"Ugh, how annoying... Is that guy doing it on purpose?"
Lilith, with her vibrant crimson hair, walked alone through the growing crowd of students.
Her noble royal lineage, combined with the staggering magical talent that had quickly become the talk of the academy since her enrollment, had built an invisible barrier around her.
The students along the way, whether nobles or commoners, subconsciously maintained a polite and distant gap from her. None dared to approach casually, let alone strike up a conversation.
This emptiness born of awe gave Lilith a space where she could immerse herself in her thoughts and grumble under her breath without being disturbed.
And the thing currently bothering her most was, without a doubt, related to that guy named Greg Sass.
Not long after her grounding order was lifted, Lilith, unable to suppress a certain impulse, had once again donned her plain attire. Disguised as Lily Carlo, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, she had slipped into the Academy Dungeon.
She wanted to check on that hidden camp in the shallow layers. She wanted to see Greg again. After all, she hadn't heard him say anything acknowledging her last time.
Of course, that was only a secondary reason.
The main reason she wanted to see Greg this time was simply because she wanted to taste that roasted meat he had made again.
Well... at least that was what she told herself.
However, her expectations were met with disappointment.
When she quietly crept to that familiar corner, the camp was empty. There was only the extinguished remains of a campfire and a simple tent she hadn't seen before.
In the center of the camp's clearing, a black cat lay atop a pile of strangely patterned stone tablets.
Those stone tablets gave Lilith a very odd feeling, as if some sort of whispering was swirling around her ears.
She wanted to get closer to inspect them, but the black cat simply lifted its eyes and gave her a faint, indifferent glance.
With just that one look, an indescribable shiver instantly swept through her entire body, making her stop dead in her tracks.
Ultimately, she only watched from a distance for a few moments before quickly returning to the surface, carrying a bit of regret and even more confusion.
After all, her grounding had only just been lifted. She didn't dare to accidentally get into trouble again at a time like this.
"And I clearly heard someone say they saw him in the academy yesterday morning, yet I haven't heard of him attending a single class?"
Lilith marched with a stride that carried a hint of venting frustration. She kept her head down, muttering in a voice only she could hear, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"Why does that guy get to come and go as he pleases, skipping classes so openly, while I have to sit properly in the classroom every single period, listening to theories I already understand? This is so unfair!"
The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. Her steps became heavier, as if she were stepping not on stone pavement, but on the face of a certain annoying guy.
While she was fully focused on her inner complaints, a figure blocked her path without any warning.
Lilith came to a sudden halt.
This was a rare occurrence.
Given her status and aura, people usually slowed down and kept their distance even when walking parallel to her, let alone blocking her path.
She had never encountered someone standing directly in front of her like this; it was practically an affront.
"Who is so bold?"
A sliver of curiosity, mixed with slight irritation at having her thoughts interrupted, made her look up at the person blocking her way.
And then—
Their eyes met.
Lilith's eyes, as brilliant as molten rubies, widened slightly. Her pupils clearly reflected the other person's face.
Greg?!
H-How... could he be here?!
And why would he just... stand directly in front of me like this?!
In an instant, countless thoughts exploded in Lilith's mind like a school of startled fish, darting frantically.
What do I do? First, should I... should I say hello?
B-But I'm not Lily Carlo right now! I'm Lilith Kahn!
In this identity... do I have any logical reason to take the initiative and greet Greg?
Should I use the identity of his former prospective brother-in-law?
No, no, no! That definitely won't work!
If my sister found out, she'd definitely be unhappy. Besides, the relationship is too awkward; it would only cause more problems!
Then... should I pretend I didn't see him and just ignore him?
B-But... we talked in the dungeon and even shared roasted meat together... even if it was as Lily, to him, we're at least... acquaintances? Or friends? Yeah, sort of?
So can I really do something so cold to... my only friend?
Lilith's heart was a battlefield. Although she tried her best to maintain a calm expression on her exquisite face, her slightly pursed lips and flickering gaze betrayed her internal struggle and lack of direction.
She froze on the spot, for a moment not knowing whether to move forward or back, whether to speak or stay silent.
Meanwhile, Greg, who was standing in front of her, also suddenly froze after giving Lilith a thorough once-over.
His original plan was this: utilize his new title as a Disciplinary Committee member to find a pretext—such as an improper uniform or a grooming issue—to give this proud princess a hard time. It was meant to be a small bit of revenge for her tricking him in the dungeon as Lily.
However, now that he was actually standing in front of Lilith, scrutinizing her with a critical eye...
"Tsk..."
Greg cursed inwardly.
The hem of her white academy uniform skirt was exactly the right length, without a single wrinkle. Beneath the skirt, black tights encased her straight, slender legs, outlining elegant lines without any snags or stains.
That vibrant red hair, like a burning flame, was also meticulously groomed, smooth and glossy. In the sunlight, it looked like flowing molten gold; he couldn't find a single unruly split end.
From her hairstyle to her clothing, her entire appearance was impeccable, perfectly meeting the academy's highest standards for grooming.
Only then did Greg suddenly remember that this princess was followed by three exclusive maids with exquisite skills every time she appeared in public!
Their job was to ensure that Princess Lilith presented the most flawless image every single day.
Wanting to pick a fight over surface-level things like grooming?
That was indeed underestimating them far too much.
He had been a bit hasty! He hadn't considered this point at all!
So... what now? He couldn't exactly say, "You're so beautiful it's a breach of public discipline," could he?
Wouldn't that just be directly complimenting her!?
Rate on N.U.
