Chapter 25: Regular Exam

“I’ll definitely win this time!”

Mary Winston, 2nd Year Class A student, had set her mind to be the top student. She was always in the second place last year. So this time, she boasted that she would become the top student. Her best friend, Alisa Fervor, said some words of encouragement to her, but in her heart, Alisa was pretty sure that Norman Roy Blayne would take the first place again.

Alisa: “I think second place is great too.”

Mary: “At this point, I don’t care about the ranking anymore. As long as I can defeat him, I’m satisfied.”

Seeing that Mary was burning with fighting spirit, Alisa decided that it was dangerous to get any closer to her. Mary stayed up late every night to study and she had dark circle hidden under her glasses. It made Alisa worried but there was nothing that she could do or say to stop Mary.

Alisa didn’t want to disturb Mary, so she had went to find Dreis Kilmarion Muebles[1]. She wasn’t so close with him before, but she need his help with her studies. Dreis was a quiet guy, but he would explanation in details, and was fun to hang out with. Alisa planned to give Dreis a treat if she could get a good result for the exam tomorrow.

Alisa changed the topic and mentioned about their junior. “I wonder how the 1st Year is doing.”

Mary replied to her, “I really hope that Razé would get the first place. I’ve given her my notes for past papers. I’ve explained the spirit of ‘down with the aristocracy’ to her. She should be fine.”

Huh? Which part of it was fine? Don’t teach ridiculous things to the junior. Alisa gave Mary a weird look.

Mary: “I’ve made a promise to give her a treat if she gets the first place. I must get the first place too so that I won’t be overtaken by my junior.”

No wonder she’s so fired up. I hope Razé won’t be like her and despise all the aristocrats. Alisa was a bit worried about her junior.

She looked at Mary and let out a sigh. She was worried because Mary got sick easily and she seemed to be overworking herself. Alisa had a hunch that Mary would get the second place again.

She snuggled into her blanket and said, “I’m going to sleep now.”

Mary: “Okay. I’ll stay up for a little bit more. Good night.”

Alisa: “Good night. Don’t stay up too late.”

Mary: “I know.”

* * *

The day of the exam.

Alisa: “I told you not to stay up late, didn’t I?”

Mary: “It’s okay. I’m fine.”

Alisa puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction looking at Mary who obviously was not fine. She must have stayed up very late last night.

Alisa: “This is why you always lose to Norman!”

Mary: “Nonsense! I’ve studied twice harder this time. I’m not going to lose!”

Alisa felt annoyed so she turned her face away. She knew that there was no way Mary could perform well with her current condition. Alisa’s frustration had reached her limit, so she ignored Mary and went to the classroom first.

A few minutes later, Mary walked into the classroom. She looked so sick but insist on not going to the infirmary. She was reviewing her study up until the last minute.

Then the exam began.

They had just finished their first paper after the lunch break, and the teacher was collecting their answer sheets when Mary finally collapsed from her chair. Alisa instantly stood up from her seat and exclaimed, “Mary!”

Right before Mary’s body was going to hit the floor, Norman rushed over and caught her. He looked at the teacher and said, “Sensei, I will bring her to the infirmary.”

The teacher gave him the permission and then turned towards the classroom and said, “You all wait for a while. We will start the next paper once Norman returns.”

Norman carried Mary and left the classroom.

“I’ve warned her …” Alisa blamed herself for not being able to stop Mary and letting her overworked herself until she collapsed.

A few minutes later, Norman returned to the classroom and the test resumed. When the exam ended that day, Alisa hurriedly cleared her desk and planned to go to see Mary.

“Wait!” Just when she was about to leave the classroom, Dreis rushed up to her and caught her arm. “Mmm… It’s not your fault, you know.”

Alisa couldn’t understand what he was saying at first. Then she realized that he was talking about Mary. She casted down her eyes and said, “Thank you.”

“One more thing. I think it’s better if you don’t go now. You’d disturb them,” Dreis said as he looked at an empty chair. It was Norman’s seat.

Alisa realized what he was trying to say. “Hahaha. Right. Let her future husband take care of her.” Alisa gave a wry grin as she thought about her troublesome friend.

This year, the first place was Norman again.

* * *

Mary: “Alisa. I’m sorry for making you worried.”

Mary had missed some of the exam papers, but she was allowed to re-sit for the test and her score would be adjusted accordingly.

After Alisa finished her exam, she went to visit Mary at the infirmary and received an apology from her. It seemed that Mary had realized her mistake.

Alisa: “It’s fine as long as you know it. I’ve told you so many times that taking care of your health is important too. Don’t make the same mistake again.”

Mary: “Yes …”

Alisa let out a sigh after seeing the downhearted look on her face.

Alisa: “By the way, Razé-chan really did her best as you had expected.”

Mary: “What do you mean?”

Alisa: “The first place for 1st Year is Razé Granoli. She had beaten your record.”

Mary: “Really?!”

The scholarship student who had managed to get full marks on all subjects had become very famous throughout the academy.

Alisa: “As a senior, we must protect our precious junior.”

Mary: “Right. We mustn’t let our fellow comrade with bright future getting corrupted by a bad guy. I need to get well soon!”

A commoner scholarship student taking the first place would attract attention, both in a good and bad way. The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Mary was once bullied by her peers. But now she was studying diligently at the aristocratic school with help from Norman.

For now, Mary decided that she needed to get well soon so that she could bring her adorable junior out for a treat.

* * *

At that time, Razé was sitting in the dining hall while being the center of attention among the students. Members of their study group had gathered together to celebrate the end of exams.

Carna: “Razé, you got full marks for all subjects? That’s too amazing.”

Razé: “Haha. It’s all thanks to the notes that I received from the senior.”

She originally targeted somewhere around the tenth place, but she had changed her mind after the poison incident. Although she felt bad for Carna, she decided that it would be dangerous to let Carna took the first place. She would rather sacrifice herself and be the target.

Carna-sama is too smart …

Maybe because of the upbringing she had as the future empress, during the study session Razé was convinced that Carna was a very talented person, so she had no choice but to take the first place. Besides, she thought that the enemy might noticed her and changed the target if she showed her presence as the commoner who was close to Carna.

Carna: “Notes from senior?”

Razé: “It was Mary-senpai[2] who took the second place last year. She gave me her notes.”

Carna: “Really?”

Razé: “Yes. Mary-senpai …She’s not really fond of aristocrats …”

Listening to her words, Carna could guess what Razé meant. By right, Razé could share the notes with others, but it was full of comments like ‘down with the aristocrats!’. She didn’t dare to show it to them.

Carna: “Still, it’s very impressive that you could get full marks. It’s your own capability. I must do my best too.”

Razé: “Mary-senpai overworked herself trying to defeat Norman-senpai. She ended up getting sick and couldn’t even finished the exam. You should be careful.”

Carna: “Re- Really?”

She was a bit turned off by Mary’s extremeness. Razé didn’t say anything and quietly ate her Hamburg steak.

Folia: “Ahem. It’s going to be the long holiday soon, right?”

Ian: “Yeah.”

Folia seemed like she had something to say and looked nervous.

Folia: “If- If it’s okay with you, do you all want to go to the Star Festival together?”

Folia worked up her courage and asked the question. Razé thought her action looked so cute and was about to nod her head automatically but she held herself back. Once she went back to the military, there would be lots of work to do. She also needed to investigate about the enemy that was targeting Carna. She didn’t think she would have time to go to the Star Festival.

Adis: “I’m sorry. I have prior engagement with the girls. Maybe next time. I think we might bump into each other at the festival anyway.”

This guy, how dare he simply rejected the angel’s invitation! Razé was dissatisfied with Adis reaction because he didn’t act like a normal love interest.

Folia looked dispirited, so Luca and Ian immediately replied that they would join her. When Carna said that she wanted to go too, Ruben and Claude also agreed to join her.

Folia: “What about you, Razé-chan?”

Folia and Carna were looking at her with eyes that said ‘you must come!’

Razé: “… I’m sorry. It’d be difficult because the festival is a good time for me to earn money. If I can get some time off, then I’ll join you.”

She needed to go back to her work at the military. There was no time for her to play around.

Hearing her words, Carna put down her cutlery and called out to her. “Razé!”

Razé looked at Carna who was staring with teary eyes.

Carna: “Would you like to come to my house during the holiday?”

Razé: “Err….”

Carna: “I’d love if you could come. You can stay as a guest and I’ll make sure to be the best host.”

Razé: “That is …”

Carna: “Will you come? I’ve always wanted to have sleepover with friends. My bed is very big, we can sleep together. Is it okay?”

Razé suddenly felt that Ruben’s eyes had turned scary.

Razé: “Hmm. Thank you for the invitation but I live at the place I work at. I’m sorry.”

Ruben: “She has her own things to do. You can just invite her next time.”

Carna: “I see. Sorry if I’ve made you feel uncomfortable.”

Razé: “Not at all. It’s me who should apologize to you for making you worried.”

Razé was well aware that Ruben had purposely stopped her from having a sleepover. It seemed that the prince had a very strong possessive nature.

After the meal, they talked about the festival, and then Carna and Folia went to the washroom together. Razé felt awkward being the only girl left at the table. She always considered herself as an extra person that came along with Carna and Folia as a set. She never felt like she belonged to this group of people. But she was worried if something might happen during the holiday, so she turned to speak to Ruben.

Razé: “Your Highness.”

Ruben: “What is it?”

Razé: “Please make sure to never let go of Carna-sama. As her friend, I won’t let you go if you make her cry.”

Razé felt that she needed to warn Ruben so that he would be more vigilant. Ruben looked straight into Razé’s eyes and said, “There’s no way that I’d leave her. It’s you who should make sure not to make her cry.”

Razé felt relieved when she heard his words.

Razé: “A jealous man looks ugly, you know.”

Ruben: “Now you’re showing your true colors. Even if you are her friend, I won’t give her to you.”

Razé: “I see. Unlike you, I already knew her three size[3]. Of course, Folia too.”

Ruben: Σ(｀□´/)/ ﾅﾆｨｨｲｲ

Ian and Luca who were listening next to them were choking on their food while Adis was trying to suppress his laugh.

Adis: “You have no fears, do you?”

Razé: “Nothing is scarier than being starved to death.”

Her words made the guys speechless.

Razé thought that she had only answered truthfully, but the guys were shooting a wistful look at her.

Folia noticed the weird atmosphere when she returned to the table.

Folia: “What’s wrong?”

Razé: “I was telling them that even a commoner would protect their friends with their life.”

Ruben: “Is that what we were talking about?”

Luca: “I don’t think so.”

Carna listened to their conversation and it made her laughed.

Carna: “I’m glad that everyone is getting along well with Razé. She’s my precious friend. I hope all of you will treat her well.”

Folia: “Ah, she’s my precious friend too!”

The guys watched the smiling goddess and the cheerful angel without saying anything. As for Razé, she thought that there was no downside for being friends with those guys.

Razé: “Thank you for your concern, Carna-sama. And you too, Folia.”

The guys had a weird expression on their face when they saw Razé smiled cheerfully.

[1] His surname is ムーブレス. By right, the English spelling should be ‘Moveless’. I’m not sure why the author chose this name or if there is anyone on this planet is surnamed Moveless. So I’ll just change the spelling to Muebles. Furniture is better than moveless, right? ↩

[2] senpai: senior. Japanese students usually call their seniors name+senpai or name+san. ↩

[3] Three size is a Japanglish word (English that only used in Japan). It means three primary female body measurements (bust, waist, hips) ↩