“Welcome to the Academy.”
The vast Academy grounds were spacious and rich with nature…
It was the place she had always dreamed of.
The red brick buildings, though old, exuded a dignified atmosphere, and even the moss-clad corners looked as beautiful as works of art.
The paths were neatly kept, with lush blue-green lawns stretching to either side.
It was a place where nature and human hands, old and new, mingled—and Patricia liked it at first sight.
“Originally, the headmaster was supposed to greet you personally, but you don’t like commotion, right? That’s why I came instead. I’m glad you made it safely, Patty.”
“Thank you very much, Lord Clive.”
The first person Patricia met at the Academy was Clive.
He had apparently come with another man, but Patricia felt as though she had seen this man somewhere before.
“…Who might that gentleman be?”
“Pleased to meet you, White Lily Maiden. I am Heine Avalon. My sister is indebted to you.”
“—Ah, it is an honor to greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Please, no need to be so formal. I always wish to become close with beautiful people.”
“Oh my, in that case, please excuse me. I do not desire such familiarity.”
“Oh, a strong one.”
She knew those who called her White Lily Maiden.
Chloe Avalon, the princess of the Avalon Kingdom.
And this was her younger brother, the first in line to the throne, Crown Prince Heine.
Though Patricia had never met him before, the rumors she’d heard allowed her to quickly understand his character.
He was a charmer and a womanizer, a different sort of trouble than Chloe.
Apparently, he was friends with Clive.
Patricia couldn’t help but worry—especially when it came to women.
“Your face won’t work on Patty, and she doesn’t get close to shady types, so you won’t be able to get friendly with her.”
“…I can sense the weird vibes, but I’m choosing not to comment, all right? I’m nice like that.”
“…Tch.”
It had been a while since she’d heard Clive click his tongue, so Patricia looked at him in mild surprise.
Noticing this, he hastily waved his hand as if to cover up.
“Patty! Let me show you around the Academy. Come on!”
“Yes. Please do.”
He seemed to think he was hiding something, but having known him since childhood, Patricia could tell immediately that the face he was showing now was the stranger one.
Of course, she would never be so tactless as to point it out.
After all, he was no longer a child.
“Let’s greet the headmaster first. Today will probably end with a tour of the school and the dorms.”
“It’s right in the middle of classes, so it’s nice and quiet… Hey, shouldn’t we do the tour first? It gets way too noisy during break.”
“…Well, that’s true.”
“I will follow Lord Clive’s decision.”
“Really? …Well then, let’s start the tour first.”
A hand was naturally offered, and just as naturally, she took it.
Once, she might have hesitated a little, but not anymore.
“Over there is the garden. There are lots of flowers I think you’ll like, Patty.”
“Oh, as expected of the White Lily Maiden. Still, in your presence, even the flowers must pale in comparison.”
“…Well, that ‘White Lily Maiden’ name is something Princess Chloe started calling me on her own. I don’t think it suits me.”
“I disagree… but perhaps a glamorous rose would suit you better than a lily.”
“Patty is as beautiful and lovely as a rose, a lily, and every flower that exists.”
“Please stop. Really, please…”
Even at the Academy, if people said such things, she had no idea how she should respond.
She already had enough rumors swirling from earlier incidents; she’d prefer not to fuel them here too.
“All right, all right, we get that you’re infatuated. Anyway, why don’t we head to the garden? It’ll get noisy after class ends.”
“What if Patty gets lost? We should show her around the school first.”
“We’ll be with her tomorrow too, right? Let her relax a little now.”
“…That’s unusually reasonable coming from you.”
“Thank you, thank you for your praise.”
These two seemed to genuinely get along.
It had been a long time since Patricia had seen Clive act so relaxed.
In the imperial palace, with the constant uncertainty of who might be watching, he was always on edge.
That’s why, seeing him at ease now made Patricia truly happy.
Friends of the same age were something to be envied, she thought, as she watched the two—until a group of students in uniform approached from ahead.
“——…Hello.”
“…Hello.”
The young man was tall and slender.
His sharp eyes gave off a clean impression, but there was also a hint of coldness to them.
He glanced at Clive and Heine, frowned slightly, but offered a brief greeting.
Even in that short moment, it was clear that these two did not have the friendliest of relationships.
“What are you doing during class?”
“That’s my question for you, actually.”
“…I’m just doing my duties as the leader of Red Clover.”
“And we’re just showing a new student around at the headmaster’s request.”
“—A new student?”
At that, his gaze shifted to Patricia, and their eyes met.
Naturally, Patricia couldn’t just stand by in this situation, so she stepped forward and offered a brief introduction.
“Pleased to meet you. My name is Patricia van Frentier. From today, I will be studying at this Academy. I look forward to learning with you.”
“——…”
She lowered her head lightly in greeting.
Thinking he would respond at once, she waited, but the reply never came.
Curious, Patricia looked up to find the young man frozen, eyes slightly widened.
Had she done something strange?
As she tilted her head, the man snapped back to himself with a loud cough.
“…Forgive me. I am Sigurd Evans, a member of Red Clover and responsible for leading the students at this Academy.”
“By the way, he’s also the son of a count from the Avalon Kingdom.”
Thanks to Heine’s help, Patricia quickly understood who he was.
It made sense that a noble from a neighboring country might not know of her.
“Sigurd, this is the duchess’ daughter from the Lorelan Empire. Mind your manners.”
“—The duchess’ daughter, here…?”
So that’s what surprised him.
His shocked expression was probably the natural reaction of someone from this world.
Patricia offered a troubled smile, unsure how to explain, but Clive stepped forward protectively.
“Patty came here to learn. Even more than us.”
“…To learn? …I see.”
“…I look forward to studying with you.”
For a woman to seek education was truly a challenge.
Most people, even if only for a moment, would show a suspicious look.
Now that she thought about it, she could only be grateful to her parents for not denying her when she’d said she wanted to learn.
“If there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask.”
“Thank you.”
“No need to worry. Patty has me.”
“………………”
“………………”
Sensing a somewhat tense air, Patricia quickly decided not to get involved and simply smiled.
Let sleeping gods lie, as they say.
“…Do as you like. I’ll be going now.”
“Thank you for your time.”
“See ya.”
As Sigurd passed by, his eyes met Patricia’s.
A transfer student out of season.
The duchess’ daughter from the Empire.
Patricia definitely gave off the scent of trouble, but what impression did he have of her?
‘The best defense is a good offense.’
“I look forward to learning with you. Please take care of me.”
“——,”
His widened eyes told Patricia that her intent had come across.
That was enough.
She turned her gaze forward again—only to catch a glimpse of another color.
It was rejection.
The feeling of being denied as Patricia herself was all too familiar.
“——…Lord Clive.”
“What is it?”
Perhaps feeling lighter after Sigurd left, or simply pleased at being called by Patricia, Clive’s smile was sweet and gentle.
“The lady who was behind Lord Evans… who might she be?”
“Behind him…? Was someone there?”
“Of course. That was Lady Marie, wasn’t it?”
Patricia couldn’t help but make the same exasperated face as Heine, who replied with a sigh.
Since Clive clearly had no interest, Patricia turned her question to Heine.
“Lady Marie?”
“Marie Ember—though there’s no need for honorifics. She’s the daughter of Sigurd’s wet nurse. Her personality is… well… kind of similar to mine.”
“To you, Lord Heine? What do you mean…”
She got the picture before he even finished.
He was a charmer and a womanizer.
Someone who had ensnared countless women.
Patricia had already suspected as much from that earlier look, and Heine’s words confirmed it.
“No, that’s quite all right. I understand.”
“As expected from someone who’s survived the Empire’s social scene. As the crown prince’s fiancée, you must have encountered plenty of these stories.”
Exactly.
There was no way Patricia, who had survived the intrigue of women in the social circles, would fail to notice.
And it seemed these two understood as well.
“She’s fond of Lord Evans, isn’t she?”
That was why she had shot Patricia with such a piercing look.
Patricia knew it all too well—it was the same glare she’d received from young ladies at countless social gatherings.
“Actually, it’s not just Sigurd. Anyone who stands out tends to fall under her spell.”
She remembered the adorable woman with beautiful pink hair and matching eyes.
Her appearance was fragile, making people want to protect her, but Patricia knew that looks could be deceiving.
That was why she understood the meaning of that glare.
“…It seems I may have just gotten myself involved in some trouble.”
She’d thought she’d had enough of romance for a while, but apparently, that wasn’t to be.
When young men and women live together under one roof, all sorts of problems are bound to happen.
Now that she’d finally earned her freedom, would she have to go through it all over again here?
“…Well, if that’s how it is, I’ll handle it.”
Yes, when it came to matters like these, Patricia was, in a sense, a battle-hardened veteran.
She wasn’t about to make a wrong move—after all, from now on, she needed to savor her own life here.
“I won’t let anyone get in my way.”
‘A woman who has shaken off all restraints is strong’, Patricia thought, watching a bird soar across the open sky.
On her lips bloomed a powerful smile—
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