SPO 23

Chapter 23

My charm really did go up.

While looking at Lena’s affection window, I checked the charm value written next to her name.

13.

It was the result of guiding her around the academy from early this morning.

Of course, since Judea was enormous, I couldn’t show her every single corner—but this seemed more than enough.

Then now I need to figure out how to drag Lena into the student council.

Ever since yesterday, my head had been completely full of Lena. What a sinful woman.

Of course, I wasn’t the only one stirred up by Lena.

The entire academy was.

Glancing at a group whispering about Lena in one corner, I propped my chin on my hand.

Right now, Judea was buzzing with nothing but news of Lady Dicliffe.

The Dicliffe ducal house—founding contributors to the Tersen Empire and a family of immense influence.

Their noble bloodline, dignity befitting that lineage, and vast wealth hadn’t faded even after enough time had passed to change mountains and rivers.

I didn’t realize the Dicliffe family was this incredible when I played the game.

I knew they were high-ranking nobles. But knowing something in your head and feeling it firsthand were completely different matters.

“Did you see Lady Dicliffe? You can tell even from far away.”
“How can a human face look like that?”
“I think she was with the student council president this morning. What’s their relationship?”

Since the academy was filled with children of noble families, it could be called a miniature version of society.

Sure, the academy rules added a veneer of equality—but at its core, it was still a place for future social networking.

Which meant that Lena was someone they absolutely needed to get close to.

Feeling the stares burning into the back of my head, I sighed.

I want to be close to Lena too.

Even closer than I am now.

Unfortunately, she was in the swordsmanship department.

Unless I learned swordsmanship, I couldn’t take major classes with her. At least we shared plenty of electives—that was a relief.

“Isn’t it just because the student council president showed the duchess around as part of his duties?”
“Obviously. What connection would they even have?”
“Still, we should ask around.”

A cough sounded behind me, followed immediately by the bell signaling the end of class.

“Oh!”

When I sprang to my feet, the students who had somehow gathered behind me took a step back.

What were they even doing here?

I needed to kidnap Lena and bring her to the student council as soon as possible.

“Excuse me.”

Twisting my body, I slipped past the students blocking my way and stepped into the hallway.

I could hear them muttering behind me, but that wasn’t my concern.

Finding Lena came first.

After she rejected joining the student council yesterday, I’d tried a few more times—but she hadn’t even blinked.

Why is she so firm about it?

Of course, Lena lacked for nothing, so she probably didn’t feel any need to join.

But if she sees the male lead candidates in person, wouldn’t her mind change?

She was human too. Surely among the carefully prepared student council lineup, there had to be at least one that fit her tastes.

Yes—bring Lena to the student council.

Having made up my mind, I hurried over, but students from the swordsmanship department were already pouring out through the back door.

“Archel!”

“Janet?”

Janet called my name loudly, her carrot-orange hair—now the only thing I could think of—fluttering as she ran over.

“What are you doing here? This isn’t your classroom.”

Her round eyes were full of curiosity, and I could only smile awkwardly.

“Were you looking for me?”

“I see you every day in the dorm.”

My unexpectedly firm reply made Janet’s eyebrows droop.

Feeling bad, I patted her shoulder. She immediately lifted her chin like nothing had happened.

Her recovery speed was impressive.

“Then why are you here?”

“I, uh… I came to see Lena. Did she already leave?”

I peeked into the classroom through the open door.

“Lena? The duchess is right there in the middle of the classroom, soaking up everyone’s attention.”

Just as Janet said, several students had formed a group around someone.

Since I couldn’t see Lena’s tall figure, she must have been sitting down.

“By the way, why are you looking for the duchess? Curious?”

She whispered as if rumors of the duchess being a peerless beauty had already spread this far. I waved my hands frantically.

“She’s my friend.”
“Friend…?”
“Yeah.”

I actually had a friend—it was incredibly embarrassing.

Whispering like it was a secret about an old friend made my chest itch.

Janet’s eyes sparkled with intense interest.

“No way. The duchess has been recuperating in the south, hasn’t she? And your estate isn’t exactly close to the ducal residence.”
“It’s not close, but it’s not unreachable either. We met a few times before she left. I was her playmate.”
“Isn’t that from when you were really little?”

Janet tilted her head, leaning against the doorframe.

“Sorry to ask, but are you sure you’re not the only one who thinks you’re friends?”

“No.”

When I shook my head firmly, Janet finally straightened up and leaned in close.

“Just who are you, really?”

Covering her mouth with one hand, Janet made a big show of her shock.

“If you were playmates, you must’ve been to the ducal residence too. Then you’ve seen the young duke, right?”
“No.”

I recalled Lena’s older brother, still unfamiliar to me.

The baroness had once frequently visited the ducal residence, burning with ambition to somehow connect me with the young duke.

But he’d already gone abroad to study at the time, so her ambition fizzled out before it could even ignite.

“Hmmm… If the duchess is that beautiful, I wonder what the young duke looks like. What a shame.”

Seeing Janet genuinely disappointed made me laugh despite myself.

I couldn’t exactly blame her.

Lena’s brother? He was undoubtedly the kind of beauty that would leave people speechless.

But throughout the entire game, not a single strand of hair from that brother ever appeared—so I doubt he’ll show up now.

For Janet, who was sincerely building a collection of handsome men, that was truly unfortunate.

“Just once—seriously, just once, let’s go.”

“……”

Praying she wouldn’t activate the Ignore option I’d seen in the game, I guided Lena to the student council room.

That was how much faith I had in the male lead candidates’ faces.

Today’s agenda was supposed to be about the school trip happening three weeks from now.

When I said I wanted Lena to join the student council, Professor Wid even allowed her to sit in on the meeting.

A ducal house member… the future of the student council…

I remembered Professor Wid patting my shoulder, seemingly without much expectation from Lena herself.

The student council room was empty.

Before Lena could change her mind, I quickly seated her at the large table in the center.

“Isn’t the student council room really nice and comfortable? Perfect for meetings.”

I was just spouting nonsense.

Right then, a potted plant Cassel had placed caught my eye. Even I, who thought I knew a fair bit about plants, had never seen this one before.

With small, dainty leaves and round orange fruits nestled among them, it was oddly cute.

I gently stroked one of the smooth-looking fruits and turned to Lena.

“Look, the student council room even has cute plants like this.”

“Blegh.”

“Blegh…?”

At the delicate blegh, my mouth fell open. Surely Lena hadn’t said that—right?

With trembling eyes, I looked at her. She grabbed my face with both hands and turned it toward the plant.

“BLEGH!”

The glossy sphere split cleanly in half and spat out a grotesque sound.

Startled, I immediately yanked my hand away from whatever fruit-like thing I’d been touching.

Why would Cassel put something like this here?

My head throbbed.

Did he bring a magical plant that could talk in his place because meetings were “blegh”? Was that it?

Deeply questioning Cassel’s sanity, I promptly removed the plant.

Far away. As far as possible—onto the windowsill, curtains drawn for good measure.

There’s no way I can let Lena see such a harmful plant.

I returned to my seat with a calm expression, pretending nothing had happened.

“What a strange student council room.”

Despite Lena’s flat comment shattering my composure.

“It’s not always like this…”

I desperately needed another angle.

“The student council members are really great. They’re all amazing and cool—Lihart, Aben, Cassel, and a guy named Izael. Like I wrote in my letters—”

Like I wrote…

What did I write?

Before I could finish, Lena spoke for me.

“The friends who are a bit weird, strange, and bizarre, and dump all the work on you?”

Her merciless words made me bury my face in my hands.

Past me, you could’ve held back just a little.

Back then, Lena was the only one I could vent to. I’d thought I’d wrapped things up nicely for future relationships—but apparently not.

As I sulked with my head down, a calm voice fell from above.

“Why do you want me to join the student council so badly?”

At the serious question, my fingers twitched before I slowly lifted my head.

“…Because we’re in this together.”

Originally, the student council was just a tool to connect Lena with the male leads.

But now, my own desire to be with Lena played a part too.

I lifted my gaze from the floor and met her ruby-red eyes.

“We said we’d do things together.”

Even if it was just my wish.

“……”

Contrary to my expectation of an immediate rejection, Lena merely traced her lips with a long finger, saying nothing.

Hope quietly swelled in my chest.

I might be able to persuade her now.

But at that moment—

Bang.

“Lena Dicliffe?”

Lihart burst through the door.

Lena removed her hand from her lips and looked toward him as he called her name.

Seeing Lihart’s stunned expression, my imagination ran wild.

Is this the long-awaited reunion of fiancés? The crown prince who waited for his frail fiancée, and the duchess who yearned for the sun of the empire?

A full narrative assembled itself in seconds.

Am I finally getting to enjoy the reincarnator’s spectator privilege?

Honestly, it was hard to imagine the two of them becoming that kind of couple—but who knows with men and women?

Unfortunately, there was no meaningful exchange between them.

Lena nodded once. Lihart composed his expression. That was it.

That’s it?

So dry.

Is this really a meeting between a heroine and a male lead in a dating sim? Shouldn’t there be something special and fluffy?

…No. They must’ve already met in ways I, an extra, don’t know.

That realization left me oddly sulky.

Meanwhile, Lihart walked past Lena and sat down beside me, handing over a few sheets of paper.

“Today’s meeting materials.”
“Ah, thanks.”
“But why is Lena here? So the rumor about you two being friends was true.”

“She’s observing today’s meeting. I’m trying to get her to join the student council.”

Right?

I turned toward Lena, waiting for her answer—but didn’t get one.

Several people entered the student council room all at once.

“When did you get here?”
“Good afternoon.”
“……”

After greeting Aben, Izael, and Cassel, Aben’s attention immediately shifted to Lena.

“Could you be Lady Dicliffe?”

Grinning so widely his dimples showed, Aben received a light nod in return from Lena.

Yes—that’s how a male lead greets the heroine.

Only now did it truly feel like I was inside a dating sim.

Meanwhile, Izael’s face lacked his usual habitual smile.

Is this… a love-at-first-sight route?

In dating sims, male leads often fall for the heroine without her doing anything special—so maybe this was natural.

At last, the world was running properly.

I’m very satisfied.

Izael stepped closer to me and placed a hand on the desk.

“Have you tried using the mana stone?”

As he leaned in, his silver hair fell like a curtain.

His long lashes cast shadows over his eyes, and within that darkness, violet irises glimmered—the same color as a mana stone.

The mana stone Izael gave me was exactly that color.

If temptation had a color, it would be that mysterious purple.

Thinking of the perfect mana stone I’d received that day made my mouth water.

This was a secret, but the first time I ever bought a mana stone, I’d secretly licked it out of curiosity.

When I get back to the dorm, I should take it out of its case and polish it until not a speck of dust remains…

“Ah.”

Warmth suddenly touched my eyes, blocking my vision.

At the same time, my body—previously angled toward Izael—was pressed firmly back against the chair.

Without warning, darkness fell before my eyes, and the scent of roses brushed my nose, snapping me back to my senses.

I carefully grabbed the hand covering my eyes and pulled it down.

Lena was staring at me with eyes gone completely cold.