AN: Wow... It's chapter 100 before I know it... Thank you so much for reading this far!!! I've been having so much fun writing this story, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do writing it!!!!

There'll be more to come, so please look forward to it!!!!

Once again, thank you so much for all the support and for reading my story! I hope you continue to enjoy it~!!! I'll do my best to write even more exciting, interesting, and better story!!!















Wait... Why are they here...?

No, seriously. W-Why are they here?! Alex and Lu-nii weren't supposed to go to the dining hall!

After finishing their student council work, which ended up taking an hour off their lunch break, shouldn't they go to the courtyard to mee-

Ah... T-They're supposed to meet... "Alterisa"...

That's right... I forgot. "Alterisa" demanded Alexus to have lunch with her in the courtyard to show everyone how "close" they are, and indirectly tell the girls to not touch "her" man.

But since Alexus didn't want "Alterisa" to get too close to him and do something overbearing, he brought along her brother, Lucas.

The lunch break "Alterisa" had been looking forward to didn't last long.

Exasperated by "Alterisa's" attempts to get close to him, Alexus quickly finished his lunch and walked away. That was when he saw the heroine eating alone at the edge of the courtyard, illuminated by the column of light that seeped through the leaves of the tree she sat beneath.

"Alterisa" saw him mesmerized at Aria's beauty right then, sparking her hate for the heroine. Since then, she'd begun making plans and schemes to make her pay for stealing Alexus's attention from her.

Right... That's... what's supposed to happen.

But... I'm not in the courtyard. I didn't demand Alexus to have lunch with me. Honestly, I forgot about him since I'm with my friends...

Hmm... If I think about it, isn't that good?

I mean, the spark that triggered "Alterisa's" rampage didn't happen. Not that I will rampage in the first place. So... all's well, right?

...

Great~!!!

But still, what are they doing here? No, wait. Stupid question. It's lunch break and this is the dining hall. Of course they're here to get some food.

"Alexus? Lu-nii? Will you be dining here as well?"

I stood up and turned towards them.

Normally, we would all rise up to greet Alexus with a curtsy since he's a prince. But in this academy, there's no need to formally greet nobles since everyone is treated the same way. Of course, common sense still applies and everyone should still be respectful.

But no, I stand up not because I'm greeting them with a curtsy. But because I feel like there'll be a conversation and I don't want to strain my neck by looking back and up while talking to them for too long.

Alexus looked at me with his usual warm, princely smile.

"Yes. But... Well, I was also searching for you."

"For me? Is there something you wish to ask of me?"

What does he want from me? I can't think of anything going on for him that he needed my help for.

He smiled helplessly and continued.

"I was hoping we could have lunch together. But unfortunately, it seems I was too late."

"Ah... uhn, I'm sorry..."

"It's fine, Risa. Don't worry. Then... How about dinner? Do you have plans for dinner yet?"

Dinner? Hm... I was thinking of ordering take out from this dining hall and bringing it back to my room so I could eat together with Anne, Maria-chan,and Iris like usual.

Since it's a boarding school, this dining hall is actually open until 9 p.m so students can have dinner here as well. And I've been having Anne or Maria-chan, accompanied by Iris, go here to order some take outs that we'll eat together in my room since we got here.

We could eat in the dining hall together, but since I don't want to go out without being with one of my friends, in case the heroine decided to do something with me, I decided to just eat dinner in my room.

Well... Since I have no plans for tonight, I guess it's fine...

"No. It will be my pleasure, Alex."

""Tch.""

Hm? Did someone just clicked their tongue?

I looked behind me, but I didn't notice any of the girls doing it. They're all still smiling politely and staying silent.

Seems like they're not chatting since the prince is here talking with me.

I turned back to Alexus, and I saw him smiling brightly. But behind him, Lu-nii was smiling wryly.

"Mm. I look forward to our dinner, Risa."

"Yes. I do as well. Ah, but may I bring my maids and my personal knight as well? If possible, I would be grateful if you would permit them to eat on a separate table while we have our dinner."

I actually wanted them to eat with me on the same table but... it'd be weird if they do. After all, I'll be eating with Alexus and we're technically engaged, so...

"Of course. Feel free to bring them. And since I invited you for dinner, you don't have to pay for your and their meals."

"Thank you very much for your generosity, Alexus."

Alright~! We'll be having free dinner, girls~!!! Order everything you want!!! Order the entire menu if you wish!!! The generous crown prince will be paying for everything~!!!

Here, I'll give you an elegant curtsy! A small price to pay for a free dinner!!!

"Wow..."

Hm? That was...

I turned back to my left and saw Ellie staring dazedly at me with sparkling eyes.

"Oh, is this your new friend, Risa?"

"E-Eh?! U-U-Uhm-"

"Yes, she is. Ellie."

"Y-Yesh!"

Ellie immediately stood up straight and bowed her head deeply.

"I-I-I-It's my pleasure to meet you!!!! I'm- I mean- M-My name is Ellie! L-Lorya-sama's classmate and f-f-f-friend..."

She shyly looked at me as she said the word "friend", as if asking if it's alright to introduce herself as such.

Of course it is!!!! I'm super happy!!!

I nodded at her with a smile, and she immediately smiled brightly.

"...I see. Well, it is a pleasure to meet you as well, lady Ellie. I'm Alexus von Derium, Risa's fiancee. And this is her brother, Lucas. Please take care of Risa for me in class."

"Y-Y-Yes!"

Alexus nodded and turned to me again.

"Well, I'll be having my lunch with Lucas then. See you later, Risa. And I wish you a pleasant day, everyone."

"Yes. See you later, Alexus, Lu-nii."

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

After our lunch break, the entire class gathered in one of the many training grounds in the academy.

It's a building adjacent and separate from the rest of the academy, and inside, the entire thing was essentially a massive arena.

There were seats for spectators all around. They were high up, almost looking down at the arena.

Meanwhile, the ground and walls of the arena were made of stone, which I assume is enchanted with magic since I sensed mana emanating from it, and there were several stands and shelves along the walls filled with swords, spears, shields, short swords, great swords, etc.

It's similar to an indoor sports arena, but the spectators are more separated from the arena by enchanted stone walls and are higher up for their safety.

We all gathered there after changing into our sports uniform, which was a simple cotton shirt and long pants. It's similar to what students would wear for their physical education class in my previous world.

It's... glorious. To see Evelyn, Noir, Illya, Celine, Valerie-chan, and Ellie in their sports uniform... It was a treat for sore eyes. Especially since they're all tying their hair up into ponytails!!!

Guhehe... Guhehehe... The napes... I can see the napes of these cute girls... Thank you very much for the feast!

"Ah~ Risa-sama, you look so beautiful~"

"Uhn~ It's my first time seeing you in such a manner~ It's very beautiful~"

"Eh? Really? Ahahaha, thank you~"

Ehe~ I'm so happy~

I normally tie my hair up into a ponytail and wear this kind of clothes when I'm training, so I guess this is the first time they've ever seen me like this, huh?

Luke has seen me in this look plenty of times, though. I mean, we train together under his father, Sir Rolan, often.

I glanced towards the two people standing in front of the class.

One of them was Luke, who seemed to be staring in our direction, most likely at his little sister. Heh, what a siscon.

And the other was Sir Andreas von Weiss, a former vice commander of the royal guards. He served the previous king and taught a lot of the royal guards serving now as well, before deciding to become an instructor in the royal academy a decade ago.

He's a super robust, muscular man with a strong stature, neatly combed back graying hair, and neatly trimmed beard. He has a super dandy appearance and still looks super handsome even if he's already in his mid sixties.

I could see him being a muscular, warrior-type ikemen in his younger days. Even as he is now, he's the dandy, seasoned warrior character I can see appearing in "Lovely Happenings", though he didn't.

I've heard stories about him from Sir Roland, who was also taught by him at some point. He was a decorated veteran for having been victorious in countless battles, second only to Sir Roland's father, who was the previous royal guards commander. But this is the first time I've ever met him.

And from what I can see, he certainly does have a commanding presence.

I also heard, from the rumors, that he's a super strict instructor. I'm excited to see what kind of training he'll give us.

"Welcome to your first combat training."

His gruff, gravely, and commanding voice resounded, louder than expected. Some flinched at the sound of his voice, some trembled, and some weren't bothered. But all of us focused our attention on him all the same.

"The purpose of this class is not to make you a master swordsman or a seasoned combatant. No. Three years would not be enough for that. The purpose of this class is to train your physique, your combat awareness, and to make sure you're not entirely useless when you run out of magic. Understood?"

"Yes sir!"

"Hiiieh!!!"

Everyone flinched at Sir Andreas's glare. And that shriek definitely belongs to the heroine.

But I was able to answer him just fine. After all, it's not the first time I've been under an instructor from hell...

Sir Andreas turned his gaze to me with a smirk, before his attention shifted back to the others.

"It seems like there's only one person in this class who has enough manners to answer your instructor. I will ask again. Do you understand?"

""Y-Yes sir!""

Some shuttered in their answer. Some shouted it as loud as possible out of fear. The heroine... well, she shrieked again.

But Evelyn and my friends were able to answer properly this time.

"...Good enough. Now. Let's start with your warm ups."

Ah... That grin... The grin of the devil...

That's the same grin Sir Roland would always give me whenever he's about to rise the bars for our training.

The grin of the devil instructor.

And as I expected... The warm up alone wiped out the majority of the students in my class.