Chapter 77

Chapter 77: Explanation to Ronnie

The morning of the next day.

Today marks the official start of classes! I should be really excited, but I've been feeling down, thinking about the reactions I might get when I go to the classroom. I forced myself to act with high spirits and finished getting ready in the morning.

Although I intended to go to bed early last night, I couldn't sleep as I kept thinking about various things. With some time to cool off, I began to realize what I might be facing.

From now on, I can only imagine being treated like a delicate object, ignored, or harshly judged for being a commoner. I can't help but think of negative scenarios.

Maybe it'll turn out as I imagined... Will there be kind kids who become friends with me like normal? I want friends in this class... How will Ronnie react? Being feared by Ronnie might be the biggest shock...

I rode in a carriage with Lucian, heading towards the Royal School.

"We have arrived," said the coachman.

It feels like we arrived faster when I'm feeling gloomy like this...

But I have no choice but to go! Yes, let's go!

Lucian and I got off the carriage and entered the main building. Then we climbed the stairs.

My steps became increasingly heavy...

"Leon? Are you okay?"

"Yes. I've been thinking about yesterday and feeling a bit down, but... thank you for your concern."

"I see. Make sure to make amends."

"Understood."

Lucian thinks I'm feeling down because I'll meet the person I had a fight with yesterday. But that's not it... I don't really care about Salim. What concerns me more is the reaction of the entire class and Ronnie.

"I'll go this way then."

"Sure. See you after school."

"After school, I'll meet you at the entrance hall."

Saying our goodbyes, Lucian and I parted ways, and I walked slowly to my classroom.

I tried to walk as slowly as possible, but it's not far, so I arrived quickly.

I have to psych myself up! Alright!

I gathered my courage and opened the classroom door. And when I stepped inside...

...the reaction was not as strong as I had expected.

No one was staring at me or glaring at me.

Does this mean... nobody cares about what happened yesterday? That's a relief!

I felt a bit lighter in my heart and took my seat. Since Ronnie hadn't arrived yet, I considered talking to someone nearby. I decided to talk to the boy sitting in front of me.

"Nice to meet you."

When I said that, he visibly trembled and cautiously turned around.

He looks a bit pale, but is he okay?

"What can I do for you?"

"I don't have any specific business, but since we're sitting close to each other, I thought it would be nice to get to know each other."

"Um... I'm sorry!"

The boy said that and then ran off somewhere. Uh, what does that mean?

I stood up to talk to another student, but as I approached, they all subtly moved away.

Could it be... they're treating me like a fragile object after all? Or are they ignoring me?

But it's not so much like they're bullying me; it feels more like everyone is afraid of me.

Even though I have the support of the Duke's family, I'm still a commoner, and everyone in this class is a child of a knight or noble, right? So they shouldn't be this scared.

Could it be that the Duke's support is even more significant than I thought? I knew it was powerful, but since I'm still a commoner, I don't feel it firsthand.

For now, I should probably stop trying to talk to anyone since it seems to make them uncomfortable. It's kind of lonely to be scared off when I approach.

Feeling down, I sat back in my seat. I wonder if Stefan, Martine, and Lucian always feel like this. It's quite lonely.

After a while, Salim entered the classroom. I tried to make eye contact, thinking he might talk to me, but as soon as our eyes met, he quickly looked away and sat at his desk without saying a word.

This might have been better than yesterday...

I mustered the courage to talk to Salim.

"Salim."

When I called his name, Salim flinched and nervously turned to me.

"Ah, would it be better to use honorifics? We're both commoners, so is it okay to speak informally?"

"No, it's fine... I'm sorry."

Salim is using honorifics now, and his tone is quite different from yesterday!

"Why are you so jumpy?"

"Well... I said something disrespectful yesterday..."

"That was just a fight. I'm a commoner, so there's nothing disrespectful about it."

"But... Leon-sama seems to have the support of the Duke's family... I'm really sorry for what happened yesterday!"

Salim suddenly apologized. Hmm... is the Duke's family's support really that scary?

"Is the Duke's family's support really that scary?"

"I don't know much about it... I'm sorry... The Duke's family is at the pinnacle of nobility, so it's very intimidating..."

Salim hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to scold me like yesterday, but then quickly returned to his submissive attitude.

"Um... I remembered something I have to do, so I'll excuse myself!"

Salim left the classroom.

It seems that the Duke's family's support is something commoners and lower nobles find quite intimidating. Maybe it's the kind of thing where middle-ranking nobles would say, "Who does this commoner with the Duke's family's support think they are?" Lower nobles might just avoid them altogether. It's a bit lonely...

I couldn't talk to anyone, so I waited for Ronnie.

After a while, Ronnie finally appeared, looking nervous.

"Good morning, Ronnie! You finally made it!"

I subtly took Ronnie's arm to ensure he wouldn't escape and guided him to a chair. I've given up on making friends with anyone else, but Ronnie became my friend yesterday, so I hope he understands.

I really don't want to be the only one in the class without friends! And if I get along with Ronnie, maybe others won't be so afraid of me.

"Ronnie, I'm sorry I suddenly left yesterday."

"N-no, I'm totally fine."

Ronnie seemed even more nervous than yesterday.

"Sorry for surprising you yesterday. I enrolled in the Royal School with the support of the Townsend Duke's family, so I'm staying at their mansion. But that doesn't change the fact that I'm the son of a town's innkeeper."

"S-so, you mean..."

"Thus... would you continue being friends with me like you did yesterday?"

"W-well, our positions are different, and..."

"Our positions are the same. I'm just a commoner."

"But, I don't think... it's that simple..."

It seems like I'm still being feared... Will I end up without making any friends in this class?

Being a loner during my school days is just too sad...

Since a while ago, I've been feared and treated like a pariah, and I'm feeling really down.

If I keep scaring Ronnie any further, it would be pitiful. I let go of Ronnie's arm and returned to my seat.

I had some expectations for my school life, but it seems like it's turning into a gray existence.

Sigh... I'm getting tired, so I rested my arm on the desk and buried my face. This way, I don't have to see anything... It's like I'm being bullied. No, it's not like; it's actual bullying since everyone avoids me.

But in this case, there's no possibility of anything happening to me personally, so maybe it's better than being bullied. However, I might still be ignored by lower-ranking nobles and bullied by middle and high-ranking ones.

Am I just too pitiful? What should I do? Should I reveal everything about my attributes? But if I do that, I might become a target for hostile forces or other countries, and I doubt I'll be able to make friends as a result. I might end up being even more feared.

There's nothing I can do...

"Le... Leon!"

While I was escaping into my own world, Ronnie called my name.

"I'm sorry!"

Huh? Why is Ronnie apologizing to me?

I was surprised and looked up at Ronnie. He seemed like he was about to cry.

Huh? Was I really that scary to him? That would make me really depressed.

"I... I got scared by what happened yesterday and, you know, meeting a high-ranking noble like you... I got scared and acted rudely. I'm really sorry! I spent the whole day yesterday talking to you and knowing that Leon is a good guy..."

Saying that, Ronnie finally started crying.

W-Wait a minute! This makes it seem like I made him cry! Come on, as a guy, don't cry so easily!

"Ronnie, it's okay, so please stop crying! It looks like I made you cry like this!"

"B-But... I did the worst thing... being afraid of a friend..."

His crying face was getting even worse.

"Ronnie, I don't mind at all, so please, stop crying! This makes it look like I made you cry!"

"But... Will you forgive me?"

"Forgive? I wasn't even angry in the first place."

"Leon... Th-Thank you..."

Saying that, Ronnie didn't stop crying. Huh? Why is it getting worse!?