friend chapter 6

“Wow….” I couldn’t help but gasp. Tall, elegant buildings lined the grounds. This was Oberstein Academy. As an academy founded by the Imperial Family, it exuded an aura of wealth. Located in Briston, the imperial capital, Oberstein Academy was filled with students from affluent families. As the most prestigious school in the empire, it also attracted students from distant regions. I was one of them.

All the students here had passed the notoriously difficult entrance exam. Looking around, I saw many who looked the part of model students. Among them, one person stood out.

“Excuse me, where is the student council room?” A young man was asking a student for directions. Judging by his worn, simple clothes, he seemed to be a commoner. Probably a servant employed by one of the academy students.

“I’m not sure. I’m a new student.” The student scratched his head and walked away.

The young man left behind looked troubled.

“What are you doing? Let’s go.”

“Just a moment.”

I couldn’t ignore the young man’s distress.

“Shall I show you the way?”

“Hey, what are you doing? You don’t even know the way,” Jade whispered, poking me in the side.

“I do.”

“How?”

Because its location had been described ad nauseam in the original story. The student council room was Jade’s favorite rendezvous spot. She’d sneak in at night, picking the lock for a thrill.

“I studied the academy map diligently.” Of course, I couldn’t tell her the truth.

While I was arguing with Jade, the young man nodded.

“Yes, please.”

As he looked up at me, his eyes, previously hidden by his low-pulled hat, were revealed. I was momentarily captivated by their unusual color. They were elegant, incongruous with his modest attire. Beautiful golden eyes.

***

The young man and Jade followed me. An awkward silence hung in the air.

“…I heard the freshman valedictorian is Crown Prince Edward.”

It was Jade who broke the silence. She had been deep in thought, and now she wore a determined expression.

“Right. I’ll admit, he’s capable. And handsome, too. Honestly, I still think Luna is too good for him… but I can’t control your feelings.”

“I see. Thank you.”

Hmm. I was grateful, but why the sudden change of heart? Feeling slightly embarrassed, I glanced at the young man.

“….”

Fortunately, he seemed indifferent to our conversation, his face impassive.

I guess I don’t need to worry.

Even if he knew I liked Edward, he probably wouldn’t spread it around. Noble ladies with a crush on the prince were a dime a dozen. Edward was feared by everyone, but his appearance was striking enough to make people momentarily forget his cruel nature. While they might be too afraid to approach him directly, many young ladies secretly admired him.

I can’t understand it, but…

In any case, it worked in my favor. My Edward defense strategy was now complete. Heh heh.

“Even if you date the Prince, you have to hang out with me often. And if he ever makes you cry, tell me immediately. Okay?”

“Sure. But he probably doesn’t even know I exist.”

“Don’t worry. He will soon. I’ll make sure of it.” Jade’s sinister smile sent a shiver down my spine.

What did she mean by “make sure of it”? She wasn’t planning to push Edward and me together, was she? I’d rather she push me off the academy roof.

“…Just to be clear, you’re not planning to, like, set me up with the Prince, are you?”

“That’s exactly what I’m planning.”

I heard the sound of the sky falling. I looked up; the sky was fine. It must have been the sound of my mental state collapsing.

She said I was too good for him! She said she wouldn’t let me have him! And now she was suddenly playing matchmaker? She was needlessly enthusiastic.

Come to think of it, Jade had always been prone to extremes. I once asked her to catch some monsters for me to use as summons, and she ended up wiping out every monster in the entire mountain range. She was a bit scary, even though she was my friend.

I racked my brain for a way out of this situation.

“Don’t do that. I’m just… a fan. I like His Highness, but dating is a bit much. The position of Crown Princess is also a burden. I’d rather just admire him from afar. But I also don’t want him dating other women.”

Jade looked at me as if I were crazy.

Right, you wouldn’t understand. You were always the object of adoration, not the admirer. You poor soul, unaware of the joys of fandom.

“So, you don’t actually like the Prince. I don’t sense any genuine longing.”

Ouch. That was sharp.