Chapter 36
‘That must all be thanks to Estelle’s refined Poise stat going up.’
At this rate, even in the Academy, no one would ever dare look down on her.
‘Ah, I’m so proud!’
As expected of our Estelle. If she sets her mind to it, she does it!
I had been worried that raising poise might be harder than raising reputation.
Now that it’s solved quickly, my heart feels so much lighter.
But just because Estelle’s poise problem is solved doesn’t mean there are no issues left.
“I thought I told you, that posture isn’t right.”
“Ugh…!”
Because I am the one with the problem now.
I’ve been taking the same poise lessons from Claude as Estelle.
And on top of that, I studied hard at home, so I could teach the village school kids during lessons.
After all, if I’m teaching someone else, I need to be absolutely certain of what I know.
So I took careful notes in class, memorized everything diligently.
Honestly, I’d wager that I’ve studied the theory even more than Estelle has.
Then why… why doesn’t the practice follow theory?
Shouldn’t skill in practice increase in proportion to the theory studied?
But no matter what I do, my body just won’t cooperate.
Crash—!
I looked down miserably at the pile of books that had fallen to the floor.
Those books had been stacked neatly on top of my head just a moment ago.
But the instant I tried taking one step forward—down they went.
“How many times has this been now?”
“I… I don’t even know anymore…”
Claude’s scolding voice came from beside me.
I sank down in my chair, sighing out my reply.
It was the classic poise drill: balancing books on your head and walking gracefully without dropping them.
Something I’d only ever seen in dramas or movies.
‘Back then I thought, who actually does that in real life?’
…And yet, here I am, doing it.
When I first started practicing, I was oddly excited—my memories from my previous life made it feel familiar.
I was confident too. I’d imagined doing it hundreds of times while watching TV dramas, so surely it’d be easy.
But reality was not imagination.
The books kept dropping. Again and again.
They’d fall the instant I placed them on my head. And even when I managed to balance them, the moment I lifted my foot—they’d tumble.
And when they didn’t fall, they wobbled precariously as if about to.
I even found myself contorting like some circus performer to keep them balanced.
‘This is… so humiliating and miserable.’
The more time passed, the more embarrassed I felt.
But what crushed me most of all was something else entirely—
“Reina, you can do it! Don’t rush, just take one step at a time!”
“……Urk!”
Estelle’s sincere encouragement.
Unlike me, who dropped the books countless times, she was flawless.
Not only did her books never fall—they didn’t even wobble.
If the books could speak, they would have praised her stability and given her a thumbs-up.
She could even move freely: sitting down and standing up, drinking tea, enjoying pastries—all without disturbing the books.
‘How is it possible to bend your waist and lower your head without them falling? How is that even humanly possible?’
Meanwhile, I couldn’t even stand still without dropping mine!
Tears brimmed in my eyes.
“Thank you, Estelle…”
At least her comfort was precious to me.
I consoled my wounded pride with her heartfelt words and bent to pick the fallen books back up.
“Let’s try again. If you keep at it, nothing is impossible. But before that—Estelle, I have something to ask.”
“Yes?”
Claude, arms crossed, turned his gaze on Estelle.
“I heard the entrance exam isn’t far off. Are you well-prepared?”
“……Yes. I’m doing my very best.”
She nodded, though her face stiffened and her fists clenched. Just the mention of the exam made her tense up.
“I’ve prepared a small gift for you.”
“A… a gift?”
“Yes. Call it an entrance gift.”
Estelle’s eyes widened in surprise. Then she frowned, incredulous.
“But I haven’t even taken the exam yet.”
“What does that matter? Of course you’ll pass.”
Claude shrugged, answering so casually—as if he’d just said “The earth is round.”
“I thought you’d ask something else…”
He lifted one eyebrow, muttered under his breath while glancing at her.
“So you’re not curious about the gift, hm.”
“I am curious!”
Estelle answered quickly.
The tension on her face eased—her nerves about the exam seemed replaced by curiosity about the gift.
“Can I ask what it is?”
“See for yourself. Go outside and ask Cain, he’ll guide you.”
Estelle’s eyes sparkled instantly.
Her whole body squirmed restlessly, itching to dash off and see it right away.
Claude gave a faint smile and nodded—silently granting her permission.
“Thank you!”
The moment the words left his lips, Estelle sprang to her feet.
She bolted for the door, leaving before anyone could stop her.
Bang! The door slammed shut behind her as she disappeared down the hall.
Claude turned back to me.
“Now then. Until Estelle returns, we’ll continue practicing your walk.”
The faint smile he’d worn was gone.
Gulp—
Why is it…
Why do I suddenly feel a strange fear in those piercing blue eyes locked on me?
My throat went dry as I trembled.
Something’s strange.
“Uh… um…”
The fear I felt earlier wasn’t this kind of fear.
It was the fear of a clumsy student about to be scolded by a strict teacher.
But this—
“Aren’t we standing… a little too close?”
Why… why am I pressed so close that I can feel Claude’s breath against my neck?
“And y-your hand…”
Why is his large, firm hand holding me at my waist and back?
…How on earth did things end up like this?
Frozen stiff, I blinked rapidly as I replayed the moment just before.
“Now then. Until Estelle returns, we’ll continue practicing your walk.”
S-scary.
When Claude teaches, he isn’t the lenient type—he’s strict. That alone made him terrifying.
‘Look at that face. If I fail again this time…’
I was sure he’d sent Estelle away on purpose.
So he could scold me without reservation!
“Ughhh…”
A groan slipped from my lips.
I want to do well too, but my body just won’t listen.
It’s so unfair… so unfair!
‘Still… I have no choice.’
I screwed my eyes shut, then carefully set the books back on my head.
“Th-they’re wobbling already, aren’t they?”
Why is it that even when I’m just standing still, they shake like a leaf in the wind?!
I focused all my nerves on the books, tightening every muscle in my body to keep them steady.
Thankfully, after a while, the wobbling eased.
I couldn’t relax, but for now, at least, they wouldn’t fall.
I exhaled in relief and stole a glance at Claude.
“I-I’ll try walking forward now.”
His expression—arms crossed, gaze impassive—looked like silent pressure, urging me to hurry up.
So I stuck my hips out awkwardly and carefully pushed my right foot forward.
My movements were stiff and strange, but I didn’t care—I just wanted to take one step without dropping the books.
And then—
“Not like that.”
“…!”
A strong, solid weight wrapped around my waist.
I couldn’t look down, but I knew exactly what it was.
Claude’s hand.
And then—his voice, right behind me.
So close that his warm breath grazed the back of my neck.
Hah—!
T-this sudden closeness and touch…
It nearly stopped my heart.
Eyes wide, body frozen, I stood rooted in place.
“Relax your shoulders. Tighten your lower stomach.”
Even through the fabric of my clothes, he must have felt how tense I was.
But Claude, whether oblivious or simply uncaring, pressed firmly instead—straightening my posture, guiding my shoulders and back into place.
Unlock soon!~