Rodel clicked his tongue in irritation at the sight of Celestine Crocus.
"Celestine! Stay out of this!"
"What you are doing is physical assault. Do you truly intend to be disciplined the very day you enroll?"
Celestine’s heels clicked sharply against the floor as she marched toward them.
She had arrived later than the other students, likely because she had been speaking with the faculty regarding the incident that occurred during the entrance ceremony.
"Son of Count Dora! Did you not hear me tell you to let go of him?"
"……Hmph."
At Celestine’s sharp command, the large, shaved-headed man—the son of Count Dora—released his grip.
Rest landed lightly on the floor and began to assess the situation.
I recalled that Lady Celestine was this idiot prince’s fiancée. As his partner, I wondered if she intended to step in and put a stop to his tantrum.
"Your Highness Rodel, your assigned classroom is Class D. What business do you have here?"
"……Class D is beneath me," Rodel replied, his voice dripping with venom. "It is a mistake for someone of my standing to be in Class D. Injustice must be corrected. If you intend to stand in my way, I will not forgive even you."
"The results were based on a strict examination. What possible complaint could you have?"
"I scored a perfect 200 points in Target Shooting! I told you, I far exceeded the passing mark!"
"Indeed, I have heard that Your Highness’s marks on the practical exam were quite excellent. However, you turned in a nearly blank written exam, did you not? You should be grateful you were allowed to enroll at all, even if it is in the lowest class."
"You……!"
Rodel’s face contorted with rage.
At that moment, a muffled "Pfft..." escaped from somewhere in the room.
"Tch……!"
Rodel whipped his head around to glare at the source, causing the Class A students to simultaneously avert their eyes.
"Normally, Your Highness’s scores wouldn't have even reached the passing threshold," Celestine continued. "The only reason you were admitted was out of consideration for the Queen Dowager and the Concubine. If you have a grievance regarding the class assignments, perhaps you should apply yourself to your studies so that you might qualify for a higher class after the term-end exam."
"You expect me to suffer through four months in the lowest class? You—are you even my fiancée!?"
"It is precisely because I am your fiancée that I am guiding you toward the proper path. Or is it perhaps…… that you lack the confidence to achieve a good grade on the term-end exam?"
"You little……!"
His face flushing a deep crimson, Rodel lunged forward to grab Celestine.
Celestine didn't move. Whether she was too stunned to react or was intentionally allowing herself to be the victim of his violence, it was hard to tell.
(Frozen.)
Instead, it was Rest who acted.
He cast a subtle spell, manifesting a patch of ice beneath Rodel’s advancing right foot.
"Whoa!?"
"Ah—!"
Just as planned, Rodel stepped onto the ice and lost his balance.
Rest reached out, gently catching Celestine’s arm to pull her toward him. In the same instant, Rodel pitched forward, sprawling flat on his face with a heavy thud.
"Gah…… ugh……!"
"Y-Your Highness! Are you alright!?"
"Hieee! Your Highness!"
His two followers scrambled to his side in a panic.
Rodel had been unable to break his fall; he had plunged headfirst into the floor, slamming his face hard against the stone.
"Bwah!"
"Pff—hahahaha!"
Suddenly, bursts of laughter erupted throughout the classroom.
Laughter is born from the release of tension. At the sight of the prince, who had been acting so high and mighty, suddenly falling flat on his face, the students couldn't help themselves.
"Damn it…… you……!"
Rodel climbed to his feet and tried to glare at the Class A students, but with blood dripping sluggishly from his nose, his attempts at intimidation were pathetic. No one was cowed.
"Y-Your Highness! We must get to the infirmary immediately!"
"Hieee, the blood! Look at the blood!"
"C-Curse you…… you low-born scum……"
Leaving behind the cliché parting words of a common thug, Rodel was hurried out of the room by his followers. As they disappeared, the classroom was once again enveloped in laughter.
"Um…… what exactly was all that commotion?"
"Rest-sama?"
Viola and Primula returned to the room, tilting their heads in confusion. Yuri followed behind them, blinking her eyes in wonder.
"Ah…… I’ll tell you all about it when we have a moment. More importantly……"
The clock on the wall ticked forward, and the preparatory bell rang.
"It’s time for guidance to begin. We should probably take our seats."
Rest gave a wry smile and urged the girls to sit down.