-So It Was My Fault...-

“I… I can’t… I can’t anymore!” My legs finally gave out and I dropped to my knees breathing heavy breaths.

“Reiré, hang in there, just one more lap,” Lord Raphael encouraged.

I was wrong. I was so so wrong. Why would I think that Swordsmanship would be as easy as P.E class in my previous life.

“Is Reiré slacking again?!”

Ugh… Glancing over at the large bulky old man, I could only give him eyes of displeasure. Sir Rabade sure is tough. Giving us ten laps around the practice field right at the beginning of class.

“Put your back into it, Reiré!” He shouted.

Like hell I can! This petty body of mine is very fragile! Like I have the strength to continue!!

“Come on, Reiré, I’ll run with you,” Lord Raphael offered.

“Thanks, even though you already finished your laps.”

Most of the male students in the class have finished their laps. It’s only the females that are being waited on.

Pulling whatever little strength I have left, I began to do a slow jog with Lord Raphael beside me. After this, I'm going to start running everyday, cause I’ll definitely won’t survive this class if I don’t start training my body. Why the heck did I choose this class?!

Seeing Lady Claudia jogging ahead, I remembered. Right, it’s because Lady Claudia took this class in the novel. What is wrong with me?

Once I finally finished my last lap, I completely crashed to the ground. I can barely feel my legs anymore. All the other girls were the same. Our outdoor uniforms were pretty much covered in sweat.

“Is that all you got! We haven’t even started on the sit-ups!” Sir Rabade announced.

I cried, “There’s more!?”

“Oh, this is nothing! If you’re gonna complain why not just leave the academy. A commoner is not suited to be here.”

I recognize that yappy voice anywhere. “Lady Claudia, thank you for worrying about me. But even if the courses here are extreme, I will do my best.”

“Who said anything about me worrying about you!?!”

Lord Raphael chuckled, “I’m glad that you are making friends. Makes me jealous, I could barely make any in my first year.”

I beamed, “Yes! Lady Claudia has been so sweet to me.”

“I have not!” she denied. “And we are not friends!”

“Oh Lady Claudia, no need to be embarrassed,” I teased.

Lady Claudia only growled and stomped away. Ah, even covered in sweat, Lady Claudia looks to be in top form.

“I understand you are fond of Lady Claudia, but please be careful when befriending others,” Lord Raphael advised.

I pouted, “I understand that Lady Rium babies you, but you don’t need to baby me.”

Lord Raphael blushed, “I’m just worried about. And Rium does not baby me!”

I smirked, “Ah huh. It’s okay. I know you like it when all she does is pay attention to you.”

He denied, “I-It’s not like that.”

“You don’t think I notice how you blush whenever she feeds you grapes. Hiding behind a book and pretending to read doesn’t help escape from my eyes. I’m surprised you haven’t gotten engaged yet.”

Lord Raphael glanced away as he fiddled with his fingers. “I don’t want to force her to be with me.”

I sighed. “Must be nice to be loved.”

Lord Raphael panicked, “W-What?! Love?! I don’t know what you’re talking about! Don’t tease me!”

I laughed, “You’re too easy, Lord Raphael. Ah, I wish Lady Claudia would feed me grapes.”

Lord Raphael frowned. “Not judging, but you have a weird taste in friends.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Are you dissing Alex, Lady Rium and yourself?”

“What?! No! It’s just… Lady Claudia is a bit… How do I say it? Mean? And that’s a nice way of putting it.”

I can’t help but chuckled, “Don’t worry, I know. Lady Claudia, may look like she’s being mean, but she has yet to actually lay a hand on me.” Unlike that snob of a noblewoman named Laura. “She’s being mindful of the position she’s in. And besides, we are dance partners, it would be bad if your dance partner is injured.”

“That is true. Each year, we’ll have to dance with our partner in honor of our graduating seniors,” said Lord Raphael.

“Exactly.”

“But that’s only during your sophomore and junior year. Freshman are still too unskilled to dance for our seniors,” Lord Raphael informed.

“Eh, whatever. I need to get a drink. Break will end soon and the hellish training Sir Rababe has for us will start again.”

Lord Raphael agreed. “He’s really tough. Apparently, he had no mercy on Prince Leonhardt either.”

“Expected of the monster teacher.”

“I think you’d end up running more laps if he heard you calling him a monster teacher,” Lord Raphael murmured.

I felt my blood run cold at the thought of running more laps. Yeah, I’ll just refer to him as a monster teacher in my head.

Swordsmanship class ended twenty minutes early. Why? It’s so the students have time to shower and change out of their sweaty outdoors uniform. My red t-shirt and black shorts are literally covered in dirt and sweat. It’s really gross. I’m gonna have to wash this twice if I want to use them again. It’s a good thing the academy gave us spares.

I quickly shoved my dirty outdoors uniform into my bag and took out my official academy uniform from my locker. After a nice shower, I could feel myself being revived. It’s like all my aching muscles have been healed. Of course, I’d expect myself to be completely sore by tomorrow.

Feeling slightly cold from only having a towel wrapped around me, I quickly moved towards the changing room. In the process, I bumped into Lady Claudia who had already got into the academy’s red blazer and black skirt. She looked at me with hard cold eyes as she crossed her arms. Her black hair was also wet and straight. Hmm? What happened to her drills?

“Lady Claudia… Did you always have straight hair?”

“Is that what you say to me after rudely bumping into me?”

“Ah.” I bowed my head and apologized, “My sincerest apologies for bumping into you. Now, what happened to your drills, I mean, curls?”

“It’ll automatically curl once my hair dries,” she answered.

Oh… She actually answered. And kindly too. Does her personality change when her hair is straight? “Is that so…” Straight haired Claudia. I need to burn this image into the back of my head.

“Will you stop staring at me like that,” she demanded. “A commoner like you has no right to gaze upon my beauty.”

Nope. Still the same Lady Claudia.

“And don’t you need to get changed? You’ll be late for class,” she warned.

“Ah!” Panicking, I moved past her to quickly get changed. One thing I understand about this academy was that being late was unacceptable. It’s way more strict than the schools in my previous life. The anime and manga never mentioned this part about being in another world! I’m putting much more effort than my previous self ever did in high school!

By the time I finished changing, everyone was already gone. I should make haste like the other students and get to my next class. Luckily, it’s Cooking, one of my strong suits.

“Ah! Hey, Reire!”

As I made my way towards the Cooking class, Prince Clovis called to me. Yes, Prince Clovis is in the same Cooking class as me. Why would a prince want to learn to cook? Well, he’s just here for the food. He’s the only boy in the class and we female students treat him like a younger brother, because that’s the vibe we get from him. He’s so adorable and precious that many female students have been giving him snacks.

“Hello, Prince Clovis,” I greeted.

“Your hair is wet.”

“I had a shower after my Swordsmanship class,” I informed him. “We had to run ten laps, do twenty sit ups, fifty sword swings and so on.”

“Sounds exhausting.”

“You could say that again. I’m eager to do some baking.”

“ Reire’s baking is always good,” said Prince Clovis.

“Thanks.”

We both entered the class and sat down at our stations. The class consisted of six mini kitchen stations and four students were assigned to each station. Prince Clovis and I are at the same station with two other girls. They are of Baron rank, so they don’t do anything outrageous to me like all those other snobby nobles. And also the fact that Prince Clovis and I are friends have something to do with it too.

“I wonder what we're gonna make,” Prince Clovis voiced.

“It’ll probably be something simple for first timers,” I answered.

“Today, we will be learning how to make scrambled eggs,” announced the teacher.

Excuse me? Isn’t that a bit too simple? Even a nine-year-old knows how to make scrambled eggs. This will be easy.

Nope, this was not easy.

“Fire! Fire!”

“Hurry and put out the fire!”

“Prince Clovis! Put down that pan!”

How the heck did Prince Clovis set the eggs on fire? I only took my eyes off of him for one minute. ONE minute.

Prince Clovis whimpered, “Reiré, how do I unburn the eggs?”

This kid…