Originally, this was supposed to be an event where all sorts of things happened to the protagonist, Edmund.

Well, that's not something I need to worry about anymore.

"Actually, I was planning to go with Viola," Elena said cheerfully. "Do you want to come too? Let's hang out together. We can eat lots of delicious food!"

It seemed the two of them had grown close while I'd been busy helping Lisa with her studies, to the point that they'd already made plans to tour the festival together.

But… Viola, going to a festival?

She was usually either buried in books in her room or quietly stationed in the library. A crowded, noisy festival felt completely out of character for her. Why would she suddenly want to go somewhere like that?

Maybe something had changed.

Come to think of it, her attitude toward me had been subtly different lately—starting with how she'd begun addressing me more casually.

In a good way, of course.

"I want to go too," Lisa chimed in brightly. "The academy will be closed, so we can have fun all we want. What about you, Louis? Are you coming with us?"

"Me? I…"

At Elena's question, I paused and gave it some thought.

To be honest, I wasn't particularly interested. I've never liked noisy places, and festivals—at least in my old world—were exactly that. Crowded, loud, and exhausting.

Of course, a festival in a fantasy world might have a completely different atmosphere… but I still wasn't sure I'd be able to genuinely enjoy it.

"I'll hold off for now," I said finally. "Let me think about it, and I'll let you know later."

"Alright," Elena replied with a nod. "Make sure to tell me!"

There was also the issue of the group itself.

Elena, Lisa, and even Viola already attracted plenty of attention on an ordinary day. If the three of them walked around a festival together—and I joined them on top of that—it would definitely stand out.

Yeah… that was something I needed to seriously think about.

_-_--_-

That evening, just as I had expected, Anna came to see me.

"Hm… this tea is quite good."

"…I'm glad it suits your taste."

Anna sat across from me, sipping her tea at an unhurried pace. Several minutes passed after she entered the room, yet she still hadn't said a word about why she was here.

So… what exactly is her business?

For a moment, an unpleasant suspicion crossed my mind. I quietly shifted my gaze as she continued to drink in silence, the sound of porcelain touching the saucer echoing far too clearly in the room.

Then, at last, she spoke.

"Actually, I heard you did quite well during the practical exam. I came to inform you that the academy and the student council are preparing a reward."

"…A reward?"

"Yes. Thanks to your actions, there were no casualties. We're truly grateful."

Her expression turned serious as she said it, her tone sincere. I felt a little awkward being praised so directly, but my confusion only deepened.

…That's it?

She came all the way to a man's room this late at night just to say that? I couldn't understand her line of thinking. Did she not realize how easily rumors could spread?

Every move the princess made was bound to be scrutinized. Something like this would only fuel the gossip-hungry students.

Well… I suppose it just means she doesn't see me as a man at all.

"I'll be going now," Anna said calmly, standing up. "We'll contact you once the reward is ready, so don't worry about it."

With that, she placed her empty teacup neatly on the table and turned toward the door.

She really came just to tell me that?

Then why did she sit around for so long in the first place?

I could only stare blankly as Anna left the room without another word, her composed footsteps fading down the hallway.

The door closed with a soft click.

Silence settled over the room.

I stared at the spot where Anna had been standing, then slowly let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

"…What was that about?"

I glanced at the untouched teapot, then at the empty chair across from me. The air still carried the faint scent of tea—and something else. A presence that lingered longer than it should have.

If she truly came only to deliver a message, there was no reason for her to stay that long.

No reason to make casual conversation. No reason to drink tea so leisurely. No reason at all to visit personally.

And yet, she had.

I rubbed my face with one hand and leaned back against the chair.

'This is bad.'

Very bad.

Anna wasn't some random noblewoman. She was a princess—someone whose every action could ripple through the academy like a stone dropped into still water. Even if no one saw her enter my room tonight… rumors didn't need witnesses. They only needed imagination.

And the academy had plenty of that.

'If this spreads, it'll be annoying.'

No—dangerous.

Not because I cared about my reputation, but because attention was the last thing I needed. I was already interfering too much with the story as it was. Drawing the interest of the royal family on top of that?

That was crossing a line.

I stood up and walked to the window, pulling the curtain aside slightly. The academy grounds were quiet under the moonlight, lanterns casting soft glows along the paths. Everything looked peaceful.

Too peaceful.

"…I need to be more careful," I muttered.

I'd let my guard down. Again.

Between Elena, the class representative plan, and now Anna, things were starting to pile up faster than I could control. Variables were increasing—unnecessary ones.

And the Sage's Bookmark's words echoed in my mind.

Several. Weak. Possibilities. Exist.

At the time, I'd brushed it off as something distant. Abstract.

Now, it felt uncomfortably close.

I closed the curtain and returned to my desk, sitting down slowly. Tomorrow, the class representative selection would take place. That was my next move—my chance to push the story back onto its original rails.

No distractions. No mistakes. No more royal visits.

"…Alright."

I clenched my fist lightly and exhaled.

One step at a time.

If I could just get through tomorrow without incident, things might finally start settling down.

Unaware of how badly that hope was about to be shattered.

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