Chapter 4

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Today, I will post two episodes. The second episode will be posted at 9 o'clock.

Noel's school life began.

Four days after enrollment, she met Arnaud again to discuss matters.

Noel was instructed to answer any questions from classmates with, "I'm helping the administration because I received a scholarship."

On this day, she applied a barrier to objects other than eggs.

It was difficult to apply a barrier to leather gauntlets; the difficulty varied depending on the material and shape.

"Noel, you're confusing the magic that knights wrap around their swords, like fire or lightning, with the barrier magic. They are different.

When knights wrap fire or lightning around their swords, it's just like a mage using a staff as a sword.

If a knight lets go of their sword, the fire will disappear. The extra magic will dissipate.

It can't be left on the sword."

"It would be wasted, then."

"Originally, knights don't think about storing magic in their swords.

When we talk about wasted magic, it's usually about the efficiency of spells.

Whether all the magic can be converted into a spell depends on the mage's skill."

"I see..."

"That's right, Noel.

Since you've taught me your important magic, I'll teach you mine."

"Mr. Roché's important magic?"

Noel's eyes widened.

—This is fascinating.

As Noel waited with a pounding heart for Arnaud to reveal his secret, Arnaud chuckled.

"Your enthusiasm makes me blush.

Noel, roll up your sleeve and show me your arm."

Noel was taken aback.

Honestly, her arm, covered in burn scars, was ugly and painful to her.

But, thinking it might be related to Arnaud's important magic, she gently rolled up her sleeve.

Arnaud took Noel's thin arm in his hand.

His hand was large and masculine.

Despite his slender build, Arnaud, being a mage, was tall and clearly male.

His hand was much more solid than Noel's.

As Noel hesitated, a warm flow of magic came from Arnaud.

—Ah, it's warm. Human magic is warm.

Then, unbelievably, Noel's twisted burn scars began to fade.

"Huh?"

As she watched, they disappeared completely.

"Th-the burns..."

"It's my specialty. Healing."

Arnaud smiled.

Tears welled up in Noel's eyes.

"Oh, don't cry like that."

Arnaud, looking flustered, stroked Noel's hair.

"Teacher, thank you, so much."

"Don't tell anyone."

"I won't, I promise. I swear."

"It's a promise, then."

Arnaud continued to stroke Noel's hair until she stopped crying.

◇◇◇

The student who sat next to Noel during the new student orientation was Dian de Leroi, the son of a marquis. The Leroi family was quite wealthy, so much so that it was a topic of conversation.

"Why did you choose the national academy over the royal academy?" Noel asked Dian.

Since then, Dian had become a casual friend due to the connection made during the nap.

"Right now, the royal academy's middle school is attended by royalty, including a few dukes' sons.

It's troublesome, and security is tight.

The curriculum is the same, and the academic credentials are comparable.

This place is better.

I'm the third son, so I have more freedom."

"Who is the royalty?"

"Noel, you really don't know.

It's Prince Sariel, the fourth prince. He's two years older.

He will probably go to the law department after high school."

"Hmm."

"Prince Sariel is handsome and kind, so he's very popular."

"Handsome? More than Dian?"

"...Noel, you're quite the charmer.

Of course, more than me."

"That's impressive."

"So, stop being a charmer.

Noel is cute, too. With those curly golden locks."

Dian laughed and stroked Noel's hair.

Dian occasionally engaged in such physical contact. Noel, who had grown up being disliked, was not used to it.

Arnaud had also stroked her hair, but it felt like he was pitying her because she had cried.

Perhaps it was paternal affection, something Noel had never experienced.

Being in love with a much older teacher was beyond her, so Arnaud was like a father figure.

If he were such a wonderful and kind father, how happy she would have been.

Being touched by Dian, who was her age, was different.

At first, she froze. Even now, she was confused, but she didn't dislike it.

Classmates had even teased, "Are you two dating?"

Dian immediately denied it, which made her a bit sad and irritated.

"If you reject me so thoroughly, it feels bad..."

"Well, misunderstandings are more troublesome for the female side."

Dian hurriedly made an excuse.

It was just an excuse, probably the truth.

"That's true, I guess..."

Being rejected was understandable.

Noel was a typical "problem property."

The Vionne family was known to be poor. Classmates had mentioned it.

Usually, being poor would mean staying out of the spotlight.

However, the Vionne family was an old baronial family with a long history.

Old noble families often had a lineage of mages.

They had been granted land and titles for their service as mages during wars.

Thus, while their name was known, their current territory was limited to two small villages, as seen on the "land distribution map."

Moreover, Noel was a second daughter. Marrying her wouldn't mean joining the family.

Even if she did, a life of poverty would await.

There was no benefit for the Vionne family in forming a connection through her marriage.

Dian, on the other hand, was the son of a wealthy marquis and also handsome, with wavy chestnut hair and blue eyes.

He had many good prospects for marriage.

Noel was inevitably drawn to Dian, who was fun to be around, but she knew it was impossible.

—In that case, maybe it would be better to become a commoner.

I wish they would disown me.

Being involved with that family never leads to anything good.

Noel knew she would never be able to marry.

Most of all, she wanted to be free.

She would be 15 by the time she graduated from middle school.

She planned to receive a scholarship for high school as well.

She would be 18 and an adult by the time she graduated from high school.

—If I could "skip a grade," I could graduate early and leave the capital.

In the Anzelar Kingdom's school, the high school has a "grade-skipping system."

Top students can take the graduation exam early if they wish. If they pass, they receive a diploma.

With a diploma from a national academy, there would be many job opportunities.

She wanted to work far away.

To live in a place where the name Vionne would never be heard.

Just imagining it made her feel happy.

◇◇◇

A month had passed since enrollment.

Today's magic theory class involved practical work in pairs.

—...I'm not looking forward to it.

Noel was disliked by the girls.

At first, she didn't understand why.

After some time, she finally figured it out.

A baron's daughter had proposed marriage to Dian and been rejected.

Her name was Eliza Collins.

She had reddish-brown hair, blue eyes, and heavy makeup.

Wearing heavy makeup at 12 was quite noticeable.

While all noble girls wore makeup, the middle school freshmen usually wore light makeup.

Noel wanted to wear makeup but couldn't afford the supplies, so she went without.

She thought it would be perfect if she and Eliza could share makeup.

Eliza was spreading rumors about Noel in class.

The content of the rumors was, "She's a slut who acts all cozy with a guy who isn't her fiancé."

The "slut" referred to Noel.

Noel didn't act like a slut.

She didn't think she was being overly affectionate.

Sometimes Dian stroked her hair, but he had clearly stated that she wasn't his girlfriend.

She couldn't understand why she was called a slut for that.

Noel always ended up with Linda Nazel for pair work.

Linda had a short temper.

She was similar to her sister, Zeraph. She would quickly get angry and start yelling.

Today, she was about to pair with Linda again, feeling disheartened, when Liza Merrison approached her.

Noel remembered from the initial introductions that Liza was the second daughter of the Merrison viscount family.

She had golden-brown hair and beautiful green eyes. She was a tall and impressive young lady.

"Want to pair up?"

Her tone was casual, but it was much better than pairing with Linda.

"Sure, of course."

—What happened to her usual partner?

As Noel wondered, Liza explained,

"Jane, who I usually pair with, wants to pair with her fiancé."

Liza pointed to a cute girl with gray hair talking to a short boy.

"Wow, you can pair with your fiancé?"

Noel had never thought about such a thing. A fiancé was something far from her.

"I think there will be more of those in the future."

"Hmm.

Oh, by the way..."

Noel wondered what Linda would do and looked around the classroom. In the front, there was an argument.

Linda was there, looking angry, and a teary-eyed young lady was next to her.

Linda had her chestnut hair tied in a single braid, and the timid young lady next to her had her yellow hair loosely falling on her shoulders.

"I told Mr. Argan that I would pair with Noel.

So, they will pair up today."

Liza shrugged.

"Wasn't Annie the teacher's assistant?"

Noel whispered to Liza, who looked surprised.

"You... There's no such 'assistant.' The girl was just crying to the teacher because she was left out."

Liza whispered back.

"Wow, there's a trick for that."

Noel thought she should have done that instead of pairing with Linda.

"Usually, in such cases, a group of three is formed.

...Do you wish you had done that?"

"No, I don't think so. Because, everyone thinks that, right?

Linda yells a lot."

"I understand that.

But, monopolizing the handsome Mr. Argan will make the girls more hostile.

You don't want to be disliked more, do you?"

"I guess I am disliked."

Noel felt disheartened.

"I know the rumors from Collins are just jealousy.

But, I don't admire silently letting the flirtatious son of the Leroi marquis stroke your hair."

"Huh? Is that bad?

Was I acting improperly?"

"Yes. Such affection should be reserved for your fiancé."

"I see... I'll be more careful.

I don't want to be misunderstood."

"I think it's already been misunderstood, but you can still recover."

"Thanks for letting me know."

Noel thanked her, and Liza's eyes widened.

"You're quite honest.

I thought you were a more unpleasant person because you always act aloof."

"I'm just alone because I don't have friends...

When I entered middle school, everyone was already with their friends from elementary school.

I just failed to join them."

Noel knew the national academy's knight course was popular, but the magic course was also popular.

The national academy, established by the state to train mages, had a strong tradition in the magic course.

Therefore, a fair number of noble children attended the magic course from elementary school.

"Ah, I see.

Also, there are friends from tea parties and such.

I met Jane at a tea party.

Have you never been to one?"

"Tea parties are something I've never experienced."

"...Are tea parties elegant?"

Liza looked puzzled.

By the time they finished talking, the pairs had been decided.

Linda, still looking unhappy, was paired with Annie, who had teary eyes.

During the practical work, Annie repeatedly asked for help from Mr. Argan, interrupting the class, and was disliked by the entire class.

After that, Noel and Liza started talking more often.

This was because Liza's best friend, Jane, was always with her fiancé.

—To easily switch to a fiancé and still be best friends...

For Noel, who had no friends, the word "best friend" felt like a fantasy.

It seemed that romantic feelings were stronger than friendship.

—Well, there were also maids who prioritized romance over the abuse of children.

People are like that...

Noel had been assigned to clean the stables by a Vionne family maid.

The maid, who always acted kindly, was secretly flirting with a stable boy. Noel overheard the maid telling her mother, "There aren't enough hands in the stables" and "It would help if Noel could assist."

It wasn't for the stables but to free up time for her lover. Her father had quit his job in the stables.

The next day.

While talking to Dian, he tried to stroke her hair again.

Noel subtly avoided it and said,

"Dian.

It's bad for my reputation, so don't do that."

"Haha.

Reputation?"

"It's really unfair, but... slut..."

Noel's last word was almost inaudible.

"What? I can't hear you.

Say it louder."

Dian leaned in closer.

"It's not a good word!

Don't make a lady say it!"

"Does a lady say 'don't make me say it'? You're really funny."

"Funny? That's an insult!"

"No, it's a compliment."

Dian laughed and went to join his male friends.

—At least I managed to stop it.

Noel went to Liza... but Liza had a strange look on her face.

"Liza, what's wrong?

Are you feeling sick?"

"Not really.

I recognize your efforts..."

Liza had been watching their interaction and thought,

—Dian de Leroi is quite devious, isn't he?

Liza felt that Dian was intentionally doing it.

He was deliberately engaging in physical contact to damage Noel's reputation.

However, it was difficult to go against the son of a marquis.

And it was unfair to judge based solely on her impression.

—Noel has been targeted by a bad person.

At least I can be her friend.

Jane is focused on her fiancé, so I'm alone for now.

After that, Liza naturally took on the role of Noel's caretaker.