TNKBP~13

Chapter 13

As Martin and I stepped into the classroom, just like in the courtyard, all eyes turned toward us.

Perhaps the rumor had already spread—some of the children were already whispering while glancing our way.

I swept my gaze over them once, then quietly took my seat.

Martin seemed a little disappointed, his lips moving awkwardly as if he wanted to say something more, before he eventually returned to his own seat. I mouthed “see you at break” toward him, and he responded with a smile, as if he understood.

A heavy bell rang out, and Miss Margaret appeared as she opened the door.

“Alright, good morning! Martin, it’s been a while. Before we take the test today, I thought we’d change the seating to set the mood. You’ve all adjusted to the new semester by now, haven’t you? It’s already late summer.”

At her words, several students erupted in protest, clearly already attached to their partners.

Change seats…?

This was the perfect chance for Martin and me to sit together. I turned to look at him. He must have been thinking the same thing, because he was already looking back at me.

“Martin! Pick well!”

I clenched both fists and shouted, “Fighting!” Martin nodded back with a solemn expression.

Miss Margaret shook a container full of sticks, each one representing a seat number, while numbers from 1 to 36 were written randomly across the seating chart on the board.

“This will be done fairly by drawing lots. Unless there’s a student with poor eyesight or another special reason, there will be no seat changes by mutual agreement, understood?”

“Where’s the fairness in that!”

“You concentrate better when you sit with your friends!”

The classroom burst into complaints. Miss Margaret chuckled softly, as if to say she wasn’t convinced.

“You concentrate better on passing notes during class, I’m sure. Now, let’s begin.”

Was there ever a moment this tense? The students checked their drawn sticks, glanced at the board, and either cheered or groaned.

On the other side, groups were already gathering, comparing numbers and excitedly guessing who would sit where.

Then, as I tapped my foot nervously, Martin’s turn finally came. He pulled a long stick from the container Miss Margaret held.

He bounced slightly on his feet as he checked it, then looked toward the board.

I waved at him lightly. “Martin, Martin! What number is it?”

He checked again and said, “Se-seventeen…!”

Seventeen.

I scanned the board. Seventeen’s partner seat was number twenty-five.

Miss Margaret was already walking toward me.

With a warm smile, she said, “Martin drew seventeen, didn’t he?”

“Yes, I heard him. Please… let me get twenty-five…”

At my words, my current seatmate looked at me as if I were strange, and Miss Margaret laughed.

Ignoring the looks, I carefully drew my stick as if it were the most important task in the world.

The teacher patted the lectern lightly, encouraging me with a smile before returning to her desk.

What is it? What number is it?

Thump. Thump. Thump.

My heart wouldn’t stop racing. Why was I so nervous over something like this?

I glanced sideways—Martin was watching me too, fists clenched tightly, waiting desperately for my number.

“Li-Lindsey… what is it?”

Hearing him, I knew I couldn’t delay any longer. Slowly, I looked at the end of the stick.

Ah… no way.

I muttered a curse under my breath and said, “It’s eighteen… damn it.”

At my words, Martin buried his face in his hands in despair.

“Alright, everyone, let’s move to your new seats!”

At Miss Margaret’s command, the classroom erupted into motion.

Students grabbed their bags and belongings, brushing past one another as they searched for their new places. Everyone looked excited.

Everyone except Martin and me.

I forced an awkward smile at my new seatmate, trying not to show my discomfort. The girl flinched slightly and quickly looked away.

Oh no…

The daughter of Marquis Rietberg, a high-ranking imperial councilor, seemed not yet accustomed to other children.

Seeing her reaction made my chest feel heavy. Both Martin and I were just ordinary students who liked people and wanted friends. Why did that feel like such a barrier?

“Alright, everyone sit down! The announcements aren’t finished!”

Miss Margaret struck the attendance book against the desk twice, drawing everyone’s attention.

Smiling faintly as she scanned the classroom, she continued.

“Exams are coming up soon, along with quizzes. Prepare well. Also, for my second foreign language class, the performance assessment will be replaced by submitted worksheets, so make sure you hand them in on time. And… if anyone wants to change seats, come to the staff room before the end of first period with a valid reason.”

Just then, the bell rang as if on cue.

The moment the teacher left, several students who had already agreed on swaps rushed out immediately.

I glanced at my seatmate before standing and walking over to Martin.

“Martin… unfortunately…”

He panicked at my expression.

“I-It’s okay, Lindsey… w-we still meet a lot for math assessments anyway… at the library…”

I nodded slowly.

Right after the bell, Martin’s seatmate returned. I waited, hoping—perhaps—he might be kind enough to agree to a swap.

A boy walked in wearing a monocle, far too mature-looking for his age. His neatly curled brown hair bounced slightly with each step.

“Uh… hi?”

I greeted him awkwardly. He blinked, startled, and looked between Martin and me.

“You’re here about the seats, right? I’d like to switch too, but I don’t really know what to tell the teacher…”

I quickly looked at his name tag.

“Ro-Rohan…! Could you maybe just come with us? I’ll do the talking. We could say your eyesight is bad because of the monocle… maybe that would work…?”

Rohan tilted his head, lightly scrunching his freckled nose.

“That might work. Then could you go and talk for us? I’m not good with words, I’d probably get caught immediately. And Lindsey… did you ask your seatmate?”

The name “Lindsey” from someone other than Martin felt strangely unfamiliar.

I snapped back to attention and answered quickly.

“We didn’t really talk about it, but I think she’d prefer changing seats. You know…”

I shrugged, and Rohan nodded as if he understood without needing further explanation.

“Alright. I’ll help you change it. Let’s go together after first period during break. I don’t really mind who I sit with anyway.”

At those words, I froze.

So that meant he didn’t mind sitting with Martin either.

Am I, for my own selfish reasons, taking away Martin’s chance to make another friend?

Maybe Martin needed other friends his own age, not just me. Maybe this was his chance—and I was ruining it with my selfishness.

While I hesitated, an all-too-familiar voice came from beside me.

“Ro-Rohan… t-thank you so much… I-If you don’t mind, could you go with Lindsey after first period and talk to the teacher together?”

Martin stepped slightly in front of me and quietly took my hand behind his back. The gesture carried both reassurance and a silent message: stop worrying about unnecessary things.

“Alright. Let’s meet after class, Lindsey. And… seat partner for an hour, take care of her.”

Rohan shrugged casually and returned to his seat.

Martin turned back to me with a bright, carefree smile.