The exams passed without any issue, certainly without anything remotely close to the scene that their first day started with. Every normal student performed to the best of their abilities, with five being especially remarkable.
The first year's Saria Vallhall.
The second year's Justin.
The third year's Demi-Leigh Nordenthele.
The sixth year's Mira Vultress and Oliver Berdon.
Those five received the highest grades and excelled in their own fields, but even out of them, Mira Vultress shone the brightest.
Her independent research in the field of alchemy brought back and improved on several ancient potion recipes was recognized by the kingdom and rewarded with a piece of land for Mira to use as she saw fit. Although the gesture was nice, for anyone remotely knowledgeable about the climate of the land she received, it was clear that the kingdom was highly encouraging her to use it for cultivating medical herbs. It was basically the kingdom telling Mira to continue the research on a larger scale.
All that said, the person surrounded by the most controversies was none other than Rotsard Vallhall.
Despite showcasing a terrifying strength after being pressed about the damage to the great barrier, when the time came for him to show off during the practical magic exam, he performed beneath the expectations, coming short of the commoner student Justin, and with quite the gap too…!
Not to mention that a day earlier, someone spotted him talking to one of the Academy's nurses, and said the nurse allegedly rejected his approach, shaking her head with teary eyes and apologizing profusely while stepping away from him. The one who saw the whole thing did not have the whole context, but a woman rejecting a man in that way wasn't normal in the slightest in their world… which is why just the wildest rumors. Coupled with the fact that Rotsard's reputation was never good, those rumors morphed into ones of Rotsard being highly lustful but not successful in bed.
Those rumors even got Mila involved… they claimed that all of Mila's research was merely a byproduct of her researching a way to… improve her and Rotsard's private life…
"Mira~!"
It all spread so fast, apparently, that even when Mira and Rotsard were walking towards the carriage together, someone called out to them, causing Mira to stop and turn around.
It wasn't the first time one of the classmates or underclassmen of Mira had called out to her, wishing to congratulate her on the achievements, but she didn't seem keen on postponing the departure any more than it had already been…
"Oho~? More congratulations? Go on, go on~ You're great, and everyone sees it~"
"...thanks…~ it.. It will only take a moment…!"
Mira would completely ignore the approaching person, but with Rotsard's encouragement, she blushed and nodded before stopping and waiting for the caller to approach her.
"Here~ I've heard that you're taking him to your territory for the summer break, this will come in handy!"
"???"
The person, a dark-blond-haired girl, in her early twenties, did not come over to have a proper conversation. Instead, she called at Mira from several feet away while tossing a small vial towards her, causing the black-haired alchemy prodigy to flinch and barely catch it in time.
"E-eh? What is it?"
After the initial shock passed, Mira pulled the vial up and furrowed her brows at the light-blue liquid inside.
"It's an invigorating potion for your fiance! You know, to make him more vigorous~!"
"Pfff….!"
The dark-blond-haired girl declared obnoxiously loud with a nasty smile, causing many of the people around them to burst into laughter… almost as if they were waiting for that moment…
"I-invigorating…?! For… For my Tsar!?"
"...?"
But Mira's panicked response cut through and silenced all of them.
"I…! I cannot keep up with him at all as it is…! If…! If he gets any more intense, I'll die…!"
Mira's knees almost buckled, and while still holding the vial with light-blue liquid in one hand, she pressed her other palm, fingers pointing down, against her abdomen as if experiencing a fierce sensation within.
"..."
She sounded so genuinely distressed that any jokes or laughter dried up right then and there, and at least that one certain baseless rumor about Rotsard got uprooted on the spot…. The dark-blond-haired girl who started the whole scene was making an expression that made it seem someone had just shoved manure right up to her face to smell.
"I… I think I will use it on myself, though, so… Thank you. I know that my Tsar would love it if I could hold on even a bit longer. He has to hold himself back a lot for my sake."
Mira then shook her head and composed herself, nodding her head towards the other girl before pocketing the vial and leaving to the carriage where Rotsard was waiting for her, holding the door open.
"...tsk… your welcome…"
The dark-blond-haired girl clicked her tongue quietly and grumbled, not even attempting to hide how annoyed she was that her plan failed so spectacularly. She completely ignored the several other students who were looking at her for further instructions and just walked off back to the Academy's dormitory.
"...hmphhh…"
"Pffft…! Wh-what is it~?"
As Mira and Rotsard got into their carriage, Mira immediately wrapped herself around Rotsard's arm, snuggling up to him possessively and letting out a soft, grumpy sound, making him snort and chuckle.
"I hate those rumors about you! I'm certain that girl is one of the people responsible for it all!"
"...really? I was convinced it was Amelia Edemsworth's doing."
Mira grumbled, all protective, making Rotsard raise his brows in surprise over her words.
"That very well might still hold true! That was my classmate, Penelope Edemsworth, one of Amelia's older sisters."
"Oh…!"
Mira scoffed and revealed, causing Rotsard's beastly yellow eyes to widen in shock.
"Tsar, whenever we're out in public together like today, let me handle situations like that!"
Mira added suddenly, perking up and speaking with fire in her eyes.
"For those kinds of rumors, it's best to retort with only the truth, but you have to sound innocent while doing so! You saw how I've dealt with Penelope?"
"You're incredibly capable, of course… and that is precisely why all those rumors are beginning to get on my nerves."
Mira said and snuggled up to Rotsard as he hummed before glancing to the side with a grim expression.
"Which ones? I'll put an end to all of them for you! "
Mira cheered out in high spirits.
Instead of answering, Rotsard leaned in for a kiss, and the two of them didn't leave much time to exchange words until their carriage stopped in front of the inn they would be spending the night in.