“…”

“Piyu piyu piyu…”

“By the way, Zinon, why is Muguet here today?”

I asked Zinon about something that had been bothering me for a while.

“It’s fine, isn’t it? Muguet was insistent about visiting the Magic Academy, so I specially allowed it just for today.”

“You’re lying.”

When did Muguet start speaking?

“Piyu…pi…”

I turned back to see Muguet happily flying around Zinon and me, his adorable pink drooping ears flapping lightly in the air.

“Just take him with you for today.”

I wondered what Zinon was thinking.

“Piyuu~”

As a reflex, I held Muguet tight. He was fluffy and cute.

His fluffy fur and sparkly pink innocent eyes that cling to me adorably were irresistible.

Come to think of it, aren’t Muguet and I matching right now?

When our translucent pink eyes met, I could see my own eyes reflected in Muguet’s pink eyes.

***

“Oh my, what’s this? We should sue for defamation for spreading such baseless rumours! It’s disrespectful to Prince Zinon and his fiancée Richeli. Everyone is shameless. They used to make way and greet us respectfully not long ago. I can’t believe this.”

I was deeply moved by Miranda, her yellow-gold hair almost standing on end with anger.

What a wonderful girl! I’m almost in love.

“Are you just going to let everyone say what they want? I wonder what His Highness is thinking by leaving it as it is…”

Sonia narrowed her amber eyes and placed the back of her finger on her chin, contemplating something.

“That’s right. If rumours were spread about me and someone other than my fiancée, I wouldn’t stay silent.”

Karina stared at me fiercely, her magenta eyes shining passionately.

“It’s true that we were alone in the lab… I can’t make any excuses.”

“Richeli… are you okay?”

Luna Maria looked at me with worried mint-green eyes, tucking my platinum blond hair behind my ear. I realised I’d been making Luna Maria’s eyes cloud over since the first day.

My inability to do anything seemed to frustrate Miranda and the others even more.

But still, it was a relief that Luna Maria, Karina, and Sonia seemed to believe me and Axel over the baseless rumours.

Just then, the bell rang, and Sevigny and Christopher entered the classroom. Today’s healer role seemed to be Luciano, who had been around the C class for a while.

Sevigny placed her textbook on the lectern, and our eyes met.

“Oh, if it isn’t the rumoured Richeli, you have a cute sacred beast with you today.”

“Eh, yes…”

Sevigny’s first words took me aback, and I almost recoiled.

Sevigny narrowed her seductive purple-red eyes like a cat, placed her hand on her hip, looked at me, and smiled charmingly.

“Really, these noble brats are so pointless, there’s no need to worry. You two are so in love that your eyes have turned such a cute pink colour. You should be proud. But seriously, what a worthless bunch. I don’t want to be like them.”

Sevigny shakes her head in disgust, and Christopher chuckles beside her.

“That’s true. Richeli, the pink colour in your eyes is deeper than before, isn’t it? Could it be that these rumours have actually added spice to your love life?”

“Professor Chris, isn’t that a rather tasteless assumption?”

Indeed. Even though Luciano is a Yandere knight, he seems to have the decency to defend me.

He gently scolds Christopher for his difficult-to-answer teasing. As expected of a capture target. I’d think he was a good man if it weren’t for his confinement habit.

“Piyu…piyu…”

“Hey, Muguet. Try to stay still during the lecture, okay?”

Even though I say that Muguet doesn’t stay still at all; he’s restless and moving around. He sniffs around with his pink nose and sometimes stays still.

What’s wrong with him? He’s usually playing around freely, but he’s a good boy who listens to me when I ask him to do something.

(I guess I really should only bring him today.)

Did Zinon bring Muguet to make me feel better?

After the lecture ended, Christopher approached me and Miranda while we summarised the lecture content in our notes.

Perhaps worried about a man approaching Luna Maria, Luciano follows him.

“Richeli, there’s a bazaar at the Central Convent on the next day off. Do you have any daily necessities, dresses, or accessories that you could donate?”

I’m surprised by Christopher’s words.

“Well, of course I do. That was the plan. But why me…”

“Of course, I’ve heard that you’ve been visiting various convents. After all, I am a Cardinal.”

“Oh… I see, I apologise.”

I was surprised to hear about the convent… a Cardinal… That makes sense. It wouldn’t be strange for him to know, would it?

“I’ve been seeing you at various convents for years. I thought it was interesting that a beautiful duchess like you was so active in the convent. Are you interested in faith?”

“Um, not exactly. I’m just visiting on behalf of my mother…”

“Really?”

With his adult-like smile, Christopher brushes his deep purple hair lightly, flustering me. He’s a perfect capture target with a mysterious charm. But when he talks about the convent, it scares me.

“Um…”

Luna Maria hesitates but looks into my face, pleading with her cute mint-green eyes.

“Can I come along too? To that bazaar.”