Chapter 6: Best, Worst

“Rian…?”

A voice, heard after a long time, but still as enchanting as ever, capable of captivating anyone.

A god-given face, that once seen, would be unforgettable until the end of your life.

That name, which I have never forgotten since realizing this world was a novel.

“······Adele.”

It was Adele, my fiancée and the protagonist of this world.

At Adele’s sudden appearance, I reflexively turned my head to check the name written on the seat next to mine.

And I could see the clear seven letters that I hadn’t noticed before.

‘Adele Listonia’

“···”

Why didn’t I check this before?

If I had checked it earlier, I would have asked someone to switch seats.

Could it be that the academy guys arranged the seating like this to be considerate since we’re fiancés?

How touching.

I wish I could see the face of the person in charge just once.

My impression of the academy had already turned unfavorable before the entrance ceremony even started.

But the academy being unfavorable was one thing, and I had to deal with Adele, who was standing in front of me, first.

‘······I didn’t think we would meet so soon.’

With the unexpected meeting, not only me, but also the other students, who were gossiping about me, stopped their murmuring and fell silent.

As a mere member of a Count’s family, other students could gossip about me regardless, but Adele’s Listonia Duke family was on a different level, so their silence was natural.

Even citizens, who were not nobles, knew about the Listonia Duke family, which showed how great Adele’s family was.

In front of Adele Listonia, the daughter of such a family, to gossip about the person herself was no different than a noble wanting to be ostracized from noble society.

The name Listonia Duke family was that great, and Adele, the only child and daughter of that great family, was someone that ordinary nobles couldn’t even face.

Those noble students, who had been talking about me, couldn’t even open their mouths when Adele entered, so I could say that said it all.

“···”
“···”

A deadly silence where even the sound of an ant crawling could not be heard.

“I… I can’t breathe.”
“Did someone use magic? Why is it so suffocating…”

The distressed cries of the other students could be heard, but I felt suffocated as well.

That was because of the heavy atmosphere that Adele was emitting.

Because it was so burdensome that she was only looking at me, as she exuded that heavy atmosphere.

I, too, was suffering from this situation, and I wanted to get out of this situation quickly for the sake of the other innocent students, but.

After ‘that incident’, there was no experience of talking to Adele.

The awkwardness between me and Adele was enough to pierce the sky, so I couldn’t easily speak to her.

Fortunately (?) Adele was the one who broke this uncomfortable silence first.

“Are… you doing well?”

A loving word, as if calling out to a former lover who had been separated for a long time.

With such tenderness that even lovers separated for five years couldn’t match.

I couldn’t help but be flustered.

As someone who remembers the relationship between Adele and me at this time before the regression, I couldn’t understand such tenderness.

Surely, there was no such tenderness between Adele and me, and it was fortunate if we didn’t fight.

Adele always pointed out my actions and got angry, and I never listened to those right words.

Adele was always right whenever we fought, but due to my useless pride, I always denied it.

After ‘that incident’, we ignored each other, and we had become more distant than strangers.

The relationship between Adele and me was always at that level.

‘······Why is she suddenly like this?’

I still have these memories, so it was impossible to understand Adele acting like she was looking at someone she missed so much.

Isn’t Adele’s expression now the same as a fiancée who sees her beloved fiancé after three years?

Then, I suddenly realized.

‘Ah… because of the people around?’

This isn’t just a place for the two of us; there are other students here, so is she aware of the stares of those around her?

I understood when I thought like that.

Adele would also be entering the academy for the first time, and this place could be said to determine her first impression, so she probably didn’t want to fight with her fiancé here.

If she advertised that she was no better than strangers with her fiancé at the entrance ceremony, it was obvious that she would receive everyone’s attention in a bad way.

Even for the future of becoming the Listonia Duchess, it would be necessary to build many connections in Seleneium Academy, where talented people gathered.

‘Then… I should accommodate her.’

If so, it seems I need to accommodate her for Adele’s school life, who is the protagonist, and my school life, where I have resolved to live peacefully.

“Yeah, it’s been a while.”
“······I missed you.”

Wah-

A fragrant scent brushed past my nose, and a warm touch was felt all over my body.

“Oh, didn’t they say the duke’s daughter and he don’t get along?”
“Right, I guess it was just a false rumor.”
“How romantic…”

Seeing the students, who had been unable to breathe properly until just now, start chattering again, I could be bewildered.

In fact, I was also embraced by Adele, and my thoughts were frozen, so there was no room to care about those words.

‘Why is she really like this.’

Seeing Adele like this, I was just flustered.

This was the first time, including my previous life and this life, that I have been touched by Adele…or not.

It would be correct to say that it was the first time since I was a child, excluding when I was very young, and after I learned everything.

In the past, when Adele and I were best friends, we always held hands and lived like a family, but as you know, after that incident, we mostly ignored each other.

It was fortunate if we didn’t fight with each other’s magic, let alone physical contact.

‘Does she want to act as a loving fiancé and fiancée in front of others?’

I’m a man, so I can’t say that I don’t like this hug, but it was much more important to grasp Adele’s intentions than to enjoy the feeling for now.

As the protagonist of a magic fantasy novel, Adele was extremely intelligent.

As if it wasn’t for just anyone to be the only duchess of the best family in the empire, she had outstanding brains and excellent magic skills reaching the 3rd circle.

As I said before, the 3rd circle isn’t that high a level, but it could be considered the best among the 1st-year students of the academy, most of whom are 1st and 2nd circle.

And I remember there was also a sentence in the novel that she never missed the top spot, so I could see how genius Adele was.

There was no reason for such an intelligent Adele to do this without any reason, so isn’t it the duty of an extra like me to grasp her intentions and quickly accommodate her?

Thinking that way, I pretended to hug Adele on the outside, and whispered quietly.

“You don’t have to go this far. I’ll pretend to be a couple who get along in front of others.”
“······What? No, it’s not that…”
“We ask all new students and returning students to take their seats, as the entrance ceremony is about to begin.”

Adele, who heard my answer, seemed to want to say something, but had to stop due to the announcement of the start of the entrance ceremony that came at the right time.

‘······What is this. Isn’t this it.’

For a moment, I wondered if I shouldn’t have done this, but.

Soon, as the academy’s entrance ceremony host entered, the question quickly disappeared somewhere.

The freshman entrance ceremony of Seleneium Academy has begun.

“Lian…”

In the end, she couldn’t say it.

How long had she waited for this moment?

“Master… are you alright?”

Her water spirit, Undine, was worried about her.

After awakening her unique magic, she was always with her.

“······I’m alright.”
“Master was really looking forward to it.”

Undine was right.

She had kept dreaming and waiting for the moment to meet him again.

That I’m sorry I didn’t understand your heart and your efforts.

That I will always be by your side from now on.

She had been waiting for this moment to say that, but.

She couldn’t convey it, and she could only look blankly, just like then.

“But it’s alright.”

But she tried to smile.

“Unlike then, we still have time.”

Unlike the past, where she was too slow to realize, she and Lian still had time.

She could look forward to the next time.

This wasn’t the only chance, and there were still many chances left for her.

The moment when the world’s most beautiful girl, called the best freshman ever, had her focus returned.

The place her eyes were turned to was the boy, called the worst freshman ever.