“……Get out of my way.”

When Nigel barely managed to spit out the words, Noah stepped aside obediently while still smiling.

Nigel disliked how Noah would suddenly change his attitude like a flipped coin whenever he avoided her gaze. What she disliked even more was how Noah’s actions made her heart waver.

Grip. Nigel clutched her signet ring.

She became certain that she couldn’t delay returning the signet ring any longer.

“Noah, you know……”

When she met Noah’s kind gaze that seemed to ask what was wrong, white roses blocked her view.

Startled by the sudden situation, Nigel turned her eyes to see white roses fluttering everywhere.

The person who created the roses was none other than Widrun.

Why did he have to appear now of all times?

As Nigel frowned, Widrun’s eyes curved gently when their gazes met.

‘No wonder the 2nd and 3rd years’ reactions were lukewarm last year.’

Though surprised at first by the disappearing roses, seeing them a second time wasn’t as impressive. Even his explanation of the flower’s meaning felt similar, making her indifferent.

‘I should advise him to change his lines next time we meet.’

Nigel crossed her arms and made a mental note.

“……Lastly, I will announce the top scorer of the entrance exam.”

With those words, the banquet hall buzzed with excitement.

The students who had been laughing and chatting suddenly had sharp gazes like knives, staring at those around them.

Unlike before when she was confused, now she understood the reason.

Last night’s faculty score announcement ceremony, held in front of the graduating student council seniors, was pure madness.

Seeing the seniors they wouldn’t see after tomorrow heightened an inexplicable sense of belonging. Though an illegal, unofficial event, everyone wanted to win and give face to the departing seniors one last time.

Even the indifferent Nigel was howling like a beast by the end of the ceremony. When announced as the highest scorer, she proudly walked amidst jeers from other faculties, which said it all.

As a result, the ceremony ending with the magic faculty’s victory was enough to boost the pride of magic faculty students.

In other words, it meant the sword and politics faculties’ competitive spirit was at its peak.

Especially since the entrance exam’s top score would be the first faculty points earned after last night’s reset, its significance was even greater.

Nigel found herself hoping Widrun’s lips would announce the magic faculty.

“……Kuk.”

Just then, Nigel heard laughter that ruined the mood.

She quickly turned her head to look up at Noah.

“What, why.”

“Because you’re cute.”

Noah leaned close to whisper in Nigel’s ear again before quickly pulling away.

“What……!”

Nigel’s hand flailed in the air as she tried to grab Noah.

As expected of a swordsman, his movements were annoyingly fast with no wasted motion.

“Nigel, what are you doing? Hahaha!”

This time Allen was the culprit.

Feeling the heat rising in her face, Nigel quickly gave up and waited for Widrun’s lips to open.

“This year’s entrance exam top scorer is…… Ms. Amber Sinclair of the politics faculty, who missed a perfect score by only two points!”

Joy and sorrow crossed the faces of students from the three faculties.

A cold-looking girl with ash-gray hair walked elegantly to stand before Widrun.

The politics faculty applauded generously, saying it was an expected result, while the rest of the students looked at them coldly.

Meanwhile, both faculties didn’t forget to applaud the new student.

‘That Sinclair surname sounds familiar somehow.’

As Nigel pondered, Allen provided the answer.

“Sinclair… isn’t that Ashton’s younger sister? Now that I see her, they look exactly alike.”

“Ashton? Ah, so that was his surname.”

“What? You applied to be partners without even knowing that?”

Allen playfully poked Nigel’s cheek, but quickly shut his mouth when he saw Noah’s darkened expression.

“I didn’t even know he was from a ducal family until Stella mentioned it.”

Nigel said nonchalantly as she watched Amber receive the green teleportation stone.

But suddenly, Amber began approaching Nigel.

Wondering what was going on, Nigel’s eyes widened as Amber walked towards her without hesitation.

“She’s definitely coming to me. Yes, she must have a lot to ask this senior.”

Allen’s excited voice reached Nigel’s ears.

“You’re spouting nonsense with no logic because you’re obsessed with being called senior.”

“Just watch.”

Allen clenched his fist in anticipation of Amber approaching, or more precisely, waiting to hear her call him senior.

But Amber, who came right up to them, quickly passed by Nigel and Allen.

“Didn’t I tell you?”

Nigel snickered and nudged Allen’s side.

“Huh……?”

Instead of a complaint, Allen stupidly pointed his finger.

As Nigel’s gaze followed that finger, she met Noah’s eyes standing right behind her.

And in front of Noah stood Amber Sinclair.

“Sir Noah Beselion…… or should I call you senior here?”

Noah was too flustered to say anything.

“Senior Noah, it’s been a while since the royal ball.”

Amber took another step closer to the frozen Noah. Their distance was so close that Noah’s lips seemed about to touch Amber’s ash-gray hair.

As Noah tried to avoid her gaze with a coldly stiff face, Amber didn’t miss the chance and met his eyes with a sweet smile.

Even Nigel felt breathless for a moment at that beautiful smile.

Noah’s eyes narrowed when he noticed Nigel entranced by Amber after floundering about.

“Well, it seems Amber is more effective on Nigel than Noah?”

Allen whispered mischievously.

“……What.”

Nigel mumbled absentmindedly, unable to take her eyes off Amber’s smile.

Haah, Allen’s deep sigh followed as a response.

“Nigel, you’re an unmatched friend, but you’re too insensitive about these things. Just now, it’s practically the same as Amber making a public confession to Noah.”

“……!”

The moment she heard Allen’s whisper, a small but intense emotion bloomed deep in her chest.

Amber’s pretty smile no longer captivated Nigel’s gaze.

It was an emotion heavier than irritation, yet lighter than anxiety.

“Amber Sinclair, what are you doing to my classmate?”

At that moment, Ashton quickly appeared and grabbed the hem of Amber’s dress without hesitation, pulling her away from Noah.

Unlike his usual relaxed and sly smile, Ashton’s face was filled with pure annoyance.

The same was true for Amber. Her sweet smile vanished as quickly as spilled white paint, and a cold face met Ashton.

“Ash…… mmph!”

“My apologies, Lord Beselion.”

Ashton mercilessly covered Amber’s mouth and bowed his head to Noah.

When his eyes met Nigel’s, Ashton gave a faint smile and nodded in greeting, seeming embarrassed.

Then he dragged Amber away.

Even after Amber disappeared, the trace left by the inexplicable small emotion in Nigel’s heart still exerted a strong presence.

“……By the way, I didn’t know Ashton had that side to him.”

Allen muttered as he watched the two siblings leave the banquet hall.

“Hmm……”

This time, Allen turned his head to look at his two best friends.

Nigel was blinking with a serious face, while Noah was fidgeting and trying to explain to Nigel that there was nothing between him and Amber.

Nigel seemed lost in her own thoughts, not listening to Noah’s words.

“……Hmm.”

Allen’s green eyes sparkled with life as he reached a conclusion.

“Looks like this semester won’t be quiet either!”

With those words, Allen jumped between his two friends who were each doing their own thing and put his arms around their shoulders.

“……Ugh.”

Waking up to the harsh sunlight, Nigel felt a sense of déjà vu.

A year ago, she had trouble sleeping in the dormitory single room because Noah was at the Royal Academy instead of the Royal Knights, and had even learned her identity.

This time too, the cause of her sleepless night was Noah.

The strange feeling she felt when Amber and Noah were together, along with Noah’s signet ring that she hadn’t returned and now sat on her nightstand instead of in her dress pocket, gnawed at her.

‘This would be the perfect time to consult with Ashton……’

Smack!

Realizing she had such a foolish thought, Nigel slapped both her cheeks hard and quickly came to her senses.

Since there wasn’t much that would change by brooding in her room, Nigel put on her uniform with practiced ease.

“Ah.”

She tied her necktie, which she had almost forgotten at the last moment.

From today, the blue color of the necktie represented the second year, not the first.

“Teleport, dining hall.”

Feeling a strange sensation, Nigel slowly opened her eyes while fully enjoying the privilege of being the second-year top student.

“Nigeeeel!”

Before Nigel could face the blue sky, someone leaped at her without hesitation.

The sweet scent of flowers was the first thing she noticed.

‘Ah, I just washed and ironed it yesterday.’

Next came the tears that dampened her freshly laundered robe.

Finally, a mass of pink hair entered her vision.

Nigel’s eyes widened as she slowly uttered the name that came to mind.

“Yenika……?”