CH 5

[ Lexus ] “The Iron Maiden? Oh, you mean the top student?”

Lexus quickly managed to realize who this woman was when the words Iron Maiden were mentioned.

However, he couldn’t come up with a face. He just remembered that the student who never missed the top position was a woman labeled the Iron Maiden.

[ Tex ] “That’s right. The Iron Maiden who always manages to be at the top.”

[ Lexus ] “What about her?”

[ Tex ] “Everyone’s saying that the Iron Maiden is in possession of the Prince’s handkerchief.”

[ Lexus ] “How can she have that?”

Lexus’ expression stiffened.

[ Tex ] “You didn’t give it to her?”

[ Lexus ] “Why would I do that?”

[ Tex ] “Well, do you have it on you?”

Lexus searched his pockets, and it was only then that he realized he no longer had it. He definitely brought it with him this morning, so it was clear he must have lost it somewhere at some point during the day.

[ Lexus ] “I don’t.”

[ Tex ] “During the economics lecture, the Iron Maiden used a handkerchief embroidered with the crest of the Imperial family, like she was showing off. That’s why everyone’s going nuts apparently. They can’t decide if you gave it to her or if she stole it.”

[ Lexus ] “There’s no way I gave it to her. I don’t even know what she looks like.”

This woman must be so damn shameless, though. It was unbelievable to think she was using his handkerchief, flaunting it like he’d given it to her.

Though, he had to admit it was a very bold move. And one could even say she was successful in her attempts to attract his attention, considering it had reached his ears like this.

But did that even matter if the attention she was getting was negative? He found it far preferable if women just showed their interest from the beginning. He couldn’t be more sick and tired of all these dirty back door schemes.

[ Tex ] “What are you planning on doing?”

[ Lexus ] “Well, what do you think?”

Seeing the expression on Lexus’ face, Tex clicked his tongue in disgust.

That was the crummy smile he would get on his face right before he did something bad.

*

* * *

*

Valentia was not interested in other people and so she had very little sense for the things happening around her. She couldn’t even notice that the stark dislike other students had for her was getting worse.

They were quiet in her presence, only to whisper whenever she turned her head, which made it obvious the subject of their gossip was her.

I wonder what could be happening.

But there was no one who would tell her, so it was useless to wonder. Valentia shook off that nagging sensation and pulled aside the first student she saw who was getting out of their seat.

[ Valentia ] “Do you know where the Prince is?”

[ Student ] “Dunno.”

No one was ever kind to her, but this interaction felt especially frigid.

[ Valentia ] “I heard he had a class here. Did he leave already?”

[ Student ] “Why are you looking for the Prince?”

[ Valentia ] “Oh, I have something I need to tell him.”

[ Student ] “God. Dunno. Just get out of here.”

The girl made an amazed expression before scoffing and roughly pushing Valentia’s shoulder, shoving past her. To be in the eye of the most beloved man in the Academy, this despised woman was hardly what people would expect.

This makes things difficult.

If the students didn’t cooperate, there was no way she would be able to find him in such a vast Academy. And now there was the added chance of someone giving her the wrong location just to play a trick on her.

Which basically meant the Prince’s possession would continue to remain with her in the hopes she came across him by chance. It wasn’t like she could just throw it away. For a brief moment, Valentia regretted ever picking it up.

I should just go home.

Valentia had no idea where this man could be, so there was no point in aimlessly wandering through the Academy.

The road leading to the main gate was crowded with students, grouping in a chaos. She felt a slight pang of envy seeing close groups of friends, gathering to return home together.

Carriages were not permitted within the Academy, no matter how one fussed or tried to pull rank with their family names. The rules were stern—no carriage carrying the crest of a family was allowed entry. As a result, just outside the gates were lines of carriages awaiting their students.

However, the eyes of the students as they left the Academy were all on one person. Following their gazes, the first thing she saw was a flash of golden hair.

That tall man was the person Valentia was looking for. A group of men who appeared to be his friends were all walking and talking to him.

Valentia hurried her steps.

There was no guarantee that she would be able to find him again in order to return this handkerchief once he got inside his carriage.

But as she rushed, in all the hurry, Valentia could not notice that the attentions of other students were now being drawn towards her and Lexus. And that everyone was in awe and interest at this spectacle.

Someone gestured to Lexus, and that was when he stopped walking.

He stood completely still as Valentia approached him. She opened her mouth to speak, but remembering something, she paused.

She didn’t know what to call him.

His friends and others that were close to him simply called him Lexus, while those who admired him called him Lord Lexus. It was considered a crime to carelessly call the names of those of the Imperial family, but things were different so long as they were within the Academy.

Only here was it possible to call him by name. Regardless of their title or status, all were treated with equality at the Academy. That was this place’s most enforced rule.

But as an exception, his friends would sometimes call out to him like ‘Princeliness’ as a joke and to show how close they were.

[ Valentia ] “Excuse me.”

Truthfully, Lexus did not need to attend the Academy. Or rather, it would be more appropriate to say that members of the Imperial family simply did not attend at all.

When he first enrolled, there was a rather big stir about what they would call him.

At the time there were a lot of conflicting opinions. Some said that the Imperial family should be treated the same while others thought they deserved special treatment purely based on the fact that they were royalty.

But in the end, no one could break the Academy’s cardinal rule of their own accord.

It was taboo to call a member of the Imperial family by their surname, so that’s when everyone started calling him Lord Lexus. But Valentia didn’t know what to call him, so she ended up vaguely calling out to him instead.

[ Lexus ] “What?”

She shoved the handkerchief in his face the second he looked back at her.

She’d heard many times that he was handsome. From a distance, she could tell that he was a good-looking man, jovial, with shiny blond hair that could catch anyone’s eye no matter where he was.

But seeing him up close, he was someone who boasted an overwhelming level of handsomeness. Even Valentia, who held no specific dislike or like when it came to the appearances of others, was taken aback by it.

Looking down at her, the man asked in a sharp voice.

[ Lexus ] “What is this?”

[ Valentia ] “Oh, it’s yours.”

Valentia was just about to explain to him what happened, but before that, the man spoke up first.

[ Lexus ] “So this is the Iron Maiden.”

Just then, Valentia’s face stiffened.

She knew those within the Academy called her that, but she didn’t realize how much contempt for her was held within those words. But right now, this was the first time someone spoke to her face with an expression of sarcasm.

Valentia held back any kind of response, biting back her anger.

He was the first to say it to her face, but she already knew everyone secretly said that about her. What was the difference between that and hearing it directly like this? There was no need to be disappointed or hurt.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Valentia was going to continue explaining until—

[ Valentia ] “I—“

[ Lexus ] “I don’t need it.”

[ Valentia ] “What?”

[ Lexus ] “So what was your plan? Did you think I’d be attracted to you if you made up this whole rumor? But alas—I’m not interested in a confession from such a shabby woman.”

[ Valentia ] “What on earth are you….”

[ Lexus ] “This is what a gap in status looks like, if you’re confused. Honestly, aren’t people like you tired of this whole game by now?”

[ Valentia ] “Hold on, that’s not what this is.”

[ Lexus ] “No? Didn’t your father tell you to throw your body in front of the Prince in order to pull yourself from the life of a bottom-feeder?”

Lexus was looking directly at Valentia when he said that.

He poured out such cruel and abusive language towards her, but the woman in front of him was calm. These were the kinds of words that, if they were thrown at a man instead of a woman, would warrant a challenge for a duel.

But she was so casual about things that Lexus’ anger subsided just a tad.

[ Valentia ] “Can I ask you a question?”

[ Lexus ] “Where is this going?”

[ Valentia ] “Are you a Prince of the Empire right now? Or are you a student of the Academy?”

This place was undeniably the Academy. Unless it somehow magically turned into the banquet hall of the Imperial Palace, he was more a student than a Prince right now.

[ Lexus ] “I’m a student.”

[ Valentia ] “Then this should be fine.”

Before he could even ask what should be ‘fine’, Prince Lexus experienced an act of tyranny that he had never experienced before in his life.

Slap—

The sound could be heard, clear as day as the woman’s small hand crashed against his cheek, and as proof of what just happened, there was a very noticeable prickly sensation left behind on his face.

Lexus was speechless, shocked into utter silence. He was the one who just got slapped across the cheek, but the woman’s hand was shaking, trembling like she was so terribly weak.

[ Lexus ] “What…..”

[ Valentia ] “You’re able to speak so freely. You must have broken a tongue.”

But she wasn’t trembling out of fear or weakness, but out of anger. It was the first time he’d ever experienced something like this. He was more surprised by her words than the pain in his cheek.

There was a clear rise to her chest as the tiny woman breathed in a deep sigh.

[ Valentia ] “You are terribly rude.”

[ Lexus ] “…….That’s quite the thing to say to someone you’ve just slapped in the face.”

Lexus muttered in amazement, but Valentia responded immediately—unbothered and unfazed by his words.

[ Valentia ] “Think of it as the price you must pay for such rudeness. And unfortunately, I did not approach you with the intent of trying to confess to you like the shabby woman I am or throw myself at you with the idea of marrying you. I was trying to give this back.”

Valentia roughly flicked the handkerchief into his face. It came right at him, blocking his vision as her clearly enunciated words echoed and pierced his ears.

[ Valentia ] “And since you are a student right now, I have committed no crime against the Imperial family, yes?”

Leaving behind her words, shot coldly in his direction, she turned and walked away. The handkerchief fluttered in the air for a moment, passing by his face before falling loosely to the ground.

But Lexus couldn’t even think about picking it up. His eyes were in a daze, staring off in the distance towards Valentia’s fading back.