In any school, it was common practice for the top student to take the freshmen oath on the podium. So it was only natural for Lucy, who was that year’s top student, to go on the podium as the freshman representative.
However, the name that was called was Eric Roman, a different male student. He was said to be the eldest son of a self-made family.
Eric Roman rose from his seat when his name was called, and a couple sitting in the parent’s seat applauded loudly. Perhaps they were his parents, Viscount and Viscountess Roman.
Lucy looked back, though she knew that there was no face she wanted to see there, but soon, Baron Connor smiled and raised his hand. She smiled in response.
I’m glad my family wasn’t able to come.
Lucy’s family was unable to attend because the distance between Brom and the capital, where the academy was located, was too great. At first, she was disappointed, but now that she thought about it, she was glad. Her family would be sad to see that she could not take the freshmen oath because they were commoners.
It was only about 20 years ago that Xenomium Academy began accepting commoner students. This change in Xenomium was a hot topic in the empire at the time since the academy was exclusively for the nobles.
However, it was a change in name only. Upon closer look, nothing much has really changed. It was still a place of education only for nobles. Discrimination still exists. For example, the Academy never had a commoner student on the podium as a student representative.
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It was no exception in the year when Lucy, a commoner, entered as the top student.
“They said it was a prestigious school, but it’s not true,” Colin muttered, still full of discontent.
Lucy was also unhappy with the discrimination she received, but her heart calmed down because she had a friend who was angry for her.
All right. Let’s take solace in the fact that I got a scholarship.
Lucy consoled herself and looked bitterly at Eric Roman, who was taking the oath as a representative on the podium.
The principal’s welcome speech continued after Eric Roman’s oath was over. His monotonous and slow speech quickly created a dull atmosphere in the hall. When he was finally done, mandatory applause continued from the audience. Everyone looked as if they wanted the principal, who had no sense of humor, to get down quickly.
The next moment, however, the atmosphere of the Great Hall was completely changed when a male student walked up the podium after the principal. Everyone’s eyes turned toward the boy, and at the same time there was a moment of silence in the hall.
His tall height stood out among many male students, coupled with his calm gait and blond hair.
Lucy’s eyes grew bigger. She remembered seeing such beautiful golden hair. A memory that she had forgotten for a moment rose from her mind like fog clearing up.
The hall, which had been silent, began to stir again. The new students sitting around Lucy exchanged whispers.
“He’s the second-year student council president.”
“Do you mean the Prince of Berg?”
Lucy stopped breathing at the familiar name.
Prince of Berg
Her eyes followed the back of the boy climbing onto the platform. Finally, standing in the middle of the platform, she almost jumped out of her seat as he turned to the left. His eyes, as he scanned the people in the hall, was blue.
“It’s him,” Lucy murmured to herself. “I’m sure it’s him.”
Seven years had passed but Lucy knew at once. The boy standing in front of her now was the boy she saw near the lake of Marquis Everen’s garden. For he seemed to be the only one in the world who had such brilliant blond hair and blue eyes.
I can’t believe I’m seeing you here again!
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Of course, she was the only one who recognized him, but the unexpected reunion made Lucy stunned.
The prince quietly cleared his throat as if he were about to begin a welcoming speech for the enrolled students. It wasn’t only Lucy that was staring at him, but everyone in the hall. However, e spoke without a trace of nervousness in his voice.
“Welcome to Xenomium, fellow freshmen. You’re a part of the academy as of today. My name is Adrian Berg, and I am here on behalf of the students…”
A pleasant mid-to-low-pitched voice echoed through the hall. Everyone sat spellbound as Prince Berg delivered his welcome speech.
“Wow, he’s so handsome,” Colin, who rarely delivered such praises, whispered in Lucy’s ear.
“Uhm…”
The more she heard Prince Berg’s welcoming speech, the stranger Lucy felt. The prince, whom she remembered, was a lonely little boy, curled up on his own. But now the boy was a dignified handsome young man, standing before Lucy.
He, who seemed mature and shrewd, had no sign of the boy who had been mischievous to Lucy seven years ago.
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Everyone was listening to his voice while holding their breath. But no one seemed to be focusing on the content. They only watched Prince Berg’s face with fascination.
Before she knew it, his welcome speech was over.
He bowed his head politely and applauses rang in the hall. Lucy, who was sitting like a stone, clapped her hands as if she had come to her senses.
Like most people, Lucy couldn’t remember exactly what he said. However, his voice, when he was saying his name, was clear in her mind.
“Adrian…” Lucy muttered as she watched him come down from the podium.
His name is Adrian.
* * *
“Well, I’ve decided! I’m going to join the theater club,” Colin said confidently.
“Yes. It suits you.” Lucy, sitting next to him, responded roughly.
Despite her reaction, Colin flipped the club flier in his hand one after another, before setting them down on the table. “Or how about the swordsmanship club? It looks cool!”
“You’ve never held a sword properly.”
“Well, I can learn from now on. Oh, wait. There’s an entrance exam. Let’s skip this then.” Colin crumpled up the flier, then he began to concentrate on the other fliers.
“There’s a fortune-teller club too? It looks like fun!”
“Fortune-telling is complex and difficult to learn. It just looks fun. You’ll be in big trouble if you go in there,” Lucy said, looking pitifully at Colin, who was at a loss.
This is their third day at Xenomium Academy. They couldn’t get used to the academy and were busy looking around at the wave of promotional fliers for club activities.
At the academy, club activities were as important as their studies, so they laid out fliers on the table in the break room and thought about it for a long time.
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“Hey, Lucy. Just join me in the theater club.”
“No, I’m not good at acting,” Lucy refused at once, making Colin pout.
“Have you thought of any place?”
Lucy fiddled with a piece of paper with his question.
“What the!” Colin snatched the paper away. “Book club?” He looked into the paper and frowned. “You even filled in the application form, didn’t you?”
Colin realized that the paper he had taken from Lucy was not a flier, but an application form, already filled with Lucy’s handwriting.
“Do you want to live here buried in books?”
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“What’s wrong with that?” Lucy snapped back, and snatched the application form from Colin.
“Well, that’s not fun! I’m bored just thinking about it,” Colin said, pretending to yawn on purpose. But Lucy didn’t answer, and she folded the application form carefully and put it in her bag.
“Why don’t you read some books, too. If you come to an academy with a library that is considered to have a lot of books in the Empire, you should use it.”
“I’m okay.” Colin replied sullenly, turning his eyes to other club fliers.
Without her friend knowing, Lucy patted her chest. In fact, she was nervous that Colin would notice the real reason why she wanted to join the book club.
Adrian Berg, who made a strong impression at the entrance ceremony, became a hot topic among freshmen. His popularity was soaring day by day, with not only his handsome appearance but also his friendly personality that made many female students excited.
There were constant talks about him here and there. Thanks to them, Lucy could hear many rumors about Adrian.
He is not only the student council president of Xenomium Academy, but also the head of the book club. Moreover, he had never missed the top spot in the school year since he entered the school.
Is that possible?
The more she heard of Adrian, the more surprised she was. It was really hard for her just to prepare for the academy entrance exam.
How can he do so many things at the same time?
When she heard Adrian’s activities at the academy, she felt like she was listening to a monster with superhuman stamina, not a human.
And that wasn’t the end of it. What surprised Lucy even more was the words about his reputation. They also praised Adrian Berg for his excellent character and polite manner.
Lucy, who had overheard them secretly, had no choice but to tilt her head.
What? Kind and humble? Him?
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How could a child who used to talk nonsense about the smell of horse dung become such a perfect model student?
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