I absolutely had no such intention.
“Haaaah…”
As I entered the classroom and took my seat, I let out a heavy sigh.
“Cristea-san…”
“Ugh, I really didn’t mean anything by that.”
I just wanted to warn them that mocking His Highness’es favorite food could be seen as disrespectful.
That’s really all there was to it.
“Well, this time it’s more like self-sabotage…”
“Well, you brought it upon yourself.”
“Ugh… I have no words to retort.”
Alicia-sama, who usually sits at the back, seemed concerned about my agitation, so she was sitting next to me today.
Sei, either out of restraint or because he got caught by Adry-sama, ended up in the seats behind us.
Ugh… Alicia-sama’s subtle retorts, paired with Mariel-chan’s reserved comments next to me, are unbearable when they give me those looks of ‘you are hopeless.’
“Even now, the misunderstanding from earlier might be spreading…”
“It might already be exaggerated to the point of ‘engagement decided during lunch break.'”
“Aaaargh…”
How absurd.
I only went to help Alicia-sama, but how did I end up in this mess?!
This is why I hate dealings with nobles!
Nobles make a big deal out of even the slightest slip of the tongue!
“It’s actually a great honor, though. It’s strange that you want to avoid it, Cristea-sama.”
Alicia-sama said, looking at me with a genuinely puzzled expression.
“I’ve been living secluded in my territory, so I’m not good at these kinds of interactions. Still, I thought I did pretty well, you know?”
What I thought was a “perfect hit!” turned out to be a curveball hitting me in the back…
“Cristea-san, you’re straightforward, for better or worse. That’s why what you thought was for the best ended up backfiring.”
“Not being able to scheme is fatal. I am not good at it either, but you, Cristea-sama, is quite something.”
I can’t scheme at all, so marrying into the Royal family is out of the question!
Ugugu… As I hung my head in frustration, Alicia-sama’s expression clouded.
“But, this time, it’s because you tried to protect me that this happened… I have caused you trouble, I’m so…”
“Alicia-sama, it’s only natural to help a friend. The outcome was just a result of my poor handling, not your fault, so I won’t accept any apologies, okay?”
“Cristea-sama…”
Alicia-sama swallowed her apology at my words. Yes, that’s how it should be.
“Alicia-sama, if you hold feelings for Prince Raymond, then I’ll support you wholeheartedly. I will provide you with my full backing! Maybe I should consult Oniisama and ask him to promote you actively, or arrange opportunities for you two to meet more often. Yes, I’ll definitely talk to Oniisama about it.”
“W-Well, feelings and all that… Nobles value the connections between families, so my feelings…”
Alicia-sama’s face turned red for a moment, then her tone weakened as she spoke, and she fell silent. Huh?
“Alicia-sama?”
Just as I was about to ask what was wrong, Teacher Neil entered the classroom, and the moment passed as class began.
The morning ended with Teacher Neil’s dense lecture on Monsterology.
“… Teacher Neil’s lectures on Monsterology are indeed interesting, but the frequent digressions are a downside.