Keridna Whiteclark.
As the daughter of the Whiteclark ducal family, she was a top-ranking student at the prestigious Märchen Academy.
She was an all-rounder who lacked nothing in beauty, lineage, or ability.
She enjoyed plays and novels.
While she could easily empathize with the characters, her acting skills were subpar.
Anyone could tell when she occasionally acted as a clumsy villainess.
That day, she was looking at the class placent table posted on the Orpin Hall bulletin board with a vacant expression.
"Ughhh..."
She had been making zombie-like sounds absentmindedly for 10 minutes now.
As a result of the class placent evaluation, Keridna was placed in Class B.
It was obvious who had taken her place in Class A. It was Isaac.
He was naturally soone she had to give way to.
If other Class A students could be compared to wild beasts, Isaac was no different from a natural disaster.
But...
Nevertheless, the feeling of soone who had felt pride for being a part of the best class suddenly falling to a low level was indescribable.
It was complicated. It was sad. It was distressing and felt as if tears of blood might flow from her eyes...!
"What are you doing?"
"Ahh!"
Suddenly, a male student approached from behind and spoke to her, startling Keridna because it was a familiar voice.
Keridna quickly turned her head back.
"Ah, Isaac..."
The male student who approached was Isaac.
He had the look of a model student with glasses.
However, contrary to his gentle appearance, he was a monster with terrifying titles like “History’s Youngest Archwizard” and “Ice Sovereign”.
Suddenly, Keridna recalled what had happened at the Whiteclark mansion and blushed.
A romantic affair between Aichel and Isaac... seed unlikely
But she had certainly done sothing embarrassing.
Keridna questioned Aichel, and she responded with a mischievous smile before putting a finger to her lips with a "Shh."
Rumors that the Whiteclark ducal family had ford a close relationship with the Ice Sovereign spread throughout noble society.
Many people had seen the white dragon approaching the Whiteclark mansion.
Rumors traveled fast.
It was an undeniable fact that the balance of power naturally shifted, raising the prestige of the Whiteclark family.
Aichel and Isaac.
Are they using each other?
It was impossible to know.
But just thinking about the man having done such things with her sister made Keridna's body flush with heat.
What am I thinking...!
Keridna quickly shook her head to dispel her thoughts.
Isaac watched her curiously.
Snap back to reality, Keridna!
She took a deep breath to calm her emotions.
"How... What is it?"
Keridna almost used formal speech without realizing it, but quickly corrected herself to informal speech.
“You’ve been staring at that for a while. Are you depressed you didn’t make it to Class A?”
"..."
There was no need to say it.
He had hit the nail on the head.
Keridna made a tearful face and dropped her head to the side.
Her body language oozed skepticism.
If it weren't for you, I could have consistently stayed in Class A.
That was the aning behind Keridna's actions.
"What can you do? Bla your own skills."
"Ugh...!"
A cold reply.
Keridna gnashed her teeth angrily.
He could have just given words of comfort, but he just had to go and say sothing irritating!
But considering his identity, she couldn't form a rebuttal. She could only swallow her anger and hold her tongue.
In the first place, there was nothing wrong with what Isaac said.
According to Aichel, Isaac even had a close relationship with the Whiteclark family.
So the fact that she could only direct her anger at herself made Keridna sad.
"Hoo."
Keridna took another deep breath to calm her emotions, then glared at Isaac with fierce eyes.
"Is that your only reason for being here? Just to make a mockery out of ?"
"Do you really see that way? I just spoke to you because you were standing there blankly. Don't be too sad. It's bothering ."
"As if I would be this sad."
Keridna let out a small, involuntary laugh before covering her mouth with the back of her hand, and spoke more firmly, "I am the daughter of the Whiteclark family. Do you think I'll be away from Class A forever like this? My excellence is everlasting, even in the vast world. I'll definitely get back into Class A next sester, so prepare to welco ."
"Is that so."
Isaac grinned and handed Keridna the vacuum flask he was holding.
"Then take this."
"Huh? What's this?"
"Cocoa."
"What? What's this out of the blue...?"
Keridna tilted her head to the side in confusion.
"Drink it if you get bored during class or while studying later."
"No, why are you giving this to ?"
"You made tea for yourself last ti. So as a token of gratitude, I prepared sothing fancy for you to drink."
"I don't know if you'll like it, though."
"Huh? How did you co to that conclusion...?"
Isaac wanted to cheer up the disheartened Keridna.
He made cocoa with the powder gifted by White, claiming it was sothing only tasted in the Imperial court. A maid from Charles Hall helped, ensuring it would satisfy Keridna's refined palate.
After all, cocoa wasn't a common drink here.
"Good luck, Then."
Isaac gave a kind smile, patted Keridna's shoulder, and then left.
"...?"
She was dumbfounded.
"Why on earth is he giving this...?"
Keridna had to wonder for a while, looking back and forth between the departing Isaac and the vacuum flask containing the cocoa.
Keridna opened the lid of the bottle and took a sip of the contents.
"Mmm...?"
It was delicious.
***Last week, after the class placent evaluation was completed, the classes were decided.
I was placed in Class A, while Keridna Whiteclark was dropped to Class B.
I didn't know if she liked the cocoa gift. I gave it to her because she made tea for .
In retrospect, it seed like a rather absurd gift. I understood the puzzled reaction Keridna showed when I gave it to her.
I didn't know why I felt like I would regret giving her that gift, but it probably didn't matter.
"This is Professor Philip ltron, who will be responsible for your second sester."
I was seated in the middle of the Class A second-year lecture room.
The professors in charge of each class changed every sester with the sole exception of the lowest class, Class D. This was for the sake of the student’s education.
The current professor for Class A was a middle-aged man with red hair, a status supremacist who was outmaneuvered by my team and during the joint practical evaluation, Professor Philip ltron.
When our eyes t, he briefly frowned, but he didn't seem to hold any ill will against . It just seed like we would have an awkward relationship going forward.
"Among you, four people should understand. I have a fondness for the raw gems, the excellent elites like you, who will lead the future empire."
Professor Philip started off by flattering us.
He made eye contact with .
"Isaac, you who have newly risen to Class A are no exception. It was wrong to judge you based solely on my values of grades and performance. I apologize for that."
"Oh, yes..."
Professor Philip bowed his head to . It was a formal apology, but it carried sincerity.
I had already beaten him soundly, so I didn't hold any ill will. The already awkward atmosphere beca even more uncomfortable.
Professor Philip raised his head again.
"And there is one thing I want to ask you."
"Yes."
"Are you really taking this class to hone your basic skills?"
"Yes... why?"
"It's nothing. Then, let's start the class."
This man. It wasn't obvious, but he felt pressured that I was taking his class.
It was my first ti actually attending Professor Philip's class. His teaching style was calm and orthodox.
I rolled my eyes to look at Kaya and Luce.
Kaya wanted to sit next to right away but was holding back, worried it might disturb her studies. She would steal glances at , but when our eyes t, her face would turn bright red and she would quietly lower her head. It was like a scene from a teen drama.
Ah, so innocent.
Luce was calmly listening to the lecture.
"Grnnn... sss..."
anwhile, Ciel was sitting in the corner, sleeping peacefully.
She was hugging the pillow I had given her last year. She liked it so much that she still carried it around with her.
Professor Philip was overly lenient with the excellent elites. It seed like a usual thing as he didn't even try to wake Ciel. He might have already given up.
***During the break, I stepped out into the hallway after coming from the restroom.
"Isaac."
"Sis?"
Suddenly, Eve Ropenheim appeared and stood in front of , as if she had been waiting for .
She wasn't there before I went into the restroom.
"Do you want to go ho with today? If it's a burden, I understand..."
Eve shyly stroked her hair, which was tied to the side, as if wringing it out.
With Baron Ropenheim's restrictions gone and having reconciled with , she seed eager to gradually beco part of my daily life.
I was Isaac, and Eve was the only blood relative of this body. I couldn't help but feel particularly fond of Eve.
However, it was difficult to consider Eve's brave suggestion.
"I have a friend who usually walks with , so that might be a little difficult."
"Oh... really?"
Eve rolled her eyes to the side.
Her drawn-out voice, lowered eyes, and drooping corners of her mouth conveyed a subtle displeasure.
Soon, Eve looked at again and smiled slightly.
"Then it can't be helped."
"Let's et when we have ti."
"Sure."
I gave her a smile and walked past her.
"But you guys stick together too much... It's distracting."
"...?"
Suddenly, her subdued voice was clearly heard in my ear.
I stopped walking and turned my head back to look at Eve.
She was already walking away in the opposite direction.
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