Day Ten
I fear I may have overstepped my bounds.
In doing so, I inadvertently caused Lord Zenon to suffer a great deal of public humiliation.
The duel between Lord Yugo and Lord Rush for Lady Melt’s freedom took place today.
The result was... Lord Yugo’s victory. It was a truly staggering turn of events.
Lord Rush was held in high regard by everyone for his exceptional combat prowess, and even the faculty had their eyes on his skillful handling of two Magic Items. Everyone said that if he continued to develop his skills at this rate, earning a place among the elite Magic Knights directly under the Royal Capital Headquarters would be more than just a dream. Such was the reputation he commanded.
And yet, Lord Yugo defeated such a man. Furthermore, he did so without even using the Galandil, relying instead on that obsolete Magic Item, the Blaster.
Honestly, I find it hard to believe. Perhaps it is because I did not witness the battle firsthand, but I cannot shake the suspicion that there has been some sort of mistake. It seemed the other students felt the same way, as many were openly questioning whether Lord Yugo had cheated.
Lord Zenon, who arrived after the duel had concluded, also pointed out that possibility. He appealed for the duel to be invalidated and even attempted to persuade Lady Melt directly. He spoke of the danger Lord Yugo posed and described just how cowardly and base his character truly was... but Lady Melt rejected him.
Not only that, but it is said she went so far as to kiss Lord Yugo right there in front of Lord Zenon and the entire crowd of students.
To be harshly rejected by the person one was earnestly trying to help, only to be forced to watch that woman kiss the very man one loathes—I can only imagine the depths of humiliation Lord Zenon must have tasted.
The surrounding students were equally dumbfounded, and I feel as though Lord Zenon’s standing suffered simply because I shared that unnecessary information with him.
Afterward, while the consensus remained that Lord Yugo had likely cheated, Lady Melt’s resolve was so firm that everyone agreed it would be impossible to separate her from him for the time being.
Though Lord Zenon seemed despondent immediately following the rejection, speaking with Lord Rush and forming a bond of friendship appears to have helped him regain his composure. Does the camaraderie of men truly resonate more deeply in the heart than the words of a woman like myself? I felt a small pang of loneliness, as if I were being excluded from his circle.
Speaking of being hurt, now that Lady Melt has rejected Lord Zenon, I must completely abandon any hope of becoming her friend. She humiliated my savior, Lord Zenon. As someone devoted to his side, I cannot possibly maintain a friendship with someone like her.
It is very regrettable, and my heart aches... but I can say without hesitation that, for now, this is the most correct choice. Should our paths ever cross on the battlefield, I intend to fight with enough conviction to repay the humiliation she inflicted on Lord Zenon twofold!
...Of course, I am not particularly gifted in combat. I am merely speaking of my resolve.
Day Twelve
The days have been very peaceful lately. Lord Zenon seems to have recovered from the sting of Lady Melt’s rejection, and he is slowly returning to his old, bright self. Perhaps he decided that nothing good comes from associating with Lord Yugo and Lady Melt, as he has stopped watching them so closely of late.
I, Claire, also believe that maintaining a healthy state of mind is of the utmost importance. In a little while, classes will begin in earnest, and I must prepare for them.
Come to think of it, I have noticed that among the High School Division transfer students, there are several individuals other than Lord Zenon who are actively socializing with the rest of the student body. I suppose I was so preoccupied with Lord Yugo that I simply failed to see them until now. Sharing a similar background, they seem to get along well with Lord Zenon as well.
Lord Zenon insists they aren’t actually his friends, but he is likely just struggling to be honest with himself. I believe this is what they call being a "tsundere."
However... I felt a peculiar sensation when speaking with the individuals who came to greet me. They carry that same enigmatic aura as Lord Zenon. They feel as though they possess something the rest of us do not, and sensing it so frequently has left me feeling somewhat uneasy.
Furthermore, the way they look at me feels... improper. It is a gaze that uncomfortably reminds me of how Lord Yugo used to look at people. Perhaps Lord Zenon was telling the truth when he said he was not on good terms with them. I feel it would be best if I refrained from interacting with them too much myself.
But... no, I shall stop writing about this. I fear I might end up writing something disparaging about Lord Zenon, and that would be terribly ungrateful of me. Speaking ill of others behind their backs is not the behavior of an aspiring Magic Knight. I must be careful.
In any case, the important thing now is to prepare for the start of my classes. I must solidify my resolve as my full-scale academy life truly begins.