Chapter 7 - The Academy

Ignoring the scary maid…

Kaede isn’t looking at me anymore…

Oh no, did I get carried away?

I’m sorry, I’ll remove my hand.

I took my hand back…

…Kaede’s looking up at me like I just shot her puppy.

I’m not putting my hand back you know?

Look! Mari’s barely holding back a laughing fit!

“That’s good, it would be bad if you were sick on our first day”

Kaede’s eyes light up like I just told her Christmas was coming early.

“Un!! I mean, yes. You’re quite right. Do you think we’ll be in the same class?”

She looks up at me with puppy dog eyes.

It should be a crime to be this cute.

“That would be nice”

She smiles like I just told her she won the lottery.

These reactions are too ridiculous. I didn’t say anything so amazing to provoke these reactions from her.

…It is really cute though…

“By the way, how is Claude?”

Let’s just continue the conversation.

“Onii-sama? He’s very busy currently, he has to take over from father’s position after all. I haven’t been able to see him very often this year...” 

She looks down and grips her uniform tightly. 

It’s not nice to see her like that. Especially after those earth shattering smiles she was sending me earlier. 

Perhaps it’s my turn to comfort her. 

I place a hand on her shoulder. 

“He will be serving me as my treasurer and chief of financial affairs in the future after all. It’s only natural. However, you’ll occupy an important position in the future as well right?” 

Kaede looks up at me and blinks a few times. I don’t think she follows. 

“As my Queen?” 

No reaction. 

She’s had such strong reactions before. This non-reaction is a bit unnerving. 

Perhaps she doesn’t even want to be my Queen? 

... 

Ah, I guess I am different to the Jin she was in love with from before. Perhaps she doesn’t want to marry me anymore.

I guess I understand. But it still makes me want to cry. 

As if responding to my thoughts, Kaede’s eyes start shedding tears at an alarming pace. 

Uwahh! How do I react to this? 

I’m really troubled. 

I look over at Mari and she’s just staring at me in bewilderment. 

Don’t look at me! Look at Kaede! What do I do?!

I look over at Kaede’s maid and she’s just wearing a large frown. 

You shouldn’t frown so much you know? You’ll get wrinkles you know?

Kaede is just staring at me with tears streaming down her face.

I…I’m really not sure what I’m supposed to do right now.

“Uhm, uh, are you ok?”

She nod repeatedly and starts wiping her eyes.

“I…I’m fine…I just…You’ve never…Do…Do you really mean that?”

“Hm? Do I mean what?”

“A…About me…Me being your Queen…”

Her face goes red and she averts her eyes.

“Of course. So you’re going to be seeing a lot of your brother in the future”

Ah, I really want to say something more here. 

But Jin can’t seem to quite squeeze it out.

‘Please stay by my side forever’

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‘I love you’

I want to, but I can’t. There are still some emotional blocks in Jin’s heart it seems.

Or something like that…

I don’t know.

All I can do is try to treat her kindly and with care.

The Jin of the past was always cold and emotionless when dealing with her before after all.

Maybe eventually, I’ll be able to overcome whatever’s holding me back.

But for now, let’s just enjoy each other’s company.

…

The rest of the carriage ride passed quite nicely like that.

Kaede and I talked about a bunch of things. She’s quite emotional and it always appears pretty plainly on her face, it’s really cute.

We pulled up to the academy.

A bunch of people are staring.

Is the carriage that amazing?

Ah, perhaps this is like an official royal carriage of something.

Mari and Kaede’s frowning maid open the doors to the carriage and step out.

I offer my hand to a blushing Kaede as we too exit the carriage.

What was awaiting us when we stepped out was a crowd of people our age, staring directly at us…

Uwah! I don’t think I can handle this much attention!

Oh no! I’m still holding Kaede’s hand! I bet she’s really embarrassed too!

To my surprise, Kaede had reverted back to a ladylike appearance and was looking quite dignified.

Hoh! Then I too need to put on the face of a man befitting her.

I let go of her hand. As expected, that was too embarrassing.

We walk alongside each other to the notice board where class lists were printed in exquisite calligraphy.

The academy itself could rival the royal castle for size, it’s incredible.

Everyone moves out of our way as we walk forward.

I’m not used to this sort of treatment, I feel like Moses parting the red seas.

It’s times like this where I’m thankful for Jin’s tempered noble face.

The one that never displays any sort of expression even at times of great anxiety.

We walk to the notice board where a class list for each of the three years is displayed.

There are 5 classes per year, each containing 30 people. The requirements for the school are quite high, but still so many people are able to enter.

The future of the country looks bright.

It appears I’m in class 1-1 and Kaede is in class…1-2.

I look over at a pale faced Kaede.

I place a hand on her shoulder.

“We’ll have lunch together every day”

Kaede looks up at me, some disappointment fading from her eyes.

“Un, I look forward to it”

She still looks on the verge of tears though.

“Meet me in the cafeteria at noon and we can catch up”

“Alright”

She nods and we part.

We have to head to the dorms to unpack and become acquainted with our new living accommodations now.

Ah, I was enjoying the carriage ride so much, I forgot what the stakes at this academy are.

I forgot all about the game world and what eventually happened to Kaede.

I forgot that Kaede wouldn’t be in the class with me.

I also forgot about who would be.

That girl.

The heroine. Haruna Keisuke.