Episode 69

"Is there anything more important between us than our engagement?"

His gaze sharpened further.

I detected a flicker of desperation in her eyes, but there was nothing I could offer—no hint, no help.

‘Enduring hardships—that’s what defines a true protagonist.’

The man, who had been glaring steadfastly at the lady, sighed and rubbed his forehead.

He set aside the tea he hadn’t touched and finally spoke.

"Are you planning to repeat a year again this academic cycle?"

"...What?"

"How much exactly are you intending to donate to the academy this time...?"

"Wait, repeating? You mean repeating a year?"

Her golden lashes trembled as though something had irritated them.

She glanced between me and her fiancé in disbelief.

"I'm about to turn twenty-three, right?"

"Yes. After spring, you'll be twenty-three."

"Then why?"

"Why? You've been enrolled in a four-year program for eight—no, nearly nine—years now."

"…"

"Lapis, who’s four years your junior, graduated just last year. With honors, no less."

"…"

"As his older sister, does that not stir something in you?"

"Ah, my little brother is brilliant..."

"…"

"Wait, am I seriously still a student?"

Her reaction was far more dramatic than when she first awakened in this body.

Clutching her head, the lady appeared genuinely unable to accept reality.

"Why are you so shocked…? Have you truly forgotten you’re a student, just because you’ve been chasing after the prince?"

"No, it’s not that, but… how did it come to this…?"

"…"

"Look, I’m not trying to argue. I’m just honestly, sincerely confused."

"…"

"So—how long exactly have I been attending this academy…?"

Her hands were clasped tightly against her chest, the desperation palpable.

Rather than answer, her fiancé turned his eyes on me. His look clearly said: Do something—this is a nuisance.

I stepped forward and bowed my head.

"I apologize, my lord. The lady is, well…"

Her soul had changed—she wasn’t the same person anymore.

But I couldn’t very well say she seemed to remember things only in fragments. Even I wasn’t entirely sure what she did or didn’t recall.

I moistened my lips and furrowed my brow.

"She’s experiencing symptoms of withdrawal."

"Withdrawal?"

"She’s recently stopped drinking. It’s been affecting her like this on occasion. Please, try not to take offense."

"She’s quit drinking? Her?"

At my cue, the lady quickly nodded with exaggerated eagerness.

Her fiancé, who had been studying her expression carefully, relaxed his shoulders at last and spoke.

"Right. Your change in behavior isn’t the real issue here."

"…"

"I’ll explain things in order."

His round glasses shifted slightly as he clapped his hands and began his lecture.

"The academy’s basic curriculum spans six years, with an additional four-year advanced track. You’re aware of this, aren’t you?"

"Of course! Naturally!"

"You automatically move on in the basic track if you meet the attendance requirements. For the advanced course, you must pass exams—but most students do…"

"Wait—so I didn’t even need to take the advanced program?"

"Even the maid standing behind you likely completed it."

Was there a need to bring me into this now?

Still, since his statement was accurate, I added quietly:

"Most people our age have completed it, unless they received special private tutoring, my lady."

"Then how did I end up like this…?"

"Why do you think? You didn’t earn the credits needed to graduate."

"…"

"I objected from the beginning. Even the Marquis and your siblings tried to stop you."

"Stop what?"

"You were likely the first student to gain admission here with such an enormous donation."

The story was simple.

Enamored with the prince, the lady had applied to the most prestigious academy in Selcing.

Her academic record fell far short of the admission standard, but the Marquis’s substantial donation smoothed the way.

She barely managed to keep pace with the basic program… and then, well.

"You possess no magical talent. You’re aware of that."

"…"

"And yet, you stubbornly followed the prince into a magical studies major…"

"It was pure love…"

"Is this someone else’s life?"

"…"

"Of course, one can study magic without possessing power—many pursue research. But you don’t even like the subject. You have no interest in it."

"…"

"If you were going to enroll, you should have done it properly. You stopped attending the moment the prince graduated…"

Failing just before graduation takes effort.

Ruby Zephyrite managed to accomplish even that.

"But why does this bother you so much?"

"Why?"

The man who had been calmly laying out facts suddenly raised his voice.

"Because I’m your supervising assistant!"

"Supervising… what?"

"The professor! Asked me! Begged me! To do something about you!"

"…"

"The semester began weeks ago, and you haven’t shown up once!"

While one person is stuck as an assistant, another isn’t even managing to graduate.

Growing uneasy, the lady tried shifting blame onto me.

"Sonnet! Why didn’t you tell me sooner? You should have dragged me to class!"

"I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you considered it that important, my lady."

Apparently, even romantic leads need decent academic records.

As I bowed in silence, the new heroine leapt to her feet.

"No, I shouldn’t be blaming you when I’ve been drinking and losing my mind…"

Which version of her was I meant to keep up with?

The visitor, who had silently observed the fiancée’s transformation, finally stood from his chair.

"I don’t ask for much. Just attend class. Don’t make me come searching for you."

"…"

"It’s a nuisance for us both."

"Uh—wait!"

He paused at the door, giving her a chance to speak.

"What about our engagement?"

"You always do as you please."

The voice that slipped through the ornately carved door was ice-cold.

"We’ll discuss it later."

---

"What… what kind of relationship did I have with Lord Knox?"

The tea had long gone cold.

Beside her fork, the luxurious cake was being chopped into tiny pieces.

"You’ve been engaged for about ten years."

"And?"

"Would you prefer I speak politely or be blunt?"

"Blunt."

"You’ve ignored each other completely."

The rift between Ruby Zephyrite and Carnelian Knox was common knowledge among the household staff.

I simply repeated what the butler had told me.

"You were childhood friends. The families are still close."

"Close?"

"Since your... change, your relationship with Lord Knox has only deteriorated. The Marquis family deeply regrets it."

"What does the lord think of me?"

"You’ve been chasing after someone else—someone royal—for nearly a decade, despite being engaged. How do you think he feels?"

"…"

"Contempt. Disgust. Utter disappointment."

Her attempt to eat the cake using the handle of the fork was absurd.

I handed her a new one, and her pale eyelids fluttered like someone slowly waking up.

"How are my grades?"

"Should I put it kindly, or—"

"Bluntly! Always bluntly!"

She waved her fork with a dramatic flourish.

But her eyes, stretched sharp just moments ago, fell with disappointment.

"I won’t be offended, I promise. From now on, just always be honest with me!"

"If you work consistently for the next two to three years, you could graduate."

"I have to graduate this year. It must be this year."

"Why?"

"Well… reasons. Anyway, what do I need to do to graduate this year? Let’s assume I don’t miss another class. Okay?"

Tugging on my sleeve wouldn’t bring back the credits she’d lost.

"Hmm? I’ll do anything."

Her wide, upturned eyes shimmered with tears.

‘Right… this isn’t her fault. Her soul really did change.’

If it were me, I’d drop out and live off my money—but that’s why I’m not the protagonist.

"If you act quickly, it’s technically possible to graduate this year…"

"What do I need to do?"

"Ten courses per semester. While maintaining passing grades."

Her dark pupils wavered side to side.

The hand grasping my sleeve fell away limply.

"…What am I supposed to do?"

Exactly.

"There must be a way, right? Hmm? There has to be!"

"Well…"

"You graduated from the academy, didn’t you? You must have some kind of method."

This is far beyond my area of expertise.

---

"So that’s why you called me?"

---

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