Episode 35: When the Young Lady Becomes Angry

Royal Lytisia Academy, a certain classroom in the noble wing.

A space where new students gathered.

Most of them were strangers to one another, and with the new environment, a silence born of tension would normally permeate the air, but in this particular classroom, a different kind of silence filled the space.

Into this strange atmosphere, another new student was about to set foot.

He too was one who savored the tension characteristic of new students, but the moment he opened the door, the emotions in his chest were dyed into something else.

“…Beautiful”

As if spilling out, his mouth spun such words.

Graceful features, a white crane among the clouds.

A beauty that makes fish sink and geese fall, that makes the moon hide and flowers feel shame.

All the words in the world that express beauty

surely exist for that girl—Eleanore Anciness.

Everyone present was convinced of this.

“……..”

Despite being at the center of a vortex of piercing gazes, Eleanore showed no sign of being self-conscious about it.

With closed eyes, she sat in her seat with a gesture as if thinking deeply about something.

That figure was so refined it seemed like it might be a master sculptor’s work.

The sunlight streaming through the window was absorbed by her glossy, flowing jet-black long hair.

Perhaps because of that, she was clad in an aura that felt somehow even divine.

…However, the reason for this eerie silence was not just her “beauty.”

“Hey,”

One girl’s voice broke the silence of this space.

Everyone present trembled, wondering who it was.

“You’re Anciness-san…right?”

Eleanore faintly opened her jewel-like eyes and sent her gaze toward the voice’s owner.

There stood a girl with brown hair and orange eyes.

She had no particularly noteworthy features.

She gave off the innocence and lack of pretense characteristic of country folk, in a sense positioned at the opposite pole from Eleanore.

“…That’s correct”

“Good, I didn’t get it wrong. I’m Colette Holden. Nice to meet you”

The girl who introduced herself as Colette bloomed with a beaming smile.

Most people harbored emotions in their hearts that could be called either exasperation or sympathy—ah, what is she doing…

As expected, it was an unheard-of family name.

And yet, trying to converse so familiarly.

Faced with the overwhelming aura of inviolability she emitted, everyone thought so.

That’s probably why Eleanore’s next reaction was unexpected to them.

“Holden… A baron family from merchant origins, was it?”

“Oh my, you know about my house? Even though we’re not very famous”

“Well, to some extent. Pleased to meet you as well”

While floating a friendly smile, Eleanore extended her hand.

Colette showed a slightly surprised expression, but immediately grasped her hand in return.

…The surrounding new students who saw that exchange were inwardly astir.

It was probably a shocking sight, like a figure in a painting suddenly moving.

Or perhaps it was like a monster whose thoughts were unknowable showing a friendly attitude.

Eleanore’s fearsome nature was already being shared among the new students.

Some felt it as awe toward her ability and talent, while others felt it as pure fear.

Regarding the former, the reason was probably that she had achieved excellent results in the entrance exam and shown them her enrollment as top student.

Those who were present at the test knew that she had fully displayed her talents in practical subjects such as magic, horsemanship, and etiquette.

As for the latter… some of those who had attended the entrance ceremony earlier would apply.

An inexplicable, indescribable fear and killing intent.

For some reason, they seemed to have sensed such dangerous things from her standing on the stage during her speech.

In any case, they harbored somewhat timid feelings toward Eleanore.

“The moment I saw you, I thought I wanted to become friends”

“Is that so? Why is that?”

“Because look, you don’t often see someone this beautiful, right?”

“Fufu, you flatter me. There are plenty of people more beautiful than me at this academy”

Eleanore waved her hand as if being modest, but Colette’s manner seemed to say “even that reaction…”

Seeing this, the classmates who had become an audience began to revise their impression of her.

…Unexpectedly, isn’t she rather friendly?

Perhaps she’s not such a stiff and strict person after all.

The things that had been obstacles were being removed.

…That’s probably why some people appeared who misjudged the situation somewhat.

“Even with that speech earlier, you had a kind of charisma—”

“Yes! That’s absolutely right!!!”

Interrupting Colette’s words, a cheerful male voice rang out.

“How rude of me. I am Doggy Kamikam. I was deeply moved seeing Eleanore-sama’s wonderful appearance earlier”

Without even glancing at Colette, who had an annoyed expression, the man introduced himself while looking at Eleanore, who appeared suspicious.

Plastering on a thin smile like a crooked merchant, he was gripping both hands together.

Overall, he gave off a shady atmosphere.

“Your bearing, your breathing, your vocalization and behavior—everything was truly like that of a celestial being!”

“…Is that so. Thank you very much”

He rattled off praise in rapid succession, but rather than brightening, Eleanore’s expression only grew more dubious.

“Yes! It was truly wonderful! A magnificent speech that those from the knight course standing beside you couldn’t even compare to—”

Not finding this amusing, he tried to praise her even more excessively, but…

At that moment, the atmosphere of the entire classroom literally transformed.

“……..What did you just say?”

Eleanore’s shadow at her feet writhed.

Her glossy black hair flickered murkily, and pitch-black magical power that seemed to merge with it surged forth.

An indescribable tension ran through everyone present.

An intense pressure that made even breathing difficult dominated this space.

“A m-magnificent…speech”

“Before that”

“Couldn’t even compare……those from the knight course—”

“……Haah”

At her sigh, the man called Doggy or something stiffened his entire body as if frozen.

The sounds of his breathing and heartbeat felt strangely loud, and unpleasant sweat oozed on his oddly expanded forehead.

“Are you disparaging him?”

“N……o. I didn’t mean it that way…”

“You said ‘those from the knight course,’ didn’t you? Your discriminatory mindset based on status is showing through, you know?”

Eleanore’s eyes became sharp as if piercing.

“At this academy, status is not questioned, so you should revise such thinking. Furthermore, isn’t it questionable to casually call someone by their first name when meeting them for the first time?”

It was an admonishing way of speaking that wasn’t emotional.

But that was only on the surface, and it was obvious at a glance that she harbored rage like a raging fire.

“…I…apologize”

While trembling, he bent at the waist and showed an apology.

“Apologize to him…and to the commoner students and the school principal”

But casting a gaze that showed she had absolutely no interest in such things, Eleanore curtly dismissed it.

Doggy, whose entire body was covered in greasy sweat, let out a feeble breath like “kafu” and trudged out of the classroom.

Left behind were Eleanore with a nonchalant expression.

And the other classmates whose spines were frozen.

A silence of a different vector from before drifted through this space.

“…Ah, um. He kind of jumped on my comment, but I don’t think like that guy does, okay? Both were really good”

“…Fufu. I see. Well, I think he was far superior to me though”

To Colette, who spoke as if making an excuse, Eleanore returned a smile.

There was certainly no anger contained there.

…But a strange kind of fearfulness was hidden within.

This is a later story, but it wasn’t long before an unspoken understanding spread: “Don’t say anything about the top student of the knight course in front of Eleanore!”