Chapter 72
My brother and I aren’t picky about kimchi. I mean, even the kimchi we ate at the orphanage for nearly twenty years was tasteless.
But not eating it and not being able to eat it are two very different things!
“Se… Sola, what vegetables did you bring?”
“Green beans, onions, and mulberries.”
“Don’t green beans need to be cooked? Onions are just garnish. And mulberries?!”
“Sweet and spicy is tasty! Radish and napa cabbage are both sweet vegetables too, you know! Let’s just try it!”
“…I shouldn’t have let you taste cabbage kimchi. Feels like I’ve awakened something I shouldn’t have.”
Of course! You think a Korean who’s gone six years without kimchi is going to just sit quietly after tasting some again? No way!
Anyway, we dragged a basin into a corner of the temple’s storage room and kept trying to make something kimchi-like. I just wanted to crunch into something spicy and refreshing.
As I was rubbing the green beans with salt, my brother asked,
“Sola, can you afford to waste time on this?”
“It’s my break time. What’s the problem?”
“Other kids look busier during breaks.”
“…Sharp observation, bro.”
He smirked and pointed out the window. In the boys’ courtyard of the academy, a group of boys were playing something like basketball.
At first glance, they looked like they were having fun. But if you looked closely, it was clear the refined-looking boy kept scoring—not because he was skilled, but because the others deliberately gave him room. The taste in my mouth turned bitter.
“A service game for the noble young master.”
“Correct.”
Gruner Vant Academy. A school that claimed to teach everyone equally in the name of God.
But in reality, nobles stuck with nobles, and commoners with commoners. Even when they looked like they were mingling, if you peeled back the layers, it was usually like that basketball game—with a clear hierarchy.
Since I was a commoner, the noble students—except Seraphina—subtly avoided me.
“Ever had something like that happen to you? You know, a blonde drill-haired girl saying, ‘A commoner like you can’t play with us, know your place! Ohohoho!’”
“There’s no way something straight out of a twenty-year-old comic could happen…”
It did.
When I had just entered, that drill-haired girl had mocked me for being an orphan. Wasn’t she the daughter of Count Fruitling or something?
“Judging by your face, you did. Did you tell the duke?”
“I handled it myself.”
“Cool. Do you have any friends?”
“Yes. Seraphina, the original heroine. She’s kind and pretty.”
I was ready to slap him across the cheek with kimchi if he dared ask, ‘Does she have a boyfriend?’ But instead, he surprised me.
“So, how’s your love life? Anyone?”
“…Did our great-grandmother possess you because it’s kimchi-making day or something? Why are you asking such weird things?”
“Here, marriage seems like a requirement for nobles. I heard they debut in society in their late teens and marry around twenty.”
That was true. Expanding connections through marriage was important, and nobles had to marry to inherit family wealth.
But—
“Dating is banned while enrolled in this school. The duke said he sent me here precisely because of that rule.”
“…That man really knows how to twist the truth.”
“Huh?”
“Strictly speaking, it’s only on-campus dating that’s banned. What you do outside is fine.”
“…So basically, only those who follow the rules properly get screwed!”
“If you want, go ahead and date.”
My brother beamed.
“And make sure to show me his face. I’ll tell you right away if he’s trash.”
“….”
Judging by his expression, he’d just throw the guy out like garbage whether he was trash or not.
“I’m not interested right now. Too busy trying to set up the male lead and female lead.”
“What are they, magnets? Just because you push them together doesn’t mean they’ll stick.”
“…Still, they’re both good-looking, nice, and have great personalities. I thought it’d work out.”
“Is the world going to end if they don’t? Weren’t you saying the duke was the problem before?”
“Well, it’s complicated… But I just want to do my best.”
I didn’t want to regret missing something important.
As he tossed minced garlic into the basin, my brother pointed out the window.
“Speaking of doing their best, look who’s passing by.”
“Hm?”
I craned my neck and saw girls in thin coats, flower-patterned skirts fluttering beneath.
Drill-hair was there too. Guess she hadn’t dropped out despite the humiliation.
…A cynical thought came to me. Maybe being humiliated by a commoner was like being bitten by a dog—not worth leaving school over.
She was smiling sweetly at the noble ladies beside her, which made me think that even more.
“They dressed up nicely. Picnic?”
“It’s the season when provincial nobles come up to the capital. Their daughters probably came to ‘socialize,’ so they must’ve been out playing together.”
“May is a good season for romance.”
“You talk like it’s none of your business. I heard the ladies are in a stir because a big catch has arrived.”
“You sure know a lot.”
“Plenty of girls come hang around the temple knights to gossip. Not sure what they find fun about big lugs like us, though.”
Hoho, were they really there just to gossip? I eyed him knowingly.
On the outside, Ignatz looked tall, neat, and handsome. And Eugene oppa—who was inside—was good-natured too.
I was about to tease him about romance when his next words shut me up.
“That ‘big catch’—have you heard of him? A marquis’ son, Laf… something.”
“…What?”
“His parents are gone, so his grandfather holds the marquis title. Bluntly speaking, he might inherit the title faster than most.”
“….”
“Not interested?”
“…Do you know anything else? Like which school he’s attending while he’s in the capital?”
I tried to act casual, but my mind was in chaos.
Alkaios Lafrand. The name filled me with both joy and dread. Was he coming earlier than in the original story?
…No way. Could it be he still hadn’t escaped the red dragon’s grasp and had come looking for me?
That was all I wanted to know, but my brother seemed to misunderstand my question.
He grinned ominously.
“Hahaha. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure whether he’s good or trash.”
…Honestly, my brother looked more like the villain than the marquis’ grandson did.
May.
The commoner students enjoyed spring.
The noble students, however, looked awkward, as if even their laughter was rehearsed—like they were calculating the impression they’d leave if they “happened” to bump into visiting guests at the temple.
Many filed leave requests under the excuse of “family events.” Just as my brother said, they were probably being pushed to find good fiancés.
Some were clearly being forced by their parents. Would I end up like that too?
Just in case, I asked the duke.
“Father, the noble ladies seem to be starting fiancé-hunting season. If I have to attend a season party…”
“…‘Have to attend’?”
“Isn’t finding a proper fiancé a lady’s duty?”
Even girls with no interest in men seemed to be dragged along by their parents.
If the duke intended to use me as a pawn in a political marriage, I was ready to cooperate. Better to increase my usefulness, right?
But the moment I mentioned a fiancé, his forehead furrowed deeply.
“…Sola, how old are you?”
“S-sixteen.”
“Not yet. Since your birthday hasn’t come, you’re fifteen.”
Why are we being this precise in a K-romance-fantasy setting?
“And what do you think the duty of a fifteen-year-old is?”
My instincts answered immediately:
Eating breakfast, buying pork cutlet after school while reading webtoons on my phone.
Of course, my mouth said something else.
“Planning one’s future based on what one has learned. For a noble lady, marriage between houses would naturally be included in that plan.”
“I don’t know if I’ve been raising a fifteen-year-old girl or a thirty-five-year-old schemer.”
“Ahaha, you flatter me!”
“That wasn’t praise. And you do know Gruner Vant forbids romance, right?”
Oh, I had something to say about that.
“I later found out—it’s only romance inside the school that’s banned! Outside is fine!”
I mean, some noble students must already have fiancés. They wouldn’t break those up, right?
But the duke didn’t even look concerned. He actually smiled warmly—which only made me more uneasy.
“The school will stop you from dating inside. And outside, too, you won’t be able to.”
“…Excuse me?”
Who would stop me outside?
“If some foolish boy approached you outside school… he’d be taken care of in the blink of an eye. So don’t worry. Just focus on your studies and friendships.”
“….”
Notice how he left out the subject? Don’t act like it’s some natural disaster, Duke!
Even if no one flirts with me, what if some poor guy just asks for directions and gets ‘taken care of’ because of a misunderstanding?!
“Father, that’s not a ban on dating—that’s eliminating any potential candidates—”
“Really, my daughter, you don’t need to worry about anything at all. Just live as you wish.”
“….”
Now I’m really worried.
Guess I’m destined to spend my time volunteering at the temple whether I like it or not.
Sometimes, noble girls—including drill-hair—would whisper loudly enough for me to hear as they passed.
“She looks so free. Does she even know how valuable this season is?”
“Forget it. His Grace must’ve decided she’s useless for a marriage alliance.”
“So in a few years, she’ll be off to a convent? Kyahaha!”
…Too predictable to even bother arguing with.
Hmm, maybe I would end up in a convent. Should I start a jam brand there? Grape jam first?
But maybe because I didn’t react, one of them suddenly stepped in front of me. Through a halo of golden curls, sharp eyes glared at me with open disdain.
“Schleiger, you must be free these days.”
“…Why? And who are you again?”
“Ha. No wonder—you don’t even greet nobles. My name is Paste Arsène. Daughter of Count Arsène.”
She felt like some extra villainess from the original. I didn’t have memory space to spare for her name. From now on, she’s Pasta.
“Got it. Nice to meet you.”
“The real fun starts now. Surely you still want to get closer to the nobles?”
“Hm?”
“There’s an event with many noble young men attending, but we’re short on female participants. Should I arrange for you to come too?”
…I personally don’t care, but would the duke?
