Chapter 13
What kind of nonsense is this now?
Elizia swallowed nervously, trying to suppress her tension.
“You were the one who brought it up, senior. And I’m the one who asked the question.”
Only then did Lakan step back from her.
He resumed the steps he had paused, seemingly signaling that they should continue toward the headmaster’s office.
Was I really that tense?
Letting out something like a sigh, Elizia followed after him.
Soon, Lakan’s low voice reached her from beside her—just a short sentence with no clear context.
“Into the string instruments.”
“…Pardon?”
“That assignment is to write a review of a string performance, right? So let’s go together.”
“Ah…”
Elizia finally understood and drew out her response. She remembered that the final exam for that class had been replaced with a solo performance and a written review.
So he was asking to go see an opera together.
It was nothing more than a request to work on the assignment together.
Right. No way this is a date. Especially not from someone as self-absorbed as him.
And yet, amusingly enough, for a moment she had wondered if it was a date—her heart even pounding loudly.
Maybe it was because of those sparkling green eyes she had met for an instant.
Finding herself ridiculous, Elizia let out a small laugh and kicked a pebble with her foot.
The little stone bounced away into the fading glow of sunset.
The atmosphere of the headmaster’s office was always peculiar.
Scrolls scattered everywhere, piles of disorganized documents—and oddly placed ornaments from various countries in between.
Yet somehow, it all suited the headmaster perfectly, and Elizia found herself smiling unconsciously.
With a soft clink, the headmaster set down his teacup and looked at Lakan and Elizia with a satisfied smile.
“From the beginning, pairing the two of you as direct senior and junior was my own stubborn decision. The professors all opposed it.”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
They answered at the same time. Given that they were from enemy nations, it couldn’t have been an easy choice.
Leaning forward, the headmaster looked at them with a serious expression.
“Communication is truly important. Think about the Empire and the Kingdom. Because dialogue has been cut off and communication halted, they remain in a state of armistice.”
“……”
“To be honest, even I doubted my decision. But the moment Lakan chose Elizia at the party, I knew I was right.”
“……”
Meeting the headmaster’s gray eyes, Elizia gave a small nod. Lakan did the same.
The headmaster clasped his hands under his beard.
“Who knows? Perhaps thanks to you, the two nations may move from an armistice to true peace.”
Both Elizia and Lakan remained silent.
War and armistice were sensitive matters. A simple “yes” was not easy to give.
Understanding their silence, the headmaster chuckled softly and refilled their cooled teacups with warm water.
Elizia’s gaze drifted to the window on the right. A small bird chirped among the pale green leaves.
Armistice… Coming from someone of a peaceful neutral nation, it may sound easy… but that might be nothing more than a dream.
Even her own swordsmanship instructor, Sir Lancelot, had lost his father to the Empire, and his family had nearly been wiped out.
If you dug into the hearts of the Kingdom’s people, each bore at least one wound inflicted by the Empire.
A bond between just two people couldn’t bridge such a deep divide.
Blinking slowly, Elizia watched as the small bird spread its wings and flew away.
After leaving the headmaster’s office, the two walked together toward the dormitory. The fading sunlight stretched low across the ground.
Despite the lack of conversation, it didn’t feel awkward.
She had grown used to walking with him—and to the silence.
A gentle breeze blew. Elizia brushed back the stray hairs that tickled her eyes.
“Then I’ll come pick you up in front of the dorm tomorrow evening. We’re going to see the opera.”
“You’re coming to pick me up?”
“Yes. So make sure you’re nicely prepared.”
“Nicely?”
“Yes. Nicely. And properly.”
Lakan didn’t reply. Instead, a slightly complicated expression crossed his face—unlike him.
His steps slowed, then stopped altogether. Elizia’s figure gradually grew distant ahead of him.
Unbothered, she continued walking briskly, brushing her hair back with a casual motion.
Lakan shook his head and resumed walking. With his longer stride, he caught up to her in just a few steps.
Feeling the shadow cast by his height, Elizia turned and looked up at him.
“Anyway, senior, I’ll take responsibility for tomorrow’s schedule. Just trust me.”
“I was the one who suggested going together. Why are you in charge?”
His expression remained one of confusion.
Because I want you to see what I want, do what I want.
She swallowed those words and gave a different answer.
“I’m the junior, after all. I should attend to my esteemed senior.”
“Your taste… is trustworthy, right?”
“Of course. Just trust me.”
“I don’t know if I should fully trust a princess from an enemy nation.”
“Oh my. I didn’t realize a strong man from an enemy nation would be so fragile that he has to be wary of a delicate woman like me.”
“……”
Lakan stared at her, dumbfounded.
Regardless, Elizia simply smiled sweetly.
* * *
Lakan’s roommate, Felix, was reviewing his lessons over the weekend. It had been a quiet and peaceful time—until Lakan started getting ready to go out.
On a weekend evening, freshly washed, Lakan opened his wardrobe. It seemed he was heading out.
Since Lakan often attended various gatherings, Felix paid little attention at first.
At least, not until Lakan began rummaging endlessly—pulling out cufflinks, taking clothes out and putting them back, attaching and removing accessories.
Eventually, Felix let out a quiet sigh and put down his pen. He couldn’t focus at all.
“Senior Lakan, you seem particularly concerned about your outfit today.”
Please stop and just go already.
He phrased it politely.
But instead of stopping, Lakan tossed the clothes on the bed back into the wardrobe and pulled out another set.
“What are you talking about? I’m not paying special attention.”
“You usually just wear whatever you grab.”
“I’m doing that now.”
“There are about twenty shirts out right now.”
“That must be your imagination.”
If he said so, there wasn’t much to argue.
Felix nodded and adjusted his glasses before returning to his book.
Soon enough, Lakan would leave, and he’d be free to focus again.
Or so he thought.
His concentration was broken again when a small envelope was suddenly placed in front of him.
Felix picked up the stiff envelope.
It was luxurious, embossed with gold patterns.
“What is this?”
“Tickets to the Mier Opera House.”
Lakan answered casually while buttoning his shirt. The triangular cufflinks he had chosen glinted faintly.
Felix froze mid-motion.
Mier Opera House?
He hurriedly opened the envelope.
Inside were two tickets—for a private box seat for tonight’s performance.
The neutral nation of Swena was a center of education and the arts.
Magnificent performances were held year-round, and many famous theaters existed.
But among them, the most renowned was undoubtedly the Mier Opera House.
A place you had to reserve before the season even began. Always sold out. Even regular seats were hard to obtain.
Felix swallowed hard and carefully spoke.
“Senior… are you asking me to go with you—”
“Felix, are you insane?”
Lakan cut him off coldly.
Felix awkwardly adjusted his glasses.
“Then why are you giving this to me…?”
“I don’t need it anymore. If you have time, go yourself.”
Felix could barely respond, his mouth hanging open.
Go myself?
The price aside, the real value of these tickets was their rarity.
Suddenly, Felix was reminded of Lakan’s status.
Within the academy, status and nationality didn’t matter—but the man before him was imperial royalty.
From the most powerful empire on the continent.
While Felix remained stunned, Lakan left the room without even saying goodbye.
It was time to meet his junior—who was coming to escort him.
* * *
Elizia dressed far more simply than usual.
Though the material was fine, the dress lacked even soft lace. She had chosen it because tonight’s destination wasn’t particularly extravagant.
…Or should she have told him in advance where they were going?
Standing at the entrance of the male dormitory, she watched Lakan approach through the dim evening shadows.
He wasn’t wearing his usual dark, dull clothes.
Instead, he was dressed in something luxurious—something that practically declared, I am noble. I am wealthy.
He looked even more regal than she did, a royal herself.
Was it his brilliant golden hair? He always seemed to shine, but today he was especially dazzling.
Elizia smiled as he approached.
Annoying senior or not, she couldn’t help but smile when she saw his face.
“Good evening.”
“Yeah. Good evening.”
“You look extravagant today. Very pretty.”
“Pretty? That’s a strange compliment to hear from someone I’m going to the opera with.”
“You are pretty. Your clothes, your hair—they’re shining. You always wear dark, dull things normally.”
“That’s because I wear whatever I grab.”
“Then I guess that flashy outfit was the first thing you grabbed today?”
Lakan didn’t answer. His usual indifferent expression shifted slightly.
For some reason, Felix’s earlier comment—‘You seem particularly concerned about your outfit today’—suddenly came to mind.
And he didn’t quite know why.
