/
It wouldn’t be easy to break through the students who were gathering for the lecture and spoke to Jeremy.
Because I couldn’t let the new student who was cared for by the young lady of the Miller Duchy get attention.
Of all things, even errand boys were not allowed to enter the drill hall where the class would be held.
If I joined the lecture, I might be able to at least turn the gaze of Young Duke Bolton toward myself before he could find Jeremy.
“This should end without anything happening.”
I agreed with Rany.
It was not only because of this reason.
Personally, I didn’t want to meet him.
His method in treating humans, or his hard attitude to Jeremy, none of those made me feel at ease.
“We have no other choice.”
If this is the best we can do.
* * *
The drill hall was already full with students.
Especially the students who were dreaming of becoming a knight, or students who would soon get their peerage title had their eyes sparkling.
Clearly most of them were the male students, but I also saw a few female students.
“Those are kids who are trying to gain Young Duke Bolton’s attention.”
Rany whispered to me.
Glowing, carefully maintained hair and slightly blushing cheeks entered my view.
“This is because the young duke of the empire is unmarried. They must be holding onto ‘who knows’.”
“If that’s the case, I think their number is smaller.”
“That much is enough. The academy never announced the information about the temporary professor in advance. If they announce that Young Duke Bolton is coming, then there would be a lot more females who apply and it’d be hard for the lecture to go on. The minority who came because they knew in advance is already incredible.”
As I nervously looked around, I found Jeremy and Benji in the group of freshmen.
Alas, the distance was too far from where I stood, and it seemed hard to approach them because there were many students around them.
Jeremy was talking with Benji.
He really doesn’t know who the professor is.
There was no possibility that he, who was stiff and trembling in front of Young Duke Bolton, would come here just to see him.
I turned my gaze somewhere else so that I didn’t look like I was staring at Jeremy and took a breath.
I hope we can move on without anything happening.
The best ending would be we could end this lecture without me needing to step up, but I didn’t feel this would end like that.
The sound of cheering that was waiting for the Young Duke to appear stopped all at once.
In an instant, the students’ gazes focused on one place.
When I turned my head to that direction, the expected face entered my sight.
Those who followed behind him seemed to be knights from the imperial guard.
His face didn’t look enthusiastic, but there was also no indication of him being annoyed or bored.
It was the same as last time.
Indifferent and expressionless, eyes that unsettled me the moment they met mine.
His eyes were the complete opposite of Orion’s sparkling eyes that were filled with his feelings.
I subconsciously lowered my gaze, and quickly checked on Jeremy.
As expected, he couldn’t say anything, stunned with a pale face.
It’d be good if he can leave now.
His feet must be glued, and his surroundings were too crowded.
If he left his place, he would surely receive strange gazes.
There was a possibility that would rather entice Young Duke Bolton’s gaze.
Fortunately, it seems like there are a lot of students who want to gain his attention.
I didn’t know who the owner was, but the smell of perfume strongly pervaded.
If it reached me so clearly, they might be like a walking human perfume.
Except for that, there was also a student who came with a sword that was uselessly decorated with colorful gems.
But then, just when I was relieved that Jeremy might not stand out . . .
“Crap, I think he stands out.”
“What?”
Rany began to explain.
“Last time in the hunting competition, you said you were embarrassed because you came riding on that black carriage, didn’t you? You said the presence of the sole dull carriage between the fancy and sparkling carriages was too big.”
Hearing her explanation, anxiety began to creep in.
I thought I knew what she meant although I didn’t hear the continuation.
“Students who stand proudly with high quality chainmail and swords with gems on both their sides, but he and Benji are wearing normal clothes.”
“. . .”
“He stands out.”
When I closed my eyes from frustration, Rany whispered.
Her voice was strange.
“But, do you know?”
“What? What’s more?”
“In that sense, we also stand out much.”
Our hair was disheveled because we came in a hurry.
In addition, it was only us who came with the basic normal uniform from the academy.
The majority wore clothes tailored to talented craftsmen, or even if they wore clothes provided by the academy, they slightly touched it to enhance their individuality and added decorations.
We clearly stood out.
Young Duke Bolton coldly scanned the room then opened his mouth.
“Those with no qualification should leave this drill hall.”
My hand unknowingly turned stiff as I heard his low voice.
The familiar voice seemed to bring out memories from the past.
Did they say humans remember what horrified them?
The servant who was tossed as a bait to the wyverns that were flying down flashed vividly before my eyes.
My heart sank when the eyes scanning the students as if assessing them directed to Jeremy’s location
“What kind of person is qualified, sir?”
I threw the question without having time to think.
Fortunately, the young duke turned his head and stared at me.
In addition, the gazes of those who were there also focused on me.
The gaze of the young ladies who came dressed up in order to gain his attention in particular was sharp.
It would be quite worth seeing if their hate was added to my already terrible reputation.
My mouth was bitter, but I had no other choice.