With full awareness, I understand that when getting involved with Gloria, I have to be ready to interact with the main cast, including Prince Alex. When he said, "Another time we'll continue our chat," I understand that I've influenced something in him.
Right. That bird matter.
I hope if that opportunity comes up, the Prince doesn't bring news like he successfully released someone's pet birds.
Ugh... just thinking about it makes me not want to go to school.
Yesterday's incident wasn't dragged out. Besides the culprits being a prince and a duke's daughter, the victims weren't hurt at all. All witnesses kept quiet, the canteen staff also turned a blind eye and deaf ear even though they lost a table that became charred.
I stepped out of the dorm room. Today's as cool as yesterday. It's still September 2nd, but the summer vibe feels like it completely died out weeks ago.
"Good morning, Martha."
I turned toward the source of the voice. "Morning, Gloria, Astesia."
"The uniform suits you really well, Martha," Astesia said.
"Really? Thanks."
We started walking toward the classroom building.
"I heard yesterday student council was so swamped that you got picked up at the crack of dawn?"
"Hahaha.... Just the usual."
Usual? Usually treated like that? When in the comic, Gloria as a student council member was never that busy. In fact, the student council room was like a love nest for the main characters.
"What's with that look?" Gloria asked seeing me frowning.
Suddenly, from behind someone yelled calling Gloria. She jogged over to the three of us.
"Morning, Mika," I greeted.
"Morning!"
"You look so happy, like you just got a windfall."
"Hell yeah! A whole tree's worth!"
"What's up?"
Mika put on a smug smile. "Ta-da!" she exclaimed while showing a book that looked brand new.
"The Fiery Angel...?" Gloria read the title. "What book is this? Blasphemy against faith?"
"Bwahaha!" My laugh just escaped.
Even though the cover isn't convincing, I know that's a novel. While Gloria doesn't know that, and as a pious person, maybe she thinks it's a heretical book.
"What's so funny?"
"That's a novel that's become popular again lately," Astesia said. "Well, I haven't read it myself because the title's too bold."
So it was popular before? Eh, that means it's not a new book, right? Why did it resurface?
"So, what's the windfall about that book?" Gloria asked.
"Not the book itself." Mika put the book back in her bag, then took out a paper. The paper was from a newspaper with one of the articles cut out. "There's going to be a meet and greet with the author this weekend! Look, Bridge Bookstore. Riva Moira Embankment No. 58A, Petrovard. Super close to the academy!"
I still can't see what the windfall is about this....
"Are you a huge fan?" I asked.
"Not really. I only have this book. Just bought it yesterday afternoon."
"So why? You want to go to the meet and greet, right?"
"Well, like... it's just cool to have a book signed by the author themselves. But, like! It's not that I don't know anything about the author. I also have a question I want to ask them later."
Without realizing it, we were already in front of class SL 1-A. I peeked inside, already crowded with students. Nadisa and Vera had also arrived. They were chatting with Martin, the hat guy.
"My class is here. Well then, see you later," I said to the group, while also letting Mika know my class.
"Eh, Martha's in social studies?"
"Didn't I already say she's in the social sciences major? At the canteen," Gloria revealed.
"Really? I forgot, hehe."
"Alright. See you later, Martha," Gloria said.
"See you!" Mika exclaimed.
Astesia bowed to me briefly. Though without a single word, her message was conveyed in silence. Then she followed the two underclassmen.
After Gloria's group got a bit far, I entered the classroom. Everyone's gaze shifted to me for a moment, then returned to their respective business. Nadisa, Vera, and Martin seemed to pay more attention to me than the other students, because they suddenly stopped chatting and silently watched me walk over.
"Good morning, Martha," Vera greeted.
"Morning," I answered. "So, what's up?"
"What do you mean?" Vera asked.
"You guys want to tell me something, right?"
"How'd you know?" Nadisa asked.
I puffed out my chest. "Instinct."
"Seems like you haven't realized yet, huh?" Vera said.
"Realized what? Did I make a mistake?"
"Yesterday's incident at the canteen... seems like our classmates caught the rumor that you're on Prince Alex's side."
Prince Alex's side? What's wrong with being friendly with Prince Alex? I don't get this taking sides thing. However, if I had to choose between being on the Prince's side or Vladilena's, of course I'm on the Prince's side.
I raised my voice a bit. "So what?"
The entire class's attention instantly turned toward me.
"I mean, he's this country's prince. Me, a foreign student, naturally should have good relations with local rulers."
"That's not the problem...," Nadisa spoke softly.
"See, you know it! 'That's not the problem'. You can't equate the relational interests of a foreigner like me with local nobles. Even if I talk to Prince Alex for political interests, the topic won't be the same as local nobles."
"Hhh... don't interrupt yet," Vera said. "The problem is, we two as 'local nobles' also got caught in the fallout."
"Ohhh... so that's it. Should've said so from the start."
I raised my voice naturally so the whole class could hear about my personal principles, so they wouldn't ask something trivial like that again. However, a stubborn approach like that isn't the right solution to fix everyone involved's image.
I looked around the class. They were still paying attention to me. I don't remember Prince Alex being so hated by other students in the original story. They should've been praising him even when he just passed by.
I put my bag on the desk. "Nadisa, watch my bag for a sec, okay."
"Uh, o-okay."
I stepped toward the front of the class.
"Huff... everyone, can I have your attention for a moment."
I know everyone's been paying attention since earlier. However, some people act fake apathetic and turn their faces to objects or other people.
"Since learning activities haven't been effective yet, I think this is a good opportunity for us to get to know each other. Sure, yesterday we already introduced ourselves with the homeroom teacher. I mean, well, this happens to involve me too. I hope if you guys have complaints or something to ask, please share!"
The whole class was silent. Either they don't want to care, reluctant to be the center of attention, or too lazy to be considered a provocateur. I figured it'd be like this. Or maybe I was hoping for this, actually. When there's no spontaneous reaction, it means they're all doubting what they gossiped about me.
Can I assume, they're just curious without any real hostility, even if the circulating news is that I'm allied with Prince Alex.
"Okay. How about this. My name is Martha. Martha Yurisa. A girl from the distant land of Athamon. I'm here to study magic and build relations with Soverus.
"I mean, I want to be friends with all of you. Without exception. Whether it's a prince, emperor, noble, cleric, merchant, or even commoners.
"Oh, speaking of commoners, I have a friend in class SM 1-D, her name's Gloria. She's a very talented scholarship student! Yesterday when there was a commotion at the canteen, Gloria immediately helped people whose bodies and faces were burned. You know what's amazing? Those wounds healed without a trace in one swipe!
"Besides her, yesterday Nadisa and Vera—those two sitting over there—they were also quick to handle victims far from Gloria's reach. Especially Vera. She can produce water from her hands! Because of that we could wet our vests and put out the fire striking in all directions."
"They were all so quick, that I myself was confused after putting out the fire at one spot and wetting my vest again, the fire was already gone. Like, I thought, even if I wasn't there, they could handle it. 'I'm so useless here', I thought. Hahaha...."
Several people snorted their laughter hearing my story. Even those who were indifferent before started paying attention.
"Yeah... being self-aware I backed off, right. I wrung the water from my vest, then shook it out. At that moment, Prince Alex was trying to talk to Gloria. The problem is, Gloria was focused on giving healing magic so she wasn't aware someone was talking to her. So, as a good person, I spoke on her behalf. I greeted him. Introduced Gloria a bit."
Let's start the clarification.
"After that introduction, guess what the Prince talked about? Suddenly—I don't know where the correlation is—he brought up birds!"
Several people started laughing softly.
"Seriously! Suddenly he asked, 'what do you think about pet birds?' Weird, right?
"'How would I know about birds!', I almost yelled that in his face. Maybe it would've been like that if Vera or Nadisa had asked. But this is Prince Alex! An important person in this country. If I spoke rudely like that, my student visa could get revoked."
The whole class finally focused their attention on me.
"So I answered, 'birds are fundamentally creatures of the sky,' in a philosophical tone."
The previous tension completely vanished. Only leaving a relaxed atmosphere listening to my nonsense.
I gave a brief pause. "...'I see,' he said. *I see*, what?! Prince Alex somehow took my random answer seriously."
Laughter emerged again.
"If that's his reaction, I started feeling guilty. I began to panic. However, I didn't get a chance to clarify that my previous answer was just meant as a joke. Prince Alex just left right away. Even when Gloria was still treating the injured person."
I placed my left hand near my mouth. Then spoke in a smaller voice, "Prince Alex... is he really like that?"
I didn't expect a response from my classmates, and I figured that wasn't something that needed answering. So I glanced at the clock behind me while looking up because it's located above the blackboard.
"Yep! Class time has started. That's the celebrity news this morning. If there's something you want or need to talk to me about, just come to me. I'll answer it seriously this time. Well, as long as you don't suddenly talk about birds."
The classroom atmosphere became lively again. They went back to chatting among themselves. There were also those who made small talk with me when passing their desk rows. I also returned to Nadisa's desk to get my bag.
"Y-you're amazing, Martha!" Nadisa exclaimed.
"I thought you were going to get mad in front of the podium," Vera said.
"Anger won't solve miscommunication. We just need to create an atmosphere where people can easily talk to us to straighten out misunderstandings."
I took my bag and hung it on my shoulder. "We'll continue chatting later, okay."
I left Nadisa and Vera's spot to go to my seat in the back row.