When I returned to the group, everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at me expectantly. Even the twins, who usually looked like emotionless trees, were focused on me. Shawu almost jumped on me again to drag me to the table, but thankfully Areci noticed and stopped her just in time.

"What happened? Don't you dare leave out a single word or action!" Shawu is shouting so close to my face that I can clearly smell the beer on her breath. I stare straight into her eyes and realize she's not as drunk as before. Looking around the table, I notice they've started drinking water at some point. From a quick glance, everyone looks a bit more sober.

"Not much, we were just talking a little about each other's lives. Brendu is more fun and sociable than I expected." No one replied immediately. They all stared at me with completely serious faces.

"Brendu? You called the princess by her name directly?" Ogine broke the short silence, and that's when I realized my mistake.

"Why are you calling her by her name? What did she do to you? I'm going to tell her a few things!" Shawu was about to leave, but I trapped her inside my strongest barrier. Areci raised her hand, and everyone turned to look at the leader.

"Shawu, calm down. Maki, release her." We both obeyed quickly. "Maki, could you explain? Why are you calling the princess of a kingdom by her name on the first day you met her?" I couldn't help swallowing dryly. Her voice sounded calm—you could take her words as a request—but I knew it was an order, and her eyes weren't smiling.

I explained everything from the start—how I greeted three people, then sat with Brendu in a corner to talk alone. I told them each part without going into detail. I didn't want to expose her private life without her permission. I mentioned a few things about myself that seemed to surprise Areci's group for a moment, though they didn't look like they could be shocked anymore.

"So she gave you permission." That's unusual for Brendu. "Only a few fourth-year students are allowed to call her by name directly. All of them are influential and powerful people. Professors and other students don't count." I nodded softly—it was normal to expect that from a princess.

Shawu was still fuming, and Ogine was consoling her like a little child. The twins hadn't changed their expressions much, and the big guy was smiling—an unexpected reaction.

The party went on, and there was less than an hour left. When I said I was going again, Shawu almost hit me. The others didn't comment on my early departure; they just reminded me to keep my promise to train with them. Areci advised me to be careful and discreet with my words.

During all these hours, I hadn't drunk any alcohol, so my mind was much clearer and my body more responsive. Using my Thundersnow ability, I felt completely sober. I finally reached Brendu's table, and just as I was about to approach, she raised her hand to stop me.

"Let's go for a walk. I need some fresh air." I nodded lightly, opened the door for her, and she quickly stepped down. As we walked, she slipped her left arm between my right arm and my torso. I understood her intention and extended my arm to let her rest hers on it, earning a genuine smile from her.

Her table was at the far end of the hall, and the walk to the door felt endless. Everyone around us focused on us, whispering and pointing discreetly. I'd lived through similar moments during Sol's or Arisa's parties, but this felt completely different. This time I was with someone I had just met.

For the first time, I had to focus on my own steps, trying not to trip or stumble. Walking arm in arm with a princess isn't simple. I wished I were drunk—it would make ignoring the stares and whispers much easier. We finally left the venue; some students were outside too, but far fewer.

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"Where do you want to go, Prin—Brendu?" I almost made the mistake of using her title. She looked at me and patted my shoulder with her free hand.

"Let's sit on a bench a little away from all these people. I don't like being surrounded by those who can overhear us." I let her lead the way until we reached a small park near the cafeteria, where we sat in a quiet corner.

"Did you have fun at your first party?" She finally broke the silence. On the way there, we hadn't spoken—just walked, looked around, and smiled at each other.

"Yes, it was better than I expected." I hadn't had high hopes; if I hadn't found Areci's group or been invited by her, I probably would've stayed a few hours and gone back to training. "Did you have fun? It must be the same for you every year." She'd been here for three years already—this was her last.

"At first, yes. I just thought about drinking a bit and leaving early. These kinds of parties don't amuse me as they used to…" I can't imagine royal life—attending endless events and ceremonies since childhood. Definitely not for me. "But it was a good idea to come and stay a bit longer. What started as a normal party turned into the best I've had in school." She sat just a few centimeters away, gazing at the clear sky.

The moonlight reflected in her large, shining gray eyes, her long golden hair moving slightly in the cold breeze. She was undeniably beautiful. Realizing my thoughts, I quickly tried to change them.

"Really? What happened?" I asked, curious about her answer.

"I met you, Maki. I haven't been able to talk to someone so freely and without pretensions in years. The last time was with Areci when we started school long ago." My cheeks warmed slightly, and at the same time, I felt bad for her—it must be lonely and dull living that way. "I don't understand the reason, I haven't found an answer yet, but… thank you for appearing, Maki." She finally lowered her gaze to meet mine.

"Thank you for coming to the princess's castle and talking with her. Thank you for saving her from a monotonous, restricted life." Her eyes said everything—she was being sincere. From what I'd read in my past life and learned in this one, high nobles live a life completely different from what people imagine.

It's true—they have all the money and power in the world, but they can't make friends easily. They aren't allowed to trust just anyone, and they always have to be politically correct. They're constantly thinking about how to make others stumble or look bad; always competing with one another.

An ordinary person might think, "That's nothing—I don't even have food, or I work all day to feed my child." And they're right. A person struggling to survive has a far harder life. But they also have things nobles struggle to find: true love, loyal friendships, and the courage to trust others.

It's a dilemma I've thought about for years, and it's hard to address. I've only been able to conclude that common people have tougher, more hard-fought lives—but at the same time, having all the money and power in the world doesn't guarantee you'll find the simplest joys.

"Don't worry, Brendu, you don't need to thank me." I smile as gently as possible. "If you ever need someone to talk to or company, just come find me." Our eyes met for a few seconds, and our smiles said everything. She finally leaned closer and rested her head on my shoulder.

We talked for a few more hours. When we finally finished, she insisted on walking me to my building. I tried to refuse in every possible way, but she wouldn't give up. Once we reached the door, she pushed me inside and refused to leave—she wanted to sleep here no matter what.

I finally agreed, on one condition: she'd use my room, and I'd sleep on the couch. She accepted without hesitation. As I was setting up the couch, resigned for not being able to stop her, I heard the door open and looked up—frozen in place when I saw her wearing one of my pajamas. She was only slightly shorter, but our bodies were very different, and it looked a bit oversized on her.

"Good night, Maki. Thank you for letting me sleep here." I ignored the fact that I'd been forced into this situation and couldn't do anything about it.

"Good night, Brendu." Her classes started two hours later than mine; if she didn't wake up by then, I'd have to shower at the school gym after breakfast. The moment I closed my eyes, sleep hit me like a wave, and I fell deeply asleep.

Sure enough, when I woke up, I quietly opened my room door—she was still asleep. I made breakfast for both of us, left hers covered to reheat later, and rushed to the school gym—the only place I could shower quickly.

I barely met anyone on the way to school. Freshly showered and dressed, I was ready for my first class—today was my first day as a substitute teacher.

I inhaled and exhaled slowly to calm my heart. Finally, it was time to face reality, to deal with the problem in front of me. I hoped the students wouldn't be idiots and would let me do my job properly.

I entered the classroom fifteen minutes early and sat at the teacher's desk to wait for my students. Officially, my first day as both student and teacher had begun. My new stage at the academy had finally started!

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