/
She thought about it all night, but eventually, she decided she would tell him.
She concluded that, regardless of how he reacted to it, this wasn’t something she should be dealing with by herself.
Ringing in her ears were those awful words Lexus had said to that unknown noblewoman from before, but she tried her best to ignore them.
Though, it was just now occurring to her that she did not know how to find him. She didn’t even know what his lecture schedule was like, and she didn’t know where he normally spent his time or what he did. She was too indifferent towards him for so long to know those kinds of things.
It was always him that followed her around—who occupied that empty seat next to her.
At the time, she found him to be insufferable, rendered entirely speechless by how much he was bothering her. But to tell one the truth, she really enjoyed those times. They were happy memories.
He was always right next to her before she ever needed to look for him.
She had no way to know where he spent his days or even to find out where his closest friends were.
And so Valentia went to the faculty department. Due to the exam period, the normal influx of students had drastically dropped, so there were only a few people here.
[ Student ] “No, I really don’t understand. How could I possibly drop ten places all at once?”
The period that allowed for corrections or potential changes in one’s result had certainly passed, and yet there was a male student very clearly shouting at one of the faculty members.
All they could do was quietly listen to him, responding with a tired expression.
[ Staff ] “The time for grade disputes has already passed and the professor you spoke with was adamant about their decision. You must accept it now that things cannot be changed.”
[ Student ] “But it doesn’t make any sense, no matter how much I think about it. How could my results possibly fall like this?”
Although all students were given the opportunity to dispute their results, it was near pointless to even try. In order to have a grade rescinded or changed, you would need to persuade the professor by arguing your case for your answer.
Of course, if that were even possible, the professor probably would’ve given you a good grade from the beginning.
This lanky looking young man was always one of the top students. Never once could she remember him being below the top ten, but from the sounds of it, his performance dropped significantly this time around. His name was Shaun, if she was remembering correctly.
[ Staff ] “There is nothing I can do for you, young man. Why not speak with the professor again?”
[ Student ] “What’s suspicious is that the students near the middle and upper ranks managed to jump so suddenly. What’s going on with that?”
[ Staff ] “They must have worked hard.”
[ Student ] “And among the nobles, there was even the Imperial Prince
..Hah. Anyway, my results are far too suspicious.”
[ Staff ] “There’s nothing wrong with the results. And there is nothing more I can do for you.”
This student was trying to say that his results were unfair and suspicious, but from what Valentia was understanding, it also sounded like he was trying to insinuate that the whole institution of the Academy was corrupt.
He quickly bit his tongue and took his words back, but if he hadn’t been careful, things could have gone a lot worse.
It wasn’t as though he was approaching the judiciary committee or the Imperial family with adequate evidence suggesting fraudulent behavior. He was just blatantly insulting the entire Empire with baseless accusations because he was upset with his results.
[ Staff ] “If that’s everything, could you please leave now? I have much work that needs to be done.”
The male student clicked his tongue with a frown. She couldn’t hear it exactly, but it was obvious he was uttering a curse under his breath.
[ Valentia ] “Hello.”
[ Staff ] “What can I help you with?”
[ Valentia ] “It’s not much, but I would like to know the rough schedule of Mister Lexus, if at all possible.”
[ Staff ] “My apologies, but we cannot give out specific student’s timetables.”
[ Valentia ] “Oh, is that so?”
[ Staff ] “In any case, Mister Lexus is rather sensitive when it comes to information about himself. Protection was requested, so if any students come inquiring about him, we are to shut them down flatly.”
Thinking about that, it was only natural. It was doubtful Valentia was the first person to come here and make that sort of request.
[ Valentia ] “I’m sorry.”
[ Staff ] “No, it’s alright. Is that everything?”
[ Valentia ] “Yes. Please continue working hard.”
Leaving the faculty department with nothing to show for it, the student who was arguing about the results was standing just outside the door. Clearly, he hadn’t left yet.
With his arms crossed and his body stretched out, it was obvious he was dissatisfied with how things went down. Deciding it was none of her business, Valentia passed him by without paying him any mind.
[ Student ] “Guess it can’t be helped since you’re a woman.”
Was he talking to her? But she’s heard and ignored comments far worse than that in the past.
Even if she were to turn around and confront him, he’ll just deny he was talking about her, so there was no point in entertaining his mindless grumbling. Valentia pretended not to hear it, keeping up her steps.
[ Student ] “So if you don’t like it, you just pretend not to hear anything, huh? How did a woman who can’t even understand other people become the top student?”
He was almost shouting at her now, so pretending to be ignorant was a pointless endeavor now.
[ Valentia ] “Are you talking to me?”
[ Student ] “So you can hear me now?”
[ Valentia ] “I asked, are you talking to me?”
[ Student ] “I see, you were just pretending not to understand.”
[ Valentia ] “What do you even want to say to me? Last I heard, it was considered polite to call out the name of someone if you have business you wish to discuss. If you cannot know that, then I can only assume you were too exhausted to stay awake during your etiquette courses.”
Considering his less than stellar exam performance, her quip accusing him of sleeping during his studies was rather sarcastic. He clicked his tongue again—likely muttering another curse.
[ Student ] “You’re nothing special. You may be the top student, but you’re also a woman, so seeing you get all cozy with the Prince, I have no choice but to think something suspicious is happening.”
[ Valentia ] “You seem awfully interested in other people’s private lives. Wouldn’t your time be better used trying to convince the professors and the staff, rather than making odd noises and nosing into other people’s privacy? Ah, come to think of it, I heard your results slipped significantly this time. Are you sure you’re alright? Why don’t you spend your spare time studying rather than having fun by yourself?”
His face turned red.
[ Student ] “You crazy—what did you just say

.”
[ Valentia ] “You don’t understand? Well, that’s how your results turned out like this. It would probably be a more productive use of your time to speak with the professors rather than me.”
[ Student ] “Crazy bitch!”
He couldn’t hold back his anger, suddenly throwing up his hands. She didn’t expect him to try and take a swing at her, so Valentia’s whole body stiffened in a single second.
And right then, a certain someone passed through Valentia’s mind.
Lexus.
[ ??? ] “What are you doing!?”
A man appeared out of nowhere, grabbing the student’s wrist and turning his arm back. He pinned it behind him, pressing him down and easily overpowering him as he forced him to the ground. It was just before Valentia thought she was hit that she realized the blow never made it to her.
His head was turned away and she couldn’t see his face, but his voice was familiar to her.
[ ??? ] “Are you trying to use violence against another student?”
[ Student ] “Ah, no! It’s not like that. I just got angry because she was speaking so carelessly.”
[ ??? ] “What kind of excuse is that? What were you even planning on doing? Do I need to report you to the board for use of violence on Academy grounds?”
The man lifted up his face as he asked, and Valentia was able to recognize the one who had come to her aide—Jays.
But why did Lexus appear in her mind at such a dangerous time. Of course he wouldn’t magically appear to rescue her like fate or a storybook.
I’m already relying on him too much, Valentia thought, bitterly smiling at her own foolishness.
[ Student ] “N, no, I didn’t even hit her. You’re the one using violence against me.”
Since they were making such a fuss right in front of the faculty office, he started getting all quiet and pathetic. He was probably afraid things would get more out of hand, especially now that a report was being potentially levied against him.
[ Student ] “I won’t do anything, so just let me go.”
[ Jays ] “If I ever see you try this again, I won’t hesitate to report this. Be on your best behavior.”
Jays warned him with an incredibly cold voice. It was so frigid and terrifying, that it nearly scared Valentia and it definitely surprised her.
After Jays roughly threw aside the man’s arm, he slumped back onto the ground. He muttered a few curses to himself before quickly getting up, disappearing with his tail in between his legs. Jays stared in that direction before he was entirely gone, then turned back to Valentia, speaking in his usual polite tone.
[ Jays ] “Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”
[ Valentia ] “I’m fine. Thank you for helping me.”
[ Jays ] “Don’t mention it. I only did what I had to. That was a close one.”
[ Valentia ] “I would have been in serious trouble had you not arrived.”
[ Jays ] “So how did this happen?”
He gave a shy smile, quickly changing the subject.
[ Valentia ] “Oh, I had something I needed to say to Lord Lexus, so I came to ask for his lecture schedule. Unfortunately, though, they told me it wasn’t something they could speak so easily.”
[ Jays ] “Ah, that’s true, but I can tell you. Lord Lexus should still be in lecture hall five, right in this building.”
[ Valentia ] “How do you know that?”
[ Jays ] “We take one of the same lectures—business admin. It just finished up, but he was still in the hall when I left, talking to his friends, it looked like.”
He smiled softly again, carefully explaining to her how to get there. She was at a total loss on how she’d find him, but now she was finding herself in Jays’ debt once more.
[ Valentia ] “Oh, I see. Thank you so much. I’m in a little bit of a hurry right now

.But I will not forget this kindness.”
[ Jays ] “It’s nothing, you don’t owe me anything. Off you go, now. If you hurry, you might be able to catch him.”
[ Valentia ] “See you again later.”
Without even saying a proper goodbye, Valentia rushed off towards the lecture hall.
*
* * *
*
The door to lecture hall five was slightly ajar, and several voices could be heard flowing through the gap. There wasn’t a single other person around, so it was far too easy to make out what they were saying.
And among that myriad of voices was Lexus. She was worried about what she would do if he was gone already, but luckily he was still speaking with his friends in the lecture hall.
[ Tex ] “Oh, so you finally made your move?”
Move? What was that supposed to mean? Were they playing some sort of game?
But either way, eavesdropping on other people’s conversations was extremely rude, so she had to either pretend she was never here and come back later, or make herself known by interrupting them while she had the chance.
Normally, avoiding confrontation would’ve been the most comfortable thing for her to do, but she couldn’t do that now. This was something very important.
Her hands were trembling with how much tension she felt. How would she say it? What would she say right after she opened the door?
Every thought she could fathom disappeared the moment they tried to come to fruition in her mind.
Just as Valentia reached out to the door to knock, she heard words that stiffened her entire body—all of her choices rendered entirely null.
[ Tex ] “It’s amazing that you actually managed to net the Iron Maiden.”
The Iron Maiden.
Those words made Valentia shake.