Chapter 33: Townsperson A Prepares a Report with the Villainess

Summer vacation, which felt both long and short, ended in the blink of an eye. Between the report and running around everywhere for research, an incredible amount of time slipped through my fingers. In the end, I never made it to the Elven Village or the Wind Mountain Labyrinth.

You see, Anastasia’s passion for this project was on a whole other level.

Well, where should I start? I suppose I should begin with the day after our investigation wrapped up.

That morning, Anastasia summoned me to the school gate. From there, I was whisked away in a luxurious carriage bearing the crest of House Ramslett.

“I’m glad you could make it,” she said. “And thank you for acting as our guide yesterday. It was a great help.”

“Not at all,” I replied.

“Now, about the report...”

“Yes?”

“I’ve already secured appointments with a labyrinth expert, a historian, and finally, a researcher specializing in those ruins. We’ll be making the rounds to interview them today.”

I blinked, momentarily stunned. “Wait, what? Are you really going that far for an independent study project?”

I couldn’t help but ask. In essence, this was just a middle or high school summer project. Going to interview university professors for it was... well, it was overkill, wasn't it?

At least, that’s what I thought, but Anastasia clearly saw things differently.

“I see. Since you are a commoner, Allen, you are unfamiliar with these matters. Listen well. This will be the official report of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Prince Claude, and the heirs of the kingdom's most prominent noble houses.”

Hmm. Those "high expectations" for their futures are probably just because of their parents' status, not actual talent, I thought.

“If we submit something half-baked or factually incorrect,” she continued, “we never know when someone might use it to trip us up.”

“I see.”

“Therefore, we must properly consult with experts, understand the material thoroughly, and compile it into a rigorous report based on those findings.”

“U-Understood.”

I didn’t quite understand how someone could be "tripped up" by a school report, but she likely meant avoiding some kind of public embarrassment or political leverage. To be honest, I didn't give a damn about the Crown Prince or the other love interests, but there was something moving about Anastasia’s sincerity.

Fine. If we're doing this, let's do it right!

In my previous life, I had graduated from a prestigious national university’s graduate program. I wasn't about to slack off now.

And so, having been thoroughly swept up in Anastasia's enthusiasm, I spent my days trailing after her to meet various experts. We sat through lectures, and I practically lived in the Royal Library conducting literature research. Anastasia and I debated the findings and compiled them into a proper academic format. We even sent the draft back to the experts for feedback before finalizing it.

Infuriatingly, the Crown Prince and his lackeys didn't lift a finger. We sent out multiple invitations with set meeting times, but every single time, a collective rejection arrived under the Crown Prince's name. Even as a Duke's daughter, Anastasia couldn't exactly force the Crown Prince to show up.

We finally showed the finished report to the group on the day before vacation ended. Of course, the Crown Prince was listed as the lead author. Considering the social hierarchy, that much was unavoidable.

However, despite all the work we had put in, the Crown Prince’s response was incredibly heartless.

“It’s too long,” he said, sounding bored. “Give me a three-minute summary so I can understand it immediately. I’m busy.”

Wow. Okay. If you were my boss at a company, I’d get it—I'm basically asking you to read a thesis. But you're a student, just like me. Is it really okay for a kid your age to be acting like this?

I wanted to scream at him, but doing so would probably get me thrown in a dungeon for lèse-majesté. I swallowed my rage and gave him the simplest summary possible.

Once I finished explaining the main points, the Crown Prince muttered a "Good work" and walked away without a second glance. I deserve a medal for not yelling at his retreating figure.

“His Highness is that kind of person. I’m sorry, but please bear with it,” Anastasia said.

Her resigned expression was strangely haunting. There wasn't a trace of the love or obsession she was supposed to have for him in the game. To me, she just looked like a girl who had accepted her fate as a pawn in a political marriage.

Predictably, the completed report received a glowing evaluation. The faculty and students were full of praise: “As expected of His Royal Highness!” and “Prince Claude is truly brilliant!” Anastasia received some credit as well, but I was treated like the dirt on their shoes.

I don’t know how the rumors started, but I was being treated like some low-life trash who had latched onto the Prince's coattails just to get my name on the paper. I wasn't even given a chance to defend myself. Because I was a commoner and they were nobles, the argument was over before it started.

I’m starting to wonder what the point of this academy even is. Character building definitely isn't on the curriculum.

At least Anastasia tried to tell people I was a key contributor, but her voice was drowned out by the sycophants trying to curry favor with the Crown Prince.

Well, I only have to deal with this for another six months. If I can just endure until the duel, I'll beat the Prince and his cronies to a pulp. I’ll probably be expelled—or executed, which is a very real possibility—but I’ve built a decent enough rapport with Anastasia. In the worst-case scenario, she might at least help my mother and me escape the country.

With that thought to sustain me, I renewed my determination to endure the rest of this shitty school life.