Chapter 88

I've been keeping you waiting. The book version is now available for pre-order at various bookstores and online networks, courtesy of Ichijinsha. As a token of gratitude to all the readers who supported the web novel, I'm releasing "The Second Collection of Cut Scenes"!

"Miss Cerea Collette! I have a question for you!"

Suddenly, Cerea, who was about to enter the crowded cafeteria, turned around. There stood the Student Council members, whom no student at Flora Academy would fail to recognize...

The Student Council President, who is also the First Prince of the country, Shin Midland. The Vice President, the eldest son of a Marquis, Fried Black. The Secretary, the third son of a Count, Hartis Kepler. And the Treasurer, the daughter of a Baron, Lince Brouwer.

For some reason, the Drama Club President, the eldest son of a Count, Picard Baljean, and the Swordsmanship Club President, the son of a Royal Guard Captain, Powell Hargan, were also glaring at her.

Cerea thought it felt like a scene from a game where the protagonist is being condemned. Yes, Cerea was a reincarnated person. However, it was strange. This event was supposed to happen at the graduation party after the graduation ceremony, not during the lunch break of her first day as a third-year student.

As evidence, her old friend, the son of a Viscount, Jack Schreiter, was being fed by his fiancée, Silfa, at a table, completely oblivious to the situation. They were, as always, an annoyingly sweet couple.

"What do you want to ask me?"

Cerea wanted to finish the conversation quickly, as it was almost her turn to order.

"We want to clarify the truth behind the rumors that you have been bullying students in the academy."

Cerea wondered what the prince was talking about. She had no recollection of such actions.

"I don't remember doing that."

"Don't lie! You were the one who stuck this on Lince's back!"

Shin then showed a piece of paper that had been crumpled and then flattened, which read, "I am a former commoner."

"It's a misunderstanding, Prince Shin. It wasn't me!"

"Really?"

"That's not my handwriting. You should be able to tell, Prince Shin."

"Is that so?"

Shin looked at the paper again.

"Hmm, now that I look closely, it's not your handwriting."

"See?"

"But your signature is on it."

Cerea was exasperated.

"Who would go to the trouble of signing their name when doing something like this?"

"That's right, Shin... It's probably a forgery."

Hartis, the intelligent Secretary, fidgeted between Shin and Cerea.

"Then what about this?"

Shin showed another piece of paper to Cerea, which read, "Kick me."

"I wrote that."

"Y-You did!?"

Shin screamed.

"I've been kicked in the butt by everyone I've met from morning till lunch because of this!"

"A prince should be more aware of such pranks. It's your own fault for not noticing and leaving it on your back."

"Why can everyone kick me, a prince, without hesitation..."

"Because my signature is on it. Everyone thinks it's with the permission of your fiancée."

"...I thought so too," said Fried.

"...I thought so too," said Picard.

"...I thought it was a good opportunity," said Powell.

"...I thought it was okay," said Lince.

"...I didn't do it," said Hartis.

"Why do I have so little respect..."

Shin was utterly dejected.

"On the contrary, Prince Shin. It means that everyone admires you. You should be proud."

"Who would be proud of being kicked in the butt..."

Shin, still heartbroken, took out a textbook.

"Then who tore up this history textbook!?"

"It was me."

Cerea, with her arms crossed, said proudly.

"Why did you do that to my textbook!?"

"When you forgot your textbook, you borrowed one from Lince, didn't you?"

"Yes, I borrowed it. It was the only class with history that day."

Shin nodded, but was still confused by her intentions.

"That day, you were flipping through the manga pages and laughing during class. Not only that, but you kept drawing in your own textbook, ignoring the lesson! I just wanted you to take your studies seriously."

"That's terrible. I was about to complete the secret technique 'Sword Breaking'..."

Shin was genuinely disappointed.

"What can you possibly pass down with a drawing of a stick figure waving a branch?"

"Stop criticizing my drawing skills. I can't study history now."

"Who was it that said, 'I already know this country's history to the point of being sick of it'? Just because you know it doesn't mean you can be careless in class!"

"Even so... That's really harsh..."

Shin's disappointment was so profound that even the Student Council members felt sorry for him.

"Then, who tore up the dance practice clothes?"

"It was me."

"Y-You!?"

Prince Shin was furious.

"During dance practice, my butt was exposed, and no one told me! Why did you do that!?"

Cerea, with her hands on her hips, replied confidently.

"Even if you are a prince, you need to have people around you who can advise you when you make mistakes. As a future king, you need to develop the ability to judge such people. That's why I did it!"

"Can you imagine a girl in dance class pointing out, 'Prince, your pants are torn'?"

"No," said Fried.

"I don't think so," said Hartis.

"I would have pointed it out without hesitation," said Picard, who was clearly oblivious to the social cues.

"I would have liked to see that," said Lince, missing the point.

"They were vertical-striped."

Shin interjected, "You didn't have to say that!"

"Who put poison in Lince's sweets!?"

"It's not poison. It's wasabi."

"Why did you do that!? The entire Student Council had swollen mouths!"

"A prince should never eat out without a food taster! No snacking or nibbling! You're not following the rules, Prince Shin!"

"Cerea, everything you do is terrible. And petty... How are you going to compensate for the damage to my reputation?"

Lince was genuinely exasperated.

"Did you also pour water on me from the second floor!?"

"It's a misunderstanding, Prince Shin. I was just disposing of the bucket of water after cleaning. It's your fault for walking with Lince in such a place. It was just a coincidence."

"That's terrible..."

"Cerea..."

"Cerea..."

"Cerea..."

"Cerea..."

"Hey, you..."

Even Hartis, Picard, Fried, and Lince were exasperated.

"Hey, Cerea, why do you bully me? Do you hate me that much?"

Shin, with tears in his eyes, asked.

"I'm not bullying you. I love you. My beloved husband."

"Then why are you doing this?"

Cerea, with her arms crossed, said proudly.

"It's only natural for a wife to discipline her husband if he cheats!"

Shin collapsed, hitting the floor with his hand.

"I'm not cheating on you!"

"You were always being so affectionate with Lince!"

"I'm not! I'm not! It was just Student Council business! I don't think of Lince in that way!"

Lince, feeling dejected, collapsed next to Shin.

"I love only you, Cerea! I'm not cheating on you!"

"Really?"

"I swear! I swear! I have nothing to hide from my wife!"

"Then be more responsible! Don't let yourself be misunderstood or lose your dignity as a prince!"

"All of this misunderstanding and loss of dignity is your fault..."

Lince looked at the two arguing and seemed puzzled.

"Hey, you two, aren't you still just engaged?"

Hartis laughed.

"Didn't you know, Lince? They're already married."

"Wh-What!?"

Lince was shocked. Picard nodded, finding it amusing.

"They got married in a church when they were ten."

Lince's eyes widened in disbelief.

"...That's the situation. What they're doing is just a normal marital spat. It's not worth getting involved in. I told you to leave them alone from the start..."

Fried, feeling he had wasted his time, joined the cafeteria line.

"Married... Married at ten..."

Powell, for some reason, seemed envious.

"They're at it again... Can't they just stop?"

Jack, finishing his spaghetti, shrugged at the table.

"Sometimes, fighting means they're close," Silfa said, not caring.

"So, if we never fight, we're not close?"

Thud!

"Ouch!"

Jack winced in pain, having been kicked under the table.

—I will never break our engagement, Cut Scenes Collection 2, END—

"I will never break our engagement" is now available in book form, and the character illustrations have arrived!

They're so cute! They're still just ten-year-old kids. I'm looking forward to it. The artist is Nardack!

Pre-orders are available from Ichijinsha, with a release date of April 2nd. Thank you for your support.

Next update on March 31st: "● Cut Scenes Collection 3A"