Trying out the new Block editor for WordPress this chapter, in case any of the formatting seems different.

In the past, I had held faint expectations that once I enrolled in the Academy, I would be able to see Rui more. However, soon after enrolling, I came to realize was a naive thought that was.

To begin with, I was in a different grade from Rui.

On top of that, it seems he has his work in the Student Council, and there were many instances where he would be absent from the Academy due to his work as Romel-sama's a.s.sistant. As such, there were not many opportunities to meet with him.

Furthermore, it was prohibited for women to visit the men's dorms, and the opposite was also true.

You couldn't just go and visit the cla.s.srooms of students in a different grade so easily, thus the only places that we could meet was the garden opposite of the chapel during our free time.

At first I received a shock at how off my expectations were from reality, but on the other hand, the longer the time interval was between our meetings, the greater the joy when I was able to meet him.

Thus, right now when I was meeting Rui at the garden, my mood was excellent.

"……oh, I should probably go now."

Although, even when we meet we can't really stay together for very long.

"My……I see. Even though I wanted to be together for a bit longer."

"Don't say that too much."

Seeing him make a troubled smile, I hung my head apologetically. 

"…….let us meet again."

He gently placed a kiss on my cheek.

I too, gave him a kiss on his cheek.

"Yes…….but, may I accompany you part of the way there?"

"Of course. It is a short distance until the study centre, but I would be happy if you were to come with me."

I took his offered hand, and we walked together

"……Mellice-sama, h-h.e.l.lo."

"Good day, Lude-sama."

"Ah…….Mellice-sama. How do you do?"

"How do you do, Beryl-sama."

I returned the greetings received from my each of my cla.s.smates as they pa.s.sed by.

"…….you seem to be quite adored."

Around the time when I returned four or five greetings, Rui muttered that quietly.

Unusual for him, he spoke in a low voice blurred with irritation.

However, in contrast to his displeasure, my heart became lively.

……when I thought about the emotion that was at the root of that irritation, I couldn't help but become happy.

The deeper and more profound his irritation, the more I could feel his love.

"They're just greetings, are they not? ……all of them are my cla.s.smates after all."

I also felt a black haze spreading in my heart when I saw him speaking with another woman.

Even I felt that it was a rather serious illness, but even so that haze would appear, regardless of my will.

……of course, I do not show that on the surface.

Because it would not be possible to tell him not to speak with or look at any other women.

I do not want to obstruct his movements and get in the way of the path to his dream……with that in mind, all I can do is hold back that haze.

In truth, I want to have him filled with thoughts of me…..I've been seized with the desire to fill him with myself to the point where he drowns with thoughts of me.

……that was exactly why.

When I sensed that he held similar thoughts as myself, I felt especially happy.

"And, do you really think that I would have an interest in any gentlemen other than yourself? ……those men who would probably fear my true self and run away if they knew of it."

At my words, he let out a small sigh.

"……my bad. That was narrow-minded of me."

"No. Rather, I'm quite happy."

"I see."

His bitter smile may have been because he sensed my despicable feelings.

However, he did not say anything else, and once again placed a kiss on my cheek.

"This is where we'll have to part…….let us meet again."

"Indeed, Rui. Farewell."

After I saw off his back, I also started to walk back to my cla.s.sroom. It was at that moment.

"……Mellice-sama, do you have a moment?"

Three female students called out to me.

I do not recognize their faces…….they are probably uppercla.s.smen.

"My apologies, but I have a lesson after this. Could your business wait until after the lesson?"

"……do you plan on disobeying what an uppercla.s.sman is telling you to do?"

"Even though you are the ones inviting me, is it not Senior that is not taking into consideration the schedule of your invitee?"

Perhaps because they had accurately understood my implied meaning that, despite the fact that they were uppercla.s.smen, they making such an invitation without any cla.s.s, their expressions darkened further in anger.

"When the lesson ends, please invite me again. At that time I will accept your invitation."

It seems like it'll be a bit fun, as I had such impudent thoughts, I left the area.

After distancing myself from them and turning around a corner, my feet came to a stop.

It was in order to confirm the owner of the gaze I had felt earlier.

When the person following me when around the corner, they b.u.mped into my still frame as planned.

"My……your Highness. My apologies."

The one who had been observing me was unexpectedly Prince Edgar.

"No……it's me who should be saying that, sorry. 

I quietly took a distance.

……just why was he following after me?

"……are you planning on confronting those girls?"

Just when I was thinking about how to ask that without having him perceive the meaning behind my words, he unexpectedly was the one who broached the subject first.

"My, your Highness. Don't tell me you heard the conversation earlier?"

It was because I knew about it that I instead asked that.

"……I just happened to be pa.s.sing by."

He averted his gaze slightly.

……even the person himself probably thought that was a lame excuse. Because this floor where they called out to me primarily held cla.s.srooms where lessons from the lady's course took place.

"I do not plan on doing something as grandiose as confronting them……I simply plan on taking them up on their invitation."

I instead did not pursue the topic and brought the conversation back on track.

"I'm surprised you can speak with such composure when it'll be 3-on-1."

"It is no composure or anything……I genuinely am curious about what sort of things they wish to speak to me about. And, 3-on-1, you say……by no means do I think that those Seniors will do anything uncivilized. As I thought, are you not exaggerating the situation a little?"

"A normal lady would be frightened at having been called out, wouldn't they?"

"My……your Highness. You jest. Surely you do not think that I will speak of what the ladies of high society are like with my own mouth?"

Prince Edgar momentarily faltered back at my question.

"However, I will put in my two cents……the [ladies] that the gentlemen of the world see is but a single side of them."

Prince Edgar looked as though he were about to say something but I stopped him.

"Well then, your Highness. Farewell."

Before he could say anything else, I left the area.

TN Comments:

Oh dear~ maybe they got jealous of seeing Melly and Rui flirting together~? Also, Prince Edgar, stalking is bad! Bad Prince!

On another note, Happy New Year everyone!!!