The morning passed quickly.
Felyn carried his lunch box, weaving through the school buildings.
He felt like he'd accidentally wandered into the holy site of some fanatical religion.
Zervanie's posters and support materials were everywhere. Except for the main building, all the academic buildings had hung enormous banners of Zervanie.
Moreover, each building's poster was completely different, fully demonstrating the money power of noble school students.
The most eye-catching was the poster hanging on the library—her latest photo spread.
Zervanie wore a sky-blue dress, the skirt adorned with star-like sequins.
She tilted her head slightly, her ice-blue eyes carrying a hint of playfulness, with that signature sweet smile gracing her lips.
Her silver-white curls flowed in waves, draped over one shoulder, making her face appear even more delicate and captivating.
Small crystal ornaments were scattered through her hair, echoing the accessories on her earlobes and chest.
On the poster as tall as the academic building, Zervanie's sweet smile watched over everyone in the school like a divine being.
Probably only Felyn felt guilty being watched by her.
Banner slogans hung in every corridor, and Felyn had to duck his head to navigate through them.
[Forever Supporting Lady Zervanie]
[The Goddess Will Descend Upon Saint Andros Academy Today]
All these flashy slogans made his eyes hurt.
Though it was lunchtime, large crowds gathered together, occasionally bursting into screams and cheers.
Almost every intersection had groups freely distributing Zervanie content, with so many people supporting her fanatically.
And they hoped Lady Zervanie would see that everyone wore her badge on their chest.
Felyn had also collected some—quite a lot, actually.
These wealthy young ladies had actually gilded the badges with magic items to make their idol look more radiant.
Felyn looked at the dozen or so badges in his pocket. These could be sold to secondhand shops for another profit.
All the decorations and activities had only begun last night.
The nobles had invested incalculable money and enormous amounts of time in these posters, banners, and support materials.
All of this was because of the empire's super popular songstress—Zervanie Einzbern's arrival.
Fortunately, behind the bicycle shed on this consistently busy Wednesday, no banners were hung and there were no decorations.
Probably everyone had forgotten such a place existed.
Viloti sat on the steps, holding her lunch box with both hands, sitting very straight.
She gazed ahead aimlessly, her cold expression making her look like a perfect statue.
"Felyn."
This statue only began to move after seeing Felyn.
Today, besides Lady Zervanie coming to school, the biggest news was probably that someone had seen Viloti and Felyn walking a long way to school together.
Miss Viloti hadn't had family escort today, and the Silafiel family estate wasn't in the direction she'd come from today.
Thus, an obvious conclusion spread among every student—Viloti had spent the night at Felyn's house.
Sometimes Felyn really admired these people's attitude of thorough research when it came to gossip.
Were they all planning to become detectives?
He hadn't seen them work this hard on their studies.
Felyn no longer cared about the gazes his classmates cast his way.
Adeline already knew about his past relationship with Viloti, and surprisingly, she hadn't been angry.
Lord Silafiel had also tacitly approved of his interactions with Viloti.
There were no other clients in the school anyway.
Felyn originally planned to ignore these things—let them think whatever they wanted.
When Viloti had walked Felyn to his classroom door this morning, she'd looked at him nervously and asked if she could eat lunch with him. Felyn had quickly agreed.
After all, so many people in class were watching. If he'd refused Viloti, rumors would inevitably escalate to "Felyn wanted to abandon Viloti after sleeping with her, completely unwilling to take responsibility, being a scumbag."
Even though he hadn't slept with Viloti and there was no question of irresponsibility, it was pure rumor and gossip.
But clarifying this would require many people to believe it was true, and they'd likely engage in moral blackmail with some sense of righteous mission and embellishment.
Like adding "special ingredients" to his water bottle, putting glue on his chair, or equating him with trash.
Felyn had experienced all this before and didn't want to go through it a second time.
"Felyn, you seem unhappy."
Viloti watched Felyn sit beside her, and only then did her hands gripping the lunch box relax.
"Really? Maybe I remembered something unpleasant."
Felyn leaned against the steps, suddenly feeling very tired.
Being surrounded by beautiful girls—who asked for this? I, Felyn, don't want this anymore!
Every day he had to handle various emergencies, and even Zervanie, whom he'd carefully avoided for so long, was coming to his school.
Daiyi was clearly having too much fun!
"Clearly with joint examinations approaching, students should study hard to bring glory to the school instead of watching some songstress. How tragic—the tragedy of students, the tragedy of our times. I, Felyn, reflect: why do children abroad..."
She tilted her head slightly, seriously sensing Felyn's emotions.
The joint examination would probably be relatively simple, and it didn't affect major advancement or graduation, so besides Felyn wanting to pass for credits and those two young ladies wanting Felyn to qualify for the school celebration, most students and teachers didn't care much.
Everyone knew Zervanie was just using the joint examination as an excuse to come to school and promote herself.
Viloti knew all this, but she still quietly listened to Felyn's complaints without rebutting.
Felyn rambled on and on, feeling somewhat better afterward.
"You've heard so much, don't worry about what I said. I was just venting."
Viloti shook her head. Even if it were complaints, she was willing to listen.
"Felyn, I can let you play."
Felyn's hand opening his lunch box froze in mid-air, and he suddenly turned around to look at Viloti.
"What did you say?"
"You're in a bad mood, so I can let you play."
Viloti tilted her head slightly, her expression still cold but with a trace of blush appearing on her cheeks.
"Eh eh, Viloti, you mean to say you want to play with me, right?"
"No, I mean I'll let you play."
Viloti’s expression turned completely serious.
Does this young lady know what she's saying!
"Play, play what?" Felyn confirmed again.
"Play with my feet."
Viloti put her lunch box on the steps and reached out to take off the small leather boots she was wearing today.
Today she wasn't wearing white stockings, and her smooth instep looked even more tender under the sunlight.
"Felyn, won't you play?"
"I won't play! And why are you saying this so casually!"
What's with all this playing!
If she had said "touch feet," Felyn might have been able to accept it a little better, but "play with feet" really sounded like something a pervert would say!
Looking at Viloti now, Felyn suddenly felt he should reconsider his impression of her.
She was no longer the same pure, aloof, and reserved Viloti from before.
Just as the two were pushing and shoving each other, a figure wearing a hat and mask came bouncing over to the bicycle shed.
"There shouldn't be anyone here, right?"
She looked around, and after confirming no one was there, took off her hat, letting her silver-white curls cascade down.
"Wearing this hat makes my head so itchy."
None of the fans in the academy noticed that Zervanie had already quietly arrived at the school.
She tidied her hair a bit, then walked a few more steps forward, discovering a young couple still sitting on the steps.
Zervanie's gaze was fixed intently on that young man's silhouette.
Why does he seem somewhat familiar?
(End of Chapter)