It's Not Like I Want to Play the Role of a Misunderstood, Good-for-Nothing Prince in a Villainess Story! - Chapter 47 – I Enrolled

“This is far enough, thank you.”

I thanked the coachman and slowly descended from the carriage.

Karan Royal Academy.

Built on vast land spreading across the capital’s outskirts, this school is where nobles from across the kingdom attend for three years, from ages 15 to 18.

Four classes. Nearly 200 students per grade.

Tall main gates with a white tower rising behind them. In front of the school building spread a green grassland with benches placed here and there, and a fountain in the center. Vegetation grew, beautiful flowers bloomed, and there were even covered gazebo-like places.

A wonderful place. Just the buildings alone—when I was in Japan, this was the level of school I’d once wanted to attend.

I immediately finished registration at the school reception and headed to the classroom.

The classroom was spacious, with seats extending radially from the front podium, gradually rising higher. Students seemed to be seated sparsely.

Those who knew me looked surprised and averted their eyes when they saw me enter, while those who didn’t know me looked with interest. My clothes were particularly fine, after all.

Now then, I was told to sit freely. Where should I sit?

Suddenly, as I looked around the room, my gaze stopped at one point.

There was a conspicuously empty window seat. No one sat one seat in front of her, beside her, or one seat behind.

Bullying? Bullying already on the first day of enrollment?!

Well, that couldn’t be it.

Looking around, both boys and girls were glancing at her, seemingly wanting to talk.

I narrowed my eyes and sat in the seat next to her.

She smoothly turned her face to look at me.

Needless to say, it was Misty.

15-year-old Misty was, to put it bluntly, criminally beautiful. At 12 she still had childishness showing, but recently I thought she had become even more mature. For a woman, slightly tall, slender with long limbs and everything in the right places—the golden ratio.

When I met her about three months ago, her hair was translucent in the sunlight, with a halo-like radiance illuminating her whole body—I was shocked at when she’d gone from angel to goddess.

But you know…

“Greetings, Zeke-sama.”

She greeted me with a straight face and monotone voice.

“Ah, greetings Misty. May I sit here?”

“Yes, as you please.”

When I replied, she smoothly faced forward.

This past year, I haven’t been able to talk properly with her. We greet each other and the engagement hasn’t been broken, but it’s different from before.

She no longer comes to visit frequently like she used to. Part of it is because I’ve been flying all over the country, and she herself has been busy with many lessons, so our schedules didn’t match.

Last year I was truly busy, flying around various places throughout the country. Father sent me to so many places, I wondered if he hated me. Even when I returned to the palace, I was entrusted with work a 14-year-old shouldn’t be doing, like creating reports and materials.

And the result is this. Even when we meet at parties, she leaves after barely greeting me.

When was the last time we faced each other and talked while smiling?

Actually, I wanted to ask more… like what she thinks about our engagement, or if maybe she has complaints?

“…………”

But I can’t ask! If I ask Misty that and it leads to talk of breaking the engagement, that’s scary.

If only Rubert were here at times like this.

As I sat quietly waiting, the teacher entered.

The homeroom teacher was Kasal-sensei. A teacher in his 30s wearing glasses. Always in a white coat, blunt but kind inside with refined features—in the game, he’s one of Misty’s romance targets who secretly follows up when Misty is troubled.

In other words, my rival. He also has mysteries… But seriously, this game really has a lot of my rivals.

—That said, he becomes a romance target after graduation; during school he’s just a good person.

But is it okay for Misty and me to be distant from enrollment? Even in the game, we should have had a good relationship for about half a year after enrollment.

“Yes, from today you have enrolled in this school. It’s a short yet long period of three years. Please enjoy yourselves. Above all, don’t cause me trouble. That’s all. Now there will be appreciated words from Principal Hauzen in the auditorium, so listen without making noise.”

After greetings, we were assembled in the large auditorium. We listened to Principal Hauzen’s long speech, but in any world, important people’s speeches don’t resonate, do they? Especially entrance ceremony speeches are mostly boilerplate, just stuff about enjoying school.

Looking around, most people were listening with sleepy faces.

Misty was listening seriously.

And also… I moved my gaze and almost reflexively retorted, “Why?”

I noticed.

Yeah, this is a school for nobles within the kingdom and royalty from friendly neighboring countries, right? So why was Prince Toprak Seiran from the non-neighboring Seiran Kingdom at this school?

Toprak Seiran is royalty from the Seiran Kingdom, and in the original game, he was supposed to meet Misty by chance after graduation when Misty traveled abroad for a month. Though they met once in childhood, so that part is already off.

But wait, he wasn’t commuting from the Seiran Kingdom, was he?

That day ended after the ceremony with orientation-like explanations and distributing materials.

I went home and ate dinner with my family. Today unusually, Father Halt was also present—the whole family gathered.

As I was munching on elegantly prepared potatoes, Father spoke up.

“Zeke, how was school?”

“Now that you mention it, I saw Toprak-sama.”

“…………”

When Toprak’s name came up, Tigos, who usually doesn’t even make eye contact with me, glanced over. Come to think of it, Tigos was beaten by Toprak long ago.

“His Highness Toprak is studying abroad starting this year.”

“Study abroad?”

“…He apparently said he absolutely wanted to attend Karan Royal Academy. Rudolf-dono asked me to take care of him.”

Father Halt looked at me and smiled.

“He’s a schoolmate attending the same school. Make sure not to be rude.”

“Yes.”

Get along, huh? I don’t mind, but I wonder how he feels.

Besides, why did Toprak insist on coming to the royal academy?

“By the way, Father, why did Toprak-sama say he wanted to come to this school?”

“I didn’t ask that much.”

Don’t tell me he’s still after Misty? Stop it. If that’s the case, how many years has he been in love? You’re like me.

“If you’re curious, why don’t you ask him directly?”

“Understood.”

Yeah, if I get a chance to talk, I’ll ask. Even though it’s the same school, there are many classes and many students. There probably won’t be opportunities to meet anyway.

“Zeke-sama.”

Sebas approached smoothly.

“A report has arrived for you.”

“Mm.”

A letter from Rubert. Because Rubert isn’t at the palace right now. He’s flying around the country as my representative. In the original game, I was the one going to these places while occasionally skipping school, but Rubert wanted me to concentrate on school, so he’s proactively serving as my representative.

Too admirable a retainer.

Honestly, it’s lonely without Rubert, but there’s no substitute, so it can’t be helped. I really wanted to consult him about Misty too…

The next day, I realized a fact when I came to the classroom.

I’m in the same class as Toprak.

Apparently he’s sitting in the very back, center. If he’s behind me, it’s no wonder I didn’t find him on the first day.

But wait, leaving me aside, you’re sitting where you can see the whole classroom, so you noticed me, right? Couldn’t you have said something?

If you don’t have hostility, that is!

…Maybe he does have some?

I thought I’d talk to him if I got the chance, but I was too scared so I stopped.