“So… you joined us just to shake off the other girls?” Alice said, looking somewhere between exasperated and amused.

We were all seated around a table at a nearby restaurant.

Despite some back-and-forth on the way, Jake had managed to tag along, so our group now consisted of seven people, which meant finding a large enough table. We’d ended up around a sizable round one, which, though it kept us spaced out, was a relief in its own way. At least I wouldn’t feel too crowded.

“To be honest, yes,” Jake admitted, his straightforwardness helping him secure a seat between me and Leo. The other girls hadn’t wanted to sit next to him.

Apparently, this crowd of earnest types didn’t mesh well with Jake’s “bad boy” vibe. Despite his reputation, Jake was actually a top student and disciplined in his daily training, but people rarely noticed that unless they paid close attention.

Lottie, for instance, despised anyone who belittled Jake. Knowing better than anyone else just how hard he worked in private, she couldn’t stand when people dismissed him.

“From the moment I stepped off the train, they just swarmed me,” Jake sighed.

Though we weren’t in the capital, the students were still recognizable, even if none were visible here in the restaurant.

“Well, you *are* the son of a duke, and you do have that look of someone who’d give in easily,” Alice replied, raising an eyebrow.

“A bit harsh, don’t you think?” Jake retorted, though he didn’t seem offended.

Jake was a character full of confidence—not arrogance, but assuredness in his plans and actions.

And those plans always centered around Lottie. Eventually, he wanted to brush aside all the distractions and live happily together with her. That was his goal.

“Go easy on him,” Leo spoke up in Jake’s defense.

“And how would *you* know about his struggles?” Claire quickly countered, leaving Leo momentarily speechless.

To be fair, Leo wasn’t exactly popular at this stage. The game’s progression was all about slowly building rapport, one episode at a time.

Yet, the group didn’t seem to dislike having him around. Despite being the only guy among them, no one appeared uncomfortable or out of place. It was, in a way, a classic setup for a harem story.

“So, you targeted Sylvia?” Alice asked Jake.

She had the strange ability to read my expressions accurately and seemed confident that I hadn’t developed feelings for him.

“Exactly. Sylvia’s the one noble girl other nobles don’t flock to.”

It wasn’t only noble boys who attracted a following of noble girls.

Even though we were just three weeks into the school year, the Academy had already split into factions, despite having only fifteen students per class.

This division was inevitable. Nobles rallied around dukes, who in turn formed alliances to amass power. Even with the Emperor wielding absolute authority, it was necessary to have backing—whether by aligning with the Emperor or forming bonds with powerful dukes from a young age.

School friendships were part of this strategy, with daughters of dukes becoming popular among students for reasons beyond personal affection.

Technically, as a member of House Fangriffon, I should’ve been in the thick of it too. But rumors and reputation kept most people away from me.

In that sense, I envied Jake a bit. Whether I was male or female, I’d never been popular with girls.

…Well, that’s a rather sad thought. Better not dwell on it.

“Even so, using people like that…”

The group didn’t seem thrilled about Jake’s plan, which, honestly, was touching.

All I’d done since starting here was tag along on walks and meals with them. But to be treated as part of the group by characters I’d admired in the game—it was more gratifying than I’d expected.

Even Charlotte, who had no real reason to view me favorably, seemed willing to consider me a friend.

“It’s alright,” I assured Charlotte. “No harm was done, so there’s no need to worry.”

“See?” Jake couldn’t resist adding, which earned him a round of glares.

“A remark like that—” Alice began, about to say something to Jake when the server arrived.

“Your meals are here,” the server announced, setting our food down with precision.

There were no individual menus; this place served a fixed breakfast, lunch, and dinner, catering to traveling businesspeople and soldiers. But the moment the food hit the table, Charlotte and Alice, along with everyone else, fell silent.

“Please enjoy your meal,” the server said, unperturbed by our stares, before walking back to the counter.

“Um…”

Even Jake, usually so laid-back, seemed at a loss for words as he looked down at the food.

“So, this is…”

I glanced at the food on my plate, following the others’ example.

It looked like a very thick sausage at first glance. It was more of a ball shape than a sausage, really, but sausage was a local specialty, so it wasn’t entirely surprising.

Still, it was an unusual dish for sure.

“Haggis,” I announced.

They looked at me and then back at the food.

It was a well-known “peculiar” food from England—or rather, Scotland, if we were following the inspiration for the Empire’s regions.

In this fantasy world, the creators had loosely placed cuisine according to cultural influences. The northern Empire, inspired by Britain, had its own “local flavors.”

While the group sat silently, I picked up my fork and knife.

It could’ve been worse. At least it wasn’t some bizarre fantasy dish.

Though I hadn’t tried haggis myself, I’d heard it was tolerable by Korean standards, somewhat like sundae, or blood sausage.

This might actually remind me of home.

***

In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Alice, Claire, and Leo managed to finish theirs as well, though Jake and Mia left a bit on their plates. Charlotte, however, barely touched half.

“Is all northern cuisine… like this?” she asked afterward.

Charlotte, who’d held back any complaints while eating, had been especially mindful, likely because I seemed to be enjoying my meal.

She might usually find the Empire’s bread unsatisfactory, but at least this dish wasn’t even comparable.

As a royal, Charlotte knew that mocking regional food was unwise.

“There’s bread in the north too,” I replied.

“Well, that’s a relief…” She sighed deeply, genuinely.

Normally, hearing about the Empire’s mediocre bread would make her frown, but today, even the bread seemed preferable to haggis.

After all, with Belvure’s culinary inspiration drawn from France and Belgium, her standards were high.

I’d heard even the French had their share of “pungent” sausages, but now was probably not the time to mention that.