Chapter 4
In truth, Maron’s first impression of Gilliam hadn’t been very good.
‘Just as I’d heard, he’s kind of a good-for-nothing….’
First class on the first day.
While everyone else was gathering in little groups to build connections for academy life, Gilliam was sprawled over his desk, asleep.
In the very back row of the lecture hall, all by himself.
He might as well have been shouting, I have absolutely no intention of taking academy life seriously~
But.
The person Maron actually approached was none other than Gilliam, taking the seat beside him.
‘I’m an outsider too, anyway.’
Going over to a group of people already gathered in little clusters would only make her feel even more alone.
And maybe—just maybe—if she went over and talked to him, he might not be a bad person after all?
Irises that changed color from moment to moment with her emotions.
The symbol of the curse and blessing Maron Clerias bore.
Because of them, she’d never been able to form a proper relationship with anyone.
‘Maybe two loners like us could get along….’
She’d sat beside him with those selfish hopes in mind, and made a bit of an effort to act friendly by calling him ‘Liam.’
“Miss Maron, your eyes are really pretty.”
A baffling compliment out of nowhere.
At first, she naturally assumed it was an insult.
—Maron… your eyes are quite unusual, huh?
—Your eyes… are lovely to look at.
Things she’d heard countless times before.
Compliments in words.
But contempt in their eyes.
Hostility.
Rejection.
The elegant enmity of nobles.
Naturally, she’d thought Gilliam meant it that way, too.
“There’s no hidden meaning in what I just said.”
Because he told her he was sincere.
Meeting her gaze head-on, with an utterly serious expression.
“Miss Maron. I think your eyes are as fascinating as they are unusual.”
Words she’d never heard in her life.
Sparks flew in Maron’s mind. Her thoughts went blank, leaving only a pleasant, floaty feeling.
But he didn’t stop there. He kept complimenting her, gradually leaning closer.
‘You’re close! You’re way too close!’
Until now, Maron had never once thought Gilliam was handsome.
He looked fine enough, but his eyes were as lifeless as a rotting fish, and his whole aura was gloomy.
But all those flaws disappeared.
His gaze was upright and resolute, as if even his soul had changed.
Then.
‘C-could Liam really be this handsome…?’
His looks, hidden beneath that rotten soul, reclaimed their shine.
Mysterious silver hair.
Eyes the color of sweet honey, so captivating you could get lost in them if you kept staring.
“I think your eyes are very beautiful.”
Maron’s heart gave a thump.
And from the very next moment on, it beat faster than it ever had before.
‘Why am I acting like this…!?’
It was hot. Something hot surged up inside her chest.
If there hadn’t been anyone around, Maron would’ve buried her face in her hands, breathed in and out, and made strange noises all by herself.
But she couldn’t, so it all built up inside her.
‘I’m going to burst…!’
Gilliam Everchess.
Why was that infamous good-for-nothing acting like this?
‘Could it be he decided to reform starting today?’
Whatever the reason, he was definitely much better now than he’d been before… or so she thought.
But Maron soon realized.
The compliments directed at her had been nothing more than a gentle breeze before the storm.
“It’s true that you wouldn’t tolerate injustice or give in even if someone asked you to falsify grades, isn’t it?”
“G-Gilliam!”
When Professor Kadisha shouted, Maron was shouting inwardly, too.
‘Gilliam!? What on earth are you saying!?’
When she looked toward the students in the Crown Prince faction, sure enough, they were glaring at Gilliam.
‘What are you thinking!? They’re going to come after Liam and flatten him now!’
And just as Maron had predicted.
“In this afternoon’s mock duel, I challenge you.”
Look!
He’s determined to make sure Liam can never hold his head up at the academy again!
But Gilliam himself was perfectly calm.
Maron was worried sick!
‘Huh…?’
Why was she worrying about this man so much?
To be perfectly rational, the two of them had only met today.
And to be even more rational, what Maron should do right now was get as far away from Gilliam as possible.
Gilliam had just picked a fight all by himself with the academy’s largest faction.
To avoid getting dragged into it, she needed to get away right now.
She should do that.
—I really do think your eyes are beautiful.
That one compliment had lodged itself firmly in Maron’s heart.
A fish that had swallowed the hook. A deer caught in a snare.
And Maron, who’d been complimented.
She’d been caught.
‘Ah!’
Maybe Liam had some sort of plan?
Right, he must have had something in mind when he pulled a stunt like this, hadn’t he?
“Maron, sorry, but can I ask you a favor?”
Of course. I’ll do it.
So please tell me now.
The secret Liam’s been hiding!
“From now until the mock duel starts, come with me somewhere private, just the two of us, during every break, and spend some time together.”
“………Yes?”
Maron seriously considered whether she should run away right then.
“We don’t have time. Is there somewhere we can be alone, just the two of us?”
What on earth was this man?
Was he just crazy?
It was a fairly convincing theory.
But if that were true, then Maron herself must have gone crazy, too. Instead of running from Gilliam, she’d grabbed his sleeve and stood up.
The students’ gazes in the lecture hall stung. She lowered her head and hunched her shoulders.
Even so, she didn’t let go of Gilliam’s sleeve.
Thinking Liam might compliment her again, she couldn’t let go.
‘A place where Liam and I can be alone together….’
Maron had only arrived at the academy a few days ago, too. She racked her brain.
‘A place students hardly ever go… Oh!’
A certain place came to mind.
“Follow me!”
They left the lecture hall and went up two flights of stairs.
To a place far from the classrooms, where no students would come.
“H-here, no one will come!”
Gilliam paused at the entrance.
“No, this is—”
“It’s okay! We’re the only ones here anyway!”
She tugged him along. Gilliam was weak, so he had no choice but to be dragged after her.
Into a clean space that smelled faintly of disinfectant.
And just in case, she went into one of the inner stalls and locked the door, then proudly lifted her head.
“What do you think? Perfect, right?”
Maron’s eyes sparkled. Her irises turned a fresh, light green with anticipation.
Though she didn’t know it, Maron looked just like a big dog wagging its tail in expectation of a compliment.
She was big, all right.
Those two bulges on her chest, for one.
Gilliam, however, looked perplexed.
“…It’s true there might not be anyone here, but…”
Clean.
Disinfectant.
A separate private stall inside.
“But why would you drag me into the women’s restroom?”
“….”
“….”
“…Ah.”
Maron’s face turned red again.
‘A free five-star, huh.’
Hmm.
Somehow, that made sense. Yeah. She really did have all the hallmarks of a free five-star.
It couldn’t be helped.
There wasn’t time to find somewhere else now.
“Let’s just hurry up and get it over with.”
“Saying that in this situation makes it sound kind of weird….”
“Is there anything you want me to compliment you on?”
“Do I have to say it…!?”
Maron’s irises turned orange.
“A-anything is fine, just… anything.”
“Anything? Really?”
“Yeees….”
Lady Maron, your order of ‘anything’ is here.
“Our Maron has such a big, beautiful chest. It’s lovely to look at.
“Are you actually insane!?!?”
【The target feels a slight sense of displeasure】
<Praise Points: -1(449
→
448)>
‘Well, I guess that was like adding whipped cream to citron tea just because she said anything.’
But the deduction was only one point.
Why?
‘Could it be she’s okay with a little sexual harassment, but only from me?’
No way.
Maron stamped her feet.
“Not that! I mean… there must be some… some normal compliment you could give me.”
Like her eyes.
The eyes that were the source of her greatest trauma.
‘But how can I say that? It’s too embarrassing!’
Stating what she wanted directly was vulgar. Unbecoming of a noble.
Maron had been taught that, too.
So she couldn’t say it aloud, and instead slowly blinked.
Then, to give him an even clearer signal, she brought her face closer, and—
‘Ah, he’s handsome.’
Her mind went blank….
Up close, he looked even better.
She’d never realized Liam had such a handsome face.
“Hey, the break’s going to be over if we keep this up.”
“My eyes! Compliment my eyes!”
“…Maron, your eyes are really pretty.”
“Haaah…!”
【The target feels joy】
<Praise Points: +20(448
→
468)>
Good. Now I only needed 32 more points.
‘At this rate, just two more times and I’ll hit 500.’
Just then, someone entered the restroom.
“!?”
Translation: You said no one would come!
“!?!?”
Translation: I thought no one would come! I’m sorry!!
They exchanged glances, but it was already too late. The two of them held their breath.
“Haa….”
A woman’s sigh.
Yet somehow, it sounded familiar.
‘No way.’
Peeking through a crack in the door, she saw silver hair tinged with blue.
It was Professor Kadisha.
“What on earth was Gilliam thinking… I was happy, though….”
“….”
“….”
Her eyes met Maron’s.
Maron’s irises had turned a murky gray, and she seemed to be making the very same wish I was.
Please, let Professor Kadisha leave without noticing us.