Chapter 12
[Don’t worry too much.]
How could she not worry?
Though Asiel herself wasn’t aware of it, she had sighed the entire carriage ride to the Academy. Watching her do so had nearly broken her family’s hearts.
[She only regained memories of her past. Her mental age should still be about the same.]
“Though, to be honest, there wasn’t much that needed fixing in the first place…” the voice muttered.
At that moment, Asiel found herself desperately wishing she could punch the bodiless voice.
Meanwhile, Allen had been watching his friend with growing concern.
Asiel had been sighing nonstop ever since earlier.
Had she suddenly become nervous?
She hadn’t shown even the slightest sign of anxiety the day before.
The Asiel Allen knew was never someone who’d get so intimidated that she’d shrink into herself.
“I thought this was the place you wanted to come to more than anywhere.”
“Yeah… I really was an idiot who couldn’t see what was coming…”
Something was wrong.
By now, she should have been overflowing with excitement, saying something like:
“So this is it… the place where Asiel Winzerberry begins her new life!”
Instead, she simply stood there at the front gate with vacant eyes.
Allen couldn’t understand it.
He remembered the Countess of Winzerberry pleading with him at the gate before they left.
“Please take good care of our Asiel, Allen.”
“Something about her just feels… strange.”
There was no way he could have told the Countess:
“Well… Asiel has always been strange.”
Even to Allen, today’s Asiel felt completely different.
No…
It was more accurate to say she was strange in an entirely different way.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“What?”
“You’ve been sighing nonstop. Are you trying to make the ground cave in?”
Unable to hold back any longer, Allen finally snapped.
Asiel slowly turned her empty gaze toward him.
After staring for a long moment, she crooked one corner of her lips into a faint smile.
“It’s fine… You wouldn’t understand anyway.”
“…”
“Let’s go.”
Allen desperately wanted to tell her:
“Then why don’t you go by yourself, Miss Know-It-All?”
But he swallowed the words.
Not only because the Count and Countess had earnestly begged him that morning to look after Asiel…
But because Gale Winzerberry had personally entrusted him with his own wooden practice sword as a gift, asking him to take care of her.
Gale had even offered him something more valuable.
But to Allen, who admired Gale more than anyone, there was no gift better than that sword.
Even putting all that aside…
Allen simply couldn’t leave Asiel alone.
To him, Asiel was someone who required even more attention than a younger sibling.
Wherever Asiel went by herself was practically a disaster waiting to happen.
Ever since they were children—before she’d even developed a proper sense of self—Allen had naturally found himself looking after her.
His new mission was simple:
Somehow help Asiel adjust to life at the Academy…
…and make sure she graduated with excellent grades.
First I need to find Rite… That means I should head to Professor Buchanan’s classroom.
Completely oblivious to Allen’s heartfelt determination, Asiel’s thoughts were elsewhere.
First, she’d go to Buchanan’s classroom…
[It’s Bucanu, not Buchanan.]
Even now, the Demon King couldn’t resist correcting every thought that passed through her head.
“Hey, Allen. I’m going to—”
Following Allen’s guidance, Asiel stood in front of the building reserved for junior students.
Just as she was about to say she wanted to head straight to Professor Bucanu’s classroom before time ran out—
“Are you Asiel Winzerberry?”
A familiar line sounded from behind her.
Asiel felt as though her ears had suddenly perked up.
Judging by the way Allen’s face instantly turned pale…
It had to be the person she was thinking of.
For some reason, she actually felt happy to see him.
She turned around with a bright smile.
Golden hair that looked as though someone had gathered together the day’s brightest sunlight.
Pale blue eyes, clear as glass.
A boy who seemed to belong somewhere between dawn and morning itself.
It really was him.
Delighted, Asiel immediately pointed a finger straight at him—
Completely unaware that everyone around them had frozen in horror.
“It’s you!”
“…”
“Uh… what was it again…”
Still pointing, she brought her finger to her own forehead, desperately trying to remember his name.
“Leon… It was Leon… but what Leon was it again?”
Hearing her muttering, Allen sincerely wished someone would knock him unconscious.
Or perhaps…
Maybe he should knock Asiel out himself.
“I know it. I really do.”
Apparently frustrated that she couldn’t remember, Asiel even stomped her feet.
“Right! Dimarion!”
The moment she remembered his name, she shouted it loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear.
She even beamed proudly, pleased with herself.
Meanwhile…
The expression on the unfortunate prince—who had unintentionally been reduced to something like Rumpelstiltskin—turned so cold it felt as though winter had arrived months early.
Only Asiel’s sunny smile brought even the slightest warmth to the atmosphere.
She had gone through far too much over the past two days.
Witnessing Rite Lahar’s death had shaken her deeply.
Even so…
Dimarion’s breathtaking beauty had left an equally unforgettable impression.
Remembering his name genuinely made her happy.
See? There’s no way I’d forget someone this ridiculously handsome.
Unfortunately…
She had completely forgotten that he’d mocked her before walking away yesterday.
“So…”
“I am Dimarion, Second Prince of Wensley.”
“Y-Your Highness… Allow me to—”
Dimarion finally spoke after silently observing Asiel.
Allen, who had been holding his breath the entire time, hurriedly stepped forward, cold sweat running down his face.
“That’s enough, Allen.”
“But—”
“I heard that Asiel Winzerberry transferred here midway through the school year.”
“I thought I’d personally help her settle in.”
Only then did Asiel remember.
Yesterday…
He’d told her to come find him if she had trouble adjusting.
And…
He’d sarcastically remarked that she’d probably come crawling to him sooner than expected.
“I wonder…”
“…whether someone like you deserves such kindness.”
The words that came from those beautiful lips…
Were far colder than she’d expected.
“We’ll exchange greetings another time.”
Leaving only a chill behind him…
Dimarion turned and walked away.
In other words:
“Since we’re students at the same Academy, we can greet each other when we meet.”
“But don’t you dare act like we’re friends.”
The warning couldn’t have been clearer.
[Wow… what a personality.]
The Demon King, who had been silently listening the whole time, offered his brief review.
After confirming that Dimarion had disappeared, Allen stood directly in front of Asiel.
“Have you lost your mind?”
“…Wow.”
Even Asiel seemed stunned.
Seeing the shock on her face…
Allen’s resolve to lecture her thoroughly about showing proper respect to royalty quickly melted away.
Honestly…
What had she really done wrong?
She’d simply recognized someone she knew and tried to remember his name.
But…
How does Asiel know Prince Dimarion?
Maybe the Count, the Countess, Gale, or Quentin had forced her to memorize the royal family beforehand.
But Asiel hated anything troublesome.
There was no way she’d willingly sat down and memorized all that.
Perhaps she’d simply overworked herself preparing for the Academy.
That would explain why she’d looked utterly miserable at the front gate.
After living such a carefree life…
Being forced to learn so many rules must have made her feel suffocated.
Allen found himself feeling increasingly sorry for his friend.
Unfortunately for him…
Asiel was thinking about something completely different.
Whoa… Is Dimarion the male lead?
That aloof little-kitten attitude…
I actually think it’s kind of cute.
Though maybe he’s a little too cold to be popular.
Asiel watched his retreating figure with suspiciously gleaming eyes.
Then she felt someone gently pat her shoulder.
She turned around.
Allen was looking at her with the saddest, most sympathetic expression imaginable.
“What’s gotten into him?”
Sorry, Allen.
Childhood friends are doomed to stay the second male lead.
Thinking completely opposite things…
The two stood there for quite some time…
Looking at each other with equally sympathetic eyes.
