I Became an Outcast in the Academy

3. Exile (1)

After my duel with Ricardo ended in my victory, one of my rumors in Loutra disappeared without a trace.

So, those groundless rumors that I, who had no skills whatsoever, had illegally entered Lutra with my younger sisters as support.

No matter how much I don’t know anything, I have to go around raising my voice and spreading rumors because there were countless spectators who witnessed the duel between Ricardo and me that day.

Even in that duel, Ricardo couldn’t even give me a mediocre blow, so everyone has no choice but to be more careful with their mouths.

Because saying that I would have been admitted to Loutra because I didn’t have any skills was no different than indirectly cursing Ricardo, who was unilaterally beaten by me in a duel.

“Now other idiots are starting to acknowledge how good you are. As long as they also have eyes, they can’t just talk nonsense with that dog-like muzzle.”

Cartesia’s mouth was quite dirty, not befitting her status as a princess.

I heard that before she came to Loutra, she lived only in the imperial palace, so I wonder where she learned such dirty words.

“So you don’t have to worry about anything anymore. Rumors about you have mostly subsided, and the board of directors has nothing to say about you, and above all, you have a person called me.”

“That is very reliable.”

I wonder if she didn’t hear my muttering or if she pretended not to hear, Cartesia looked at me with her fists clenched.

“Even though I didn’t know anything in the past… And I was stupid, so I just watched you suffer, but this time it’s different. I’ll protect you this time so… You only trust me.”

“… This time?”

For a moment, I couldn’t understand something in Cartesia’s words, so I tilted my head at her.

You mean ‘this time’?

Other times besides this one, have I ever been accused of false rumors like this?

No matter how much I think about it, nothing gets caught. When I tilt my head at her, Cartesia shakes her hand with a puzzled look on her face.

“Oh no! Uh, that’s not it… That, yes! Ever since you entered here, other people have been swearing at you. How are you from, what is your job, and such trivial things. Now I have to say, I really didn’t like that.”

I blinked at Cartesia’s explanation.

What is it, could it be that he still had such insignificant things in his heart?

“Never mind that. It’s not very wrong anyway, and it’s only you who don’t think so. Anyway, I don’t really care what anyone else is talking about other than you.”

Because you are the only one who can be called a friend in this vast Lutra.

You have to hit the rest higher… It’s just a close acquaintance level.

“I… only me? I-I mean, you only care about me?”

At the words I threw out without much thought, Cartesia stammered back at me like someone who had heard something she couldn’t believe.

What the heck, is there something wrong with what I said that’s why you’re reacting like that?

No way… Are you fed up with the fact that I am a pitiful human being with no friends except himself?

“… Why are you doing this? Did I say something strange?”

“Oh, no… That, by the way! Doesn’t it bother you that they’ve been strangely quiet lately?”

Cartesia turned her words blatantly like someone who had something poking them.

“They?”

“Your sisters. Contrary to my expectations, it seems oddly quiet. Those girls are by no means great people who will remain so calm.”

Cartesia tapped her floor with her own fingers, as if struggling with something.

“I think those girls are the main cause of all this division? So I figured they’d do something about this. Or not… They may already be taking action.”

Cartesia, who was muttering something with such a serious expression, glanced at me to see if she felt my gaze staring at her.

“… Sorry. Also, she cursed at your sisters. But I think they’re just pretending in front of you-“

“I know. As far as the fact that my sisters are actually the main culprits in trying to get me out of Loutra.”

“… I’m shaking, so you need to be careful… Uh? What?”

“I know now. The fact that my sisters are not on my side.”

Actually, it wasn’t that level, I didn’t already consider those children my family, but I didn’t bother to say that to Cartesia.

I suddenly raised her head and looked at Cartesia.

Come to think of it, Cartesia had been advising me for a very long time.

My sisters are never trustworthy people. So, you also shouldn’t blindly trust your younger sisters.

Looking back now, that advice was something that was really relevant to me.

Just… I just ignored her advice for me because I wanted to trust her family until the end.

‘If I had taken Cartesia’s advice earlier, would the future have changed?’

In that sense, Cartesia was the only ally I could trust.

Because she was always by my side, giving me advice and advice only for me.

As I was thinking about that, Cartesia blinked her eyes as if she couldn’t believe the words that came out of her mouth.

“… Why are you like this? Is your reaction different from usual? You gossiping about your sisters… You hate it.”

At Cartesia’s words, I laughed bitterly at her.

“No, just… I came to my senses even though it was late. And Cartesia, there’s something I want to say to you personally.”

“Dog, what do you want to say to me personally?”

In an instant, Cartesia’s face hardens from her tension.

She took a long, deep breath as if she were taking a deep breath, then exhaled again and again.

“… Ok, that’s it are you okay. No matter what you say now… I am confident that I will not be shaken. So tell me quickly. Whatever that means… I will listen to everything.”

I felt a bit suspicious of Cartesia, who seemed nervous, as if she had made some resolution in her heart, but it wasn’t a matter of procrastination. Have spoken

At first, Cartesia, who couldn’t hide her disappointment as if the words I said weren’t what she expected, hardens her face, perhaps realizing the seriousness of her story.

“… Yes, that’s what I mean. Somehow, unlike the old days, I thought it was too quiet… With her back hole, she was plotting that kind of thing, I mean.”

“That conversation between Leticia and Lobelia. Are these realistic words right? How likely do you think everything will turn out the way they plan it?”

At my question, Cartesia lightly frowned her own fine brow.

“Unfortunately, it looks like things will go as planned by those girls. Because, as you know, my older brother is a typical small man with a very big ego compared to his abilities. If those girls whisper something in your brother’s ear, there’s a very high chance that you’ll just fall in love like an asshole.”

Actually, I also came to the same conclusion as Cartesia. Even more strange is the fact that those smart Leticia and Lobelia can’t control one Ricardo, who is only filthy hard-headed, as they please.

“If my older brother threw away his pride and everything, things would be very messy. In a sense, you’re like being caught in a trap. The crime of injuring the royal family, those damn girls did a good job.”

Watching Cartesia softly click her tongue, I asked a question.

“But didn’t you say this last time? The result of a fair duel is something that even the emperor cannot touch?”

“Usually yes. At least that’s how I would behave. However, if harm is done to the body of the imperial family… For example, an exception can be made when blood is shed from the body of the imperial family. Because harming the imperial family can be interpreted in a different way as challenging the dignity of the imperial family.”

Now I understand what Cartesia is trying to say.

Originally, it would be impossible to argue over the outcome of a legitimate duel agreed upon by both sides, but if Ricardo puts the blame on me for injuring the royal family even if it means risking public attention and embarrassing, it will be a story that I will have to face it. .

“Then I have to be expelled from Loutra as they planned? It’s futile to struggle anyway, so don’t resist or rebel and just get out of here on your own?”

Actually, being expelled from Loutra wasn’t that important.

But I decided that day.

I don’t think of my younger sisters as my family anymore, and I won’t play around as they think.

So I have to stay here and not be expelled from Loutra by any means.

As if I were a loser, I wanted to avoid going out of Loutra on my own after playing with the plans those kids had made.

That’s it… It was the last pride I had at present.

“…..”

At my words, Cartesia took on the look of struggling.

And after a while, she looked at my face with her own face dyed red.

“… There is only one, way. A way for you to get out of this situation.”

“What is it?”

Cartesia must have been unable to bear looking at my face, so she lowered her head and opened her mouth in a very small voice.

“… Do you have any intention of marrying me?”