Defending the Underdog.

I stood near the wall, leaning against it as I waited for Mei. The homeroom adviser had said she would give me a tour of the school campus, but she was taking her time.

I didn't mind—I wasn't in a hurry, and it gave me a chance to observe the school and its students. The campus hallway looked peaceful enough, far removed from the chaos I'd read about in reports.

"Hey, can you tell us where you're from?" I overheard a student asking a teacher.

"I've heard the teacher is a high-ranking noble from some rich household," another voice chimed in.

The sound of chattering and excited voices drew my attention. It came from a crowd of students gathered near one end of the hallway.

My curiosity got the better of me, and I moved toward the group to see what was going on. As I edged closer, I realized they were all fawning over Lykon.

"She's so pretty, and she doesn't look that old," one of the boys nearby commented, his eyes wide with admiration. It seemed everyone was taken with her charm and beauty.

Lykon was certainly popular, and she seemed to blend in effortlessly. I wondered if it was always this easy for her or if she had to work at it.

Either way, she had a knack for drawing people's attention.

A voice from behind startled me. "Hey, hey," one of the other teachers said, approaching the crowd. "What are you kids lining up here for? Stop bothering Ms. Yi."

Yi? Was that the name her brother gave her? It sounded suspiciously fake, but maybe that was the point.

A voice beside me made me jump. "What? Do you also like that new teacher?" It was Mei, standing right next to me. I hadn't even noticed her approach.

"L-like? No, I—" I stammered, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.

"It's written all over your face," she teased. "And your ears are turning red."

"I'm not—" I tried to protest, but the more she teased, the more flustered I became.

Mei took my hand and pulled me away from the crowd. "Let's go. I have other things to do after I'm done babysitting you."

I frowned at the term "babysitting." What did she mean by that? Did she think I was just some helpless kid who couldn't find his way around?

I wanted to tell her I wasn't a child, but the truth was, I did need her help to navigate this new school and figure out my place in it.

As we walked down the hallway, I couldn't help but feel a mix of embarrassment and gratitude—embarrassment for getting caught off guard, and gratitude that at least one person seemed willing to guide me through this unfamiliar territory.

"This is the school's royal court," Mei said as we stood before a lush garden filled with flowers and trees. It was a beautiful place, but it felt ordinary to me. We had something similar back at my old house.

"In all the places here, this is the most peaceful you can find," Mei continued, her voice a touch softer than usual. "Students aren't that interested in serene landscapes like this, so I come here whenever I need a break." She seemed to enjoy talking about her little escape from the school's bustling life, and I found myself nodding along, trying to seem interested.

But her expression betrayed a hint of sadness, like she was seeking refuge from something unpleasant. "Do you have a garden like this? I heard you're from a duchy. Perhaps you grew some flowers?" she asked.

"Uh, no, umm... my family focuses on swords. Our insignia is one of the imperial shields," I replied, not entirely sure what I was saying. I was trying to stick to the background story the young master had crafted for me, but it didn't come naturally.

"Shield?" she asked, looking curious.

"Uh... yeah... I mean..." I stumbled over my words. I needed to get a better grip on this cover story if I was going to pull it off.

"Lucky you," she said, her voice dropping. "If my family were of noble birth, maybe I could..." She trailed off, her eyes downcast as if she was pondering a life she wished she had.

But her musings were abruptly cut short when three boys approached us, their faces full of smugness and superiority.

They looked like trouble, the kind of trouble that found you when you least expected it.

"If it isn't the commoner who's always leeching off rich people," one of them sneered, looking directly at Mei.

"We know you've got brains, but hanging around this young master again? Don't you have any shame, Meimei?" another one chimed in, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Mei stiffened, her expression tightening as if she was bracing for what was to come. I could see her hands clench at her sides, but she didn't say anything.

The boys seemed to take this as a sign of weakness, and their grins grew wider, like jackals circling a wounded animal.

I felt a surge of anger on Mei's behalf. Who were these guys to treat her like this? It was clear they enjoyed pushing her buttons, but I wasn't about to stand by and let them get away with it.

I took a step forward, ready to say something, but I hesitated. Was it my place to intervene? Would it make things worse for Mei if I did?

The tension in the air grew thicker, and I knew I had to make a decision—either speak up and defend her or let her handle it on her own.

I wasn't sure what the right move was, but I couldn't just stand there and do nothing. Not while Mei was being treated this way.

"What about you people? If she's a leech, then what do you call yourselves?" I snapped, my voice sharp and unwavering.

The three boys seemed taken aback, not expecting me to defend Mei. Their smug expressions faltered as they looked at each other, trying to come up with a response.

"W-what do you mean, young master? We're just trying to warn you about the trouble that girl could cause you," one of them said, attempting to sound concerned, but his words were laced with condescension.

"Trouble? The ones who look like trouble are you three," I retorted, my words cutting through the tension.

"You're accusing her of being a leech when you three are clearly the ones leeching off your parents. You might be nobles, but I pity your parents for having children who only know how to cause trouble."

"What did you say?" The leader of the group stepped forward, his eyes narrowing.

"You heard me," I replied, meeting his gaze without backing down.

"Tch! Don't say we didn't warn you," he muttered, and with that, they turned and left, muttering among themselves.

My hands were still shaking. I had been prepared for a fight, and I was relieved that it didn't come to that. I had never been taught how to use my fists or a sword; I had never needed to.

Growing up in a secluded household, I was more familiar with books and paperwork than confrontations. This was all new to me.

I turned back to Mei and noticed tears streaming down her cheeks. "W-why are you crying? I didn't make you cry, did I?" I stammered, feeling a pang of guilt. Had I said something wrong?

But Mei suddenly smiled, her eyes still wet with tears. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice filled with gratitude.

My eyes widened. I hadn't expected that reaction. In the sunlight, her smile was radiant, almost glowing. My heart raced, thumping so hard I felt it in my chest.

It was impossible not to feel a rush of warmth at that moment. I could feel my cheeks turning red, and I had to look away to hide my embarrassment.

"No... um, I just... well, they were jerks," I mumbled, scratching the back of my head, trying to find the right words to say. Mei was still smiling, and it felt like everything around her was just a little bit brighter.

It was an unexpected moment of connection, one that made me realize that standing up for someone else could be more rewarding than I'd ever imagined.

It wasn't just about the act itself; it was about the impact it had on someone who needed it. And for a brief moment, I felt like maybe I was doing something right.