Chapter 48

As we arrived at the cafeteria with Shell, we happened to meet Yegram and Digree right at the entrance, so we just went in. The drama of the two-timing girl wasn’t happening, and the cafeteria was bustling with talk about the training exercises. After ordering at our usual spot, I absentmindedly looked around.

“Phew, today was tough. I never expected to encounter a Rock Lizard in the forest. We managed to defeat it, but thinking about it, if it weren’t for Lord Keita, I’d be shuddering in fear.”

“Indeed, it was unexpected that the Rock Lizard would be so resistant to magic.”

“Ordinary Rock Lizards shouldn’t have such strong magic resistance. We must have encountered a special individual by bad luck.”

“It didn’t look particularly different, though?”

While talking, the three of them took turns petting my head. Ever since I transformed into a child, I’ve been petted on the head a lot. I’m used to it, but it’s not particularly pleasant, probably because my mind is still that of an adult. I’ve become a peculiar creature, even to myself.

When the waiter brought the food, I started eating and noticed the student council president in the middle of the cafeteria. Wait, isn’t the student council president a third-year, so they should be staying for a week? But apparently, during the first week, they can also go home if they want to. The student council president, without sitting down, looked around, perhaps searching for the two-timing girl. When they couldn’t find her, they left the cafeteria. Since they didn’t order any food, they must have come to pick someone up. What a curious person.

Just as we finished eating and were about to leave after having some tea, an unwanted voice called out to us.

“Hey, you! I said wait! Not only are you foolish, but now you’re deaf too? What a pitiful creature!”

I didn’t want to get involved, and since I had a barrier up, I tried to ignore it and keep going. But Althea circled around to the front and stopped me.

“You! How dare you use such a despicable trick to steal my glory today! Are you even a prince? Aren’t you ashamed? If you have any sense of duty as a prince, return the Magic Bag you stole from me! I can forgive you this once, so hand it over now!”

It was a complete baseless accusation.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying, and I don’t want to. The Magic Bag I brought today is definitely mine, and I have no intention of giving it to anyone. If that’s all, I’ll take my leave.”

Althea’s face turned red with rage as she shouted.

“You! How dare you say it’s yours? That Magic Bag was given to me by my mother!”

“I don’t know what misconception you have, but the Magic Bag I have is mine, and many people, including my father, know how I obtained it. I have no reason to be accused by you!”

“Wh-what! You! How dare you say that! I was willing to forgive you, but you trample on my kindness! I can’t forgive you!”

Enraged, Althea cast a fire spell at me, but it was deflected by the barrier and hit her with full force. The nearby girls screamed. Her frilly, sparkly clothes burned well, and she panicked, unable to put out the fire. I had to use a water spell to extinguish it. The charred, tattered Althea glared at me with hatred.

“Ah! Dish, are you okay? This is terrible! How could you do such a thing to Dish? He’s a prince! You could be executed for this!”

Despite the fact that many people had seen the whole incident, and I had seen it too, she was one-sidedly blaming me. Is she trying to protect her crush and make herself look brave?

Does she think she’s appealing to Yegram and Digree with her puppy eyes?

I can’t stand it, but can I just ignore this?

As I sighed and watched the two, a new person entered the cafeteria.

“Haven’t you just caused a similar commotion at the castle recently? Are you going to repeat the same thing here? Accusing others, getting attacked, and then holding a grudge? Can’t you stop this?”

It was Director Tailsmya. He seemed to know the situation and looked exasperated at Althea.

“What are you saying! I’m the victim here! Even if you’ve been demoted, you’re still a teacher! Punish them now!”

“Yes, yes! They made Prince Dish suffer like this, so execute them!”

Tailsmya sighed deeply.

“Prince Cavendish accused Prince Althea of theft and attacked him with a fire spell. The spell was deflected by Lord Keita’s barrier and hit Prince Cavendish. This is a case of getting what you deserve. If anyone should be punished, it’s Prince Cavendish for using an attack spell outside the training grounds!”

“It’s all because he stole my Magic Bag! He gave me a reason to attack! I’m not at fault!”

“That’s what we call a baseless accusation. Prince Althea’s Magic Bag was a special gift from someone. It’s not Prince Cavendish’s!”

“I never heard that! Then make that person give me one too!”

“I refuse! The person gave the Magic Bag out of kindness, and we can’t demand one!”

Indeed, everyone was quite relentless in demanding one, I noted mentally.

“Also, you mentioned your own Magic Bag, which you said was given to you by your mother. Multiple students heard you say that. I can assure you that Prince Althea’s Magic Bag is not Prince Cavendish’s. So, Prince Cavendish, you should use the Magic Bag given to you by your mother. Do you want more Magic Bags? That seems a bit greedy, don’t you think?”

Cavendish was speechless at Tailsmya’s calm response.

“Then, Prince Cavendish, you will receive punishment for breaking the school rules!”

“What? What did I do?!”

“Using an attack spell outside the training grounds. The principal will decide the punishment, but for now, you will go to the reflection room.”

“But I’m a prince!”

“Even a prince must follow the rules while at school!”

Several muscular teachers appeared and escorted Cavendish out of the cafeteria. The two-timing girl quickly distanced herself, pretending to be uninvolved. Althea and Tailsmya sighed in unison at the hopeless pair.

“Prince Althea, you had a rough time. At least you’re not hurt.”

“Thank you, Director Tailsmya, or should I say, Mr. Tailsmya?”

We smiled wryly and parted ways.

“What’s with that girl? She didn’t understand the situation and just jumped in. What was she trying to do?”

Yegram said, clearly not understanding.

“Isn’t she trying to protect her crush and make herself look brave? And hoping that such a brave girl would be liked?”

“I really don’t want to understand that!”

Yegram looked as if he had seen a monster, and Digree also looked disgusted.

“Anyway, we should stay away from those people.”

“Only the student council president would willingly go near them!”

“Indeed!”

The mood lightened, and we parted ways, saying, “Let’s do our best tomorrow!” The commotion in the cafeteria was more tiring than the training exercises.