CICN 39

Chapter 39

Over the past few days, people had been swarming around him and Ruska, endlessly asking what classes the two were taking.

They were desperate to attend at least one class with them—anything to increase the chances of seeing them more often and becoming closer.

Everyone was filled with the desire to connect with Arcel and Ruska in any way possible.

But surprisingly, the person who they thought would be most eager for such an opportunity was instead flailing in shock as if the idea was absurd.

While everyone else was trying to get closer to her and Ruska, she was backing away in alarm.

Arcel didn’t like that reaction for some reason.

“It’ll be fun if we take it together! Arcel, you’ll take it too, right? Right? Then it’s decided? No backing out, okay?”

Ruska pestered Arcel relentlessly, clinging to him like a nuisance. Arcel responded curtly.

“Fine.”

It wasn’t a bad thing.

He was curious to see what level of knowledge the person who ranked just behind him possessed.

‘Once I check that much…’

He could always persuade the professor to let him switch classes. That wouldn’t be a big problem for Arcel.

Even if Dean Seraphina disapproved, it wouldn’t be hard to give her a convincing reason.

At that moment, Ruska noticed the book Ibi had placed on the table and picked it up.

“Advanced Mathematics? You’ve already studied this?”

“Oh, that—!”

It was a book given to her by Professor Males. It wasn’t hers, so Ibi panicked and reached for it, unable even to ask for it back properly.

Seeing that, Ruska smiled mischievously and pulled the book toward him with more force.

It was a playful tug-of-war—a game he often played with Arcel.

But the problem was that this time, the opponent was Ibi.

As soon as Ruska pulled, Ibi’s body tumbled forward far too easily.

“Ah!”

Ruska tried to stop her in surprise, but it was already too late. Just as Ibi was about to hit the ground—

“Knew it.”

Arcel’s indifferent voice rang out, and Ibi’s body was lifted into the air.

Arcel had caught her by the waist and helped her stand upright.

He asked again,

“You okay?”

Startled, Ibi quickly pulled her arms back and bowed her head repeatedly.

“I-I’m fine!”

But Arcel frowned and said to Ruska,

“Apologize, Ruska. Ibi could’ve been hurt.”

“N-no, it’s fine! I’ll be more careful next time!”

Ibi desperately shook her head, cold sweat running down her back.

Apologize? Ruska was the son of the Marquis of Ragselv.

She didn’t know much about nobility, but she knew that was a very high title.

‘Even the mayor of our city was just a baronet.’

A marquis was on a level she couldn’t even dream of reaching, even if Ruska himself didn’t yet have a title.

He would definitely be granted one when he grew up, maybe even earn it through his own merits.

Someone like that would never apologize to someone like her…

“I’m sorry, Ibi. I was playing like I usually do with Arcel and didn’t adjust my strength properly. I’ll be careful next time.”

Ruska lowered his head slightly and apologized to Ibi as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Ibi felt like fainting.

What should she do? Should she beg him not to bow like that?

They said status didn’t matter in the gifted education center—that everyone was treated equally as students—but that was only true in books. It was impossible not to be conscious of one’s social standing.

For some unknown reason, both of them were being kind to her.

She didn’t hate it, but she honestly had no idea how she was supposed to respond.

Meanwhile, a group of students was watching the three from a distance.

“Hey, isn’t that the commoner girl? And next to her—Arcel and Ruska!”

The student who had shouted out quickly shut their mouth, realizing they’d spoken too loudly.

But their eyes didn’t waver.

It wasn’t just that one student. Everyone nearby was staring at the trio from afar.

“Why are they with her?”

“Exactly. I heard they looked after her for two days after that disappearance incident. But wasn’t that supposed to be the end of it?”

“Ruska talks to other students often, so I kind of understand… but why is Arcel there too…?”

Arcel never engaged in conversation beyond the shortest possible reply when other students greeted him.

And yet, here he was, talking continuously with Ibi.

He had even initiated the conversation.

The eyes of the students watching turned sharp.

They didn’t like it. No—they were fuming.

They had followed him around all day without even getting a single word, yet this girl was enjoying casual conversation like it was nothing.

‘This makes no sense.’

But they couldn’t just go up and complain.

What could they say? That they didn’t like it?

And if they approached Arcel now, he would definitely glare at them coldly.

‘Is there really no way to get rid of her?’

They racked their brains. One student cautiously spoke up, as if a good idea had come to them.

“If Lady Irene hears about this, she’ll be very displeased, won’t she?”

Irene—rumored to be the de facto crown princess already.

She wouldn’t like seeing someone lowborn getting close to two likely future royals.

Which is probably why she didn’t join them last time either, when Arcel and Ruska were beside Ibi Elden.

That had clearly been a silent warning to the young commoner not to entertain foolish thoughts.

Plus, wasn’t Irene Ibi’s roommate? That gave her plenty of opportunities to deal with her outside the staff’s watchful eyes.

‘Besides, even if we don’t do anything, Lady Irene will handle it herself.’

There was nothing to lose.

“We need to go tell her right away.”

“Right. We can’t say anything directly, but Lady Irene can…”

The students hurried off to find Irene.

Fortunately, it didn’t take long. They spotted her in the cafeteria, seated elegantly among a group of other girls.

She wore the same uniform as everyone else, yet her beauty was unmatched. Her graceful demeanor added to the effect.

Even her cool, aloof attitude and reserved speech matched perfectly with the aristocratic image they adored.

“Lady Irene!”

When they called out to her, Irene frowned slightly.

Sensing her bad mood, one student quickly blurted out,

“W-well… Ibi Elden was with Arcel and Ruska again!”

Another student chimed in to help.

“You know how they found her last time and looked after her for two days? I think she’s using that as an excuse to cling to them and get close. She was all smiles chatting with them just now…”

“What?”

Before the student could even finish, Irene raised her voice.

She set down her teacup and gave them a piercing glare.

“Tell me exactly what you just said. In detail.”

She was always calm and refined—but this sudden intense reaction?

‘She’s definitely angry.’

Delighted, the students excitedly told her everything they’d seen, with a few exaggerations for good measure.

“Every time Ruska spoke to that girl, she just beamed with joy…”

“She was practically clinging to Arcel like they were best friends…”

The more they talked, the colder Irene’s face became.

“And that’s not all! She even pretended to fall, just to be caught in Arcel’s arms! Where would a kid like that even learn such things…!”

That student, growing bolder, began inventing things out of spite.

Seeing Irene’s expression turn even icier, she continued.

“They both held her hands and asked if she was okay, but anyone could tell it was all her doing—”

“So you’re saying those two talked with Ibi and even held hands and played around?”

Irene’s voice was cold like a winter wind, and the student immediately fell silent.

“Ha, I was already suspicious last time. And now she’s trying again—to get close like that.”

Her voice, dripping with disgust, left no room for doubt.

Everyone around her believed it.

They were certain now: Irene would make sure Ibi was driven out.

Believing their plan had succeeded, the students didn’t realize something important.

Irene had referred to Ibi by name.

But Arcel and Ruska? She had dismissed them merely as those two, despite the fact that everyone else idolized them.