wonder what Anya was thinking, as she kept quiet after saying that while still prettily dressing me up.

“…Yes, all done! How does this look?!”

Standing in front of the mirror, I thought it looked just pretty enough.

The school uniform looked prettier in my eyes. Plus, even if it’s a holiday, wouldn’t it be proper to wear the school uniform inside the academy?

“…I’m not sure.”

“Is it still not good…?”

Anya diligently tried to piece together an outfit I would like, but I genuinely didn’t know.

“Excuse me, Lady Anastasia, are you in there?”

“Anya! You should be calling me Lady Anastasia!”

“Oh, is that so? Lady Anastasia! Let’s go eat!”

As I started to feel sleepy and overwhelmed, someone knocked on the door.

I recognized that voice somewhere.

I couldn’t quite pinpoint the first, clear voice that I didn’t recognize, but the cute voice I heard afterward was definitely familiar.

“Oh, is that Camilla and Exipri? Just a moment…!”

In an instant, she gathered my clothes and stuffed them into a paper bag, then spoke to the guests waiting outside.

“…Yes, come in!”

Once her permission dropped, the door swung open with a sound like ‘click.’

What the—why doesn’t my room have any of those?

“Good day, Lady Anastasia….”

As soon as she entered, the girl who greeted me politely stopped talking when our eyes met.

Of course, she quickly resumed, but I didn’t miss the hint of animosity in that fleeting glance.

…I don’t think I’ve seen her before. Did I do something wrong?

“Nice to meet you! Lady Anastasia! And… uh, no, never mind…”

Upon seeing me, Exipri hid behind the girl with the clear voice.

If she was scared of me because of what happened at the gym, that was fine. But who was the woman in front of her? Camilla?

Did I do something to earn her hatred?

“…I actually came just to ask if you’d like to join us for meals today… but who is the person beside you?”

She clearly knew who I was but was exceptionally good at pretending not to.

Is this what nobles do?

Since Anya seemed oblivious, she began introducing me to Camilla and Exipri.

“Oh, you don’t know? She’s the White Royal Family’s Eldest Daughter from the Eastern Empire. There are strange rumors about her… but I think they all stem from misunderstandings!”

“This is the princess from the foreign country, huh? It’s an honor to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Even though she looked like she disliked me, I had to say hello since I said I would.

“Would you like to join us for lunch too, Ho-yeon?”

“Oh my, what an honor, but… it’s a designated seating arrangement. If Ho-yeon joins, I fear they’ll be left to sit alone. Would that be alright?”

In other words, she was saying there was no place for me, so don’t come.

I had momentarily forgotten that meeting Anya and Dokan didn’t reflect the average noble experience.

“No, that’s fine. I have company waiting for me as well. It might be better to part ways here.”

I’d found a good excuse to escape from Anya. If this continued, they’d just keep dressing me up.

I was sorry for Anya, but I hadn’t intended to join in from the beginning.

Somehow, I felt like they might bring me up again like Stephanie.

Not that Stephanie ever did that, but it just seemed likely. I didn’t want to get involved with nobles for no reason.

“…Yes, as Ho-yeon said, it might be best to part ways. I hope you enjoy your meal with your companions.”

After leaving that last remark, which sounded like a personal dig, I stepped out of her room with my arms full of paper bags.

Even just bringing casual clothes was enough to feel like my arms were about to break, I wondered how heavy it was for Dokan.

Finally getting back to my room to put the clothes in the closet and change into my uniform was my intention, but it felt a bit wrong to disregard what Anya had put effort into.

…Actually, I was curious about what reaction Dokan would have when he saw this outfit.

He’d stared wide-eyed at the department store but later showed nothing but exhaustion, so I was curious how he’d react now that he’d had some rest.

It wasn’t because I wanted to impress him or anything.

Thus, I decided to head into Dokan’s room in this outfit.

He must have been exhausted, as he lay immediately on the bed without even covering himself with a blanket.

This time around, I felt like I’d become the clock that reminded him it was eating time if I woke him up, so I waited for about ten minutes without any reason, but Dokan showed no signs of waking.

I wondered if he might live on just one or two meals a day if I wasn’t around.

It might not matter much in this fictional world, but thinking about it made my heart ache knowing he was once Korean.

“…Wake up.”

Just like in the morning, I tickled his nose with my tail, and he quickly reacted.

“…Ugh, my body. Ho-yeon…?”

Looking at me with a strange gaze compared to when we were at the department store, I thought maybe it was just because he had just woken up.

But more importantly, before I reminded him it was dinner time, there was something I needed to ask Dokan right now.

“…Dokan, did I change at all?”