Shulim looked up to see a girl with waist-length blonde hair and eyes like rubies standing across from her, holding the cafeteria's most luxurious set meal.
“Huh? Yes, of course! Please, go ahead!”
Mico instantly agreed to Alicia’s request, even showing a look of relief. She was probably internally thanking the girl for coming to her rescue.
“Of course you can. In fact, Alicia, you can just sit down without asking for our permission.”
“Thank you then.”
Alicia sat down beside Shulim.
Shulim shot her a curious glance.
“Alicia, so you actually eat at the academy cafeteria too?”
“Mm-hmm, occasionally. After all, I’m a student of Manacos now. It’s only natural for a student to eat in the cafeteria, right?”
As she answered, for some reason Alicia cast a deliberate glance at Mico.
“Fair enough...”
It was a perfectly valid reason.
Just then, Mico locked her eyes onto Alicia’s lunch.
It was the most expensive set meal in the academy cafeteria—so costly that almost no one ordered it. Naturally, its contents were extraordinarily lavish and rich.
“...Would you like some?”
Seemingly noticing Mico’s gaze, Alicia offered with a smile.
“Huh? Really?!”
Both of Mico’s ears perked up instantly, and her eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Please don’t stand on ceremony. Help yourself to whatever you like.”
Alicia pushed the tray toward the center of the table.
“Then... I won’t hold back!”
Mico raised her fork and stabbed hard into a piece of translucent meat of unknown origin, though judging by the mana radiating from it, it likely came from some powerful creature.
“This set meal is huge. Can you really finish all of it, Alicia?”
“Well... I have no choice. Although I’d like to order ordinary food, given my position, I can’t do that. It would make things difficult for many people.”
Shulim understood what she meant. If an imperial princess were to eat the same standard food as common students, those who valued noble etiquette might feel it was impolite to eat at or above her level, forcing them to order even lower-tier food. That wouldn't just affect the students; it would even impact the academy's cafeteria operation...
“By the way, I wanted to apologize to you in advance for something.”
Alicia suddenly brought up.
“Apologize?”
“Yes. I won’t be able to go to the dungeon for the next few days...”
Shulim looked up at Alicia across from her.
“Another imperial event?”
“Yes. Given my position, I can’t decline these events at all. So, I’m really sorry...”
The enemies Alicia had to fight weren't just the monsters in the dungeon. Those high-and-mighty, splendidly dressed figures were her greatest opponents, and her battlefields were venues like banquets and formal functions—warzones with no gunpowder, only verbal sparring, plots, and schemes.
“You really don’t have it easy, Alicia... Well, fine. In any case, I understand.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Alicia offered an apologetic smile.
Mico looked back and forth between the two, a question mark practically popping up above her head.
“?”
What are these two talking about? Why can't I understand a word?
After finishing her meal, Alicia excused herself and left first. She had barely touched the deluxe set meal she ordered; Mico ended up devouring most of it.
“Let’s go as well.”
Shulim motioned for Mico to leave.
“Ah, that deluxe set meal was delicious! Can that person come to the cafeteria every day from now on?”
Mico rubbed her tummy, speaking with longing.
Don't refer to your own classmate as "that person"... Don't tell me you forgot who she is?
And stop talking like she's your meal ticket, or you're going to get beaten up...
Shulim dragged the asking-for-a-beating Mico out of the cafeteria quickly. As for the sharp, stinging glares directed at them ever since Alicia sat down, she ignored them completely.
...
The next day.
“...Hey, do you even know what you're doing?!”
“...Are you trying to make enemies out of us?!”
Although Shulim had anticipated someone picking trouble with her, she hadn't expected it to happen so soon.
Looking at the two chattering noble girls standing in front of her, Shulim felt nothing but boredom.
“Hey! Are you listening to me?! What's with that face?!”
“Ah? Oh—sorry, sorry. By the way, who are you two?”
“...”
The atmosphere instantly turned extremely awkward.
“You weren't listening at all, were you?!!?”
“Didn't we already introduce ourselves at the very beginning?!!?”
The two noble girls were furious, right on the verge of exploding.
Eh? They introduced themselves? How come I don't... Wait, maybe I do have a vague recollection...
Viscount something-or-other... was it?
“...Sorry, could you please introduce yourselves again?”
“...”
The two noble girls trembled all over with rage.
“Y-Y-You bastard, prick up your ears and listen carefully!”
One of the noble girls puffed out her chest and declared loudly, “I am Lucie Ryan, daughter of Viscount Ryan!”
The other noble girl shouted just as loudly, “I am Harley Sion, eldest daughter of Viscount Sion! Use that brain of yours to memorize it clear as day!!!”
Speaking of which, those two names seemed to have appeared on Delgette's tea party invitation list back then.
I see. The reason for their confrontation is clear now. But since there are only two of them, could they be acting on their own initiative?
“Alright, I guess I’ve memorized it...”
“Huh? What do you mean 'guess'?! Are you looking down on us?!”
“Damn it! As I thought, we need to teach you a lesson so you learn what words not to say and who not to approach!”
As she spoke, the girl named Harley actually drew her wand.
“You're right! I can't stand this girl either!”
The noble girl named Lucie drew her wand as well.
Shulim glanced around. Good, nobody was in sight. They had chosen a decent spot. However...
“...Are you two serious?”
“HAH?! What do you think?! Regret your own actions!”
With that, the two actually began chanting incantations as the tips of their wands started to glow.
“...”
These two... Setting my own strength aside, have they even bothered to understand the difference between Special Class students and ordinary students...?
“Sigh—”
Shulim let out a helpless sigh, still making no move to draw her wand.
“Haha! You fool! Still not drawing your wand at a time like this, are you stupid?!”
“Just lie down obediently!”
Having finished their chants, Harley and Lucie laughed maniacally as they unleashed their spells at Shulim.
Oh, they finally finished chanting? So slow...
Shulim thought calmly, reaching her right hand toward the sword on her back.
Seeing the Fireball and Rock Bullet on the verge of slamming into Shulim, the two noble girls broke into triumphant grins. They hadn't expected her to be so stupid as to stand still and take the hit. Or had she realized her mistake and frozen in fear, too terrified to resist?
Boom!
The explosion detonated on impact, kicking up a cloud of smoke and dust.
“Hahaha~! Well? How do you like that?! Do you still dare talk to us like that?!”
“Savor that pain properly~!”
The two noble girls said gloatingly.
“Pain? What pain do you mean—?”
Shulim's calm voice echoed from within the smoke and dust.
Rate on N.U.
