"I do need help... but I respectfully decline, Sir Ryu."

Yume turned her head to the other side. This prevented Ryu from seeing her stoic yet beautiful face.

"I don't get it."

Ryu replied in a low voice but enough for her to hear, lightly scratching the back of his head.

'Some women were indeed hard to understand.'

Sometimes they were fine, but sometimes there was a sudden line where one shouldn't cross—a sudden chill went down when Ryu remembered his dear aunt.

'Or am I the total blockhead?'

"Well, how long have we known each other?"

"Why does that matter?"

"Cause I don't want to impose on a friend, and most especially not to someone who I just met."

"But you're not just someone, Princess. You have helped me way more than you could ever imagine."

"Hmm? Isn't this like the... nth time we met?"

"Right."

"See?"

"...Then, why don't we let ourselves know each other more?"

"Pardon?"

With no other choice to think, Ryu's mouth suddenly became impulsive, speaking something he was unsure about on the spur of the moment. Because of this, he couldn't take it back anymore; even if he could, he obviously didn't want to take it back.

'Maybe this was an excellent time to strengthen my bond with her.'

Having no experience in a relationship made Ryu think about what people on earth did for their affinity with others to improve.

Hence, when he was still a student, his classmates liked to go and have fun; Ryu was invited multiple times but always declined. Places like karaoke, sports centers, eating, and festivals!

Then on the next school day, they would keep talking about their enjoyable and exciting experience, which Ryu thought was ridiculous then.

'A waste of time and money by goofing around.'

But now, Ryu regretted not having to experience any of that. So he decided not to miss this second chance and initiated.

"There's an upcoming festival next month. Would you like to accompany me, Princess?"

Yume suddenly turned her head to look at him with wide eyes full of excitement, but it was short-lived before her eyes returned to normal.

"I... I don't think I can."

"Do you already have plans?"

Sadly, his first time asking a lady was rejected. Ryu felt like his eyes started to get watery. It was embarrassing and depressing at the same time.

"I just remembered that I already promised someone, so yes."

"Oh... I see."

Honestly, hearing her say this made Ryu unhappy.

'Was there someone else in her heart that I do not know? Did I miss someone from the novel? Or is it because of my existence that the story is changing?'

But the real question was, why am Ryu disheartened by this? Didn't he already choose to be her support whatever the outcome of her decisions? So he took a deep breath and calmed down.

"It's alright, Princess."

"Sorry, and thank you, Sir Ryu."

"As a consolation, just call me by my name."

"Pardon?"

"Just call me 'Ryu,' Princess."

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Yume didn't reply for a while. She was covering her face with her knees when Ryu started to feel uneasy if he made her somewhat uncomfortable.

"Princess nevermind what I just—"

"Ryu."

"Huh?"

That caught him by surprise. His blood abruptly flushed around at the top of his head. Ryu never knew that being called by his name without honorifics would punch an impact. This never occurred when Roy, Gavin, and Blake spoke to him.

'Is this the feeling when your beloved idol suddenly feels more intimate with you?'

"Princess..."

"It's 'Yume.'"

"Sorry?"

"If you want me to call you by your name, then be fair. Call me Yume. I don't have the blood of royalty to be called a princess."

She said in a deeper but still sweet voice.

"Then... Yume."

Ryu said, quickly closing his eyes in embarrassment. He hoped his ears were not visibly red because he felt hot. If Yume saw and mentioned it, he might bury a hole and hide for a whole week.

A little time passed, and Yume didn't react. Ryu glanced at her slowly from the corner of his eyes due to curiosity. Luckily, she was standing while she was turned away from him.

Ding-Dong-Ding... Dong...

"The afternoon class bell!"

Ryu said, relieved. He quickly jumped to his feet from lying down, preparing to leave.

"Yume, Shall we go now?"

"Mmhmm... But before that."

"Yes?"

"Are we friends now?"

"Huh? Uh, oh... Yes! Gladly!"

"I see... And..."

"And?"

"Next time, you should call me out instead of just watching me embarrass myself like earlier."

"Oh! Hahaha! Don't worry, it was cute—"

Click — Ryu froze, stopping himself from saying anything. He heard a click sound on Yume's sword, a warning sound of detaching itself from the sheath.

"I... I'm going now, Yume. See you around!"

Whoosh!

"..."

***

"Welcome back, Ryu. How's your talk with Lady Rosie?"

Roy eagerly asked. He was sitting as usual beside Gavin and Blake. Ryu could feel the entire class was listening, waiting for the good news.

Ryu almost forgot about this matter. He was happily preoccupied with the thought of his conversation with Yume. Even though she didn't fully believe in his identity, he thought they only needed time for the thing to prove itself.

For now, Ryu needed to deal with things still in his hand. Seeing that Yume would refuse his help, he should focus on secretly securing a path of retreat for her within the two years of the senior's expedition. Since everything would happen at the celebratory ball. But it's more reasonable to make a full-proof plan. He never knows what the future may hold.

Pondering what to answer, Ryu decided to be honest.

"We failed to have a mutual agreement."

"What? Does that mean we're going to join the expedition?"

"Not yet. There is an extremely high chance that we wouldn't be going, so let's wait for the announcement in a few days, but still be prepared for the worst outcome."

"Really? Is that true?"

His classmates started to celebrate even if the expedition was not yet canceled. Ryu didn't know they would trust a word from someone like him. He was happy.

"Alright, everyone."

The teacher who had just arrived struck his desk repeatedly, calling the students' attention.

"Go back to your seats."

Class F-1 mainly consisted of people trained in combat, so most were excellent at dealing with weapons and martial arts. Even if they were considered the lowest class in the academy, Ryu's classmates were still talented individuals who passed the entrance examination.

For now, the maximum age allowed to be enrolled in the academy is 20 years old. The minimum age doesn't matter as long as one can prove talented.

But since this was still the opening week of the year, they were currently being taught about the continent's history. This would allow students to at least know some things before being exposed to society.

Frankly, it was pretty dull for Ryu to listen to the lecture in person. He had read most of them a dozen times, and most events were already written in the novel. He thought he could have done more meaningful things instead of sitting here wasting time.

'Like spending my time... with... uh... other matters.'

Yeah, probably with other meaningful matters.

***

Six hours later, after school.

Nibble... Nibble... Nibble...

"Oh my goodness, Yiyi. This meal is delicious."

Yume was eating dinner in her dormitory room.

"Really, Milady?"

Yiyi, the personal maid of Yume, chuckled, eyeing her Lady with a somewhat unsatisfied look.

Yume noticed that discreet glances and thought about it.

'Yiyi had been staring at me for quite a while now. Was there something on my face?'

"Of course, why would I lie about this?"

Yume didn't know the purpose of her question, so she replied to her frankly while cleaning her whole face with a piece of cloth.

"But Milady, that dish contains broccoli, and you just ate them cheerfully."

"And?"

Yume still couldn't understand what Yiyi wanted to implore. Only after she clarified her following words, then she know.

"You hated broccoli, Milady. Do you remember now?"

"Pfff!" — Cough! Cough! Cough!

"Milady! Here, drink some water first!"

Glug! Glug! Glug!

"Phew... I'm saved. I never realized that I was eating them. Why you didn't stop me earlier, Yiyi?"

Finding it weird, Yume was dozing off so much that she didn't see what she was currently consuming. Furthermore, she couldn't remember the taste. Even one thing she didn't like to eat went into her stomach.

"Milady, you have been grinning nonstop since exiting your carriage."

"That obvious?!"

"Yes, did something happen, Milady?"

"Mm... I made a friend."

"A friend?!!!"

Yiyi screamed. Though, she quickly inquired, knowing something might have tricked her master.

"What kind of vicious lady you made friends with, Milady? Isn't she another kind of those after your reputation? People who just wanted connections to the Duke and the Royal family?"

Blah, blah, blah.

Yiyi started blabbering to remind Yume of all the things that transpired in the past. Those people only looked at her because of her prestige. Only to get bribed and betray her later on.

"Hmm? I think he's a good person. He even invited me to the festival."

"Huh...? A guy?! Festival?!"

Yiyi tried to process everything but fainted on hearing the person's gender.

"Yiyi? Yiyi! Yiyi! Yiyi!"

Yume caught her maid in panic, carrying Yiyi onto the bed. The dormitory has a doctor, whom she intensely called for.

"D-Doctor!"