After the class meeting ended, Melrose blocked Ximo in the corridor as she prepared to leave.
“Ximo, are you getting used to life at the academy lately?”
“Eh? It’s okay, I guess? Thanks for your concern, Senior Melrose.”
“Then, how are things with your classmates? You can tell me if there’s any problem.”
Melrose stared straight into Ximo’s eyes, trying to discern something from them, but Ximo merely froze for a moment, surprised that Melrose was concerned about her.
However, since Melrose had asked proactively, perhaps this was a good chance to tell her about Jackson? It seemed Jackson really hadn’t been acting under Melrose’s orders when he spread those rumors about her.
Just last night, Melrose had saved her life from that mysterious monster. Right now, Ximo didn’t want to suspect her.
“Uh, about that… Of course, there’s no problem at all! Thanks for your concern, Senior. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.”
Ximo composed her words, but halfway through, she suddenly stopped and changed her tune before scurrying away as if dodging Melrose.
Melrose frowned. She could clearly see there was something off with Ximo’s attitude, but since the little maid wasn’t willing to talk, she would have to find another way.
Whew… Ximo let out a sigh of relief after dashing out of the teaching building. That had been close; luckily, she hadn’t finished her sentence.
Ximo had originally planned to use this opportunity to tell Melrose about the situation with Jackson, but just as she opened her mouth, System’s task notification rang in her mind.
[As the unpopular Sickly Young Lady with no friends in class, you’re prone to embarrassing situations.]
[For example, during practical magic training, no one wants to team up with you, leading to you making a fool of yourself in front of everyone.]
[Please complete the plot task “Make a Fool of Yourself in Class (Incomplete)”. Friendly reminder: Failure will result in punishment.]
Ximo sighed. She had no idea where this damn system got all these doormat tasks from. It was hard to imagine what kind of life Xiliya had lived in her previous life!
“The original plot task was ‘Fail to find a teammate and make a fool of yourself in class’. I changed the completion conditions for you, sweetie—no restrictions should make it easier, right?”
“I think I could’ve completed it even without you changing the conditions.”
Ximo grumbled helplessly. Maybe this was what they called “all paths lead to Rome,” so she quickly shut her mouth and didn’t continue talking to Melrose. If it affected her task completion, that would be bad.
On that note, maybe she should just ignore the Jackson thing altogether? Ximo didn’t really feel much about the rumors; perhaps because she’d been so busy lately, she hadn’t paid attention to class social dynamics.
Her stomach let out a “gurgle.” Ximo decided to put thinking aside for now. First, she’d grab Xiliya and head to the cafeteria for lunch.
Ximo had originally worried that the academy cafeteria might be like some university ones—expensive and terrible food… No helping it; with this world’s high level of modernization, it was hard not to think about real-world issues.
But the Imperial Capital Magic Academy lived up to its reputation as Roland Empire’s top institution. The cafeteria was far better than Ximo had expected.
—
The academy cafeteria was huge, and it was packed at lunchtime. Melrose wandered around with her tray for a while before spotting her target in the corner.
“Excuse me—mind if I sit here?”
“M-Me-Me… Princess Melrose? O-Of course, no problem at all…”
Melrose smiled and took the seat across from her, startling the girl who had been eating alone. She looked up in panic, glancing around—there were plenty of empty seats nearby, so why had Melrose chosen to sit right across from her?
And someone of Melrose’s status shouldn’t even appear in the cafeteria at mealtime, right? How could the noble Roland Princess personally line up for food?
“You’re Leilie, right? Don’t be nervous. I get along pretty well with your father.”
Leilie was the youngest daughter of a local noble family in Cantelot. Melrose had met her father a few times at the Royal Palace—of course, they weren’t that close; it was just a way to put her at ease.
Not all noble children were raised to be arrogant and overbearing. People like Leilie, who were naturally timid and socially anxious, existed too—otherwise, she wouldn’t be eating alone in the corner.
Melrose had targeted her specifically. As Student Council President, she had access to all the new students’ rosters and had gone through them, noticing Leilie. She had been present during the Forest Lord battle and was now in the Beginner Class. Though not in Ximo’s class, she was the best choice for intel.
Leilie instantly straightened up like a student called on by the teacher in class. She didn’t dare touch her food anymore. Not everyone was as oblivious and fearless as Ximo; she wouldn’t dare act so casually in front of the Roland Empire’s princess.
“No need to be so tense. We’re just chatting casually—you know Ximo, right? You met her in the Mist Forest back then.”
Melrose softened her tone and forked a small piece of dessert from her plate onto Leilie’s.
At the mention of Ximo, Leilie visibly relaxed. She’d been fretting that she’d offended the princess somehow, but apparently not.
“Princess Melrose, you’re asking about the rumors regarding Ximo lately, aren’t you?”
Melrose’s heart sank. So there really was something? Why hadn’t that little maid told her?
“Just call me Senior. Go on.”
“Here’s the thing: After school started, someone in the Beginner Class spread rumors that Ximo dragged you down during the Mist Forest incident, Senior Melrose.”
“They say it was because Ximo couldn’t cast any magic but insisted on hunting magic beasts in the Swamp Land. You had to protect her, which made you miss the chance to escape with everyone else.”
“If not for protecting Ximo, Senior Melrose wouldn’t have been so badly injured and had to rest for days…”
Melrose was stunned. What nonsense was this? After escaping the Mist Forest, she had indeed rested for a while due to magic depletion and minor injuries, but what did that have to do with Ximo?
In comparison, Ximo’s Magic Circuit had nearly been damaged, and she’d lain in Shasta’s Basement for a week—her injuries had been far more serious. And without Ximo’s Crystal Ball, they never would’ve escaped the forest. How had these baseless rumors even started?
But soon, Melrose realized the rumors weren’t entirely groundless. From the academy’s and other students’ perspectives… yes, it looked like she had used the Royal Secret Treasure to defeat the Forest Lord and protect Ximo. That was the report she’d personally given to the academy.
