/
This Prince was apparently determined to kick her out of this Academy. Valentia bit her lip, quietly and inwardly panicking about how she could get him to stay quiet.
[ Lexus ] “What do you mean, violence? That seems a little excessive.”
But what the Prince said instead was unexpected.
[ Professor Morit ] “Wha, Prince Lexus? What are you talking about?”
Both the professor and Valentia were confused. Neither of them could exactly pinpoint where he was going with this. Was he trying to manipulate things using this violence incident? They didn’t understand what he was up to.
[ Lexus ] “It was just a small little fight, but now you’re trying to make this into some kind of assault case.”
So he was saying that it……wasn’t an assault case? Was it okay for her to assume that? It sounded like that was what he was saying.
But a Prince like him had no reason to argue like that. Even if he thought he was partially responsible for what happened and that Valentia was not in the wrong by herself, slapping an Imperial family member was still a major incident.
Depending on how the Prince worded things, it was very likely that one of them would be expelled, and it wouldn’t be him.
He was a man rude and awful enough to spit out such cruel words at her without any provocation. Since he was slapped, it was only natural to think he would try and take her down for this.
But no matter how many times she went over his words in her head, it really sounded like he was taking her side.
[ Professor Morit ] “No, but to slap a Prince, that…….”
Hearing Professor Morit use that word again, the Prince frowned for a second. And seeing a royal show him such a clear expression of displeasure, even Professor Morit’s prideful face fell away like dust.
Perhaps he was speaking too openly about it. While it was true that the Prince was slapped, it was a little unbelievable to use that word in front of him like that. But the professor didn’t understand that meaning just from looking at the Prince, and so his face simply turned pale.
[ Lexus ] “And this student is right. Why do you keep mentioning my status as a Prince? When I am here, can I even be called that?”
[ Professor Morit ] “Excuse me?”
[ Lexus ] “Tell me. Where are we?”
[ Professor Morit ] “Uh, the Academy?”
The professor answered in a daze.
[ Lexus ] “That’s right. This is the Academy, where all students are equal. That was the first rule that was dictated by the founder who first formed the Academy. Am I wrong?”
[ Professor Morit ] “No, you are correct, but you are still a Prince…..”
[ Lexus ] “How is it appropriate to wield my status like this? Do you feel the same, Principal?”
Lexus suddenly threw his words at the Principal, looking straight at him.
The Prince was well known for his handsome and blindingly brilliant face, but as everyone looked at him now, there was nothing but a terrifying and frigid cold over it. It was enough dignity that it could make anyone’s spine shiver.
[ Principal ] “No. I believe all students are equal.”
[ Lexus ] “Are you being partial to me due to my position as a Prince?”
[ Principal ] “No, of course not.”
[ Professor Morit ] “But still, it is considered a violent offense to slap another student in the face.”
The professor protested again, but Lexus responded just as quickly.
[ Lexus ] “I made a mistake. Getting hit was a small price to pay.”
[ Professor Morit ] “No, but still, the Prince’s cheek……”
[ Lexus ] “It’s fine. I’d appreciate it if we could just let this be water under the bridge instead of blowing it out of proportion.”
He was saying that the Academy should not treat this situation according to the Academy rules, forgoing any sort of punishment. Here, he was just a student, and there was no such thing as expulsion for a mere squabble between students.
But if that’s what he wanted to say, this was an odd way of putting it.
He was claiming to be just a student, and yet he was forcing them all to move past this. That was not something an ordinary student could say against the entirety of the Academy, but at the same time, no one could say a word against him.
*
* * *
*
[ Valentia ] “Thank you.”
As soon as they left the office, Valentia said that.
When she arrived, she was terrified—worried about what kind of punishment she would get. She was praying against all hope that she wouldn’t face expulsion but luckily, things ended so smoothly, it was almost boring.
[ Lexus ] “For what?”
[ Valentia ] “Things ended quietly. And thanks to your words, I was not punished. Goodbye now.”
But just as Valentia was trying to escape quickly, Lexus called out to her.
[ Lexus ] “Valentia? Your name is Valentia, right?”
[ Valentia ] “Yes.”
Honestly, Valentia didn’t wish to exchange any kind of words with such a troublesome Prince.
But at the same time, she could not deny that he’d helped her, so with great reluctance, she stopped and turned around.
[ Lexus ] “Can I talk to you for a second?”
[ Valentia ] “Talk?”
[ Lexus ] “It’s not a bad thing, but is it alright?”
It wasn’t alright, but she was also guilty of a mistake, so she couldn’t ignore a seemingly simple request to chat like this.
Valentia sighed, gesturing towards him.
[ Lexus ] “I made a mistake yesterday. Now that I think about it, I was probably way too harsh.”
[ Valentia ] “Yes, you were.”
Inwardly, that surprised Lexus a little bit.
Normally, most people would probably say something like Oh, no or Oh, it’s fine, but instead this woman calmly agreed with him.
Actually, if it were a normal person he was interacting with, no matter how absolutely infuriated they were, they would never deign to slap the Imperial Prince in the face like that.
And just now, he remembered what this woman said to him, too.
She said that he was able to speak so freely because he had a broken tongue, didn’t she? It was his first time hearing something like that and it was definitely not the kind of thing that would come out of the mouth of a noble.
It was so ridiculous that even as her voice replayed vividly while he lay in bed, he had to laugh about it for a bit. Lexus had never heard anyone say anything remotely cruel to him before, so he felt shocked, even though he was the one who had used cruel language towards her first.
[ Lexus ] “But weren’t you rude, too?”
[ Valentia ] “Yes, I was.”
[ Lexus ] “So why don’t we just forgive each other?”
[ Valentia ] “Yes, that’s fine.”
There wasn’t a single cent’s worth of sincerity or heart in her answer, but Lexus still held onto it, responding in a soft voice.
[ Lexus ] “Then why don’t we go grab a meal together?”
[ Valentia ] “Why?”
Again with that.
She should’ve said something like Yes, why don’t we? but instead he was getting a different answer than he expected. It was vague, too, neither agreeing nor rejecting him. No, actually, it was probably closer to a near rejection.
And so Lexus was set back again. He was someone who’d never been rejected when he offered to take a woman out.
[ Lexus ] “Uh, because it’s around lunchtime? It’ll be my treat.”
[ Valentia ] “Why are you doing this?”
[ Lexus ] “Well, it’s because I acted rude.”
[ Valentia ] “Yes. And we agreed to let bygones be bygones.”
[ Lexus ] “Yes, that’s true, but I’m really sorry. So let me do this for you.”
[ Valentia ] “That’s fine. I’m rather busy. Goodbye.”
Valentia gave a nod of her head, then walked right past him. Lexus stood there, still a little shocked before turning around and following after her.
[ Lexus ] “Where are you going?”
[ Valentia ] “Why do you ask?”
[ Lexus ] “I’m curious.”
[ Valentia ] “The Academy’s dining hall.”
He’d heard the Academy had a dining hall before, though he’d never been there himself.
[ Lexus ] “Then I’ll go with you.”
[ Valentia ] “……Why?”
[ Lexus ] “Why else would someone go to the dining hall? I want to eat.”
Valentia was uncomfortable.
But she was practical and now that she was thinking about it, this was a case of a student saying they were going to the dining hall to eat a meal, so she couldn’t exactly tell him not to go.
[ Valentia ] “Then go.”
[ Lexus ] “Let’s go together.”
[ Valentia ] “Why?”
[ Lexus ] “I don’t know the way there.”
He said that with such confidence, too.
Without saying anything back, Valentia took a step forward. The sensation of this man’s presence, hovering behind her as he followed her was extremely unpleasant.
When they arrived at the dining hall, the staff there greeted her as they usually did.
[ Staff ] “Is that you, Valentia?”
[ Valentia ] “Yes, hello.”
When Valentia went to grab a plate and a set of tableware, the Prince followed her and did the same, but he looked so awkward when he did it that she nearly cracked a smile without even realizing it.
But even right then, it was undeniable that he was a handsome man. It was a little unfair how he could look so cool even when he was just holding a plate.
[ Staff ] “You have to eat a lot, Miss Valentia. And aren’t you the Prince?”
[ Lexus ] “No, I’m Lexus.”
[ Staff ] “Nah, you’re definitely the Prince.”
[ Lexus ] “Aren’t you aware that all are equal within the Academy?”
[ Staff ] “Oh, I must’ve made a mistake. Eat a lot too, Prince.”
[ Lexus ] “It’s Lexus.”
[ Staff ] “Ah, right. Lex……Right.”
Aside from the professors, all the staff among the Academy were commoners. There were not many times when a noble appeared within the dining hall, and even if they happened to occupy the same space as a commoner, the nobles rarely spared them a greeting.
So of course it was a little shocking to see a member of the Imperial family within the dining hall.
They couldn’t call Lexus by his name, but at the same time, they couldn’t help but wonder what this man was doing here of all places.
[ Staff ] “Are you and the Prince close, Miss Valentia?”
[ Valentia ] “No, we’re not close.”
[ Staff ] “So why is he following you?”
[ Valentia ] “I don’t know. I will eat properly. Thank you.”
As Valentia spoke politely, the staff quietly pulled themselves to their senses, giving her her share of food. Then she headed off to a place that was free of most people and sat down.
And the Prince followed her and sat directly across from her.
[ Lexus ] “This is my first time eating here.”
When he went to tear apart the bread with both hands, the movement was somehow graceful and elegant.
Now that Valentia was thinking about it, this was her first time eating with someone just across from her like this—face to face. But she didn’t mention that. Instead, Valentia focused down on her meal rather than responding.
[ Lexus ] “Did you always eat here?”
But then Lexus picked up what Valentia had put down, carrying on the conversation in a way that made it impossible to ignore.
[ Valentia ] “Yes.”
[ Lexus ] “Why?”
[ Valentia ] “Do I have to tell you?”
[ Lexus ] “I guess not. But the food here is more edible than I thought it would be.”
She didn’t know if he was being serious when he said that, but it didn’t really matter either way.
[ Valentia ] “You.”
[ Lexus ] “Call me Lexus.”
[ Valentia ] “Why?”
[ Lexus ] “What?”
Lexus was taken aback by the simple question of ‘why’, especially since her tone made it sound like she was looking to pick a fight with him.
[ Lexus ] “You can’t keep calling me ‘you’.”
[ Valentia ] “There’s no need to call the name of someone I have no intention of ever meeting again.”
Valentia did not wish to eat while talking to this handsome, troublesome, and ill-tempered Prince ever again.
[ Valentia ] “I know you think I did something wrong, so you feel bad since I’m not apologizing, but it’s not as though I’m denying my own rudeness. So I just don’t want to be involved with you anymore.”
When she said this, Valentia spoke very firmly towards Lexus, drawing a very clear line.
[ Valentia ] “I don’t have time to play around with you and I do not wish to get to know you any further. Goodbye.”
After finishing her meal, Valentia stood up from her seat, returned her plate, and casually walked off. All the while leaving Lexus behind once more, staring blankly at her back.