Chapter 24
“Ah, Harold. You’re here?”
“Good morning, Riana. And this person is…?”
“This is Miss Noxia Dekan, the assistant librarian who’ll be starting work today. You remember the interview from last week, right?”
“Ah, of course. Welcome, Miss Dekan.”
“Thank you. I look forward to working with you.”
Noxia politely shook hands with the man called Harold.
Even after vigorously shaking her hand up and down a couple of times, Harold didn’t let go. His curious gaze thoroughly scanned Noxia from head to toe.
“By the way, Miss Dekan. You came in with a letter of recommendation from the Marquis Holby’s daughter, right?”
“……Yes, that’s right.”
“Wow, that’s fascinating. How did you get close to someone like her?”
There didn’t seem to be any malice in his question. That didn’t make it any less uncomfortable, though.
Noxia gave an awkward smile. Just as she hesitated, wondering whether she had to recount her personal past with Karnen in detail, Riana clicked her tongue lightly and stepped in.
“Harold, let’s stop the small talk and get to work. Don’t bother a newcomer who hasn’t even finished the handover yet. If we all want to leave on time again today, shouldn’t we start working diligently right now?”
“You’re right. I don’t know why there’s so much work every single day.”
With a deep sigh, Harold finally released Noxia. She felt overwhelming relief at escaping the awkward situation, along with gratitude toward Riana.
Noxia glanced at Riana. Riana met her eyes and smiled warmly.
Harold returned to his seat, and Riana kindly addressed the new librarian again.
“I’ll start the handover now. Please have a seat here, Miss Dekan.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Riana sat across from the newcomer in the office and carefully explained the materials needed for the job step by step.
By the time the handover was finished, the entire morning had slipped away. Pushing the documents aside, Riana spoke gently.
“Because of the nature of the work, someone has to stay at their post even during lunchtime, so Harold and I eat a little later. If everyone left their seats at lunch, any patrons who came by then would be turned away. You can go eat at the regular time and come back, Miss Dekan.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Artmon.”
The regular time meant now. From noon, one hour—the average worker’s break.
Noxia stood up from her seat. Even though she’d eaten a hearty sandwich that morning, focusing all morning had left her tired and hungry.
After greeting Riana and Harold, she left the office and headed toward the Academy student cafeteria in the building next to the library.
When else would I ever get the chance to eat in a place like this if not now?
The ivory tower of the Kingdom of Hermeon—the Royal Academy, the pinnacle of higher education in the country.
The Academy was famous for its compulsory education program, but it was even better known for the university curriculum that followed.
The life of an Academy university student was the ultimate object of longing for children from all walks of life: the romantic daily life on campus, highly accomplished professors and classmates, and perhaps even the warm love of youths in their prime.
Noxia, too, had once been intoxicated by such fantasies—though even then, she hadn’t completely forgotten reality.
Now, about half of her dream had come true. Even if she wasn’t a student, she was an employee here, so she could at least insist to herself that she was officially affiliated with the Academy.
Noxia entered the student cafeteria. At the interior atmosphere reminiscent of a high-end restaurant, her eyes widened as she looked around.
This is a student cafeteria? For a student cafeteria, it’s way too… not modest.
Usually cheerful and spirited, Noxia lost her confidence for once, hunching her shoulders and hesitating at the entrance.
She had boldly stepped inside, telling herself loudly that she belonged to the Academy now, but the moment she set foot in the cafeteria, all her confidence evaporated.
…I don’t belong in a place like this.
She had the illusion that people inside kept staring at her, whispering among themselves and mocking her for loitering here—this shabby country girl.
She understood intellectually that it was paranoia and excessive self-consciousness. In reality, people had no particular interest in her. Everyone was busy taking care of their own lunch and their friends, paying no mind to some unfamiliar girl.
Yes, she understood it with her head. She knew all that, and yet Noxia was afraid—afraid that someone might notice she was like a mere pebble rolling around in a basket of jewels, widen their eyes, and point at her.
Noxia hesitated and stepped backward. Just as she was about to turn around and flee in earnest, she collided hard with someone approaching from behind.
“Ah!”
Noxia let out a strange cry and staggered. Someone grabbed her shoulder to steady her. It was a large, warm, gentle hand.
“Miss Dekan?”
It was Prince Elennon.
It was Monday again. Student Elennon had to attend school as usual. Like it or not, there was no helping it. No matter how royal he was, he couldn’t do everything as he pleased—a truly regrettable matter.
Today as well, Elennon went to school in neat attire, riding in a carriage accompanied by guards.
When he arrived on campus, he was surrounded by countless people. Students vying for the seat next to him, classmates admiring his excellent grades and handsome appearance, fake friends equipped with bright smiles….
“Your Highness, do you remember the liberal arts lecture from last week? I missed class that day because I was busy with student council work—may I ask what the lecture was about?”
“Your Highness, come sit next to me! I deliberately claimed a front-row seat. This professor writes so small on the board that you can’t see well from the back.”
“Your Highness, I heard a new restaurant opened in front of the Academy over the weekend. How about going there today instead of the student cafeteria? My cousin went on opening day, and apparently the veal steak is amazing….”
“Your Highness.”
“Your Highness?”
“Prince Elennon!”
With a gentlemanly smile, he kindly responded to every question and call.
“Of course, I remember. It’d be hard for me to explain it verbally, but if you’re okay with it, I can show you my notes. You don’t need me to explain it out loud, right?”
“Thanks for saving the front seat. You’re right—this professor’s writing is so small it hurts your eyes if you keep staring at it.”
“Sorry, I have a class right away in the afternoon today, so it’d be hard to go far to eat. I think I’ll just eat at the student cafeteria today.”
So noisy. Far too noisy. But as always, he had to endure it. A true royal never loses dignity in any situation, and it’s only natural for bugs to swarm around a fragrant flower.
After a hectic morning of classes and dealing with people, there was a free period before lunchtime. Even that freedom wasn’t real freedom, though. There were simply no classes—there was still a schedule.
“Your Highness, shall we go now?”
“Yes, let’s go.”
Today was the day the Academy’s drama club held its first rehearsal. Elennon and the rest of the literature department advisory group headed to the auditorium for a formal observation.
When they arrived, the students already gathered there and chatting all turned their gazes toward him at once.
“Isn’t that Prince Elennon? Why is he here…?”
“You didn’t know? The prince is observing as an advisor.”
“That’s Prince Elennon? A real prince? This is my first time seeing him in person.”
“Wow, he’s really handsome. I thought it was exaggerated when I only heard rumors….”
Students who already knew about his observation and freshmen who were still unfamiliar with his presence alike widened their eyes and whispered excitedly.
Elennon tried his best to shut his ears. No matter how many times it happened, he could never get used to being treated like a rare species in a zoo.
He and the other literature students huddled together in a corner of the seating area. The drama club president hurried over and bowed deeply to the prince.
“Thank you so much for serving as an advisor, Your Highness.”
“The honor is mine. I’m already looking forward to how wonderful the play will be.”
“We’ll do our best not to disappoint you.”
The club president bent nearly at a right angle. By year, the man was far senior to Elennon, and it made him uncomfortable to see him grovel like that—but as usual, he didn’t show it and simply smiled like a painting.
The rehearsal began. A member who looked like the youngest approached and handed thin booklets to Elennon and the other literature students.
“These are booklets summarizing the play’s purpose and content. We hope you’ll refer to them.”
“Thank you.”
Elennon smiled as he accepted the booklet. The baby-faced junior blushed at the prince’s smile, muttered that he was the one who should be grateful, then hurriedly turned around and almost fell.
“Oh—be careful!”
“Th-thank you….”
When Elennon reflexively reached out and caught him, the junior mumbled with a face flushed bright red and scurried away. The student sitting next to Elennon let out a small laugh.
“Please don’t flirt with just anyone, Your Highness. Especially innocent kids like that—don’t you feel sorry for them?”
“That’s right, Your Highness. If they end up lovesick and wasting away, it’ll all be your fault.”
“Flirt? That’s a serious misunderstanding, don’t you think?”
Elennon laughed lightly and went along with them halfheartedly. In his mind, someone sharply contrasted with the drama club member who had just fled with a red face.
If only she’d acted like that drama club kid, how much easier it would’ve been. If she’d just been someone who wavered at the sight of my face without thinking….
Wait. Who am I thinking about right now? Elennon froze. Then, pretending to look at the booklet, he lowered his head.
Why is that person suddenly coming to mind?
Noxia Dekan. Sweet chocolate-colored hair, round eyes tinged with fresh green, and that stiff face that openly showed how uncomfortable she felt around the prince.
She’s not the kind of person who’d go around telling others that she saw me cry. So there’s no need to worry about it anymore. There’s no reason for us to be entangled now.
It was the first time someone had so openly stiffened their face upon seeing him, and that piqued his interest. Drawn by that interest, he started a conversation, and as they talked, it gradually became enjoyable.
In the end, he’d been so pleased when the girl’s gaze toward him finally softened. If she had treated him with nothing but sharp wariness to the very end, he would have felt rather hurt.
