“What should I do, I can’t understand anything at all.”

Scoring full marks on the written test was clearly thanks to the abilities of Arpeggio, a top graduate of Horizon Academy.

It was difficult to fully understand the content just by listening once. Was it an advanced course based on the 10year curriculum of the Academy? Just a month of cramming was not enough to understand 100% of the lecture content.

This is serious. Failure is a foregone conclusion in this state.

I might fall into the endless cycle of graduation at Horizon Academy, like the horror stories, or fail to endure it and end up withdrawing.

“I can’t, I can’t let that happen.”

Gibnen was covering the enormous tuition fees and providing a generous allowance.

It was embarrassing enough to rely on Gibnen while fooling around, but I couldn’t suffer the disgrace of failing and not graduating.

“I must ask Lord Arpeggio if he can continue to help me with my studies.”

After the lecture, a hungry Riley moved alone to the shopping street.

Hila parted ways saying she had something to see. She added, “Next time, let’s eat together.”

On the shopping street, accessible only to students of the academy, a variety of restaurants and shops were lined up.

“Wow.”

The array of various stores drew admiration.

Not only restaurants but also stores handling various goods were present, and there were even convenience facilities.

Its scale matched that of a bustling downtown area.

Riley chose a store that seemed particularly crowded among many stores. She wasn’t a fan of bustling atmospheres, but a crowd meant good taste, didn’t it?

Fortunately, Riley secured the last empty table. She was assigned a 2person table, and only after receiving the menu did she realize she was the only one eating alone. She ordered a steak, and soon a line began to form outside the store.

The line grew uncomfortably long. Of course, she hadn’t thought much about it until now.

That was until a pair of lovers approached the table.

They were very flashy. Their clothes were flashy, and they wore at least three accessories. They were so colorful and splendid that it felt like looking at a pair of peacocks.

“Excuse me?”

“?”

“Can you move?”

Riley stared at the couple, wondering if she had done something wrong.

The man then sighed impatiently and tapped the table.

“Move, please.”

“Why?”

“Don’t take up a 2person table all by yourself. Move somewhere else.”

“Is there a law that says I can’t use a 2person table alone? The owner didn’t kick me out, and there was no prior notice.”

“If you’d just give up the table, two people could eat. Don’t you think it’s unconscionable to take up a table by yourself and waste time? There are many restaurants for people who eat alone, who comes here alone in the first place?”

Riley was taken aback.

Was eating alone such a problem in a place where the store didn’t refuse? It was incomprehensible why an ignorant person was venting anger.

Yet the reason she couldn’t answer outright was that there were no people eating alone in the store, and was this also the general custom here? It was a momentary doubt.

There was no rule that one couldn’t eat alone, but if it’s generally unacceptable to take up a 2person table alone for a meal, then it’s right to step aside.

It was hard for Riley to be sure that she was not at fault, so she blinked her eyes stupidly.

“She’s definitely an outsider.”

“I suppose. So that’s why she’s clueless?”

The pair of men and women laughed, playing off each other.

Riley quietly looked around. Everyone was sticking their noses in their plates, eating as if they didn’t want to be involved in this matter.

Flashy clothes, a confident demanding attitude, eyes that people avoid. They’re not ordinary people. Are they aristocrats from the Prestige line?
“Can’t understand what I’m saying? Don’t have ears? Get out of here. Lack of money? Ah, well. You do look the part. This place is quite expensive. You seem to have come here with high hopes, though.”

The man pulled out a bundle of bills from his wallet and placed them on the table.

“I’ll pay double for the meal, so make way. Leave nicely.”

Riley, looking incredulous, glared at the couple.

Honestly, if they had asked kindly, she would have been willing to give up her seat. But handing over money so abruptly made her feel offended.

“I don’t want to.”

“What?”

“This is my seat. You have no authority to chase me away. Just wait in line like everyone else.”

“Look at you, acting tough. I told you nicely to leave. Don’t you see you’re the only one eating alone here?”

Should I really leave? Her body was trembling at that moment.

“Did you wait long?”

Someone suddenly approached and casually draped an arm around her shoulder. Riley lifted her head to look at the tall man who had gathered his pale silver hair and tied it lightly. He had a remarkably attractive appearance.

For a moment, a short exclamation of admiration almost escaped her. He was not as striking as Gibnen, but she still felt a shock similar to the first time she had seen Gibnen.