Papa’s old friend.

With the headmaster’s map in hand, we made our way to Kai’s classroom.

“Um… Lady Elen. You’re really coming to my classroom…?”

“Yes!”

“Kai’s a knight student, right? I’m from there too, so it’ll be easier to explain.”

“Ah, no, that’s not it—”

Kai stammered, flustered, and I tilted my head in confusion.

“Did I… bother you?”

Well, that makes sense. Maybe Kai didn’t want to introduce someone close to him in a place full of people he knew.

I slumped, feeling guilty for not thinking of Kai’s feelings, when he frantically waved both hands in front of his face.

“Not at all!! It’s an honor for Lady Lovell to visit! My classmates will be thrilled!! I mean, not that—uh—would it be better if you went to the lady’s studies instead?”

The lady’s studies were where noblewomen learned their proper arts.

Etiquette, embroidery, the proper way to support one’s husband—standard lessons for noblewomen before marriage.

“Elen’s already a lady, isn’t she?”

Papa smiled, but his eyes didn’t.

Ladies’ studies were off-limits to men. I could’ve been separated from the others. And worse—Raffilia and Amiel were there.

Papa wouldn’t send me to a place like that.

He was scattering that dark smile all over, like I’d said something ridiculous.

He must’ve realized his slip-up.

Kai turned pale and apologized.

“By the way, Your Highness—sure you’re alright with this? The boy says it’s a room full of men…?”

“Papa and Van are right here, so I’m fine. If things get dire, teleportation’s unavoidable, I suppose.”

Van and Papa each holding one of my hands, we walked down the hall in a line, and people passing by stared, eyes wide open.

Kai, leading the way ahead, had a faint, wry smile on his face—but when we reached the classroom door, he straightened up, jaw tight, eyes forward.

Usually, Kai watches me like an older brother would a younger sister, warm and fond.

So seeing him like this—so stiff, so serious—was such a rare sight I couldn’t help but stare.

It was like watching a cousin I’d never noticed before, suddenly look sharp and cool.

He stepped inside first, saying he’d explain to the teacher, then disappeared through the door.

“Kai, you look so cool!”

I grinned at Papa, who blinked back at me—wide-eyed, like he’d just seen a ghost.

“…Oops. Got ahead of myself.”

“Kid… you’ll remember this later.”

I could barely make out the low growls from both sides, but I decided to ignore them.

Waiting by the door, I suddenly heard an excited shout coming from inside the classroom.

My father flinched, his shoulders jerking up, and let out a tired sigh.

"Who do you think you are, aiming to be a knight and freaking out over something like this..."

The chaos stopped dead the moment the teacher's roar cut through the air.

My father seemed to recognize the voice. He let out a soft, pleased chuckle. "Ah... that voice. I remember it."

Come to think of it, meeting someone my father knew outside of our territory was almost unheard of.

Most of his old friends had died in the Monster Tempest fourteen years ago.

It must have been a brutal fight. My father’s face softened—just for a second—like he was remembering something sweet, but also something sad.

I watched him silently from below, gripping his hand tighter.

He looked down at me, startled, and I just smiled back.

"Can't wait to meet someone so nostalgic."

"...Heh, yeah, that's right."

Laughing together with my father, we turned as Kai stepped out from the classroom, saying, "Apologies for the wait, Lady Lovell."

Father just nodded, "Ah," and stepped inside.

As he did, he called out to the people inside the classroom.

Following my father in, the students snapped to attention, hands pressed to their chests.

Their faces were young, but there was a uniform, disciplined grace about them—like a regiment.

The burly gentleman right in front bowed deeply.

"Welcome, Lady Lovell."

"Feels familiar. I’ll be staying with you for a bit."

"Understood. Kai! Bring Lady Lovell a chair!!"

"Yes!"

Every motion precise, sharp, as if choreographed.

I was still frozen in surprise when Kai arrived with two chairs. I started to thank him and sit down—then my father stopped me.

"Elen, you’re sitting on Papa’s lap."

The words came with a smile that offered no mercy. I stared at him, utterly stunned.

Predictably, everyone in the classroom had their eyes wide open in shock.

"Sit there, Van. That chair’s yours."

"Such a blessing."

Van bowed slightly. The class watched him with eyes full of envy.

Normally, a lord wouldn’t bother with a retainer like that—but being cared for by one’s lord? That’s the ultimate sign of trust.

Here, in this moment, was the ideal: a knight envious of his lord… and the lord’s loyal knight. The perfect picture.

I’d heard from the servants about how things usually went with the Vanklyft Family’s retainers. But still… this? This was more than I’d expected.

I’d heard that relations between lords and their retainers were usually strained elsewhere.

I remember Lauren saying how many people practically begged to work here.

Sitting on my father’s lap, I looked forward—and the students standing stiffly seemed slightly unsettled.

When I smiled, they flinched, shoulders jerking, eyes darting away.

(What… was that reaction? Sad, somehow…)

I started to feel a little down, wondering if they were just scared of noble blood. Then Dad reached out and ruffled my hair.

“Stay like this forever, okay?”

“…? I don’t understand what you mean, Papa.”

“Then you’re not supposed to.”

Watching him press my head down into his lap, the students gaped, mouths hanging open in shock.

And strangely, the most shocked of all was the elegantly dressed teacher at the front—his eyes wide open. That’s what surprised me the most.

＊＊＊

Raffilia ran down the hallway.

The moment she heard a teacher say her uncles had headed toward the Principal's Office, she couldn’t help but run.

Ignoring the furious shout from behind—“Raffilia!! A lady does not run!!”—she hurried on.

A bad feeling had been creeping in: this situation might be a sign of something… before Elen started attending the academy.

(Not funny at all!)

Raffilia finally felt the tightness in her chest ease now that she was free from the estate.

Especially after being mistaken for Elen and kidnapped—thanks to her overprotective father, she’d been locked in the manor ever since.

And now, having slipped away on her own, she’d lost the trust of the household guards.

Afterward, her father had spoken with her—mother included. The revelation left her stunned.

I was told I’d been saved by Elen… and yet, I couldn’t just nod and agree.

It turned out my boasting about correspondence with the royal family was the whole reason the letters were banned—especially with the Prince.

I’d had no idea that simply being a noble and writing to the royal family was such a big deal.

I’d bragged about it to my friends back in town, and that’s what got me noticed by the kidnappers.

I was told I’d been snatched because of it, and I just… couldn’t say a word.

Then I was scolded for damaging the trust between Gadiel and my family.

I didn’t mean to—no, I never meant to—but now I couldn’t stop crying.

I’ll admit, I’d messed up.

But how can it all be Elen’s fault, really?

If it weren’t for Elen, I never would’ve been taken.

If it weren’t for Elen, I never would’ve been compared in the first place.

The reason I ended up acting defiant? Blame Elen. That’s the root of it all.

Here I was, finally free from the suffocating weight of that estate, and there she was—Amiel—waiting for me at school.

My father’s former wife—daughter of the infamous Agiel.

But Amiel wasn’t the daughter of her father, it seems.

I ended up explaining it like it was obvious, just because I’d heard it secondhand at the academy, and then—oh no—I’d been caught doing it by Amiel herself.

They’re glaring at me like they know exactly who I am.

Amiel was noble-born, but because of her mother’s lack of modesty, she was constantly the subject of cruel gossip.

But none of that is any of my concern. And yet, Amiel seems to hate me, always poking their nose in whenever something comes up.

Why does Elen have to show up too, when I already have one troublesome woman on my hands...

And then I overheard the maids whispering excitedly about how Elen’s been getting along well with Gadiel lately.

(That’s absolutely not happening!)

Raffilia dashed toward the Principal's Office.

Then, the headmaster told her that her uncles had already moved out—she just stood there, stunned.

And then, straight from the headmaster himself, she got a full-blown lecture about what happened to her class. She was thoroughly scolded.