The protagonist, still under the piercing cold gaze of the princess, remained frozen in place. The oppressive atmosphere, like an icy wind cutting through the air, only began to ease after I decided to intervene.

Perhaps it was because these two characters were never meant to meet in the original story, but I found myself deeply intrigued. Still, I couldn’t simply stand by and watch. If this continued, Rezia might actually burst into tears. Stepping forward, I gently broke the tension.

"Please, let’s put an end to this. Making others uncomfortable is never a good thing."

My voice was calm and composed. Despite the conciliatory tone, Elise only furrowed her brow and shot me a sharp glare, clearly displeased.

"...Are you taking her side now?"

Ah. So the target had shifted.

Her eyes were filled with irritation—and, oddly, a hint of hurt. Her words, sharp as thorns, might have stung, but I remained unshaken, responding with practiced ease. After all, soothing a petulant child was second nature to me.

"I wouldn’t take sides. Both of you are dear to me."

I gently reached out and stroked her hair, my fingers brushing through her soft crimson locks. Like petals scattering in the wind, her sharp demeanor softened just a bit. A quiet mumble escaped her lips, almost as if she were speaking to herself.

"You think petting me will make it better…? It won’t, you know."

"Heh."

Her pouty response was almost endearing.

"You said you were on my side once."
"Of course, I’m on your side."
"Then why are you defending that commoner hiding behind you?"
"But you know it was all a misunderstanding. Harassing Rezia for no reason isn’t right, don’t you agree?"
"It wasn’t harassment…"
"Intent isn’t the only factor, Your Highness. Given the vast difference in status between you two, even a small action might feel overwhelming to her. What you see as mild pressure could come across as terrifying to someone like Rezia."
"Nag, nag… You’ve always been too wordy."
"It’s all for your happiness. You should also learn how to live harmoniously with others."
"You never stop, do you?"
"That’s how sincere I am."

I smiled gently as I spoke.

Elise looked up at me silently, then sighed in resignation. Her gaze shifted to Rezia, who was still cowering.

"…I’m sorry. I acted out because I was irritated."
"W-what?!"
"If I upset you, I apologize."
"Y-Your Highness?! I’m fine, really! There’s no need to lower your head over something like this!"

The rose-like princess offered a sincere apology, surprising everyone. Despite her usual prickly demeanor, she was willing to admit her faults. Perhaps it was a reflection of her inherently kind nature.

Having been confined to her metaphorical cage for over a decade, she was simply inexperienced in dealing with people, not someone who carried malice. Even with her thorns, she was, at her core, a flower.

"Heh."

I chuckled softly, patting both of their heads. Just as I was basking in the peaceful moment, a sharp jab at my shoulder interrupted me.

It was Emilia, who had been silently observing from the side. Her transparent eyes reflected a mix of bemusement and exasperation.

Seeing both the pink-haired and red-haired girls standing docilely under my hand, Emilia sighed dramatically, shaking her head in a gesture of resigned acceptance.

"You really are something else."
"Lady Emilia?"
"It’s nothing. I just wanted to remind you of how sinful a person you are."
"Oh my, I’m one of the most sinful people in the empire, you know."
"…When you say it, it doesn’t sound like a joke at all. Could you at least tone down the nonsense?"
"Hmm, I’ll think about it."

Was it really a joke?

I offered her my most mischievous smile, which earned an eye-roll in response.

The playful banter continued as we strolled through the academy grounds. The bustling crowd and lively atmosphere heightened my awareness of the people walking alongside me. For a brief moment, I allowed myself to savor the joy of the present.

"By the way."

A sudden remark broke the comfortable rhythm. It was Emilia again.

"Everyone’s finished their practical exams, right? A-Class had all their matches scheduled for the first day."
"That’s correct."
"That means the only thing left is your event, doesn’t it?"

Ah, the faculty showdown.

With the event only a few days away, it was already a hot topic among the students. Understandably so—matches between professors and assistants were rare spectacles.

"I plan to approach it moderately."
"Your idea of ‘moderate’ seems… questionable."
"Heh."

I dodged the comment with a nonchalant chuckle.

As we walked on, a gathering of students caught my attention. They stood clustered in a circle, murmuring excitedly as if watching something unfold.

Before I could ask, Rezia spoke up, her voice tinged with unease.

"U-um… it’s Professor Selena over there."

Following her gaze, I spotted Selena in the center of the crowd. Her distinctive purple hair and perpetually weary expression stood out, even from a distance.

And opposite her stood someone I recognized immediately.

"Professor Kardel…?"

Kardel, one of the academy’s most influential faculty members and a leading candidate for head professor.

He was also one of Selena’s most frequent adversaries.

Seeing the two facing off, I tilted my head in confusion.

"What’s going on here?"

***

Cardel Evans.

Cardel was a rising star at Galimar Academy. After Selena's fall from grace as the head professor, he had quickly amassed influence and built a strong faction of supporters among the faculty. Despite his youth, his skills had earned him a reputation as one of the academy’s central figures, and he was the most prominent candidate for the next head professor.

Now, this accomplished young man stood face-to-face with a notorious drunkard.

"Professor Selena."
"..."

The animosity between the two was no secret.

Cardel had used his influence to ostracize Selena among the faculty, while Selena openly expressed her distaste for his constant provocations. Last year, their disagreements had escalated into open clashes, with neither side backing down. While things had seemed to settle recently, that fragile peace shattered today.

Cardel, breaking the silence, issued a clear challenge.

"You haven’t forgotten the faculty showdown happening in a few days, have you?"

The imminent showdown was the perfect opportunity for him.

Since Selena’s fall from her position of authority, Cardel had been lying in wait for the right moment to eliminate her as a competitor entirely. The event provided him with a chance to do so publicly and decisively.

"It just so happens that we’ve been paired for the event. Like a mouse caught in a trap, wouldn’t you say?"

He sneered, referencing their upcoming match with a smug grin.

While the recent addition of a first-year prodigy under Selena’s tutelage was a potential variable, it wasn’t enough to tilt the scales. No matter how talented Yuda Snakeus was, he was still a student—a long way from challenging someone like Cardel. This was a battle of authority, and Cardel had the upper hand.

"We owe you for the embarrassment last time."

Cardel smirked, his words heavy with mockery. He was referring to the infamous incident two months prior, when Ian Tornado, his chief assistant, had been publicly humiliated by Yuda after issuing a duel challenge. Forced to dance in front of the entire academy, Ian had become the butt of countless jokes.

"This showdown will be a chance to settle old scores."
"Will it, now?"
"Absolutely."

Selena remained composed, her tone indifferent.

"I’m not the type to dwell on such things."
"Your calm demeanor is admirable. But let me make one thing clear—you can’t hope to match me in strength."

Cardel’s words dripped with scorn, his voice loud enough for the gathered students to hear clearly. His intention to humiliate Selena was obvious.

Selena frowned but said nothing.

It was true—Cardel was one of the top three most powerful staff members in the academy, specializing in combat magic. Selena, a scholar of illusion magic, was far from suited for direct confrontations. Her strength lay in her intellect and strategic thinking, not brute force.

"What can you possibly achieve with mere illusion magic?"

His statement wasn’t entirely wrong, but his delivery was meant to demean. He wasn’t content to defeat Selena; he wanted to strip her of any remaining dignity in front of the students.

"This time, I plan to crush you completely. And that student of yours won’t be spared, either."
"How petty."
"The students need to see what happens when you follow a flawed teacher."
"Your knack for dressing up small-minded cruelty as education is as distasteful as ever."

Their long-standing feud had now escalated to include their students, turning this into a far more personal and complex conflict.

As the tension reached its peak, a new voice interrupted.

"Excuse me."

A shadow emerged through the crowd, slipping between the two professors with deliberate ease.

The figure greeted them with a polite yet unsettling smile.

"Good afternoon to you both."

The newcomer's striking golden hair gleamed faintly in the light. His narrow, ominously cheerful eyes, combined with his immaculate suit, left no room for doubt about his identity.

It was none other than Yuda Snakeus, Selena’s chief assistant and the very student whose name had just been on Cardel’s lips.

***

"Good afternoon to you both."

My greeting was casual, but the impact was immediate.

The professors, who had been moments away from escalating their standoff, turned to face me. I hadn’t originally intended to intervene, but the insults aimed at my mentor had been too much to ignore. Watching quietly had ceased to be an option.

Cardel was the first to recover, his voice smooth and measured.

"A sudden appearance. Good afternoon, Yuda."

Unfazed, he returned my greeting with his usual smug composure.

"What brings you here?"
"I overheard something intriguing nearby."
"Not exactly a topic for students to involve themselves in."
"Even so, I can’t stand by in silence while someone insults my mentor."

"Hm."

His expression barely wavered, but I caught a flicker of annoyance beneath his calm exterior.

I glanced over my shoulder at Selena, standing behind me. Her expression was weary and irritated, but she didn’t seem inclined to stop me. That fit her usual character—avoiding these power struggles whenever possible. Taking her silence as approval, I turned back to Cardel, fully prepared to escalate.

Cardel, of course, seized the opportunity to needle me further.

"It’s a shame you declined my recruitment offer."
"I’m content where I am."
"What a waste of talent. Joining her was likely the greatest mistake of your life. You have the potential to reach the stars, Yuda."
"Whether I do or not, that’s my business."

His condescension was palpable, but I wasn’t about to let him have the upper hand.

"Besides," I said with a slight smirk, "I didn’t think I had anything to learn from your side."

Cardel’s brows furrowed.

"What did you say?"
"I’ve already faced your chief assistant, after all. His performance was… underwhelming. Isn’t it a waste for someone with my potential to work under such lackluster tutelage?"

The jab hit its mark. Cardel let out a short, bitter laugh, his expression hardening.

"How arrogant."

The temperature seemed to drop as his voice turned icy.

"You’d do well to remember your place. No matter how talented you are, with a single gesture, I could bring you to your knees."

Boom.

The pressure in the air shifted abruptly, a palpable wave of killing intent rolling outward.

For an ordinary student, just standing under this weight would have been impossible. Even some of the students watching from the sidelines instinctively took a step back, sensing the danger.

Selena looked ready to intervene, but I held up a hand to stop her, signaling with a calm smile that I had everything under control.

And then, I laughed.

"Heh."

The tension was like a coiled spring, the silence hanging heavy as the oppressive atmosphere lingered. For a moment, the only thing cutting through the stillness was the autumn breeze.

Then, as suddenly as it had come, the pressure dissipated.

It seemed Cardel had decided not to escalate further. Perhaps he realized that drawing more attention would only complicate matters. He withdrew his intent with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"There’s no need to get worked up. After all, we’ll settle this properly during the showdown."

His words carried a grating air of magnanimity, as though he were doing me a favor by letting the matter rest.

Turning to leave, he added one final comment, as though savoring his assumed position of dominance.

But I wasn’t done.

"You know something?"

My voice stopped him mid-step, and he turned just enough to glance at me over his shoulder.

"You seem to be under a misapprehension."

I let the silence stretch for a beat before delivering the blow.

"You’re the challenger here."

The words hit like a thunderclap.

The crowd of students gasped, their expressions ranging from shock to outright disbelief. Even Selena, who had remained stoic throughout, raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Cardel froze, his face a mix of anger and incredulity.

I, meanwhile, smiled brightly, adjusting the slight curve of my lips as I savored the moment.

"Ah," I murmured to myself, "this feeling… exhilarating."

News of my audacious declaration spread through the academy like wildfire.

A student openly challenging one of the most influential professors? It was an unprecedented scandal, and it didn’t take long for everyone to hear about it.

The showdown promised to be nothing short of legendary.