The next day, during the elective class period.

Nigel Ars headed towards the classroom near the healing ward with its small attached shrine.

Her steps, spreading widely, were filled with discontent.

‘……She could have at least helped.’

She couldn’t complain about being ignored now, as the other wasn’t avoiding or bullying her. But it was annoyingly on her mind.

It felt like a petty thing to do.

Clatter!

Nigel unconsciously opened the classroom door roughly.

“Hello, Nigel!”

At that moment, a familiar languid voice was heard from the classroom.

It was Ashton, a boy with an oddly relaxed, sleepy impression, ash-gray hair of ambiguous length reaching his neck, and a mole under his eye.

Nigel, looking around the cozy classroom, plopped down next to Ashton.

“I didn’t think you’d sit next to me. This is an honor.”

Ashton placed his hand on his chest and slightly bowed his head.

“What honor for a commoner.”

Nigel, still emotionally knotted, snapped back without realizing.

“It’s a great honor for me. I’ve always wanted to be friends with you. Do you know how much I’ve been on edge because you haven’t given me the slightest opening, my lady?”

“Lies. Don’t say things you don’t mean.”

“It’s not a lie. And it’s not something I don’t mean.”

Ashton prettily crinkled his eyes, then rested his chin on his hand and stared intently at Nigel.

“……Whatever you say, then.”

Realizing he was an interlocutor she couldn’t communicate with, Nigel quickly gave up and took out her textbook from her bag.

“By the way, have you decided on a partner for the upcoming masquerade ball?”

“Upcoming? It’s still a long way off.”

To Nigel, whose mental calendar for September and October was packed with various stars and red pen marks for assignments and practical exams, the masquerade ball was just a school event without any color or symbol.

“Come on, the popular kids are already receiving flowers.”

“Flowers? What does that mean?”

“You’re more innocent than you look, Lady Nigel.”

Ashton crossed his arms and raised one corner of his mouth, looking at Nigel who was staring at him with displeasure.

He then tore a page from an elegant leather-bound notebook and folded the paper this way and that. The crisp white paper soon became a pretty rose.

“Since ancient times, flowers have been a sign of courtship. It’s about conveying one’s desires to the other person, hidden in pretty wrapping paper and delicate petals.”

Ashton, who had drawn a small heart shape on the back of the petal with a pen, held out the paper rose to Nigel. Nigel took the paper rose without hesitation and spoke dryly.

“Ah, like Gwangsil?”

“……Yes, like Gwangsil. Just as there’s a purpose to target your infinite mana beyond Gwangsil’s cute appearance, those who hand out flowers also have the purpose of finding a ball partner.”

‘So that’s why Charlotte was always carrying different types of flowers whenever I saw her. Charlotte is worth it.’

Nigel smiled slightly, recalling Charlotte who would blush more than usual and smile broadly when seeing flowers attached to her locker.

Ashton, not missing that smile, watched and then spoke.

“Of course, there are many who want to give you flowers too. Just around me……”

Ashton folded his fingers as if estimating the number, then spoke again.

“At least four, I’d say?”

“You, I thought you were an interesting guy, but now I see you’re a liar. There aren’t four people with nothing better to do.”

“You’re misinterpreting my pure words, that’s too harsh. Well…… I can guess why they’re all hesitating to send them.”

“What is it?”

“Well, of course……”

At this crucial moment, the classroom door opened.

Clatter.

Nigel, who had been staring intently at Ashton’s lips for the revelation, jumped up from her seat.

“……Noah?”

“See, I told you he’d come. I was right, wasn’t I, Swen? Hand over the 5 silver.”

Ashton chuckled, turning his body around to collect a 5 silver coin from the politics department male student sitting behind, who was frowning deeply.

Noah walked in silently, step by step.

Nigel followed Noah with just her eyes. Noah, approaching with quick steps, had already sat down in the seat next to Nigel.

Nigel stared blankly at Noah for a moment before plopping down in her seat. Then she slowly parted her lips.

“What brings you here?”

“I’m…… interested.”

“Didn’t you say you were taking swordsmanship classes? Moreover, out of all the numerous swordsmanship classes, you chose the history of theology?”

Nigel asked incredulously.

“Yes, the history of theology.”

Noah answered shamelessly. Then, seeing the rose in Nigel’s hand, his face turned cold.

“That flower, who did you receive it from?”

“This? From him. If I unfold it well, I could use it for spell calculations.”

“That’s not what I……”

“Wow~ You two are as hot as the weather today! I might get roasted just sitting next to you.”

At this point, Ashton interjected.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well, Nigel and Lord Beselion, you two are dating, right?”

“What?!”

“Pardon?!”

Nigel and Noah exclaimed simultaneously.

“Why are you pretending not to know? Most people must have noticed by now. Oh, and also that you two were dating well but are having a lover’s quarrel these days.”

Ashton, who had been looking alternately at Nigel and Noah with his chin resting on his hand, realized something was wrong and removed his chin from his arm.

“Um…… You weren’t dating?”

Nigel and Noah nodded simultaneously.

“……So, you’re saying you’re not dating?”

Ashton’s gaze at the paper rose in Nigel’s hand became intricate. His eyes held colors of confusion, joy, and surprise all at once.

“Is that right? Then…… there’s still a chance left?”

Soon returning to his original languid and relaxed gaze, he winked at Nigel.

“What do you……”

Ashton cut off Nigel’s words and opened his mouth.

“Look forward to it, Lady Nigel.”

And he smirked at Noah, who had completely stiffened, looking past Nigel.

Clatter.

Just then, with the appearance of a priest in pure white uniform, the conversation was forcibly concluded without reaching a resolution.

Ding. Ding.

After the elective class ended, during lunch time.

Nigel quickly approached Allen, who was raising his hand high and waving vigorously in front of the cafeteria.

And she immediately grabbed Allen’s shoulders firmly.

“Allen Evans, it was your doing, wasn’t it?”

“Wh-what was?”

“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

“Well…… to be honest, there are so many things I feel guilty about that I’m not sure what you’re referring to.”

As Allen smiled sheepishly, Nigel put her hand to her forehead, sighed deeply, and then spoke again.

“Of course, I’m talking about the rumor. You, who know every rumor in Sienna, didn’t know about the strange rumor that Noah and I are dating? Do you think that makes sense?”

“R-really?!”

‘Was Allen really unaware?’

Seeing Allen’s reaction, his eyes wide open like a surprised rabbit, Nigel loosened her grip on Allen’s shirt.

In fact, Allen was just surprised that the rumor had somehow reached Nigel’s ears.

“But why didn’t you know about it?”

“Well…… Maybe everyone kept quiet about it because I’m close friends with both of you?”

Allen, who had just vaguely smiled without denying to the students who came almost daily to ask if the rumor about the two was true, rolled his eyes and calmly answered.

“……If that’s the case, then fine.”

Thud.

Nigel completely released Allen’s shoulder. Allen straightened his crumpled uniform.

Fortunately, thanks to the special shape-preserving magic cast on the uniform, it became clean without a single wrinkle.

“Ah, then where did Nigel hear about it?”

“Ashton.”

Noah, who had been silently listening to the conversation from behind, quickly interjected.

“What?”

“The politics department’s Ashton kindly informed us.”

Noah said with a grin. Allen, noticing that there was not a trace of amusement in Noah’s eyes, carefully opened his mouth.

“If it’s Ashton, isn’t he the one we talked about yesterday?”

“Yes, he’s also my partner for the group project in History of Theology.”

Nigel glared at Allen.

“Ah, was it a coincidence that Noah was also in that classroom? An interesting guy who had Imperial Swordsmanship on his schedule until yesterday suddenly changed to History of Theology overnight.”

“Ahaha…… Noah is deeply religious!”

“Him? I’ve never properly seen him go to the temple on weekends? Plus, he avoids the healing ward.”

“Eh, hey, don’t all citizens of the Arenium Empire carry the goddess in their hearts, right?”

As Allen quickly gave a meaningful look, Noah nodded his head repeatedly.

“……I’ll let it slide this time. I’m choosing to fall for your tricks.”

At Nigel’s words, Allen and Noah exhaled sighs of relief.

“Nigel!”

At the sudden sweet voice, she turned around.

Thud.

The paper rose in Nigel’s pocket fell out.

Nigel, not noticing this, quickly approached Charlotte, who was waving her hand cheerfully, and smiled broadly.

“I heard the news. You and Beselion, you’re not dating yet?”

“Charlotte……?”

Nigel’s mind, which had been melting like ice cream in the scorching sun at Charlotte’s smile, snapped back to reality.

“Hmm…… I guess the news was true. If so, things might get a bit difficult for both of you from now on. Good luck. Especially you, Beselion.”

Charlotte, who had been gauging Nigel and Noah, flashed a sympathetic smile towards Noah.

“Well then, I’ll always wish you luck, Nigel.”

Touch.

Charlotte pulled Nigel’s hand and briefly kissed the back of it.

“See you all in the common class!”

Then she quickly disappeared, leaving behind Nigel who had frozen in place with her face completely red.

“……Noah, what do you think? Don’t you think we need an emergency meeting tonight?”

“……I agree.”

Noah picked up Nigel’s paper rose with his large hand and crumpled it in one go.